Hey guys! Sorry for the wait, I havent been within reach of a computer until now. It's been KILLING me not to update! I was very surprised with the number of reviews I got! So thanks to all that took time to read and comment my story, and I'm hoping for more feedback! Thanks again!


Because They Said So - Chapter 3

"Okay, Derek, I can't do this."

Derek looked up to see Casey standing in his doorway, arms crossed.

"What d'you mean you can't?" He said, quickly getting up from his bed.

"It's really akward and I can't..." She said quietly, shaking her head.

"No, Case, you have to. This is a hundred and fifty bucks on the line!" He argued, throwing his hands up. "I don't even have a hundred and fifty dollars... we literally cannot afford to lose!"

Casey kept shaking her head. "Derek, I don't... it's really akward," she repeated.

"Well, suck it up," he snarled, gripping her shoulders. "Casey, this is a lot of money. Seventy five dollars each. Isn't it worth it?"

"No," she said simply, shrugging off his hands.

"Case," he groaned. "You're impossible..."

"And you're selfish," she snapped back.

"Can we not talk about this now?"

"Earlier tonight, you said we'd talk about it later," she hissed. She took a glance at an imaginary watch on her wrist. "It's later!"

Derek rolled his eyes. "Casey..."

"Derek," she shot back.

"Alright, fine," he said, slumping down on his bed. "We'll talk about it..."

"Thank you," she said, satisfied. "Now, I think..."

"We're going to go on with this bet whether you like it or not," he said as-a-matter-of-factly. "End of discussion."

Casey snarled.

"No," she said through gritted teeth. "We're not going to go on with this thing whether you like it or not."

"Casey," he said firmly. "It's been two freaking days."

He did have a point.

"Can't you please just give it a chance?" He pleaded. "For me?"

She thought a moment, directing her gaze onto his desk. He really needed to dust it off. Filthy.

"Fine," she said finally. "But it's not for you. It's for the money."

Derek threw his hands up. "Thank you so much!"

Casey rolled her eyes and held her hands up as if to say 'do-not-touch-me', and backed up against his door.

It was going to be a long month.

000

"Morning, sweetheart."

Casey rolled her eyes as Derek leaned himself against a locker next to her.

"Save it for Emily and Sam," she said, stuffing a book into her bag.

"Hey, hey, I'm just getting into character," he smirked, shrugging. "Which you should be doing, too. I've seen your acting... not impressive."

Before she could retort, Emily and Sam made their way to her locker.

"W-well honey muffin, you know I use all my good energy on you," she said sweetly, running a hand through his hair.

Emily gave a disbelieving look. "Please," she muttered under her breath.

"So, um," Sam cut in akwardly. "You guys getting along, then?"

"Most definitely," Casey said assuringly, answering for both of them.

"No fighting?" Emily said, unconvinced.

"U-um, n-no, Em, that's p-part of the bet, r-right?" Derek stammered, diverting his gaze over to Casey.

Before the four of them could speak, the bell rang, signaling for all students to report to their fourth period.

"S-so, see ya, Case," Derek said quietly. He leaned in, offering a hug. Casey hesitantly responded and lightly wrapped her arms around him.

Well... this was akward.

000

"Ugh, I'm filthy!"

This time, Derek rolled his eyes. He flipped a page in his magazine as Casey rushed in, wiping her arms with a cloth.

"Relax, Case, I don't have 'cooties'," he said.

"God knows what you have," she hissed, scrubbing at a spot on her hand.

"Most likely not as bad as what you might have," he shot back.

"Oh, and what, may I ask, would that be?" She snapped, hands on her hips.

"Hmm, that depends." He stood up. "What do you call being completely and utterly repulsive?"

"Uh... you."

"Oh, ouch," he put a hand over his heart. "That hurt."

"Like your ego wasn't big enough to protect you!"

"Well, I must have misplaced it then..."

"Oh, that's okay, why don't you look right next to your IQ-- oh, now you'll never find it."

"Ha ha, you're hilarious!"

"I try to be."

"Well, don't... you're terrible at it."

"Alright, alright, that's enough!" Nora cried, emerging from the kitchen. "Can't you guys go one day without fighting?"

"Try one month," Derek muttered under his breath. Earning a questioning look from Nora, Casey chirped in.

"Sorry, Mom," she said. "We're... uh, working on it..."

After Nora walked off and was out of sight, the two proceeded to have a one-on-one glare showdown.

"Idiot."

"Princess."


Alright, I think that's enough for one day. Like I said, so sorry about the long wait! Reviews are strongly encouraged. Thanksabunch!