Highly reccomend the song 'Sometimes' by Bowling for Soup to Dasey lovers, sounds so much like them. :)

Also little bit of a crossover with Clueless from here on out, 'cause I love that film and couldn't resist the similarities. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own LWD, Ken, Kate Bush or the above.

Chapter Five

I called Emily, but she hadn't managed to get back yet and was heading home that afternoon. I sighed heavily as I put down the phone. We were doing things as a family that day anyway, but I was looking forward to talking to her, and now she'd be spending the next day with her family instead of me.

I went to Lizzie's room, hoping she'd have time to talk to me. Who am I kidding? Expecting that she'd have time to talk to me; but she wasn't there. She wasn't in at all as it turned out; she'd gone to review an article with Darren.

I was a little worried, I'll admit, but as I thought back to when I was her age I realized that perhaps I was being a little harsh; not all boys were like Derek and two years wouldn't have stopped me.

I decided to go and play with Marti instead. It always made me smile how she refused to give in to peer pressure and still played all her favourite games. I secretly hoped she'd never grow out of them, partly because it gave me an excuse to still play with her.

"Whatcha doin' Marti?" I asked in through her open door.

She shrugged with a smile, "Just looking at the dolls Derek gave me that you used to have."

I took it as an invitation and sat down next to her on the floor. "You know, they're called babooshka's," I informed her, cringing at my own nerdyness. "They're from Russia. Well, not that one in particular..." I trailed off.

"Kate Bush was hot in that video."

I turned to find him leaning against the doorframe. "What video? And you know who Kate Bush is?" I asked incredulously. I knew he liked some old rock, but I would have thought she was too girly for him.

He shrugged. "Babooshka, and I'm surprised you do, she's not really you're normal mainstream girly cr... stuff." He finished, not swearing for Marti's sake.

"She's an incredible dancer." I semi-explained. "Plus, I love 'Wuthering Heights'."

"Oh, yeah, that song got me out of reading the book for an essay." I rolled my eyes as he said this; trust him to hear a deep and meaningful song and use it to cheat on homework. "Kinda reminds me of you when we did Dance Mania in that video."

I frown at the apparent compliment. After a moment I decided he probably meant I looked dead; I couldn't see what else he'd mean. "What's your excuse? She actually sings instead of shouting. And writes songs that have real meaning. "

"I already said, she's hot."

"Bit old for you." I smirked, trying to dispell the connection between 'she's hot' and 'reminds me of you' from my mind. That couldn't be what he meant at all.

"Ha, ha." He turned to Marti. "What are you playing?"

"Nothin' yet," Her attention towards the dolls disappeared the moment Derek had shown up. "Wanna play with us?"

His eyes found mine. "Nah, think I'll pass. But I'll play with you later, 'k?"

"Please Smerek?" Marti pleaded.

He rolled his eyes and gave in.

Marti decided on dressing up. Dressing up me and Derek that is. I struggled to hold back my terror as she offered to do my make-up, then enjoyed watching as it was Derek's turn. I never tired of Marti's Derek make-overs.

"I think he'd look pretty in the pink one, Marti." I said evilly as Derek tried to convince her not to put him in one of the dresses I'd given her for dress up.

"Yeah!" Marti yelled excitedly, "Come on Smerek, don't ya wanna look pretty?"

I could hug her; we all knew she was old enough by now to know why Derek was reluctant to go transvestite for her, but she still took every opportunity she could. She even had a Ken doll that she put in a dress and called Dereka. I could still picture his face when she introduced 'Dereka' to the family.

"Smarti!" He cried, exasperated. He knew she did it on purpose, but he still hadn't the heart to refuse her anything.

She just giggled and held out the dress to him.

Unfortunately, we had to forgoe the pleasure of pretty Derek as Mom yelled to us that we were leaving for dinner in and hour and it would probably take that long to take off the make-up.

Marti wasn't keen on me reversing her make-over. "But you look pretty, doesn't she Smerek?"

He smirked, the pleasure of revenge filling his eyes. "Yeah, you should let Marti do your make-up more often, hides so much more of your face."

I looked daggers at him. "I'm sorry Marti, but it's not really appropriate for eating out." Though her make-up artist skill had improved over the years, she still tended to lean towards the drag queen look, and I had no desire to let the outside world see me like that.

I went to the bathroom to clean myself up, only to be elbowed out of the way by Derek, who obviously had the same idea.

I elbowed him back and soon we were having a full out shoving war.

"Der-ek!" I yelled at him as he shoved me so hard I nearly fell in the bath tub. "I could've hurt myself!"

"And this is my fault how? I didn't make you queen of the klutzes." He carried on cleaning his face.

I practically growled in frustration. I suddenly remembered the wipes in my room and left to use them, pushing him hard enough to make him stumble as I passed.

I don't know how I managed to get the smudged lipstick off my face, but by the time we left my face was back to normal; a fact Derek lamented as we got in the car. I responded by telling him he had lipstick on his cheek and licking my finger, threatening to remove the lipstick with it. He yelled and squirmed away but I got him in the end and he spent the entire drive wiping at his face, complaining about 'Casey germs' and making disgusted faces and noises.

