A.n.- Hello everyone, miss me? I have the next installment of Table for one, and I have got to say I have the best reviewers in the world. This story has like 63 story alerts and it's only on like chapter 3 (well now chapter 4) I've been a bit rusty lately, but as soon as mid june hits I should crank chapters out every single week. (maybe even start and finish another story by the time school starts). There are a few sections that don't have a lot of detail, but there are flashback in the next chapters so you'll get the whole picture...if I do my job correctly. Enjoy.

The athletics hall was abuzz with hopeful jocks awaiting the posting of the lists of the first string players. Derek Venturi was among the athletes, but he was far from worried about making the list. With the deal he made with Chris, he was for sure in, even though his talent should have done it in the first place. Despite all the confidence in the world, his body went rigid when the coach walked out of his office. He didn't say a thing, but simply posted the list. Derek made his way up to the list, and true to his word, Derek was listed under the first string. He whipped out his phone and pressed the first speed dial.

Casey sat by the fountain with her textbook open studying for a test that was scheduled for early next week. She figured if she studied in little chunks it would be better than cramming. Her phone buzzed and the screen flashed Derek. The corners of her lips tugged up into a smile. She answered it almost immediately.

"What's up Der-bear." She teased.

"Tease all you want Case, you're talking to one of Queen's first string hockey players."

"Ah, congrats what did you do; pay off the coach?"

"Very funny space Case"- Derek continued on talking, but Casey stopped talking when she noticed Chris walking towards her. She didn't know whether to be nervous, this was the captain of the hockey team after all.

"I got to go Derek, bye." She hung up the phone right as Chris reached the table.

"You busy?" He offered a charming smile.

"No, not at all."

"I got to go Derek, bye." Derek looked at his phone as Casey hung up on him. Casey had never done that before, not when they were actually having a normal conversation. He put the phone back in his pocket; he needed to clear his mind, so he headed to the rink.

Casey finished the final touches on her make up as she was facing the mirror. Chris held a conversation with her earlier on whether she was attending the party tonight. It would simply be rude to turn down especially since she didn't have any classes tomorrow that she had to worry about. She was kind of nervous because she found Chris attractive, and he was into her. She was just glad that Claire was out with her new boyfriend, and therefore she wouldn't have to answer all the annoying pre date questions from her roommate. There was a knock at the door and Casey cleaned up her makeup and opened the door to find Derek Venturi there. He flashed a smile and she couldn't help but blush.

"How do I look?" She asked twirling around.

"Well once you get past all the"- She gave him a dirty look, but it didn't faze him as he simply laughed.

"You look beautiful princess." She stopped in her tracks and looked at him. He merely shrugged as if it was no big deal.

"You've never called me that before." Her voice was gentle as if he was about to take it all back.

"Don't expect it for a while; I have a reputation to keep up."

"Do you think Chris will like it?" Casey asked timidly playing with her hair. She couldn't bring herself to look at him. They never got this close before to bring up this kind of stuff.

"Case,"- His voice faded and she found herself holding her breath.

"He'll love you." He finished watching her eyes light up. His lips fell into a smile. She looked beautiful tonight, and tonight would be edged into his memory forever.

Once the two reached the party, the search was on for Chris. He was helping him out to finish his word, but after that Chris was on his own. Derek fully believed that Chris could not keep up with Casey, so their relationship wouldn't last and he would be pushed to the side like all the rest.

"Hey Derek," he heard Chris call. Derek's eyes widen when he saw that Chris already had found Casey. Something did sit well with the image of Chris's arm around Casey's waist. Chris then proceeded to take Casey to the dance floor.

After a couple songs, Casey excused herself from dancing to go and get a drink. She sat down next to Derek and thanked the heavens that he wasn't downing alcohol as hard as the last party.

"Having fun?" She asked as she saw him down another shot.

"Tons." He replied trying to focus on anything but Casey.

"Why aren't you dancing, I thought you were 'Crazy Legs'." She used her fingers to quote his nickname back in high school.

"I could dance circles around Chris," Although it sounded much like a joke, Casey knew that he was being completely serious.

"Prove it," and there it was, the challenge. Derek Venturi never turned down a challenge, so he slipped her onto the dance floor.

The atmosphere was just right the two swayed back and forth to the high beat music. Their bodies almost molded together. She turned her head towards him, and he felt her breath caress his face. Their lips were inches apart and with the way they were dancing, he was getting turned on.

"We need to talk." It came out breathlessly and he cursed silently. He couldn't be that attracted to her, it wasn't allowed. Their hands automatically laced at the fingers as he found a place that Chris would not be able to find them. The place that was relatively quieter was the side of the house.

"What's going on?" Concern was plastered all over her face.

"We need to get in a public fight." That caught her off guard.

"Why?"

"So Chris thinks we're not friends anymore," He stated plainly.

"What does Chris have to do with this, Derek what's going on?"

"Chris wants to date you."

"So what do you have to do with that?"

"I was supposed to talk about him to you, so you would agree to go out with you." He couldn't look at her. Casey caught on.

"What's in it for you?"

"Chris promised me first string and the captain position." His eyes fell to the floor.

"Derek." She was speechless. As the silence stood between the two, she became angrier.

"I should get back to the party." Her voice was flat.

"Case." He reached out to her.

"Don't touch me." She tried to get back to the party, but Derek grabbed one of her arms. Accompanied by the skin contact, there was a sharp sting on his cheek. It took a couple seconds to realize that Casey had full fledge slapped him.

"Do you ever do something that's not for yourself?"

"What?"

"When we were hanging out, was that all for kicks that you figured, hey might as well get something out of it?"

"No, Case, it's not like that!" He tried to interject.

"Then what is it like Derek, tell me." She threw her hands in the air. His silence was enough.

"You used me Derek."

"Case"- His voice was vulnerable.

"Don't talk to me." Tears rolled down her face. That was his kryptonite, tears; especially her tears. She started to walk away. He grabbed her arm in one last attempt to stop her, she merely brushed it off. He watched as Chris approached Casey.

"Casey."

"I'm sorry Chris, I got to go." He noticed the tears in her eyes. His gaze jumped to Venturi who just stood there. Derek knew at that moment that he had blown it.

A.N.- Hehe, I'm so bad. I know some of you wanted Casey to find out about the deal, which I did, just not in the way you wanted. hehe. The next chapter should be up soon, I'm juggling this summer school and two jobs, but you guys are awesome. Review please.