Author Note: Well, third chapter. Not sure if I like this one but my brother says I'm being too hard on myself. Or it he could have been lying because wanted $20 after I asked his opinion...

Disclaimer: If I had that crazy collection of glass Michael Seater has, or the rights to Life with Derek I would be happy. But alas, I don't, so I'm not.

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My hopes were dashed when I opened my eyes to see, no I wasn't dead, but my wish could be granted if I didn't get to class quick. I jumped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom. Surprisingly, Derek was nowhere to be seen. I wondered if he had gone to class early but then realized that the must important thing right now was me getting to class.

As the cold water hit my skin I didn't shiver. It caused me to jolt out of thoughts of what was happening to my life. It was a welcome distraction. As I finished my shower, I heard rustling in the kitchen. I wrapped a towel around myself and walked to the kitchen, water trailing behind. As I turned the corner I saw Derek rummaging through the drawers.

"Derek?"

He slammed the drawer shut and yelled. "What?"

I screamed and let go of the towel. I screamed again and grabbed the towel, and my desperate attempts to cover myself up I ran to my room. Through my shut door I heard him laughing.

I popped my head out of the door when I finished getting dressed. "I'm glad you think this is funny." I growled. "Cause I sure don't" I added with a mumble. Honest truth here, I was happy he was laughing. At least it was something.

"Your face…" Derek attempted to say through laughs. "…Was priceless."

I stuck out my tongue at him. "I need a ride to class or I'll be late." I put the tongue back in my mouth and stared at him pleadingly.

He sighed as he picked his car keys off the counter and walked towards the door. "Are you coming or not?" He asked with a raise of his eyebrows. I smiled as I got up and followed.

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I pulled at the seat belt. "What were you looking for anyway?" I asked as Derek pulled out of the parking lot.

He looked back as he maneuvered by some Minivan. "Nothing." He mumbled. I knew he was not going to tell me so I didn't push it.

I did however notice his anxiety level rise when I asked. I smirked as I thought of what he could possibly be looking for. Maybe something embarrassing? I gave an evil grin as I thought of the many ways of blackmail possible. Edwin could give me a few pointers.

So when Derek turned off the car and stared for a moment or two I got nervous. Was he onto me? Okay, I was getting a little too carried away with the whole blackmail thing. I finally turned to face him.

"What?" I asked in frustration.

Derek gave a grin. "It's your class." He replied with a little too much smarty-pants attitude for my liking.

I got out of the car without a word. "Ummm, thanks for the ride." I said quickly and walked away from the car. I stopped as I heard my name.

"What?" I turned. Derek leaned out of the window.

"Anytime." He winked at me and drove off. I shook my head as I walked to class.

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After class I heard my name again. I turned. "Dorothy!" I said with surprise.

She pushed a dirty blonde strand of hair from her face. "Lunch?" She asked. And then as she looked back and walked faster, "Please." She whispered with urgency. I nodded as she pushed me out of the hall and into the parking lot.

She opened the car door and got into the driver's seat. I barely had time to shut the door before we were driving away.

"And what's the urgency?" I asked.

Dorothy's blue eyes stayed on the road. "There's this guy and he can't take a hint." She laughed, more like a snort/laugh. "But don't worry. I can handle it. He's a computer sciences major." She flexed her muscles. "I can take him."

I laughed as we pulled up to a Chinese restaurant. "I'm taking the vegetarian today. No more pork for me." Dorothy shuddered as she was reminded of her dissection.

We sat and took a booth as an ancient looking woman came to take our order. As we order the bell that rang every time someone entered rang. I looked up from my menu and shrunk in my seat. I hid behind my menu.

"He's everywhere!" I hissed over my menu to Dorothy. She scoffed.

Derek waltzed into every moment of my life. And I didn't know if I liked it or not. At that moment in time, not so much.

"Hey Dorothy!" I could hear Derek call. I shrunk in my seat even more. "Casey? Is that you?" I could here him mocking me a mile away. Pretending like he didn't know it was me.

He pulled the menu away. "Hello Casey! Pleasant surprise!" He sat down next to me. "Mind if I join you too."

Dorothy grinned. "Of course not." She replied with a smile. "Casey. Come on. Don't be a turtle and hide in your shell."

I slid back to the world of the damned. I narrowed my eyes at Dorothy. She enjoyed seeing me suffer. It was a conspiracy; they were out to get me. So as they chitchatted about how they were going to get to confess that I was communist I help but notice that Derek was unusually close to me. Like he didn't have enough room for his big knees.

Then when the food came, everything was tuned out as I grabbed the chopsticks with determination and attempted to eat with them. As Dorothy and Derek, oooo, alliteration! Anyway, as they continued talking I had gotten one piece of tofu in my mouth. Then as I stabbed my tofu with anger Derek reached over and took the chopsticks from me. He held them in his hands and picked up a piece.

He gave them back to me. "See. Easy." He watched with amusement as my sad attempts continued. He arranged my fingers so I held the chopsticks properly. Even though I had it down pat, her kept his hand on mine. And for some odd reason, which is beyond me, I didn't want him to let go. I wanted him to hold as long as…well…I didn't know. But I pulled my hand away.

"I'm not hungry anymore." I said quietly, and I hated that with one touch he had me messed up. Damn it, I hated him. But I didn't at the same time.

Derek cleared his throat and sat up straight. "Um, yeah." Then he mumbled something about Paris. I would have asked but I was too tired of this.

I got up and put a 20 on the counter. "That should cover me." I walked outside and heard footsteps behind me. "What?" I turned around and saw Dorothy stop in mid-step.

She slowly walked up to me. "What happened?" She asked, concern in her voice making me want to cry.

I hugged her as buried my face in her shirt. "I don't know. I don't know."