Hello once again my FF friends! You have NO idea how bad I have been suffering from writer's block. It's been driving me CRAZY! But I am starting to recover and this is the result of my recovery. Lol. I didn't get the 5 reviews I asked for but that's ok. I decided to update anyways. I hope you guys like and PLEASE review. I don't need much just tell me what you liked about the chapter and say "update soon!" haha.

Spoiler Alert: I don't own ANYTHING! I can hear the shock in your voices. I can't believe it either. -sarcasm-

10. Chapter 9

Derek carefully guided Casey around the castle grounds just like he had promised.

As they walked together he told her funny little stories about each places, but of course leaving her out of them. He told her it was the other girl he was talking about.

This confused Casey though. "Derek, can I ask you something?" Casey said turning to Derek. He nodded a yes so she continued. "I was wondering, if I spent all my summers here with you and your mother how come you haven't told me any stories about me?"

This was a question Derek wasn't expecting. He also was unsure of what to say shown by his silent.

Realizing she had caught him off guard Casey said, "I was just wondering about myself. Like what is my favorite thing to do? It might help me remember."

This seemed to make a lot of sense to Derek. He thought for a short moment and smile spread across his face. He knew the answer to her question.

Derek's smile had grown even bigger when he turned to Casey and said, "Ah, that's an easy question. You love to read more than anything. You read whenever you can. Here." He took her by the hand and led her back to the castle and up to a room which Casey didn't ever remember seeing before.

"This was your favorite place in whole world." Derek opened the door and reviled a room filled from floor to ceiling of books; they were ever where.

She watched as Derek made his way quickly to a table gabbed a book off of it and returned at the same pace.

When he reached Casey he held out the book to her.

"Here, this is your favorite book. I know you've read at least ten times maybe even more."

Casey looked at it curiously. It was a dark green color with gold lettering. It read: True Love.

"This looks familiar." Casey said in a quiet concentrated voice. Derek couldn't help but feel a surge of hope go through his entire body at her words.

He watched as she clutched to herself and walked over to a chair at the far end of the room.

As Casey began reading; the words filled her head. They brought a wonderfully worm and familiar feeling. Though she still couldn't remember anything she was starting to feel like home.

As Derek watched her read it all felt like before. She was in her spot reading her favorite book in her favorite place in the world. He had his Casey back for a moment, but it was only a moment so he decided it was best to leave and let her be.

Casey looked up from her book in what may have been hours later, Casey wasn't sure. Realizing she was hungry she walked out of the room with all the books.

In the hall she realized that she had no idea where the kitchen was. That's when she saw a man coming toward her.

"Princess Casey, are you lost?" The man asked Casey. She nodded and said, "Yes. I was looking for the kitchen where might I find it?"

"Well, actually queen Abby sent me to come and find you because dinner is served."

"Oh ok." Casey said and this unknown man led her to the dining room.

"Oh Casey, there you are." Queen Abby said as Casey approached the long table that she was sitting at.

Casey smiled and looked at the others at the table. Derek and a guy Casey didn't know on one side of the long table and queen Abby was sitting at the head.

The man that had found Casey and brought her here led her to her seat. He pulled out her chair and Casey nodded in thanks.

The man then turned to queen Abby, "Is there anything else you'll be needing?"

"No thank you Edwin. That will be all." He smiled and nodded respectfully and left.

Abby then turned to Casey saying, "I hope you're hungry dear. We're having all of your favorites."

As Abby finished her sentience men and women dressed in black and white came into the room, from where Casey didn't know. Some of them carried covered trays while others pushed carts of the same.

Dinner went by slowly for Casey and Derek. Queen Abby introduced the young man sitting next to Derek. She said his name was Ralph and Casey nodded and smiled briefly. She had remember him from a few of Derek's stories from earlier that day.

Derek was sitting directly across from Casey. He tried his hardest not star at her but he couldn't help it. It felt like old times. When life wasn't crazy and they 'hated' each other and everything was as it should be. Though Derek knew in his heart it wasn't the same.

She had no idea what she meant to any of them, let alone him or even how much they meant to her. His heart ached knowing that this must be tearing her up inside.

Casey was staring at her plate of food trying to remember what it all was. Though she failed and decided just eat it and see if she really liked it.

As the food was about to reach her mouth she slowly closed her eyes and breathed a deep sigh. Then she opened her mouth placed the food in her month.

