First off, thanks for the reviews. I really appreciate hearing from you. When I don't hear from you I feel as if I'm just talking to a wall, which is what I do most days anyway.
Next, I just want you to know that I have a family matter to attend to. My uncle has lung cancer and the doctors are saying that it will only be a couple of months before he passes. So most of our family's time will go to visiting him. Needless to say my erratic updates will be longer than before. But not to worry, I spend about half the night finding a way to come up with new chapters for this story. So please just hang in there because I will try to do my best with the updates. Thanks.
Okay, enough about my life's happening. I promise from here on out there will be some Dasey action. But don't assume that it will just work out in an instant. It will be a long winding road for them to overcome and be that couple. So expect some drama and comedy throughout the rest of the story.
And I should mention that this chapter might get confusing for some. I apologize beforehand but unfortunately after editing I couldn't find a better way of writing one part of this chapter.
ENJOY.
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DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN LIFE WITH DEREK
Chapter 7: Valentine's Day Disaster
A/N: Alan's thoughts are underlined
Emily's thought are in italics
February 14, 2009:
Emily and Casey are in Casey's room. They have dresses laid out to wear for Thompson High School's annual Valentine's Day Masquerade Dance. Casey looks excited for tonight while Emily looks like she wants to hit her head against the wall. She knows that this is the day Casey lives for.
"Emily are you excited for the Masquerade Dance tonight?" Casey asks again.
"For the thousandth time Casey, Yes I am." Emily says annoyed.
"Sorry Em. But I have been look forward to this for the past few weeks. I have my dress all ready and my mask made. I can't wait." Casey squeals. "And maybe tonight, I can finally..."
"...meet your perfect guy." Emily finishes.
"It would be the perfect romantic setting." Casey explains.
"Casey, don't you think that perfection is setting the standard a bit to high. Don't you think it would be better if the standard was a bit lower so that way guys who ask you out won't feel insecure or worried about making a perfect impression on the first date." Emily says. "And besides, what if you perfect guy is still in frog form when you meet him. Cause I know that based on your standard no guy has yet to fill that mold."
"Emily, I think my prince is out there and is just searching for me. It may take time but I know when I meet him he will be perfect in every sense of the world." Casey explains.
Who is she kidding? She has her prince lined out for her. The only person who calls her a princess.
Meanwhile, Derek, Alan, Sam and Ralph are getting ready at Sam's house. Alan keeps groaning because he really doesn't want to go to this dance. Derek is nervous about something while Sam and Ralph were ready for the night.
"Tell me again why we're doing this?" Alan asks. "I mean I know Ralph lost his pair because of his girlfriend, but Sam..."
"Yeah, I'm with Alan on this, why are we doing this?" Derek asks.
"Dudes, I told you there are going to be girls there. Hot girls." Ralph says.
"Yeah, but dancing. Count me out." Alan says.
"Well the hot girls are good enough for me." Derek smirks.
At the dance:
Derek, Alan, and Sam are sitting in the Prince. Alan looks out the window and sees the school and people walking in. Derek and Sam are playing air guitar with the song now playing on the radio. Alan smirks as he sees Derek do the guitar solo.
"Alright, dudes. Let's get this over with." Alan says.
Emily and Casey are sitting in Emily's car. Casey is taking his pocket mirror out to check her makeup for the 10th time since they got there. Emily just sighs and watches as Casey continues to mess with her makeup.
"Casey." Emily says angrily. "You're going to be wearing a mask no one will see your face. Just relax and finish with the makeup."
"Okay." Casey says.
The guys walk into the gymnasium. They put their masks over their faces and look around the gym. They see Ralph and his girlfriend chatting over by the punch bowl. They decide to get a drink and then scope for hot girls.
"Ralph, you suppose to put on your mask BEFORE you get here." Sam says.
"Really, you sure?" Ralph asks confused.
Derek and Alan laugh as they watch Sam try to explain to Ralph the "rules" of a masquerade dance. Trying, being the operative term. Sam groans when Ralph looks at him in a daze and finally gives up when Ralph just stares into space.
Casey and Emily, disguised, finally walk into the gym. Unseen by everyone except for three guys who just happen to be their friends. Casey looks around to see if she can identify any of her friends. Meanwhile, someone hiding in the distance watches her every move.
