Archive of Our Own

As soon as the door snapped shut, Casey fell heavily against it.  She felt... wooed.  Could she say that without sounding like an old lady?  Suddenly, she saw herself as a heroine straight out of her beloved romance novels.

Mr. Darcy, anyone?  Casey gasped out loud, her hand covering her heart in shock.  No.  Don't go down that path.

She closed her eyes, desperately willing her thoughts to slow down.  But as soon as she shut her eyes, the image of Derek leaning nonchalantly against her doorframe appeared.  Casey had seen Derek in his leather jacket thousands of times in countless situations, but never at her door, picking her up for a date.  Hair perfectly tousled, lips enchantingly curved, and eyes captivatingly absorbed in taking in her appearance.  Never had she felt so overwhelmingly desirable.

Casey's hand twitched on its own accord as she recalled the casualness of how he laced their fingers so tenderly together, acting as if it was an everyday occurrence.  Contrary to Derek's ease, she could barely reign in the chaotic flutters of her heart.

And how dare he prepurchase movie tickets?  Like he somehow knew that she and all her perfecting quirks would find the action alluring?  Derek planning ahead of time?  For her?  Uncharted, unprecedented territory... left Casey entirely unprepared.

Her breath hitched as she relived the movie.  Derek's dancing digits proved too much for her to handle, expertly teasing her into such a state that caused her thighs to clamp forcefully together.  Casey refused to think about the implications of that.

His suggestive comments over the course of the evening did something to her, she was painfully aware of that, but she was an expert at squashing away her internal reactions.  However, it did nothing to stop the telltale blush from taking over her traitorous cheeks.

But what really stuck in her mind was the vision of Derek, his handsome profile cut out against her favorite backdrop.  Her secret spot at the lake had never been more breathtaking.  The beauty of her first evening visit to her special place paled in comparison to the man beside her.  The quietness and stillness between them in that moment felt more intimate than anything she had ever experienced.  Coupled with their natural teasing and bantering, the setting was so incredibly complete.  Casey felt asphyxiated by the emotions swirling inside her.

Urging herself to stand, Casey caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.  Shaking her head in disbelief, she took in the flush of her skin, the new sparkle in her eyes, and the barely concealed smile twitching at the corners of her red lips.  Automatically, her palms reached up to cup her pink cheeks as if verifying it was truly herself in the reflection.

The memory at her door catapulted back to her.  Casey's eyes closed again as she shivered.  Would she have kissed him?  Her hands fell heavily to her sides, demanding herself not to answer that question.  But the surging force continued to radiate through her body even as she tried to propel it away.

If one thing was certain, Derek had left her shellshocked... and somehow desperately wanting more.

Casey limped through her classes in a daze.  And based on her empty notebook, she performed a lackluster job of notetaking, not that she could remember any subject matters that they had discussed.  Not up to her usual standards by any means.

She gave a half-attempt of a smile to the salad bar lady as she returned Casey's student card.  Slowly, Casey made her way to the table her friends already occupied.

"Uh oh."  Angelina dramatized as Casey slid into the booth beside Sadie.  "Casey arrived without an entrance.  Three guesses what's bothering her and the first two don't count."

"Hmm, let me think."  Tessa tapped a navy nail against her chin.  "Could it possibly have anything to do with a certain hunky boy, who answers to the name... what was it again?"  She turned exaggeratedly to her friends, a sarcastic grin lighting her face.

Sadie jumped in with a cute laugh.  "Was it Darren?"

"Definitely not."  Angelina teased.  "Something more along the lines of Devon."

"I thought it was Dirk!"  Tessa contributed playfully.

"Wait," Angelina held her hands up, successfully stilling everyone.  "It rhymed with Eric.  Could it be—”

"Derek?"  The three girls mocked together, falling into a state of snickers at the look on Casey's face.

Straightening, Sadie sobered.  "So, what's wrong, Casey?"

"Who said anything was wrong?"  Casey pouted but pretended not to be.

"You're wearing that 'Derek Dazed' look again."  Angelina supplied, pointing her fork at Casey.  "Although, I'm not quite sure what you look like without it anymore."

"A.K.A. totally lovestruck."  Tessa nodded emphatically.

"I am not."  Rolling her eyes, Casey stabbed vehemently at her salad.

Angelina tossed a conspiring smile at the others before leaning over the table to Casey.  "Tell me, exactly how long have you lived in denial?"

"I'm not in den—”

"Casey," Sadie urged quietly from beside her, patting her forearm.  "It's okay to admit it."  She looked pointedly at their two friends.  "We won't take the mickey."

Tessa held her hands up innocently.  "Hey, I'm encouraging you to date Derek."  She waggled her eyebrows at Casey.  "His friends are hot.  I want in."

"That's all there ever is with you, Tess.  Boys, boys, boys."  Angelina ribbed with a shove against Tessa's shoulder.

Sadie reasoned slowly, cutting over the continued argument between Angelina and Tessa, "What we're saying, Casey, is that we want you to be happy because you're our friend and it seems, at least to us, that Derek does that for you."

Leaning back in the booth, Casey considered Sadie's words as she picked at the greens in her bowl absentmindedly.  Her thoughts once again whirling.  Since when was she the one stuttering over her ffff-feelings?  Wait, did she really say feelings?  As in—

"Hey, that reminds me, how come you didn't answer your phone last night?"  Tessa tossed her a gloomy pout.  "I needed help with chemistry."

Fidgeting with her napkin, Casey squeaked, "Oh, I was busy..." She trailed off, at a lost, but a charming voice saved her just as Angelina opened her mouth to interrogate her.

"There's my favorite keener."

Casey's friends instantly straightened, biting back smiles as they prepared for the show.

Already fighting her blush, Casey gazed up at a smirking Derek.  "Alas, my not-so favorite pain in the side."

Derek blessed them with his deep chuckle before tossing his bag to the ground.  He nudged her over with one hand, falling into the nonexistent space next to her on the booth.  Casey knocked into Sadie as she tried and failed to create distance between her body and Derek's.

Clearing her throat, Casey inquired, "Where's Billy?"

Shrugging, Derek answered ominously, "He had stuff to do."  His arm draped over the back of the booth as he settled into her side.

"So, you just had to force your presence on us?  Why?"

"Nothing could keep me from you, Your Majesty."

At the sound of her friends' giggles, Derek beamed around at them all, giving Casey a squeeze to her shoulder.  Casey refused to meet anyone's eyes, insisting on concentrating on her lunch tray.

