Somebody to Love

Disclaimer: Does not own Life With Derek

Chapter Eight: Spell It Out

For a couple weeks now, Derek had noticed a sudden change in Casey's attitude toward him. Less cold and straight forward. And even less words were spoken than before. He knew she knew something he didn't…but what? He decided to take further action to gain the facts she held inside of her mind. So after dinner was over and the plates cleared, Derek went to Casey's room to have a little chat.

"Hey Case," He said as he waltzed into her door.

"Um, can you please leave Derek? I'm busy doing something called 'homework.' You know, the little thing you never do?" She said in an oddly playful tone.

"Don't worry sis, I just came in here to tell you…." He said, not knowing what to say.

She turned around from her computer to look at him, "Came in here to tell me…what?"

He searched for words to tell her, "Came in here to tell you that… I know."

Casey made a face, "You know what?"

Just then, Derek got an idea, "I know your secret," He said with a new found smile on his face.

"My secret…." She gasped, "My secret! How did you find out? Did Emily tell you? Oh my god, I'm going to kill her! I told her not to tell anyone, and what does she do? She goes and blabs it to you, that's what she does. Hmph, I'm going to strangle her," She said with a disgusted face.

"Yeah…" Derek said a little confused, but played along quite happily, "You're adorable sis," And with that, he strutted out of the room.

Later that night, Casey decided to have a long discussion with Emily about 'Keeping Secrets From The Enemy.'

"Em?"

"Yeah, Case?"

She took out her note cards and cleared her throat, "Listen, I know you enjoy talking to my alleged step brother. But spilling out my secrets is not the way to converse with him. Perhaps, maybe you should try to-"

"Casey McDonald, what in the world are you talking about?" She said, cutting her off.

"About you…?"

"How does that speech apply to me?"

"Because you told Derek that I love him," She stated in a stern but quiet voice.

"I did what?! Casey, I know I'm a gossip, but I do not at all talk about your secrets with anybody else…especially with Derek. Come on, you know my better than that…don't you?"

After that, Casey felt a little embarrassed that she would jump to conclusions about her best friend. "I'm sorry, Em. I just you know, got a little scared. I don't want Derek to know, you know? Well, at least for now."

"It's alright, Case. I understand…but how do you know that he knows anyway? I mean, did he tell you? Did you hear it from anyone?"

"Well today after dinner, Derek came into my room telling me that 'he knows my secret.' I mean, what else does that mean?"

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out…"

The next morning, Emily began her quest to find out what Derek knows that Casey doesn't.

And during lunch, Emily gave Casey the report…

"Okay, Case. I think I've asked just about everybody, including the school's guidance counselor. And each and every one of them know nothing about your secret."

"Em, are you sure? Maybe they're lying…ask again?" Casey said with a hopeful smile.

"Casey…really?" Emily said irritated.

She sighed, "It's okay, Em. You don't have to…if you don't want to. I guess I'll just ask him myself and risk complete embarrassment from my family once they find out that I love my step-"

Emily grunted as she was listening to Casey's guilt trip. "Casey! Fine. I'll do it."

"Yay!" She squealed, "You're the best, Em!"

"Yeah, yeah. You owe me."

Emily decided to take a new action. Like being more up front with the situation. She was going to ask the 'Devil' himself. After fifth period, Emily saw Derek roaming the halls unacquainted and saw it as the perfect moment to confront him about the whole situation.

"Derek..?" She asked.

"Emily?" He said mocking her.

"Um. Do you really know Casey's…secret?"

"Why, Emily. Yes I do, and I think it's…shocking," He said trying to see if that's the right way to put it, seeing as he actually didn't have a clue.

"Oh…well, how do you feel…knowing? I mean, she's going crazy that you know."

Derek smiled, "Really? And what exactly do I know?"

"You know…how she's in love with you."

Derek's mouth dropped to the floor, but tried to keep his composure. How was he supposed to respond to that?

"She lov-loves me?" He said in a soft, gentle voice.

Emily gasped. "You didn't know? … OH MY GOD! Casey is going to kill me."

"N-no, Em. Don't worry, I won't say anything."

When Derek got home from school, he went straight to his very messy, but comfortable bed.

"So Klutzilla is in love with me, huh?…" Derek Venturi smiled and let out a slight chuckle as he dozed off to a long, comfortable nap.

The dinner table that night was at it's highest peak of awkward. It was as if you could smell the tension along with macaroni and cheese Nora had made for dinner. No one made a sound. Not even George attempted to break the silence with any of his corny jokes, or old stories from high school. Whatever was going on with Casey and Derek, the rest of the family didn't want to interfere because they knew that they would only make things worse.

"Can someone please pass me the bread sticks?" Casey asked politely, breaking the silence from the noises of forks clinking to plates and random sighs from Marti in response to the quietness.

As Derek went to pass Casey the basket of breadsticks, the family heard a huge thud on the floor.

"Oh my gosh, I spilled my drink!" Casey shrieked.

As Casey repeatedly looked back and forth from her spilled drink to Derek's face, Lizzie noticed a sincere look in Casey's eyes whenever her head came back up to look at Derek.

"Oh my gosh," Lizzie mumbled in a short, low breath, "Klutzilla is back."