Author's NoteThank you Meg! I really like the relationship between Derek and Marti also. It's so cute, so I added another thing in here, which is something that I would assume to be true if we could actually read Derek's thoughts. I made up the song at the end, and I've never been to a dance thingie, so bear with me. Hope you enjoy it!

DisclaimerMe and my sister have nearly solved our differences through counseling. Can you beleive that she wanted to kill me because she thought I was an imaginary friend that looked alot like her?! It was news to me...

Derek avoided looking at Casey while they were in the car. He was stressing, on this rarest of occasions, on what to do. More than anything he wanted to kiss Casey again, but she would just push him away again and he knew it. Girls were never this complicated around him. He would talk to Sam about it, but Sam would want to know why he was trying to get into a friendship with Casey. True, Derek had never even shown interest in Casey, as a friend, so why would he all of a sudden now? He couldn't tell Sam the reasons.

Derek wasn't completely alone though, because Edwin was with a girl that he wasn't supposed to be with. Maybe it really was Lizzie, but he didn't want to ask and have Edwin get the wrong idea about him and Casey.

The parentals were a no-no also. Derek figured he could go to Paul's again, but he seriously didn't want Paul to get the wrong idea. Who knows if he would try to pry information out of Casey? I know how counselors are…

They pulled up to the front where Nora and Casey got out. George drove to a parking space then told them all to get out. Out of the corner of Derek's eye, he was watching Edwin and Lizzie to see if they were doing anything suspicious. They were walking close and bumping arms but that was about it. He couldn't prove anything with that because he would do that with Marti, and that would be just disgusting. Derek had the temptation to shudder, but didn't.

Marti was lagging behind and yawning. He guessed that she didn't get to take her nap today so he swung her upward and plopped her on his shoulders. She was giggling. He smirked. Smarti is the one thing that makes me want to have kids. I would only have a kid if she was just like Smarti. A son would be nice to carry on the Venturi name.

They sat in the front row, which was reserved for relatives or special guests. Nora's seat was empty for the moment. She must be back stage still trying to convince Casey its ok. You know, come to think of it I have never gone to one of her dance thingies. I always had a game.

Edwin and Lizzie were chatting up a storm. The lights were on because the crowd was just starting to file in. Derek leaned his head back and pretended to sleep. On his right was Marti, and on his left was Edwin, then Lizzie next to Edwin. Next to Marti was George and next to him was an empty seat for Nora. They were in the middle of the row, with a great view of the stage. He could imagine Casey up there, naked like she was earlier, all frizzled and shocked.

His ears picked up to murmuring on his left.

"Is he awake still?" Lizzie's voice whispered.

"I don't want to chance it." Edwin's voice answered. Derek started to breathe heavier, hoping that it would convince them that he was falling into sleep.

"Poke him. See if he reacts." A finger slightly touched his neck and it gave him small goose bumps. He twitched a bit, and resumed breathing heavy. I hate pretending to sleep, but I have to know.

"I think he's sleeping." Edwin said softly. He heard some shuffling, and more whispers and he couldn't make out due to a group of girls passing by in whatever direction. When everything got quieter he listened intently.

"That may be true," Lizzie's voice sounded, "But I don't want him to know yet. Please just do that for me?" She sounded like she was 'flirting' with him to get her way.

"I don't know if I can keep it secret from him much longer. It's hard lying to him. Besides, you caved into Casey."

"I know. I'm really sorry…but Casey isn't like Derek." A crowd starting forming in all areas and Derek opened his eyes. The lights were slightly dimmer. Lizzie and Edwin were looking at him.

"What?" Derek questioned as if he heard nothing. He was a bit aggravated, cause he wanted to know what they were up to and what it had to do with him and Casey. What if they know about me and Casey?

A woman walked on stage. She was short and frumpy, with this crazy hairstyle that he started laughing out loud at. Nora came up and sat down. She said something to George but he was intent on what the lady was saying about Casey.

"And I am proud to have this show for tonight's star, Casey MacDonald. I hope you all enjoy!" The woman excitedly exited the stage and the lights were completely turned off. He didn't know that it was her debut.

A man walked on stage and he was dressed in stuff that looked like it was from the seventies. He started talking but Derek tuned him out. A crew was dancing around in the back as he spoke, laying out different props. Then music sounded and he got up and did a dance as four people carried a very confident looking Casey out on stage in a golden chair. Derek was sure it was fake, but Casey looked wonderful. She was in a lavender dress. It was the very fluttery type of dress. Her hair was in curls and it was cascaded down her chest and backside. The four dancers who were dressed in black set the chair down and Casey got up. She sung a few lines and began dancing.

She was a goddess. Her hips swayed, lolling him into a trance. He watched her legs and feet trace back and forth over the stage, and watching her twirl till her skirt and hip were at the same level. Casey suddenly stopped dancing prettily, and twisted everything into a hip-hop-like jump and the first guy stood at mid stage, preparing for her. She turned her back to the audience and turned fiercely toward the guy, causing her hair to fly here and there then fall listlessly back down. Then everything froze, and the music got quieter.

Derek was on the edge of his seat with his mouth slightly open. Casey started twirling her way towards him, her eyes practically flirting with him. He felt jealousy well in his chest. Then Casey got stage left and the other guy got to stage right. When Casey ran towards him Derek jolted forward, because he was locked into her dance. She jumped into the air, then squirreled her body around him. Since this was the lift she was probably talking about, the guy's name was Andrew. A name he now hated. Derek released his tension and leaned back into the seat, hoping no one noticed.

He couldn't bare to watch anymore so he closed his eyes. When the music stopped playing, an eerie silence swept the audience, and it caused him to open his eyes. Casey starting singing the last verse.

"And knowing that I couldn't be with you only made me try hard; Who knows what I'd miss if I wasnt' in your heart; Life with you would be completing and refreshing;" She glanced over at Derek, and without breaking and sang the rest of the song,"But you're still toxic, and I'm still deadly." Casey did another move and twirled herself off stage.