As always, thanks sooo much for the reviews and comments!! I didn't think the story was even that great... but I guess I was wrong. Haha. Here is the next chapter, even though I'm not done 11 yet... but don't worry I'm trying. Enjoy. Oh and lol. I'm glad you loved the part with Jim-Bob and Billy-Sue. I had fun writing that because it's so something Casey would say. Haha.

Chapter 10

Screw The World

Casey opened her eyes to the morning sun shining through her window and turned to look at her clock. 9AM. She knew she was not going to be able to fall back asleep, so she sat up and pulled the covers off. She realized she had fallen asleep without changing her clothes, brushing her teeth, or washing her face. Yuck, I feel so gross.

As she got up from her bed, the feeling and the image of Derek's lips on hers instantly flashed in her mind. Casey groaned. Please, please, please tell me that was just a dream... She pushed the thought aside and opened her dresser drawers to pull out her clothes for the day. A black skirt and a magenta sweater. She'd decided that she'd shower now, get dressed, etc and then go over to Emily's. I have to get out of this house.

Casey had managed to slip into the bathroom without any kind of encounter with Derek. She knew the events that kept replaying over and over in her mind hadn't been a dream but she still preferred to think that they were. Just so she didn't have to admit what she had admitted to herself last night. I do not like Derek. She kept repeating to herself, even though she knew she was lying.

Once Casey had finished getting ready, she opened the door slowly and peeked outside to make sure nobody was there, more so that Derek wasn't there. And just as she stepped out and began walking towards the stairs, Derek opened his bedroom door and walked right into her.

"Whoa, Spacey, watch where you're walking." He snapped, not moving away from her.

"Who was the one that walked into whom?" She snapped back but didn't move either.

"What were you doing outside of my door anyways?" He asked with a cocky smirk.

"For your information, I was on my way downstairs and to get to the stairs I have to pass by your door."

"You sure you weren't just waiting for me to wake up?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Because you wanted to apologize for treating me the way you did yesterday."

"Who says?"

"I do," he smiled as he pushed a stray hair from her face, "And I know just how you can do it too." He grinned as he licked his lips.

The butterflies were back as Casey stared into his eyes. She wanted so badly to take his invitation and kiss him right then and there but she knew she couldn't, especially since they were right in the middle of the hallway. Any one of our siblings could walk out and see us... I can't let that happen. Casey finally got up enough courage and took a step away from him, "I do not need to apologize for something that I am not sorry for." She said as she turned and quickly made her way down the stairs.

I can't believe him! He was acting like nothing happened! Like me yelling at him and slamming the door in his face was no big deal! And he actually tried to kiss me again! I wanted to kiss him so badly but it was too risky. This whole thing is too risky! I have to get out of here.

Casey left a note on the counter for her mother telling her that she'd gone out and would be back later, and then she grabbed her coat and went out the door.

Casey decided it was probably still too early to go knocking on her best friend's door, so she jogged around the block a couple of times first. Now as she stood on Emily's front porch staring at the door, she wondered what exactly she would say to her. I can't tell her what happened yesterday... she would be way too weirded out and never want to speak to me again... But knowing Emily, she'll be able to tell that something is wrong with me the moment she opens that door... Casey sighed and decided to take her chances anyway as she slowly knocked.

"Casey? This is a surprise." Emily said as she opened the door.

"You don't want me here?"

"No, it's just that you usually call first before coming over that's all."

"Yeah, I forgot, sorry."

"No worries. Come on in." Emily said with a smile and she opened the door wider to let Casey in.

Casey took off her coat and shoes and followed Emily into the kitchen.

"I was actually thinking of calling you today anyway. My parents took my brother out shopping for his birthday and won't be back for a while, so I was going to be extremely bored." Emily said as she opened her refrigerator and pulled out a carton of orange peach mango juice. "Want some?"

Casey shook her head, "Not right now, thanks."

Emily shrugged, "Suit yourself but this stuff is great." She poured herself a glass and then put it back in the fridge as she took a sip and let out that refreshed drink sigh.

Casey stared at the floor and of course let her mind wander to a place she had tried to forbid it from. Should I really have lied to him like that? It's obvious that he likes me back... Maybe I should just confess my feelings and get it over with... But what if this is all just another one of his stupid pranks and he's only doing this to trick me...? But why would he do that? I don't know! He could use it for blackmail or something...

"Casey?" Casey looked up to see Emily staring at her with a puzzled expression on her face. "Did you hear me?"

"Huh?"

"I asked you if you knew if Marti would be attending Dimmy's party this afternoon?"

"What party?"

