A/N: Ohmygosh. You guys rock, did you know that? After chapter one I had 15 reviews, the next day after I posted chapter two I checked again and I had 36! It really made my day. :)

I was going to make this chapter extra-long since I got so many reviews, I thought you deserved it, but it's taking me too long to write it and I won't get much time to write anymore since I just started school on Friday (yes, Friday. I know it's weird). So here's what I have so far. I think you'll like it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Life With Derek.

For the second time that day, Casey felt her breath catch in her chest. Only this time, it wasn't Sam causing this feeling, it was her step-brother, Derek.

Once again, Casey felt her eyes drift shut as Derek's mouth closed in on her own. She was in a world of bliss as she felt his lips touch hers; it seemed to last forever…and yet, as soon as it happened, he pulled away.

"Was that it?" Casey kept her eyes fixed on Derek's lips longingly.

"Nope," Derek replied, "that was just your first lesson. I'll be back later for your next one." Before she could protest, Derek hoisted himself off her bed and left the room.

Casey sighed, leaning back against her pillow. She didn't know why, but for that split second, she had enjoyed the feeling of Derek's lips against hers. Maybe this was the normal feeling people got when they'd been kissed, no matter who'd done the kissing. Hormones and all. Yeah, Casey thought, that's it. Who said there couldn't be a scientific explanation for everything?

Oh well, she thought, at least with Derek's help, soon I'll be able to kiss Sam, and everything will be perfect.

Satisfied with this thought, Casey soon drifted into sleep, dreams of Derek's kiss floating through her mind all night, though she wouldn't remember them come morning.

oooooooooooooooooooooo

Casey awoke early the next morning, when the sun was only just peeking over the horizon. Glancing at the digital clock on the table beside her bed, she was surprised to see the red numbers display 5:16.

Waking up before six on a Saturday? She thought, strange...

She was too awake to go back to sleep now, though. Sitting up, she slipped her feet into her blue fuzzy slippers and padded downstairs.

Casey opened the refrigerator, grabbed a carton of milk, then hastily put it back after remembering the way Derek had chugged it straight from the carton the day before.

Although it's not like our mouths haven't touched already... Casey thought, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment at the memory.

Finally she decided on a cup of apple juice. Casey loved apple juice. It was simple and tasty, and it brought back memories of her childhood, before Nora had married George. Before her father had left them.

Quietly, making sure not to wake anyone up, she tiptoed out of the house and into the backyard.

There was a clearing in the woods, not too far from the house, that sat on a hill. When Casey went there at night, she could look up and see the stars, and sometimes the moon. Or sometimes Casey came very early, like this time, and she got a perfect view of the sunrise.

Casey knew she probably wasn't the only person who had found the clearing; anyone who'd ever ventured a short distance into the woods could easily stumble upon it. But whenever Casey sat looking up at the stars, she felt completely at peace; as if she were the only person in the entire world.

Today, as Casey stood sipping her apple juice and staring out into the distance, watching the sunrise, her troubles seemed to temporarily disappear. It was as if none of it had ever existed; as if it was all just a figment of her imagination that she could simply flick away when it got too be too much to manage. It all seemed so petty and small when compared to something as beautiful and majestic as the sunrise.

"Couldn't sleep, eh?"

Casey jumped at the sudden voice behind her. She turned to see Derek, clad in only his boxers and a thin t-shirt, looking out at the very same sunrise Casey had been watching.

"No, just woke up early, is all. You?"

"Huh?"

"What are you doing out here?"

"Oh, I, uh, couldn't sleep…been thinking about things."

"What things?"

"None of your business."

"Geez," Casey said, startled, "sorry if I was trying to carry a normal conversation."

Derek said nothing, only staring out at the sun, which had moved further up into the sky. Casey took his lead and they both watched in silence for a few moments.

Meanwhile, thoughts were still floating around in Casey's mind.

"Teach me the second lesson," she said suddenly.

Derek turned. "What?"

"Kissing. Teach me the second lesson on kissing."

He stared at her quizzically. "Right now?"

"I need to learn how to kiss soon," Casey explained. "I'm seeing Sam on Monday. He might try to kiss me again. I can't keep turning him down, Derek, he'll think I don't like him."

"Alright, alright." Derek moved closer to her, so that they were face to face. "The second lesson," he murmured, his breath tickling his cheek; his lips were so close to hers, just millimeters away, and she wondered if he could hear her heart beating in her chest, "is…" he trailed off as his lips pressed against hers. All thoughts left Casey's head as his lips drifted across hers; after a moment she hesitantly kissed him back. His hands cupped her face gently as he deepened the kiss. Soon she felt his tongue flitting along her lips, begging for entrance. She obliged, and his tongue entered her mouth urgently. His hands moved up into her hair, and she wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him closer as their mouths danced against each other.

Finally they pulled apart, breathing hard. Casey could barely think as thoughts flooded her brain. God, she thought, if I'd known this was what kissing was like, I'd have started doing it a lot sooner.

Derek seemed unable to look at her straight. "I should—I should get back." With one last glance at her, he began walking back to the house, leaving Casey to stare at the nearly-risen sun and ponder her thoughts for awhile.

A/N: There you go, the third chapter. Dasey! Yay. Review!