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Casey paced down the street on her way to Paul Greeby's (London High School's guidance counselor/ computer science teacher) house. Over the years, Paul had become Casey's trusted confidant in all things concerning her new life, i.e. Derek.

"222…224!" Casey muttered, approaching the small, shingled house on the corner. Skipping up the steps, Casey reached out and knocked on the door.

Paul Greeby was enjoying his last Monday off before school started the following week. Dressed in his finest plaid pajamas, the counselor was lazily organizing student files into different cardboard boxes. Humming happily, Paul started sifting through a particularly tall stack of files; the pile was stuffed with crumpled paper and wayward sticky notes. With a huff, Paul seated himself on the living room rug and began trying to right the pages. Glancing over the labeled tag, Paul laughed. The stack was Derek Venturi's permanent record, the post-its were Casey McDonald's commentary on her stepbrother's life choices.

"Of course," Paul chuckled, moving the mountain of papers onto his coffee table.

Seated on his couch, Paul began flipping through the pages, smiling. The less-than-dynamic duo had been his favorite students from the moment Casey McDonald stumbled into his office ranting about her new, eccentric family three years ago. Soon after, the girl had become a permanent fixture in his office. Every embarrassing moment, social mishap, or relationship woe seemed to be Derek's fault according to Casey, and Paul heard all about it. "Oh Derek," Paul thought sighing, "if you stopped pulling her hair, she'd tell you she like likes you." Paul thought it a shame that during her time at London High, Casey never fessed up to her feelings toward Derek; he knew the girl would feel a lot better if she got it off her chest!

'Hey Paul! Nice weather, eh? I've got the hots for my stepbrother.'

That's why I devote my limited free time to nagging him.

And talk incessantly about his every exploit.

Did I mention that our constant bickering is just manifested sexual tension caused by unrequited longing and general teen angst?

It's not that hard!

A loud knock at the door pulled Paul out of his reverie; knocking papers to the ground, he stumbled into the foyer.

"Hi, Paul!" Casey chirped as the door swung open.

Paul looked at her dumbfounded. "Casey," the man gawked.

Apparently unfazed by her guidance counselor staring at her, "So Emily is trying to convince me that Der—"

"Casey," Paul stopped her, "what are you doing at my house?"

"What do you mean?" Casey asked confused, her face suddenly matching his.

"You're at my house." No reaction. "How are you at my house?"

"Oh," Casey let out in understanding. "Well obviously I memorized the phone numbers and addresses of all my teachers in case of an emergency."

Paul narrowed his eyes at her. "Emergency," he repeated.

"Class absence, late assignment, grading error…" she answered distractedly, edging her way past him into the house. Casey found the joining living room and plopped herself on the couch.

Paul mindlessly followed behind her, closing the door. Still looking befuddled, he took a seat across from her, watching as she shifted uneasily on the cushions.

"I was talking with Emily, "she began determinedly. "And I can't do anything about Derek going to Queen's with me; I mean he's going to be there whether I like or not. So Emily encouraged me to try and make the best of the situation." Casey looked at him, waiting for his response: Paul raised his eyebrows for her to continue. "I'm a mature adult, and it's time to end this thing with Derek."

Paul's eyebrows knitted together as he mulled over her speech. "End it with Derek," he finally replied.

"Yeah," Casey said nervously, trying to read his face. "Push aside all of my…"

Anger, resentment, irritation, loathing, annoyance!

Casey's mind shouted out.

"All of my feelings towards Derek, and—and move on."

"Feelings…" he parroted dumbly. Casey nodded; Paul stared at her blankly. A smile slowly spread across the man's face until he was absolutely beaming, "Finally!" Paul thought. "That's great!" he exclaimed. "I'm so glad you finally realized this. Gosh, for a while there, I didn't think we were ever going to have this conversation. I'm so proud of you, Casey!"

"No!" Casey retorted, cutting him off. Surprised at Paul's response, the girl leapt to her feet. "Yeah, it would be great, but how can I possibly end things with Derek?" she ranted. "I mean, believe me I have tried to end this for three years!" Casey ran a hand over her face groaning, "Not like it's just going to stop— this is Derek!"

After a moment, Casey huffed. "I want to work things out with Derek; I don't know if that's possible, though," she confessed. "I mean sometimes he gets me so worked up I— I just want to jump him then and there!"

Punch that stupid grin right off his face!

Paul cleared his throat and stared at the floor. "Oh boy," he thought frantically. Still not meeting her gaze, "I know there are certain, um," Paul closed his eyes, "urges."

Can barely stand it!

Takes all my will power not to knock his teeth out.

