A/N: Finally! Chapter Five! Woot! Well, I actually thought of a really good idea soon after I posted that author's note, before I read any of your reviews. I was really inspired to write this chapter, so I have it ready for you guys already. Anyway, thanks for your suggestions, I'll definitely consider them for the next chapter. And now I pretty much planned out the rest of the story, so hopefully I'll never have that problem again after the next couple chapters. Anyway, enough of me talking, time for the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Life With Derek.

On Sunday morning, Derek awoke with his head throbbing. The sunlight filtering through the blinds seemed painfully bright. He lay for several minutes, too tired to get up, yet unable to go back to sleep.

"SMEREK!" Marti came bursting into his room. "Wanna come with us to the zoo? We can see the giraffes!"

Derek stifled a groan. "Sorry, Smarti, but I'll have to pass on that one. I'm sure the giraffes will be very cool."

Marti pouted and left his room, disappointment clear on her face.

But when Derek made his way downstairs still in his pajamas, ready to spend the day relaxing and recovering from his hangover, George and Nora announced that the whole family was to go to the zoo with them.

"That includes you, Derek," George said.

"And Casey too," added Nora. "After the last time we left you two alone here, we can't trust you not to throw a party and trash the house."

"But I didn't—" Casey interjected, only to be interrupted by her mother.

"You're both coming, and that's final."

Derek couldn't believe his luck. The last place he wanted to be seen was the zoo. Not to mention he was nursing the hangover of the century, which he couldn't even tell George or Nora about without them figuring out where he'd been last night.

So that was how, twenty minutes later, Derek found himself squished in the backseat of the minivan between Edwin and Casey.

Casey. Derek didn't remember what had happened last night, but he knew that it had somehow involved Casey. Her berry scent still lingered in his room. He only hoped he hadn't done something stupid.

Next to him, he could faintly hear music coming from Casey's headphones as she stared out the window. Sighing, Derek leaned his head back and tried to rest.

When the MacDonald-Venturi family arrived at the zoo, they decided to see the giraffes first, to make Marti happy. Never mind that the giraffes were possibly the furthest animals from the entrance. Derek thought his head was going to explode. The bright sun and shrieking toddlers close behind them weren't helping the matter.

Derek was so wrapped up in his headache that he didn't notice Casey looking at him, a concerned look on her face. Which is why he was surprised when Casey grabbed him by the arm and dragged him to the nearest covered area and sat him down on a bench. Derek sighed in relief, as it was noticeably dimmer under the awning.

When he looked at Casey in confusion, she explained, "You looked like you were dying out there."

Derek mumbled a thanks and looked down.

"Have you taken anything for your head?"

"Yeah. Doesn't help much."

Casey sat down on the bench next to him. They sat in silence for several minutes. It wasn't an awkward silence, though, as one would expect. It was actually rather comfortable, Derek thought. There weren't many girls who would sit with him like this for so long without talking. Or doing—ahem—other things.

"Can I ask you something, Case?"

She looked up at him, startled. "Yeah?"

"What exactly happened last night?"

Casey looked down, and then back at Derek. "Nothing, really," she responded. "You came home, obviously drunk, and I helped you to your room."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

Derek let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. "That's good, I guess," he said, looking out at a couple who were watching the pandas. The boy had his arm around the girl's waist, and her head was on his shoulder. They were obviously in love. Derek wondered what it was like. "I thought it might have been something worse."

When he looked back at Casey, she was fidgeting with her hands in her lap. A strand of her perfectly straight, shiny hair had fallen in her face. Derek longed to brush it away. He didn't know why he'd wanted to start this whole "kissing lessons" thing with Casey. It had just made everything worse. He'd always wanted to kiss her. But now that he had, he couldn't even look at her anymore without thinking of how amazing it had felt when her soft lips met his. For never having kissed before, Casey sure was good at it. God, was she good.

At that moment, Casey looked up and her eyes met his. "What?" she asked.

"Nothing." Derek mumbled. "It's just—we haven't had a lesson in awhile. Maybe we should have another one. I mean, if you want Sam to be impressed." Inside, Derek was kicking himself for taking advantage of the situation.

"Sure. I guess so." Casey looked at him expectantly.

"Well, um, maybe you should start it this time. Just to make sure you've got it."

Casey nodded and leaned closer, touching her lips to his. Derek felt the familiar jolt of electricity rush through him as he desperately kissed her back. He ran one of his hands through Casey's soft hair and let the other one wander. He kissed Casey harder now, and she met him with equal intensity. His hand was on her waist now; her shirt had ridden up a little and he could feel the warm skin of her waist. He moved his hand up a little and caressed her back. She moaned and pulled him closer. Taking this as a sign of approval, he let his hand wander further up so that it was just below her breast.

"I say. Kids these days don't have any respect for privacy." Derek and Casey pulled apart hurriedly. An couple of old ladies had walked past and seen them. They shook their heads in disgust and moved on.

"Um." Casey looked down in embarrassment. "I guess we should go catch up with the rest of the family."

But neither of them made a move to get up. Casey was still lying against Derek, and his hand was on her leg. Derek was silently cursing the old ladies for interrupting them. But he supposed it was better them than their family.

A few hours later, they were back in the minivan heading home. Derek's leg was against Casey's, but he didn't proceed to move it. Casey either didn't notice or didn't mind. Her head was against the window and she had her headphones on again. Derek suppressed a smile and leaned his head back again. He hadn't even realized that his head didn't hurt quite as bad anymore. What a way to cure a hangover.

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