A/N: To my wonderful readers, I'm so sorry it takes so long for me to update. Balancing college and working has been a new challenge for me, and as such my writing has suffered. I haven't forgotten about my story or you. Thank you for being patient. 3

Casey woke up the next morning, last night's scenes playing in her mind. Remembering the feel of Derek's lips pressed against hers sent chills down her spine. How could she know that someone she's supposed to hate… could cause such excitement? The thrill of doing something so forbidden gave her an adrenalin rush that normally only dance or acting could give her.

Realizing she was the only one up in their little camp site, Casey quietly excited the tent and went over to Edwin and Derek's. Knowing which side was Derek's, she tapped the side of the tent. When there was no answer she hissed a "Derek, wake up!" through the cracked tent window. With no avail, and not wanting to risk waking anyone else up, Casey gave up. She went back to her tent and changed into her jogging clothes. It took her a few minutes of digging in her bag to find her MP3 player, but after she found it she put on her tennis shoes and slipped back out of the tent again. After a quick stretch and warm up, Casey turned it on with Taylor Swift's "The Story of Us" blaring into her headphones.

With that Casey took off. She didn't know how long she'd run, she had so many thoughts to sort through. Her and Derek, if they should keep it hidden or tell someone, how her family would react if they ever found out. If they did find out, would he just laugh it off and say he was messing with her? Would his pride, or worse, her pride, get in the way and ruin things? Would it turn into a big mess that she couldn't fix and tear the family apart?

~B~R~I~N~G~M~E~D~O~W~N~

The rest of the family woke up while Casey was still on her jog. Nora, confused, asked if anyone had seen Casey. No one could recall seeing Casey leave. Nora ran her hands over her stomach, "She probably just went on a jog." With that, Nora nodded to herself and asked George if he could help with making some breakfast. Realizing that hid dad and Nora would be busy for a while, he took that as his cue to sneak off and find Casey.

He found her at the spot they were the night before, her feet ankle deep in the water. She was staring out over the lake, a contemplative look on her face. Derek watched her for a moment then grinned. She had her MP3 player on so she wouldn't hear him. Quietly he snuck up behind her, and slipped his arms around her waist pulling him close and laid a kiss on her neck. He chuckled as her eyes went wide and she turned around to slap whoever the intruder was, and then she realized who it was. Her eyes narrowed and she let out a hushed "Der-ek!"

Derek chuckled and planted another kiss on her neck. A blush crept up from her neck, and Derek could swear that if it had been darker, she would be glowing. "Scared, Princess?" Casey just rolled her eyes and started walking away. Derek, grabbed her hand and gently pulled her back and wrapped his arms around her waist again. "You know, you look kind of cute all sweaty and everything."

Casey smirked. "It's called exercise. You might learn to do it sometime." With that she gave him a chaste kiss before working her way back towards camp. Derek stood there, about to protest how hockey was all the exercise he'd ever need, but realized that Casey wasn't even close enough to hear his protests. He followed her, muttering about it to himself.

*W*I*T*H*D*E*A*D*F*L*O*W*E*R*S*

Casey trudged into camp with Derek shortly behind her. She went up and kissed her mom good morning then collapsed onto her chair. "The jog this morning was absolutely breath taking. Lizzie, maybe you should get up early and come with me tomorrow." The look Lizzie gave her was an obvious no.

"Don't get me wrong, I love jogging, and I think it's a great idea. But, its summer vacation, we don't know the area very well and frankly I don't want to get into something I shouldn't." She leaned over and whispered into his ear. "Or run into something we don't want to see. I bet Casey and Derek will be together by the end of this vacation."

Edwin smirked. "You're on." Marti, being Marti declared they were already together so she already wins the bet. Edwin just shook his head. "You're imagining things again, Marti. They still think they hate each other." With that Edwin piled pancakes onto his plate, drowned them in butter and syrup and ate by the small fire they had going.

