Okay, so I'm a little hesitant about this story. It came to me in a dream, and having always loved Alex and Casey on the show and wishing they'd have more scenes together, this seemed intriguing to write. However, it's AU and set in Virginia, when Alex and Casey meet age 16 and is written from Alex's POV

I don't own the characters, but the scenery, settings and storyline are all my own work, taking from my ever busy imagination.

I hope that you stick with me for the duration of the story, please, leave reviews and be honest.

Here we go with the first chapter then...

Chapter 1

"Shit!"

The word escaped my lips before my brain had time to process my surroundings. I'd just entered the large brick building that would be my home for the next however many months. My Parent's had once again relocated, my Father's Law Firm was expanding and yes, while I was proud and happy for him, I was also disappointed. I'd liked New York, but then again, I'd liked every state my parents had travelled to. I'd made a couple of friends in each, my cell littered with contacts from Georgia and Rhode Island, even California and now New York.

"I'm so sorry, here, let me help you"

I looked up from where I'd been crouching to see the girl who'd I'd just collided with helping me retrieve the books I'd dropped. I swore my stomach was doing some sort of acrobatic movement as our eyes connected. My mouth had gone dry, my voice suddenly forgetting it existed. It took me a second, but in those moments the panic at the strange and foreign feeling that was rising inside caused the ice queen in me to appear

"I can manage perfectly fine thank you very much"

I know I was being incredibly rude but something about the redheaded girl made me feel weird, I couldn't put my finger on it but I wasn't sure I liked the feeling

"Oh okay", I could see the hurt as she stood, handing me the book I'd dropped, and then as she walked away I mentally kicked myself. This was not the impression I wanted to give before I'd even passed the reception area

I'd always been known as Alex "The Ice Queen" Cabot, and I know that I could be offish, a little snobby at times, and I didn't mean to, I'd just learnt to guard myself, not let anybody within touching distance. I never knew when my parent's would relocate, never knew how long I'd be staying and so I didn't let myself get too attached, yet I'd managed to make friends and it had always been hard saying goodbye

I found the reception and dinged the bell; a plump woman appeared, her glasses dangling precariously on her nose

"Hello"

"I'm Alexandra Cabot, I've just transferred here," I explained, my voice slightly faltering, for some reason I was always nervous at these first introductions

"Miss Eisenhower" she introduced herself, a large perfectly manicured hand was offered to me "Nice to meet you Alexandra, or do you prefer Alex?"

"Either is fine" I replied, shaking her hand, although it was somewhat of a lie, I'd always preferred Alex but my parents had always corrected everyone when I had been living with them and they'd never called me anything other than the name I had been given and so it was how I introduced myself

"Okay, well Alex, here's your dorm key, you're in room 41, you'll have a roommate, her name is Hailey" she explained "I'd usually show you around but I've an important board meeting in a short while, restrooms and shower areas are located opposite your room, but we have toilet's all over the building, and in the main school. The food hall and kitchen is just next door, and the communal area is to your right before you get to the stairs"

I nodded, trying to take in the information while signing my name on the documents she had thrust in my direction

Once I had finished, Miss Eisenhower said her goodbyes before hurrying into the office, leaving me a little overwhelmed and uncertain of where I should be heading

I sighed loudly as I began searching for the room I'd inhabit, the building was old, but it had a homely feel to it. As I'd entered the reception area a faintly distinctive smell had hit me, reminding me of Texas, of my hometown and my best friend Abbie Carmichael.

It felt like a million memories ago I'd hugged the brunette goodbye, her tears wetting my shoulders as she promised to keep in touch, and we had, even managing to meet up during the summer while I was in Georgia, but that had been almost a year ago, I'd spent seven months in New York since and now as I faced an uncertain length of here in Virginia, I missed home

I hated transferring schools, it was always difficult trying to adjust to new rules, a new building, new teachers but it was harder when moving from one state to another, I'd had to read up on state laws, education, and now knew pretty much everything there was about the state of Virginia. What I hated most though, was transferring mid-term.

It didn't take me long to figure out I needed to climb two flights of stairs, and before I knew it I was standing outside room 41, I searched around in my bag for the key I'd been given, and fumbled with it for a few moments, trying to juggle the books I was holding. I'd just managed to get the key in the lock when it was opened from inside

"Hi, you must be Alex"

The girl in question was short in stature, her blonde hair was cut short, and her smile was wide as she extended a hand, I shook it as she told me her name

"Hailey Ashbrook, I'm your roommate"

I nodded as I stepped inside, retrieving my key from the lock as I closed the door behind me. The room was nice, simple with magnolia walls and two single beds, a bookcase and two wooden wardrobes. The girl, Hailey motioned in the direction of the clean, freshly made bed and wardrobe on the right

"This is your area, I'm pretty relaxed, so if you need some more space then feel free to use whatever you need. Have you been shown the restrooms and shower area?"

I shook my head, I don't know why but I hadn't been able to find my voice and worried I was coming across as deaf, dumb or just plain rude

"Well, I can show you if you want"

I nodded, before cursing out loud, the blonde turning quizzically "Are you okay?"

