Author's Note: Keep the reviews coming, I really appreciate the feedback! I'm going to be switching the POV from Casey to Derek chapter by chapter, if you haven't already figured that out. So now it's Casey's turn...

We got to the beach pretty early, despite getting lost for about half an hour. Which was not bad, considering my Mom's sense of direction. The seven of us lugged all of our suitcases and beach equipment into a quaint-looking beach house. Mom was totally ecstatic about the view. I was just glad to be able to stretch my legs.

I squinted my eyes as I looked over at the beach. It was beautiful. The sky was so clear, and the water was so blue, that suddenly I couldn't wait to go take a dip in it. The sun beat down on me, and I smiled lightly to myself. Maybe this was going to be a great family-bonding vacation.

"Shmerek, will you go swimming with me?" Marti asked, looking up at her big brother. I will never understand why she is so fond of him.

"Sure thing, Smarti," he ruffled her hair. They did have a nice relationship. He seemed to like having a sister. Why not a stepsister? I shook my head and swatted a fly away, bending over and gathering my stuff to take up to my room, which I would be sharing with Lizzie. Since the house was not that big, Lizzie and I would be sharing one room, Derek and Edwin would be sharing another room, and Marti was going to be sleeping with Mom and George because she gets easily afraid sleeping in new places.

"Come on, family, let's get outside!" George called for us. He seemed way too excited about family bonding.

I took a book and a lounge chair, and set up a nice spot for me on the warm sand outside. I pulled on my sunglasses and took off the jeans skirt I had been wearing over my bikini. Happily, I lied back on the chair and took out my book.

My eyes shifted sight as Derek took a spot near mine. He set out his beach towel and took off his shirt. And, behind my sunglasses, I checked out my stepbrother.

"Stop it, Casey," I scolded myself out loud.

Derek looked over at that. "You talking to yourself again, Case?" he looked at me accusingly, like I had always done that or something.

My cheeks pinked and I averted my gaze, trying to ignore him. But as he lied down, his muscles flexed, and I caught myself staring once again.

Marti ran over to where Derek lay. "Shmerek, you promised you'd swim with me!"

I watched Derek grab her and Marti shrieked with excitement as he ran off with her in his arms, headed towards the shoreline.

I tried to concentrate on my book once again. And failed once again.

Derek and Marti splashed around, and soon Edwin and Lizzie joined in. I peeked over at Mom and George, and saw them lounging together, holding hands and watching the kids, proud as peacocks that they all appeared to be having a blast.

"Hey Casey, why don't you join in?" George called over to me, and pointed over at my sister and stepsiblings in the ocean.

"Yeah, Case, go take a dip," Mom agreed, waving me off. "It'll be nice to cool off."

I sighed. "No thanks, I like being warm," I told them, and returned to the second sentence of my book.

After a bit, I felt my eyes becoming heavy. I closed my eyes, tilting my head towards the sun so I could feel the warmth on my face as I slept. I listened to the waves crashing nearby and the sound of seagulls screeching, and had never felt so peaceful in my life. Until…

I felt a bucket of cold salt water dumped on me. I screamed, jumping up. Derek was standing there with an empty pail and Edwin was covering his mouth, laughing hysterically. Derek just grinned.

"Derek!" I screamed and began chasing him. I chased him into the cold water and swam after him. We swam pretty far out before he stopped and I was able to catch up with him. I immediately tackled him, dunking his head underwater.

"Oh, you shouldn't have done that!" he said when he came back up. He spat out some ocean water and wiped the salt out of his eyes.

"I'm not scared of you, Derek Venturi," I glared at him.

"You should be," he said, grabbing me and pulling me under water with him. We fought underwater and, both of us being stubborn, we waited until we were ready to black out from lack of oxygen before coming up for air.

As we panted and gasped for air, we watched each other. It was like we were waiting to see which of us was going to make the next move. And just what that move was going to be.

"Casey! Derek!" I heard Lizzie calling from far away. Derek and I both looked over to see Lizzie, who looked to be the size of an ant, waving her arms. She motioned for us to come on. I glanced over at Derek for a second and began swimming back to shore.

Derek didn't say anything the whole swim back.