Chapter 2

"WHAT?!" I shrieked. This can NOT be happening to me! I couldn't have been in this situation. Oh god! I was about ready to murder Mr. Patterson. The project seemed interesting, fun even. But after being paired up with Derek, it only made things worse. I'm sure about now you're probably confused as to why I was freaking out. Well, everyone was assigned a project. We were put into groups of two and the couple had to pretend to be married. I got Derek while Kendra got Max. I was hoping it'd be the chance I could finally get to know Max and maybe even get together with him but my hopes were shred to pieces the moment the words, "Derek Venturi and Casey McDonald, you two are hereby husband and wife. You may kiss the bride" were spoken.

"Me? Kiss her? Uh-uh," Derek said with a slight chuckle. He shook his head laughing and shifted a little on his feet. "I mean, it's Casey. Ew. Who'd kiss that?" I was so distraught about what was happening that I didn't even register what Derek had just said. I didn't even bother making an insult back at him.

"Mr. Patterson, this has to be a mistake. Derek and I? Married? Can't I get someone else?" I said frantically. I wanted to smack my head against a wall.

"Casey, this isn't a joke or a mistake. You two are partners. Now kiss like the other groups have and we can move on down the list," he said with a hint of amusement in his voice. This jerk was actually enjoying this!

"I'll take a rain check," I said disgusted. I shuddered at the thought of us kissing. EW!

"Mrs. Venturi," he started. I rolled my eyes. Don't tell me he was going to call me that until the project was over. I'd surely die. "It's part of the pairing process. I'm not asking you two to make out. Just a peck on the lips."

"But he's my brother!"

"Step-brother actually," Derek chimed in. I smacked his arm. He wasn't helping my case at all. "Like I'd ever be related to that."

"My point exactly. No blood relation. So just do it."

"Hey, I had to kiss Sheldon. You think I wanted to do that?" this random girl Karen said leaning against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest. Oh god. I couldn't get out of it. I had to the kiss the guy I hated most: Derek Venturi. I had to pretend to be married to the guy I hated most: Derek Venturi. I had to be intimate with the guy I hated most: Derek frickin Venturi. I wish it was all one big nightmare and that any minute I'd wake up…but sadly, that wish didn't come true.

I turned to face Derek. I wasn't sure how to go about it. Derek apparently knew what to do. He placed his hands on my waist hesitantly and sighed. I squeezed my eyes shut and willed the moment to go by quickly. Sadly, it didn't. After what felt like forever I felt Derek's cool, minty breath against my lips. It gave me a tingly feeling in the pit of my stomach and I squeezed my eyes tighter. Finally, I felt his lips on mine. It was only for a second or two and I was glad it ended quickly. When his lips touched mine, my stomach did this weird flip thing. I shrugged it off as nausea. I gulped and opened my eyes to see Derek staring directly in my eyes.

"There, that wasn't too hard now was it?" Mr. Patterson chirped. I turned to him and shot him a glare before walking over to the area where the other groups were. I banged my head against the wall and slid down to the floor. Ugh. But that wasn't even the end of it. It only went downhill from there.

After Mr. Patterson assigned everyone into partners he told us all to go back to our seats. I was thankful I sat in the second row and Derek sat in the very back. I didn't have to be near him. It was probably the only comforting feeling all day.

"Alright everyone, I have some other things to discuss. First, in this classroom you are to refer to your partner as either his or her first name, your husband or wife, or any nickname of endearment. I urge you to use nicknames a few times. It'll give you points towards participation. Yes Derek?"

"Does Klutzilla count?" he asked smugly. The class broke into chuckles and giggles. I turned my head to him and glared at him hard. Ugh.

"No. It does not. It's not a form of endearment towards your wife," Mr. Patterson said with a sigh. I shuddered at the reference of being his wife. Yuck.

"Well to me it is," Derek said egging him on. I rolled my eyes and raised my hand. Mr. Patterson nodded me to go on.

"Does Egotistical Boneheaded Player count, Mr. Patterson?" I said grinding my teeth. I heard Derek chuckle in the back of the classroom. Mr. Patterson rolled his eyes at me.

"No Casey. Sweetie, darling, honey…those are terms of endearment. Not insults. Moving on, I am issuing out a letter to your parents. Please have them signed and turned into me by tomorrow. The bell will ring in a few minutes. Chat for the last few minutes," Mr. Patterson said before he passed out the letters. After that he took a seat at his desk. I took this as an opportunity. I stood up from my desk to go have a chat with Mr. Patterson when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see I was facing Max.

"Hey Max," I said shyly. I felt the heat creep up on my cheeks. He smiled at me.

"Hey Case. That was quite a show earlier," he laughed. I bit my lip to hold back a sarcastic comment. "Sorry you have to be paired with such a jerk." I smiled.

"Eh, I live with him already. How much worse can it get?" I giggled. He chuckled.

"Sorry to break up this little tea party but I'd like to have a chat with my WIFE!" Derek said putting a lot of emphasis on the word "wife" so Mr. Patterson could hear. I heard the faint sound of the teacher laughing before I dragged Derek to a corner.

"What do you want darling?" I said grinding my teeth again.

"I can't believe we're only married for five minutes and you're already flirting with another guy. I'm heartbroken sweetie. I thought we had something," he said feigning hurt and sadness. I shoved his shoulder. God he was such a pest. Luckily, whatever Derek wanted to tell me had to wait because I was saved by the bell.

