Disclaimer: Still don't own Life with Derek.

Chapter #3--Public Displays of . . . Something

Derek saw no problem in taking his behavior public. If anything, it was even more fun. Sometimes Casey would blush or shiver or become visibly agitated. Other times she would call out his name and start to yell at him only to realize she was making a scene.

It was a rush for him. He had always enjoyed making her mad, and there was a certain thrill in seeing her so worked up about this issue in particular.

Not to mention that he enjoyed being physically close to her. There was no denying that she was pretty, and Derek had become comfortable enough with himself to admit that he found her physically attractive. Physically being the key word in his mind. He told himself that this was a far as his "feelings" went.

The whole thing was so great that he almost kicked himself for not thinking of it sooner.

No one really seemed to care either. Most people, he figured, probably realized he was just having a little fun teasing his stepsister. And if anyone thought there was anything more to it then this, no one really seemed to judge him. After all, he was Derek, and he hit on everything without a guy chromosome—why would his stepsister be an exception?

Of course, Casey seemed to see things differently. He was amused to note that every time he would say something to her, she would look around as if trying to discern who heard it. This was another plus in Derek's mind.

The only other person who seemed the least bit perturbed by Derek's behavior was Emily. Probably, he thought, because she was Casey's best friend.

Derek and Emily had dated for a short time, but it had ended with her dumping him. And she didn't really seem to be jealous as much as irritated.

One day he was leaning over Casey as she got stuff out of her locker and was saying something mildly scandalous to her when he caught Emily pursuing her lips and shaking her head in disapproval. He found this mildly annoying but not nearly annoying enough to induce him to stop.

Sam seemed pretty amused by the whole thing. Derek would catch him smiling at him whenever he would make these comments, and in his mind, he gave Sam props for being cool with the joke given his history with Casey.

Then one day he found out why Sam was really smiling.

They were in the hallway getting ready to go home. Derek nudged Sam and motioned for him to head toward Casey's locker. He had set up something totally sweet and couldn't wait to see Casey's reaction . . .

She entered her combination (her birthday; how much more obvious could she get?) and Derek smirked at her shocked expression when she opened the locker.

There, on the door, for all to see, was a large picture of him, around which he had drawn a big red heart.

"Der-ek!" She screamed.

His smirk grew more intense as he watched her face turn an exquisite shade of pink.

"I bet she imagines herself screaming that in bed," he remarked loudly.

Casey looked like she was going to explode.

Then came devastating comment number 2 . . .

"You know, D," Sam said knowingly, "it seems to me like you're the one who thinks about that."

"WHAT?!!" he said turning to his "best friend," as Casey raised her eyebrows in amusement.

"Well," said Sam, "you are the one who can't keep your hands off her these days. Plus, it's always seemed like you had a thing for her."

"Did you get hit in the head with a hockey puck or something?!" Derek shouted at him.

"Come on man," Sam said calmly, "you literally attacked me when I started dating her and you insisted that we play all those pranks on Max when they started going out."

Derek saw a look of amusement and triumph pass across Casey's features. It was like a frickin' cartoon light bulb had gone on over her head.

"He was the captain of the football team!" he shouted.

"Um, D," said Sam, "you're making a bit of a scene."

Derek looked around him and laughed nervously when he saw all the people who were staring at him.

"Go about your business people!" he shouted, at which the onlookers dispersed. He was still Derek after all.

"You know Derek," Casey said mysteriously, "two can play at this game."

And with that, she walked off down the hall, with Emily in tow, leaving Derek standing there speechless.