Author's note: I am so happy with the way this is turning out, and I am glad you guys haven't given up yet. Also, I'd like to give a special thanks to cupcakeslam23 because they made my life :)

& Thanks for the rest of you that reviewed!


Only In The Movies

A Life with Derek Fanfiction

Scene Sixteen

Disclaimer: I don't own.

"Should I go check on Derek?" Casey asked Lily for the fourth time since she'd gotten to Sam's room.

"Stop avoiding my question!" Lily replied. "Casey," Her voice now considerably less anxious, "I totally understand your dilemma."

Casey laughed skeptically, "Yeah, right."

"I never said I'd gone through it, but I have an understanding of it, so I know how you must feel." She paused to let Casey get in an eye roll. "Confused, disgusted, guilty? And of that ring a bell?" Lily continued.

Casey nodded solemnly.

"Well you don't have to feel that way, Casey, honestly." Lily consoled.

Casey didn't respond, only pulled the blanket closer to her for added comfort.

"Just tell me what it is exactly you're stressing about." Lily suggested.

"I think... I might... actually..."

"Dude, you can leave, you know." Derek informed his friend as he lay in the infirmary bed, his right forearm over his forehead.

"No, I actually can't. Lily texted me saying she's having some 'Dasey breakthrough' in our dorm." Sam replied.

"Our dorm?" Derek questioned.

"Oh. Yeah, Casey's sleeping in your bed tonight because she has no door." Sam explained nonchalantly, "NBD."

"No big deal?! Casey? My bed? You guys thought this was a good idea?" Derek asked in disbelief.

"D; Casey's in your bed right now, talking to Lily. DId you not hear the part when I said, 'Dasey breakthrough'?"

"What does that even mean?" Derek asked exasperated.

"It means that Casey is going to confess something to Lily of the 'Derek' variety." Sam explained.

"You- you mean?" Derek shot up in the bed, "OW!"

"Careful!" Sam warned, grabbing Derek's shoulders and shoving him back down.

"Speak for yourself." Derek replied, rubbing his shoulders.

"Shut up; you're fine." Derek pouted in response. "You realize after tonight, Casey may finally return your feelings?" Sam spoke thoughtfully.

"You realize that nothing's going to happen at least for another two weeks, right? So you telling me that is just cruel and unusual." Derek answered.

"My pleasure, man; really."

"Derek's a great guy." Casey blurted out after a really long silence. She never had finished her sentence, of course.

Lily's eyebrows rose in amusement, "Oh?" She replied, keeping it short is a sure-fire way to make people keep on talkin'.

"Yeah, I mean... He's really obnoxious, and gross, not to mention a giant pain; but... over the past four years I've gotten to know the real him and... it's- it's endearing." Casey explained.

"I see." Lily spoke simply.

"Right, and I mean, we aren't related or anything. Except... Ugh!" Casey groaned in frustration.

"Except what?" Lily inquired.

"Well... my mom's having a baby with Derek's dad so... you know... It kind of like, ties us together." She explained.

"Oh my God, who cares!" Lily yelled. Casey's eyes widened at her friend's outburst. But Lily didn't care, she had been growing impatient, and that was the last straw. Casey didn't need to keep making excuse after excuse about how she couldn't be with Derek, Lily knew that none of these excuses were good enough. They never would be because in her mind, they were perfect for each other, and this NOT happening would be a crime against nature. "The two of you are not related. You just happen to share a half-sibling. You know if you guys were older when you met this wouldn't have been a problem. Have you ever seen Because I said so? The main couple's parents got married and they still dated! It's so absurd to think that two people can't be together just because their parents got married." Lily rambled.

It was after her rant that Lily realized she'd broken some sort of... unspoken rule because... Casey and her had never actually spoken about dating Derek. They kind of just danced around the subject this whole time.

Casey's eyes were wide as Lily tried to fix what had just happened.

"I, uh- I mean... If that's what you were getting at. That was what you were getting at, wasn't it?" Lily amended. Casey nodded slowly, eyes returning back to normal. "Good. Well... now you know that I don't care if you two date!" Lily smiled brightly.

"Yeah, but you'll probably be the only person." Casey said.

"Hey no one here even know you two are step-siblings, so its not like you have to worry about that." Lily reminded Casey who gave a sideways smile. "Yeah, but its not them I'm worried about. It's my Mom and George; Lizzie and Edwin; and Marti.... oh, and the new baby on the way. What kind of twisted life is that kid going to live?" Casey brooded.

"A healthy one? I mean... if it grows up in that environment its going to be more open minded to unconventional relationships. You know, instead of growing up taught that you have to be perfect in every way. Because... Casey... you don't have to be perfect." She paused to let it sink in a bit, "You're smart, and kind, and generous... and heaven knows you're pretty. So just let this one slide, hon. If you care about him, let yourself care." Lily pleaded with her friend, sitting on the edge of Derek's bed.

Casey thought for a moment, "Well even if I did feel- you know; that way, towards Derek... there's no way he'd feel the same. I mean, he makes a point to make my life miserable on a daily basis." Casey said.

"Uh, hate to break it to you Casey, but haven't you ever heard of 'The Kindergarten Technique'?"

Casey just quirked her eyebrow in response.

Lily sighed, "You know, little boy pulls little girl's hair because he likes her." Lily hinted but quickly added, "But! I've already said too much. What I can promise is that you're going to be uber-happy at our first gig." Lily clapped her hands excitedly before getting up to leave. "Remember," She stated before exiting the room, "October 27th."

Casey smiled, "Got it."

"And Casey?"

"Hmm?"

"Don't live your life wondering what people will think."

And with that, she was gone.

"I can't believe you said that to Truman." Sam continued in shock.

"He needed to hear it. I mean its true." Derek replied.

"Yeah, it is. Either way... that was no reason to push you through the door."

"Trust me Sam, no one knows that as much as I do." Derek said rubbing his head.

Just then Sam got a text message.

---

From: Lily

You can go back to your room no. Dasey breakthrough: sucessful. :)