The Lite and Easy pool hall was never crowded, never too loud and most importantly no one I knew, knew of its existence. Besides Casey of course. We had spent many, many hours inside the smoky, smelly dive leaning over a pool table in the back drinking horrible beer and enjoying the anonymity of the place.

As I walked inside the bartender nodded towards me and my eyes instantly began to sting from the smoke in the atmosphere. I rubbed at them for a moment before heading towards the back and finding a nice little out of the way table with a chair that had one leg shorter than all the rest. It rocked with him slightly as I sat down and scanned my eyes over the meager crowd that had already assembled.

A couple of big, beefy looking guys were leaving on their pool cues, talking about something in quiet, hushed voices. Another couple, a man and a woman were circling each other over beers at another table, looking like a pair of vultures in heat, smiling and flirting ridiculously.

But there was no Casey. I settled back to sip at the beer a waitress had set in front of me and wait.

I didn't have to wait for long. Just as I was setting down my empty glass and glancing for the hundredth time at my watch, I spotted a flash of a blond ponytail followed by another much darker head of hair.

I blinked for a moment in confusion, not exactly sure of what I seeing at first. Then recognition dawned on me. Casey wasn't here to see Evan. She was here meeting Fran. But why ? Why the hell would she have agreed to meet Fran after all the hell the woman had put her through. I pulled the hood of my black sweatshirt a little tighter around my face and shifted so that I wasn't in their view directly.

They walked right past me as I leaned over my table and pretended to concentrate on my phone.

Luck was on my side as they slide into the chair at the table right behind mine.

" So, I'm glad you've come to your senses and agreed to listen to me. I can help you, Casey. " Fran was saying. " I can help you keep this Presidency. "

" I don't need your help in keeping my position. I am doing just fine on my own. " Casey informed her tersely. " You know why I'm here. And I think its really sad that you had to resort to blackmail to get me to give you a few moments of my time. Although I suppose it does say a lot about your importance around campus these days, doesn't it ? "

Fran sat back and I saw her shoulders straighten. " I would watch who I piss off if it was me, Sweetie. You don't want me for an enemy. "

" I don't want you as anything, Fran. I want you to leave me alone. Just go away. Slink back under whatever rock you crawled from and let me clean up the mess you made. " I smiled to myself as I heard Casey telling her.

" How exactly do you think the new love of your life is going to take it when he finds out about that little incident between you and Evan that I referred to earlier ? I bet he freaks out and never wants to see you again. That would be fun to watch. " I could hear the smile in her voice and I wanted to get up and slap it from her face.

She was gloating, mocking Casey and I hated hearing it in her tone. Wait, I thought to myself, what little incident !

I leaned back in my chair to hear better as I heard Casey shifting. " It was a long time ago and I'd rather not discuss it. What is it you want ? "

" Well, it's good to know that you care enough about keeping your secret that you're willing to listen to me at least. That's a start. What I'm wondering is, exactly how much does the secret mean to you ? "

" Just tell me what you want. " Casey insisted impatiently.

" I want to come back to the house. "

" I can't do that. National has been looking over all you creative book keeping skills and they aren't happy. I managed to talk them out of filing criminal charges over your misappropriation of finds. Don't you think you owe me enough for that to keep your mouth shut. "

Fran sighed and leaned forward. " What do you think ? "

" Well, I'm not letting you blackmail me into reinstating you in the house. I can't do that. My Presidency really would be over. "

" Well, it's either your presidency or your little relationship. You chose. " I heard that smile again. "Come on, Casey. You knew it would come to this. It always does, doesn't it ? You can't have both. It will never work. Besides as hard as you are working to win over all the girls of the house. My people on the inside are working to win them back. It's a constant tug of war and it always will be. You stabbed me in the back over that article and I intend to pay you back for that, with interest. "

Casey stood. I heard her chair scrap across the floor as she left it. " I'm going. Say whatever you want. Do whatever you want. I haven't got time for your games anymore. I just think it's sad when people can't see how over they are. "

Fran was standing too now. " How dare you talk to me like that ! " She spat rather loudly. " I made you everything you are today. I can break you just as easily. "

" No, Fran, you can't. No one is listening to you anymore. Everyone sees what a loser you are now. It's over. Accept that. You're over. " Casey told her.

" I'm betting Cappie will listen to me. " Fran said.

" I'm betting he won't. "

Fran took a step closer to her and Casey eased back from her. " Listen to me, you ungrateful little Bitch. You have the power to make National listen to you right now. They will believe you if you tell them that everything they think about me is a mistake and you want me back in the house. "

Casey stepped around her. She was standing right next to me and I leaned over my table, trying to keep hidden as much as I could.

" I am not letting you back in the house. It's not going to happen. Leave us alone. " Casey said.

The next thing I knew there was a sound like an angry wild animal coming from Fran and she launched herself towards Casey. But Casey was fast and stepped out of the way at the last second. I felt myself tumbling out of my chair as Fran's body slammed into my chair's off balanced legs and sent it flying from under me.

