AN: I don't own LWD

!Some Language!

#22 Secret

Secret. That's what Casey and Derek agreed on, together. Surprisingly this arrangement was Casey's idea originally. She just wanted to finish high school calmly, she wanted to get everything set for college and didn't want any distractions at school. This secret also gave Casey and Derek a chance to see what was really going on between the two. Derek and Casey were dating, but it was a secret to the outside world. Sure their family knew, but that was it, to their friends and classmates they were only step-siblings. At University, where they were going together was where they planned to officially go public, though they planned to tell their friends at graduation.

Usually things were fine, they would act normally at school, but then at home and on dates they would act as the couple they were. They would kiss constantly, cuddle, though Derek would never admit it, and it was great. Sure at school there were times Casey wished Derek and her could act like a couple at school, but she knew their arrangement was better.

Derek was never one for PDA so he was pretty happy being with Casey but not having to do the mushy stuff in person. There were sometimes when he overheard a guy or two talking about how good Casey looked, or he saw a guy innocently flirting with Casey where he wanted to rush over and claim her, but overall Derek was satisfied at the moment.

"Case c'mon!" Derek begged Casey one Friday night. "No, Derek." Casey said firmly crossing her arms. "I don't want to go to some high school party where everyone is going to get wasted. I have better things to do with my time." Derek replied, "Like what? Re-organize your stuff for the tenth time? Case, finals are over, you're accepted to University, and most of all, it's Friday. Emily will be there! Come to the party and have some fun." Derek said walking over slowly to Casey, pressing kisses along her neck, causing Casey to feel tingles down her back. Casey giggled and replied, Fine, fine I surrender. I'll go." Derek's face lit up and grew to a smirk. "Good, now get ready. We're leaving in 10." Derek said, smacking her on the butt and heading out of her room.

Ten minutes later Casey trotted downstairs in jean shorts, a red flowing tank top, and her hair braided to the side. "Let's go Space-Case! I wanna get there before all the good booze is gone." George, who was sitting on the couch reading the paper, turned to Derek with hawk eyes, "DEREK!" George yelled sternly. "Kidding!" Derek replied, taking Casey's hand and pulling her out of the house.

The party was already crowded to the max when the two arrived. Derek was at complete ease, while Casey was already regretting ever agreeing to come. "Aww c'mon, Case, at least try to have fun." Casey rolled her eyes and followed behind him. Pretty much right away Emily spotted Casey and came right over, "Casey! You're here! I'm so surprised!" "Yeah I figure, I'm only in high school once, might as well experience everything once." Casey said uncomfortably. "You're coming to Seth Ritoli's party tomorrow too though right?" Emily asked excitedly. "Uhh I don't know Em. Parties really aren't my thing," Casey replied. "Come on, you have to!" Emily begged, pulling on her arm. "I'll think about it!" Emily promised. "That's good enough for me!" Emily replied, satisfied.

Emily and Casey hung out the whole time, and actually had some fun. Casey didn't see Derek until like 10 P.M., and when she finally saw him, she was not too thrilled. Amy Peterson was drunkenly draped on him. She was looking at him seductively and looked ready to pounce him at any moment. Derek looked uncomfortable but wasn't really pushing her away. Next thing she knew, Amy grabbed Derek's face and kissed him. Amy then kissed him again, and stood up to get another drink. Casey was furious, she took Emily's arm and announced, "We should go, and I'm sleeping over." "Sounds good." As they walked out, the two passed Derek, and Casey couldn't even bring herself to look at him. "Case," She could hear him whisper as she passed, but she ignored it and kept on going, Derek ran his fingers through his hair and sighed, knowing he just got himself into a sticky situation.

"Case, is something wrong?" Emily asked, as she pulled extra blankets out of the closet. "No, nothing at all. You know what, I think I will go to that party tomorrow." Casey replied ruefully. "Great!" Emily squealed. Casey's phone kept buzzing, but she decided she didn't want to talk to him. She decided she would let him feel bad.

The next morning Casey woke up to dozens of text messages and voicemails from Derek. She rolled her eyes and shoved her phone in her bag, and stood up. Emily woke up shortly after her and rolled up off of her bed. "I'm gonna head back to my house to get some clothes, can I spend the day here?" Casey asked. "Yeah sure!" Emily replied, stretching.

Casey walked into the house quickly, knowing Derek was out at hockey practice. She wasn't ready to see him, so she grabbed her clothes for the party and changed into new clothes for the day. She then headed back over to Emily's where she would spend the day avoiding a certain boyfriend of hers.

