Chapter 3:

Derek's Pov

I was just about to close my locker when a textbook was held in front of my face. A closer look told me it was a english textbook. Wait.... MY TEXTBOOK!!!!! My eyes snapped up to the girl holding it up.

Casey had a sheepish expression on her features as she stared at me and said, 'I think our textbooks got mixed up.' I stared at her with my mouth hanging open in surprise. I quickly disguised my gaping by yawning. 'Yeah, I think so too.'

She immediatly looked down at the floor as I said that last remark. 'You saw the doodles?' she asked.

'Yeah' I smiled as I remembered what it said.

Casey looked up just as I smiled and frowned.'You're gonna tell everyone now, aren't you?'

I pretended to think about that for a second before I shook my head. 'No. Everyone fantasizes about SJ Thompson High's hockey forward.' I decided to hide my feelings by teasing her. I didn't want to admit to her that I loved her in front of the entire student body. I'll tell her at home.

'I-WAS-NOT-FANTANSIZING-ABOUT-YOU!' Casey said through gritted teeth. I could tell she was trying to sustain her anger. Her populatrity was low enough as it was. She didn't want to lose her cool with me at school.

'I gotta head to my spanish tutorial with Seneora Sanchez. Sometimes I think it would've just been easier to go to Spain. Then at least when I came back I wouldn't be failing it.' I made my escape when I saw the tears of anger start to form in her eyes. I hated whenever someone started crying, but especially hers because that ussualy means I've hurt her in some way.

Casey's Pov

URG! Why did he have to say that? I really hate him sometimes, I thought as I walked to the school gym half an hour later. I barely noticed the door to the ice-rink slightly opened until I heard my name. I turned around and walked quietly to the double doors.

'I made up the spanish tutoring just to get away from her tears Sam. I don't have that until 5th period tomorrow.'

'Then why did you tell her that?'

'Feelings were starting to show. I don't show my feelings. It's bad enough earlier I couldn't stop thinking about the way her eyes sparkled a bit when we bumped into eachother. I don't want to tell her the way I feel because we're supposed to HATE eachother, not fantasize about one another, and even though I know that she feels the same way...' There was a pause before, 'I'm afraid that she will laugh at me'

'Wow D. That's the most compassionate thing I've ever heard you say, but why are you telling me this?'

'Because I needed to vent, even though I don't usually do that, and I couldn't go to Ralph because he doesn't really listen when your talking to him. He just stares into space. Emily would've been a good choice too but I don't know whether or not she knows that Casey likes me. And the thing is... I think I love Casey.'

I gasped loudly and stared at Derek and Sam sitting in one of the farther back seats of the arena. Derek whirled his head around so fast it would've been a blur if I hadn't been watching him so closely.

'Casey, I...' Derek started but didn't get the chance to finish as I had turned and ran out of he room, crying loudly. It didn't even register I was missing my favorite class in gym, dance, until I reached the parking lot and unlocked the door to Dereks car with my spare key.

'So what if he has to walk home from school. HOW could he do this to me, act so mean toward my feelings, making quips along the way? I mean, I heard him say why but it doesn't make any sense.'

My thoughts were so cluttered that I wasn't paying attention and almost ran a red light. Trying to straighten out my thoughts, I took deep breaths and controled my erratic breathing. It worked and soon I wasn't thinking about Derek at all. Only about the fact I was missing dance at school.