As soon as the bell rang, I rushed out of the English room and went straight to my locker. I didn't care nor wanted to know what Derek was going to say to me. All I wanted to do was crawl under a rock and hide from the world before they knew we were married. Well before they knew we were pretending to be married. I felt a tap on my shoulder and I sighed.

"What?" I said not letting the anger hide from my voice. If it was Derek I swear I'd bang my head into my locker.

"It's just your best friend. Derek isn't in sight," I heard Emily giggle before appearing at my side. "Let me guess, bad day?"

"You have no idea!" I whined about ready to cry or kill myself. Whatever came first.

"Actually, I do. You and Derek made out in English? What is up with that?" Emily said confused. I stared at her incredulously. First of all, it was bad enough it got spread around school that Derek and I kissed that fast but it was even worse that the rumor was twisted around to me and Derek making out. Um, EW! Like that would ever happen.

"WE DID NOT MAKE OUT!" I shouted; a little louder than necessary too. I glanced around and noticed a few people stare at me strangely before moving on. "Look, it was just a little, innocent peck on the lips. That's all. We're forced to be in this ridiculous project where we have to pretend to be married. It's horrible! And in class I have to call him sweetie, darling, and stuff. Emily, why are you laughing?!"

"How can I not? It's funny," she said once her giggles subsided. I rolled my eyes and placed my hands on my hips.

"It is not funny."

"Of course your face is, but we already knew that. Right Emily?" I turned around to glare at my new found husband. He smirked at me. "Hey pumpkin." Was I the only one who didn't find my situation funny? Apparently I was.

"Derek, what do you want?" I sighed. He put his hand in his jacket pocket and pulled out something out. It was two rings. My heart sped up. What were those for?

"Mr. Patterson handed these out to the guys before we left. They're supposed to be our wedding rings. We have to wear them the whole time until the project is over. It's supposed to "symbolize" our "relationship" or whatever," he said rolling his eyes a bit. Great! Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse…it did.

"Fine," I said feeling defeated. He handed me a ring and I placed it on my ring finger of my left hand; Derek did the same. He gave me a head nod and left in the direction of Sam. I turned back to Emily who was grinning. "What?"

"Oh nothing. Nothing at all. See you later, Case," she said waggling her fingers at me. I scrunched my face in confusion. What was that about? I shrugged it off and shut my locker before heading to my next class.

XOX

"Mom, I need you to read and sign this," I said handing her the envelope that Mr. Patterson gave us.

"Yeah, dad I need you to sign it too," he said handing George his envelope. Mom read it aloud as George read along on the paper.

"Dear Parent/Guardian,

My eleventh grade English classes were assigned a new project. This project involves pretending to be married to another member in the classroom. The pairings were boy/girl. This project has to do with getting along and working together with another person. This will also relate to our next section of the class. I only need your signature to verify you are comfortable with this project and approve.

Mr. Patterson."

"Hmm, sounds interesting. I approve. What about you Nora?" George said looking up from the piece of paper.

"Yeah. I don't see why not?" she said with a shrug of her shoulders. Both of them signed the dotted lines and handed the papers back to us. My mom turned to me. "So, who were you paired up with?" I chewed my crouton from my salad slowly and gulped it down. Well, they were bound to found out.

"Derek," I mumbled.

"Come again, sweetie?" mom said bending forward slightly. I sighed. I looked up at Derek to see him smirking at me. I turned away from him and looked at my mom. She was waiting patiently for my reply.

"Derek," I said clearly.

"There's another Derek in your class? I never knew that," she said before taking a sip of her water.

"No mom, the Derek. Your stepson, my stepbrother, Derek Venturi," I said. My mom started to choke on her water and I freaked out. "Mom are you ok?" She gulped down her water and as soon as she did she started laughing hysterically. I stared at her confused. One minute she was choking and the next she was laughing. "What's so funny?"

"You? And Derek? Pretending to be married. Your English teacher sure didn't know what he was getting into when he assigned you guys as partners," she laughed. I shifted uncomfortably in my chair.

"You aren't mad or anything?" I asked. Maybe if she was upset about it, I could get a new partner. I wished.

"Mad? Oh heavens no. I actually think this will be good for you two."

"It will?" Derek asked.

"Oh yes. Maybe it'll teach you to get along. Or to at least be civil. Well, I'm done eating, Lizzie wash the dishes tonight," she said before leaving the table with George. I looked back at Derek to see him staring down at his plate.

"So you guys are married huh? Did you guys have to kiss?" Edwin asked smugly. I smacked my forehead with the palm of my hand.

"Ed, shut it."

A/N: Hey everyone. I'm happy with the feedback I got. 9 reviews! YAY! Could be better but I'll let it slide. Thanks to the ones who did review. And thanks for the 16 people who are reading it...I know who you are...Ok, that sounds really creepy. But it's true. This is on the alert list for 16 people. Haha. Thanks to sing2me091 and xxBiTTeRxxSWeeT for putting it on their favorites. Anyways, now that my thank yous are out of the way, I shall go. I suppose. Ok, now I'm just rambling. So, how is everyone? Hope you're having a good day. Mine was ok. I'm just buying time. Haha. I like writing these author's notes. It's fun. Haha. And it's official, I'm weird. Anyways, don't be afraid to drop a review. Hope you liked the chapter! Oh, and if you guys ever have an idea or suggestion you want me to use let me know. If I like it I'll use it and give you credit in the author's note. Last time I did this, I got great suggestions and it made the story a lot better. Anyways, thanks for reading all of this. Bye for now!

Julie