WE FOUND A WAY

Prologue

Derek didn't know why he was so concerned about humiliating his stepsister. It was something he got a kick out of. It did something for him, satisfied him for some reason. He wanted to see her get all worked up, to see her yell at him and storm into her room, smacking the door behind her so the house almost shattered to the ground. He wanted to see her face get all red, see her hair messed up all over the place. He wanted to hear her voice crack and see her eyes go wide.

He couldn't explain it, but he wanted to see Casey just show some sort of emotion to him. He didn't know why, and he didn't care why, he just wanted to make her mad at him, so at least she'd spare him a glance.

It had gotten better. When the McDonalds first moved in with them, she had yelled at him all the time. No matter what he did, she hadn't tried to befriend him, to make a relationship with him. He hadn't tried either, but his excuse was, that he wasn't good at stuff like that; he was never emotional and telling people how he felt rarely occurred. But as he opened up a little bit, just a tad to let her know that sure, she had taken some of his domain, she had taken something from him, but he'd still want to make things work, she opened up too. She became a smidge nice to him. She looked more happy all the time. And she let him be him.

It was what made Derek happy. They somewhat got along now, but he was still very much concerned about Casey and how to make her feel bad. It was just his thing, and he knew she almost expected it from him. That was why, on this lonely Saturday morning, he slowly opened the door to her room, ready to hunt something down; find something he could show to the entire school so he could watch Casey squirm in her pants as her face got all red.

The others had left for some doll family gathering. Derek had played sick. He had a thing with Sam later and he didn't want to miss it. So he'd played his part well-enough and George had believed him (or at least he had pretended to believe him, just to let him stay home, without getting Nora on his case). So there he was. He wasn't meeting Sam yet – there was an hour until his best bud would be knocking on his door so he had just enough time to find something that would completely embarrass Casey.

He took a good look around her room as the door closed behind him. It was all very pink and very organized and very Casey. He had no idea how she lived in here. How she even breathed with all that fluffiness around her would be a question to him. But that wasn't why he was here… He'd have to hurry if he wanted to get this done before Sam got there. Sure, Sam would never rat him out, but he'd, without a doubt, try to talk him out if it. And Derek wasn't really up for that today. He didn't want to explain to Sam why it was such a huge deal to him to annoy Casey. He didn't think anyone would really understand. Casey wouldn't, and yet she annoyed him all the time too. It was really weird. Derek didn't quite get it himself.

He walked across the floor and sat down on her office chair, looking around the room in wonder. She'd probably have something on her table somewhere. Maybe on her computer? That girl was weird, it seemed like something she would do; hide personal stuff in a folder on the computer.

He hit the start button and pushed the chair back a bit, opened the top drawer. He saw a stack of papers lying in there and skipped through them quickly, not finding anything good. He looked up at the computer screen when he was done and cursed when it asked for a password.

"Oh…" he whispered, and pondered things over in his head, "What would the keener stepsister put up as her password?" he questioned himself as he tapped his fingers against the table, "I guess 'I love Derek' is out of the question?" he chuckled to himself and quickly typed it in just for the hell of it. It didn't surprise him when it was wrong, and the computer asked for another password.

He rolled back in the office chair and let the computer be for now. He would have to think more about that password and he still had about forty minutes until Sam arrived. It was enough time. He just had to find something Casey-humiliating, he had to! If he could, he'd get it in the school paper and everyone would read it. It was a brilliant plan, and he just needed the thing to get it done.

Derek grabbed a photo album from Casey's shelf, flipping it onto a random page. What he found there were four pictures. One of Casey and her dad. One of the three McDonald women, all smiling happily to the camera. One was of Lizzie and Casey when they were younger and the last one was of Casey dressed up in a frog costume. I would probably be from one of her dance shows, but it looked absolutely hilarious. She was kneeling down, her hands moved up like a frog's legs would be, and her entire face was painted green.

