A/N: This is the LAST boring chapter of this story. (Hopefully!) It is basically going to lead to a confrontation between Casey and Alan in the next chapter. But this will show what Alan sees that allows him to believe his assumptions are correct.

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Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN LIFE WITH DEREK!

Chapter 4: Observations

A/N: Alan's thoughts are underlined

Four months later:

Alan has finally settled into his new school. He has joined many of the school's activities. He has established himself as one of the nicest, smartest, sincere students at Thompson High. With the exception of a few enemies, he has made friends with many of the students.

Alan's strongest friendship lies with two people. Derek and Casey. Derek's friendship with Alan is weird. At first, Derek mainly pranked on Alan because he was the new kid. That all changed when Alan joined the hockey team and became an alternate captain. They put their adversity behind them and on the hockey rink are a force to be reckoned with. Now, they mainly talk about hockey and since Alan joined the hockey team they have become closer. Being close to Derek has given Alan popularity and an image. However, Alan never brags on being the new star of the hockey team, he allows Derek to take all the credit.

Casey's friendship with Alan is the complete opposite. Casey and Alan shared the notion of being removed from their old home and forced into a new life. They immediately bond with that. Casey finds Alan to be a reliable, trustworthy, and modest. Alan finds Casey to be a complicated girl with many insecurities that are similar to his own. They build this indestructable bond between each other. Casey discovers that Alan is an incredibly shy and nervous person. Alan knows Casey has something deeply hidden and uses her perfectionism as a shield from that secret. Many say that they should be a couple because they are perhaps the perfect couple. They enjoy many of the same activities, interests, and morals. However, Alan is convinced that Casey is the exact match for Derek.

Being in association with Derek and Casey, Alan has also become friends with Sam, Ralph, and Emily. He looks to them for his break from the constant fighting between Derek and Casey. Which has become more frequent in the past months.

So they fight. That's not going to put my thoughts out of my head. I've said it before and I'll say it again, a couple that fights is a healthy couple. Proof of that would be my friends, Danny and Lilly. They always fight one minute, then the next you see they reconcile for a while then start fighting again. I call it a couple's cycle: They fight, they apoligize, then they fight again, they make up again.

Over the past months Alan has noticed more of Derek and Casey's unusual behavior. He sees them walk into school at the same time often walking away from each other. He sees when Derek pulls a prank on Casey. He hears when Derek ruins Casey day often because of the scream of his name that reveberates throughout the school. Whenever he is talking to Derek or Casey the other interrupts their conversation because of some little prank.

Then there is the side of Derek and Casey that supports his theory that they are a couple. When he goes to visit Casey at her locker, he often hears about Derek. Whether it is 'Derek this or Derek that'. Those conversations never revolve around anyone else, only Derek.

Alan listens intently to her little rants about Derek and his behavior. He notices how her eyes become uneasy when she says his name. During these conversations, Alan only wishes she would stop hiding this secret, a secret that he knows involves Derek.

Meanwhile Alan tries to make Derek talk about Casey. However Derek ignores the constant questions about Casey. He always directs them back to something else and goes into a different conversation. Then when the conversation about Casey is unavoidable he grows tense. He often winces when he hears her name and tries to change the subject. Alan again notices the reaction and his smile grows wider.

Derek and Casey both act uneasy when the other is mentioned. She rambles on and on about Derek. Derek wants to avoid the subject of Casey altogether. Why? What is the explanation for them ignoring each other when you constantly see them doing something together?

If I made a guess it would be that they are so wrapped up in their own minds and don't see the attraction between them. They choose to ignore it to keep their "friendship" secure. Whenever the other is mentioned, I can bet a part of their brain wants to just shout out that they are in love with the other.

I must admit that they cover their feelings so well with their "friends" that they don't realize that I take everything out of their interactions. I can see how they are acting is all a cover up. It is a disguise, masking their obvious feeling for each other. Since they are too blind to their attraction; how about I give a little tap and convince them to admit their feelings. I mean it is the least I can do for my newfound friends. What's the worst that could happen?

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What's the worst that could happen? Alan has yet to find out. Also notice how he is missing a HUGE fact about Derek and Casey's relationship. Who will be first to tell him the truth and nothing but the truth. Okay so the stage is set for the next chapter. I promise you, this will be the end of the backstory. The next chapter begins the drama, romance, and comedy of Life with Derek.

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