Chapter 3: His Cooperation

TYPICAL DISCLAIMERS APPLY: LWD IS NOT MINE.

"What? I don't want that jerk to be included in any of these!" Casey exclaimed. After all, she could still remember the annoying pranks Derek has played on her last week that includes her cheering uniform being dumped in the garbage can. Talk about real suave and mature. "No way am I begging that egoistic player." Casey persisted, rolling her eyes at her friends' crazy suggestion.

"But why, Casey? He'd be the perfect boy toy!" Kendra countered, ignoring Casey's pleas. "Just think about this, he and Max loathe each other. He would be the perfect choice. Unless you want to include Tinker in this."

"But Derek hates me, too, remember?" Casey interjected. "He thinks I'm annoying and a total keener and I hate him because he's a total man-whore."

"Yeah, but I think he hates Max a lot more. He has this constant competition with him, you know." Sally insisted. "Come on, Casey."

"But-" Casey stammered, trying to protest.

"Casey, I get that you think Derek's a bully and everything, but do you want Max back or not? If you do, you're going to do everything, right?" Kendra asked her.

Casey looked at both her friends, and she sighed. "Fine. I'll do it. Let's pray that this works."

"Hey Kendra! Over here!" Sam shouted. Well actually, it sounded more like Ey Endre! Ovhur yir due to all the pizza he's currently munching on.

Yep. Disgusting.

Kendra just shook her head and approached their table. Their meaning Sam, Derek and Ralph's.

"Wow, Sammy boy. You're quite the charmer, aren't you?" she asked him with a smirk as she and Sally took seats their seats next to them.

"Sad part is that his lines work on so many girls," Ralph quipped.

"Fuck off. You're just jealous," Sam told him, smirking.

"Actually, they don't fall for his words, but his face and body," Sally commented.

"I couldn't agree more." Derek told him with a smirk, obviously enjoying the situation.

"Shut up, morons. I'm right here you know?" Sam exclaimed.

Ralph and Sally broke out in hysterics when they saw Sam pouting.

"You're such a baby," Sally commented.

"Hey! Where the fuck is Casey?" Ralph commented out of no where. "Isn't she always with you two?" he asked.

"I don't know, she should already be here," Kendra said, looking around the diner to see if she had missed her friend when she had come in.

"Knowing her she probably tripped and broke her ankle or something," Sally said.

"True," Kendra agreed.

"Broke her ankle?" Ralph asked incredulously.

"Yes, I did before and I'd prefer if you don't remind me of that fact. Painful memories," Casey winced, moving from where she was behind him to take a seat between him and Kendra. "And you were wrong Sally; I didn't tripped nor walk into a wall today."

"You didn't? But you've done that every day since first year! It's like clock work."

"It's practically tradition," Kendra agreed.

"Who would have thought that perfect McDonalds is such a Klutzilla?" Derek commented with an under tone of taunting.

Casey chose to ignore his comment, thinking that she'd have to stay on his good side if she would ask for his help. "Oh shut up. In my defense, it's really hard to see when you're all bleary eyed and sweaty after cheerleading practice. It's an honest mistake."

"Stop making it look like it's normal, Casey. You trip on flat sidewalks and you walk into walls. You can't possibly justify that one." Sally laughed.

"What I'm wondering right now is how you didn't trip on your way here," Kendra said.

"Just didn't," Casey said proudly. "Although I did have a little mishap with the door,"

"How little?" asked a curious Sam.

Casey's face darkened once she mentioned it, "I pulled at the door rather forcefully rather then pushing. I think you can already figure out what resulted from that." she muttered, blushing in embarrassment as the entire table erupted in laughter.

"You'd think that after all these years, you'd finally figure out that the door said push instead of pull," Kendra teased her.

"It's not my fault! My brain is practically dead after cheerleading practice! And besides, I haven't had my coffee yet! I cannot function properly without it. You can basically say that I'm in a sleep induced coma until I have my second cup."

"Holy crap! Stop using such big words, Casey. It's already after school. Leave those shit in our classrooms, okay?" Sam said.

"Why, intimidated?" Kendra teased.

"Not a chance in hell. One night with myself and that beast is tamed." Sam said, wiggling his eyebrows. The girls just rolled their eyes.

"Dude, you're forgetting the fact that she has a boyfriend," Derek dryly commented. "Where is he anyway, aren't you two always attached by the hip?" he asked.

Casey shifted uncomfortably once he made that comment. Sally immediately noticed her discomfort and answered for her, "You think he's an annoying asshole, so I figured you'd be rejoicing over the fact that he's not here rather than asking for him. Are you secretly harboring passionate love for him, Derek?" she teased him.

"You wish," Derek said, scoffing. His ego obviously offended by the comment.

"Crap. Mom's home. I have to go." Casey announced.

"Well, we'll go, too. See you guys tomorrow."

As everyone got up to leave, Kendra pulled Derek to her so that they were walking behind the rest of the group, "What's going on?" he asked, brows furrowing in confusion.

"I need your help with something."

Derek looked at her, surprised by how serious she was. "What is it?

Kendra smiled at him, "Just please meet me at the park at nine," she told him. Derek just nodded. Kendra then walked away from him and then joined Casey and Sally.

"What the hell did I just agree to?"

TBC.