Authors Note: Okay first off I would like to thank the two people who sent me reviews, it was one of the reasons chapter nine came out sooner for you guys. Also please please tell me what you think about this chapter. Now the last chapter was packed with drama as you may know and this one may seem a little slower, but I promise the drama isn't over or the Max drama in particular. If you've been paying attention in the story there out for school cause it's in December and winter break and such, but when school starts back up there will be so much more drama, but for now bare with me! Also Edwin, Lizzie, and Marti will be returning too, but I won't put them in that much because I want more Dasey time. Just to let you know with everyone out of the house their relationship is much more convenient. Important: Italicized text is usually flashbacks or dreams, but Derek or Casey will usually say what it is so no need to worry about confusion this regards to any chapters with it in it. Enjoy!

IMPORTANT: I FINALLY MADE THE TRAILER SO WATCH IT AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! LOOK UP WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? (DASEY FANFICTION TRAILER) AND MY USERNAME FOR YOUTUBE IS SHELBYLEWIS200714!

Chapter Nine

Numb

Derek's POV

I woke-up feeling my heart pounding and my uncontrollable breathing. I looked around my room it was still dark and the clock read four in the morning. I looked down at where Casey was previously locked in my arms, but she was... gone. I jumped up out of bed looking around.

"Case! Casey where are you?" I screamed running down the hallway checking every room. I stopped when I heard low whimpers in the bathroom and light creeping out from under the door. I felt my whole body overcome with relief and my heart and breathing slowly come back to a normal level. I placed my ear toward the door listening to Casey's whimpers. I knocked on the door softly turning the knob.

I looked in at the surroundings Casey was sitting on the ground holding her knees pressed up against the wall. She was crying with her head down and I noticed her hair was wet and she had a robe on. I walked over quietly bending down and reaching out lightly tapping her shoulder.

"Get away!" she screamed not realizing it was me. I jumped back and then bent down again cradling her in my arms despite her constant resistance.

"Case it's okay it's just me no one's gonna hurt you, I'm here. Okay?" I whispered softly holding her tightly in my arms. She slowly looked up to me frightened and I slipped her a small smile trying to reassure her.

She buried her face into my chest crying and holding onto me, "Don't leave me... don't leave me... please." I pulled her away from my chest turning her face up toward mine a look of confusion on spread across my face.

"Case what are you talking about? I already told you i'm not leaving, I'm right here," I whispered to her feeling her hold on to me even tighter while I tried to calm her. She looked up to me with tear filled eyes and I sighed figuring what happened, "Case did you have another nightmare?" She looked down shamefully and I took that as a yes.

I gently placed my hand under her chin bringing up her face back into my eye contact. I stroked it gently with my hand, shuttering when my fingers ran over the scratches still implanted on her face. I could kill Max for what he did to her and I would have if Casey hadn't begged me to take her home. The idea of him even touching a hair on her head made my blood boil, but what he did to her made me overcome with anger. I looked down at her wrist and back up at her trying to hide my expression of the hand prints still being there. "Case hey look at me... it was just a nightmare it wasn't real... because if it was real and when it's real I promise you from now on I'll be there protecting you from whatever it is, you got it?" I said wipping her tears gently with the back of my hand. She nodded stifling a sob.

I then tried smiling to lighten the mood and messing up her wet hair, "Now why is your hair wet at four o'clock in the morning, and if you took a shower how come I wasn't invited." She laughed stroking my face and then looking more serious.

"I don't think I should tell you. I don't want you to be angry," she said looking down. How could she think I could ever be angry with her. I lifted her face up again trying to smile despite how difficult it was, "Case i'll promise you this, I won't be angry with you now tell me." She nodded looking down again and speaking so softly I could barely hear.

"Well when I woke-up from my nightmare about... well you know... I couldn't't stop the feeling that someone... well Max... was still reaching up my... skirt... and I couldn't't stand it. So I tried taking a bath, but I can't get it to go away... because it frightened me so much... please don't be mad Derek," she said looking up to me waiting for my response breathing harshly.

I kept my face blank, but on the inside my emotions were out of control. Just the mention of that asses name made my teeth clench and my fists ball up ready to attack. I hated him so much, more hatred than I had ever felt toward anyone ever. How could he do that to her, and how could I not be there to protect her I felt so angry, so hurt, so jealous, so guilty, so sad, and so worried all at one time, I felt... overwhelmed. I forced a calming expression down at Casey, "Casey I'm not mad at you, remember that okay?"

