CHAPTER TWO

Cappie and Casey had been walking for the last ten minutes, taking in the sights of the houses on sorority and fraternity row. It was a beautiful night. Cappie snuck a peek at Casey's face. He smiled down at her. "So Case, are you excited for graduation?"

Casey looked up at him. "I guess," she said quietly.

"What do you mean, you guess?" Cappie asked.

"I just don't know if I'm really ready to leave CRU, you know?" She was looking at him with her big hazel eyes.

Cappie looked intently at her and nodded. "I know what you mean. I don't really want to leave either."

"So, you're graduating after all?"

"Why are you so surprised?"

"I don't know. Cappie, the past four years you were so into Kappa Tau and your social life that I had no idea what you were majoring in. In fact, I don't think anyone knew."

Cappie nodded. "Casey, I had a reputation to uphold." He winked at her. "I majored in History actually."

"I'm proud of you, Cap."

"Thanks." Cappie said. "So, Rusty tells me you're headed out to California in a couple of weeks." Cappie looked down at her again.

Casey was silent as they walked. She saw a bench ahead of them and walked towards it and sat down. Cappie took a seat next to her. Just a little too closely. Casey scooted over a bit and turned to face Cappie. "Yeah, Cappie, I'm going to L.A. this summer."

Cappie held her gaze and looked into her eyes. "Are you excited about that?"

She slowly nodded her head. "Of course. Max will also be close by at Cal Tech."

Cappie tried not to scowl at the mention of Max, but he knew Casey saw it on his face. "So, you and Max are going to California together? That's superb."

Casey rolled her eyes at Cappie. "We aren't technically going together but I'm doing an internship at this great magazine and Max decided to finish up his PhD at Cal Tech. At the end of the internship, they're going to hire on one of the interns full time. I'd love to get it."

"Casey, you can get anything you want." Cappie told her. "Seriously, you'll knock them all out."

"Thanks Cap. What about you? What are you doing after graduation?"

"I'll be going to law school."

Casey put a hand on Cappie's arm. "Law school? That's wonderful. Congrats."

"It's nothing," Cappie said. "I'm actually going to travel Europe before I start school in August."

"Wow, that's great!" Casey exclaimed. "I'd love to travel Europe sometime in the future."

"Really?" Cappie asked, looking at Casey's face.

Casey laughed. "I'd love to go to Europe one day. I'd love to see France, Greece, England, and so many other places."

Cappie smiled at her and took a deep breath. "Actually Case, I have some things I want to say to you."

"Okay," Casey said hesitantly, nervous by Cappie's serious expression. "What's up?"

Cappie grabbed one of Casey's hands and placed it in his. He looked her in the eyes and boldly said. "Casey, I don't know why I've kept this in for so long. But I can't leave CRU without telling you this."

Casey knew she should move her hand from Cappie's, but she couldn't. She nodded her head and said "What is it?"

"Case, I love you." Cappie said before he could lose his nerve.

Casey was shocked by what she heard and gasped. "Cappie," she started. "Please tell me you didn't just say what I thought I heard."

"I love you Casey. I've never stopped." Cappie went on. "I can't leave CRU without knowing how you feel about me."

Casey removed her hand from Cappie's and put her head in her hands. "Oh Cappie," she said. "I wasn't expecting this tonight. I don't know what you want me to say. I can't be with you. I love Max."

Cappie scowled again. "Casey, you know we're meant to be together."

"I don't know Cappie," Casey told him. "Why did you have to tell me?"

"Because I couldn't leave CRU without letting you know. Casey, I'm crazy about you. I never should've let you go."

"Cappie," Casey started. "What we shared freshmen year was special. But we were only 18 or 19 then. We're both different people know."

Cappie shrugged. "No matter what I do, you'll never think of me as the serious type, will you?"

Casey paused as she looked at Cappie's face. Her heart ached as she saw his sad expression. "Cap, I don't think that. I've seen you change in the last year and I couldn't be more proud. I'm just not the woman for you."

Cappie sighed. "Casey, you are my dream. No one compares to you."

Casey could feel tears in her eyes as she heard Cappie's words. "Cappie, I can't do this right now. I need to go back to the house."

