A/N: Hey guys. Here's this week's chapter. Hope you like it.

Last night, when Derek left me, all I could feel was this emptiness inside, almost like there was a huge void where my stomach should be, like a feeling of darkness had settled somewhere inside me. But this morning when I woke up, I decided that it was Derek's fault for giving up. Not mine, however, deciding something is one thing and feeling something is another.

"Morning Case." Lizzie said as she came into the kitchen, quickly reaching for a banana.

"Morning Liz." I suddenly remembered what Marti told me about Edwin. I wanted to know how Lizzie felt about him. "Lizzie?"

"Yeah Casey?"

"What do you think about Edwin?" I asked placing my chins on my hands.

"He's a slob and dirty, and apparently can't handle it when I have a boyfriend and he doesn't. Girlfriend I mean. For him." She said peeling her fruit.

I smiled at her awkward speech. "I mean, how do you feel about him?"

She stopped peeling and didn't answer for a while. "I love him," and went back to her peeling. "The way you love Derek." And promptly took a bite before saying between chews. "In the step-sibling kind of way."

I stilled when she brought Derek's name into the conversation. I giggled in an 'I don't know why I do' sort of fashion. "Of course." I quickly changed the subject. "You're really becoming a Venturi, with that eating and talking bit."

She swallowed. "Am not!" and giggled.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the lovely McDonald girls," George said as he entered the kitchen. "What are you up to today?"

"I have school George." Lizzie said looking at him pointedly.

"Right, right. I knew that. I just thought, you know, you might have wanted to play hookey since Casey's back." George smiled trying to pull of his embarrassment.

Lizzie and I glanced at each other before we started bursting out with laughter.

"George," Lizzie started after she caught her breath. "How long have you known us? Do you really think I'd play hookey? I'm not that much of a Venturi."

"Hey I resent that comment." Edwin grumbled as he stumbled into the kitchen still in his pajamas.

"Edwin! We're going to be late and you aren't even dressed yet!" Lizzie screamed at him.

"Relax Liz. I don't have a first period." He yawned.

"I do Edwin, and in case you've forgotten, we have to share the car." She said as she grabbed his hand and practically dragged him to the stairs.

"Liz-."

"Now Ed. Sit in study hall or something."

"Fine, fine." Edwin gave in as he made his way upstairs.

"Five minutes Ed. I can't be late; I have to meet with Coach Parker." Lizzie screamed as she came back to the kitchen.

"Still playing soccer Liz?" I smiled and leaned onto the counter.

She looked at me like I was crazy. "Of course I still play soccer, it's my life, well a big part of my life, just like Isaac." At this she suddenly looked really down and sighed.

"What's wrong?" I asked, puzzled at her sudden mood swing.

She looked at me. "It's Isaac, well more like it's me. I mean he's a great guy and seems to really like me," she paused. "But I don't like him as much as I let on."

"Lizzie, I thought you really like him. You were so excited about him yesterday." I guess my eyes grew larger because she quickly jumped in.

"No! Don't think I'm another Derek or something, with the whole entire player issue. I mean I like him. I really do, but it's like we don't have a connection." She smiled at me sadly. "I really want it."

"I understand Liz. But I don't get why you seemed so into him yesterday."

She smiled again but happily. "Mainly I do it just to get Edwin riled up. He seems to be jealous of Isaac," she stopped talking and realized what she said. "Jealous because I make it seem like Isaac is the most important guy in my life and it used to be him."

I thought back to what Marti told me yesterday. "Just take it easy on him okay Liz?"

She shook her head. "He's so stupid sometimes. He will always be the most important guy in my life. He's my best friend."

I smiled but inside I knew that Lizzie's story was a little similar to my own, aside from the fact that Derek was not my best friend. He was the one that knew me best. He always knew what to say to either anger me or make me feel better. I guess in the long run, we did become pretty close.

"Hey, where did George go?" Lizzie asked as she glanced at her watch. "Edwi-" she started to scream before she got cut off.

"I'm right here." Edwin stated as he reached the kitchen, dressed for a day at school.

"As am I, just had to run down and rush Nora. I hope Marti's ready. We're late and somebody better wake Derek or else he's probably going to be late as well." George said as he raced out the door to start the car. Mom raced up from the basement.

"Did anyone see where I put my file folder?" Mom asked as she tried to put on her shoes and earring on at the same time.

I stood up and reached on top of the fridge. "Is it this one?" I asked.

"Yes! Thanks Casey. Marti! Are you ready?" mom screamed now running for the door, file folder in hand.

"Just a minute Nora. Be right down." Marti quickly appeared wearing a cute skirt but a very revealing top.

Mom sighed. "Marti. Top."

Marti rolled her eyes. "Fine."

"Wake Derek up while you're up there," mom shouted as she walked out the door.

"Can't, late and already down. Hey where'd she go?" Marti came back down wearing a more appropriate shirt for school. She shrugged her shoulders and grabbed her bag by the foot of the stairs. She turned to me and gave me an innocent smile. Only I knew better.

"Oh no Marti." I started.