Out of the blue, Derek's free hand swooped into her line of view, successfully stealing her apple.

"Der-rek!  I was saving that for later!"  Casey's entire focus switched to his face as he tauntingly took a crisp bite.

He gave an exaggerated moan.  "So delicious, Princess."  Derek licked his lips for her.  "Wanna taste?  I'll share it with you."  Holding the apple out, he offered it back to her.

Her friends' muffled whispers were the only cause to her face turning bright red.  It had nothing to do with Derek's attempts at flirting.  Casey corrected herself, Derek did not attempt to flirt.  He had always been effortlessly fluent in the art of seduction.

Casey could recognize his flirting in less than a tenth of a second.  She thought about all the girls she witnessed fall at his feet with one flash of his mesmerizing grin.  There was hardly ever a girl that wasn't eventually rendered useless as that low silky murmur of enticing suggestiveness oozed out of him.

But used against her?  Why was she suddenly so short of breath and blushing like a schoolgirl?  Didn't she pronounce herself immune to his charms?  Maybe she needed a booster shot.  And fast.

A throat cleared, startling her from her thoughts.  Derek quirked an eyebrow as he awaited her response.

With a huff, Casey turned up her nose.  "No, thank you."

He shrugged, taking another large bite before speaking through a mouthful, "Suit yourself."

"Chew, swallow, and then speak, Derek."

"Yes, ma'am."  He winked at her.

Like the traitors they were, her friends giggled.  Casey shot them all a heated glare.  "Don't encourage him.  It's taken me years to get this far, and he's not even housebroke yet."

"We didn't say a word, Casey."  Tessa sang.

Casey rounded on Derek.  "Do you seriously think offering me half-eaten food is attractive?"

Derek's eyebrows rose in surprise.  "I wasn't offering you half-eaten food.  I offered you the apple, Space Case."  The corners of his lips quirked victoriously.  "But it's nice to know where your mind jumped to.  And you're the only one who brought up my attractiveness."

She flared, "I never called you attractive!"

He sough assistance from her friends with a tilt of his head.

Angelina was all too quick to help.  "She thinks you're attractive, Derek.  Don't worry."

"Definitely."  Tessa agreed with a mischievous smile.  You could do anything, and she'd find it sexy."

"Tessa!"

Sadie jumped in, "That might be an exaggeration—”

"Thank you, Sadie."

"—But she'd still be crazy about you."

Betrayed, Casey gasped, shooting a look at her supposed friend.

"Deny it all you want, Case, but now I have witnesses."  Derek hummed happily, drawing her closer to his side.

Casey glared around the table as her friends gave her varying looks of 'I told you so.'

"You know, when you said you'd text me after class today, I imagined something a little sexier than the library."  His hushed murmur fell tantalizingly against her earlobe.

Casey instantly righted herself in her straight-backed wooden chair, watching as Derek dragged the neighboring chair closer to her.  His leg brushed sensitively against hers as he took a seat.

Before he could notice, she dropped her gaze back to her book, highlighting a random passage solely for the sake of her sanity.  Casey hissed back, "There's nothing wrong with the library."

With a snicker, Derek unpacked his things onto their shared table.  "I should have known the library would turn you on."

She closed her eyes, willing herself patience.  "Can you please just sit quietly and let me study?"

He observed her with that distinct slant of his head and that look down his nose, and it felt as if he was piercing through her very soul.  Derek flipped his laptop open but kept his eyes on her for a beat longer.  "Don't mind me.  I have a paper to write, and I am nothing if not a diligent student."

Snorting, Casey shook her head as she changed highlighters.  "I'll do my best not to distract the keener then, but I can assure you it won't be easy."

Derek threw her an ironic grin that did more to her insides than she cared to acknowledge.  "Aww, thanks for trying, Princess."  Suddenly, his fingers grasped her knee underneath the table.  "But you always distract me from everything else."  With one last squeeze, he pulled away.  His fingers immediately flew across the keyboard as he concentrated on his open document.

It took Casey several deep breaths, a few rapid blinks, and a silent prayer before she found the correct paragraph again.  But once she found it, it did nothing to hold her attention.  Not like her... whatever he was, sitting beside her.

Studious Derek never ceased to stupefy her.  His knitted brow and rigid jaw united to paint the perfect picture of utter devotion to his work.  The way he chewed absentmindedly on a pencil stuck between his teeth as his digits danced firmly over the keys in flawless harmony.  A spark would ignite in his eye when he found the precise phrase and then a tiny genuine smile would break free as he tipped back in his chair to admire his finished product.  A masterpiece in motion.

Casey started as his eyes unexpectedly met hers.  Derek unleashed his lopsided smirk, teasing, "Need something, Case?"

Shaking her head frantically, she buried her nose back into her book, willing herself to stay focused on her own study habits.  Afterall, it shouldn't be that difficult.  How many million times had they done this very thing?  Sharing a desk in the library of their mutual university happened multiple times per week if not per day.  Ever since the third day of class, they had their library da— meetings.

If nothing was different about this one, why were her thoughts racing almost as fast as her heart?  But Casey felt like their gravity had shifted.  Somewhere between "bet" and "date me."  She flinched internally.

Now, every move Derek made, she analyzed.  The hand through his hair, the nudge of his knee, and the side glance he gave her all meant something more.  Casey felt the rising panic grip at her.  In through her nose, out through her mouth.  In through her nose, out through her—

"Der-rek!"  Casey whisper-shouted, "Give me my book back!"

"Maybe we can do a little bargaining..."  Derek trailed off, leaning towards her while waving her book tauntingly.  The familiar challenging leer on his mouth paired enticingly well with that cocky gleam in his eye.  "Your book for..."  He wet his lips slowly.  "Three jokes."

"Pardon?"  If she stumbled over her words, she pretended not to notice.  Just add that to the ongoing list.

Satisfaction oozed from him as he reclined in his chair.  "Three jokes, genius.  Three funny jokes.  They have to make me laugh or they don't count."

"Derek!"  Casey whined.

He tapped his watch impatiently.  "Tick tock, Case.  Get to crackin'.  Offer expires in two minutes."

Casey nibbled at her lower lip before reluctantly saying, "I have a new theory on inertia... but it doesn't seem to be going anywhere."

His eyebrow shot to his hairline as he mocked, "That was a joke?"

She pursed her lips, retorting, "It was tasteful and scientific."

"It was lame and disfunny."

"Unfunny."  Casey automatically corrected.

He waved a dissatisfied hand through the air.  "Whatever.  It was horrible.  Try again."

