The loud bustle of people scurrying around him seemed to fade into non-existence as Rusty Cartwright sat staring at the place where his older sister had disappeared.

What the hell was happening with her ? Something was wrong, very wrong. But what was he supposed to do if she wouldn't talk to him ? How has he supposed to know how to help if she would tell him what was going on ?

He sighed and dropped a few bills an the table to pay for their uneaten food and left the cafe.

His feet shuffled along the sidewalk as he made his way back to campus.

The leaves blew gently in the trees surrounding the sign that announced he was entering Cyprus Rhodes University.
He let his mind drift, for a time, over how much his life had changed since the first time he had seen that sign. He had friends now, for one thing. Never before had he enjoyed such a full social life. People liked him, wanted to be around him and for him, that was a remarkable change.

Always so shy and timid, making friends had never been an easy thing for him. Being incredibly smart hadn't helped in that area either. But now, as he took his phone from his pocket and glanced at his phone book, he smiled to himself at the thought that there were people there. People's names populated HIS phone book. His speed dial was full, so full, in fact, that he had had to pick and choose who he would place on it.

Yes, he mused silently, he had friends. He was accepted and that knowledge made him happier than any academic award he had ever received.

He was brought quickly out of his revelry as one name, in particular, jumped out at him. He hadn't even realized it was still there, staring back at him in bold face type, as if daring him to highlight it and push talk.

But he knew he wouldn't. It was a bridge he had crossed and they had both found closure on the other side. With a few quick movements, he erased the name, knowing he wouldn't need Jenn K's number ever again.

It was over, complete and done. His first love was now a page in the history book of his life. A chapter ended.

That thought brought him back to the two people he loved more than anyone else in his life. Their chapter had never been finished. Like a ending persistently left unfinished in hopes of a sequel, the story of Cappie and Casey was always open-ended.

He wondered how they could live like that, go on with their lives, knowing that someday, somehow, they would always be back for one another. Did they even realize that quintessential truth about their relationship ? Were they aware of how unfinished they always managed to leave things between them?

He didn't think so. It had been torture for him in the weeks following his break-up with Jenn, and he realized after he talked to her, it wasn't because he still loved her. It was simply because they had never taken the time to finalize things between them.

Every story needed a beginning, a middle and an end. He couldn't imagine what it was like for his two favorite people to be perpetually trapped in the middle of their story. It never moved beyond that. They could never know whether the ending that was eventually coming was a happy one where they rode off into the sunset together, or a sad one where they finally, after so many, long years, said good-bye for the last time.

His thoughts turned back to Casey, in particular and the bizarre scene at the cafe. What was she hiding something from him ? What wasn't she telling him ? He needed to know, needed to find out the real story of what had happened.

Perhaps, Casey and Cappie had finally ended things between them, completed them. He didn't think so. He wasn't sure things would ever really be over for them. Wasn't sure it was possible for either of them to really let go of the other.

No, theirs was a love that would last forever. He felt that every time he was in the same room with them, whether they were together or not. It was written all over their faces. And a love like that, a love so strong, should never be taken advantage of.

For all the things that Rusty planned to strive to accomplish in his life, all the things he wanted to do, that was the one thing that was more important than all the others to him. He wanted to find a love like Casey and Cappie's. And he hoped that when he did, if things ever went badly for him and his love, someone would be there to help him save it.

And he had every intension of being that someone for Casey and Cappie. He would help them find their way back to each other. He would help them to realize neither of them was complete without the other. He would find a way to make them see.

All he had to do was figure out how.

When he looked up, he found himself standing on the porch of the Zeta Beta house without a clue as to why he was there. Then he glanced at his phone, once again, and a new name jumped out at him. A name that carried with it the hope that maybe she could tell him more about what was happening with his sister. After all, other than Cappie, no one knew Casey better than Ashleigh.

Ashleigh had to know what was going on. Casey was sure to have talked to her. Casey talk to her about everything.

He highlighted the name and pushed the talk button and waited with heighten anticipation, praying that she would have the answers he was looking for.

" Hello, " She answered on the fourth ring.

" Ashleigh, It's Rusty, Casey brother. " He announced, nervously.

" Yeah, Rusty. I know who you are. What's up ? " Her voice held its usual bright, chipper tone.

" I'm on the front porch. Can you come out here ? I need to talk to you and I don't want Casey to know I'm here. " He explained in a rush of words.

There was a pause, then finally she answered in a much more hushed tone. " I'll be right down. "

He paced across the expanse of the wide, white-washed porch as he waited impatiently for the door to open.

