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.

11. Like A Statue

"Do you think our relationship is anything like Lizzie and Edwin?" Casey inquired after telling Derek everything Lizzie had said.

"What?" Derek responded, "First of all, that story doesn't make sense. Pregnancy tests are never wrong! Secondly, Edwin and Lizzie are nothing like brother and sister. Which brings me to my answer; yes, I think our relationship is a lot like their relationship."

Casey glared harshly at the man lying in bed who was wearing nothing but deep-green boxers. "Derek, you wouldn't know that. You're a boy who doesn't pay attention to the most simple facts of life. Edwin and Lizzie are pretty much twins, for Pete's sake! You should know that." A cold laugh escaped her lips, "You better hope our relationship isn't like what they've been through.

"If that's what you think, though, then I can leave right now. Why waste anymore time, huh?" She began pacing the room once more.

Derek mentally winced at her words but said nothing, rolling his eyes. He suddenly felt like everything he had worked hard to get was about to disappear from his life for good. He stood their emotionless, like it didn't affect him whatsoever. It was almost like he didn't care and Casey saw this.

He did care, more than anyone could ever know. Threatening to leave him again was like throwing a million daggers at his heart, not missing it once. Her tone was piercing and so were her eyes. She was beyond upset... Derek said nothing about it because he didn't understand. He stood so still because he was afraid that if he made an effort to touch her, he'd break down. He didn't want her to see him cry. He couldn't do that. It was just so...

It was Derek's belief that real men didn't cry. Tough guys don't cry, either. Derek was both.

Casey glanced at Derek sadly. She didn't understand how this morning he had been so endearing and now he was like a statue.

She realized that deserting him everytime they were going through a tough time wasn't the best idea to do. She knew that deserting him at all was just wrong, no matter why she did it. She just couldn't figure out why he was acting so cold. If she was threatening to leave him, he should make every desperate attempt to make her take him back, for her not to leave.

He just sat there.

Casey bit her lip, "I should have realized that you were too good to be true. I can't believe I actually thought you had changed." Her voice oozed with acid.

Derek blinked, confused and dazed. He had spent the past five minutes trying to figure out how their conversation had gone from Lizzie and Edwin leaving each other to Casey leaving him. He wasn't even sure what he did that pissed her off this much. He knew she was being too sensitive and that the feeling would pass over...

But Casey McDonald had left even when she wasn't offended before.

She didn't necessarily have a legitimate reason now but she was certainly offended.

Derek stood up and walked over to the door, opening it. He didn't want to fight. He didn't know why Casey was even trying to pick a fight with him. It felt like the sparks that had been there earlier that day were gone. Tinkerbell must have died and he didn't even notice she was missing. "If you feel so strongly about nothing, Casey, then just leave."

Casey sat down on the floor, crouched over like she had been punched in the stomach. Derek could hear her gasping, as if she was in pain. He saw her shaking her head, rolling her eyes. Whether she was rolling her eyes at herself or at him, he didn't know.

"I can't do this anymore, Derek. I was foolish to ever come back in the first place, even if it was for my sister's wedding." She shook her head once more, "All to come back to a loser like you who can't even voice his feelings and man up and tell me how he truly feels. Yeah, you've said that you love me but there's never any emotion put behind it. You don't put any conviction into your words.

"I need to get away from you, away from this God-forsaken family. I need to grow up, meet someone that I know loves me, get married and have a family. That's not there with you, Derek. It never will be." She stood up, "I will leave. Tomorrow morning when you wake up, I won't be home anymore. I won't come back this time, believe me."

Derek shook his head, disgusted. "You don't know how absolutely ridiculous you sound. I've always been there for you, Casey, always. You get offended by one little statement, if not one little word, and suddenly it's good-bye. Well I'm sorry but I can't be with someone who is never sure of her feelings. You say that I don't tell you how I truly feel. You're the one that's been avoiding how you truly feel for five long years, dammit. So screw you, Casey. I'll be glad when you're gone."

Without another word, he was out of the room. Casey didn't bother calling him back or figuring out where he went to.

She had packing to do.

Author's Note: -hides- PLEASE don't kill me. Yes, I know, Casey makes absolutely no sense. It's CASEY for crying out loud. So I feel like I'm about to get murdered because I just ruined Lizwin and Dasey for this story. Sadly, there will be no more Lizwin except friendship. FOR NOW, there will be no more Dasey, either... It's all leading up to the sequel. I'm sure you'll all like the sequel... and finally forgive me for this when it's all said-and-done...

God bless!
Rose