She pouted before adjusting herself in her seat, wordlessly rising to his challenge.

Derek gave her a fleeting once over, smothering a smile.

"Do you know why the gardener quit?"

"Why?"

"His celery wasn't high enough."

"Against his will, a snort escaped him before he could stifle it.

"You laughed!  That's totally one!"

"I didn't laugh, I snorted."

"Still counts!"

Shaking his head, Derek chuckled.  "Alright, fine, but only because I know you're going to have a tough time getting two more."

With her maturity intact, Casey stuck her tongue out at him.

"Next!"  Derek prompted with an eyeroll.

"If H20 is the formula for water, then what is the formula for ice?"

Derek looked skeptically at her, blinking slowly.  "What?"

"H20 cubed!"  Casey beamed brightly, laughing under her breath.

He palmed his forehead with a groan.  "Where did you get these jokes?  Edwin?"

"No..."

"Well, you're wasting your time with science jokes.  We don't exactly get along, remember?"

Casey embellished her eyeroll for his benefit.  "Yes, Der.  I remember."  With a forced sigh, she relented, "I guess I should appeal to your kind of jokes if I ever want to see my book again."

"Now, you're talking."  He settled deeper into his chair, giving her a disabling smirk.  "Hit me, Princess."

"Remember, this is under protest."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night."

"What's long and hard and full of seamen?"

Derek's jaw dropped comically as he gaped at her.

"A submarine, Derek."

His mouth opened and closed repeatedly.

Casey laughed, leaning forward to nudge his shoulder.  "Did I break you?"

Shaking himself, his mouth snapped shut.  "I... wasn't expecting that."  She knew the second he fully recovered because he smirked dangerously at her.  "But I like where this is headed.  Keep going."

"No way!  I draw the line at one crude joke!"

He tsked.  "That was only borderline.  Come on, give me something dirty."  His eyebrows danced suggestively.

She bit her lip, ultimately unable to resist his leer.  "What did Cinderella do when she got to the ball?"

"What?"  The corner of his mouth twitched.

"She made choking noises."

Derek sniggered delightedly, scolding mockingly, "Princess!"

Casey had to bite back her grin, but who could blame her when he looked so exhilarated?

"You officially got me there."  Derek leaned closer.  "Think you can go for another?"

"No more of those!"

His foot tapped against her own.  "But that was good!"

Firmly shaking her head, Casey repeated, "No!  Absolutely not."

"Fine.  Do it your way then, but good luck."

Holding herself elegantly, she tried, "What do you call a pig that does karate?"

"A pork chop."  Derek clicked his tongue superiorly.

"What kind of tree fits in your hand?"

"A palm tree."  He crossed his arms over his chest with arrogance.  "You're not going to get anywhere using my dad's gag reel or even Smarti's."  Derek sent her a flirty little smile.  "It doesn't have the same effect coming from you."

Ignoring him to the best of her ability, Casey attempted another, "What do you call a bear without teeth?"

He paused for a second, regarding her.  "What?"

Casey sucked her lips in, covering her teeth, "A gummy bear!"

Derek laughed quietly, his eyes crinkling adorably as he watched her snap her jaws together.

"Ha!  There!  That's three!"  Her face split in two as she beamed.  Casey did a little dance in her chair as she teased, "You think I'm fuuuunny!"

He pointed a finger in her face as he tried to keep his lips in a straight line.  "Only because you used that look."  Derek drew a circle around her head.  "It was... cute."

Her laugh instantly fell away, the air sucking out of the room as the pair looked at each other.  Casey dropped his eyes first, her hands clasping in her lap.  "Umm... can I have my book back now?"

Wordlessly, he pulled her book out from behind his back before sliding it delicately onto the table.

"Thanks."  Cringing, Casey wished her voice didn't squeak so easily.

As she reached for it, his fingers caught hers, successfully pinning them against the hardcover of her textbook.

Derek stared mutely at their intwined digits as his thumb painted patterns on the back of her hand.

Internally quivering, Casey waited with bated breath for his next move.  After several moments of silence and no change, she prodded hoarsely, "Der?"

Instantaneously, his hand jerked away, finding immediate refuge in his strategically mussed hair.  Without looking at her again, he went back to work.

A few seconds later, Casey followed suit, but found herself rereading the same sentence fifteen times.  Closing her eyes, she tried to refocus, but all she could see behind eyelids was the image of their interlaced hands.

If only she wouldn't react so intensely to his challenges.  If only she possessed the ability to say no to those crinkling eyes and not rise to the bait, then he wouldn't be able to push her buttons so easily.  Sighing, Casey drummed her fingers against the same page as she started half an hour ago.  If only Derek didn't occupy her every thought, maybe Casey could get her studying done.  If only, if only, if only.

Please, she begged whoever was listening, make it stop.  She couldn't survive if he decided—

Derek suddenly groaned, tipping back in his chair, and scrubbing a hand over his face.  "I'm not meant to work like this."  He scanned the library before his eyes lit up as he turned to her.  "Looks like you have to finish it, McKennie."

"Yeah, right."  Casey drawled.  Without looking up, she tapped his laptop.  "Two more full pages for a snack break?"

Grumbling, Derek refocused on the screen before mumbling from the corner of his mouth, "Bossy boots."

Every few minutes, his knee grazed her leg as he bounced in his chair.  Each time successfully knocked away her attempt at concentration.  Time flew by for Casey as she contemplated her problem.

If she threw the bet, she could get out of this mess before it exploded in their faces.  Casey bit her bottom lip.  But if she were to lose the bet, Derek would think of even more positions to put her through.  As the thought of his gloating face appeared in her mind, Casey cringed, knowing that she would never hear the end of it if she were to fail.  She was in a no-win situation.  If only she hadn't taken this bet to begin with, she wouldn't be in so much trouble now.

"Done!"  Derek's chair scraped against the floor as he flew to his feet, hauling Casey up beside him.  His hand wrapped around her wrist as he pulled her gently towards the door of the library.

"Derek, slow down!"  Casey grumbled as she struggled to keep her feet under her.

"No time, Case.  I held up my end of the bargain.  Now, it's your turn."

"You could have told me politely that you were ready, and we could have walked civilly out of the library."

His fingers dipped lower, tickling her palm.  Derek clicked his tongue, teasing, "You know me better than that."  With a wink, he added, "And I've always liked you tripping over yourself for me."

Casey looked heavenward, silently pleading for help.  Anything to save her from her impending doom.

Derek knocked his shoulder against hers, a teasing grin pulling at his lips before he reached ahead of her to open the library door.  "After you, malady."  He bowed with a flourish.

