A/N: Okay, here's the deal with this: I'm going to post the first chapter of this and leave it up for a few days while I work out some more of the kinks with the original plot (believe me, it was majorly (hmm, apparently that isn't actually a word. odd) flawed in places) and then I'll post a chapter a day. I think I'll leave the sequel alone (plotwise) and just reread for grammatical errors and such.

I hope you guys enjoy it this time just as much as you did last go-around! This story is my baby and it holds its own little (fairly large) place in my heart. xD

R&R-Enjoy-R&R-Enjoy-R&R
Shannon

Nah, Dude. Couldn't Be True.

"Can you please do this Casey? For me?" I asked, keeping my voice low. I wasn't about to pick up her rep. If she even has one.

"Fine," she said, surrendering. And why shouldn't she? I'm Derek Venturi. She handed me her stuff and went to work her magic. One of those lame guys by their lockers turned to say something. Like calling me a grade grubber. Ain't gonna happen, Bucko.

"Not a word!" I said, ripping off my lame hat and pointing at him. I dropped my hand and leaned against the wall, waiting for news from Casey. She came out and smiled triumphantly.

"94." I looked at the paper, then looked at her, then did it again. I dropped the books and hugged her in thanks.

"No one will ever even utter the first syllable of the word 'grubber' to you ever again." I said, unspeakably grateful for not failing again. First grade was bad enough. Hey, it's not my fault they put me beside the hottest girl there. I still can't believe I failed.

"Uh, you're welcome, Derek," she said and patted my left shoulder awkwardly. I pulled away quickly, remembering her status here. And hugging just isn't cool in my book. I rubbed my nose coolly and shrugged. I saw a passerby and snapped at the floor. As I expected, they dropped down immediately and picked up my books. As they handed me mind and Casey's things (as I hadn't given Casey her books back yet), I gave instructions.

I pointed to Casey, "She is Casey McDonald. She is officially not a grade grubber. Got it?" They nodded quickly. "Spread the word." And with that, they handed me the stuff and began talking anxiously to people at their lockers nearby. I smirked and handed Casey her things. Casey gave me that famous half–smile of hers.

"Thanks," was all she said. I don't know what happened, but I think my heart did a flop when she did that. I shrugged it off as hormones and waved 'bye' to her. I then met up with Sam and we walked on home.

"So, Derek? Do you think Casey's cool?" Sam asked as we were walking. I looked at him for a minute, studying his face.

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, I've been thinking, and, well, I think I like her." Sam said a little reluctantly.

"Well, I mean, Casey isn't the coolest chick in school, but, yeah, sure." I said in my 'whatever' voice. Sam just nodded and we walked the rest of the way in silence. We went our separate ways after two 'laters' and a complicated handshake. I swear I didn't come up with it. Scouts' honor.

When I got home I ran upstairs and threw my bag on the floor haphazardly. I turned on some rock and picked up a magazine. I looked through my swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated, and, growing increasingly bored, threw it down, too. I had the strangest temptation to do my math homework. Don't ask why. So, sighing, I got my notebook and worksheet. I swear, it looked like a foreign language to me. I sighed yet again and went across the hall to Casey's room. I knocked lightly, not liking having to talk to her, let alone ask for help.

She spoke a soft "Come in," and I opened the door. She had evidently been reading, for she had her index finger holding her place. She was lying on her bad, leaning against the headboard casually. I scratched my forehead, mentally preparing myself for the humiliation to come.

"Uh, Casey? I, uh, um, I kinda need some help with my homework?" She cocked an eyebrow and scoffed at me. I was rubbing off on her too well.

"You? Derek Venturi? The infamous King of Slackers, wants my help? Since when do you even do your homework?" she questioned.

I crossed my arms. "Casey, don't make this any harder than it already is." When she held her disbelieving gaze, I spoke again. "Look, can you just help me? Please?" I asked desperately, but coolly at the same time.

She looked me right in the eyes and said, "Come 'ere." The flop thing happened again. I sat down on the bed beside her as she made room for me.

"OK, so, math. My favorite." She said happily. I gave her a look and she put on a face.

"Hey, do you want help or not? I could just as easily watch you fail," she said defensively. I raised my hands in surrender and opened my notebook. Peh. Homework is stupid.

"What don't you get?" She asked.

"Um, all of it." I said, blushing. I never blush. That was yet another sign. She shifted into a more comfortable position, sensing that this might take a while.

"OK, Pythagorean Theorem. A squared plus B squared equals C squared. So, on number one, you have to do that and find the surface area, too. All right, 15 squared is 225. 20 squared is 400. Add those together and you get 625. Now if you find the square route of that, you get 25. So, that's 15 squared plus 20 squared equals 25 squared. That's your first answer.

"Now, since this is a triangular prism, well, a right triangular prism, you do A equals .5 times base times height. Then, multiply that by two. Then find the area for the three rectangles, then add everything together. See?" she explained. All the while she had been writing everything down.

I nodded my head, "Yeah, I got it. Thanks, Case." I said.

"Well, you're welcome, Derek." I gathered my things and walked towards the door. Then I stopped.

"You know what?"

"What?"

"You're pretty cool, Case. Just don't tell anyone I said that." I said with a smirk and walked out just before the pillow hit me.

Well, maybe she's not that bad after all, I thought to myself that night before I went to bed. But I gotta figure out what's going on with that flop thing...