She nodded looking up at me and I smiled once again trying to lighten the mood and cheer her up, "So just a quick question, are you wearing anything under that robe of yours? Because I'd be happy to check if you're unsure in any way, just say the word." She laughed hitting me playfully on the shoulder and starting to get up. I watched as she slipped on the wet floor and I sprang forward catching her.

"Thanks," she smiled pecking me on the cheek. I laughed holding her tightly, not wanting to ever let go then motioned down toward the robe.

"So can I choose my reward," I smiled reaching for the tie on her robe, but found her hand stopping mine and looked up to her. She was smiling and laughing and I sighed in defeat as she shook her head no, "Don't even think about it Mister."

"Fine, fine boy toy strikes out again," I said throwing up my hands and walking into her room sitting on her bed. She stopped at her door laughing at me, "What?" I smiled in a confused little expression.

"Oh nothing, my little boy toy," she smiled emphasizing the last two words and walking over to her dresser. I blushed realizing I had called myself a boy toy. Nice one Derek, I smiled to myself turning to Casey.

"Hey I blame the chick flicks you make me watch," I smiled leaning back on her bed looking up at her. She rolled her eyes leaning down toward me, "Okay one, I've only made you watch one, and two don't even try denying it you know you loved it."

I leaned up whispering in her ear, "No I love you," I then pressed my lips against hers. As we once again embraced each other in a passionate kiss. Until we broke apart for air, "You know... I swear you're giving me brain damage from loss of air," I gasped between breaths.

She laughed playfully hitting me on the shoulder and turning back grabbing some clothes she then motioned toward me, "Now turn around while I change and no peaking," she said sternly, but smiled.

I sighed, "Aw do I have to," I wined in a mocking baby voice. She raised her eyebrows and I sighed covering my eyes in defeat. I am so wiped, who would've thought. I laughed to myself attempting to peak through the cracks of my eyes. Dang it she already had her bra and underwear on! Way to live up to your rep Derek I complained to myself. I looked over at Casey threw the cracks who was putting on a peach colored tank top. She looked so perfect and I don't want to sound gay, but the color looked perfect against her skin. I looked as she grabbed a pair of floral boy shorts, but stopped before putting them on reaching down and examining her inner thighs. I tried to examine closer as she ran her hand over it moaning at a certain spot. I then gasped upon seeing large scratch marks going into her pantie line.

I jumped at, "What are those?" I yelled pointing down toward the scratches. I knew Max had been reaching up her skirt, but I didn't know he had also left scars on her there too. She looked at me shocked quickly covering them.

"It's nothing okay and I told you no peaking!" she screamed back quickly pulling on a pair of pajama pants and slamming the dressers door shut causing things to fall off the top.

I pounded my fist into the nearest wall, "Dammit Casey! It's not nothing and I wanna know if that creep left scars anywhere else instead of you trying to cover them up when they are clearly bothering you!" I screamed letting my anger get the best of me again. I watched as she jumped back at the sound of my fist hitting the wall. It did hurt badly, but I shrugged it off looking up to her.

She stepped closer to me breathing in deeply before speaking, "Look I told you about all the other ones... it's just well I knew you would be extremely mad about those and I didn't see the point in bringing it up." She spoke fastly comming closer to me waiting for my response.

I started in a low whisper growing into a loud yell, "Didn't see the point, didn't see the point!" I felt myself let out the angry laughter while pacing her room and turning to her, "I'll give you the fucking point!" I looked over to Casey my hard expression immediately going soft.

She was crying into her hands and looking up at me, "Derek please stop you're... you're scaring me," she said falling and sitting onto her bed. I looked over to her breathing in deeply before approaching her. Making sure I had all the anger hidden in my system only to be let out again when I wasn't around her. I sat down besides her on her bed slowly reaching out and wrapping my arms around her.

I whispered softly in her ear, "Case I'm sorry I yelled okay?" She looked up to me wipping away her remaining tears streaming down her cheeks. She then looked down at her scars and slowly back up at me.

"I'm sorry for not telling you... I... I... just didn't want you to get any angrier with me," she said softly and I felt confusion spread across my face. "I know you said you were'weren't angry with me, but you have to be all this anger can't be toward Max... it's too powerful to just be mad at one person," she said quickly knowing I was about to protest.

I ran my fingers through my hair looking forward and breathing in deeply before turning to her. I sighed, "Look Case, You're right okay I'm mad at someone else besides Max, but it's not you okay?" She looked at me confused and I stopped her answering her question before it was asked, "Casey I'm mad at myself, for not preventing all of this before it happened."