Even though she rolled her eyes entirely for his benefit, a little part of Casey hummed happily at the action.  She cast him a side-glance as he rushed to fall into step with her.  The snack break had done nothing to calm the raging thoughts thumping furiously around in her skull.  Once they settled back into their all too close chairs, Casey was just as lost as before. 

If she was being honest, she was thrilled when Derek announced his approaching hockey practice.  She packed her things hastily, anxiously looking forward to taking shelter in her dorm.

They walked in silence for several paces, their arms brushing occasionally, sending tiny tremors through Casey's body.  Suddenly, Derek reached out, taking both of her arms in his firm grip as he pushed her into a tiny alcove behind the library.

Casey gasped as her back pressed into the stone wall.  Startled by his proximity, her eyelashes fluttered as she blinked up at him.  His smoldering brown orbs seemed consumed by flames, a fire setting a frenzied rhythm to her heart.

He stared down at her, completely wordless as his thumbs painted invisible patterns against her upper arms.  The heat of his gaze shifted into a calmer force, the twinkle returning intensely.

Her heart threatened to bruise her ribcage as it continued its anxious beat.  Entirely enthralled, Casey could not pull away from his handsome face, her eyes scanning every detail.

A smile began to stretch across Derek's face as if he could read every little thought that flitted through Casey's mind.  With that theory, a blush furiously materialized on her face and Casey fought to keep the panic from showing in her eyes.  She didn't want him to find that locked box inside her head, containing all her mortifying thoughts.

His voice stunningly gruff, he informed her casually, "I have to get to the rink."

Casey nodded, not trusting her vocal cords.

Derek's jaw twitched, his eyes scanning down her neck swiftly before holding her eyes once again.  "Stay out of trouble without me?"

"Sounds a little hypocritical, Der."

Lips quirking into a smirk, the heat flashed behind his eyes again.  "Don't underestimate yourself, Case."

Just as quickly as it came, the fire recessed, and he threw his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his firm muscles as he gave her a crushing side hug.

With an obnoxious smack of his lips, Derek pressed a kiss against her temple.  "Later, GF."  He ruffled her hair quickly.

"Der-rek!"  Casey hissed, her hands automatically flying up to fix the wayward strands.

He chuckled, eyes crinkling... affectionately?  Casey found herself leaning unconsciously closer to make sure.

Derek's tongue darted out, wetting his lower lip slowly before he reached for her again, this time sensually tucking her hair behind her ear.  Casey's own hands fell to her sides as his other hand did the same on the opposite side of her head.

Seemingly satisfied with his work, Derek beamed softly as he backed steadily out of their secluded nook.  A few steps later, he stopped, taking in the flush of her skin with a tip of his head.  With a little smile, he turned on his heel, a noticeable strut in his gait as he sauntered down the sidewalk.

Shaking herself, Casey's arms wrapped around her torso as if trying to hold herself together.  Slowly, her feet found the familiar path to her dorm.

Halfway home, her phone vibrated relentlessly, and Casey's steps faltered as she fished her phone from the side of her bag.

"Hello?"  Casey tried to disguise her lack of enthusiasm, but it rendered futile as she was unable to fool her sister.

"Hi, Casey.  What's the matter?"

Casey sighed but found herself speechless as her feet resumed her route.

"Go on."  Lizzie urged.  "Lay it on me."

Biting her lip, Casey searched for the words.  "Have you ever felt so bad that you feel utterly paralyzed?"

The concern mounted in Lizzie's voice.  "Are you sick?  Do you need to go to the doctor?  What kind of symptoms—”

"No," Casey hastened to interrupt, wincing at herself.  "I'm not sick... at least physically."

"Casey, please, if you're feeling ill then we need to get you to the doctor.  Do you need to come home and see—”

"Lizzie, I'm not sick."

Casey's words were met with silence.  Confused, Lizzie wondered, "Then what do you mean?"

"Never mind, Liz.  It's nothing."

"Casey, you can't ask me something like that and then pretend it's nothing."

"It's fine, Liz.  I can handle it."  A sigh later, Casey changed the subject, "What's new around home?"

Skeptical, Lizzie mirrored her sigh before answering, "Well—”

She found herself nodding and humming noncommittally as Lizzie filled her in on the happenings at home.

"Simon's even pranking Mom already.  If she leaves anything laying around for a second, he crawls over and nabs it.  He'll even hide things from her."  Lizzie laughed jovially.  "Then he giggles until he falls over and laughs even harder.  It's really cute even if Mom gets annoyed."  Teasing, Lizzie added, "Simon must have a lot of Venturi in him, eh, Case?"

At Lizzie's words, Casey gasped, suddenly dropping the residence hall's door closed on her hand, causing her to yelp.

"What?"  Her sister panicked.  "What happened?"

Sucking her finger into her mouth, Casey fumbled, "Oh, um, I just pinched my hand in the door, that's all."

"Right..."  The concern returned to Lizzie's voice, pulling at Casey's heartstrings.  "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine.  Tell me what you were saying."

"Okay, then."  Not convinced, Lizzie continued.

Lizzie gabbed about all the new things Simon had discovered, but Casey found herself incapable of listening, propelling herself away as wave after wave of nauseum crashed into her.

Feeling crushed under the weight of Lizzie's words, Casey's pulse echoed in her ears as a throbbing headache pounded through her entire body.  The edges of her vision blurred as her knees threatened to give out.

"Casey?"  Lizzie called, forcing her back to the conversation.

"Neat, Lizzie.  That's nice."  Casey's voice didn't feel like her own.  Like her mouth was petrified under the pressure.  She felt exposed, as if Lizzie could hear her thoughts and know the events of the last few days.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Of course.  I'm fine.  Don't worry."  She knew her voice was croaking, but there was nothing she could do.

"You know," The care in Lizzie's voice did little to soothe the rising bile in Casey's throat.  "You can always talk to me."

Casey's words came out in a whisper against her will.  "I know."  Clearing her throat, Casey excused herself, "I've got to go now."

"Alright.  Bye, Case.  Love you."

"Love you too.  Bye."

As soon as she hung up the phone, Casey plopped heavily onto her mattress, not remembering entering the room.  She stared helplessly at the wall as her stomach tied itself in knots.  Violent spasms assaulted her gut.

Casey related this feeling to the first time she took the Hogwarts sorting quiz and was promptly sorted into Slytherin.  After taking the test three more times, she told everyone she was a Ravenclaw.  But sometimes at night, when she closed her eyes, a little voice whispered in her ear, "Slytherin... Slytherin... Slytherin."

