I'm sorry. I know I said you would find out who was pulling Alan's arm at the end of the last chapter... Well, you won't find out right now. (It may pop up in a flashback chapter I am writing.) The reason is because of the time I'm take on this. I need to refocus and get the story finished and that part would take too much time.
And after this chapter I have all the Dasey you could ask for. So just wait one more chapter for Dasey action.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
A/N: So, I've been thinking. Since LWD is going down the crapper. (Yes, I just said that, LOL) I thought of how my story could happen.
This story is my alternate Season 4, starting right after "Happy New Schoolyear". (Which fits the storyline). Which means that I'll bring Truman into the story. But I have a plan for that (a funny plan). Trust me he won't be in here for long.
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DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN LIFE WITH DEREK
Chapter 6: A Little Help from My Friends
A/N: Alan's thoughts are underlined.
Okay... so Casey has the major crush on Derek. Do I really need to ask him or just figure out this plan. I don't need a "plan". I have a plan, (Well an outline of a plan) and now I need people to help me execute this plan.
Tuesday, one day after Casey's confession: Alan once again walks into school. He grabs his books from his locker and heads over to Emily's locker. He takes out the note from his pocket and slips it into her locker. He looks around and quickly leaves for his first class.
Later that day, Emily stops at her locker to switch books. Casey is talking to her but she is barely listening to her ranting about Derek and everything else wrong in her life. She sees a note fly out of her locker. She looks at it and immediately knows who handwriting it is. She sees the words, "A/V Lab 3:00. DO NOT bring Casey".
"Casey? Casey? CASEY!" Emily yells to get Casey's attention.
".... and Derek just had to..." Casey rambles then stops. "Sorry, Emily. What were you saying?"
"Why don't you relax or go talk to Paul." Emily's annoyance visible in her voice. "I have to get to class."
In class Emily sees Sam and sits next to him. Sam looks at her in confusion. Emily hands him the note and Sam reads it a couple of times before he puts it all together.
"Why does Alan need to talk to you...alone?" Sam asks looking at the note.
"I don't know but whatever it is..." Emily looks at Sam. "It must be important."
"I'll go with you." Sam says.
"Thanks, Sam." Emily says.
After Lunch: Casey is walking briskly towards Paul's office. Paul is eating his sandwich when the door opens and slams shut. Paul chokes on the piece of sandwich in his mouth. After drinking some of his bottled water he stops cough and sees Casey deep in thought.
"Casey?" Paul asks.
"Paul, I have a problem." Casey says.
"Derek?" Paul asks.
"No... Alan." Casey says.
"Alan? What did he do?" Paul asks. "He seems so quiet."
"Well, when he talks he has a way with words." Casey explains. "Sometimes he says stupid things."
"Let me guess he said something about you that was stupid." Paul says.
"Not stupid in context, insightful and well thought out, just the wrong time to say it." Casey says.
"So his timing is off?" Paul asks.
"Yes." Casey says. "I won't tell you what he said, but it caused me to put a certain someone in the context of my life."
"Okay, so that is that." Paul says hopeful. "No new news about Derek, right?"
"Well..." Casey begins.
"Why do I open my mouth." Paul mumbles to himself.
"Derek is still the same guy he was before he met Sally. An inconsiderate jerk with no feelings for anything or anyone, who chases girls as if they hold the key to life, and who has no morals." Casey says. "However, there is something different about him."
"How so?" Paul asks.
"Well, ever since Sally left Derek hasn't been the same person. Those traits I listed to you are still who he is on the inside, however, when you look at him he doesn't fit the mold anymore. It's like he's a shell of himself." Casey explains.
"Did the break up really affect him that seriously?" Paul asks.
"How should I know? I'm only telling you what I see from him." Casey says angrily. "If you want his thoughts, IF any, ask him."
"I will tell you I miss seeing him go out with a different girl each day. While I don't approve it; it did make things better in the house. I was happy with him being distracted. Now that he is not distracted he pulls pranks on me. He treats me like I don't matter. He still challenges me and continues to make my life difficult." Casey says.
"So usual fighting with him?" Paul asks.
"Yeah, and that's about it." Casey says as the bell rings. "I should be heading to class."
"Okay, take care, Casey." Paul shouts as Casey walks out of his office.
"Wow, Alan was right. She does care for him." Paul says to himself
In the hallway:
"Casey?" Someone says.
"What do you want, Truman." Casey asks viciously.
"I don't want anything, with the exception of a date." Truman smirks.
"Forget it, Truman." Casey says. "Find some other girl to stalk."
"Ouch." Truman mocks. "Well when you stop being scared of your attraction to me, then we'll have our date."
"Goodbye." Casey says walking away.
A/V Lab 3:00 :
"Where is she?" Alan asks himself.
Emily walks into the A/V Lab. She looks at her watch. She sees Sam running down the hall just as the door is closing.
"Whew. Made it." Sam sighs.
"Quiet." Emily says. "Alan doesn't know that yo..."
"That Sam followed you." Alan completes her sentence. "Oh, I knew."
"Alan, listen..." Emily tries to explain.
"No, it's okay. I figured you would bring someone." Alan says. "Thank heaven it wasn't Casey."
"Why not Casey?" Emily asks.
"Damn." Alan mumbles "Well, because what I'm about to tell you doesn't leave this room. It stays between us and if Casey or Derek were to find out what we talk about, then I'm in a world of trouble."
"Okay, so why did you want us both here?" Sam asks.
"Emily, you're Casey's best friend and Sam, you're Derek's best friend." Alan begins. "And I need your help that involves a problem with both of them."