Lizzie and Casey both gave him a disgusted look before grabbing two pancakes each, with minimal butter and syrup. Marti thought it was funny and just laughed happily before asking Smerek to help her get her pancakes, and wanted them just as syrupy as Edwin's. "But no butter, that's gross." Marti said in her most grown-up voice. It didn't take long for Marti to get syrup all over her face. Nora grabbed a baby wipe and cleaned off her face once Marti was done eating and helped her clean the syrup off her hands. Thankfully none spilt onto her clothes.

Derek watched quietly, which surprised the family. George snuck curious glances at his son. Derek was starting to think that Casey was having second thoughts. She barely responded to any of his teasing or kisses this morning, nothing like last night. Maybe she was pretending to be sort of like Cinderella? The perfect daughter by day and the sneaky loving Casey by night? Derek rolled his eyes; it would be just like her to do that. He knew that they agreed no one found out, but what was the harm when they weren't anywhere near the probing gazes of their families? Derek munched on his pancakes absently; he was coming up with a plan so they could be together during the day as long as no one was around. Even Derek had to admit this sneaking around thing was hot.

Once everyone was done eating, he asked who wanted to go to the lake and go boating. Nora opted out and the younger three readily agreed. It was only a little after 9, lunch wouldn't be until one. Derek grinned. "I think I'll stay behind and go scoping for some hot babes. Maybe Casey should come with me; it wouldn't kill her to have a summer fling."

Casey narrowed her eyes at him. "I do not have summer flings. I happen to enjoy meaningful relationships, Derek." The look Derek shot her shut her up though. "But on second thought… maybe I should go with him. I have to make sure he doesn't get with some tramp that could ruin his entire future!"

Nora and George gave each other uneasy glances. "You two don't exactly get along… but if you two insist…"

Casey nodded. "We'll be going off to college together really soon, so it's good for us to spend some time together. Who knows? We might become… friends." Derek smirked at that. They were already a little more than friends, but no one needed to know. George and Nora finally agreed and Casey changed into the swim suit she wore the day before, but also slipped on some loose sweats that barely hugged her hip bones. They both had sandals on and Derek subtly checked her out. "Well, are you ready?" Casey shrugged and they both headed off. George was already getting the younger three prepared for the boat and Nora was lying down. Being pregnant was definitely taking its toll on her.

Once the two got a respectable distance away from camp and where the boat was, Derek slipped his hand into hers. She started walking a little closer to him. To the average person, they looked like two teenagers completely smitten with each other. Neither would admit it, but it was true. They both had fallen hard for the other and there was no slowing it down. When they got into the more populated areas of the lake, Casey couldn't help notice all the girls checking out Derek.

One girl skipped up wearing a red string bikini. In Casey's opinion it could barely even be called a bikini, it left nothing to the imagination. She stood in front of them and glared at Casey before turning to bat her eyelashes at Derek. She was tall, thin and had bleach-blond hair that was obviously fake, and her skin was too tan to be natural. In a very bubbly voice she introduced herself. "Hey, I'm Gina. I haven't seen you around, so you must have just gotten here. I'm like totally having a huge party tonight at my campsite and a hot guy like you is always welcome." Gina glanced at their intertwined hands then looked back at him with a flirty smile. "I'm at campsite 23. What's your name anyway, cutie?"

Casey's faced burned with embarrassment. This girl was everything Derek liked and Casey couldn't even begin to compare to her. Derek could sense her discomfort and smirked at the girl in front of them. "Well, I'm Derek. This here next to me is my girlfriend, Casey. We're on vacation together, so I don't think I'll be going to your little party. Thanks anyway, I guess." Casey beamed at him and when they were a few feet away, Casey kissed him.

"That was the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me…" Casey couldn't stop smiling. It helped that Gina was standing there gaping after them. "I guess she's never been told no before."

Derek shrugged. "There's a first time for everything. Besides, you are my girlfriend, even if it's a secret." Derek smirked. "Now how about we get in that water." Before Casey could protest she was being carried by a running Derek into the water. The next thing she knew she and Derek were in the water. They splashed each other, tried to dunk the other under water and stole the sweetest of kisses. Even if it was only for a little while, they could be free to be together without anyone knowing anything about them.