She smiled at me wipping away her remaining tears and leaning in, "Don't be." She then leaned forward applying her lips against mine. The kiss started out with a gentle press against the moistness of our lips, but soon turned into a hard and passionate heart warming kiss, that made my insides tingle. When we broke away I leaned my forehead against hers smiling and staring down into her beautiful eyes. "I love you," I smiled stroking her left cheek gently with my hand. I made sure to pick that one carefully so I wouldn't feel the imprinted scratches leading to anger inside of me all over again.

She smiled standing up and motioning toward the door, "I think you should go back to bed now. The last thing I need is a cranky Derek today," she laughed and I stood up beside her reaching for her hand.

"Yours or mine," I winked pulling an end of my mouth up into a half yet seductive smile. She smiled rolling her eyes and I returned it hinting in my smile I had an idea. She smiled a confused smile and raising her eyebrow, "Hey what are you smiling about miste..." I picked her up walking into my own room. She was laughing hysterically when I let her go and we both fell onto my bed.

She turned to me smiling propping up her head with her hand, "I could've walked."

I smiled turning over to her and wrapping my arms around her waist, "Yah, but my way was much more fun." I laughed laying down and pulling up the covers over both of us. She laughed lightly at me and then turning scooting closer to my side and laying her head halfway on the pillow and halfway on my chest... my bare chest that is. She must of been tired because she fell asleep almost instantly. It was a bit harder for me so I lied there for a while stroking the back of her head running my fingers through her silky brown hair falling asleep after a while.

Casey's POV

I woke-up smiling feeling safe and warm... because of Derek cradling me. I smiled opening my eyes to the glistening sunlight shining through Derek's blinds and windows. I slowly and gently lifted my head up looking over to his digital clock almost tipped over on his nightstand. "Wow it's already eleven thirty," I mumbled to myself cupping my hands over my mouth when Derek moaned and shuffled in his sleep. I watched smiling as he slowly opened his eyes first looking confused and then wipping his eyes with the back of his hand and smiling at me.

He yawned, "Uh what time is it?" he said snuggling closer to me. I smiled running my fingers through his hair pushing it out of his face, "eleven thirty." He smiled closing his eyes, "Oh good let's go back to bed." I laughed pushing him lightly on the shoulder until he opened his eyes, "Yes?" he smiled.

"Derek you can't be serious it's almost twelve," I laughed bringing his hands up near my face and lacing them together with my own. He sighed smiling, "Fine... fine we'll get up." He said pulling me up off the bed with him. We stood there smiling at each other until I heard a loud buzzing sound from my bedroom. "That's my phone," I smiled walking to his door turning around when I was realizing he was following me.

I smiled pushing him back into his doorway, "I don't need an escort to answer my phone," I smiled and laughed. He rose his hands to protest, "hey you'd be surprised..." I smiled covering his lips and motioning to his dresser, "nice try, but you get dressed and i'll answer my phone, and then i'll get dressed." I smiled walking away and running into my room flipping open the phone.

"Hello," I smiled into the phone leaning my head so I could peak across the hall into Derek's room. And no, not because I wanted to see him changing... I have my reasons. I've just misplaced them right now, but I have them... I think?

"Hey there beautiful," I recognized the voice immediately and felt my entire body go numb while my mouth dropped practically to the floor. I quickly walked away from my doorway speaking in a low and shaky whisper, "what the hell do you want!" I screamed into a whisper over the phone. His voice even scared me and the feeling of his hand reaching up my skirt and slapping across my face came rushing back to me.

I heard him laugh, that laugh that made me feel sick, on the other end of the phone, "you of course and don't sound so surprised I assume you got my texts last night?" I gulped suddenly having a flashback of last night before Derek found me in the bathroom. He didn't know what had woken me up and what had brought the feeling back to me and as far as I was concerned it was staying that way. I zoned out into the flashback...

I almost jumped up feeling the vibration comming from my skirts back pocket. I didn't wake-up Derek, thank goodness. I slowly and carefully took out my phone bringing it up to my face. It was a text and that didn't scare me so much as the number it was from, Max's cell. I gasped scared to hit the read button, but did anyway.

It read- "Had fun tonight did anyone ever tell you your're a really good kisser! Can't wait to do it again... hopefully next time we won't be interrupted."

I gasped and my heart pounded as I felt it difficult to breathe. What did he mean next time? Didn't he know he wasn't even ever going to get close to me again... or was he? I suddenly felt my stomach churn and the feeling of Max's hand reaching up my skirt come back to me. I crawled out of bed running into the bathroom. I slipped into the bathtub holding my breath under water trying to forget everything, but the feeling wouldn't go away. I felt warm tears come streaming down my face as I scrubbed over and over again with no luck what so ever. I dried off being careful when going over my scars and wrapping myself in a towel. I fell to the floor crying until they turned into a constant whimper...

