CASEY

Casey was laying down on her bed in her room deep into her book Pride and Prejudice, when she heard a knock at her door. Casey was so into her book that she didn't want to be bothered by anyone let alone an annoying step brother that could always ruin her good moods and moments. She finally had gotten some peace and quiet since graduation. She enjoyed being all around her friends and family but she needed to have time to herself to think about her future and her next few years at Queens in New York.

Casey sighed and finally spoke up. "Come in, its open!"

Walking through the door comes Nora, Casey and Lizzie's mother. Casey still wanted time to herself but she would always make time for her mother.

"Hi honey." Her mom said.

"Hi mom. What's up?"

Nora came and sat down beside Casey on her bed. Casey sat up and closed her book to give her mom her attention.

"Well, I have notice lately that you have acting a little distant. Is everything ok?" Her mom was smiling but she had a glint of concern in her eyes.

Casey looked at her mom and decided if she could tell anyone her worries it would be her mom. "Mom, it's just I am so confused and worried about college and how life is going to be once I am away from home. I won't have you and Lizzie to keep me grounded whenever things get too heavy and situations get too hard. I doubt I will have trouble making friends, but I love my friends here and I will miss them too much." She took a pause. "And don't forget to mention Derek will be there too. I thought that once I graduated from high school and went to college I wouldn't have to worry about dealing with him anymore. Don't get me wrong I love our family, it's just me and Derek do not get along and I don't think we ever will. I just know he decided to go to Queens just to continue to make my life miserable. I don't know what to think or feel Mom!"

Nora listened to her daughter and laughed.

"Mom, this isn't funny!" Casey was nearly on the verge of tears but held them back. No matter what she said or did she had to be strong.

Nora stopped laughing. "Casey, honey everything will be fine. You just have college jitters. Everyone has those feelings when they leave home to start new lives. Plus, Lizzie and I are only a call away, we will always be here for you. And so will your friends Casey. As for Derek, it will be fine. I have a feeling that you guys might even become friends despite what you think. He might be … uhm … Derek but he has always shown he cares. Give him a chance Casey."

"But I have so many times, I'm not looking for a friendship with him. I just want to be somewhat cordial. He doesn't make it easy at all. I mean if he can be nice, I can be around him." Casey felt a little better but she knew better. She would just stay clear of him while they are in college, especially since Queens is a big college it should work.

Nora smiled. "Great! I am glad you are warming up to the idea, because since money is tight and we have a baby on the way, George and I thought that it would be a good idea that you and Derek stay together in an apartment to save us some money." Nora waited for a Casey freak out. She knew her daughter so well.

"WHAT!?" Casey jumped off her bed and stood above her mother. "That's crazy. I said I would try to be cordial, I didn't mean I wanted to be around him all the time, stay with him. It would be just like living here with him except with nobody to break up the fights and he would throw parties and be sloppy. I don't want to clean up after him. He's such a pig. Ugh! This can't be mom. I can't do it!" Casey had real tears in her eyes now but only one tear slowly fell down her cheek. She couldn't believe her mom would agree to or come up with this.

"Casey, we are not trying to punish you and your brother, we just-." Nora was cut off by Casey "STEP-BROTHER."

"Okay. We are not trying to punish you guys we are just trying to save money and have yall watch out for each other. Is that so much to ask." Nora sympathizes for Casey but she felt her daughter needed to grow up and understand from her side. " I understand honey, you will understand more when you have bills and children to take care. I hope you warm up to idea because we are not changing our minds. I love you but I'm sorry you are going to have to grow up eventually and deal with situations you don't have too."

Nora was done with the conversation and needed to start on dinner. "Casey I have to get dinner ready , be down in about an hour. If you need anything or want to talk, we can tomorrow. I had a long day at work and I'm really tired. It will be ok honey, it's not the end of the world." With that Nora left Casey's room.

Casey just stood there in here room. She couldn't believe her mom. She didn't understand, if Casey and Derek stayed together, her world was going to end. She decided it was too much to think about at the moment so she sat back on her bed and opened her book back and began to get swallowed up in the world of Pride and Prejudice.

DEREK

Derek couldn't wait to go to Queens and become the hockey captain and all the girls he could hook up with. Yea he would have to be more serious about his grades and studying but that's what's so good about having Casey on campus. He didn't mind having her there but he wasn't that excited have his keener step-sister around also. Either way life was going to great, all the parties he was going to throw! He wasn't going to have to answer to the rents either.

Derek was on his computer on Facebook when he heard his name. "Derek, open up."

"Why, is dinner ready?" Derek walked up to unlock his door and opened up for his dad, George.

"No it's not, is that all you can think about is food. Didn't you have leftover pizza an hour ago?"

Derek smirked, "I am a growing man." George laughed. "You have quite some maturing to do before you are a man."

"So what's up dad. I'm kind of busy."

"Well I'll just get to it then." George went to sit on Derek's bed. "Derek, Nora and I decided that you and Casey are going to be staying together in an off-campus apartment. We need to save money and maybe you and Casey can find a way to get along."

Derek couldn't believe what his dad was saying. "WHAT THE HELL DAD! I can't stay with her. Are you and Nora crazy, we can't stand each other. She is a keener and so freakin' stuck-up. How is that going to work?"

"I thought yall were getting along better?"

"Dad there's no way that we will be able to stand being around each so much anymore. The fact that we knew we weren't going to see each other a lot helped! This is so wrong. What did I ever do to deserve this?"

George nearly burst out laughing but managed a chuckle. "Derek, what have you done? I'm not even going to answer that. Look, it may not be what you want but as long as we are paying your rent and giving yall an allowance for food and necessities, this is the way it's going to be."

"No way dad. I can't do anything right when it comes to Casey. She so judgmental and a prude. How am I supposed to enjoy college living with her?"

"This is soooo unfair."

George got up from the bed. "Life is unfair, learn to deal with it and make your situation better. Maybe start with no being such an ass towards your sister."

"STEP-SISTER." Derek groaned.

"Same difference."

"Whatever."

George went to the door and stopped. "We are not trying to punish you; it's just how things have to be. You'll be okay." And he left.

Derek was beyond pissed, his parents were messing up his plans. How was he supposed to do what he wanted, when he wanted, wherever he wanted with Casey living with him? Even if they did get along a little better he still felt living with Casey would be not a good situation no matter how you looked at it.