"Yo, Alan." Derek says. "Who is that?"
"I don't know. But remember my rule for these dances." Alan says.
"There are rules?" Derek questions.
"Well, more along the lines of guidelines than actual rules." Alan explains. "Just stay calm, use a deep voice and you will have her eating out of the palm of your hand."
"Gotcha." Derek winks.
Behind their masks, Casey and Emily walk over to the disguised Alan, Derek and Sam. The guys just take a sip of their punch and try to act cool. When Emily and Casey get over to the punch table, Casey and Derek stare at each other.
"WELL, HELLO THERE!" Derek says in a deep, low, booming voice.
"Dude, a soft deep voice." Alan whispers to Derek.
"Sorry, hello there!" Derek say in a soft, low voice.
"H...hi." Casey says nervously in a high voice.
"Do you want to dance?" Derek asks in his disguised voice.
"Sure." Casey says in a high voice.
"Hey, handsome." Emily says.
"Who me or him?" Alan asks
"Alan?" Emily asks.
"Yeah, who are you?" Alan asks. "Wait...Emily."
"Yeah." Emily says.
"Hey, Em." Sam says.
"Sam." Emily says.
Sam nods and goes back to talk to someone over by the punch bowl. Alan takes a cup of punch and quickly gulps it down before talking. Emily looks around then turns to Alan when she hears him speak.
"So who were you with?" Alan asks.
"Casey, why?" Emily says.
"Nothing, just everything happening according to plan." Alan says.
"You mean..." Emily begins.
Alan only nods at her with a smile on his face. Emily's eyes grow wide as she thinks of what the consequences would be if Derek and Casey should find out. Alan looks at her with a look that relieves her of her worries.
Meanwhile, Casey and Derek are on the dance floor. Casey looks at the guy she is with and sees him shaking. She laughs as he tries to find to correct position to place his hands on her. Derek glares at the girl as he feels nervous for the first time around a girl.
"What's your name?" Casey asks.
"Jude." Derek says.
"I'm Lucy." Casey says. "Here allow me."
Lucy brought one of his hands to her shoulder, and the other to the side of her waist. Lucy lets out a slight gasp when his hands move. Jude trembles when he touches her waist. His smirk reassures himself as he begins to dance with the girl.
Alan, Sam, and Emily are watching the couple as they dance. Alan pumps his fist in the air when he look at them dancing with one another. Alan laughs at Emily and Sam's confused faces. Alan holds his hand out to high-five both of them and when they don't return the gesture he shrugs.
"Still don't think I know what I'm doing." Alan says to Emily.
"What?" Sam says confused.
"You don't see who's dancing?" Alan questions both of them.
"I see a guy and girl dancing." Sam says.
"That's Derek and Casey." Alan explains.
"Do you think they know?" Sam asks.
"No." Alan says.
Meanwhile, Jude and Lucy are dancing to the upbeat song playing. They begin to dance a little bit too intense. But if there is a care in the world it certainly isn't them. They are enjoying their dance when Jude begins to pull away. Lucy looks confused when he pulls away only to discover that he is pulling some party moves.
The guy who had been watching "Lucy" comes up and pulls her into a dance. Lucy doesn't realize that it is a different guy and continues to dance with him. Alan notices that and immediately runs through the crowded gym. When Alan reaches the impostor he taps his shoulder and asks to dance with "Lucy". Reluctantly, the guy allows "Lucy" to dance with him.
Alan and "Lucy" start to dance. Alan feels this strong feeling in his stomach but ignores it long enough to see "Jude" watching them. When "Jude" starts to walk over to him; Alan spins "Lucy" and "Lucy" lands right into Jude's hand.
"Miss me?" Jude asks.
Lucy smiles at him and wraps her arms around him. The song changes again. They listen to the first few notes of the song before slowing down their dance. Lucy wraps her arms around his neck and Jude wraps his arms around her waist.
Alan watches then and looks over to see if Sam and Emily were watching. He finds them slow dancing with each other. He laughs and fist pumps. This night couldn't have gone any better than it this. He turns his attention back to Casey and Derek. He watches their faces get closer together.
YES! YES! YES! Almost there.
Casey and Derek's faces are about 2 inches away.....
A little closer.
