Sorry for the long delay on this chapter. The only excuse I can use is I kept getting distracted by stupid things.

...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Life with Derek

Changes: Chapter 7

Sam's House: 8:30 AM Saturday morning

As soon as Derek closes the door to his house, he starts running to Sam's. He doesn't think to go into his car and drive there. He runs to Sam's house. When he arrives there, he has just enough energy to knock once on the door.

"Derek?" Sam asks looking at a breathless, sweaty Derek.

"Sam...Quick...Emergency...Casey." Derek gasps.

Sam runs to his kitchen and grabs a bottled water from the refrigerator. He comes back into the living room to find Derek sitting on the chair trying to catch his breath. Sam hands Derek the water and waits for Derek to start breathing regularly.

"Okay, now tell me. What about you and Casey?" Sam asks.

"The dreams. I'm having freakin' dreams about CASEY!" Derek shouts.

"What do you mean dreams about her?" Sam asks.

"Like dreams where I'm civil to her, among other things." Derek says.

"Okay?" Sam says. "How long have these dreams been happening?"

"Since THAT night. At first it was just me comforting Casey." Derek explains.

"Then?" Sam urges.

"Well...." Derek begins.

Meanwhile, Emily is trying to focus on some of the things Casey has just confessed. She just woke up when Casey rushed into her bedroom and completely broke down. Emily is just scratching her head as she tries to wrap her mind around Casey's confession. Emily lets out a yawn to wake up her mind and blinks her eyes open to focus.

"Casey, can you repeat that a little slower." Emily yawns. "All I heard was "Derek" and "Truman" and something about a secret and "Sam" and "love"."

"Emily, I'm a mess." Casey rambles. "I...I...I..."

"Just say it Casey. Whatever you have to say, just say it." Emily says calmly.

"I'M IN LOVE WITH DEREK!" Casey yells.

Emily's mouth falls open as she looks at Casey. Casey can feel her cheeks heating up under Emily's stare. Casey brings her hand to push Emily's jaw close. Emily has this far-off look on her face as she thinks to herself about Casey's revelation.

"YOU...IN...LOVE...." Emily says slowly, holding back her laughter. "with....DEREK!"

Casey nods slowly and bites her lip nervously. She is anticipating an outburst of laughter or an outburst of screams and yelling. Emily runs a hand through her hair and sighs. Casey begins pacing in front of Emily's bed and Emily can only watch her friend.

"So when do I begin planning the wedding?" Emily asks.

"WHAT?" Casey screams.

"Just kidding." Emily giggles. "So... how do you plan on telling him?"

"I don't know." Casey says quietly. "I don't know if I want anybody else to know."

"Why?" Emily asks.

"Em. This is embarrassing. If anyone found out my life would be over." Casey says.

"Do you think Derek knows?" Emily asks.

"Not a clue. And he can never know." Casey says quickly.

"Casey..." Emily begins.

"Em, if he finds out that will be his ammunition to humiliate me." Casey says sadly.

"What if he feels the same way?" Emily asks.

Casey eyes grow wide and Emily begins to regret asking that question. Casey begins to grimace and looks at Emily questioningly. Emily lets out a little sigh.

"Em! This is Derek we are talking about. Since when does he care about anybody other than himself." Casey says.

"All I'm saying is you don't know until you talk to him." Emily says.

"Em, no matter what I do it's always going to be the same." Casey explains. "He is always going to be that same obnoxious person I've always known. I can't change him. I can't make him fall in love with me. I can only dream of him being the man I want. In real life, he'll always see me as a thing that lives in his house."

"Casey!" Emily says loudly. "Just talk to him."

"It doesn't matter." Casey mumbles.

Casey walks out of Emily's house with her head down. Emily watches from the window as Casey begins to walk down the street. She rushes to her phone and calls Sam.

"Sam, it's happened." Emily says happily.

"Yeah, talk about being confusing. I'm still shocked from what Derek said." Sam says.

"Yeah, Casey has a crush on Derek....Wait, what did Derek say?" Emily says.

"He was talking about dreams he's been having about Casey." Sam explains.

"Casey mentioned having dreams about Derek." Emily says. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna lose that bet." Sam says sarcastically.

"Besides that, we...." Emily begins, then looks to her door to see Derek rushing inside.

"Emily, where is Casey?" Derek asks in panic.

................................................................................................................................................................................................

Okay, let the nasty comments start flowing. I needed to add a little cliffhanger because I wanted to get the next chapter right, and I wanted to finally post this chapter. So instead of one long chapter it will be two chapters.

I know its been a while since I've updated this story but now I'm start to breeze through all my stories. I'm on a roll and I'll try to continue to update with the next couple of days.

READ and REVIEW.

In Loving Memory of my Uncle Tommy

1946-2009