Author's Note: First chapter story! I wrote this about a year ago and completely forgot about it until a few weeks ago which is kind of nice since it's almost Halloween. I edited, revised and finished it finally. There will probably only be like five chapters if I can even stretch it out that long. As mentioned in the summary, this is basically a Halloween AU during Derek and Casey's senior. There's no Truman and no Sally (because I said so) and Casey isn't an airhead. Reviews are amazing. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Don't own a damn thing.

It was quite obvious to anyone that Casey McDonald was not a scary movie fan. She barely saw The Ring through her hands that were covering her face. She never finished A Nightmare On Elm Street or Cujo. She had terrible nightmares after Emily somehow talked her into watching Saw; as well as Scream, The Evil Dead, Halloween and Jaws. When she saw Carrie, she only felt a little disturbed and sad. So, it was safe to confirm that she did not and never would like horror movies. As Halloween approached, everyone at John Sparrow High was hyped up over the holiday and constantly talking about the latest thriller in theaters. Casey wasn't exactly pleased.

"…then the guy started chasing after her even though she was wearing these super cute but ridiculously high heels. So she's running and he's running and when they both turn the co-"

"Okay, Emily! I think I know what happens next," Casey interrupted voraciously; "You know scary movies aren't my thing." The brunette gave her best friend an uneasy smile. She shut her locker and balanced her books in her arms for her next class.

"I know but really, Casey, there's nothing to be too afraid of. It's only a movie." Emily tried selling her again but Casey only shook her head, uncomfortable with the idea. Emily quirked an eyebrow but dropped the subject nonetheless.

The hallways were decorated with orange and black streamers with purple and orange posters for the Halloween Harvest dance that was planned for the upcoming Friday, October 31st. Emily chattered on about some freshman girl that got dumped by a senior on the hockey team. Usually Casey would have the shallow interest in such things but today she tuned most of it out due the current state of the rest of the student body. Everyone was wrapped up in the Halloween spirit. Still, Casey didn't care at all for the haunting holiday of the dead.

And, of course, her stepbrother Derek Venturi knew this little fact. No doubt prepared to use it against her whenever he wanted. So Casey was on edge all the time now. She knew he was just waiting for the perfect moment to strike so she'd be the most scared. That was always the way he worked.

"See you third period," Emily chirped before running off to whatever class she had, leaving Casey on her own with thoughts and worries swirling around in her head.

Later that Monday, Casey stood at her locker, ready to open it so she could go home. Once she swung open the metal compartment, The Scream Mask popped right out at her. Casey jumped and squealed and soon an eruption of laughter echoed through the hall. The mask was glued to a spring and was bouncing up and down in her face so angrily Casey ripped it off then turned to see almost half of the student body laughing at her frightened state. This group also included her obnoxious stepbrother.

"DER-EK!" She yelled, ready to scold and humiliate him.

"Yes, Space Case?" She heard his distinct mocking tone. "Having fun?"

"Derek, I'm only going to say this nicely once so listen up, please stay away from locker for the rest of the year or so help me God, I will-"

"What?" Derek cut her off boastfully, "Seriously, Case, what are you going to do?"

Blinded by rage and fear that she was losing control of the situation (and so quickly), Casey stepped right in front of him and grabbed him by the ear. "Derek, you will leave my locker alone!" Outraged, he staggered away from his crazy stepsister as the crowd dwindled, laughter still echoing but along with gasps. "And stop trying to scare me!" She agitatedly added.

"Trying? Correction; I did scare you," he said.

"You continuously say you don't like me and you know I don't like you. We fight all the time. So, why, oh, why do you feel the need to annoy the hell out of me?" She probed.

"I wouldn't call it annoying."

"Of course, you wouldn't. To you, this is probably some weird form of bonding."

"Even the remote idea of bonding with you, Klutzilla, makes me want to vomit."

"The wit," Casey quipped, smirking darkly. The hallway was cleared and now it was only Derek and Casey; argument already started and no where near ending any time soon. "Leave me alone, Derek," she said as she turned back around to gather her things.

"You know, you really shouldn't be mean to the person who's driving you home. You never know what might happen." He smirked, digging into his pants pocket for the keys to the Prince only to find them not there. Casey looked up at him, grinning evilly and jingling the keys in his face.

"It's not your day to drive," Derek accused.

"I know but last Saturday night when it was my night and you wanted to take out Sadie McKinley and I let you, you said that any day this week could be mine. And I pick today." Casey explained, still smirking.

"That's so completely unfair," he groaned.

"No, it's not," she argued, "I want to drive today so shut up and let me. You agreed."

"Yeah! But I thought you would forget!"

"I never forget anything!"

"Always a control freak," he snarked.

"Always a selfish prick," she countered.

They glared at each other for a moment longer before Derek just groaned again and Casey laughed cheerfully.

"You drive like an old lady!"

"At least I drive better than you! You're a maniac on the road!"

"Oh, well, I-"

"What are you two fighting about now?" George asked, interrupting the sudden loud disruption in the Venturi-McDonald household that was caused by the two teens.

"Oh, you know, the usual. I'm an annoying, selfish, stupid playboy jock who drives like a maniac," Derek said to his dad, "But this is coming from the clumsy perfectionist keener who drives like Aunt Madge on a tranquilizer!"

"I do not! I just abide by the rules of the road!" Casey defended herself. "And did you know, George, that Derek put a scary mask in my locker today so that it popped out at me when I opened it!"

"Derek," George said warningly.

"What? It was all in the spirit of Halloween," he shrugged it off to his dad.

"Spirit or no spirit, you can't just go into someone's locker – especially your stepsister's – and try to scare them." George told his son and Casey gave Derek a look that said 'I won.'

"Whatever, yeah, yeah, I get it. No more scaring Space Case." Derek rolled his eyes as he spoke but gave his dad a forced smile. George and Casey shared a look, both frustrated with him. "Come on, it's Halloween."

"On Friday," said Casey, "Today is Monday. There are three full days before the actual day."

"All the more fun," he smirked.

"As I told you before, leave me alone," she reminded him.

"Gladly."

"Great."

"Can't wait."

"Me either."

And with that Casey turned on her heel and ran up the stairs to her room.

"Why are you so hyped up on Halloween this year?" George asked him as they both sat down on the couch. Derek didn't answer for a couple seconds as he flipped through the channels.

"Because I have a plan," he said.

"A plan?"

"A very big plan."

"What kind of a plan?"

"A secret plan," he gave his dad a pointed look.

"Does it involve Casey at all?" George pressed. Derek said nothing, eyes fixated on the TV screen. "Derek?" Still nothing. "Derek, answer me."

"Huh?" He said in a dazed voice as he turned.

"Does your secret Halloween plan involve Casey?" George asked again.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Dad." Derek only smirked slightly.

"You know what? I don't even want to know anymore, Derek. You go ahead and do whatever it is you're going to do because it doesn't even matter what I say." George told his eldest in an exasperated tone.

"Reverse psychology doesn't work on me," he reminded him, eyes back on the screen.

George smacked him on the back of the head. "Don't get smart with me," he told him.

"I would never," Derek replied sarcastically as he rubbed the wounded part of his head.

George then repeated the same action a few moments later.