Well, this is it; the final chapter of Out of the Blue.

I'm sick right now and I decided that I finally needed to update this, so here it be!

I just wanted to thank all of my reviewers, you guys are amazing and very inspiring…thank you so, so much!

Without further ado, here is the (short-sorry that it's SO short!) Chapter 15.

R&R and please, no flames!

Lotsa love,

Degrassichick

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PS: Sorry if it's cheesy. I really suck at writing conclusions!

-♥-

Chapter 15

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"Em, I can't go through with this." I proclaim into my cell phone a little over two hours after my conversation with Derek over his "mystery date" tonight.

Emily scoffs on the other end, "Case, you can too and you know it. Did you tell Derek where to meet his date tonight?"

"On the couch." I state in a matter-of-fact tone.

"At what time?" Emily asks.

"Seven."

"And his date will arrive wearing-"

"Em!" I cut her off, "I didn't really find the need to get that technical with him. I just told him that his date would be there at seven o'clock and to meet her on the couch because they were going to watch a movie."

Emily laughs, "Well, it's six forty-five right now. So in fifteen minutes Derek will meet his date for this evening. And he's gonna be so in love."

I laugh, "Alright Em, I'll call you later on tonight to tell you how it all ends up."

"K, see ya." Emily chirps and clicks off her phone.

I sigh and toss my cell to the bed before glancing at my mirror and pulling my dark hair out from it's ponytail, letting it cascade down my shoulders.

"What are you all dressed up for?" a voice asks, making me jolt.

I spin around and see Derek leaning against my doorframe.

And oh my God does he look good.

He's wearing a simple button down shirt and a pair of khakis with his leather jacket on over the shirt, it looks completely normal, but for some reason it's making my stomach fill with butterflies.

I gulp.

"Case?" he asks, glancing my outfit up and down.

I'm wearing a gray camisole with a shrunken denim jacket over it with a light blue jean fringed skirt that falls to my thighs and a simple pair of black flip flops, "I…I have a date tonight."

Derek's face pales, "You have a date?"

I nod, "Uh huh. I'm supposed to meet him at seven, so I have to go." I state awkwardly, grabbing my black clutch from where it is sitting on my bed, "So, I'll see you later on. Good luck on your date." I say and brush past him on my way out the door.

I suddenly pause to turn and look at him, "And Derek? Be a gentlemen, open the door for her, okay?"

Derek looks almost offended, "When am I not a gentlemen?"

I scoff, "All the time?"

He rolls his eyes.

"Anyways, just letting you know. See ya." I say before turning and walking off down the stairs. I can feel Derek's eyes following my body with each step that I take.

I let out a sigh as I hit the foyer before I turn to glance at him once more.

He looks heartbroken.

Man, he took that whole "I-have-a-date-tonight" thing pretty harsh.

I suck in a deep breath before turning back to face the door and opening it up, stepping outside and closing it behind me.

-¤-

Casey has a date tonight.

She's hooking me up with some girl that I know I will show zero interest in, and she's going on a date.

Life is cruel. Cruel, cruel, cruel.

I hear giggling coming from Lizzie's room.

I don't even think I want to know what they have been doing. She and Edwin have been locked up in her room for over two hours now.

"I want a pink one!" I hear Marti exclaim.

I glance downstairs and see Marti, Dad, and Nora all slipping on their coats.

"Marti, you don't have a pink coat." Dad tries to reason with her.

"But I want one!" she squeals.

I chuckle and make my way down the stairs.

Nora glances up at me and smiles, "Well, don't we look handsome?"

I smirk, "Date."

"Of course." Dad says and laughs, "We're taking Marti to a friend's house and then Nora and I are going out for dinner. So will you be alright manning the fort by yourself tonight?"

I scoff, "Of course."

He smiles at me before placing a hand on the small of Nora's back, guiding her and Marti-who is holding Nora's hand-out the door.

