Disclaimer: Ya know I'm putting the disclaimer on JUST the first chapters/prologues of my stories now. Cuz this is annoying. We already KNOW! haha

Chapter 4-It Has to be For Real

To be totally honest Derek couldn't really say he was just in love with Casey. He was full fledged head over heels wanting her every second consumed his thoughts over the moon and through the woods in love with her, for sure. He couldn't stop thinking about her. The way she smiled, smelled. The way her eyes sparkled when she smiled or anything for that mattered. She was just the most amazing thing in general. He was just...in love. His best friend Sam could see it, the bad thing was he was beginning to feel it for Casey too, but how could you not? She was...the most amazing thing.

"God...she's perfect..." Derek sighed into his cereal as Casey entered the kitchen her hair poofed, wearing a turquoise tank top over a black t-shirt and just plain tight jeans. He almost gagged on his cereal from lack of air for not breathing. Looking over she caught his eye, smiled and winked before returning to her task of rummaging around in the fridge. Derek swallowed the lump of cereal in his throat and stared into the bowl, spelling LOVE U with what was left of his alphabits.

Casey smiled behind the refrigerator door. It'd been three months since they'd been moved into the same house. they hadn't had sex but they were in love, very deeply. The had no issues showing their affection around the house, but they kept it to a minimum when Nora was around. Nora had made it clear to her daughter that it wasn't right that her daughter had found what she had before Nora herself found it. Sure she loved George, but she wanted that pure teenage love that lasted forever, what Derek and casey had. She was extremely jealous and had treated Casey differently ever since that first night.

But none of this truly affected Casey. Today was not only her birthday but she had Derek to share it with. She couldn't be happier. Reaching for her cream cheese that was her favorite she noticed a note taped to the top.

Happy Birthday Beautiful

B-day celebration today...meet me in our spot ;)

A smile danced even wider across Casey's lips as she ripped the note of the cream cheese and ran to the backyard, headed for the tree that had been there's for three months. The tree was a willow with large branches blocking view from the house, next a closed door room it was perfect. There stood Derek, a red rose held in one hand, in the other hand was a small box. The kind jewelry comes in. But from the look on his face, a smile so big it needed its own zip code, she knew it wasn't jewelry. Running to his arms she threw them around his neck and kissed him.

"Happy birthday," He whispered.

Opening the box she pulled out a small ring that was placed on top of...