Author's NoteThis chapter was a tad aggravating. I think I slipped in and out of character, so if anyone catches anything, tell me! Unless of course I had a reason for that, then I'd just tell you in the next chapter. Thank you Megan and Mac for your lengthy reviews! I love them so much! You guys are skamazing! And silly meg, I don't lose brain cells when I read your stuff, I gain some. You are very intelligent and I hope you feel that way. Thank you Mac and Megan for building up my confidence and self-esteem on writing in Derek's POV. It means so much to me! I put Paul in this chapter, even though it's placed two weeks later. I had kinda planned for this to happen, the two weeks later part, but I had planned something completly different. I just happened to skew in this direction, which is much better than I had planned. But I am stil a tad uneasy about it. Enjoy! PS. This chapter is lengthy. XD. R&R.

DisclaimerThis is Dye-my-hands-yellow bringing to attention that my sister is a pompous fool to ever believe that she may ever own it. It is my life's work to make sure that she never does. Good day. I SAID GOOD DAY! meep.

Two weeks passed and Casey and Derek didn't talk to each other, or fight, about their kisses and problems. Derek tried not to think about it, but of all the girls he claimed to get as a challenge, weren't challenges. Casey was. She was the ultimate challenge. For the first time in his memory, a girl he wanted rejected him. Casey did continue tutoring him and his grades were steadily rising. A wave of change was sent throughout the school. Casey smiled when people now listened to her about schoolwork. It seemed that once Derek made it ok, Casey became more accepted. She never mentioned it to him, but he noticed it here and there. Like in Science class for example.

Derek had gone to Paul, once. Casey had been upset about something and he wanted to know what it was about. She refused to talk to him about it, so he took desperate measures. He remembered it was thursday when he went.

-----Flashback-----

Derek entered Paul's room with arrogance, but his face still held the worry he was feeling. He was sadly disgusted with the feeling.

"Hi, Derek. It's been a while."

"Yeah it has. Has Casey been in here?"

"No, she doesn't come for another hour. She stays on schedule."

"Ok...Well, can I ask you something?" Derek asked as he sat.

"Go ahead."

"This has nothing to do with Casey or me. It's just, I feel like a bad friend if I don't give good advice." Paul looked intrigued, and waited for him to continue. "My friend is having a problem with a girl. She doesn't want to be with him he knows why. He just can't accept it. He wants to change for her, but he is afraid that it won't work. What should he do? Change, even though he's never changed for anyone, or stay the same because she should like him for him and not what he's changed into." This conversation was about him, and it was supposed to be about Casey. She hadn't been in yet, so Paul probably wouldn't know what he was worried about. So he went ahead with this. It was still, in some way, to his benefit.

"Well that depends on what this girl wants him to change." Paul was looking deeply at him, hoping for him to continue. Derek's gut was twisting inside. It was the first time he had admitted to himself, outloud, that he wanted to change for Casey but he didn't want to lose who he was. He loved himself, but not in that narcisistic way.

"He's afraid of commitment, and she wants someone who will always be there. He can't promise that." Derek mocked her over and over in his mind.

"Well you can't get rid of fear easily. Tell your friend that he should get into a comfortable friendship with her and let it go from there."

"What if she's impossible?"

"I can't help your friend with that one." Paul shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, in any case, thanks for letting me steal your advice."

"I gave it to you willingly." Derek rolled his eyes and left the office. He hoped that Paul didn't see through him, and if he did, oh well. He wasn't aloud to say a word anyways.

-----End Flashback-----

At the moment he was watching the big game of the season for hockey, the one that would determine the ultimate winner, and this time it was his favorite team that the enemy was against. He was thrilled. Edwin was sitting on the couch furthest away from him and Lizzie was next to him. They had become even more inseparable, if that was possible, lately. Derek didn't think much of it though.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Casey standing at the foot of the staircase with her arms crossed. He supposed it was because of him, him doing something wrong, but he ignored her and hooted as his team scored a goal.

"I thought I was tutoring you today."

"No, not today. Today's the game!"

"Well, school's more important than the game."

"Which is why, MacDonald, I have been studying with you everyday for the past two weeks. I want today –off-." Casey let out a heavy sigh and stomped up the stairs. Derek's eyes remained glued to the TV.

About an hour passed and his team was starting to lose. The game was nearing its end and Derek was frantically eating the popcorn he demanded Edwin to get. Just as Derek started to get up and set the bowl on the table his team winding back and shot the winning puck into the enemy's goal. He shouted 'YES!' and flung the popcorn bowl in the air, sending kernels and popcorn flying everywhere. Edwin and Lizzie were smiling up at him and the ridiculous delirious happiness spanning across his face. Casey ran down the stairs.

