There were times when Casey would actually contemplate the idea of telling him that she could hear him through the vents. All the time. Every night. But for some reason she'd just keep lying on her bed, pretending not to notice what would be going on in his room. She knew she could tell her parents. She could get him grounded for ages. She could screw him and his secret night's activities. Yet, she'd only ever do as much as listen to him, her eyes wide open in the darkness of her room, all night long.

"Derek, wait…"

She heard him groan, as he was still trying to catch his breath. "What is it Sally?"

Both their voices were coming in raspy whispers, and Casey froze, fearing the girl could've possibly figured out someone was listening. She tightly gripped the covers of her bed, swallowing hard as she waited for Sally to go on.

"I can't go on like this, Derek. Sneaking around at night. I…"

"Couldn't you just wait for me to finish before talking about…"

"Derek! I'm done!"

"Keep it down, for Pete's sake! The whole family is sleeping… no need to get them out of bed already!"

They were silent for quite some time and Casey was wondering if they'd got back to loving each other, when she heard Derek whisper once more.

"Sal… I never said being my girl was gonna be easy."

"I don't care whether it's difficult or not. I only … sometimes I only wish you actually felt something for me. Anything, Der. Anything real."

Casey held her breath as she heard his bed creak, figuring he had pinned her on it. "This is real to me. My hands on your body are real. I feel real when I'm inside of you" he paused for a second, pleased to hear her moan his name. "I have to feel real, babe. I need this."

"But you don't need me."

"I never needed anybody, Sal. And you don't need me either. Me and you… we're pretty much the same, Sal. Don't think you're any better than whom you I think I am."

"It might be true, but I sure don't have so many people to love me just like you do."

"What's the point in people loving you if you don't feel anything?"

Casey bit her lip as she knew she had sighed too hard at his last sentence.

The following morning, Derek was incessantly pounding on the bathroom door, in hope his stepsister would finally get out of the shower. His bed hair was even more of a mess than usual and it fell nonchalantly across his forehead. He stood motionless for a moment, his fist still held high against the door while a cold draft shifted across the room, causing the skin on his bare back to shiver as he was only wearing his boxers.

"Case! Get the hell out of this damn bathroom! Case! You hear me!"

She finally opened the door. Her hair was dripping wet and she only had a white towel wrapped up around her naked body. As soon as he laid eyes on her, he couldn't help but immediately notice how swollen her lips looked, as if her spaced-out gaze wasn't already proof enough that something had been going on in that shower.

"Gosh, Der, how can you already be so harsh at 6:30 in the morning…"

She was already beginning to walk away but he didn' t let her finish the sentence as he tightly took a grip of her elbow, almost causing her towel to fall off.

"What do you think you're doing, Mcdonald?" he muttered, gritting his teeth. Casey's eyes widened with fear, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. "What are you talking about! Let go of me! I'm gonna be late…"

He tightened his grip around her arm, jerking her closer so that their faces were only inches apart. He breathed hard against her skin, amused at how her lower lip was quivering. "I'm the player, here, Case. Don't even think you can fool me. Ever. And most of all, don't you dare to touch yourself again in my bathroom."

"What's the matter, Sammy boy?