This chapter is pretty pointless as well, and I'm extremely sorry for that. But if you will all bare with me, read and review, I will post the next chapter ASAP. Chapter four is finished and isn't as fluffy. It has more defining moments, actually. I like it, at least. Hehe. Okay, well enjoy!

x—x

"Casey, I think you have a problem." Noel said lightly. Emily and Kendra were both staring warily at her.

"What? Why would you say that?" Casey asked.

"Because that's the seventh cookie you've had." Emily said.

"They're so good!" Casey cried taking another bite. "I mean, how did I not know about these? Two for a dollar! And they're all warm! Like movie theatre cookies!"

"It's like the spirit of Mrs. Claus has taken her over." Noel whispered to Emily. "I mean, look at her."

Not only was Casey double fisting cookies, but she also had on a red Santa hat with the white lining and puff ball.

"Hey, I heard that." Casey said. "There's nothing wrong with holiday spirit!"

"Yes, but there is with calories." Kendra said. "Casey, I beg of you to think what you're doing to yourself before you take another bite!"

Casey pulled her cookie from her mouth and looked at it.

"Damn it, Kendra." Casey said, shoving the cookie into Noel's hand. "You had to ruin it. Those are little round drops of heaven!"'

Kendra shrugged apologetically before placing her hand on Casey's back to lead her away.

"Don't you have rehearsal?" Noel asked as he and Emily walked with them.

"They changed it to after school again." Casey shrugged. "Derek hasn't been happy."

"Ha. Weekend rehearsal. Yesterday you had rehearsal before school, during lunch, and after school. Wouldn't think he'd be very happy." Kendra said.

"How's the topic of le' smooch going?" Noel inquired.

"It doesn't seem to be going anywhere." Casey shook her head. "We're dodging it during rehearsals, but it's such a big part of our grade."

"You'll find a way out of it. There's no way Derek would allow his lips on yours." Emily said.

"Hey, you make it sound like I'm some grotesque person." Casey pouted.

"You're in no way grotesque." Noel said immediately.

"Thanks Noel." Casey said giving Noel a smile that caused him to blush slightly.

"Come on, let's get you far away from the cookies." Kendra said.

Casey caught sight of Max laughing with his friends.

"He looks happy, doesn't he?" Casey asked softly, mostly to herself more than anyone else.

"Yeah, and he doesn't deserve to be." Kendra said, before pushing Casey farther away.

--

"Paul." Casey said, walking into the room and sitting down. "I am in slight emotional turmoil."

"Slight?" Paul questioned. Not that she looked like she even had a problem. She seemed perfectly fine. Just a bit pouty.

Paul voiced this observation, causing Casey to sigh.

"It's just, the breakup doesn't seem to have affected Max at all."

"Well, you've seemed pretty okay as well." Paul said.

"I have the right to be upset, though." Casey said.

"This is true. But you also have the right to be happy."

--

"Nice, rehearsal people. Great job. We're going to have a great show." Ms. Harold said as everyone began to pack up.

"Casey, Derek, you can't avoid the kiss forever." Ms. Harold said in a sing-song voice as she passed them.

Derek rolled his eyes as she passed and murmured, "Sure we can."

"Oh, and how?" Casey asked.

"I'll figure it out." Derek said, glancing at her as she put her script into her bag and pulled it onto her shoulder.

"Come on, I've got to get to work." Derek said and Casey nodded, following him out of the room.

Derek hated how nice Casey was. He could here her saying a chipper goodbye to people. He could almost see her smile as she waved at them telling them 'good job'. He continued to walk in front of her.

They went outside and got into the car.

"Hey, don't take me home, I want to go to Smelly Nellie's." Casey said as she buckled herself in.

"Oh no." Derek said, shaking his head. "I wake up, you're there. I go to school, you're there. I go to those stupid rehearsals, and you're there, and I have to interact with you ninety-eight percent of the time. I go home, you're there. For one day, I would like to go to work, and have you not be there."

"You make me sound like the plague." Casey said.

"Instead of the Bubonic, you're the Caseyonic." Derek mumbled. "Probably spreading among vermin, too."

Casey blinked at him several times. "I'm pretty sure you just insulted me, but I'm trying to process that you know anything about the Bubonic plague."

"Oh, well someone mentioned it to me, and it sounded too much like my situation with you to not look it up." Derek retorted.

"You're humor kills me." Casey deadpanned.

"If only." Derek mumbled to himself before pulling out of the parking lot.

When Derek stopped at the house instead of Smelly Nellie's Casey rolled her eyes but got out of the car without complaint.

She shook her head again as she watched him zoom away immediately.

She glanced over at Emily's. Casey didn't dare go over there when she knew that Sheldon was still in town. She valued what sanity she had left over from the day.

--

Derek was unhappy.

The rehearsals were killing him, and he had no idea what to do about the kiss. The fact that it both disgusted and excited some strange part of him made it worse. Undoubtedly when he got home he would be bombarded with more Casey drama for taking her home instead of Smelly Nellie's. An insane nine year old with a crazed insistence for a sundae flicked a spoonful of whipped cream at his head when it didn't have a cherry on it. And worst of it all, it was Sally's day off and yet she was still there, in a booth, on the phone with some guy who sounded very much like a new boyfriend.

Derek was very unhappy.

And he hated how he knew when he got home, Casey would be the only one to ask what was wrong.

x—x

Yeah, sorry. It's short and pointless. But I really need to add some in between fluff. I'm going to work harder, I promise. Stay with me! Hope it was somewhat enjoyable.

Review, loves.

-Tarryn