Chapter 2

Derek knocked on Casey's door. No answer. She was blasting music so she probably didn't hear her. He slowly opened the door just to see Casey crying her eyes out on her bed. Derek stepped toward the boom box to turn down the music and as he did, Casey whipped her head around.

"Haven't you ever heard of knocking?" Casey shouted.

"I did," said Derek softly. "You just didn't hear me because you were blasting your music so loud. So what's wrong?" Derek wanted her to tell him.

"Nothing; just go away."

"I can't do that see it pains me to see you upset when I'm not the one that made that way." Derek smirked. He was always trying to annoy and upset her because he knew it was the best way to hide his true feelings for her. At first he thought she was simply an annoying step sister, but one time he opened the bathroom door right as she was stepping out of the shower and… well… you get the idea. From then on he always got a little horny whenever he saw her.

She never knew that he had opened the door. He got his glimpse while Casey's back was turned and was smart enough to know that the moment she turned her head she would freak, so he quietly closed the door and then skipped off to his room to relieve himself.

But back to the moment, Casey sat up and slapped Derek across the face. "What Was That For?" Derek asked, extremely vexed now.

"For being friends with Sam!" Casey shouted. She was so angry she would have punched Derek right then if he hadn't of apologized saying he knew what happened and was really sorry for her. Casey just stood there dumfounded at this new kindness that she rarely saw in Derek. It was definitely a rare occasion. Casey just ran up to him, flung her arms around him and started crying into his shoulder. But she would have done that to her cousin, Vickie for all she cared. She just needed someone to lean on.

Derek just stood there not knowing what to do. He finally wrapped his arm around her waist and started holding her. His shirt was staring to get soaked. After about a minute Casey broke the hug. "Sorry," she said. "I'm just so upset right now."

"It's okay," I replied, not knowing what else to say. "I'll be your crying shoulder any day."

"Thanks," she said. "So um do you know why?"

"Why what? Why I'm being so nice to you? Do I really have to spell it out?"

"No. Why he did it, you know, Sam?"

"Oh. No he just seemed really pissed off after school. And then I asked him something and he just went off on me, making an alphabetical list and it was actually really annoying. But I don't think that he is very happy with the situation."

"Oh." Casey was even more confused now. He broke up with her, 3 weeks before their 6 month anniversary none the less, then he acts all pissy with Derek, and now Derek says HE'S not happy with the situation. Casey was the one that got dumped. "Why do you think then?"

"I thought I had Sam figured out but this has thrown me for a loop. I'll try and help you find out what it wrong but I'm not making any promises.

"Thanks," was all Casey could say.

Derek left and a moment later he heard music blasting again. He then went straight to the bathroom and turned on the cold water. He really hoped that Casey wouldn't need a crying shoulder too often because he could only control his urges for so long.

Derek needed a date to get his mind off Casey so when he got out of the shower; he called Stacy to help keep his mind off things. Hopefully she would be a little more physical than the Sherry. She just didn't do anything for him.

While Derek was in the shower, the phone rang. It was Emily. Lizzie brought the phone to Casey. "Hello?" she said.

"Hey, It's Emily," she replied. "I heard about you and Sam, I'm really sorry Casey."

"Thanks. Wait a sec, how did you hear?"

"Well I was just a block behind Derek and Sam when Sam shouted at Derek that you two had broken up. It sounded like you had broken up with him but that didn't seem right."

"No he broke up with me. Which is why I'm so confused. Derek said he was angry too. I need to talk to Sam and find out what in hell is going on, but I just can't. Emily, can you talk to him for me? You have study hall with him right?"

"Yea I guess, but can I ask him in a really pissed off tone so that he knows we aren't friends for the duration?"

"You can do whatever you would like," Casey replied.

"Okay, I'll tell you what I find out tomorrow. Bye."

"See you tomorrow."

Casey put her head on he pillow and cried some more. When it was time for dinner she went down, ate, and then went back upstairs and cried herself to sleep. At least her mom didn't know, she thought, she would be all 'honey let's talk about your feelings,' and that was the last thing Casey wanted to do right now.