"Please Case? He's going to be late if he doesn't wake up now. And I really have to leave before Nora and dad blow a casket."

I sighed, giving up. "Fine. I'll wake him up. Now go before you're late."

Marti smiled brilliantly and gave me a hug before dashing out the door. "Thanks Casey. You're the best."

I smiled to myself as I walked up the stairs. But it quickly vanished as soon as I got to Derek's door. If I were still the younger me, I would have just barged right in. Actually I didn't pick up that habit until I was living in this house and it was dropped after I moved out. I realized I was still standing in front of his door, arm raised, ready to knock. I quickly compromised. I knocked once and walked in without waiting for an answer.

There he was, like when we still lived together, sprawled out, lying on his stomach, his head buried somewhere underneath his pillows.

I stood over him and contemplated on how I should wake him. I was going to tap him lightly when all of a sudden I was grabbed somewhere around my waist and pulled down.

Once I flopped down on Derek's bed. I heard a supposed ferocious growl. I looked up into his face. He had this ridiculous look with teeth snarling and his eyes closed. His hair was a complete disaster and I burst out laughing. That seemed to snap him or something because he pulled back and jumped off the bed.

"You're not Marti," he said rather stupidly.

I stopped laughing and rolled my eyes. "No I'm not Marti. She left for school." I said as I propped myself on my elbows, still staring at him. I guess I looked a little too comfortable because he racked his eyes over me with an incredulous look. I cleared my throat to get his attention back to my face, though I was kind of glad that I wore my skirt and form fitting sweater. "You're late for work."

"Oh crap." Derek said as he raced for the bathroom.

I laughed yet again and sat up. I looked around his room, listening to him bustle around in the bathroom. Little has changed since we've moved out, just like my room. It's like we've never left, nothing but a wall separates us. I sighed and moved to head downstairs. Might as well get breakfast started for him to keep me from going down memory lane.

Probably fifteen minutes passed when Derek came down the stairs, hair still wet. I smiled at him, trying to avoid any awkwardness. Our encounter last night was still fresh in my memory. There was no way I could deny it; something sizzled between Derek and myself. We've hated each other for years and yet somehow, we've grown to depend on each other. Derek told me something very personal and deep to me. But I refuse to let him blame all of his suffering on me. I may have affected him when I left but he didn't know why I left, well, the real reason anyway.

I glanced up at him. "Pancakes?" I asked. "I put chocolate chips in them, just how you like it."

He smiled for some reason.

I quirked an eyebrow. "What?" I asked as I placed some breakfast on his plate.

"Remember that time, it was pretty much just like this, how you tried to make it up to me because you told Sheldon that I failed first grade?" Derek said as he shoveled a forkful into his mouth.

I laughed at that memory. "It turned out for the better, for you anyway. People didn't care. And yet somehow Emily became president."

"I still can't believe that you tricked me into running for an office that didn't exist."

We laughed together, but quickly stopped when we realized how close our faces were. During our reminiscence, we both leaned forward towards each other. Derek cleared his throat and moved back. I moved my head back as well, trying to distract myself by playing with my ponytail.

"You…you better eat fast. I think you're pretty late." I said, breaking the awkward silence.

He nodded his head. "Yeah I better be going," he got up but didn't move. "Okay, I'm gonna go," he made a motion towards the door with his head.

"Um hm. You should go."

"Okay. Well," he said as he moved towards the door.

"Okay I'll see you out." I said following. What was this? Why are we acting like we're civil to each other? By the time Derek walked out the door, I was pretty sure we had another fifteen awkward moments. I couldn't wait until everything was normal between us. I shook my head. I didn't want to thing about Derek anymore, so I busied myself cleaning the kitchen. I guess I was too distracted because I didn't even hear the door open.

"What if I were a burglar? You'd probably be locked in a closet by now." A voiced said from behind me.

I screamed and threw up the plate that I was washing. It smashed to pieces. I turned around. "Derek?! What are you doing here?" Before letting him answer I continued. "I can't believe you. Were you trying to give me a heart attack?" I sat down at the island, hands still soapy.

Derek just stood there laughing. "Case, you should have seen your face. Though I'm pretty sure Mongolia heard you okay," he continued laughing. I hardly found the situation funny.

"You didn't answer me. I though you left for work." I hoped he got my irritated vibe.

Derek still laughed but eventually settled down. "Oh Case. That was priceless." I didn't say anything. He looked at me and sighed. "You take the fun out of everything. As for why I'm here," he paused and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm late as it is, might as well take the day off."

"You're playing hookey to spend a day with me?" I raised my eyebrow. This didn't sound like Derek. Who was this guy?

"Why not? My favourite annoyee is back. Can't say I'd pass a change to catch up on all those missed years," he smiled jokingly.

I frowned. "Fine, we'll catch up, but no funny business Venturi." I washed my hands clean of the soap that was left. I turned around to look at him again. "I'm going to get changed, you can clean up that broken plate you made me drop," I cut him off before he could protest. "Don't argue with me." I started to leave but couldn't resist adding. "And 'annoyee' isn't a word Derek."

A/N: Please read and review!