Derek and Casey exchanged looks, but Casey's mouth was hanging open. "Did you catch that sarcasm?" Casey could only nod. "Do you think they'll survive whatever this is?"

Casey shook her head, "No, I don't."

There it was, the bile gliding up her esophagus, causing her to gag. She covered her left hand over her mouth and swallowed to try to keep it down. Her muscles grew limp, instead of tensing back up. She fell against his body. Her middle and index fingers on her right hand barely made contact with her temple.

"Casey?" Derek wrapped his sturdy arm around her waist, "Are you going to be okay?"

10. Surprise

Lizzie could see the way that Edwin was looking at her blonde-haired friend, Melanie, at lunch that day. She acknowledged the two were sneaking looks at each other over their menus. For some reason, though, Lizzie wasn't hurt by any of this. She wasn't sure how long that feeling would last or if she should talk to Casey about it. Either way, she knew what she should have felt. She just didn't feel it. Instead, she felt happiness. She was somehow happy that Edwin couldn't be in love with herself and happy that she could move on.

"Chris, you should have seen her face!" Cried Casey, on the phone with her best friend, Christina, relating the day's events.

"Oh," Christina sighed, "I bet she was really upset."

"Actually?" Casey returned, "She wasn't upset at all. At least, she didn't show it. She acted like there was nothing going on."

"That's strange," Christina commented as she finished the last coat of red paint on her toenails. "I hope everything goes well, sweetie, but I've got to get ready for my date."

"Okay, Chris," mumbled Casey. "Take care and have fun tonight."

"Oh, I will. Goodnight, love."

Casey heard the faint click of Christina's phone on the other line and pressed the "End" button on her own.

Derek leaned against the doorframe, "Hey, Princess, are you doing okay?"

Casey smiled at the mention of her old nickname. It amused her that once, a long time ago, it had been said to her in a tone of annoyance, how Derek usually followed it with a facial expression that said Oh-my-God-I-wish-you-would-die. Now, it was a soft tone, a tone of endearment rather than immense enmity.

"I'm doing fine," she answered, wrapping her arms around her knees. "How are-?"

"Liz kicked Edwin out of their room. Then, my parents and Nora kicked him out of the house."

Casey winced, she knew Edwin deserved even worse than that but he was still her step-brother. Besides, it wasn't like he had kissed the girl or anything as frivolous as that. There was simply a connection, and a lot of of flirting, with the girl all throughout lunch.

"I'm having a hard time believing Lizzie is so upset about that. Does he have a place to stay?"

"She didn't kick him out for that." Derek responded, "She kicked him out for trying to apologize. He's staying at Melanie's house."

Anger thrust itself at Casey, "What a friend to have! Edwin's making it worse by staying with her, that back-stabbing little b-"

"Case!" Derek interrupted, walking toward her, "Melanie was the only one who would answer the phone when he called. Besides, they didn't necesssarily do anything wrong. Sure, they were flirting and Edwin is, or was, about to get married but they weren't..." Derek let his sentence drop, realizing that there was no way to defend his brother's actions.

"It's so much bigger than that, though, Der." Casey mused as he pulled her on his lap. She looked him directy in the eyes, "Lizzie has known since she found out she was pregnant that she's not in love with Edwin."

"What are you talking about?" There was no hiding the look of surprise on his face.

Casey kissed his forehead, "First of all, Lizzie was only getting married to Ed because she thought that was what he wanted, especially after she got pregnant. Today, Edwin also realized that he doesn't love Lizzie that way."

Derek was silent, a grim expression settled on his handsome features.

"I'm not angry at Ed, not really." She sighed, "I just know that Liz is upset and I don't know what she's upset about. Edwin's just the easiest person to be angry at, for some reason." She stood up, "I'm going to talk to her."

Without anymore questions or Derek trying to stop her, Casey left the room for her sister's room.

"Hey, Liz," Casey said, opening the door and walking in. She sat on the bed, next to her sister.

Lizzie looked up from the book she was reading, set it down, and smiled, "Hey, Case."

"How are you?"

Lizzie laughed, "I'm feeling great." She wasn't lying. "Of course, I wish Ed wasn't kicked out of the house. That move was a bit unnecessary. The only reason I kicked him out of our room was because we're not together anymore. Why sleep in the same room when we know that?" She didn't wait for Casey to answer her, "Besides, I've got important news to tell him."

Not only had Casey heard the happiness set in her sister's voice, she couldn't hear one ounce of regret that it was over. "Really?" Casey took interest in Lizzie's last statement, "What's up?"

In an overly-ecstatic voice, Lizzie said, "I started my period today after lunch! I'm not pregnant! The pregnancy test was wrong!"

Casey felt her mouth fall open. She knew pregnancy tests could be wrong but it had just seemed so unlikely. She said nothing to Lizzie.

"I was surprised, too," Lizzie added hastily, "But this leaves Edwin and me to move on. He can start dating Melanie, should he wish to do that, and I can do whatever the hell I want."

Casey blinked, "I know you weren't truly in love with Edwin but it still astounds me that you're so... okay with him dating your best friend, especially after being together for so long and nearly having a kid with him."

Lizzie shrugged, "I'm not really sure how to explain it, Case. I mean... I should be bothered by this. Everything about this entire situation should upset me to the extreme. It bothers me that it doesn't bother me, you could definitely say that. It really should cause me at least some discomfort. Edwin and I are best friends, though, Case. I will always love him, mind you, but I don't think I can ever be in love with him. I was foolish to think I was for so long." She stared at her sister after her explanation. She knew that Casey would understand, in a sense. She also feared that Casey would begin to mistake her feelings for Derek as just friendship as well.

Casey, however, thought back to earlier that day. She remembered how positively sibling-like Edwin and Lizzie had acted and how Lizzie (yes, Lizzie) had teased Melanie and Edwin for liking each other. Suddenly, she wondered, Do Derek and I ever act like Ed and Liz?

Casey could feel Lizzie's eyes staring her down. "Well if you're sure you're okay..." She jumped to her feet and left the room before Lizzie could say anything else.

That's it then, thought Casey. Edwin and Lizzie are over, for good... It just doesn't seem like this story is over yet.

Author's Note: Comments, questions, concerns? Incorporate all of that into your review. I'm sorry it took so long to update but it won't for the next chapter! Oh, and I've decided that this story will have a sequel. I've already got it planned out. I won't tell you what it's about until this story is over, though. If I give anything away before-hand, it'll spoil the end of this story. Please review!

God bless!
Rose