Title: Stylistic Infatuation
Author: Freeing Alys
Rating: T
Summary: Casey hated Derek seeing her weaknesses, but it seemed to happen more then she wants. [Dasey
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Life With Derek or anything affliated with it. I AM NOT claiming this as my own. I'm just a fan practicing my writing skills, that is all. No copywrite infridgemnet intended.
Author's Note: Thanks to all who have been standing by me and this story. I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter Two

Casey McDonald sat in her bedroom at her desk and let out a sigh. She had been trying to complete her History assignment for an hour now, but it was getting harder to do with each passing minute. Casey sat back in her chair as she recountered the odd day she had spent with Derek.

After lunch-after the weird things happened between the two-Derek and Casey got into Derek's car and drove. Neither of them knew where they were going or where they wanted to go. They just drove. Parking off to the side of a parking lot they had talked for the rest of the day they should've been at school.

They sat in the parked car and talked about everything from life to school to their currently messed up home life. The kiss hadn't been mentioned in the hours they talked to each other, but it was drilled into the back of Casey's mind. No matter what she did, Casey couldn't stop replaying the moments in her head when it happened.

And even more, Casey didn't know what to do with it. She loved the feeling that she had gotten when Derek had kissed her, but it was odd and weird. Casey's stomach flipped a couple times over as she set her pen in her book and glanced at her bedroom door. She wished that Derek would knock on the door, she wanted to talk to him, she wanted to make sense of the weird feeling flying inside of her.

Casey wanted to hear Derek say that he understood. Just like he had earlier in the day. Casey let out another sigh and stood up from her computer chair. She started to pace around the room as she thought of Derek and everything that had happened. He was right when he had told her they shouldn't be part of a plan, they just are. Btu the controlling part of Casey couldn't help but fret over the whole situation.

Casey ran her fingers through her hair and sat down on her bed. They didn't make sense at all. From day one Casey had held up guard around Derek, she didn't want him to get in. She could never figure out why she had done that, but now it was starting to make sense. Casey just didn't want Derek to see all over the good or the bad. She wanted to keep herself away from Derek, he meant too much to her. Casey didn't even know why.

Casey glanced over at her clock and saw it was a couple minutes to dinner. She sighed and stood off of her bed. Casey had been avoiding the family all day, she din't want to talk to anyone. All Casey wanted to do was get through the day. "Casey!" Casey jumped slightly as she heard her mom call her.

"Coming!" Casey hollered back and she quickly walked to her bedroom door, it had to happen sooner or later.

Casey walked into the kitchen and saw Marti sitting on the floor, claiming to George that she was a dog, Edwin and Lizzie were sitting at the table talking and lightly fighting, and Derek was helping Nora set the food on the table. Casey heaved a sigh as she walked into the kitchen.

Nora was the first one to notice Casey and she smiled over at her daughter. "Hey Casey." Casey smiled at her mom and sat at the table.

"Hey." Casey watched as George and Marti fought on the floor. Shaking her head Casey remembered her life without the Venturi's, it had been nice and simple. The Venturi's were extremely loud and unorganized if nothing else.

Nora set the last dish on the table and she and Derek sat down in their spots at the table. "okay guys. Dinner." Nora stated.

George stood up from the floor and sat at the table, after flashing Nora an apologetic glance he started to dish himself up some food. Casey glanced at Derek quickly and they caught each other's glance. Derek smiled at Casey and Caseyy felt her heart skip a beat. What was going on between them was all too surreal and weird.

Casey glanced back down at her plate and waited until food was passed to her to dish up. As she set the last item of food on her plate Casey glanced down at her plate and pushed the food around with her fork. It wasn't that her mom's cooking wasn't the best, Casey just couldn't bring herself to eat with the knot the was slowly forming in her stomach.

Casey sat in her chair as she watched her new family talk with each other and joke. The new chaos that had become Casey's home life was a bit more then she could handle. Casey took bites of her food, slowly, as she watched her family interact with each other and she wished she could find a way to be on the same level with them.