Derek moved to pull the picture out of the album, but stopped when his eyes caught the picture of Nora, Lizzie and Casey. She looked so happy. She was smiling, her hair was gently falling down her shoulders. It was probably taken right before they moved in with them. For some reason, he couldn't get himself to take out that picture. It was something so personal, and it was probably very important to her. For some weird reason, he didn't want to ruin that.

He withdrew his hand and smacked the album close, placing it back on the right place. He looked around again and went back to the computer, hitting the off button. He'd never even guess what her passwords was, so he might as well just not try. But he did come in here on a mission, and he was going to complete it. He wanted to find something he could tease Casey with, something that would make her so mad. He wanted to see her get worked up – it had actually been awhile since she'd been really angry at him. For some reason, these past few months, she hadn't really responded to his arguing. She's just been really silent and wasn't really talking to anyone. It was a tad depressing, actually, because normally he could get a rise out of her with a snap of his fingers.

Derek bit his lip as his eyes settled on her bedside table. Right now, there was something very appealing about that. It seemed to be calling out to him. 'Derek! Derek!' it said. It wanted him to open that top drawer. And who would he be to resist that want?

He jumped across the bed and sat down on the side of it, quickly opening the drawer that had been calling his name. He couldn't help but smile when his eyes settled on a pink, fury notebook. Or… dare he think it… a diary? He could see her name scribbled across the little square box made just for that. He got the diary out of the drawer and was about to open it, when he stopped.

For some reason he hesitated to open it. It was… it was her personal stuff, wasn't it? Was he supposed to look at it? Was he supposed to read it when it was her personal thoughts and her personal space? Should he even open this? Did he want to? What if she had written something incredibly mushy and girly in there? He wouldn't want to read that.

But he had been on a mission… what was he doing? He was Derek Venturi and he didn't care. He had wanted to find something embarrassing about Casey, and there he was, sitting with the possible key to all that, and he was doubting it? That wasn't like him at all. But for some reason he got this weird feeling in the pit of his stomach. It was almost as if he was feeling… guilt? That couldn't be right. He never felt anything of the sort. Except for a few times in the past… but then he had done something really bad. This was just a bit of peeking… no biggie.

He opened the book to the first page and looked at the date. It was dated some time ago. It probably wasn't very interesting to look at. What would be interesting to look at was… something newer. He skipped a few pages until he reached the newest entry. It was dated two days ago and scribbled in Casey's neat handwriting. He decided that if there wasn't anything interesting in this, he could always just read it and hold it against her.

Dear Diary.

I've had a crazy week so far, so I haven't really been able to write. I need it, though. I like venting my feelings. Either write my thoughts down or I try to get some lyrics or a poem onto paper. It always helps. I've always been able to do that, and I've done it since I learned how to write. But something has been going on with me lately. I feel, I don't know, weird. I guess you could say that, I'm just not quite sure if it's the right word to use.

I know the feeling in the pit of my stomach. I had it a little when I started liking Sam. A lot when I was dating Max. It's love. And it's crazy, but such a good feeling. You'll never know unless you try. The thing is just… I really don't want to be feeling this way. It's very unfortunate, and I hate it! I wish I could just be Casey McDonald again. I was finally starting to feel like me. After so many months where I was mostly centred around Max and my relationship with him, I finally started to feel like the real Casey.

But then something changed, and everything is messed up again. I wonder though… Did I always feel like this? I'm starting to think that I did. I think I always felt this way, but never really realized it. I was too absorbed in everything else, and now that I finally have time to be me and do what I want to and what I like, I can't, because I know what I know.

I didn't ask for this. I didn't want this. It may sound dramatic, but hey! that's me. My mother always called me a drama queen. She hasn't been doing that much since we moved in with the Venturis. It's okay with me. It wasn't the most flattering nickname, I've got to say. But I really mean it. I never wanted something like this to happen. It's wrong on so many levels, but I just… I can't seem to stop. I can't seem to forget about it – it's all I think about, really. And that's why I've been acting different. Everyone has started to notice it. First it was my mom, then Emily, soon Lizzie. You know, I think even Derek started to notice!