I suddenly snapped out of my flashback when I heard that twisted laugh and the line go dead on the phone. I shut the phone throwing it onto the bed and starring at it still feeling the shocked expression planted on my face.

"Case you okay?" I snapped my head over toward my doorway to see Derek standing there with a questioning expression and leaning in my doorway.

I looked up at him trying to smile, "yeah i'm fine... why wouldn't I be fine?" He looked at me even weirder, but looked around the room looking for clues and then turned back to me.

"Okay... if you say so... so who was on the phone, " he said still questioning my response. I relaxed from my awkward pose turning away from him and rummaging through my dresser. Please, please, just let me be able to be a good lier just this once, I begged myself.

"Oh you know just my mom, her and your dad... will be gone today... more Christmas shopping I think she said... and taking Marti to see Santa at the mall," I managed to choke out sounding as realistic as possible. I tried to convince myself I wasn't lying because if I remembered correctly Mom and George were planning on taking the kids shopping today. I looked to Derek after selecting my outfit once again forcing a smile.

He still looked at me weirdly, but just smiled, "okay then... well go ahead and get ready and meet me downstairs in the car okay?" I smiled nodding and then walked over to my door calling down the hallway, "wait the car where are we going?"

He turned around smiling, "I don't know mall, movies, food, anywhere, but here." I nodded closing my door and sinking down by it finally breathing. Okay Casey no need to flip out you can avoid Max you don't even have school it's Christmas break. And when school starts well we'll take on that when the time comes. Should I tell Derek... no, no Casey it will only make him more upset and it's silly because this is nothing, right? Then why do I feel like this?

Derek's POV

I walked out climbing into my car and starting it up. I switched on the heater so it would be warm when Casey came out, if she ever does. I tried to shrug away any feelings that she was acting weird back there. You're just over paranoid Derek I told myself looking up to Casey who was comming toward the car. I smiled waving to her through the windshield. She just smiled climbing in, "So where to?" she asked buckling her seat belt.

"Uh I don't care where do you wanna go?" I said backing out of the driveway first checking in my rear view mirror. When she gave no response I looked over to her she was gazing out the window and her mind was clearly preoccupied with something else. What though? I cleared my throat for her attention, "you hungry?"

She snapped out of her daze jerking her head back to me, "Oh uh yeah sure... sounds good." She smiled at me, but her smile made me feel funny so I through her a questioning glance, "Case whatever is bothering you... and if it's what I think it is... don't let it okay... I promise nothing will happen to you when i'm with you okay?" I saw somewhat of relief flash over her face and her smile looked more convincing. She nodded and smiled and I felt the vibe in the car between us lighten up. I managed to get things back to normal as we pulled into the cafe's parking lot. I pulled out my keys and grabbed my phone out of my pocket turning to Casey,"hey can you go get a table I just gotta make a quick phone call to my dad and then I'll be in."

She nodded smiling and getting out of the car. I watched her until the doors to the cafe closed behind her and turned back to my phone dialing my dad's number. I listened and it rang once, then twice, then three times, then it went to voice mail.

I left a quick message while climbing out of the car, "Hey dad, I just wanted to let you guys no me and Casey are out so if you get home and were not there just call, okay bye then." I said hanging up and reaching to open the restaurants door, but was stopped when Casey ran into me.

"Whoa there Case you okay," I smiled catching her and helping her regain her balance. When I saw her face I couldn't't help, but think something was wrong by the look on her face. She was very pale and looked confused and frightened at the same time.

She spoke in a shaky voice and forced a smile, "yeah i'm fine... but you know what... i'm not very hungry anymore... lets just go," she said trying to walk past me, but I stopped her grabbing her shoulders and looking down at her.

"Hey come on you told me you were hungry just a couple minutes ago in the car lets just go inside okay," I said turning toward the door and freezing when I saw who was comming out.

I heard Casey in the background, "No Derek... let's go!" Even though she was pulling on me and I felt her yanking me back I was frozen. I felt hot, but I felt cold. I felt my blood freeze and I felt it boil. I felt my entire body go numb. I felt my fists ball up and my teeth clench. And before even thinking about what I was doing I heard myself turn to Casey, "Casey, go get in the car... now!"

Authors Note: I know how could she leave it here? I told you the drama wasn't over didn't I? hehehe! Well please, please comment and tell me what you think! Also please check out the trailer for this video made by me on youtube! Look up the title What Is Wrong With Me (Dasey Fanfiction Trailer) and my username is ShelbyLewis200714! And tell me how I did on that!