Previously on 'Casey' -

We both burst out laughing, we laugh for a long time, again, I don't know why. For once Casey is looking happy, I don't know how after what's just happened to him, but he does.

I feel like I've made a difference in his life, even if its only a dint, and ya know what I'm gonna do what ever I can to help him.

Chapter 3: A Real Welcome

I walked Casey home that day. That day that changed both his life and mine. I promised myself I'd try my hardest to help him. I don't know what I'll do though. I'm not some kind of superhero. I wish they were real, I wish they come and take Casey away from all of this. I'm just chatting crap. That's what I do when I'm this confused, I use my imagination and try and change things…obviously it doesn't work though.

I'm staring into the mirror. In a few minutes I'll have to leave for my second day at my new school. I sigh. It's always there. Reminding me of my big moment of weakness. Everyone says I'm just imagining it, but every time I look at my face, something looks crooked, one side of my face like someone's moulded it into a different shape to what it used to be. I wonder if Casey'll see it.

"Francesca, have you had your tablets"

That's my mum. She's great. I don't know what I'd do without her.

"No, I'll get em in a sec."

I guess you're probably wondering what the tablets are for. I'm not in the mood to tell you. Maybe some time I will. I go get the tablets, take them and then grab my bag from the side of the couch in the new living room of my new home.

"Bye mum" I say before I swing the front door open.

"Bye darling, have a nice day."

I smile at her as she pops her head out through the kitchen doorway. I'm not used to school buses. Back where I was from, I'd just walk to school. Especially buses where you don't have to pay. The school was only a few roads away from where I lived anyway. I miss it in a way. I miss my best friend, Wing-Zie. She's Chinese. That's kind of obvious by the name. You know that first person you meet who you can really trust. That was her; That is her. Makes me think. Maybe I'm that person, for Casey. Anyway, like I said. I'm chatting crap.

I climb onto the school bus.

I was late yesterday. That's why I bumped into Casey. At first I was thinking, 'Great, Late on your first day', but now it kind of pieces together, if ya get what I mean. Like it was meant to happen. It's funny how these things happen in life. If I wasn't late I wouldn't have been able to help Casey, or even meet him. I probably would have met him later, but I wouldn't have been able to help him get through that hellish day. I would have gone home and hung myself if that happened to me and I had no one around to even comfort me, not even a single friend. Never know, maybe fate did that, so he wouldn't kill himself. This is how my brain thinks, fate an' all that. Only I don't come up with it 'till the day after.

I'm sat at the window side seat on the left. Casey isn't here. I wonder if he even takes the school bus. I wonder where he lives. I've only ever been this worried and interested in a boy once before. But you don't wanna hear about my crummy love life do you.

I see Casey.

So he does take the bus after all. Luckily there's a space next to me. Fate working for me again, I smile at my idiotic thoughts.

I watch him climb up the buses steps and down the bus for a few seconds. My smile fades. I wish he didn't have to look so damn depressed all the time. I don't blame him. It's more of another, 'I wish all this shit didn't happen to him' kinda thing. I feel bad, just for thinking that first thought.

"Casey!" I almost shout. "Over here." I gesture to the seat next to me as he catches my face in the crowd.

Then I see it. He smiles. No ordinary smile. A smile like, 'something good finally happened to me' kinda smile. It's a smile that both depresses me and makes me happy at the same time. I doubt you get what I mean. Then again we're all humans with basically the same emotions.

He begins to walk towards me. I mean walk, not shuffle like I'd seen him do all day yesterday, almost at that stage with his head held high, but then someone comes over and sits right next to me.

"And who might you be?" the guy sitting next to me says.

I see Casey's face drop.

"I'm Francesca"

My eyes dodge towards Casey, telling him to stay put.

"Can I ask you a favour?"

"Sure, little lady"

"Okay...you can call me Cesca, and the favour, can you just not sit here at this moment, only I saved this seat for someone"

He stares at me like it's some big insult.

I've caught Casey's attention, but he tries not to make it obvious. Though it really is.

"Someone?" The guy says.

"Yer...", I reply, my head facing this boy, but my eyes staring directly into Casey's eyes, "...someone special".

Casey blushes a little and his smile reappears.

"It's nothing against you, really."

The guy looks friendly enough. I think he was either trying to chat me up or just thought he'd introduce himself to the new girl. What do you think?

"It's just, it'll break my heart if I don't talk to this person right away" I'm being half sardonic. I don't know why.