Derek smiled to himself. He had noticed, and apparently she noticed he noticed. It was weird really. He couldn't exactly pinpoint when it happened; when he started to see how different she had become, but he hadn't liked it. Truth be told; he liked the old Casey a lot. Even if she was dramatic and she read poetry to the family on special nights. There was just something about her that made her different. No one had ever dared to stand up to him before she came, and that was a bit of a thrill to him. She made it worth being bad, because she put up a fight. And she wasn't like those blonde bombshells he always went out with (he did like those!); she stood up to him and she actually told him what was on her mind. They would let him walk all over them if he pleased. Which he often did – that was another thing Casey hated about him.

He was intrigued though, to what he was reading here. What was she talking about? She had rambled on for about a page now, and yet she hadn't really revealed what was up. But she was talking about a feeling. She mentioned Sam and she mentioned Max. Which would probably mean she was talking about love, but…

…who was the new love-interest of Casey McDonald?

Derek needed to read on, so that was exactly what he did.

Derek. Derek, Derek, Derek… Where to start with him? He makes me feel so… Urgh! I get so angry with him. He's like the cherry on top, but not in a good way. I'm feeling like crap and he just saunters around and throws insults at me all day long. These days I don't even have the strength to throw something back at him, whether it be a piece of bread during dinner, a paper ball in class or just a verbal insult. And I hate that. Because now he doesn't only have the power over me emotionally, but also physically and it's very draining. I don't even know what to do.

Gabriella called the other day. She had huge news to tell me. She's doing good, by the way. Her and her mother haven't moved at all for about two years now. Gabriella is very happy about that. And she got together with that girl she liked. I don't know if I'm happy for her or just really confused that my old best friend turned out to be gay. But whatever… If she's happy, I guess I should be too. The reason I'm mentioning her now though, is because I talked to her about Derek.

She told me to go on and admit it. And I was confused. I was like 'admit it to him?', and she said, 'No, admit it to yourself'. And that actually made pretty good sense. Gabriella has always been that way, and even though we're so far apart, I'm happy we can still have our talks. She also said to me that it would be a good idea to talk it through with someone else. I just don't know who. It's not like I can tell Mom or George or Lizzie. They'd all laugh at me in my face. I'm not sure if I should consult Emily, giving her feelings too. It'd be too hard on her. There's always Noel, but the poor guy would be so crushed.

That's why I'm writing now about all this. I should go write a poem, you know? A poem just for me. To trust with my deepest secrets and blossoming feelings. I can't take it anymore. I know I'm crazy, I must be, right?, because no one sane would actually feel the way I do about someone so messed up. Someone so womanizing, someone so cruel and idiotic. He's not my type. Not my type at all, and yet I'm dieing to be with him.

Am I crazy?

Derek stopped again. So there really was a new love-interest. And apparently it was very huge. He didn't know why, but that left him feeling sadness. It was probably because it would cause Casey to get overemotional again and he'd have that weird dude in the house all time. It was the only explanation he could come up with that was useable. Otherwise he had no idea why he would feel this crappy about it.

And that Gabriella girl. He had seen a few pictures of her and talked to her on the phone once. He had never met her. He just knew she was hot for a girl so young (she was young on the pictures Casey had, now she was the same age as Casey and himself). He had talked to her when she had called for Casey. It had only been short;

"This is Derek?"

"Hi, this is Gabriella. Can I speak to Casey?"

"Oh hi Gabriella, no Casey is not here right now."

"I know she is, she just IM'ed me. Can I get her on the phone?"

"Alright, I'll just go upstairs… So? Gabby, can I call you Gabby? What do you do? You wanna go out with me sometime?"

"I live too far away, so I'm gonna have to go with no."

"But you would have if you lived next door, right? I could tell Emily to move and then you could move in."

"Nah, that's still a no."