"Hello... Have you been listening to a word I'm saying? My brother's birthday is today and my parents are throwing a small party with a few of his friends. I know he and Marti aren't the best of friends but my parents thought it would be good for her to come as well. They sent the invites last week."

"Oh... um... I'm not sure."

"Is everything all right with you?" Emily asked as she set her empty glass on the counter and eyed her curiously.

"Yeah... Why?" Casey tried to keep a straight face as she spoke. I suck at lying and Emily knows it...

"Well, for starters, I tried calling you yesterday but there was no answer..."

"Yeah, sorry about that, my phone got confiscated."

"Confiscated? Why?"

Shoot! There you go again, opening your mouth without thinking! I can't tell her about the basement... So now what do I say?

"Um... Did I say confiscated? I meant to say that I... uh... lost it! Yeah, I lost it somewhere. Sorry."

"Ok... I can see where you confused the word confiscated with lost..." She said sarcastically.

"So, what time does the party start? Do you need help decorating or anything?" Casey changed the subject.

"Nope. My parents forgot all about buying decorations, so that's why they went out. Hopefully they'll make it back in time..."

"Well... how about baking a cake? We could do that. That would be fun." She smiled.

Emily shook her head, "Dimmy wants a store bought one from DQ. You know how kids love ice-cream cakes." She laughed.

"Yeah..." She forced a small chuckle. "So then... is there anything you need help with? How about cleaning? We could clean..." she glanced around the house and realized that it was already spotless, "something..."

"Casey, seriously, what is going on with you?" Emily asked she placed both hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes.

Casey avoided those eyes as she looked down and shrugged, "Nothing's wrong, Em, I'm just trying to help."

"There is something you're not telling me..." She said as she stepped back and folded her arms across her chest.

Casey's eyes widened a bit, "No there isn't." She lied.

"Case, I've known you practically four years now, and I can tell when you're lying about something."

"I'm not lying." She nervously chuckled. Grr! Curse my honest, not being able to lie self!

"Is it about a guy?" She squealed with a grin.

Casey didn't say anything. She'd chosen just to keep her mouth shut because she couldn't trust its bursting ways.

"It is isn't it?"

"Em..."

"Ok, look, I can tell you're not ready to talk about it yet, so if you don't want to tell me now that's fine, but promise you'll tell me eventually, whatever it is? Or who ever it is?" She smiled.

Casey hesitated. I don't think I'll be able to tell anybody about it ever... "Sure, Em... when the time is right..." Which will be never.

Emily kept smiling, "Good. So for the time being, I'll just guess who it's about..."

"Emily..." Casey groaned with irritation.

"I'm kidding." She laughed. "Sheesh, Casey, learn to take a joke once in a while."

Casey sighed, "I'm sorry. Maybe I should just go..."

"No way! I'm sure we can find something to do that will take your mind off of whomever it is you don't want to talk about..."

"You sure?" Casey smiled.

"Of course."

Casey wrapped her arms around her best friend's neck, "Thanks, Em. You're the best."

Emily hugged her back, "Just don't forget that when you decide to talk, you come to me first."

"I won't forget." But I'm hoping you'll forget. You can never know about this... Nobody can. That is if I can stay calm and not make it so obvious that something is bothering me... She sighed. Good luck with that.

* * *

Derek heard the door open and turned his head from the TV to see Casey standing there with a smile. That smile, however, quickly vanished when she spotted him in his recliner.

"Where were you all afternoon?" He asked as he tried not to stare at her beautiful everthing.

"That's none of your business." She said as she hung up her coat and walked past him into the kitchen.

I cannot believe her! She is being so immature about all of this! Why won't she just admit that she likes me too? Because maybe she doesn't... Derek sighed. Well I'm not waiting any longer to find out. It's now or never. And hopefully it'll be now.

Derek shut off the TV and stood up from his chair.

"Where is everyone?" Casey asked as she bit into some strawberries from the fridge. She hadn't noticed him walking towards her.

"Dad and Nora took Marti to buy a gift for some kid's birthday and Lizzie and Edwin went to friend's houses."

Casey jumped when she realized how close his voice was and immediately stood up from where she was sitting at the island, "So then we're here... alone?" She gulped.

Derek could see fear in her eyes. Why is she so scared of me?

"Yeah, I guess so." He walked into the kitchen and stood on the other end of the island across from her.

"What are you doing?" She asked as she watched him warily.

"I'm hungry. Is that a problem?" He asked as he walked around the island towards her and stopped at the fridge.

Casey walked around the other side slowly as she bit her lip.

Derek bent down and pulled out a piece of chocolate from the fridge and bit into it with a smirk, "Glad to see that this one wasn't melted. You want some? Or are you just going to take it?"

