As I approached the house, I hesitated before finally deciding to go inside. I wanted to keep walking. I wanted to get away from everyone again and just go back to our nice secluded place where no one else existed. We were so happy away from here.

It was like this place, this campus held some kind of strange chemistry for us that pulled us away from each other. As much as I missed all my house mates and friends, I would have given them up in an instant to not have seen that look on Casey's face that I had just witnessed.

I walked up the front steps wondering what she would say when she arrived. I seriously doubted that she would be honest with me. I just couldn't imagine her doing anything besides what she always did, smile and pretend everything was fine.

I had no idea how I was going to look at her smiling at me and smile back, not when I knew everything I knew now. My entire body felt heavy as I went up the stairs to my room and closed the door behind me.

I sank gratefully into my bed and stretched out. Then I came off the bed just as quickly as a pair of hands came around my shoulder, and down my chest.

Snatching on the lamp, I looked around and shuddered as my eyes adjusted to the light.

" What the hell are you doing here ? " I demanded immediately as my eyes landed on the body in my bed.

" I missed you. I just wanted to say welcome back. " Rebbecca Logan mewed at me coyly.

I opened the door and pointed towards the hall. " Get out, Now. "

She pulled the blankets off her completely nude body and batted her eyes at me. " Like this ? Don't you think it would look a little funny, me going downstairs without any clothes on. People will talk. "

" Fine, " I smiled in irritation as I grabbed the coat that wasn't mine laying on the foot of the bed and threw it at her. " Get dressed, then get out. "

She snatched the coat up and flung it over her shoulders. " You know, I was just trying to be friendly. I thought we really connected the night we were together. "

I looked at her like she'd grown another head. " I don't even remember most of that night. " I told her.

" Is that what you're going to tell Miss Perfect when she finds out about us ? " she asked, with a snide little sneer as she got up and wrapped the coat around herself.

I closed the door but kept my hand on the knob. " Actually, that's what I already told Casey, because it's the truth. "

She stared at me in disbelief. " There is no way you told her about me and you're still together. "

" Did you really come all the way over here in nothing but a coat just to cause trouble ? " I asked. I absolutely could not believe the lengths she would go to hurt Casey. " I can't believe you really hate her that much. What is your morbid fixation with her ? "

She looked away from me and moved to the door, suddenly very ready to leave all on her own. " I do not have a morbid fixation. I just thought we could have some fun."

I laughed. " You thought you would come over here dressed like that and Casey would find you naked in my bed and draw her own conclusions. "

Her eyes flashed at me. " It's for her own good this time. You have no idea what she's dealing with right now because of you and your house's reputation. "

I didn't stumble. I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach but I didn't stumble. I was very proud. I didn't even flinch.

" Why would you be doing anything for Casey's own good ? What's your angle in all this ? " I demanded, taking a step closer to her.

She looked down again, then back up at me. " You know, I've been on my own for the most part since I came to this God Forsaken school. I really did think we were hitting it off during that project, and then you were so nice to me that night at the bar. " She sighed and I could have sworn I felt her hand shaking where it rested on top of mine over the door knob.

I blinked in amazement. Was that really a real emotion coming out of Rebbecca Logan ?

" Rebbecca, " I lowered my voice and looked down at her. " I'm with Casey and I'm not Evan. You can't have me just because you decided you want me. I belong to her. "

" I knew it. " she sighed again. " You really are a nice guy. "

" I really try to be. " I nodded.

" Then think about this, " she said, her voice quiet. " Your girlfriend is going through hell over you. She's been on the phone all afternoon and people have been in and out of her room constantly. "

I couldn't keep the frown off my face this time. She wasn't being mean now, she was being truthful and I couldn't just brush that off. " I know and I'm trying to figure out what we're going to do. "

" What you're going to do is make her lose this presidency. " Rebbecca told me bluntly. " I know you know how much this means to her and believe me, I am not here telling you this to save her ass. I'm here to warn you, because I know what she's willing to do to be the President of the Zeta Beta Zetas. I've seen it first hand. I like you and I don't want to see you get hurt, again. "

" And what is it that you think I should do about all this ? " I asked.

" From my point of view, I want to be the youngest president that Sorority has ever had, So I say please stay with her. For her sake, walk away. Actually better yet, find a way to make her walk away. It's easier to get over someone when your angry. "

I dropped my hand from the knob and went to sit on the bed with my head in my hands. " I can't do that. I just can't. How the hell am I supposed to let her go now when I just got her back ? "

I thought she would leave. I expected her to as soon as I freed the door. Instead she came to sit beside me and put her arm around my shoulder.

" I hate this for you. I know how much you wanted her back. " she said, her voice quiet again. " But Casey has to see, this time she can't have her cake and eat it, too. She's going to have to choose and I'm really afraid she isn't going to choose you. "

" Yes, she will. " I countered without a doubt in my mind. Suddenly I knew exactly what she would do and it turned my insides to mush just thinking about it. " She'll choose me and be completely miserable because of it. "

" That doesn't really sound like a win for you, now does it ? " she asked.

