Come on, people. I know you can muster up more feedback than that! (:

x—x

Casey and Derek meandered with Marti in tow until it was 7:30, and they met up with the rest. The car ride wasn't silent, but Casey, Derek, and Marti all were.

As Lizzie and Edwin went on about the things they did, Casey looked out the window silently. Nora and George recounted the things they bought and what they ate. Derek looked at his feet and twiddled his thumbs. He, as well as Casey, refused to admit how creeped out their visit to Madame Rhiannon had gotten them, but it was relevant on both of their faces.

Once they got home, Derek went for the living room, sprawling himself on the couch and taking control of the remote. As she passed, Casey rolled her eyes and shook her head. What she really wanted to do was talk to him more about what had happened.

A journey. With Derek. What could that mean? The words of Madame Rhiannon ran through Casey's head.

I'm just being silly. I always take things too seriously. Casey told herself.

Casey went upstairs and changed into a tank top and sweats. She just wanted to curl up. And even though she didn't want to, she knew she would be analyzing the situation.

Journey. Jeopardy. Together.

Casey shook her head, as if to try and shake the words from her head. On her bed she tucked her feet under her, quietly thinking.

Take heed, Casey and Derek. You need to.

The words fluttered through her head, but almost seemed to fade away like smoke when Casey heard a knock at her door.

"Come in." Casey said, expecting to see Lizzie pass through the threshold, come to ask what was wrong. Since Lizzie always seemed to know when something was wrong.

I'm not going to tell her. Even she will think I'm overreacting. Casey thought to herself as the door opened.

But once it did, Casey realized that she wouldn't have to not talk about it, since the person who slipped into the room, and closed the door behind them, was Derek. He stood awkwardly at the door, not seeming to know what he was doing. Which, of course, was strange, since Derek never looked awkward, or like he was unsure.

"What do you want?" Casey asked, forgoing the greeting.

"Hey to you too." Derek said, seeming to shake off the awkwardness, and stepped farther into the room.

"Hay is for horses." Casey said. Although she was confused and not so joyful that Derek was in her room, she immediately wanted to smack her palm to her forehead. Hay is for horses? That's something my grandmother would say!

"You know, Casey, you're losing the small amount of touch you had. Your stuff just keeps getting lamer and lamer." Derek said.

"Was there a point to this oh, so friendly visit of yours, or do I have to throw something at you?" Casey folded her arms across her chest.

"Violence isn't needed, acquaintance of mine."

"Then what do you want?"

Derek faltered. Shifting his position, Casey could read that he was changing his mind in his head.

"Oh, there was nothing. I just wanted to bug you for a bit. I was bored, but I'm done now." Derek said, going for the door again.

Casey shot up and blocked the door. This was her chance.

"You feel weird about the whole Madame Rhiannon thing, don't you?"

Derek over-exaggeratedly rolled his eyes.

"Psh, no. Of course you would be, though. Miss Polly Preppy Pants, getting all worked up over nothing. What a shocker."

"What a lie." Casey said.

"What? That you're freaking out about-"

"No. That you're not freaking out over it." Casey clarified.

Derek scoffed. "Why would I be freaking out?"

"Hello! Creepy lady who knew our names even though we had never seen her before, in a tent that appeared out of no where, giving us cryptic messages about some weird journey we're supposedly going to be going on together, that will put us in danger. How is that not a freaky concept?" Casey asked, beginning to get agitated and worked up.

"You just freak out about everything." Derek concluded.

"You're such a liar. It freaked you out, and you know it!" Casey said.

"Casey, it was a stupid little carnival. The bonds you lack now will grow, and stronger than you imagine, bringing you to a place together I doubt either of you ever foresaw each other to be in. That implies that if anything were to actually happen, we would become close. That right there should prove to you that it's just some crazy lady trying to freak some teenagers out!" Derek said.

Casey paused for a moment. "How come you remembered what she said so well?"

"I-"

"You've been thinking about it, that's why. Because it's been bothering you! Just admit it. It's not like I'm going to go out and tell anyone, because it bothered me too." Casey said.

Derek looked defiantly at Casey, but after a moment his shoulders slumped and he went over to Casey's bed and sat down.

"Fine." Derek said, slightly throwing his hands in the air. "It's kind of bothering me a little bit."

"See! I told you-"

"You rub it in, and I'm leaving." Derek warned.

"You promise?" Casey asked.

"Shut up, Casey. I know you want to talk about this, or else you wouldn't have stopped me from leaving. So let's just get this over with." Derek said.

"Fine, fine." Casey said, moving to stand in front of Derek.

"What do you think it all meant?" Casey asked.

"I don't know. I'm not even sure I believe it." Derek said.

"But you said-"

"I said I don't know if I believe it. But I believe the feeling I have. And it's telling me that something is wrong." Derek finished. Casey nodded her head.

"I'm not sure what to make of what she said, but I have a bad feeling too."

Derek ran a hand through his hair. "I think we should just forget about it. I really don't want to stress over something stupid, and having to calmly talk to you just doesn't work for me."

"Basically you just don't like being civilized with me." Casey stared at Derek.

"Pretty much, yes." Derek nodded.

"You're just a jerk, Derek."

"And you're still lame, Casey."

"Get out!" Casey yelled, pointing at the door.

"It's about time." Derek sighed, getting up and heading for the door.

"Oh, and watch out Case. Who knows what kind of jeopardy we might face." Derek rolled his eyes at Casey before exiting and closing the door.

A little too late, Casey let out a scream of frustration, and threw a book at the door. Seconds later, the door opened again. George looked at the book. He was holding Derek by his shirt collar, bringing him back into the room. Nora came in behind them, arms crossed.

"You sound like a rhinoceros, you know that, don't you?" Derek said with a smirk, but George shook him slightly by his collar.

"We" George said, pointing at himself and then Nora. "Are going to fix this."

"Fix what?" Casey asked.

But Nora stepped out, and George dragged Derek back out again, and closed the door.

Casey could hear Derek through the door.

"You dragged me in there so you could say six measly words?"

Then she heard him grunt when George smacked him in the back of the head.

And for a moment, she was able to smile.

x—x

Review, loves.

-Tarryn