Casey shook her head, "I... I um... I'm going to go upstairs. Lots of homework to do." She said as she began to make her way in the direction of the stairs.

He knew that was a lie because Casey always made sure to finish her homework in class or on Friday so that she didn't have to wait till the last day to do it.

"Casey, wait." He said as he set the chocolate bar down and sprinted towards her.

Casey bolted up the stairs before he could grab her.

"Casey!" He yelled as he chased after her.

"Leave me alone, Derek!" She shouted back as she hit the last step and ran for her bedroom.

Derek caught up just in time to stop her from closing her door.

"Let go!" Casey snapped as he held the door open while she tried to close it.

"Will you just talk to me?"

"I don't want to. I have to do homework." She said as she kept pushing against the door.

"Casey, you know that's a load of crap. You have no homework, so quit avoiding me!" Derek snapped as he shoved the door open all the way and Casey stumbled back.

"Get out of my room." She seethed through clenched teeth.

"Not until you talk to me."

"Why won't you listen to me? There is absolutely nothing to talk about! I don't care about what happened in the basement! It is in the past now and I want to keep it there!" She shouted in fury.

"I don't believe you." He stated calmly.

"Well then you're more dense than I thought." She snapped.

He took a step towards her, "Insulting me only makes it worse."

"Makes what worse?"

"The fact that you're hiding something from me and just trying to cover it up. Why do you think I insulted you so much over the years?"

Her jaw dropped slightly at his confession but her eyes still sent daggers his way, "Well that's not the fact with me."

"Really? Then how come you're shaking right now?" He asked as he took another step towards her.

"Der-ek, stay away from me!" She said as she backed away from him.

"I love it when you say my name like that." He smiled.

She scowled, "Go. Away."

"I can't, Case. I'm drawn to you. Can't you see that?"

Casey's eyes were beginning to fill with tears as she pleaded, "Please, just leave me alone?"

Derek stopped and stared at her, "Why won't you just admit that you like me?"

"Because I don't."

"But you do!"

"No I don't! I already told you so!"

"You kissed me back!"

"So what?"

"So that means something. You don't kiss someone back if you don't have feelings for them, Case. And don't you dare say that you were only "caught up in the moment", either!" He stepped towards her again. He was only a few feet away now as she stood next to her bed.

"Derek..."

"What are you so afraid of? What is the big deal if we kissed? Who cares if we like each other?"

"Everyone will care!" She suddenly screamed. "It's incest, Derek! We're related by marriage! You're my stepbrother for crying out loud!" She was crying now and all he wanted was to hold her in his arms but he knew now was not the time.

"It's not incest if we didn't come from the same parents."

"It is in the world's eyes."

"So screw the world!" He took another step her way, only a couple of feet away now and surprisingly she didn't step back this time. "Casey... I can't believe I am going to say this but... I love you."

Casey's eyes almost bulged out of her sockets as she stared at him in complete and utter shock.

"What? You can't love me!"

"Why not?"

"Haven't you listened to a word I've just said? What would our friends say? What would our family say?"

"Well, Edwin already knows... sort of..."

"You told him?!" She stepped towards him with rage. "How could you?"

"I didn't tell him. He kind of knew that I liked you all this time... "

"So then he doesn't know about the kiss?"

"No, but he obviously guesses that's what happened downstairs. He's a smart kid."

She jabbed him with her finger in the chest, "But still! Edwin isn't the main concern right now... What about our parents? Don't you think they would object to the thought of us ever being together as more than just stepsiblings?"

"It's crossed my mind... but then again that's their problem."

"It could ruin their marriage, Derek!"

"If they love us like they say they do then they will have to accept it."

Casey then noticed how close their bodies were and went to step back but Derek grabbed her arms and pulled her closer.

"Derek..."

"Please, Casey, tell me... I just need to know... Do you love me back?" He pleaded as he forced himself to look into her eyes instead of at her lips.

Casey looked frightened and confused, "Derek, I..."

"Are you guys fighting again?" A small voice asked from the doorway and both teens spun around to see Marti standing there with a bewildered expression on her face.

Sorry for the cliffhanger... I just can't help it. =] I'll try as soon as I can to get the next chapter up. Don't worry, I won't take more than two days. That's for sure. I just like to be a little ahead of myself in writing so that I'm not going crazy trying to write the chapter that I'm updating on the same day... Oh, and I wasn't too sure if that's what Emily's brother's name was or even how to spell it... so hopefully I got it right... Don't forget to review and review and review! I love recieving them!! You guys rock!! =D