Disclaimer: I still don't own LWD!

A/N: Hey guys! Once more, thank you for all your wonderful reviews, they help me go on with this story! I thought, after making you wait so long for the last update, I must make it up to you by updating the next chapter much sooner. So, here you go and please read and review, let me know what you hated, what you loved, and what you would change!

I Dream of Derek

We stand pretty much frozen to our respective spots in the kitchen, in the so very telling positions our siblings have found us. And they seem to have turned into human statues too. They eyes are big like saucers, and Edwin's mouth is open while Lizzie clasped her hands over her mouth.

Eventually, I pull away from Derek, glancing at him to try to read his thoughts. But he seems as confused as I am.

"Uhm, hi Lizzie! Hi Edwin! When did you get home? "

I stupendously fail to let my voice sound normal at my pathetic attempt to relieve the tension.

"Just 2 minutes ago. What were you two doing anyway?"

"Yeah, what were you doing? Because it looked as if you were having fu…fun with each other, right Lizzie?"

"Exactly, and that is just not possible. And if I'm not mistaken you were trying to kiss her."

"We were not having fun! And, I was not trying to kiss Spacey; in fact, she's the last person in the world I would ever voluntarily kiss! Ugh!"

Sure, that's why he has already kissed me twice and was trying to kiss me a third time. I have to make a real effort not to roll my eyes.

"Derek, Derek, Derek. Shouting and exaggeratedly denying something often tells of quite the opposite fact. Sooooo, I think you…

"Edwin! Make yourself useful and clean my room! Now, or I'll take you allowance for the next month for myself!"

Having said that, Derek chases Edwin into his room, thus leaving me alone with Lizzie.

"So, do you want to explain what that was all about?"

"Okay, but let's go into my room, I don't want any other people walking in on us."

We go to my room in silence. I'm trying to find a way to make Lizzie believe what she saw was nothing. On the other hand, she's my sister. I don't want her to find out about, well about us, from anyone but me. I guess I should tell her, I now only need to find the courage to actually do so.

"We are in your room now. What was, or rather is going on between the two of you?"

"I think you need to sit down first. But Lizzie, please promise me not to flip out when I tell you, okay?"

"Oookay, now spill."

I breathe in deeply and begin to tell her my story.

Later…

"…and now I think I'm really in love with that insensible, egoistical and absolutely hot jerk of our stepbrother."

"You really know how to get yourself into a mess don't you? And please, please, don't call Derek hot, that's just wrong."

"Lizzie, with all the effort we have put into becoming a real family I don't want to ruin it all with a simple little crush. If you don't like it, please tell me so, I'll just forget all about it."

"Casey! That's not what I meant. Since the very first moment we saw Derek, I've been counting the days to the instant you realize that you could be the perfect couple! It's just that Derek is like a real brother to me… most of the time. That's why hearing somebody call him hot or something like that sort of sounds a little creepy to me. But you're my big sister, I want you to be happy, and if Derek is the guy you're going to have your happy ending with, he should better be prepared to have his ass kicked if he dares to hurt you."

I can't help my eyes filling with tears while hearing my little sister talk. The very moment she finishes, I hug her and say:

"Thank you Lizzie, that really means a lot to me."

"No problem, 'sis. Now please release me, can't…breathe…!"

"Oh, sorry."

"Thanks, I'm going to change now to go to karate training. Bye and good luck 'sis".

"Bye. And don't tell Edwin, he would tell Derek and that's the last thing I want right now. If he is to know I will be the one to tell me – after he has told me about his feelings first, of course."

"Right."

When Lizzie walks out of my room, I wonder what Derek is telling Edwin, or if he really is making his little brother clean his room. Maybe spying on them could give me a clue to how Derek feels about me…

I try to sneak out of my room without letting the door crack. But as soon as I open the door, I bump into…

"Derek?!"

"Klutzilla, watch out where you walk to, you don't want to bump into a wall."

"Hahahaha. Very funny. What were you doing at my door, anyway?"

He only grins in response. Oh no. He wouldn't have… he is Derek, of course he would spy on me. I'm going to kill him! And then hide under my bed never to come out again…huh? What's he doing?

He leans very closely to me, and while he's not much older than me, he is so much taller that he practically towers over me. My breath hitches, and I can't help but wonder when his oh so close presence started to have such a strong effect on me. I feel his breath tenderly caressing my hair, and I rather sense than see his right arm surround me to…open the door to my room?!

"I just need to borrow your stapler."

"What for?"

"To staple the English report we're due tomorrow."

"English report? Oh no, oh no, oh no! I completely forgot about it! What am I going to do?"

