Author's Note à This is my first LWD non-dasey fic. Dasey is still my OTP despite the terrible person Casey has become, but that doesn't mean I don't love other ships as well. I hope you guys still enjoy this fic. It will essentially be a Nasey. I'm not sure if I will have Truman in it or not, but if he is in it I will not be portraying him in a positive light at all. Sorry to any Truman lovers. This being the first chapter, the beginning of another chapter fic, let me know what you guys think! :D Much love as always! :D

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The timing was never right. She was either with someone or trying to work through something personal. Casey didn't understand why she always kept him at bay, always at an arms' distance but never near enough to hear her heart beat. Yet she was still attracted. She didn't have a reason in all the world to convince herself that she should never be with him. Still she deterred his feelings for her away, never letting him know how fast her heart beat when he smiled.

Noel, Emily and Casey had spent the past months hanging out as a group. For the longest time it had just been her and Emily, so at first the addition was a bit awkward. Not only because he was male, but because the conversations became more complex in a group. No longer a one-on-one type of scenario. They however managed, especially because they all had quite a bit in common.

After the play that Noel dared to try out for, he learned of his inner love for art and literature, a love that Casey had always had. Emily and Noel both enjoyed observing people and dissecting the core of their minds and what makes people tick. He often spoke to them as any other girl would, not about girly things, but as calmly as any other girl. Guys in general always seemed so secretive, but he flipped open his mind to them. Casey was startled the first time, but it had become so natural that she barely even noticed anymore.

Senior year had already begun and they were gearing up for university next year. Going their separate ways was uneasy for Casey but she pushed the thought into the back of her mind. She also pushed back any hope for them to ever be together. Not because she had already foolishly turned him down multiple times, but because after high school, the chances of ever seeing him again were slim despite their growing friendship.

A tear fell from Casey's eye and she signed her name in her journal. It was the mark of the ending of a thought, and the name placed only to signify who owned that thought. As though anyone else would try to steal her thoughts from her. She laughed to herself and crawled into bed.

Tomorrow would be Sunday and Emily, Noel and Casey would be going to the library for a while to study. There was no studying at any of their houses. Especially at Casey's. No need to mention why.

She smiled at the prospect of seeing Noel. Perhaps she mostly kept him at bay because the desire was so much more enjoyable than the pain of a potential ending to an imaginary relationship.

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Let me know what you guys think! :D It's short I know, but hey…I've got me college and work and ugh. I just HAD to write it. You know…Inspiration and all that jazz. :D