Thanks for so many reviews! Sorry it's taking a while for me to post the next chapters…I guess I'm just really busy! I have to practice my flute for NYSSMA and SCMEA, which takes a lot of work…so I'm sorry- again!

And also, I don't own anything in New York City, or anything that they do…sorry!

Anyway, here you go!

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Day 1 in New York

New York was better than Casey had expected. It was so beautiful at night, and it really did never sleep. And that was the problem.

Casey rolled out of her warm bed, rubbed her eyes and looked at the bed next to hers. Derek was curled up in a ball under his blankets, with a small smile on his face. Casey laughed softly, causing Derek to shift his position. Casey didn't want to wake him, or explain why she was standing there staring at him at -she looked at the clock- 3:45 in the morning. She couldn't sleep, so she figured she could go down to the lobby and get some snacks.

The elevator ride was fairly short and Casey slowly walked over to the all night buffet and picked out her favorite foods. She grabbed a bottle of water, a bag of chips and a mini cup of chocolate ice cream and went through the glass doors. There were cute lattice tables outside of the hotel where Casey sat. It was, in a way, peaceful. Even though the city was still wide awake, buzzing with couples going to and fro.

She munched on her chips and looked around. There was a couple on the corner, in what seemed like a deep, passionate relationship, displaying their affection towards each other with a sloppy kiss. There were couples holding hands coming out of a noisy building down the road. Everywhere Casey looked, people were enjoying the company of another. All but herself.

Casey then thought about Derek, fast asleep in their room. Then she had an idea.

"Hi, I'm Casey. And this is my boyfriend, Derek." She pretended to introduce them to nonexistent people. What was she thinking? Derek is her stepbrother, for crying out loud.

"What did you just say?" Casey spun around in her seat, only to see Derek standing there with a steaming Styrofoam cup in his hands. She stammered until audible words came out of her mouth.

"Uh, um, I, your…I was just saying how you were my roommate for the road trip." She stood up; leaving her snacks on the table and ran inside to the elevator. Derek stood there, staring at the table that once was occupied by his stepsister.

Did she say I was her boyfriend? Derek shook the thought out of his head and drank his hot chocolate.

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Casey woke up with a slight headache as the sun shone through the window. She had to remind herself where she was before actually getting out of bed. When she did get up, Derek rolled over and blinked his eyes. Casey's heart skipped a beat, but she just ignored it and went in the bathroom to shower and get dressed.

About ten minutes into her shower, Casey heard banging on the door. She knew exactly who it was.

"Casey, come on! There is another person here who needs to shower too, you know!" Derek shouted over the loud shower. Casey rolled her eyes and lathered her hair with some sweet smelling shampoo. Another ten minutes later, she finally emerged from the bathroom. Derek was shirtless, rummaging through his suitcase, which he never unpacked.

"Okay, you can shower now." Casey said, putting a charm bracelet on. She loved that bracelet. She had charms from her first dance recital, when she graduated elementary school, some from her birthdays and some that her friends from Toronto gave her.

"Too late, I already showered." Derek simply stated. He looked up from his pile of clothes. His eyes lingered on Casey and extra two seconds before returning back to his suitcase.

"How? Where? I was in our only bathroom." He looked up, looking annoyed at her constant questions.

"Next door. There's some hot chicks over there that were extremely willing to let me shower in their room." Derek went back to looking for who knows what in his suitcase while Casey packed her purse. She had money, the tickets for the Broadway show they were going to see, her cell phone, and other necessary items.

As always, Casey had made a schedule for all of the cities. New York's plan was jam packed with activities until they had to leave. Today, they were going to see RENT on Broadway, then out to the Hard Rock Café for lunch. Afterwards, they would go to the top of the Empire State Building for some sightseeing. She had heard you could see Connecticut from the top if it was a clear day. Lucky for them, it was a beautiful day out.

"Derek! Come on! We're going to be late to the show!" Casey pulled him up from the floor, threw a shirt that was laying on the dresser at him and stormed out of their room.

"Thanks, Case! I was looking for this shirt!" He laughed and locked the door. When he got outside to their car, she was already in the driver's seat, ready to go. He didn't really want to see RENT, but he couldn't think of anything better to see, so she had bought two tickets.