"You still have time, though I wonder what or who has got you so bothered not to remember homework."

And he says that with that spiteful cocky grin of his, walking out of my room and passing as close to me that I can't help but to shiver and blush at the feeling of his warmth…which only makes his grin spread wider.

"Derek, get out of my room so I can work!"

"I'm already out, your highness."

"Ugh!"

And with that last exclamation, I slam my door shut. But I don't fail to notice the missing stapler in his hands. Ha, he only wanted to see me to make me react to his presence like a lovesick silly girl. I could do the same to him, make him shiver and blush, but no more games. If this is going to go somewhere we both need to stop beating around the bush. I'm going to take his bush and long for the birds, even if it may cause this thing we already have going on to crush. People say that it is better to have a bird in the hand than two in the bush but since when have I belonged to the normal people? And this will not be a normal relationship either; it will be an extraordinary one. Maybe I should write a story about it: two stepsiblings falling in love and conquering all difficulties and eventually riding off into the sunset…

I just need to do my homework first or my English teacher will make me go to detention for the rest of high school, she hasn't yet forgotten the dog story.

Later…

Yawn! I'm really exhausted now. I've been working on my computer for 4 straight hours now, but I'm finally finished. I've even stapled my report.

Now all I need is something to eat before I go to sleep. Nora and George planned to go out on a date; I guess George is trying to make up for being such a pain in the you-know-where while shopping. So there won't be anybody cooking, but I think I saw some left-over pizza in the fridge. As I walk down the stairs heading towards the kitchen, I hear sounds coming from the living room: Derek is watching one his hockey games…while eating the last slice of pizza!

"Der-ek!"

"Shhh, the game is in its final minute!"

"And you just ate the last slice of pizza!"

"Whatever, just shut up!"

"Will you buy a new one for Edwin, Lizzie and me to eat?"

"Sure."

"You're a chunky monkey from funky town?"

"You're right, now silence please?"

"Der-ek, you're not listening to…"

I try to make him listen, but at the very same moment he begins to jump up and down, shouting at the screen:

"Come on, you only have 12 seconds to score…just ram him out of your way … faster…3…2…1…arrgh! Why do you have to let me down, why?!"

"Now that your game is over, would you go buy pizza?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Because you promised to."

"What? I haven't!"

"That you weren't really listening doesn't mean that you are freed from what you agreed to do."

"What else did I promise to do?"

Hmm, why shouldn't I have a little fun with this particular situation…?

"You promised never to make Edwin clean your room again, to give Lizzie daily hockey practice hours, to profess your undying love for Kendra…"

"Now wait a minute! I never did promise that, I wasn't really listening but that doesn't mean I wouldn't have noticed you saying something as ridiculous as that."

"Huh, really?"

"Casey! Do I look like a complete fool to you? Wait, don't answer that. Besides, I'm not in love with Ke-Kendra."

I must restrain myself from breaking out in loud laughter, I mean, really, he can't even say Kendra's name without shuddering?! Soon enough he will be calling her you-know-who.

"It's not funny! I don't like that girl, and much less love her. Actually, she would be the last human being on earth I would kiss; even you are a better choice!"

"Who are you in love with then?"

He becomes very silent. From the look on his face I can tell he is debating with himself whether to say the truth, a variation from it, nothing at all, or a lie. His hands clench and unclench again, his jaw settles only to be relaxed a few seconds afterwards. His body language shows me how immense the battle inside of him must be. I refrain from saying any witty remarks; I want to give him time. His answer will affect me as much as him, if not more. The answer I'm waiting to hear is obvious, but I still try to suppress my feelings, I ban eagerness and hope from my face, I keep my feelings hidden in my eyes, I refuse to let my hands start to play with my hair and over all, I make myself continue breathing rhythmically.

Finally, he seems to have come to a decision. He looks determined, and from the honest and slightly scared look in his eyes I know he's going to tell me the truth.

"Actually, and listen carefully because I'm only going to say this once, the girl I love is…"

At that very moment when I'm hoping to hear Derek profess his undying love for me (yeah, I am a sap and always will be), not a second earlier or later, the door opens and George and Nora walk in.

"Hi guys, did you have a nice evening?"

We were up until the moment you came and interrupted Derek from saying that he is love with me, always has and always will!

...Oooookay, why are mom and George watching me as if I had grown another head out of my shoulders?

Wait, I didn't say that last part, about Derek loving me, out loud, didn't I? No, I couldn't have, right? Right?!

A/N: I ended this chapter with a little, very little, cliff-hanger; please don't hate me for it, please? ; )