Now, an inch apart....
Little closer.
Just a few centimeters....
"Come on." Alan says out loud.
And their lips touch.
"YES!" Alan shouts.
And the world stops for that minute. Alan pumps both fists in the air as Derek and Casey kiss. His plan took only one month to be fulfilled. A kiss is by far one of the most intimate events shared between a couple and now Derek and Casey cannot deny their feelings anymore.
Lucy brought her lips to Jude's. The moment perfect. Just like she hoped for. After slow dancing, looking into each others eyes and their lips moving slowly closer together. And all the feelings she hoped for, fulfilled. Nothing could ruin this moment, the moment she found her prince.
Jude pulls his lips to Lucy's. He has kissed many girls before, but not like Lucy. She was different in a good way, a great way. It was like finding his companion or something. Something unlike any other girl. Any other girl was a fling for a short period of time, but Lucy seems to fill that void in his life after just one kiss. He doesn't believe in a true love, but Lucy makes him second guess himself.
"Listen, I've got to talk to my buddies about something." Jude says.
"That's fine; I'll be waiting." Lucy says.
"I was hoping you would." Jude smirks.
Lucy giggles at Jude and walks over to find Emily. She is in heaven at this point. This was definitely worth the time and effort she put into tonight. She finds Emily and brings her over to a seclude area of the gym. Emily stares at her wide grin cemented on her face. Casey squeals at Emily and then begins to tell her about the evening.
"I met my prince." Casey says.
"Really, who was it?" Emily asks excited
"A guy named Jude." Casey says.
"Jude?" Emily says looking at her.
"I know, but 'what's in a name?'" Casey says.
"Casey, I know almost everybody in our class. I have never heard of a Jude." Emily says.
"Well, maybe it was a disguise." Casey says. "Just like the one I used."
"Let me guess. You're Lucy." Emily says.
"He is perfect. When he kissed me it felt like we were alone in the gym. It was my perfect moment, even better than Max and the prom." Casey explains.
"Casey!" Emily squeals.
Jude walks over to the punch bowl and finds Alan and Sam. His smirk is almost a real smile and Alan laughs. Sam looks at Alan as if he has lost his mind. Derek just laughs at Sam's expression and starts to do a victory dance.
"Okay, what gives?" Alan asks.
"What do ya mean?" Derek asks.
"Before you and I agreed we were dragged into this and now you look all, happy." Alan says.
"I just danced with the perfect girl." Derek explains.
"Here we go again." Sam says.
"Hey, Sally might have been 'per-fect' but this girl is 'PER-FECT.'" Derek says.
"Okay, what's her name?" Alan asks.
"Lucy." Derek says.
"Hmm?" Alan thinks.
"What?" Derek asks.
"Nothing. Just go back to the girl." Alan says.
"Yeah, okay." Derek grins. "After a few more cups of punch."
Casey is giggling uncontrollably as Emily says something. She is completely oblivious to Emily and can only focus on "Jude". She sighs happily as she thinks of the future now that she has a prince in her life.
"CASEY! HELLO!" Emily yells.
"Oh, sorry Em." Casey says as her face gets beet red. "Just thinking."
"Okay, so when do I meet this prince?" Emily asks.
"Well he said he was going to talk to his buddies..." Casey explains.
"Do you remember what he was wearing?" Emily asks.
"Yeah, he is wearing..." Casey begins. "Wait, there he is. Over by the punch bowl."
"Wow." Emily says.
"Yeah, I know." Casey says dreamily.
"No, not that Casey." Emily says.
"What?" Casey asks.
"If he is your prince..." Emily begins. "...then who is he?"
Casey is pulled around by Emily and she looks at the same guy. No, someone who has the same outfit on, an exact replica to her prince. She blinks a couple of times to see if it's just her imagination running wild. When she looks again he is still standing by the door.
"THERE ARE TWO!" Casey screams.
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Wow, I enjoyed that, even if it was confusing. This was so much fun to write.
A/N: To clarify if you didn't figure it out. Jude and Lucy are Derek and Casey. (And yeah, Across the Universe is the inspiration for the names. Hey it works for Derek and Casey. They live on opposite ends of the universe they would have to go "across the universe" to fall in love with one another)
So, what do you think? READ and REVIEW.