A/N: This chapter was a lot harder for me to write than I expected. I knew what I wanted to say and where I wanted to end up, but the journey was harder than expected. Even if you hate it let me know, because it is not my favorite.

This entire chapter happens in the past (about 4 months before the first two chapters), but I did not want to make everything in italics.

Please review and if you have suggestions, they are always welcome.

Disclaimer: Don't own.

Chapter 3: Unexpected Decisions

About four months before their night of secrets and cookies . . .

Casey came home with the mail in her hands, staring at it in awe. Derek looked up from the dining room table, where he was eating some apple pie that Casey baked the night before. He saw the look on her face and was a little afraid. He had no idea that what was affecting her would affect him as well.

"Hey Case, you ok?"

After a few seconds she realized he said something. "Huh, what? Sorry Derek what did you say?" She looked into his eyes. He saw the hopefulness and fear in her eyes, but he did not want to seem too eager.

"What came in the mail?" He was a little intrigued. Derek had been waiting for something important to come for a few weeks.

Casey took her piece, which was on the top in the box and sat down on the couch and stared at the envelope in her hands. She left the rest on Derek's recliner. He said down and flipped through the pile until the letter he was waiting for stared at him. He let the rest of the mail fall to the floor at his feet as he held his mail in his hands.

2 hours past and neither of them said a word. They just gazed at their own pieces of mail, barely moving. The front door opened and their family came in. After being asked about 5 times what was wrong, both just shook their heads and ran up to their respective rooms.

Derek paced his room for about 5 minutes before he sat on his bed. He could not believe that it was there and he would finally know. He slowly turned the envelope over and gently tore it open. Derek pulled out the first of many sheets and began to read . . .

Congratulations Mr. Venturi, we are happy to inform you that you have been accepted into the fall freshman class at the University of Toronto.

Derek could not believe it, he actually made it in. He had one of the biggest smiles on his face until he lifted his head and stared at that wall, making his smile drop a bit. I guess this is it then. We only have this summer and then we will be apart for most of the year. Hopefully it will change my feelings and I can finally get over her.

Casey sat at her desk when she entered her room. She grabbed her letter opener and carefully opened the envelope. Casey pulled out the first of many sheets and began to read . . .

Congratulations Miss MacDonald, we are happy to inform you that you have been accepted into the fall freshman class at the University of Toronto.

She began to tear up, so happy that she got into the university of her choice. She began taking the rest of the letters out of the envelope. She looked over the campus map and the courses offered for freshmen. She finally pulled out the last sheet, which explained that she received a full scholarship for her grades and short stories.

Casey was so pleased with herself. She finally tore her eyes away from her paperwork and they immediately went to that wall. The tears began to fall. It's over. Nothing will ever happen now. We will be too far apart. Hopefully my heart will finally stop loving him.

"Derek, Casey. Time for dinner." Nora called from downstairs, unaware that she was snapping the both of them from their thoughts.

When everyone was seated at the dining room table, Casey and Derek both began, ""I have some news . . ."

Derek and Casey looked at each other and when their eyes met, they quickly looked at the table. George and Nora looked at each other and said in unison "Well, what is it?"

Without a second passing by, both Casey and Derek blurt out "I got into the University of Toronto!" Their eyes shot up into the other's gaze. It seemed like the world stopped for the two. They saw and heard nothing else. They only saw blue and brown, hearing their respective heart beats in their chests.

George and Nora both gave each other that knowing look that they had so many times before. They were both asking questions, but neither Derek nor Casey heard them. Finally, Nora reached out her hands and nudged the two, who lost their gaze on one another and looked throughout the room.

"I thought we all agreed that you both were going to go the University of Ottawa, so you can stay at home. We agreed that you would have to stay home so that we can afford college for all five of you." George said talking to Derek and Casey, but giving his wife a look as if saying 'Do you think they planned this?'

