Disclaimer: I don't own Life With Derek. If I did, you'd know, because I have no problem going into Dasey territory.
Title: A Good Example
Summary: .post It's Our Party. After seeing Lizzie and Edwin fighting, Casey comes to the shocking conclusion that she and Derek may be setting a bad example for the two younger sibs. So she's got the perfect plan to change that... .Dasey.
Author: Silverflare07
Dedication: This one goes to Chibi, because when I told her my idea she laughed her head off and told me that it was the perfect Derek reaction to the Casey-induced situation. And just because she's my bestest friend ever!
Author's Notes: The idea for this fic came after seeing It's Our Party. I was watching Lizzie pin Edwin to the floor for teasing her about her boy friend Jamie (I think that's his name) and I thought Oh god, they're turning into Derek and Casey! Of course, Derek and Casey saw their younger sibs fighting and Casey, being Casey, would want to start setting a good example for Lizzie. So, she's going to stop reacting to everything Derek does. And when I asked myself what would happen to Derek when she did that, I thought...It would drive him nuts. And thus, you get this! Enjoy!
Stuff You Need To Know:
"Speech"
Thoughts
"I have had the worst weekend ever!" Casey McDonald announced as she walked into the school counselor's office.
Paul looked up from his sandwich and sighed. "Derek I assume."
"No!" Casey cried as she sat down in the chair across from his desk.
"Really?" Paul raised his eyes in amazement. "It's not a Derek problem this time?"
"No." Casey repeated. "Well...sort of. But it's not something he did. It us and how we are."
Paul blinked, now thoroughly confused. "What? Maybe you should start from the beginning."
Casey took a deep breath. "Okay. This weekend my parents threw a joint party for Lizzie and Edwin"
"Sounds reasonable."
"Oh yean, totally. But I guess Lizzie and Edwin got cold feet or something. They hid out in the closet until Derek and I were forced to go and talk to them."
"What's so terrible about that?"
"Nothing. But after we had finished talking to them, we found them out in the hallway. Lizzie had Edwin pinned down to the ground and was shaking him and yelling at him for teasing her about her guy friend, who's not her boyfriend."
"All siblings fight once in a while, it's nothing to worry about." Paul assured her.
"Yeah, but they never used to be like that! They have to be learning it from somewhere!"
"Well..."
"That's when it hit me! Are Derek and I like that?"
"Well," Paul struggled to find the right words.
"We are!" Casey concluded, and Paul could see the beginning's of a Casey meltdown. "They're learning this from us! But I don't want to be a bad example for my sister! Oh Paul, what should I do?"
"Well, the best thing to do would be-"
"I know! I'll just stop fighting with Derek! Well," She half laughed, "Derek will never stop fighting but I can stop taking the bait. It's like dealing with a bully." She nodded, a smile blossoming on her face. "That's perfect! Thanks Paul!" She stood up and slipped her back pack over her shoulder. "You always know what to say!" She opened the door and slipped out into the hallway.
Paul blinked, his sandwich still handing limply from on hand. "Sure...glad to have...helped."
Casey looked up as Derek walked through the front door. She gave him a simple hello before turning her attention back to the movie she was watching. She winced as he plucked the remote from her hand and flipped the channel to a hockey game.
"Der-ek!" She growled before remembering her plan. "I-I mean, may I please have the remote back Derek?"
Derek raised an eyebrow at the girl on the couch. "No. And what's with the polite act?"
"It's not an act," She said through gritted teeth. "But I really would like to finish the movie I was watching."
"Tough." Derek laughed. "I'm watching the hockey game."
"Fine!" Casey stood up. "In-(sensitive jerk!) I mean, I'll just watch it later, I have it on DVD."
"Right..." Derek flicked the remote in her direction. "You do that."
Casey glared at him briefly before taking a deep breath and calmly walking away. She grinned to herself as she reached the top of the stairs and mentally patted herself on the back. It was going to be harder than she had expected, but she'd made it through round one.
Only a thousand and one rounds to go.
She, of course, didn't notice Derek's questioning eyes follow her up the stairs until she was out of sight.
Derek grinned as he pressed play on his camcorder. Casey had weirded him out slightly the night before with her nice act. He didn't know what she was aiming for, but he was determined to break her before she got it. He had pulled the old 'hide all her things' trick late last night with Edwin's help. It was old and overused, but it got Casey every time. He'd set up the camera to catch her reaction as she walked down the stairs, since he'd had to clear out of the house himself. He heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs and grinned, turning his attention to the video.
"Morning mom." Casey greeted her mother, chipper as usual.
"Morning..." Nora trailed off as she noticed her daughter's attire. "Um, why are you wearing one of Derek's shirts."
"Oh, this?" Casey tugged at the short sleeve-long sleeve combo t-shirt of Derek's. It was similar to the one she had worn the first time he'd pulled the prank on her. "I just didn't feel like dressing up today. I had a late night but I don't really own any slacker clothes so I borrowed some of Derek's."
"Oh." Nora nodded. "Well you look very slacker-ish today."
"Thanks!" Casey beamed at her mother, a short of triumph shinning in her eyes.
Derek looked at the screen in disbelief. She...she hadn't freaked out at all! She hadn't even ratted him out! It...hadn't even bothered her! He sat there, frozen in place, as he watched the frozen image of Casey's smiling face.
What in the world is going on?!
He was in the same spot when Edwin came to get him for dinner an hour later.
Casey walked down stairs the next morning, glad to be back in her own clothes. She hadn't seen Derek at all last night and was almost disappointed. She'd been looking forward to rubbing her victory in his face. But no matter, she'd defiantly see him at breakfast. She'd come from dance practice to find all her stuff back where it belonged. He hadn't made her search for it. That meant she was getting to him. No! She reprimanded herself. This is about setting a better example for Lizzie, not getting back at Derek.
She grinned as she walked into the kitchen and found Derek eating a bowl of cereal, looking more sullen then usual. Of course if it just happens to come as an added bonus...
She sat down at the island with a bowl and pulled the cereal towards her. "Morning Derek!" She chirped, sounding extra happy just to annoy him.
"Morning." He grumbled.
"You don't look so good," she told him, sarcastic sympathy oozing from her voice. "Did you have a rough night?"
Derek glared at her, but she simply smiled.
Yes, Casey McDonald decided, things were looking up.
End chapter 1! This is going to be very short, and will move more like an episode would. It's only going to be four chapters because it's basically me still getting used to writing for these characters.
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