I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS IN THIS STORY, DISNEY DOES!

Chapter Two: Making A Deal with Derek

Asking Derek for help was a stupid idea, but if he told Emily his plan she might talk him out of it. No, Emily needed to believe, like Casey, that Noel had died. Plus, Derek had offered to help. Noel shook his head. Why couldn't he just tell her? Or convince her some other way? Noel took a deep breath and leaned back on his bed. He had to disappear for awhile. Like they say, you never realize what you've got until it's gone. Noel smiled, it was a sad smile mind you, his thoughts turning towards everything that could possibly go wrong. Casey could hate him after this or fall in love with someone else. He could lose all of his friends. He picked up his cell phone and dialed Derek's number. "You can do this, Noel." He mumbled to himself and pressed send.

"Hello?" Derek sounded half-dead, on the other end of the phone.

"Hey Derek, its Noel. Um listen I was wondering if you'd help me out with something."

Derek laughed, "So you really thought I'd help."

Noel rolled his eyes, "No, Derek. But I really had no other choice. I need you to do something for me."

"Why don't you ask Emily to help you? Or one of Casey's other friends?"

"Because of the simple fact that they're her friends. Derek, I need someone who can lie to her without feeling guilty, a.k.a. Derek Venturi."

Derek grinned, "Noel, I didn't know you hadn't in you."

Noel sighed, "Look, this is hard on me as it is, don't make it worse. I need Casey to think I'm dead."

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Derek dropped the phone. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. Noel's plan was to fake his own death? Was he crazy? Derek picked the phone back up and sat down on his bed, "Noel, are you absolutely out of your mind? Casey would kill you when she finds out."

Noel shook his head, "I really have no other choice, Derek." And he hung up.

Derek walked downstairs to put up the phone. Casey was sitting at the table reading. Derek sat down across from her, "Hey, Case."

Casey looked up, "What do you want, Derek?"

Derek shrugged.

Casey sighed and stood up to leave. Derek stood up as well, walking behind her.

Casey spun around, annoyed, "Der-rek! What do you want?"

Derek smirked, "Nothing."

Casey rolled her eyes and stomped into her room. Derek shook his head, "Noel, you don't have a clue as to what you're getting yourself into."