Casey moped around for the rest of the weekend, collecting his things and putting them in a sad cardboard box for him to pick up later, feeling overall like an awful human. But Izzie made everything a little better. She made Casey come to Chuckee Cheese to hang out with siblings at some point, and Casey forgot how much she loved being serenaded by mechanical robots clad in fluorescent fur.

During the last week of school, Casey and Izzie acted as they always did before the rift. They had a run, met up for lunch. They walked the halls together, went to practice. Got competitive, and made fun of each other. Nate's absence only proved to be a bonus. Ever since Izzie broke up with him, he watched them for a distance like Clayton's own version of Edward Cullen. He sulked around the corners of their lockers, glaring with envy at Casey every time she went there to wait for Izzie, but he never dared interact with them. He knew that he was in the wrong.

"I knew you two would fall in love." Nate's words rang in the back of her head whenever she noticed him staring.

How did I not see it before?

Casey started to see how Izzie had always treated her with more care than Nate…and Nate was her boyfriend. She had to wonder when Izzie began to have feelings for her. That first time they connected, Izzie went so far to steal booze from her friend's locker.

Well, Izzie was always a little out there. And that was what Casey had loved so much about her. She was so full of vitality.

The only difference to their dynamic now was that when they were alone, they would be the slightest degree more touchy- knowing looks lingering just the slightest bit longer. Behind locked doors and under tables, they would have stolen kisses and hold hands. Izzie was sleeping over so much that her dad had made a joked, "Izzie staying over so much we should just move her in!"

Casey had neglected to tell her folks about her new relationship, nor to update him on her previous one. Elsa obviously knew what was happening, but made a promise to Casey not to say anything. It was step one to getting her daughter to trust her again.

Everyone had full-blown senioritis even though the seniors were gone from the hallways. The rising juniors were already starting to act like they owned the school while everyone slowly started to wear their uniforms looser and looser. Casey and Izzie were no exception. They would still go to class, but would spend the entire lesson passing notes and making fun of the teachers. Not that this was an issue - all the teachers were playing movies since there wasn't much point in teaching anything before the summer holidays. It seemed the year was to end without any drama. Until, that is, the last day of school.

After her final class, Casey went by to Izzie's locker and found none other than Nate there, waiting.

"What the hell do you want?"

"Is it true?"

"What?"

"Don't play dumb, Casey. You know what I'm talking about."

"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about, and even if I did, I don't think I'd tell you."

"Just tell me. Does Izzie have a new boyfriend?"

Casey had to pause.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Izzie. Is she seeing someone else now? Someone said they saw her with a new guy." He looked desperate.

"Wait. Who said that?"

"Someone from the track team said they saw her the other night, holding hands with someone."

Fuck. Someone knew. Or did they? Thank the god for hoodies.

"Come on, you're her best friend. You have to know."

"I don't have to tell you anything, Nate. You're a jerk and you almost ruined our friendship."

If only he knew. Technically, he was the reason why they were together now.

"So it's true then!"

"I literally didn't give you an answer." She was already exasperated with his pathetic attempts to grasp at straws. She almost cracked a smile at how absurd the situation was. How much she wanted to blurt out-

It's me! I'm the new boyfriend. You were right. We fell in love. It took you being a shitty boyfriend for her to figure it she wanted to be with me.

"Just fuck off Nate." He glared menacingly.

"I'm gonna figure it out. And when I do..."

"What? What are you gonna do? Become a creepy stalker? Yeah, cuz that's definitely the way to a girl's heart. Kiss her best friend and then lie about it, and then stalk her when she she breaks up with you. Just knock it off dude. Have some fucking self-respect. If not for you, then for Izzie. If you really liked her in the first place." At that point, the halls were starting to fill with celebrating students, and Nate could only silently seethe. He knew she was right, but that didn't stop him from storming off. A small panic set off in Casey's head. Not long after, Izzie appeared.

"Hey you", she said sweetly into Casey's ear as she went in for a hug.

"I am so glad that school is done." Casey awkwardly patted her on the back, then went to hold her on each shoulder.

"We have to talk." The urgent tone in Casey's voice made Izzie's eyes narrow.

"What's up Newton?" She started to put her books in her locker and gather her things.

In a hushed voice, Casey looked around to see if anyone was in earshot.

"Someone saw us."

"Saw us what?" Izzie didn't seem to understand the magnitude of the statement.

"Apparently someone from the track team saw us holding hands the other night. They thought you have a new boyfriend and now everyone knows and Nate just basically attacked me with questions about if it was true."

Izzie slammed her locker shut.

"Are you for real?"

"Yes, but they don't know it was me. They just think that you have a new boyfriend."

She smirked as she finished gathering her things.

"Wanna go to the pizza place near yours?"