Noticing the look on George's face she asked the question that he did not, "Was this planned, to go to the same university as each other?"

Derek met Casey's eyes once again, "I had no idea Casey wanted to go there. They have a great arts program and an amazing hockey team. I applied without telling anyone."

"Me too. I thought that I was applying alone. But it is the one school I really want to go to. It has an amazing writing program. I even received a full scholarship because of my grades and short stories that I submitted."

"My scholarship!" Derek shouted, cutting Casey off before leaving the dining room and heading towards the stairs. He ran into his room and grabbed the rest of the papers in the envelope that he did not bother looking through before. He finally found the one that he was looking for. A huge smile crossed his lips. He also received a full scholarship, for his grades and pictures he submitted. At this point, Casey's words entered his head . . . 'But it is the one school I really want to go to.' I had no idea that the both of us wanted to go to the same place. I guess maybe we still might have a chance.

When Derek finally reached the dining room, he heard Nora tell Casey that since she got a scholarship she can go to whatever school she wanted.

"Yeah well, I kind of got a full scholarship as well. They gave me one because of hockey and my drawings . . ." He did not want to sound to enthused that he might be going to the same school as the love of his life, but he couldn't help but smile. He handed the scholarship paper to his father and sat in his seat, sneaking glances towards Casey.

Are we really going to be attending the same school? Casey had a huge smile plastered on her face. She really wanted to attend the University of Toronto, but she did not want to not be around Derek. Maybe now is our chance to be together.

"Well, I guess you will both be going to the University of Toronto." George says before handing Derek back his scholarship paper.

"Great" escaped excitingly from Casey's lips before she could stop herself. Stupid! What the hell is wrong with you! Her eyes shot up and met Derek's. "I mean, it's great that we both got into the school we each really want to go to."

"Yeah, it's really great." Derek mumbled, knowing he looked way to eager than he should be. He only held his eyes with hers for another moment, before looking back down at his food.

Later that evening, when everyone else went to bed, Derek went downstairs to watch tv in the living room. Seeing the soft light from the top of the stairs, he became very excited, knowing who was down there.

After sitting in his recliner, he noticed something was wrong. Why is she channel surfing? She never does that. Maybe she's upset that we are going to college together. Maybe she wanted to be 2 hours away from me. "Hey Case, what's with the glum face?"

"I think I should be asking you why you don't have a glum face?" Casey said before turning and facing me.

"Why would I be upset? I got into the college of my choice." And I am going with the one person I want to go with.

"Derek, did you not read the entire acceptance letter?" Casey handed Derek her acceptance letter. As he read over it, he realized what made her so upset. There was a problem with the dorms and they will not be available for the freshmen class. The students would need to provide their own housing. Derek knew that their parents would not allow them to drive 2 hours there everyday and he thought that they would not pay for 2 apartments when they could just stay home and go to the University of Ottawa.

"Don't worry Case, I'll think of something." Derek said before he walked into the kitchen. Derek knew that he wanted to go to the school of his dreams, but Casey worked her entire life to get into the best college possible for her. He decided that she deserved to go to Toronto, even if he would lose his chance.

Derek knocked on his father's bedroom door. "Hey guys, it's me. Can I talk to you?"

"What's up Derek?" Nora said, as George entered the bedroom from the bathroom. They were getting ready for bed.

"Well, I just found out that Casey and I would not be able to live on campus, there's some problem with asbestos in the dorms. So we would need to get apartments, which would probably cost as much if not more than the tuition at Ottawa. I decided that you should let Casey go to Toronto and I'll stay home and attend Ottawa so that you can save some money. I think she really deserves it."

"Derek, I think your father and I need to discuss a few things before we make any decisions. We will let you both know what we are going to do in the morning." Nora motioned for Derek to leave. After he did, she turned to her husband and said "Although that was very sweet of him, their true feelings need to finally come out to one another."

George nodded, "I know, but what can we do to help?"