But Ravenclaw is what everyone expected of a goody-goody keener extreme like Casey McDonald.  The grade-grubbing overachiever couldn't possibly be a Slytherin... could she?

It took her awhile to identify the all-consuming emotion that weighed at her was the same way she felt all those years ago lying about her Hogwarts house.  Only this time, it was amplified by a thousand percent.  And when she finally pinpointed it then, she knew with resounding clarity that what she felt was guilt.

How could someone who always followed the rules, who toed the line carefully, end up in her position?  Casey spent years trying to avoid this very thing and in less than a few days, all her perfectly laid plans fell in smithereens around her.

But that same wicked voice inside her head whispered, "Brother... brother... brother."  If Casey was a violent person, she'd smother that voice with a pillow.  But Casey, being Casey, had a hard time not listening to it.

Casey knew she'd never felt anything close to sisterly towards him.  Even with the same diff— that conversation hanging over their heads, Derek could never be her brother.  It felt more like a plea than anything.  Anything that could have kept her from this moment right now.

No, Derek wasn't her brother.  But Simon?  He was both of their brothers.  Lizzie had just confirmed that.  Simon shared their blood.  And the thought made Casey want to vomit.

Was she truly considering... this?  Whatever it was?  Or was she giving in to something that had always been there?  And why did she feel so guilty just thinking about Derek?

Her conscious took over against her will.  Deep-seated shame she wished never to uncover gnawed at her unforgivingly.  Casey felt split in two, suddenly relating all too well to the cartoon characters visited by an angel and devil on their shoulders, spewing advice while arguing over the right thing to do.

Only her devil put all the others to shame.  With his leather jacket and disheveled hair.  Twinkling eyes and provoking smirk.  The alluring tone of his voice striking a chord straight to her heart.

"Casey, Casey, Casey."  The Derek with horns taunted.  "Don't you want to live a little dangerously?"

And his words had the same effect on her as they did all those years ago.

Her look alike angel crossed her arms in Casey's head, snootily looking away from Derek.  Maybe it was hard for her to resist that spark in his eye as well.

Undaunted, Devil Derek unleashed his full 1000-watt smirk as if he already won.  "You know you want to."

Casey's angel leaned closer to her ear to whisper, "Could you live with the guilt?"

"I'm in trouble."  She said to the angel and the devil.

If possible, Derek's smile lit up even more.  "Give in, Princess."

Groaning, Casey fell headfirst into her pillow, finally giving in to her tears.

Deep down she knew Derek didn't deserve her sudden enmity, but she couldn't help but lash out.  He had been in her room all afternoon, sprawled contentedly across her bed.  How could she even do anything else but stare?  It irritated her to no end.

To be fair, it hadn't helped that he appeared center stage in all her dreams the night before, haunting her every thought whether she was awake or not.  So, naturally, when he waltzed into her room like he owned the place, it left her instantly agitated.

After her third snap at him, Derek had held up his hands defensively, looking all too innocent.  "I'm sensing some hostility here, Case."  His eyebrow mocked her spitefully.  "You need help releasing that pent-up aggression?"

Casey had taken to ignoring him after that, but his mere presence shook her to her very core.  Even though she had settled at her desk, surrounding herself with textbooks and notes that she absolutely needed to work on... she was having trouble accomplishing anything.  And that was even with her back to him.

But being angry at Derek was natural, her second nature.  She could fall easily into this feeling, embracing the familiarity of being mad at him.  It was almost comforting.  Some way, if she could just hold on to the fury, she could keep everything else at bay.

"Whatcha workin' on?"  A sudden husky whisper against her ear caused her to hit the ceiling.

"Derek."  She grumbled while trying to put as much space between them as possible.  It proved futile as Derek only followed her, his breath fanning distractingly across her sensitive flesh.  "Leave me alone."

"Aw, Case.  You sure know how to sweet talk your guy."

"You're not my guy."

Derek tsked mockingly.  "The roster's been updated.  At least try to keep up."  He held up his palm, pretending to read, "It's all right here.  Number one... Derek Venturi... Team McDonald... center of Casey's life."

Instantly, Casey flew from her chair, her hair whipping around her as she spun to face Derek.  She shoved him angrily, and Derek fell backwards onto her bed with a look of astonishment etched across his features.  But a second later, a smug grin materialized, and he drawled easily, "Now we're getting somewhere."

Grunting, she turned away from him as she crossed her arms tightly over her chest.

Leaning ahead until he grasped her tense elbow, Derek successfully pulled her down next to him.  "Casey," His voice grew serious, "Chill out—”

"Chill out?  Chill out?"  She wacked his chest."  Don't tell me to chill out, Derek!"

Derek's hand shot up to rub at his wounded muscles.  "Whoa, someone needs to calm down."

Casey shrieked shrilly, "I hate people telling me to calm down!"

His eyes widened dramatically before her attack of slapping limbs rained down on him.  Derek ducked and covered, but Casey managed to pin him with a grip of her thighs as her hands continued striking.

Recovered from the surprise of Casey's tackle, Derek's arms darted around her as his legs intertangled hers.  Effortlessly, he flipped them over onto Casey's back, restraining her hands above her head.

Pressing his body into her, Derek panted heavily against her cheek as he tried to catch her eye.

She refused to look at him, her chest heaving as she fought to find oxygen underneath Derek's burning body.

Casey lost track of the seconds ticking by as their frantic breaths synchronized and Derek's weight encompassed her.

"Case—”

The alarm on Derek's phone screeched, cutting off his words.  Groaning, Derek dropped his head to the crook of Casey's neck.  His air tickled her skin, sending shivers through every nerve of her body.

"I've got to go to practice."  Derek rasped, pulling away from her.  He stood carefully, pulling his shirt down with a wink.  "I hate to leave when things were getting interesting."

Latching on to her rage, Casey leapt from the bed after him.  Derek barely managed to swoop his phone off her nightstand before she pushed him towards the door.

His amused snickers only infuriated her more.  "You need to loosen up, Princess.  I'm telling you that I can help you out with that."

"Out, Derek.  Just go."  With another shove, he flew out the door, instantly turning his twinkling eyes towards her.

"I'm a great stress reliever.  I know a lot of tricks, you know."  He wiggled his eyebrows at her meaningfully.  "My techniques are out of this world."

Casey was sure smoke was coming out of her ears at this point.

"Got to go!"  Derek chirped before diving in for a quick kiss on her cheek that landed closer to the corner of her mouth than anything.

