A/N: So firstly I apologize for any severe mistakes you may find in this chapter. I'm a bit pressed for time this week, so I'll be posting whatever I can directly after I finish writing it.

Second I have to address a good question that was posed by Dark-Supernatural-Angel about why Casey worries about her reputation with only a month left to school. In my mind Casey is Casey, and would thus freak about her reputation even if it was only a week left. To me that's just who she is, and why we all love her!

On to Chapter 9, and if I don't get another chance to post I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!"So what's all this drama about?" Derek asked with half a mouth full of pizza. I wrinkled my nose as a small bit nearly hit me from across the table.


"What drama? I haven't said a word since we got here." I said looking down to my plate to tear off a piece of crust from my uneaten slice.

"Exactly! I mean don't get me wrong, getting you to finally shut up is nothing short of a miracle."

I rolled my eyes without looking up.

"But I get the feeling you're sorta going more postal than normal in there."

I sighed, giving in. "What is wrong with you men?"

I didn't get an answer, just a strange expression staring at me when I looked up.

"I mean why do you all have to be such deceitful liars?"

"Hey now, I am never deceitful about being a liar. My lies are always straightforward."

I shook my head. "I'm not talking about you. And I hate to break this to you Lord of the Lies, but I can spot a Derek lie from a mile away."

"Yeah, you keep thinking that." He stuffed another to large bite into his mouth.

The conversation faded into silence when I didn't respond.

After a minute Derek was done his pizza, I had eaten a few overly greased pieces and he looked up at me catching my eye. "For what it's worth, not all guys are like that. I know you don't hold me in the highest esteem, but I've never done what Shawn did, and I never would."

I stopped breathing and he started coughing. "I uh- don't mean to you specifically… I uh- mean in dating in uh- general, you know?"

Was Derek really stuttering? I would have mocked him about it, but I could barely find the air to breathe let alone speak.

He continued on. "Okaaay well you look alright to me, you're alright right? I'm gonna uh- go to class."

He stood from the table looking flustered and embarrassed; I didn't realize Derek did embarrassed.

My voice came back to me. "Your last class was two hours ago."

He laughed nervously. "Did I say class? I meant the gym, gotta go work off that pizza. See ya tomorrow loser!"

Before I could say another word he had bolted from the restaurant, leaving me behind in the booth a confused grin on my face. What had that been about?

I laughed a bit thinking of the anxious expression on his face as he had practically run away. Then I looked down on the table and saw he had stuck me with the bill, wiping the grin off my face.

On my walk home my mind had completely pushed aside the events earlier on the quad and all the stressful thoughts that had come along with them.

In their place was the strange dinner with Derek at the pizza parlor. I had wanted to ask why he had been avoiding me, but he left before I had the chance. It was probably for the better since he may have wanted to know the same, and I couldn't possibly share that information.

I was replaying the way he had reacted when my mind paused on the last thing he had said. He said he would see me tomorrow. Did he still intend on going through with his end of the bet? Even after I had told him he didn't need to? I wondered if maybe he had been in such a stupor that he had forgotten. My heart sped up and sunk all at once. Should I tell him again?

I was pondering this when I overheard a familiar giggle.

Looking up from my contemplation I saw Angela across the street at an outdoor cafe. There was a boy leaned in whispering in her ear, causing her giggle to grow louder. I couldn't make the boy out aside from his dark brown hair buried into her neck.

My heart stopped for a millisecond until his face became clear and I knew it wasn't Derek. In fact it was a boy I had never seen before in my life.

Before I could sneak away unseen she spotted me.

"Hey Casey!" She called, waving me over while whispering something into the ear of the boy next to her.

Reluctantly I crossed the street.

"Hey Angela, how's it going?" I asked smiling politely at the handsome boy sitting beside her as well.

"Awesome actually. Casey this is my new boyfriend Brandon. Brandon this is my friend Casey."

I tried my best to hide the shock of meeting her fast found new boyfriend and at being called her 'friend', when did that happen?

"Nice to meet you Brandon."

"You too Casey. Now if you'd excuse me ladies, but I've got to run to the little boys room." He leaned in and kissed Angela's cheek.

Angela pulled me down to sit in the chair beside her as soon as he left. "Hey I wanted to say thank you. Derek told me you talked to him."

I swallowed not sure I wanted to hear anymore. "Did he?"

"Yeah, though I'm glad he took till yesterday to call. If he had asked me earlier I would have never said yes to Brandon, and I am so glad I said yes to him. He is amazing!" She beamed, and I liked her a bit more. Maybe it was just her interest in Derek that had turned me away from her.

"So Derek asked you?" The words slipped, I swear.

She smiled, shaking her head. "He called to apologize for blowing me off, was quite sweet. He might have asked me if I didn't come right out and tell him about Brandon, I'm not sure."

"Wait, he called to apologize? Are you sure you talked to Derek?"

"Positive, he's a really good guy, but he's no Brandon." On cue the dark haired boy walked up behind us.

"You just can't stop talking about me huh?" She laughed and I stood from the table.

"Okay, I've got to get going."

"Will I see you at the formal tomorrow?" Angela asked with a smile on her face that actually appeared genuine as though she was just realizing she liked me as well.

I shrugged. "I'm not sure yet."

"Well I hope so." She smiled a bit bigger as Brandon's arm slid around her shoulders.

I waved goodbye, amazed how quickly my judgment on Angela had just changed.