Casey glanced back over at Derek and she watched him joke with Edwin and eat his food quickly, the way that Derek ate.

LWD

After diner had finished Casey lagged behind to help Nora put away the food. "How was school?" Nora asked as Casey applied a lid on one of the many containers.

Casey thought back to the eventful day. She obviously didn't want to go into detail with her mom, so she took the short answer. "It was fine." She answered as she spun around and set the dish in the fridge.

"You getting along better?" Nora asked setting her few containers in the fridge and staring at Casey.

Casey remembered the look on Derek's face after he had kissed her and she cracked a smile. "I guess so." She answered.

"Good." Nora quickly kissed Casey on the cheek and smiled at her. "I'm happy for you. I know this isn't a private school. But it'll be good for you." She stated.

Casey nodded and took a couple steps away from her mom. "Yeah. See you later." She mumbled and turned from Nora.

Casey quickly walked up the stairs, taking them two at a time. Clasping her hands together Casey started towards her room. On the way she paused by Derek's door and pressed her ear to it. She heard rock music playing and Derek lightly humming. Casey smiled as she listened to him and she suddenly got the feeling of wanting to be with him.

Casey stood behind his door and stared at it, trying to work up the nerve to knock. Derek's humming got louder as the song moved onto it's chorus and Casey enjoyed the sound. Closing her eyes Casey quickly moved her fist to the door and knocked quickly. She just wanted to get it over with.

She heard footsteps approach the door and Derek pulled it open. "Hey Case." He greeted Casey.

Casey smiled at Derek and took in the cookie he held in his hand and the expression on his face. He looked calm and collected, everything that Casey didn't feel. "Hey. I'm just not…wanting to be alone." Casey admitted.

Derek flashed her a look and Casey regretted her choice. Derek was once again seeing her weakness and she hated it. Half of her just wanted to yell at him quickly and stomp off into her room. But the other half loved what had happened at school that day, and she wanted a repeat of it. "Oh. Come in then." Derek stated and he stepped aside for Casey to walk into his room.

Casey took in Derek's messy room. She let out a sigh as she thought to her own room, it was well organized and put together. Nothing out of place. In that moment Casey wished that she could have a room like Derek's. Just have fun and mess things up. It'd be a different pace. "Sit if you want." Derek said from Casey.

Casey walked over to Derek's bed and plopped down on it. "Nice room." She commented taking in the messy floor.

Derek flashed Casey a confused look and shrugged his shoulders. "I honestly don't know what how you meant that."

Casey smiled over at him. "I meant it in a good way. Honest." She stated and Derek smiled at her.

"You don't okay? You've been acting werid the last week or so." Derek said as he sat down next to Casey, finishing off the last of his cookie.

"I'm fine. I'm just….in a haze, you know?" Casey asked and Derek shook his head.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Casey laughed and nodded her head. "I must be insane then." She joked and Derek shook head.

"You're not." He told Casey and she glanced over at him.

Derek gave her that sweet look that he had flashed at her earlier and she smiled at him. It was weird, Derek was the one that Casey was finding some sort of comfort in, while going through a phase. It wasn't what Casey had ever expected. "Thanks." She answered.

Derek nodded his head and Casey watched as his gaze fell to her lips. "Maybe I'm insane too." He stated, not taking his gaze away from her lips.

"Maybe." Casey agreed.

Derek leaned in close to Casey and quickly kissed her on the lips. He pulled away quickly as Casey leaned into the kiss. "I can't stop wondering about that though."

Casey nodded her head and touched Derek on the leg. "I can't stop thinking about it either." She admitted, her voice trembling.

Derek nodded his head and kissed Casey again. Casey forgot about everything going on in her messed up life and she just kissed Derek. Kissing wasn't something that Casey was known for, she'd only kissed one other guy ever, but with Derek it came naturally. Casey leaned into the kiss as Derek moved his hands along Casey's waist and she felt at her best since her mom's wedding.