Gaping like a fish out of water, Casey stared at him for a beat until she remembered to be cross.  "Der-rek!"

He only chuckled, his maddening smirk radiating his amusement.  "Later, Case!"  Derek mock saluted her, striding down the hall confidently.

Screaming under her breath, Casey slammed her door shut.  Crossing her arms tightly, she glared at her muddled bed as if the tangled sheets had wronged her.

Interrupting her spiraling thoughts, Casey's phone trilled loudly.  Stomping over to her desk, Casey barked into the receiver without looking, "What?"

"Casey?"  Her mother questioned worriedly, "Is this a bad time?"

"Sorry, Mom."  Wincing, Casey began to pace, her eyes avoiding the rumpled mess in the middle of the room.  "What's up?"

"I was just wondering if you'd seen your brother lately.  George—”

"Really, Mom?"  Casey bit into the phone, successfully cutting off Nora.  "After all this time, you still can't understand that Derek and I are NOT brother and sister?"

"Casey—”

"No, Mom!  I'm so tired of this conversation!  We will never be siblings.  So, I'm sorry if that doesn't live up to your expectation of one big happy family, but we can't.  We just can't do it."  Panting, Casey forced out, "Why did you have to marry George?  We were perfectly happy in Toronto!"

There was a beat of silence.  "Honey," Nora sounded concerned, but Casey couldn't bring herself to care.  "Where is all this anger coming from?  I thought you accepted George and his kids as family a long time ago."

"Yeah, well," Casey snapped, "Turns out you can't just decide how you're going to feel and then feel that way forever."

Nora sounded lost, "Did George say something?  Or do something?  Casey, please, talk to me."

Heaving a sigh, Casey pinched the bridge of her nose as she paced indignantly across her room.  After a beat, Casey spoke quietly, "It's not George."

Her words were met with radio static and then one not so simple word... "Derek?"  Nora's tone changed completely, but Casey couldn't identify the underlying currents.  Frustration?  Alarm?  Comprehension?  Empathy?

Casey closed her eyes, trying and failing to steady her breathing.

Nora interpreted her muteness.  "I thought you were getting on now.  Do we need to talk to him?  I'll have George call him and—”

"No!"  Whimpering quietly, Casey begged, "Mom, please, just leave it alone."

"I want to help, Casey.  If Derek—”

Anger consuming her once again, Casey growled, "I've got to go.  I'll talk to you later."  Without waiting for an answer, Casey furiously ended the call, tossing the phone back onto her desk.

In an un-Casey move, she grasped her discarded teacup before hurling it across the room.  It crashed into the wall, instantly shattering and the pieces pelted to the floor in alarmingly satisfying chimes.

Casey yanked the blankets to her chin, furrowing deeper into her warm cocoon as she readjusted the book in her hand.  However, the coziness of her bed did little to keep out the unbearable misery pulling at her every fiber.

Bleary-eyed, the words on the page jumbled together as the remaining bit of her concentration disappeared entirely.  Her book sagged in her hand as Casey became engrossed in the whiteness of the wall, the paint chipping at the corners from years of torture from generations of students.

The exhaustion of the last few days overwhelmed her.  Her consuming thoughts controlled her, and Casey was unable to break the hold they had over her.  She was drowning, a crippling headache constantly pounding against her temples.  Casey yearned just to fall into her despair and let it finish destroying her.

A knock at the door wrenched Casey from her disabling depression.  Dejectedly, she climbed out from underneath her tower of covers.  As she crossed the floor, Casey tripped on her baggy sweatpants, sending her headfirst into the door.

She managed to catch herself on the doorknob, a tiny gasp escaping her.  Slowly, Casey turned the handle, revealing the last person she was equipped to see.

Arms crossed, Derek told her off without preamble, "You've been avoiding me."

"No, I haven't."  Her voice even sounded weak to her own ears.

His foot tapped disapprovingly, and Casey focused on the action to keep from looking at him.

"You can't lie, Casey.  Especially to me."  Derek's head dipped lower, trying to catch her eye.  "It's been days and I've gotten nothing from you."

Casey tugged at her oversized sweatshirt, dragging the long sleeves over her hands.  "Why do you care?  Everything's just a joke to you anyway."  She prayed that she was the only one who noticed the bitterness behind her words.

Brief relief flickered through Casey as Derek's attention found the sleeve of her sweatshirt.  Distracted, he reached for her, grasping the material between two fingers.  His brow furrowed as he asked, "Is it that time of the month already?  Is that why you've been M.I.A.?"

"Der-rek, don't shovel that 'time of the month' garbage at me just because I'm wearing a hoodie."

A perfectly sculpted eyebrow arched back at her as he gestured to her wardrobe.  "Hey, don't go off on me.  That's what you always wear when you're having... issues."  Rolling his eyes, Derek leaned against the doorframe.  "I may not be the smartest in the class, but I do know that one plus one equals two, Spacey."

"What you are is an idiot."

Derek scratched his head.  "Look, I know you get a little... crazier when you're— when it's that time, but that's no reason to shut me out.  It's not like we have— I mean, I've been with you before and— I know I'm not exactly good at— But—”

Casey cut through his hopeless ramblings with a hard stomp as she cried loudly, "Derek!  I don't have my period!  Okay?  Is that what you wanted to hear?  Are you happy now?"

Too late, Casey noticed the stunned spectators in the hall.  She flushed embarrassedly, catching as Derek's horrified eyes widened and a faint tint of red creeped up his cheeks.

Looking away from him, Casey accidently made eye contact with a group of her neighbors.  The girl closest to them had covered her mouth in astonishment, but the rest stared transfixed as the awkwardness engulfed the hall.

Regaining use of his limbs, Derek sprang into action, forcing Casey backwards into her room as he followed.  He reached behind him, firmly latching the door, and twisting the lock.

He scrubbed a hand over his face.  Derek's usual mask of composure had slipped off sometime after her words hit, showing Casey something in Derek she rarely ever saw.  For some reason, Derek looked like he was barely holding himself together.

Heaving a long, controlled sigh, Derek's hand fell to his side, and he reemerged with his usual confident demeanor.  Stepping around her, he headed straight to her bed.  He plopped down, boldly adjusting her pillows to his liking.

Once settled, his hands found the back of his head.  Derek gave a smooth drawn-out whistle before he revealed, "I got an interesting phone call from the parentals."

Casey paled, but otherwise didn't respond.  Derek studied her expression, his eyes tracing her features for any sort of tell.