I nodded before a small chuckle left my lips "I'm fine" I replied, "I'm sorry, I must seem quite rude, I don't know what just happened, my voice seemed to have forgotten it existed, again"

The blonde smiled, her demeanour was relaxed, she didn't seem annoyed or put off by my lack of people skills "That's okay, most people are overwhelmed when they meet me, I just love talking to people"

"Oh, no, it's not you" I interjected quickly "I'm just trying to find my bearings, although you'd think I'd be used to change by now"

I felt incredibly out of place here, the blonde was dressed casually in a sweater and jeans, her feet were bare and I recalled the redhead I'd collided with earlier had been wearing a tracksuit. Here I stood in my tailored pants and a button down shirt, a thin blazer hanging over my shoulders.

"How come?" she asked as I sat down on the bed, my behind hitting the soft mattress, a small sigh escaping my lips

"I've moved around a lot" I explained, "My Father owns his own law firm, and he's opening a new office in Roanoke, so they relocated here and here I am"

"Roanoke?" Hailey asked as she sat beside me, "So how come you're here in Tappahannock and not at home with them attending a public school or even a private school?"

I shrugged, I'd always asked myself that question, whichever state my parents had relocated to, I'd always attended a boarding school. I hadn't lived with my parents since I was in Texas, and even then I barely saw either of them, my care entrusted into the hands of Mrs Whiptree, my nanny and tutor

"I've never attended a private school or a state school" I said quietly, suddenly feeling awkward "Anyway, you said something about showing me the restroom, showers and such"

If Hailey had noticed the quick change of subject she didn't say anything, instead she stood, rambling on about shower times and breakfast times, as we excited the dorm room

I tried to take in the information I was given as I was shown the restroom opposite our dorm, the shower area was empty, and held two shower stalls. As we exited the area, Hailey explained something about the water pressure but my thoughts were elsewhere as I noticed the redhead I'd collided with earlier leaning against the wall, her hand gripping her cell as she spoke to whoever was on the end. She had changed from her earlier attire, the garish green tracksuit now having been swapped for a pair of white jeans and a cream coloured sweater, her red hair no longer tied up now hung loosely over her shoulders, clearly having just been washed. I blushed, unwillingly picturing the redhead showering

"Alex" I heard the faint calling of the blonde beside me, my brain taking a moment to register as I turned, the shorter girl wearing a smile "Did you hear anything I just said?"

I nodded before I shook my head, trying to clear the fuzz "Sorry" I mumbled "Water pressure"

Hailey chuckled as she unlocked our dorm door, I followed her inside, my heart beating in my chest for a reason I had not yet been able to ascertain "I was telling you that when using the shower, you have to turn the water on slowly, the pressure of the water can sometimes be a little on the strong side, oh and it's cold"

I nodded, making a note of the information in my head as my stomach grumbled, I hadn't eaten since breakfast and now as the clock read 3pm, I was in dire need of food "Okay, I saw the dinner hall when I entered, just past reception, what time is dinner? I am starving"

Hailey chuckled, clearly having heard my stomach making it's needs known "Dinner is at 5, so you've another 2 hours" she explained, the scowl on my face causing her to laugh as she rummaged underneath her bed for something

She chucked me a bag of Cheetos "Here, I was saving these, but you can have them"

"You sure?"

Hailey nodded, looking at her slim frame in the mirror "I've worked hard to lose weight and you're obviously hungry"

I opened the bag, the smell familiar and comforting as I began eating the cheesy snack. Hailey laughed as a moan escaped my lips at the taste and I chuckled "They're good"

"So, where was your head earlier?" she asked, causing me to stop mid chew as I raised my head, she had a smile playing on her lips and I wondered whether she'd sussed my intrigue for the redhead

"Nowhere" I said, rather quickly and Hailey raised her eyebrows in response, I inwardly cursed, berating myself for the obvious lie. I still hadn't figured out what the strange feeling was, my stomach and heart had reacted in ways I'd never before experienced and I wasn't sure I liked the uneasiness

"You were watching Casey" she said, her words were matter of fact and I realised she had sussed me out. My stomach fluttered, the feeling from earlier returning as I learnt the name of the redheaded girl

I folded up the packet of Cheetos I had opened, placing them on the small stand beside the bed "Her name's Casey?" I asked, the name rolling of my tongue as if it had always been there

"Yeah, she's in room 43", The information intrigued my senses, the room in question just two doors down from the one we currently occupying

I nodded, wondering whether the blonde would offer any more "You've met her" she said, it wasn't a question, and I wondered how she'd come about this knowledge

"Earlier" I began "She bumped into me, I was kind of rude" I offered the last bit of information voluntarily, although why I didn't know. I'd felt awful after the exchange

She nodded "I know, she told me that she'd bumped into a beautiful blonde as she came back from her run but she was a snobby sort, dressed all formal, said she'd declined her help. When you opened the door I put two and two together"

I sighed, my hand rubbing my forehead "Is it okay if I have some privacy to change? I feel a little awkward in this get-up"

"Of course" she replied as she headed towards the door "You should probably apologise to Casey, she's been assigned as your chaperone during your first day"

The information both frightened and excited me and as I rummaged through my holdall, looking for something a little less pretentious, I was faintly aware of my quickening heartbeat and the fact that Casey had said I was beautiful.