It again felt like home. The flavors and textures over took her and all she could do was say, "Mmm." out of pure enjoyment.

When she opened her eyes she saw Derek with a smirk on his face watching her. She didn't know why but she really wanted to either slap that smirk of his face or kiss it off.

In her indecisiveness she gritted her teeth and went back to eating.

After everyone was done eating Abby invited them all to sit in the study and talk for awhile. But feeling a bit overwhelmed and wanting a little time for herself Casey declined and said she was tired.

This worried Derek somewhat and he offered to walk Casey back to her room.

"That would be nice. Thank you." She said in a soft and sweet voice giving him a brief smile.

Derek walked over to Casey and opened the door for her. She stepped through and waited for him to follow.

He closed the door behind them and she took his arm.

"Thank you again. This is really nice of you Derek."

"There's nothing I'd rather do." He said instantly regretting it and chastised himself for.

'What were you thinking? How could you say that? First off it was lame, second it was the total wrong thing to say and third you can't slip up like that!'

Casey blinked her eyes in slight shock at Derek's response, but after a moment she smiled and they continued in silents. That is until they reached Casey's door.

Once there, Casey who had been walking aside Derek now stood in front of him.

There was a slight awkwardness between the two but that lasted only a moment before Derek broke it.

"Well, I guess good night." He said this with a hint of sadness in his voice. Like he was afraid when he woke up she wouldn't be there.

Casey, also a little saddened at Derek's previous statement said, "Yeah, good night." She slowly turned to her door and slightly then paused. All at once she turned around threw her arms around Derek's neck. He was initially surprised at her actions, but recovered almost immediately and returned it with such need. He had dream longed for her touch for so long. It was like his world was finally complete.

This only lasted a few seconds when Casey ended it by pulling away. Derek reluctantly released her and sighed once again.

"What was that for?" Derek said trying to be as nice he could and not off putting.

Casey who had been staring at her shoes looked up and said, "Well, you've been so nice to me today and I just wanted to thank you."

Derek smiled from pure joy at this and said, "Oh, well you're welcome."

Casey returned his smile and nodded then opened her door as before and disappeared inside.

Derek couldn't help but smile like crazy as he turned on his heal and walked back the study where his mother and best friend where waiting.

One the other side of the door a young woman was leaning against a large oak door with both her hands clutched together over her chest; she deeply out of true elation.

Then something occurred to her. 'I think I'm falling for Derek, but I can't fall for him. He loves someone else. Oh no I can't believe this is happening. I'm falling for someone who will never love back. This is horrible.'

As she walked over to her to her wardrobe she put her head in her hands, while shedding a few tears.

She changed cloths and looked in the mirror. Her hair was a mess and she wanted to fix it so she started looking through drawer for a brush or something.

She had gone through a few drawers before coming across something that caught her eye. It was a dark brown book Casey's name of the front of it in beautiful gold lettering.

In her curiosity she picked up the book. She wanted to read it but wasn't sure if she should. Then she realized if it had her name on it she should be allowed to read it.

She walked over to her bed and climbed in with the book in hand. In this book there was a bright crimson book mark. She decided to read the page that was marked.

Why is father making me come here? I mean its bad enough I have to see him in the summer now Christmas too? I guess it's a last minute effort to get us to fall in love, but the problem is I already have he hasn't.

I love him so much it hurts to look at him. I know I'm not the prettiest girl in the world but I love him. Why doesn't he feel the same way? I want to tell him how I feel but I don't want to get hurt. I know if I did he'd laugh in my face. I haven't told anyone who I feel about him. I wish I could but I know it'll get back my father then queen Abby and then Derek.

I still can't believe after all these years of our parents trying force us together has finally worked well at least on me. But now that I think about it not really it was just spending time with him. I mean seeing him at Christmas time is so much more different then the summer. He nicer and actually talks to me like a person and not like a leper.

This completely confused Casey. What was this talking about this couldn't be true could it?

She wanted to understand what was going on so she turned the page to the beginning. And for the rest of the night she read; it was page after page very similar to what she had first read.

It was well into the night when she was finished. She placed to book on the nightstand next to her bed and blew out her candle.

'Is it really true? Am I the girl Derek had been talking about? And if so, why did he lie to me?'

These questions haunted Casey as sleep over took her.

Well, that's all for the chapter. PLEASE review and keep reading. I hoped you liked it. =)