"Imagine my surprise when I'm suddenly being lectured and threatened."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Really?"  Derek raised a disbelieving eyebrow.

She shifted on her feet, wiling herself not to break under his all-knowing gaze.

"So, why did my dad say," He imitated his dad remarkably well, "Quit playing games with Casey, Derek.  I'm warning you."  Derek's voice returned to normal as he pushed, "Know anything about that?"

Mortified, Casey shook her head, a hand trailing soothingly up and down her arm.

"Interesting."  Derek reclined against her headboard.  He hummed, his deep chocolate eyes growing impossibly darker as he held Casey's stare.  "I told him I wasn't playing any games."

Her breath hitched, the intensity of his look stealing all her oxygen as she pondered helplessly the inflection of his words.

Before Casey could finish picking apart his words, Derek patted the empty space next to him on her twin bed.  "Come on.  Get your huge, hooded monstrosity over here."

"Monstrosity?  Wow, Derek, that's a big word for you."  She crossed her arms protectively over her chest, eyeing her sweatshirt.  "And it's not that huge."

"Are you kidding?  You practically disappear in it."  Rolling his eyes, he fished out his laptop then propped it up on his legs.  "It's movie night and it's my turn to pick."  Derek's eyebrows danced suggestively.  "And I've got a good one."

She groaned, trudging her way across the room.  "Please, no horror stories tonight."

Mocking an exaggerated gasp, Derek covered his heart.  "But Case, how can I get you to hold my stunningly macho body if we don't watch a scary movie?"

"Shut up."

He smirked evilly as she settled in beside him, reaching around her to flick off the lights.  Darkness immediately encompassed them.  Derek's arm relaxed against his side as the introduction began, dark looming music playing threateningly.  The nonexistent space between them suctioned the breath from her lungs.

The dark part of her mind stirred again, heart constricting and stomach churning as Derek's presence both soothed and aggravated her simultaneously.  Her eyes fluttered against her will, her body relaxing little by little for the first time in days.  The light of his screen was like a beckon through the exhausting blackness.

In the back of her conscious, Casey was fleetingly aware of her head falling against Derek's shoulder and the weight of his arm curling around her.  With one last sigh, Casey gave into the slumber.

"Morning, sleepyhead."

Casey froze, disoriented.  Her pillow chuckled.

"Wow, you must have been exhausted.  You fell asleep on a thriller.  Usually, you're so high-strung that I have to keep you from exploding."

Suddenly, the events came back to her.  Derek starting the scary movie.  Her falling asleep on Derek's shoulder as his arm—

With a gasp, Casey became hyperaware of her body glued to Derek's as his muscles flexed underneath her.  Her eyes snapped open as she tried to disentangle their limbs.

His arm across her back stilled her, pressing Casey's head back to its place on his chest.  "Whoa, easy, Case.  Let me finish this paragraph."

Confused, Casey's voice croaked, "What?"

The amusement was clear in Derek's voice, "I know, something's wrong with the world.  You're the one napping while I'm working."

At his words, Casey glanced over her shoulder to find his laptop propped carefully against his elevated knees, his half-written essay filling the screen.  Derek's hands perched carefully on the keys as he worked gently around her frame.

"You've seriously been working like this?"

Derek's chest vibrated as he laughed softly.  "I should get an award for working around this big lump."  He tugged at her hood playfully.

"You didn't have to do that, Derek."

"What else was I supposed to do?"  Derek teased, "You're the one who fell asleep on me."

"You could have moved or woken me up.  You didn't have to wait it out."

He didn't answer right away, causing an alarm inside Casey's head.  She bit her lip anxiously awaiting an answer.

Finally, he spoke quietly, his words sweet and soothing, "No big deal.  You needed it."

Casey pulled away far enough to blink up at him.  "How long was I out?"

His eyes darted to the corner of his screen as he hummed, "About two hours."

Yawning, Casey rubbed at her tired eyes.  "I guess I do feel better."

A tiny smile pulled at the edges of his mouth.  "Wanna watch the movie now?"

Even though she hated horror stories, and a warning bell sounded off in the distance, Casey found herself agreeing with her own soft smile.  The answering crinkle of his eyes became her addictive reward.

Dragging herself away from his charming face, Casey tried to unravel their tangled limbs, but Derek stopped her once again.

"Where're you going?"

"I thought we were watching the movie now."  She rushed her words, avoiding his eyes.

"So?"

Without her permission, Casey's eyes locked onto Derek's shimmering dark orbs.

He shrugged casually under her gaze or as much as he could with her weight on top of him.  "You're just going to end up here again when you get scared so... why bother?"

Casey nibbled at her bottom lip, silently counting all the reasons why she shouldn't stay.  Carefully, she pushed off his chest, drawing herself into a sitting position.  "I need to sit, Der."

His face masked, Derek shrugged again.  "Your loss."  He stretched before sliding up her headboard, his shoulder bumping against hers as he adjusted the laptop between them.

Derek nudged her gently in the side.  "Kill the lights, yeah?"

She complied, reaching behind her to flip the switch, and suppressing the urge to sigh as Derek tucked her blanket firmly around them.

He shot her a mischievous grin as he tossed, "Are you ready for this?"

Tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear, Casey nodded timidly.

After pushing play, he reclined, drawing their sides together to the point Casey could feel every lungful Derek breathed.

Sufficiently distracted, Casey chewed the inside of her cheek, the movie playing on without her awareness.  Instead, she focused on the presence beside her, observing the delicate rise and fall of his chest.  The sharp lines of his jawline and the softness of his mouth as his tongue traced mesmerizingly across his bottom lip.  The glow from the screen magnified his natural enchantment.

Casey felt her control slipping.  Their constant game of tug-of-war jerking her around.  Were they fighting for the crown?  Is that what they were waiting for?  To declare what?  A winner?

Is that what this was?  Another pawn in their endless game?

Her heart lodged in her throat.  She shifted uncomfortably, earning a curious glance from Derek.

Ignoring him to the best of her ability, Casey wrapped her arms securely around her middle.  Misinterpreting her actions, Derek slung an arm around her shoulders, bringing her protectively closer to him.

It did little to ease her mind.

She spiraled.

Things... events... memories fell into place as realization after realization smacked her across the face.

All those looks that lasted too long, the unnecessary touches that left her breathless... like magnets unable to resist.

Their bantering and bickering that bordered just on that line.  The way they pressed it and sailed past said line, constantly redrawing that invisible divider as they retreated and advanced in equal measure.  Their taunting and teasing escalating while they were unable to abstain from the pull of their fights turning physical while they rolled over each other as they wrestled, their bodies pressing hopelessly together, panting for control.