He nods and moves. I sigh.

"Oh, by the way, my names Trent"

Trent. Not heard of that name before. I nod and smile a little.

"Come Casey...Sit," I say, smiling at his sweet face.

Man, I'll admit it. I have a major crush on this guy. If you'd seen the people that went to my last school. Believe me, the girls would be all over Casey like he were Brad Pitt in 'Thelma and Louise'.

Only I doubt he wants a relationship at the moment, going through such a bad time right now an' all.

He's sitting next to me now.

"So, you get home okay?" I say.

I couldn't find him yesterday afternoon. At the end of school, I was worried all night, thinking about him. Yer, I know, sad, I only known him a day, but he's been through so much.

"Yeah, fine" he replies.

"How come you didn't wait for me?" I question him, while resting my hand on the back of the seat in front of me.

"I just, well ya know, I didn't wanna bother you"

I roll my eyes.

"Casey, I've only known you a day, and I know you'll never bother me"

I want to reach for his hand, and squeeze it to prove I mean what I say, but I'm scared incase he pulls away. I'm not too brave in that area. I think he gets the message anyway though. His eyes move from side to side and when they land on mine he blushes a little.

"You ever had a girlfriend Casey?" I ask. I'm curious. I really am.

"erm, no" he mumbles embarrassed.

"Hey that's nothing to be embarrassed about, I only had one boyfriend before, you don't know how lonely I felt before I met him..." It just clicked in my mind, how desperate that sounded, but I'm pretty sure someone like Casey wouldn't get mixed up with what I'm trying to say, and think I'm trying to hit on him, or imply loneliness somehow, but I don't know...Another thing just clicked…of course Casey knows how lonely I'd feel, he's felt ten times lonelier. At least I had friends, and a family to support me…I swear at myself in my mind; angry at myself.

"...Well I guess you do know really, but it's been quite a while since that first boyfriend, and I've been feeling real lonely again, you know that feeling of waiting for someone to come along and fill that hole" I pause again…grr…arg, I'm sounding weird again. I wonder whether I should say what I'm thinking. I have it all in my head, all the words. I just want them to come out.

'And then you came along', that's all I have to say, and he'll know. Only it's too early. I don't want to scare him off. Also, 'And then you came along…coughs yesterday' I can see how that would look…I wish I'd known him longer so I didn't have to wait.

"Yeah" he mumbles again.

"So what classes you got first?" I ask, changing the subject.

"Math's, history and science"

"Ah...great" I say sarcastically.

The bus nears to the school.

"Well, here we are" I say, like we've never been there before.

He looks out the window.

"What classes have you got first?" he asks.

"Oh, erm, I get my crumpled up timetable thing from the bottom of my pocket. The pockets are quite big, I'm wearing quite baggy jeans that flare at the bottom and hide my trainers.

"Oh" I say, a little disappointed.

"What?"

"My first lesson is Science"

"Ah" is his reply.

I put on another smile

"Never mind, I'll see you at break wont I?"

"Yeah, yer you will" he smiles back.

"Hey, can you show me where the science classes are?"

"Sure" he replies

We get off of the bus and start walking down the path, stopping near this tree, which is kinda like a small weeping willow. We sit down under it.

"Well, maybe today I get a proper welcome to Herrington high" I say, shading the sun from my eyes with my arm.

"Welcome." Casey says.

Yep. If I can get something, I get a real welcome.

"Casey?"

"Yer?"

"I think I'm gonna like it here"

"really?"

"Yep, only 'cause you're here an' all, to keep me company…the only sane kid here."

'What the hell...' tell myself, andmy hand finds his.

I look down at our hands and then up at him. I stare for a few seconds waiting for his reaction. The butterflies in my stomach begin to flap their wings rapidly.

"I never felt welcome here anyway" Casey says, his eyes locked on mine.

Well, thanx for all the reviews, sorry I've been so long, had my first GCSE exam today. ICT, computers and shit...ahhh! Pls leave reviews, it was 'dokichan's ' review that really made me wanna write more, dunno why, thanx dokichan, and thanx to every1 else, Sparrow, lovinmytastycaseyconnor, Skript Kittie, Iorhael-nin, CarrieAnn, lauren, emma, Chibi-Chi, Invader Kit, nyhottie211, and sean...who all reviewed my work...hehe, thanx, reviews inspire me, so if you want another chappie! Get reviewing, Luv cesca, x