A/N: This has got to be a record, I think it's only been a little over two weeks since I last posted, hasn't it? I know, I need to start updating sooner, and posting longer chapters. I'm trying. But there are only a few chapters left in this story, I think.

Again, thanks for all the lovely reviews!

Disclaimer: Is there really a point in having one of these for every chapter? Why not just one at the beginning? If I didn't own Life With Derek then, what makes you think I do now?

Casey was excited to arrive at school that Monday morning. Finally her kissing practice with Derek would come in handy. She'd be able to confidently give Sam the kiss of his life and never have to lose sleep over the matter again.

She was at her locker looking around apprehensively when she saw Sam waving from down the hall. When he reached her, he leaned down to hug her.

"Had a good weekend?" he asked her. Casey loved that Sam remembered her discomfort on Friday, and didn't push her about it. He was so sweet.

However, Casey wasn't going to wait around for this kiss. She knew she had to take action. This was it. She took a deep breath. Placing her hands on Sam's shoulders, she leaned up and touched her lips to his.

She didn't know what she was expecting of the kiss. It was nice, her mouth moving against his and their bodies pressed together, but she didn't feel the electricity she'd come to enjoy and expect.

When the couple broke apart, Sam looked down at Casey, a grin crossing his features. "What was that for?"

"Well," Casey shrugged, "we're going out, aren't we?" Inside, Casey's mind was processing a mile a minute. What if Sam wasn't the right guy for her? No, he had to be. He was sweet, funny, and nice. Of course he was right for her. It had to be something else. Maybe the setting wasn't romantic enough? Yes, that made sense. All her kisses with Derek were in romantic places, like the sunset. Or maybe that was the only one. Oh well, that wasn't the point.

School was possibly one of the least romantic places. Who wanted to have their first kiss in school? Studious as she was, even Casey knew school wasn't exactly the top dating location. No wonder she hadn't felt anything.

"So…" Sam was standing with his hands in his pockets. "I'll see you at lunch?"

"Sure…Sam?"

"Yeah?" He'd turned to leave, but he shifted back around at the sound of her voice.

"I was wondering if you…uh….wanted to go out again on Friday?"

Sam flashed his amazing grin again. "Of course." He gave Casey another peck on the lips and sauntered away. Casey could hardly contain her excitement. Smiling happily, she slammed her locker shut. On Friday, they'd go to dinner, or the movies, or some other date-worthy place, and they'd kiss again and it would be the best kiss Casey had ever experienced (not that it had many to be compared with). She couldn't believe how well her life was working out.

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On Friday evening, Casey meticulously got dressed and applied her make-up. She wanted the entire night to be perfect. That included knocking Sam off his feet.

When she heard the doorbell ring, she yelled downstairs. "Could someone get that?"

She heard the door open and a bunch of manly, macho "what's-ups" and other greetings. It had obviously been Derek who'd opened the door. Casey rolled her eyes into the mirror as she applied her perfume. Then, with a deep breath, she stood up straight. She was ready.

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Derek gulped as he watched Casey make her way down the stairs. He hadn't seen Casey look this hot since she'd dressed up as Babe Raider for school. In fact, even then she hadn't looked as good as she did now. She was wearing a simple denim miniskirt and a medium blue low-cut sweater that enhanced her curves and accentuated her bright blue eyes, and silver ballet flats on her feet. Less skin was showing than the Babe Raider incident, but somehow Derek found her appearance now more endearing.

He kept his eyes on her as she approached Sam and kissed him in greeting. "You look beautiful," Sam told her, a grin on his face as he took her hand in his. Derek felt a surge of jealousy flow through him. He'd never felt the urge to punch Sam's lights out as much as he did at that moment.

Well, he thought as he closed the door behind the happy couple, I guess that's the end of the kissing lessons. He couldn't help feeling disappointed. He'd known going into this that it wouldn't last. Casey was only doing it for Sam. She would never feel anything for Derek. Hell, she didn't even like him as a step-brother, how could she ever think of him as more?

Still, he could imagine Casey's lips against his and the spark of electricity that ran through him every time they touched. He even loved it when she yelled at him. Just seeing the flush of her cheeks and the ability she had to be so passionate about everything was enticing. He now knew that she was that passionate in every aspect of her life. Including kissing.

And now he was imagining how beautiful she was even when wasn't wearing any make-up or skin-bearing clothes.

Boy was he whipped.

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Casey couldn't believe what an amazing time she was having. Everything was perfect. Sam had surprised her with tickets to a play at a theater downtown.

"That was amazing," Casey breathed as they exited after the play had ended. Darkness had fallen in the couple hours they'd been inside, and her eyes took awhile to adjust.

"I knew you'd love it," replied Sam, taking her hand. "Anything for my beautiful girlfriend." He started walking, and pulled her along. "And now, we have dinner."

The restaurant Sam led her into was anything but shabby. The busboy led them to a small candlelit table in the corner, accentuated with a vase containing a single rose in the center. It was obviously not cheap. "Sam," she gasped, "this is wonderful. You shouldn't have gone to all this trouble."

"Nah," Sam said with a grin, "it was worth it." He was so sweet. Almost too perfect. How had Casey snagged this guy?

At the end of the night, Sam led her up to her door once more. This time Casey was ready when Sam leaned in. She closed her eyes in anticipation. His lips met hers softly. Again, she felt that nice sensation as his lips caressed hers, but she something was off. She couldn't place it. Everything had been perfect, from the play, to the dinner, to right now on her porch. Yet somehow she still didn't feel the electricity she had with Derek.

Pulling away softly, she said goodnight to Sam and slipped inside. She had an experiment to do.

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