"Bye Smerek!" Marti exclaims, waving at me before the door shuts behind me.

I sigh and glance at the clock, 6:55.

Oh man.

-♥-

I glance down at the silver watch on my wrist, 6:55.

I can't do this.

I am standing against the side of our house, I watch as George, Nora, and Marti pull out of the driveway.

Oh man, I can't do this.

-¤-

The doorbell rings at exactly seven o'clock.

I sigh and get up from the couch, sucking in a deep breath before making my way towards the door.

I grip the handle and pull it open. But when I see who is standing on the porch, my jaw drops.

"Surprise." Casey says, a grin spreading across her face.

"What the…" I say, glancing at her in shock, "What are you doing here?"

Casey eyes me confusingly, "Aren't you going to let me in? Be a gentleman, Derek."

"You're my date." I clarify.

Casey blushes, "Seems that way."

"But, why?"

Not that I'm complaining, I am definitely not complaining.

Casey steps past me before sighing and turning to face me, "Well, you see, two years ago, my mom got married to this one guy. And he had this son who was around my age and I used to be so infuriated by him. But this past week, I've shared some of the most mind-blowing moments in my life with him and I just haven't been able to get him out of my head." Casey says, shaking her head in surprise.

Oh my God.

I run a hand through my hair, "Funny story Casey. It's almost just like you, only with my stepmother's daughter."

Casey smiles, "So…what are you going to do about it?" she asks, twirling her fingers around one another.

I smirk before circling my arms around her waist and pulling her towards me, our lips pressing together in a passionate kiss. It isn't as rushed as the others have been, this one is more tender, more romantic, more…amazing than any kiss I've ever experienced in my entire life.

And thank God it's with Casey.

-♥-

The cat's out of the bag.

Derek knows I love him.
And if he still doesn't, he's incredibly dense.

"So where do we go from here?" Derek asks as the two of us break away from the kiss.

I sigh, "There's always the movies…" I say with a laugh.

"What about my dad and your mom?" he asks.

I bite my lip before glancing up at him with a smile on my face, "If they find out, they find out. If they don't, they don't. Right now Derek, I could honestly care less."

Derek's eyes widen, "Well that's a surprise."

I laugh and smack his arm, "Shut up."

"I could care less too, Case." Derek says before pressing his lips up against mine again. And again. And again. And again.

I giggle and cling to him tightly, "I love you Derek." I whisper.

Derek's face tenses, "Are you serious?"

I break away and nod, "And don't you dare tell me otherwise about your feelings towards me, Derek Venturi. I have your little sister as evidence of what you've said about me."

Derek laughs, "Whoever said I was going to tell you different?"

I grin before pressing my lips against his and hugging him tightly, "So what are we going to do?"

"We can keep it a secret for now, and when the timing is right. We'll just let everybody know."

I nod, "Sounds like a plan to me."

Derek smirks, "Then a plan it is."

"Edwin, let's just thank God that both Derek and Casey are on dates tonight and George, Mom, and Marti aren't home, because if people find out about this then-" Lizzie stops abruptly when she spots Derek and I together in the foyer.

"Uh…" Edwin says awkwardly, releasing his hand that is laced around Lizzie's from Lizzie's and letting it drop to his side.

Derek laughs, "Nice, Ed." He says, lacing his arm around my waist.

Lizzie eyes us questioningly, a pleading expression on her face, "Can you guys keep a secret?"

I glance at Derek and grin before turning back towards my sister, "Can you?"

-♥-

Well, that's the end of it.

I know this chapter is a lot shorter than the rest of the chapters…so kind of think of it as a…conclusion/epilogue. LoL.
Anyways, thank you SO MUCH for all of your reviews! You guys are amazing and were very supportive when I hit my really bad rough patch this summer, so thank you, thank you, thank you!

I'll have a new chapter of Life without Derek up soon.

In the meantime, R&R and please, no flames!

Lotsa love, degrassichick