Life With Dasey (A Life With Derek Fanfic)

Chapter Seven

"Edwin, are you questioning the chef? I said, hand me the ladle!"

"Yes, Derek!" Lizzie quickly snatched Edwin's hand from grabbing another utensil. Derek was running his stepbrother ragged on Thanksgiving Day, and Lizzie had to put an end to this madness.

"Edwin! You're too old to let Derek order you around like this. We're out of here, Derek. Sorry, Case." Lizzie took off her apron and threw in the towel, quite literally speaking.

"Great, our only helpers are gone because of you! And newsflash: Edwin is right; you can't use a ladle for potato salad!" The only way this ladle was going to be used is to beat Derek with it.

"Says the one who uses chopsticks with noodles. Why don't you stop questioning my methods and start making your salad that no one will bother to eat," Derek insisted.

"It's a store-bought salad, Derek; I don't have to make it. Besides, I'm here to help you with the turkey."

"You're here to help me? That's funny because your constant yapping is only distracting me."

Casey rolled her eyes, checking off her list of things to do. Unfortunately, beating Derek with a ladle wasn't on the list but could be added at her discretion.

She placed her list back onto the island and looked up just in time to see Derek kicking the oven closed. He proceeded to help himself to his third buttered roll of the day as a reward for getting the turkey cooking.

"Stop eating all of the food!"

"If you say so." Derek took the half-eaten bread and launched it at Casey, hitting her square on the chest.

"Der-ek!" Casey yelled.

"Ca-sey!" Derek mocked her.

Casey found the roll on the floor and threw it back at him, accidentally hitting the toaster instead.

"Is everything okay in there?!"

Oh, great. Nora had a sixth sense for their fighting, it appeared.

"Yeah, Mom. Everything is great! We've got everything under control." Casey adjusted the toaster back in its original spot, making sure there was no sign of horseplay.

Casey turned back to Derek, her palms resting on the free counter space.

"Alright, Derek, how about a truce? The holidays are very important to some of us, so we need to be civil to one another," Casey explained.

"It's not that big of a deal."

"It is a big deal. I heard Marti talking to George about how she misses your mom. Whether or not you care about the holidays, find it in your heart to care about your family. You and I don't need to make things worse for everyone today, okay?"

Derek had forgotten that his mom would miss yet another holiday. He was far too used to her absence, but he never took into account how hurt and abandoned Marti must feel at such a young age.

"Yeah, you might be right." Derek grew quiet at the counter, long enough for Casey to suspect he was upset but trying to hide his emotions.