Emily was teaching Casey the basics of the bleachers, especially the girlfriend pen. Since going out with Sam, she had become a regular there, and was quite familiar with the customs and responsibilities of the girlfriends in the girlfriend pen. Sam was also helping Casey out by informing her of the hockey players' views on the girlfriend pen.

According to Emily, these are her duties as a girlfriend, or in her case, a hopeful, sitting in the girlfriend pen.

Show up early to the game and immediately stake a claim on one of the seats. Derek was captain, so she should sit closer to the front, probably with Emily, since Sam was co-captain.

Wear his practice jersey to the game. Guys think it's hot when their girlfriends wear their clothes. It shows that the girl belongs to which ever guy whose jersey she's wearing, and it warns away the opposing team, who are also aware of the customs of the girlfriend pen.

Cheer loudly when he comes out onto the ice, to show the other girls that he is yours. It is the privilege of the girlfriend in the pen to cheer when her boyfriend emerges onto the ice, and even the parents know not to say anything.

Only leave the arena during half time and time outs, so that she doesn't miss any part of the game.

Finally, once the game has ended, and the team has won, go to the locker rooms, and wait outside for him to finish showering. When he comes out, cheer for him and then jump him, kissing him in congratulations.

Emily says it's a fool proof plan, and Sam says that Derek will know exactly what she means by sitting in the girlfriend pen. If she decides to sit there, she will be telling Derek, and the rest of the world, that she is his.

3 Days later… Championship Game

Casey was following all of the steps. She and Emily had arrived early, and taken their seats in the girlfriend pen. When she was leaving with Emily before the game, her mother had asked her if she would be at the game. She said that she knew that Casey and Derek were not on such good terms lately, but hopefully they would see her there. Casey just smiled, nodded, and walked out the door.

She was also wearing Derek's practice jersey. So far, this was the most difficult to accomplish. She actually had to go through his laundry to get it. She washed it and put it in her closet. When Derek asked the family, excluding Casey as he still wouldn't talk to her, at breakfast the next day, whether they had seen his suddenly missing practice jersey, she innocently shook her head, even though she knew he didn't care about her answer. She hated lying to him, but she told herself that it'd be worth it in the long run.

The third step was the most important. Derek should not know she was there until the last minute when she cheered for him. So she and Emily convinced Sam to keep him out of the rink until absolutely necessary. When he did finally come out onto the ice and the announcer called his name, Casey stood up to cheer for him, but at the same time, so did some other girl, also wearing a Derek jersey, obviously fake, who was, ironically, blonde. Casey glared at her and told her to back off. She was successful in scaring Blondie away, but by the time she finished, Derek was already announced, and no one had cheered for him.

She saw his look of disappointment turn to confusion and finally into hopefulness as he went from thinking he had no one in the girlfriend pen, to realizing that the one person he thought he'd never see there, was waiting to cheer for him. It was like a dream come true for Derek. She stayed true to the girlfriend rules, and only left once during a time out, but when she was done, she came running back in, just in case she missed something.

Derek's team, of course, won the championship game. To show off for Casey, Derek played the best he'd played all year, and the other team was basically beaten off the ice. Casey dutifully waited outside the locker room until everyone else left. At that point, she was starting to get a bit worried. What if Derek had changed his mind after all? What if he really didn't love her?

As suddenly as those thoughts appeared, they were gone. Casey saw Derek walk out of the locker room with his bag. She stared at him for a second, before running at him and giving him a big hug.

He grinned down at her. "I saw you in the girlfriend pen, Case. Do you mean it?"

She grimaced at the memory of that night. "I think I've always meant it. I just wasn't ready to see it for myself. I'm sorry Derek. You were right, you deserve so much better than me. I'm no better than the blonde girl who tried to cheer for you."

Derek shook his head. "That's where you're wrong Case. You are so much better than her. You're beautiful, you're smart, and you look absolutely ravishing in my jersey. She never could. I'm sorry too. I was hurt by your rejection, and I said stuff that wasn't true at all. I'm sorry."

"I love you Derek. I tried to show you that by sitting in the girlfriend pen."

"You did Case. And I love you too. Seeing you there tonight just proved that even more to me. You are special and you deserve to be my only one in the girlfriend pen. You are mine and I want everyone to know that. On that note, Casey McDonald, will you be my girlfriend, to sit in the girlfriend pen 'til graduation or hockey do us part?"

"Derek, you are such a sap. But yes, I'll be your girlfriend."

He smirked at her. "Did I mention you look hot in my clothes?"

Hope you enjoyed. Probably should have been doing homework, but I was too lazy. So I wrote this instead. Please review. Love.