"Casey, we have one week left before we both leave CRU. All I want to know is if you have any feelings for me."

Casey stood up and looked down at Cappie. "I will always have feelings for you, Cap. You're my first love, that's something I can never forget."

"Please don't go, Casey." Cappie pleaded with her. "Stay here with me."

"Cappie, I can't." Casey said sadly, trying not to look into Cappie's blue eyes. "I have to go." Casey turned to leave but not before Cappie grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms.

"Casey," Cappie said, breathing her familiar scent in. "I have only one more thing to say to you."

Casey closed her eyes as she laid her head on Cappie's chest and listened to his heartbeat. "What is it?" She managed to get out.

"I know you have your internship in L.A. I know you're excited about that. But I can't bear to be away from you all summer Case. Come with me to Europe."

Casey broke their embrace and gave Cappie a long look. "Are you joking here?"

Cappie smiled at her. "I'm serious Casey. I want you to come with me to Europe."

"And give up everything I've worked so hard for? Are you crazy?" Casey exclaimed. "How can you even ask me to give up my internship?"

Cappie frowned at her. "There will always be internships out there. I'm asking you to come to Europe with me."

"Cappie, you know I can't do that. I'm not giving up my internship or Max just for you." Casey said menacingly. She felt like a bitch as she said the words, but what Cappie was suggesting wasn't even an option in her books.

"Will you just think about it?" Cappie asked dejectedly.

"Cappie, you're not getting it. I've made up my mind."

"Case," Cappie started.

Casey glared at Cappie and raised her hands to stop him. "Enough already Cappie. You can't just drop all this on me one week before we leave college. It's not fair."

Cappie was angry by now. He couldn't believe she was going to give him a lecture on fairness. "Case, don't you dare talk to me about fair. I've been there for you on more than one occasion and I know you have the same feelings for me like I have for you. Do you think it's fair to string me along all this time?"

Casey gasped at Cappie's words. "I have not strung you along. I meant it when I said I wanted to be friends."

"Well, I don't just want to be your friend." Cappie retorted. "I want to be your boyfriend, companion, partner, and all of the above. Every time we've been given a chance to be together, why did we always mess it up?"

"Maybe it's fate," Casey replied, alluding to the midterm paper they had worked on together last fall.

"Very funny Case." Cappie said. "Let's just do it. Let's be together."

"Hi, have you forgotten that I have a boyfriend named Max, whom I love very much."

"How can I forget when you keep reminding me?" Cappie replied bitterly.

Casey rolled her eyes at Cappie. "Seriously Cappie, I don't want us to fight one week from graduation. Let's just calm down and take back some of these words."

Cappie shrugged. "I swear I can't get through to you ever."

Casey looked at Cappie. "What do you mean?"

"The guys all warned me that you'd never listen to me. And they're right. I'm such a glutton for punishment. I don't know why I torture myself?" Cappie mused.

"Cappie," Casey said giving him a concerned look. "I hear you, alright? It's just that what you're asking me to do is really huge. I can't give up this internship."

"Casey, what if we both leave CRU and we lose touch?" Cappie asked, feeling his eyes getting watery. "I'm afraid that you won't be in my life anymore."

Casey was silent as she felt tears streaking down her cheeks. "Trust me, Cap. I don't want that to happen either. The truth is I think I'll miss you more than anyone after we leave."

Cappie reached over and pulled Casey back into his arms. This time there was nothing more to be said as they sat there in silent crying together. Cappie knew in his heart that he wasn't giving up on Casey just yet. Her answer may be no today, but he had one week to convince her that they belonged together. He knew that he couldn't leave CRU without Casey Cartwright by his side.

Casey knew she was probably leaving a big wet spot on Cappie's shirt from her tears but she didn't care at the moment. She couldn't believe how emotional she got when Cappie said the words she was afraid of hearing. He still loves me, she thought. In many ways, she knew she loved Cappie too. But she knew she couldn't give up her internship or Max just to be with Cappie. As far as she was concerned, Cappie was too late – about three years too late. She just hoped they could get through the rest of the week without any more confessions. She wasn't sure if her heart could handle any more news.