((Hello everyone! I am sorry bout the short stories but its all I can do with the time that's available to me. I live in FL so school starts in early August so I have been preparing for high school along with this cruise. I have bad timing to start writing fan fiction stories…well I promise that once I come back I will try to make them longer and worth reading thanks!))

Chapter 3: My Way of Telling You

Casey looked at Derek with an anticipated look. She didn't know what he was going to say. The frightening part was that he would probably say a mean joke and ruin the "moment" they were having, like he did when she took the blame for the party they had when their parents were gone. Derek stared into her eyes and Casey stared back.

"I…love you." Derek said it slowly and hesitantly. The fear of Casey rejecting him had taken control of him and he couldn't take the pressure. He had to say something afterwards but Casey just continued to stare at him with her mouth slightly open.

"I never would have thought you loved me." she said softly, almost like a whisper.

"Well I do…the more I got to know you…I mean I know that we fight a lot but its because I can't be nice to you. Teasing you is the only way I can go through it."

"Derek…I am your stepsister. You don't have to tease me just cause you don't want to admit you love your stepsister!" she said with a smile. Derek looked at her with a confused expression and then he buried his face in his hands. He realized that Casey didn't understand what he meant by "I love you". He breathed in deeply and then opened his mouth to say something but Casey interrupted him by putting her hand on his and then smiling. "I love you too, Derek. But we don't have to fight. I mean we are different but…we can get along! Like today." she said with a big smile and a small laugh.

"Casey…you don't understand. I don't love you like a stepsister…I love you. I have always been in love with you. Haven't you noticed that I havent been with a girl since you got here? I broke up with them…I mean I have flirted with girls so that you wouldn't think I was turning gay or whatever but I havent stuck to a relationship because I love you. And when you went out with Sam I got mad. I tried to stop it by making up the male code. But I realized how much you wanted to be with him and how mad you would be at me for not letting you so I did. Watching you two be together…knowing that the girl that I wanted was being taken by my best friend. And the time that I flirted with Emily so you could go crazy, I also did cause I was fed up with you and Sam. I wanted to get back at you for that. Casey, everything about you makes me crazy…your eyes, your hair, the way you get frustrated cause things arent in order. It makes me want you more. Everyday I wonder whether you feel the same way…whether you might think of me as a nice, friendly guy. Not a annoying self-centered boy that lives across the hallway. I just put up the image so that I don't express my feelings and get rejected. When I saw you were crying I knew that Sam had done something to you. I got furious at him…for breaking my love's heart. That's why at school I knocked him down. And I did it hard. So I just wanted you to know what I really thought of you. My true feelings…even if our parents are married…I still love you and always will." Derek said and he pulled his hand from under Casey's and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He got up from her bed and walked out of the room and into his. His heart was racing, his face was pale. Did I just…no…I did…I just told her the truth…what if she doesn't feel the same! She said it herself that she loves me like a brother. Oh God what have I done…its too late to say I was kidding…that would be too cruel and unreal. Damn it! Now I just need to breath in and out and relax. Derek thought to himself as he paced back and forth and then breathed in deeply.

Casey was still on her bed, staring at where Derek once was. After a few minutes she placed her hand on the cheek that he kissed and stared at the door. Her heart was aching, her hands were shaking. She didn't know if she was dreaming or not. The fact that she had misunderstood him the first time he said "I love you" was pounding her head. She began to get up from the bed and walk towards the door. Casey walked slowly towards Derek's door and then stood in front of it, hesistant as to opening or knocking on the door.

Edwin and Lizzie just stared at each other. They had heard whispers coming from Casey's room and the majority was Derek's voice. When he had stopped they heard him open and close the door and then walk to his room. Lizzie scratched her head and then blew air.

"It had to have been something Edwin…he left without a response from Casey. It was like a whole story coming out of his mouth…but what?" she whispered as she leaned her head on the door quietly. Edwin shrugged his shoulders and then heard a door opening. His eyes became wide and both of them scurried to the wall closest to Derek's room.

Casey had now gotten the courage to open the door but as she twisted the handle the door flew open and Derek stood an inch away from Casey. Her heart was racing, her eyes getting lost into his. Derek had stared back into her blue eyes and after his confession he didn't know what to do. His desire to hold on to her and kiss her was uncontrollable but he had to try. He never got a response from Casey…he had to leave after what he had did. The fear of being rejected was too much for him. But then he realized, maybe that's what Casey cam here to do. To admit that she too loved him. He wasn't sure but after a minute of staring at each other Casey began to open her mouth and say something.

"Derek, can I come inside?" she asked.

"Yea." he said backing up and letting her come inside. Casey slowly walked inside and sat down on his bed. Derek closed the door and looked at her.

"I don't know what to say Derek, I didn't know you could feel that way about me. I cant believe that everything you said was true." Casey said looking at the floor.

"But it is." Derek said softly and then looked down on the floor also. "Are you going to say now that you don't love me the same way as I do you?"

Casey looked up at him and got up from the bed quietly. She walked towards him and held his hand. Derek looked up and stared into her beautiful blue eyes again.

"No…its where I tell you this." she slowly raised her hands around his neck and let her lips gently touch his. Derek immediately kissed her and then Casey let her tongue lightly touch his lower lip, asking for an entrance. Derek gladly accepted and they had been kissing for what it seems like an eternity. But after 3 minutes of "affection" a knocking sound was coming from his door. Casey immediately pulled back and looked at the door, her arms still around Derek's neck and his arms wrapped around her waist.

"Smerek! Daddy says its dinner time!" she said as she gave one last knock and hopped down the stairs.

Derek looked at Casey and then smirked. Casey licked her lips and then smiled. She went in for one last kiss and then grabbed his hands, leading him outside of his room. Derek's heart was racing and his mind was replaying what had just happened inside of his room.

"I just heard Casey say a few words…and they were in there for a few minutes." Edwin said as he looked at Lizzie with a worried expression. Lizzie nodded her head and then got up and walked towards the bathroom door.

"We'll find out more later, Edwin. Let's eat dinner and then we'll talk about the plan." Lizzie said as she winked at Edwin and he nodded with a smile. They both peeked out of the bathroom door and then walked out quietly when they saw that no one was around.

((Ok…so I am trying to understand how these writers can write so much! I mean this chapter took almost three pages of Word Processor but when I submitted it…it was short! WHY? Agh…would it turn out longer if I put it on Microsoft Word? I wonder…but problem is that I don't have Microsoft Word…damn computer! Well how did everyone like it? Let me know by reviewing! ))