"Why are you yelling?!" Derek jumped over the chair like a hurdle and picked Casey up in a hug and swirled her around, then put her back down. His hands were gripping her shoulder.

"My team won!" He put his hands back up above his head and sat on the chair. Lizzie was giggling uncontrollably and Casey was still in shock. Derek smirked as he watched the excited players jumping and hugging on each other. Just like the first time he won a hockey game. Watching it made him extremely nostalgic. It hadn't even hit him that he showed affection to Casey in front of the family, but for the past two weeks he actually enjoyed just being in her company. He hoped she did too, but didn't think about it, or worry himself if she didn't. Derek knew that if Casey didn't want to be there, she wouldn't. Casey was, in that rare way, simple but still complicated.

And he would forever enjoy that about her. Casey walked around the back and leaned to whisper something in his ear.

"I need to talk to you. Come to my room whenever you want." Edwin and Lizzie were still staring at the TV with happy faces. The fear of them seeing her do that went away. They obviously had no clue. Casey had gone up the stairs. Derek wanted to know what she wanted to talk about but he didn't want to go up there looking eager. Part of him feared that it was going to be about the tutoring. She bugged him a bit about it, which would cause them to fight, but this time he had another vibe that told him that it wasn't going to be about that.

"Fuck it." Derek said to himself and tossed the remote between Edwin and Lizzie. A small fight ensued over it, and Lizzie won. She had a huge smile on her face, Edwin's and Lizzie's eyes were locked on one another. Derek smirked and headed upstairs.

He raised a fist and was about to knock on the door, but Casey opened it. She looked innocently at him. Her eyes looked worn.

"Your room?" She asked softly. Derek nodded a yes and they both went into his room. Casey sat in his computer chair, and he sat on his bed closest to her. They just looked at each other.

"What are we going to do Casey?"

"I can't not do anything. I've been racking my brains, and it seems to fit almost perfectly. Except…"

"Except..."

"Except you wouldn't stay with me, would you?"

"I don't know. That's not a good way to go into a relationship anyways. If I went into all relationships wondering how long it was going to last then I wouldn't even bother dating anyone, anyway. I just enjoy it as much as possible." Casey nodded in agreement. "I can't tell the future. You can't either. At least I don't attempt it."

"I don't attempt tell the future!" She said sharply.

"Then what is it that you thought you were doing?" Derek retorted, aggravated.

"You are commitment-phobic. I can't be with someone who isn't already open to the idea. And not only that, we are steps."

"So. Things change. Don't you understand that concept?"

"Yes, I do. And I also understand that you aren't one for change. God forbid if I try to change you. Besides, I wouldn't want to do that. Even though I hate you, I like you the way you are."

"You've thought about this right? Do you have anything positive to say? You always say what's wrong with everything, and there is nothing good about us being together? I never heard anything good come out of your mouth about us." Derek put his head in his hand. He wanted so bad to yell and fight with her. It was a comfort zone. But if I want to get anywhere I have to try this first. Then maybe I'll go back to how deliciously wonderful our fights were.

"Yes. I do have positive things to say." She said with a monotone voice.

"Well, why don't you tell it to me?" Derek continued his self restraint. Inside he was beginning to boil.

"I'm willing to try it with you, because you're so passionate. Not in the lovey dovey way, but in the real way. You are yourself, damned what anyone else thinks. I wish I had that in myself, but...you know me." He looked up and stared at her. Is she for real?

"What changed your mind about me and you?"

"I figured that if it didn't work…I'd get over it. Maybe, after the relationship we'd be closer. That wouldn't be so bad." Casey was twiddling her fingers. It was starting to get too mushy for his taste. He stood up, and she copied him.

"Friends with me?" Casey shook her head yes with uncertainty. Derek smirked. "Sounds fine to me. Let's start there, instead of finishing there." He wanted to smack himself silly. She pretty much had just told him that it would be ok to kiss her anytime he wanted, hold her anytime he wanted, and gave herself away to him, but he had to say 'lets just be friends for now.' He couldn't believe himself. I will work on the theory that I'm making her want more of me. I wonder if I could get her to a point where she would beg for me to just kiss her. I didn't actually plan on taking Paul's advice, but maybe it will be better this way. Derek let out a sigh.

"Fine Derek." Casey looked hurt. She got up and started to leave, but turned to face him again. "For whatever compelled you to do this to me, I hope you burn in hell." Derek scrunched up his face, confused, and as he was about to yell something back at her, she slammed his door. He heard another door slam seconds later, which he only assumed was her door.