Broken boundaries, sudden invasions, and unsolicited involvement all coming together as neither sought permission to invade the other's life.  Overstepping left, right, and center as smashed objects, failed assignments, and ruined dates shattered around them, falling victim as collateral damage from the force of their faceoffs.

Although, as the rubble cleared, they rebuilt, reinforcing the foundation as they pursed higher ground.  Somewhere along the way, their words had dropped any real malice, leaving them teetering on a playful edge.

Derek still irritated her to no end, but she missed him when he was gone.  It had brought her to tears when the reality hit that he was leaving for Spain.  Wasn't that the same reason that kept her from dancing off to Broadway those few short months ago?

The sweet and helpful things they did for each other went unacknowledged in words.  Sarcasm covered real... feelings.  A fondness and affection coated their actions, layered beneath a carefully constructed steeple of indifference.  But under all their smoke, Casey knew that they looked out for each other.  The other swooping in to save the day when things got a little too rough.

But the unpublicized truth was that for as much as they fought, they also laughed.  Cruel pranks turned to amusing antics and mean insults morphed into inside jokes.  Car rides became enjoyable as they swapped stories and shared laughs even if they still battled over radio control.

Their late-night visits, private chats in the kitchen before university solidified their maturing bond.  Creating their own little bubble of reality, where the soft light above the island became the only witness of their comradery, keeping their secrets of shared ice-cream bowls and whipped cream fights.  In the morning, their shared smiles stayed hidden under carefully placed jabs and insults.

A confusing jumble of old and new interweaving until both coincided simultaneously.  They flourished under the change, blossoming like a fresh daisy in springtime.

They would never live in perfect harmony, but wasn't that exactly why they were drawn to each other?  Like a moth to flame, they couldn't stay away.  She lived for the thrill, the cadence of her heart doubling when he entered the room, ready to meet his challenge head-on.  He was good for her and vice versa.  Even if they never said it.

It was the unspoken things.

And just like that, Casey held a new perspective.

She liked Derek and there was nothing she could do about it.

With a deafening gasp, Casey went rigid.

Beside her, Derek jumped.  "What?  What's wrong?"  He looked around them uncertainly before tilting his head disbelievingly as he gestured to the screen.  "You didn't see that coming?"

"Oh, um..."

"You didn't even freak out when the dude popped out, but you thought that was scary?"

Casey shifted uneasily.  "Something just startled me.  That's all."

Derek quirked an eyebrow, but otherwise didn't comment.  Thankfully.  She didn't know how to explain to him that she was suddenly struck by a bolt of lightning.

They watched the ending in silence, or rather Derek watched as Casey's thoughts twisted like a tornado through her head.  At this point, she wasn't sure she could even recall the characters' names.  There was only a cast of two in her mind.

Closing his laptop as the credits rolled, Derek yawned before stretching his arms above his head.  A smirk pulled at his lips as his arms fell to his sides.  "You seem extra spacey today."

"I don't know what you mean."  Internally, she winced.

Derek pressed, "You're not even twitching like you usually do."  He pushed against her shoulder teasingly.  "I have to say, it's not as much fun when you're not scared."

Sniffing, Casey held her nose into the air.  "Maybe I'm growing immune."

"Nah!"  He threw his legs over the side of the bed before standing, leaving Casey feeling oddly empty.  After he picked up his bag, Derek tossed her a significant eyebrow raise.  "You're preoccupied with something."

Casey stiffened, the room closing in on her.

The corners of Derek's lips twitched before his smirk broke free.  "It's my rugged good looks."  He leaned over her bed, taunting, "It's distracting, I know.  Don't worry, Princess.  I won't hold it against you."  He brushed her hair to the side with a wink.  "Or maybe I will."

She was looking up at him, but she was falling into the grin that broke a hundred hearts.  And she couldn't help but think that hers would be the hundredth-and-first.

Was this what acceptance felt like?

He shouldered his bag, reaching for her hand and hauling her out of bed.  "Walk me to the door?"

"It's like seven steps, Derek."

Derek rolled his eyes, bantering lightly, "It's a formality, Casey.  You know, good manners and things."

"What do you know about manners?"

He tsked, maneuvering her skillfully to the door.  Derek placed them in the doorframe, and all too familiar setting for the pair of them lately.

"I know plenty of things.  Keep up, will you?"

Casey rolled up her sleeves, staring transfixed as she cuffed the material thoroughly, waiting desperately for Derek's next move.

The atmosphere pulsated around them and finally Derek reached out, closing the space between them with a gentle grip on each shoulder.  He lingered above her for a fleeting moment before dropping a tender kiss to her forehead.

She embraced it, allowing herself to bask in his affection if only for this one moment.  Emotion consumed her and Casey fought back bittersweet tears.  If this was the only way she could have him, Casey was determined to treasure it.

Derek must have noticed the shift in her persona because all too soon he was withdrawing his lips and creating a tangible space between them as he sauntered nonchalantly away.

Watching him go, Casey rubbed soothing circles against her tingling skin.  He stopped at the exit of her floor, door in hand as he turned back with a rare genuine smile that froze Casey's pulsating heart.

"Can you keep up with me now?"  The soft silkiness of his voice tickled her insides.

Not sure what he was truly asking, Casey answered satirically, "I hope so."

His eyes glimmered, apparently pleased with her answer.  Derek traced her face one last time, smiling lightly again before disappearing behind the door.

Suddenly breathless, Casey reentered her room in a haze.  Collapsing on her bed, Casey buried her face into the mess of pillows, only to be greeted by the scent of Derek's body spray.  Casey rolled to her back, taking the pillow with her, curling into it as she stared up at the ceiling.

She blinked and everything changed.  The world opened wider, and it was like she saw for the very first time.

It started with a bet, but where were they headed?

Was she ready for this rollercoaster ride?

The image of Derek's genuine smile as he asked her to keep up with him appeared against her ceiling.

Yes.  A hundred times, yes.

The logical part of her spasmed at the thought of letting go, but the dreamer side thrummed excitedly.

Her phone dinged, pulling her away from her musings as she automatically reached for her phone on the nightstand.

Derek's name lit her screen.  Stealing herself, she clicked open the notification.

Casey sighed, burying her nose into the pillow again as she inhaled deeply.  Derek was right.  It took her long enough to get here.

Bet or no bet, one thing was stunningly clear... Derek Venturi held all the power to break her heart.  Finally accepting that fact, she could only hope that her heart remained intact when all this was over.