"If you are trying to make us get them to act civil to one another, you might as well save your breath because they will never..." Emily begins.
"I'm trying to get them to fall in love with one another." Alan says over Emily.
"WHAT?" Emily yells.
"WHAT?" Sam yells.
"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND!" Emily shouts.
"Maybe..." Alan says. "But I have evidence that may convince you otherwise."
"Alan..." Emily says.
"Emily, let him explain." Sam says.
"Thanks, Sam." Alan says. "As I was saying; Yes, I want to get Derek and Casey together. And all you have to do is listen to what I say and then you can choose to leave or help me."
"Fine." Emily says.
"Now, I don't think that you have ever heard about what I said to Casey after you left the first day. It's understandable because she would rather have people believe our conversation never happened." Alan says. "The story is I thought Derek and Casey were a couple and she started laughing at me. Then Derek, Sam and Ralph came up to me and "laid down the law". And again I mentioned something about Derek and Casey being a couple, and Derek froze for a minute then started laughing."
"Sam. What did you do?" Emily says.
"I- I..." Sam stutters.
"He didn't say anything. Maybe after I left he did, but it's pointless now." Alan exlains. "So as I was saying, since that moment I've been watching them. Seeing how they act around one another. See if I was missing something. And until last night, I thought I had it all figured out."
"Casey would die before she could ever feel affectionate for Derek." Emily says.
"I beg the differ." Alan says. "She told me last night."
"Yeah, okay. I'll believe that when pigs start flying and roll around in flowers." emily says sarcastically.
"Quick, Sam. Get the pig." Alan laughs. "Sorry."
"But it's true." Alan says. "She had invited me to dinner last night and I again made a comment about Derek and Casey being a couple. After Casey's mom and Derek's dad went about giving me the "they're related" speech, Casey went off at me in her room. I confronted her and asked her again if she had any feelings. She told me the whole story."
"What story?" Emily asks.
"How she was slowly growing a crush on Derek. How she has fallen madly in love with him." Alan explains. "She told me that part of the reason her past relationships failed was because of her growing feelings. She could not get Derek off her mind and now since she is so close yet so far away she begins to feel the pressure of telling him."
"You are crazy. Casey would never say anything like that." Emily says. "She hates Derek. And he has made it clear that he hates her also."
"Love. Hate." Alan begins. "I know there is a fine line between them. Between the hate in Derek and Casey's relationship, there is love. I can see it. I should know because I've seen it before and now my two best friends in the entire world are together."
"Alan, do you think that Derek could ever look at Casey without insulting her in some way?" Emily asks.
"All the evidence points to Derek and Casey having hidden feelings about each other." "Edwin and Lizzie see it. I asked Paul to look for tell-tale signs when he talks to Casey. I know I've seen them act strangely around each other. And now, I need their best friends to see them as I do."
"Sam, could you ever believe in a world where Derek and Casey were a couple."
"Uhh.... Uhhh." Sam stutters.
"Sam just say what's on your mind. Don't become another Ralph." Alan jokes.
"I've seen it. Just once, about a year ago when Casey and I were going out." Sam explains. "Derek made up this "male code" where best friends could not go out with their friend's siblings, step included. At first I thought his logic made sense but then we got into a fight over it. I remember saying to Casey that we were fighting over the male code. He inadvertently said we are fighting over that. I realized then he was fighting for Casey."
"Sam, you don't believe all that crap you just said." Emily asks.
"Well, look at it like this. Derek goes to such great lengths to annoy Casey. Casey always has some reason to bring Derek up in a conversation. Come on, how many times do you hear Casey yell his name in that high pitched voice." Sam says. "I'm going to help."
"I'm leaving now." Emily says annoyed.
"Sam, thanks." Alan says.
"I just hope you know what you are getting yourself into." Sam says.
"So do I." Alan mumbles.
After Emily leaves Sam and Alan she sees Casey walking down the hall. She starts to walk towards her but stops when she sees Derek right in front of her. She hides behind the corner of the hallway and watches them.
"DER-EK! I can't believe you are so stupid!" Casey yells.
"Hey, you have no say in what I do to Max now." Derek justifies.
"Oh, really?" Casey says. "Well then how about this, next time you decide to prank Max tell me so I don't have to wait here for 30 minutes while you're in detention."
"I don't think I will." Derek smiles.
"UGH! I HATE YOU!" Casey yells.
"I know." Derek smirks.
Emily watches them looking for those tell-tale signs that Alan talks about. She looks at Derek's face and sees that smirk that he always flashes. His eyes are deep and stare intently on Casey. When Emily looks to Casey she sees something that has never been there before. Casey's eyes are trembling and she is trying to focus around Derek.
"Maybe, Alan is right. If he is I'm officialyl the worst best friend ever. But it makes perfect sense." Emily says to herself. "Well, now they go into my binder as priority number one."
The next day:
Alan is in line for lunch, when Emily taps in his shoulder. Alan turns around and looks at Emily in confusion. She looks nervous and afraid. Alan takes his tray and hands it off to the next person and walks with Emily.
"Emily, what's wrong?" Alan asks.
"I followed Casey yesterday after our meeting. And I saw..." Emily begins.
"You saw what?" Alan asks.
"I saw what you wanted me to see. Derek and Casey." Emily explains.
"And?" Alan says.
"I'll help." Emily smiles.
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A/N: I apologize for the long wait. I am writing and editing at fast as I can. Next chapter: a party and a kiss. (Just to give you something to look forward to.)
And this is just a warning: I have a lot to deal with in my life so there will be some long waiting times after the next chapter. But I promise that I'll try to write during that time and try to post each chapter as quick as possible.
READ AND REVIEW!