When it finally did, he spun towards it so quickly he nearly fell over.

" Did she see you ? Does she know I'm here ? " He demanded quickly as Ashleigh stepped out and shut the door softly behind her.

" No, She's upstairs catching up on some paper work for the house. She hasn't really been around much in the last few days. "

" Yeah, I know and that's why I'm here, actually. " He began. " Has she said anything to you ? "

Ash raised her perfectly sculpted eyebrow at him quizzically. " About what ? "

" About what is going on with her. I mean, first she's back with Cappie and everything is great. Then all of a sudden, she's dumped him again and taken back up with Evan. "

Ashleigh watched him critically as if trying to make sense of his words, like he was speaking a different language.

" I did think it was all a little weird. Like it all happened too fast, or something. But she hasn't talked to me much in the last few days. " She told him, as she moved to perch on the porch's white railing.

He came up beside her and mimicked her pose, resting on the sturdy rail. " She hasn't been talking to me either. " He said, clearly disappointed. " But she was really weird at breakfast this morning. "

" Weird, how ? " She asked, suddenly more interested.

" She was just secretive and quiet and ... " He searched for the word he was looking for a time, "Somber. "

" Somber ? "

" Yeah, like she was completely unhappy with everything. It seemed weird because, you know, she just got back together with Evan. You would think if that was what she really wanted she'd be happy, right ? But she was no where near happy this morning. "

Ashleigh considered that for a moment. Then replied, " She did seem like she was depressed this morning. She charged right up to her room without saying a word to anyone. Even when Rebbecca blasted her for practically moving out of the house. She didn't even pause. She kept right on going until she got to her room. Then she slammed the door behind and no one has seen her since. "

She shook her head and stirred uncomfortably. " I tried to knock on the door. I wanted to get all the juicy details of the last week from her, but she ignored me. Told me she was busy and didn't have time to gossip. "

Rusty's eyes widened. " She said, she didn't have time to gossip ! See I told you something is wrong. "

He paused and cast her a sidelong glance. " Did you see her face ? "

Ashleigh stood up right and planted her hands on her hips. " No, what's wrong with her face !? " She demanded.

" She told me she got drunk and fell down. But I'm not buying it. " He explained.

" You think Evan or Cappie hit her ? " Ash spat angrily.

Rusty jumped to his feet, as well. " Cappie would never, ever do that ! "

She halted her anger long enough to think about that for a moment. Then finally she raised her eyes back to him. " You're right. Cappie would never do that. I'd sooner really believe that she ran into a door than believe that Cappie would hit her. So you think Evan did it ? "

" I don't know, " He lowered his voice. " You were around more last time they were together. I wasn't. Did anything like that ever happen then ? "

Her gaze moved to fixate somewhere over his shoulder as she considered that. " Not that I remember. "

Rusty jabbed his hands in his pockets. " Well, that doesn't mean this isn't the first time. I don't trust that guy, Ash. "

She shook her head. " I don't really like him either. Haven't since he slept with Rebbecca during Rush Week. " Then she paused again and leveled him with a serious look. " Did she and Cappie really get back together ? "

He nodded. " For about a day. "

" She never told me. Never said a word about it. " Her voice was low, her eyes downcast.

" That's a little unusual, right ? I mean you two talk about everything. "

She shook her head. " Yeah, it really is. We haven't had much of a change to catch up in the last week or so. I was really surprised when I saw her and Evan out last night, to tell the truth. She told me just about a week ago that she was finally over him. "

" Will you try to talk to her ? I know she obviously doesn't want to talk right now, but we need to find out what's going on with her. "

She squared her shoulders and nodded. " I promise you this, Rusty. If Evan did hit her, I will find out about it. Then I will either kill him myself or find someone bigger and stronger to do it for me. "

Her look said she was completely serious about every word.

" Well, if he did hit her, whether he says he's over her or not, I know just the person who will be first in line to help you with that. " Rusty answered.

" How is Cappie ? " She asked, suddenly. " I mean, if they did get back together and she dumped him again, I bet he's pretty broken up, huh ? "

" He's been better, although he's avoiding me, right now. I think I remind him of her to much. " Rusty answered wisely.

" If there is anything I can do to help, let me know. I've always liked Cappie. He's a good guy. " She laughed. " I always figured they'd get back together sooner or later. "

" Yeah, me too. " Rusty answered. " Call me if you find out anything. I'll do the same. "

He jumped from the porch, heading toward the Kappa Tau house, feeling at least marginally better about things.