A/N: Just so you know, I have no idea where this is going yet. The characters are taking the lead... So any suggestions are welcome! Thanks for reading! Pardon the mistakes.

One day as Casey walked down one of the halls, a fight between two boys broke out. She quickly ran to intervene and found that it was Derek and one of the football jocks. She had no idea what they were fighting about and frankly didn't care. She pulled Derek and the other boy apart and exclaimed, "Stop this at once!"

"He started it," Derek shouted.

The other boy tried to lunge himself at Derek, but Casey stood in his way and said, "Stop it or I'm sending both of you to the principal's office."

Heaving furiously, the brown haired football jock just walked away.

Casey turned to Derek questioningly. "What was that about, Mister Venturi?"

"Don't worry about it, Miss Mcdonald," He said with a sigh. "I'll see you later."

Crossing her arms, Casey watched him walk away as the on-looking students scattered.

The next few hours seemed to pass at a glacier pace, but then it finally came time to tutor Derek. She smiled softly at him and greeted him as he walked in and sat down in his usual spot.

Casey just stared at him a moment before she spoke, "So, do you want to talk about what happened earlier?"

He just stood up, walked up to her and hugged her tightly. He seemed deeply disturbed about something. Casey on the other hand felt conflicted about what was happening. Should she push him away or should she let it happen?

"My parents are getting a divorce," Derek said, his voice cracking a little.

"Oh, Derek," she said and returned his embrace. "I'm so sorry…"

He pulled away wiping a tear away from his eye and sat back down. "So, what're we learning today?"

"Are you sure you're up to this?"

He nodded and grinned slightly.

The hour passed and as the two exited the classroom, Derek pointed out to her, "You called me 'Derek'."

She turned off the light and locked the door. The whole school was empty and incredibly dim lit as usual. "I did?" Casey questioned a bit dumbfounded.

"Yeah, you did," he said with smile as he walked beside her down the hall. It was quiet for a moment before he inquired, "So, I can call you 'Casey' right?"

Casey glanced over at him and said nothing. She couldn't say 'no' because she felt sorry for him, but then again she couldn't say 'yes'. "Look, I'm sorry about your parents, but…" she began.

He interrupted, "you think I could maybe get a ride home?"

"What happened to your car?" she asked as they stepped outside in to the school parking lot. She was wearing black converse, jeans, sweatshirt and blue jean jacket. She hardly looked the part of a teacher that day, but it was 'casual dress day' for all teachers. She did appear to be younger in that attire. One of the senior teachers had even mistaken her for a student.

"My dad dropped me off, my mom was supposed to pick me up," he took a look at his iphone for text messages. "She hasn't texted me back."

Casey sighed, "Alright, I'll give you a ride."

"I'll totally give you money for gas," Derek said as they made their way up to her car.

"No, don't worry about it, Der- Mister Venturi," she said, in hopes that he would get the hint.

The young man just smirked and got in to the car with her.

The car ride started off in silence with the radio playing barely audible in the background. Derek sat in the driver seat on his phone as Casey drove cautiously as usual.

"What street do you live on?" she asked him breaking the quiet.

He told her in one quick sentence.

"Isn't that neighborhood gated?" Casey tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Yeah, it is." He nodded as he tucked his phone back in to his jacket pocket.

They soon arrived at the entrance of the community which was surrounded by lovely foliage, making the place look welcoming. Derek typed in the code to the gate and they drove through.

"There's my house over there," Derek said pointing to a large house in the corner of a cul-de-sac.

Casey had to admit that the house was impressive, it had a four car garage and looked very modern and unique like the rest of the homes in the neighborhood. The front door appeared to be dark oak and almost every aspect of the house was symmetrically aligned.

She pulled the car in to the drive way and shifted in to park. "Here's where we say 'good-bye'," she said not looking over at him.

"Do you want to come in for a while?" he asked.

"Good-bye Mister Venturi," she said coldly.

"Ouch," he murmured. "Alright then, I'll see you Monday, Miss Mcdonald," and in saying that he climbed out of the car and walked in to his house quickly.

She felt kind of bad and she didn't understand why… It was difficult being in this situation. She wanted to keep things at a teacher-student level, but he was making things challenging for her. No, she would not give in to this game he was playing. She backed out of the driveway and headed home.

The next day was Saturday and Casey would take full advantage of her days off by just lying around watching chick-flicks and eating junk-food. She definitely had to work extra hard that week in the gym. While lounging on her beige suede leather couch, watching 'Dear John' on her 40 inch flat screen TV, - she was wearing her pink pajama pants and a loose white t-shirt - her doorbell rang. A visitor… Must be the neighbor or something, she thought as she headed over to the door. Her hair was up in a messy bun. She opened the door and there in front of her stood George Venturi in his usual suit and tie attire.

In sheer surprise she crossed her arms embarrassed by how she was dressed. "Mister Venturi, I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting you," she could feel her cheeks heating up.

He chuckled lightly, "It's quite alright Miss Mcdonald, may I come in for a moment?"

She nodded and seated him in her small dining room, but before she sat down she said, "I'm sorry, let me just freshen up a bit before we talk."

He nodded and she walked away in to her room, quickly changing in to something more presentable. Dark jeans and a casual button up blouse, she also combed out her hair. She put on her grey 'Toms' slip-on flats and sat across from George.

"Could I offer you some coffee, tea, maybe some water?" she asked him before he began to speak.

George shook his head replying, "No, Miss Mcdonald, it's quite alright." Pausing for a moment he began to stare at her. "I bet you're wondering why I'm here, and on one of your days off."

She clasped her hands together and gently laid them on the table directly in front of herself. "With all due respect, Mister Venturi, but yes, I am wondering why you're here. Is it in regards to your son? Are you not happy with our tutoring schedule?"

"Not at all, Miss Mcdonald," George grinned. "You can relax; I've come to ask for a favor."

Puzzled, she leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. "What more could I do? My schedule is tremendously intense and I don't have nearly enough seniority…"

George cut her off saying, "I'm sure my son has informed you of the divorce."

Taken aback she nodded.

"Well, his mother is moving to New York and I have decided to move to another part of Canada which is unfortunately outside of the school district, the counselor recommends that he does not transfer at this point in his academic career," George explained, he tapped his fingers on the dense wood of Casey's table.

Casey sighed, knowing where this conversation was going. "He doesn't have any family or friends who would let him live with them until he finishes out the school year?" she inquired almost desperately.

He sighed as if the world had been set upon his shoulders, "Unfortunately, no… I think you know where I'm going with this, Miss Mcdonald. I know it's a bit unconventional, but there is really no one else I would trust with my son."

"May I ask why you feel this way, Mister Venturi?" Casey leaned forward in anticipation.

George smiled. "Miss Mcdonald, you're more interested in the way my son performs academically, than how much I can give to the programs at the school, it's difficult to find teachers who have the courage to flunk my son simply because he didn't do the work."

Nodding hesitantly, she heaved a sigh and responded, "I will take him in."

"Excellent! I'll make sure to pay for his living expenses and have the movers come tomorrow with his things. I assume there's an extra room here," he began quickly, standing up and heading toward the door.

"Yes, my computer room, I'll clean it out," she walked over to the door with him.

"Thank you again, Miss Venturi, you are heaven sent," George kissed her cheek and walked out the door.

Blinking in confusion, she wondered what she had gotten herself in to. She cursed herself for being so dang nice, but what else could she have done? Said 'no'? She couldn't risk losing her job. Casey plopped herself back on to her couch and sighed sheepishly. Life just wouldn't stop throwing her curve balls.