On the Other Side of Town

"Hey D, are you alright?" Sam asked as he plopped down on the bench right behind Derek's locker in the locker room. "Yeah, I'm absolutely fantastic." Derek said faking enthusiasm, shoving his hockey pads in his locker. "You sure? You didn't seem to really be here at practice, your mind seemed to be elsewhere." Sam said, pulling off his skates. "I'm fucking great Sam! Now quit asking me!" Derek yelled, frustrated. Sam raised his hands in surrender and replied, "Okay man, just checking. You going to Seth's tonight?" Derek sighed, "I don't know." Sam looked up at Derek surprised, "I don't know? Dude this is Seth's party, you know how awesome those are! Like everyone is going! Emily just texted me and said even Casey is going." Derek turned to Sam quickly, and was surprised, he thought Casey would have been sick with parties from what happened last night. "Count me in." Derek replied. Sam smirked and stood up, "Great, see you tonight D!" Sam replied, slapping Derek on the back before leaving.

When Derek arrived home, he was determined to clear things up with Casey. When he got in the house, he found Lizzie and Nora on the couch watching some romantic comedy. "Hey, is Casey home?" Derek asked nervously. "No, she's at Emily's." Nora replied simply, not taking her eye off the television. Derek groaned, knowing he would have to wait until the party to talk to her.

A Few Hours Later

"This party is going to be so fun!" Emily gushed as her and Casey walked into Seth's house. "Yeah." Casey said half-heartedly. Casey really was in know mood to party, but she was too mad at Derek and this seemed like her best option. After a few minutes of being miserable, Casey decided to try a drink, or two, or three.

A half hour later, Derek arrived, and right away he began looking for Casey. He soon found her with a red plastic cup in her hand, he headed right over to talk to her. "Case?" He said nervously. She whipped around to face him clumsily, and her face narrowed. "Oh look it's Derek, my favorite Cheater!" She said angrily. "Casey, I didn't cheat on you! She was drunk, grabbed me, and kissed me, before I could push her away! You know I would never cheat on you or do anything to hurt you!" He exclaimed, reaching over to touch her cheek, when Casey slapped his hand away. "NO! Derek you could have let her know to back off earlier, do you know what you even talking to her did to me? It made me jealous! You talking to that beautiful blonde, popular girl, made me jealous! Is that what you wanted me to say!" She replied, hiccupped then continued, "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to party!" She finished tipsily, walking away drunkenly. He went to follow her, but was cut off by a surge of people, one of them being Sam. "Hey man you're just in time for shots!" Sam yelled over the loud noise of the party. "I don't know, I-'' Derek was cut off by Sam, "C'mom man, let's party!" He exclaimed, pulling Derek into the shot circle.

On the other side of the party, a drunk Casey was dancing hard on the floor with Emily. She had drank several more drinks and was now quite drunk. She was waving her hands in the air, and shaking her butt when she felt someone's hot breath on her neck. She turned around to find Seth Ritoli behind her, smiling wide with amusement. "Hi." He said confidently. Casey hiccupped, part nervous and part drunk, "H-hi." she stammered back. "You look cute dancing around, do you want to dance?" He asked. Casey turned back to Emily who was nodding her head hard in approval, so Casey turned around and replied, "Sure." Seth's blue eyes twinkled with delight, and he took her hand.

The two danced innocently at first, twirling around, spinning, and laughing. At one point Seth inched closer to Casey and grabbed her butt while they danced closely. Casey was drunk, and she weakly tried to shrug him off but it turned to be a fruitless effort.

Derek finally escaped the shot circle, and as soon his eyes looked on the dance floor he saw Seth groping Casey. He was furious. He saw Casey's look of discomfort, but he also saw Seth's hungry look. He then grabbed her hardly and bashed his lips onto hers, all while still grabbing her. "Stop Seth please." Derek could hear Casey plead, but Seth just ignored her. Derek walked up to the two, grabbed Seth's shoulders and shoved him away from Casey. "I think she said to stop." Derek stated angrily. "Fuck off Venturi!" Seth growled back and Derek, trying to swerve around back to Casey. "Hey dipshit, did you just hear me? She wants you to stop so leave her alone!" Derek replied, straightening up. "Whose, gonna make me?" Seth challenged. "I am." Derek replied, shoving Seth hard. Seth then shoved Derek, and Derek lunged at Seth, punching his face multiple times.

At this time, a crowd had gathered, then Sam and Ralph broke apart the two. "D, what was that about?" Sam asked, stunned. "He was groping my girlfriend!" Derek told angrily, then instantly covering his mouth, realizing what he just said. Everyone's mouth dropped in shock. "Ok everyone close your mouths. I know half of you expected this at some point, so yes Casey is my girlfriend okay? She is taken, and any guy that is hitting on her has me to answer too. I love her, and I only want her." Derek replied. Casey, at this point, slighlty sobered up from the past few moments was stunned. "You love me?" She asked quietly. Derek turned around to face her, and walked slowly to her, grabbing her hands. "Yeah I do. I love you Case." He said quietly. "I love you too. I'm sorry I was so jealous." "I think I know how you can make it up to me." Derek said with a smirk. Casey smiled, grabbed the back of his neck, and pulled him into a deep kiss, while the rest of the party gushed over the newest, cutest couple.