"I don't think your parents would commend such b-behavior," Paul finished, reaching for his forgotten cup of coffee on the table.

Daydreaming about various ways to break Derek's nose, Casey missed her guidance counselor's uncomfortable stammering. Casey spun towards him, "I don't care if I get in trouble! Take him during family dinner, for all I care!" Coffee went up Paul's nose. "Pound him in to the floo—"

"—Okay!" Paul gasped, waving his arms desperately. "Uh—okay. This… good." Paul's mouth opened and closed as he struggled to find the right words. "Casey, I understand how frustrating this must be. Derek has driven you crazy for years."

Got that right!

"But Emily is right, the only way to make the situation better between the two of you is to move past this." As Casey started to retort, Paul put his hands up in defense. "It may seem impossible now, but the attraction will eventually fade."

Attraction?

"I mean as a guidance counselor I can hardly say having a crush on your stepbrother is healthy," Paul laughed.

Wait…

Risking a glance at Casey's face (which was currently sporting a look of appalled shock), Paul hurriedly said, "Please don't think I'm judging you, Casey! Derek is a handsome kid." The appalled shock was replaced by stunned disgust. "We don't choose who we like—I remember grade four I was infatuated with the lunch lady," Paul recalled dreamily. "She always smelt of meatloaf…"

ATTRACTION?

Realization hit Casey like a bus. "WHAT?" she shrieked.

Paul inched closer, thinking she hadn't heard him. "I'm talking about your feelings for Derek…" Casey stared at him with her mouth hanging open. "Wait, what are you talking about?" Paul questioned, terrified he had just misread the situation big time.

Wha—

How—

NO!

Casey took several deep breaths trying to steady her voice to an octave that didn't shatter glass. "Emily told me that it was a good idea to end my feud with Derek; to stop fighting with him. F-feelings," Casey mumbled, turning slightly green.

If there was ever a time Paul wanted to disappear, that moment would be it. "Oh lord. Oh… I see. End the feud," Paul cleared his throat as he swiftly started backing away. "Well ending the rivalry will definitely make your time at Queen's more tolerable." The man paced backward blindly, knocking into things.

"You think I have a crush on Derek!" she squeaked, stalking towards him.

"—Being the bigger person is very difficult sometimes, but rewarding," Paul continued, staring determinedly at his slippers.

"The only thing I feel for Derek," Casey spit as if she were swearing, "is nausea."

"Communication is key—"

"Paul!"

The counselor had literally backed himself into a corner. Paul's eyes slowly lifted from the ground and settled on an enraged Casey. Clasping his hands together, Paul admitted defeat. "Casey you might have to consider that, perhaps, your anger with Derek stems from… something else."

"Derek," Casey said through clenched teeth, "is the most selfish, arrogant, pig I have ever met."

Paul nodded. "Yes, but Derek has surprised you. I remember several times Derek showed his adoration for you, helped you out. Didn't he take you to prom?" Casey shifted uncomfortably. "And even you, Casey, must have noticed his looks."

Casey didn't say anything, but the bright red blush that spread over her cheeks spoke volumes.

"Maybe, you're mad at Derek because you like him."

"We fight all the time!" she yelled. "We were arguing before I came here!"

"Fighting and bickering can be signs of sexual tension. Chemistry between two people."

Bile started rising up Casey's throat. Paul mistook her silence as acknowledgement, and continued explaining. "Owning up to your feelings is the first step in moving past this attraction."

Sexual tension.

Sexual.

Derek.

Sex with Der—

"Trash can," she whispered.

"Sorry?" he asked, looking concerned.

"I'm going to be sick," she said, swaying on her feet. Casey collapsed on the sofa and tucked her head between her knees, willing herself not to ralph all over the floor. Snippets of the conversation began racing through her mind as Paul rushed into the kitchen.

"Crush"

"Handsome kid"

"Finally realized"

"Urges"

"Pound him into the floo—"

"I need to go now," Casey said to the empty room.

Without saying goodbye to Paul (or closing the front door) Casey sprinted out of the house. Not paying any attention to where she was going, the teen bounded down the road, hitting walkers and bicyclists alike that veered in her way. Casey ran as fast as her feet could carry her until she collided, face first, into a tall oak tree. She had accidentally ran home.

Rubbing her newly bruised forehead, Casey slowly walked up the steps and turned the doorknob.

Please, please, please, please, please, please

Derek Venturi was staring dully at the television screen, reclined back in his leather chair. Crumbs spotted his plain T-shirt, which rode up his stomach. Mindlessly flipping through channels, the teen finally noticed the agape door. Derek's eyes roamed over Casey as she stood planted in the doorway.

"What?"

This will not end well.

Chapter 3 coming next week!