Chapter 3: Derek's POV

"Casey get in the car." I told her. Casey did as she was told as I turned to Sam.

"What do you want, Sam?"

"Her."

"Well, you can't have her." I said, pushing him away and getting in the drivers' seat.

"Derek, he's coming towards the car. Lock the door!" Casey screamed. I did as I was told and sped off home.

The ride home was utterly silent. I swear to you, I never knew that silence could be as loud as it was in the car that day well, until Casey broke all silenced thoughts.

"Derek…"

"Don't say anything, Case. You don't have to."

"I want to."

"Ok…"

"Thank you." Casey said as she kissed my cheek.

"Wh- what was that for?" I stuttered.

"Everything. You're the best step brother anyone could ever ask for."

"Even when I'm annoying you?"

"Especially when you're annoying me. You make me laugh, I thought I told you that."

"You did." I answered her as I pulled up in our driveway. "Casey?"

"Yeah, Der?"

"Could you not call me your stepbrother?"

"Sure, why?"

"Because… you know why, Case."

"No I…" Casey started before realization hit her. "Never mind. I… forgot."

"Right." I said as I stepped out of the car and towards the steps of the house.

"Derek!"

Casey's POV

"Derek!" I screamed, trying to get him to not walk away angry.

"What, Case?"

"Listen… I'm just… I… I don't know where to start, Der. I mean, oh God!"

"What are you trying to say, Casey?"

"I don't know. I mean, I know. Then, I don't… I'm just so confused right now." I admitted to him.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, ever since the day I met you there was something there that always made me want to smile. You made me want to be… happy!"

"What? Case, this isn't helping me understand."

"I… we better get inside." I said as rain started to fall.

"Not until you told me what you were going to say." Derek said stubbornly.

"DE-REK!"

"Come on, Case, why won't you tell me? I won't tell anyone."

"Oh, my God, Derek! We went from getting along and protecting one another to fighting outside in the rain!"

"Casey! You can go ahead and tell me!"

"NO, DEREK! I CAN'T!"

"WHY NOT!"

"Because…"

"BECAUSE WHY?!"

"Because I can't, Derek!"

"Why not?"

"Because, I can't say it out loud, I can't even bear myself to even admit it to me! Derek! I just can't!"

"Why not?! Just tell me!" Derek yelled, walking towards his car and me.

"I can't tell you, because I love you! And if I tell you then… I've got to go." I said as I ran from Derek and his car to my own.

"Casey!" Derek yelled as I drove off.

Derek's POV

I walked into the house after Casey ran off, only to be greeted by Nora asking too many questions for one day.

"Hey Derek, where's Casey at? Didn't she go to school with you in your car?"

"Yeah." I answered.

"Well, why didn't she come home with you?"

"She did. And then she drove off."

"Where'd she go?"

"Look, Nora, not to seem rude or anything but I just don't know. We had an argument and she took off."

"Why didn't you go after her?" Nora asked, concerned.

"Because, she would just keep on driving. And then when she would finally stop in some random area, we would get into another fight and I would end up driving off and going to some party and drive home drunk."

"Oh… well, I'm going to call her cell." Nora told me as she walked out. "And Derek?"

"Yeah?" I answered, rolling my eyes.

"Maybe next time when Casey decides not to tell you something, don't press the subject."

&&&

It had been almost four hours since Casey ran off. And now I was getting a bit worried. I kept trying to get a hold of her after she missed dinner, when a thought occurred to me…

"Emily." I said as I grabbed the phone to call her. "Come on… pick up the phone…"

"Hello?" Emily asked from the other line.

"Emily, hey, it's Derek…"

"Oh, hey Derek." Emily giggled. "What's up?"

"Have you heard from Casey?"

"Not since school let out today, why?"

"She took off when we got home and hasn't even called. Emily, I'm worried."

"Ok, where do you think she might've gone?" Emily asked dumbly.

"Uh… your house… after she was done driving around."

"Well, she hasn't stopped by here."

"Can you help me find her?" Derek asked frantically.

"Yeah, just let me get my car keys and I'll head towards the mall, she might be there."

"Alright and I'll look around… Sam's neighborhood." I said as I dreaded finding her there, if she was there.

Casey's POV

After I left Derek outside the house, I drove. I hadn't a clue where I was going, but, I just drove until I saw a party in a very familiar neighborhood.

"Casey, what the hell are you doing here?" Trevor asked. "Did you bring Emily?"

"I had another fight with Derek. And, no sorry Trevor. I came stag tonight."

"Oh, alright. Well, just have fun!" Trevor said as I walked more into the house.

"Well, well, well. I never ever thought that I would ever live to see the day that Casey McDonald would be at a party." A voice from behind me said in a mock surprise tone.

"What do you want, Der…" I started only to be surprised at who was standing behind me.

"Sam?"

"What, you didn't think that I would miss this amazing party, did you?" Sam smiled evilly.

"I should go, my mother is probably worried sick." I said as I started to run.

"I wouldn't do that, Casey."