"That's such a shame Gabby, we would have made a lovely couple."

"I highly doubt that."

"De-REK! Get off the phone! She's my friend so you better be nice to her!"

"Oh, there we have Ms. Drama Queen. Nice talking to you Gabby."

Yeah, it hadn't been too great. Casey had freaked out on him for trying to hook up with her friend and the next time Gabriella called and he picked up she had hung up the phone and called back after, when someone else answered. But she had seemed genially nice, and Derek had liked that she just bantered with him without really knowing him. He would have never dated this girl, that was for sure. She wasn't really his type. He usually went after the blonde bombshells.

But apparently she knew who Casey liked. He wanted to know too. He should just read on, get the name and then get out of there before Sam showed up. He was too curious now not to read it. There was no turning back.

It's Derek. God, I can't believe I'm saying this. I'm actually admitting it. It's Derek. I like Derek. One would probably wonder… Derek whom? And I would shamefully hide my face in my hands and say 'Derek Venturi. My stepbrother!'. I can't believe it. I like my stepbrother. It's gross, it's wrong, it's sick, and yet I feel so… I feel so good about it.

Derek paused and swallowed a huge lump in his throat. Did Casey really like him? He had never thought of that. Sure, she was hot for a keener and she was very beautiful, but he had never thought of her as actually dating-material. He had been positive she wouldn't think of him like that either. And yet there he was, reading how she admitted it.

What was he going to do about this? He wouldn't know how to act around her now. Sure… he'd want to act superior and let her know he knew her secret so she could be totally embarrassed, but… he didn't want to hurt her. And it seemed like this really mattered to her.

There were signs of dried tears further down on the page and her else so beautiful handwriting had gotten all messed-up. What would he do now? What would he say to her the next time her saw her? He… he didn't know.

He smacked the diary close and quickly stuffed it into the drawer, closing it behind him. He stood up, and looked around to make sure that everything was as it was before he stepped in, then he left the room and leaned against the wall outside.

He couldn't be mean to her now, could he? That would be too evil, it would be too mean. He wasn't like that. Sure, he liked to tease and he liked to get his way. But it was always friendly, it was meant it the most positive way possible. He couldn't do that to her now, not when she was hurting. Not when he knew inside that he could never actually feel that same for her. He couldn't let her know he knew, and if she ever decided to tell him he would know how to shoot her down gently.

How could this have happened? How could she had fallen for him? They were so different it was crazy. It changed something in him. He now saw her completely different, and there was no way he could treat her like he used to. And he'd never mention this to anyone. Ever. It would be too hurtful. It would be too mean.

"Dude, what are you doing?"

Derek looked up to find Sam standing by the end of the hallway, a confused look across his face. Derek just pushed himself away from the wall and started approaching his best friend.

"Were you just in Casey's room?" Sam wondered, probably because the door was open, and because Derek had been standing where he was.

Derek shrugged, and Sam gave him a confused look, "I was just looking for embarrassing secrets." Derek explained himself and stuffed his hands into his pockets, as they walked down the stairs.

Sam snorted, "So did you find anything?"

Derek turned and gave the other boy a small smirk, "No." he said, "No, I didn't."

So yeah. I hope you enjoyed this. It was the prologue of my first full-length Life With Derek Dasey fic. I've written two one-shots (you should read them, if you like my work ;b), but it's gonna be so amazing to finally write a chaptered fic with them. Remember, this was just the prologue, and the chapters should certainly get more interesting.

This is a future fic, as in the rest of the story will be in the future. I really hope you'll give it a chance, I worked hard on the plot. And also, I want you to know that this is kind of a cross-over between Life With Derek and High School Musical, so the Gabriella in here was actually Gabriella Montez. She will be an important character later on. This is all Dasey though and will be centred around them. I just had this crazy idea of how Gabriella and Casey could know each other, and that's why I decided to do this cross-over. I hope you'll still want to read it.

Disclaimer; I do not own Life With Derek or High School Musical.