I rolled and tried to brace myself with my hands but Fran fell into me, knocking me onto my side and causing me to slam my head into the single, metal leg in the middle of the table.

I couldn't think for a moment as pain seared through me. I grabbed at the side of my head, and felt wetness and bringing my hand away I saw blood.

I looked up at Casey who was standing over me with her hands out trying to help me up until her face registered recognition. She stepped back from me like I had burned her almost stumbling in her retreat.

Fran was sitting on the floor beside me laughing joyously, it was an evil, shrill noise that carried through the small room.

Everyone was watching us. Neither Casey nor I moved, Neither knowing what to say to the other. Then her eyes trailed to the side of my face and grew wide as she noticed the blood.

" Oh, God, " she exclaimed, bending down to me, " Are you okay ? "

"Yeah, I think so. " I mumbled, trying to stand.

" What the hell are you doing here ? " she demanded as she helped me to my feet.

" Isn't it obvious, Sweetie ? " Fran said, standing as well. " He followed you. He was spying on you. That's just delicious. I couldn't have planned it better. "

Casey ignored her and looked at me with narrowed eyes. " Are you spying on me ? "

I looked down, unable to meet her eyes. I couldn't lie to her and tell her I wasn't. I was caught. I had no excuse for what I'd done. Once again that terrible feeling was overtaking me.

What the hell was I do ? Sneaking around in shadows, listening to phone conversations, hiding outside her room, snooping in her e-mail behind her back. I had never been an especially jealous person. I was acting insane and she had every right to be angry.

I let my shoulders sag as I stepped past her and left the bar without saying a word.

I barely made it to my bed when I heard her footsteps approaching my door. I rolled to my side, hiding my face from the door as it opened and closed again.

" What the hell, Cap ? " she asked as she came to stand beside the bed.

I didn't move, instead choosing to just lay there as still as I could.

" Okay, " she nudged me. " First you act like some jealous Neanderthal, following me, spying on me and now you won't even talk to me. Damn it, I deserve some kind of explanation. "

I sat up finally and turned towards her. " I'm sorry. I don't know what the hell I'm doing. I can't give you an explanation. I don't have one. " My voice was shaky and I tried to keep it steady. From the look on her face it didn't work that well.

" Don't you trust me ? " She asked, sitting beside me. " I've never given you a reason not too. "

" I know and I want to. I don't know why I've done the things I've done. " I said and I was instantly sorry as her eyes widen and she regarded me carefully.

" What do you mean, the things you've done ? " she asked, carefully.

I sighed and let my shoulders sag again. " I listened in on your phone call the night I got sick, when I found you in the living room. Then Hannah came by yesterday and told me that Evan was with you in your room. I sneaked up the trellis and watched you with him. Then earlier I listened to you on the phone again at the restaurant. "

She was on her feet looking down at me angrily. " Oh, my God. What the hell do you think you're doing ? I thought maybe you followed me tonight. I had no idea you've been spying on me like this. How could you do this ? You have no right. "

I nodded and refused to look at her. " I know. You're right. "

" This is your idea of a total, deep, supportive love ? " she fumed. " This is crazy. I've given you no reason to treat me like this. "

I agreed once again with a nod. Then I remembered what had brought her to the pool hall in the first place.

Suddenly I was on my feet as well, staring down at her much shorter frame. " Oh, yeah. Then maybe it's time you told me what it is that Fran is holding over your head. " My voice was louder than I intended it to be and I stepped back from her a pace.

" I'm not sure I want to tell you about it now. I had every intention of telling you when I got back here tonight, but now, I'm not sure how you'll react. I'm not sure I know you at all anymore. "

I flinched and fought the urge to look away from her. " I could always just call Fran. I'm sure she'd be more than happy to fill me in. "

She took a step back and stared at me with her mouth agape. " Did you just threaten me ? " she hissed.

" No, I'm just telling you I'm going to find out what the big secret is one way or the other. I'd rather hear it from you. " I informed her coldly.

I had no idea where all the anger I was feeling was coming from, but it was there and I couldn't stop it now. Somehow I suspected that I was more angry with myself than at her, but I was helplessly in the middle of this thing I had started and I couldn't back out now.

" I saw Evan once before I broke up with you last time. He kissed me. I wasn't planning it. He showed up at a party I was at and it just kind of happened. I felt horrible about it and I came to tell you the next day but you were passed out when I found you and I got angry and decided not to say anything. " She said before turning and stomping to the door. " Now you know the whole, bug ugly truth. Do you feel better about all the things you've been pulling lately ? Do you think a kiss at a party one night over a year ago justifies all the spying eavesdropping ? I can't believe you did this to us. After all that crap about being honest this time and tellign each other everything. " Tears sprang to her eyes suddenly as she continued to rant with her hand on the doorknob. " How dare you treat me like this ! I put everything on the line for you. I didn't lie to you about anything. And this is how you repay that. "

My gaze fell to the floor. I couldn't look at her. She was right. I had no right to be angry. She had all the right in the world.

I heard the doorknob turned and I took a step towards her to stop her and beg her not to leave, but she was already out the door before I got to her.