Hey guys, hope you all had a fabulous holiday! Next chapter will be the last, unless I perchance feel like a epilogue... we shall see!

I wasn't quite sure what I was doing as I stood before the mirror in my bedroom the next evening.

Derek hadn't called, and I refused to call him.

I had spent the last two hours taking the time and care to get ready for an event I didn't know if I was planning on attending.

Avoiding any major decisions I instead looked myself over, assessing my work.

I had pulled my hair partially up, loose curls were hanging forward over one side of my chest, partially covering the top right of my dress.

My eyes dropped to again admire the gown.

I had gone with several friends who had talked me into trying on what I had said was something I wouldn't be interested in at the time. Its long champagne and purple colors were coated in fading large sequins, giving it a magical appearance of a mermaid's tail rather than a formal dress. I had fought it for nearly five minutes, holding tight to my pink chiffon before giving in. The moment I turned and caught sight of myself in it inside the dressing room though I gasped.

It was not something I would have expected, but I fell in love. It did look magical on, and I felt magical in it. The small round reflectors of light reminded me of the way the sun lit the soft ripples on the lake at my grandmother's lodge, and like the sun warming the lake, the memory warmed me as I took in my reflection.

I had started in search of something that would make me feel a fairy tale princess, and ended with some ethereal gown that made me feel grown up.

Smoothing my hands over sleek front I made up my mind right then, I would go alone. This dress was worth it.

Now if only I could locate the dark purple clutch my roommate Melissa had e-mailed me permission to borrow.

Ten minutes later I was about to give up.

Her closet was a messy pit of various left-behind items that she didn't take to England toppled all over the closet floor. I feared I would fall in and be lost forever. Just about to claim defeat my hand skimmed over something satin.

"Ah-ha!" I screamed jumping out with my sleek purple trophy held high in the air.

A door clicked in the living room and I jumped at the unexpected voice. "Casey? You okay?"

Derek.

Derek had come.

My nude colored heels became frozen to the ground. Was he really here to go to the formal with me, or was he just doing his 'brotherly' duty and checking up on me?

"Casey?" Only one way to find out.

Taking a deep breath I walked down the small hallway into the living room.

"Hey." I said, slowly looking up from the floor to take in his appearance.

What I saw put a smile on my face.

He was fitted in a dark black suit; the blazer lay over a crisp white shirt, shiny shoes on his feet. But the there were really two things that put the stupid grin on my face. The first being the tie he wore that nearly perfectly matched the purple in my dress. The second was the look on his face. Below unruly curls his eyebrows were just barely raised. Dark brown eyes staring at me in a larger fashion than normal, and the cherry on top was the way his mouth hung open like he was looking for words.

"Haven't you ever heard of a doorbell?" I asked to distract his open staring.

"If you don't want me to let myself in you should find a better hiding spot for your spare." He folded his arms and I noticed the dark purple flowers in his hand. They were my favorite, and they were also out of season by about four months.

My eyes stayed on them before curiously looking up at him. "Gladiolus? Where did you get those?"

He shrugged a bit too nonchalantly. "I picked them."

I knew the only way to get them this time of year was to order them in advance, but I was too afraid to call him on it. Heck the fact he was admitting to willingly bringing me flowers was a miracle enough.

"Thank you, they're my favorite." I held out my hand for the bouquet tied with a sheer champagne ribbon. He nearly tossed them at me mumbling something I couldn't make out.

I paused holding them to my nose, biting away the goofy grin that was fighting through. "How did you know what color my dress was?" I asked on my way into the kitchen to get a vase as he sat down on the couch.

"Melissa e-mailed me."

I thought that over as I filled the water and brought the tall flowers back out into the living room to place on the coffee table. Derek was sitting on the edge of the couch, looking uncomfortable for the first time in my apartment. Something didn't fit with what he had just said. Then it clicked. I had never mentioned to Melissa anything about the bet with Derek. In fact when I had e-mailed her last night I said I was going stag. How could she have known to contact Derek with the colors of my dress? That is unless…

"You e-mailed her and asked her what I was wearing? That's really… sweet." I could feel a blush forming on my cheeks.

He stood up making stop motions with his hand. "I think you need to get your hearing checked Case, I just said she e-mailed me!"

I laughed. "Okay, sure."

He ran a hand through his hair. "So you ready or what?"

This was really happening.

"How do I look?" I asked aloud more to myself before realizing what I had set myself up for.

"You look-" I winced, bracing myself for the insult. "Uh…"

It never came. I looked into his eyes, smiling. "Yes?"

"You look like you're ready, now let's go!"

I rolled my eyes and off we went to the Senior Formal.

ps. Casey's gown is by Sue Wong called the Ombre Sequined Mermaid Gown. I'll post a link on my profile!