I nodded into my hands. No, it really didn't. I never wanted to make Casey miserable. I never wanted her to have to make another choice like this. I knew now how hard it had been on her the first time. It wasn't fair to put her through that again.

I would rather lose her and let her be happy than stay with her and make her miserable.

And Rebbecca was right. It wasn't enough for me to let her go. I needed her to leave me. It was the only way she could go on the way she needed to. Making her hate me was what I needed to do.

I thought for a moment about using Rebbecca. She was right there beside me and she was willing. I knew she wouldn't have hesitated to kiss me.

But there were some lines I couldn't cross. I couldn't make her hate me that much. I just couldn't. So I thanked her and lead her downstairs before Casey got there. Ushering her out as quickly as I could. I knew Casey would be there soon. Any moment she would come walking through the door with that obnoxious fake smile planted on her face. The one I hated so much. The one I couldn't stand to see her give me. It was the one she used on Evan. I had seen it so many times I couldn't count them all.

So while my mind formulated a plan to keep that plastic smile away I grabbed a drink and waited for her.

I didn't have to wait long. But I was surprised when she got there. She wasn't wearing the smile. She wasn't wearing any form of a smile. But she did kiss me and take my hand, leading me up to my room quickly.

" I have no idea what I'm going to do. " she said as soon as the door shut.

" About what ? " I blinked innocently.

I had found Fang downstairs with Wade and Beaver and collected him before I followed her to my room. He was now running around our feet, nipping at my pant legs and untying Casey shoes with his teeth.

" National is having a fit. Since the article came out they are watching us so closely." She explained, solemnly. " Someone, Rebbecca, called them and told them that we were together. "

She flopped down on the bed and let out a painful sounding sigh. " I've been on the phone all afternoon trying to smooth everything over. "

I looked at her in amazement. I had not expected this. She was telling me the truth. She wasn't pretending everything was fine. She wasn't wearing that fake grin. She was being honest. I couldn't believe how proud I was of her and her faith in me. I was touched and awed in the same moment.

" Then Evan came over and he was being, well, Evan. " she continued. " I just have no idea what to do. Can we go back home and hide from all of them again ? "

I kissed her, pulling her to me and putting everything I was feeling in that one moment in time into the kiss. I don't think I had ever loved her more than I did right then.

Then I felt guilty for my lack of faith in her and all we had been through over the past few weeks. Of course she wasn't going to lie to me. Of course she was going to be honest with me. I mentally berated myself for ever doubting her.

" I'm so sorry. " I whispered into her hair as I held her against me. " I know this is all because of me. I don't know what to do either. "

" I have a confession to make. " Her voice was low and guilty-sounding as she pulled away from me. " I actually thought, for about all of two seconds, of coming over here and telling you I couldn't see you anymore. Please don't hate me. "

" Of course I don't hate you. It's only natural that you might think about it. Like I said I am the cause of all your problems right now. " I was silent for a moment before I drew in a deep breath and continued. " It would kill me, but I would understand if you wanted to stop this now. I know how much the Sorority means to you. I don't want to be responsible for you losing something that means so much. "

She was looking at me now like I'd grown another head. " What the hell are you talking about ? "

" I know I'm making problems for you and I understand if you want to call this whole thing off. " I explained.

" You understand ? " She was practically yelling now, as she jumped to feet. " What kind of noble crap is that ? I thought we said we were in this for the long haul. I thought you said you loved me. But maybe I was wrong. Surely you couldn't be so nonchalant about letting me go if you did love me. "

Now I was on my feet and my voice was increasing in volume with every word I spoke. " You think this is easy for me ? You think I can just walk away from you without it killing me inside ? I don't know what I'm going to do if you decide to leave. "

Fang was barking between us, excited by our raised voice and animated movement.

We both looked down at him and neither of us could help but laugh at his little body with his tail raised in the air, looking as ferocious as he could manage, barking like mad, first at her, then at me.

" He's upset because Mommy and Daddy are fighting. " Casey mused as she picked him up in her arms and soothed him. " I have no intention of leaving, by the way, so this whole argument is pointless and we've upset him for nothing. "

" Casey, please, you have to think about your future and if that means not being with me, then we'll find a way to live without each other. " I said quietly as the dog leaped from her to me.

She took him back from me, set him down on the floor at our feet again and came into my arms. Then she blinked as she looked up at me. " Cappie, you are my future. "

Then she kissed me and I knew right then that we would find a way to work through everything together. It wasn't until later, laying with her in my arms and my puppy at my feet that I remembered the mysterious phone call at two thirty in the morning. I decided, as I drifted off, to ask her about it in the morning.