The traffic was backed up all the way until their destination, but luckily they still had time before the show started when they arrived. She parked the car and walked into the air-conditioned building.

People were everywhere inside, buying tickets, chatting with friends. Derek stopped to absorb everything around him. He started to feel claustrophobic with the crowd surrounding him. Casey noticed.

"Derek, are you coming, or not?" Casey had a program and his ticket in her hand. He jogged to Casey and they both went in. Their seats were fairly close to the stage, but not so much that you would have to crane your neck back to see the actors. They were sitting in the cushioned seats for about ten minutes when the lights dimmed and the pit orchestra began playing.

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A few hours and a pocket pack of Kleenex later, Casey and Derek walked into their car, their stomachs grumbling. "Let's get some food! I'm STARVING!" Derek put his hands behind his head and yawned.

"Derek, did RENT even affect you? At all? It was so emotional, so deep! And all you care about is eating!" Casey wiped her tear-stained cheek and looked at the directions she printed to get to the Hard Rock Café. Derek looked like he was going to sleep, so Casey punched his arm. He was so immature.

They parked their car on the curb in front of the Hard Rock Café and quickly went inside. Casey had to admit, she was starving too.

"Table for two, please." Casey told the girl working at the front door. The girl looked a little older then Casey and Derek, but she kept eyeing Derek. Derek winked at her and smiled. Casey felt a surge of jealousy and anger towards the girl, who had introduced herself as Kelly.

Stop it Casey! There is no reason to feel this way. Derek will never go out with her, she's too old. Wait, what am I thinking? Who cares what Derek does?

Kelly seated them in a booth and handed them menus. Casey picked out some pasta combo while Derek got his usual hamburger with lettuce and tomato. Their waiter came over, and luckily, it was a man. He looked around thirty-something years old. He took their drink and meal orders and left Casey and Derek to talk.

"So, what's on the agenda next?" Derek put his elbows on the table and leaned in, looked slightly interested.

"Well, I thought we could go to the Empire State Building. It's a nice day out, and that's the best time to go."

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They finished their lunch, which was delicious in Casey's opinion, and drove to the Empire State Building. Derek slowly got out of the car and followed Casey inside the building. Casey took out the money that they were charged to go up and led Derek to the line for the elevator. Derek looked around nervously, trying not to let his worried expression show.

"Derek, is something wrong?" Casey noticed.

"N-nothing's wrong. Why do you ask?" Derek's voice got squeaky.

"No reason…" Casey looked at him, and then led him into the crowded elevator that had just arrived. The elevator ride was extremely fast, but the whole time Derek had his fists clenched together. They reached the top and everyone piled out. Derek took one step out and refused to move.

"Derek, what is wrong? First you look all nervous, and now you won't move? You can claim nothing is wrong, but I do know you Derek. Something's bothering you." Casey folded her arms and waited for him to say something. It was almost like a staring contest, because Casey stared at Derek until he finally gave in.

"Okay, fine. I am…" Derek rolled his eyes and sighed. "Afraid of heights. There, are you happy now?" Derek turned away from Casey. He never admitted he had a weakness, to anyone. So why had he just told Casey, of all people? Casey walked over to him and put her arm around him, which surprised him.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to help you overcome your fear. Come on!" Casey walked Derek slowly over to the railing, never taking her arm off of him. She knew it was wrong to be this close to her stepbrother, but she felt bad for him. "See, this isn't that bad. Derek, what are you doing?" Derek pulled out a penny from his pocket and stuck his arm though the bars in the railing. "Derek!" Casey pushed him away from the edge and took the penny from him.

Just when I thought we were getting along, he goes and does something stupid like this.

"Come on, I want to get a souvenir." Casey went inside the small shop and picked out a t-shirt and a key chain.

"Your total is $20.50." Casey hated souvenir shops. Everything was so expensive. Casey paid the lady and headed towards the elevator. Derek was somehow already waiting there, so they both went down. Derek decided to drive back to their hotel, since Casey had driven everywhere else today. He looked at her sitting in the passenger's seat. The sun was setting and it glowed over her face. Stop looking at her like that, Derek. He thought. He tried to cover up his feelings and asked her,

"Well, day one in New York is over. What are we doing tomorrow?"