This was entertaining until he swerved the car, only letting on that it was on purpose after I screamed at him.

We joined the others in the restaurant and I couldn't help but wish I could sink into the floor when my family started their usual table bickering and noisyness. "Guys, can we not do this in public!" I begged getting no answer but a smirk from Derek.

After the waiter had taken our orders, I excused myself to the ladies to try and recover from the embarrassment that I call a family. I stood, breathing to calm myself in front of the mirror and grooming my hair a little.

"Casey!" A familiar voice made me turn.

"Cher?" I asked in surprised, "What are you doing here?" The pretty blonde was in my english class at uni.

"My fiance is thinking of interning at Brisnuskavich and Simmons next year." She grinned and held her arms out for the most over the top girly hug I'd ever recieved.

"That's the firm my step-dad works at!" I told her, amused by the coincidence.

"Really? You'll have to introduce us; Josh is just at our table."

I cringed. Cher was just the type Derek would hit on; fiance or no. "Sure, though I wouldn't want to interrupt your romantic dinner."

"No, really. It'd be great for him to meet someone who already works there." She just wouldn't take a hint!

I smiled and walked out of the restroom with her, following as she walked over to her fiance.

"Josh, this is Casey. Her dad works at Brisnuskavich and Simmons." Cher practically bounced.

"Step-dad, but yeah." I added.

"You wanna go over and introduce yourself?" She asked him as he sat with a slight deer-in-the-headlights expression. Cher had that effect on people, apparently it didn't wear off with exposure.

Without waiting for an answer, she pulled him up and gestured for me to show the way.

There was just no refusing her. I shook my head and led the way. "George, Mom, this is Cher and her fiance Josh." I introduced them. "Josh, Cher, this is George, and my Mom Nora. Josh is thinking of interning at Brisnuskavich and Simmons." I get back to my place, task completed and watch on as Josh and George make awkward and polite conversation.

Cher pulled up a chair. "So, who are you guys?" She asked around the table.

"I'm Marti, who're you?" Marti asked in her 'adore me, I'm cute' voice.

"Oh, well I'm Cher. I'm a friend of Casey's." I could tell by her face the voice hadn't failed.

"Oh. You're really pretty." Was all Marti had to say back.

"Thankyou." Cher beamed. "Are these your brothers and sister?"

"That's Derek, and that's Edwin," Marti nodded and pointed at each in turn. "And this is Lizzie."

"Hi," Lizzie and Edwin said in unison.

"So, you go to university with Casey?" Derek asked in his usual talking to girls tone. Predictable as ever.

"Yeah, we're in english together." Cher's voice remained chipper and I smiled at her lack of reaction to Derek's charms. "Where do you go to school?"

"Queens also; I'm on a hockey scholarship or I wouldn't go the same place as Casey." I snorted quietly at his need to say this to a complete stranger.

"Cool." Cher apparently had nothing to say to this.

"So, Cher, this thing with Josh, is it serious?" Edwin asked, obviously joking to those that knew him, but I glanced at Cher, worried what her reaction would be.

I sighed with relief as she laughed. "He's my fiance, so yeah, I'd say it's pretty serious."

"Shame, let me know if things don't work out." He winked comically.

"You're the first one I'll call." She replied with mock seriousness.

Lizzie seemed as anxious as I was to stop our step-brothers from making asses of themselves. "You're not from Canada are you?" She asked quickly, before anyone could say anything else

"No, I'm American. I used to live in L.A, but I decided to go to Queen's when Joshy transfered. I think he was sick of my dad trying to get him to become a litigator like him." She leaned over conspiritorially as she said the last part.

"Wow, that's some commitment!" Lizzie said. "I don't think I'd ever put that much on the line for a guy!"

"Well I just knew that Josh and I are meant for each other. Besides, he wouldn't have moved if I hadn't come with him, even though he's always wanted to come to Canada." I had to admire Cher's fortitude; I was getting irritated and I wasn't the one on the recieving end of their questions. I was reminded of Derek nearly moving to be with Sally, and I wondered briefly if they would have made it. Something told me that they would have always gone their seperate ways eventually.

He seemed to be having the same thoughts as he was staring down at the table and being uncharacteristically quiet.

The dinner ended with Cher and Josh still with us. Josh and George seemed to actually get on and Cher ordered me to call her the next day. I had to admit, there was something about her that just refused to be disliked and I was actually looking forward to seeing her again.

Sorry if there are too many references to other things, and I know the Kate Bush stuff is kinda random and they probably wouldn't know who she is, but I was listening to her while writing and the 'Wuthering Heights' video really does remind me of Casey in the Dance Mania episode. No idea why really.

Probably should have waited to upload this chapter having only updated a few hours ago, but what can I say, I'm impatient!

Hope you like it and it isn't too weird! Let me know how I'm doing and feel free to suggest things. :)

Also, would love to know your favourite Dasey songs for something I'm doing in a future chapter?