A/N: Sorry that it's taken such a long time to post the next chapter in this story....I promise you I will finish it in the next few weeks. It's been a busy summer and fall for me...hope you enjoy!

CHAPTER FIVE

Casey smiled as she watched Max's reaction to Myth Busters on the Discovery Channel. She hadn't really been paying attention to the show; her mind was occupied with other thoughts. She had been surprised when she got a call from Max that morning. He decided to come back to CRU early because he didn't want her to be alone since it was their last weekend before graduation. After she left Rusty, she went back to the ZBZ house to meet Max. They decided to go back to Max's dorm.

Casey was glad that Max was watching his show, this way they didn't really have to talk. She was thinking about her conversation with Rusty. It was sweet that her little brother was so concerned about her and Cappie. She tried not to think about Cappie, but she couldn't help it either. Now that she didn't have Rebecca, Ashleigh, or Rusty urging her to go back to Cappie, she could think about what he said objectively. As much as she didn't want to admit it, when Cappie told her he still loved her, it made her heart flutter. But she had done the right thing, hadn't she? She couldn't live in the past. She had Max and he was perfect.

"Hey Casey," Max said, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze. "I feel like you're a thousand light years away."

Casey smirked and rolled her eyes. Leave it to Max to use scientific phrases. "I'm fine." She said quickly and unconvincingly.

Max leaned towards her and pressed his lips lightly against hers. "Come on, you can tell me anything. You've been acting aloof all day. What's on your mind?"

Casey pulled away and looked at Max. Should she tell him? He and Cappie were not on the friendliest terms, but they put up with each other for her sake. "It's nothing Max. I just have a few things on mind."

"Like what? Casey, talk to me." Max pleaded with her.

"I'm not sure you want to hear this." Casey told him.

"Try me." Max said confidently.

Casey sighed. "Okay, but you have to promise me you won't get mad."

Max frowned. "What am I supposed to say when you say something like that?"

Casey gave him a small smile. "Fine. I'll tell you." She looked down at her hands. "Last night, Cappie came by the house and we went for a walk."

Max eyes darkened at the mention of Cappie. "What did he want?" Max was always weary about Cappie whenever he was near Casey. He knew Cappie was jealous of him because he was Casey's boyfriend now. What did Cappie expect? That Casey would wait around for him to grow up. He wasn't sure if he was going to like what Casey told him.

"He just wanted to talk about our plans after college." Casey said.

"Oh yeah? And what are Cappie's plans? To stay at CRU forever." Max said sarcastically.

Casey looked at Max and frowned. "Cappie's traveling around Europe this summer before he starts law school."

"Law school? Wow, I didn't think Cappie had it in him." Max replied.

Casey was getting annoyed by the things Max was saying about Cappie. "Hey, I was just as surprised, but you don't have to be mean about it. I misjudged Cappie and I shouldn't have."

"Why are you defending him?" Max asked, narrowing his eyes. "Didn't you tell me that when you dated all he cared about was his Kappa Tau brothers and drinking? He pushed you to the side."

"Yeah, but we were 18 then. Things are different now. Cappie's different now." And then a thought struck her. "I can't believe how stuck in the past I was." Casey finally admitted to herself, unaware that Max was right beside her.

"What are you talking about?" Max asked with hesitation.

Casey felt sick to her stomach at what she was about to do. "Max, I'm sorry, but I can't be with you anymore."

Max was shocked. "Case, please tell me you're kidding?"

Casey reached out and patted his arm. "I am so sorry Max, but it's over. It's time I'm honest about my feelings."

"But you said you loved me." Max said dejectedly.

Casey felt tears spring to her eyes. She looked away from Max. "I meant it when I said it, okay?" She sighed, "But after everything that happened last night, I realize my heart belongs to someone else. It always has." Casey felt horrible as she saw the crushed look on Max's face. She reached out and gently touched his cheek with her right hand. "Max, you're the perfect boyfriend – you're honest, smart, good looking, sincere, but you're not the right guy for me. I'm so sorry. I have to go." Casey walked towards the door, but Max stopped her.

Max had tears in his eyes. "Why did you have to say you love me? Why go out with me if your heart belongs to someone else."

Casey shrugged. "I really do care about you Max. You've helped me more than you'll ever know. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, too." Max said sadly.

"Good-bye," Casey said quietly as she walked out of his room. She checked her watch and saw that it was 7:30. The party at the KT house was starting just about now. She wanted to make sure she looked her best before she found Cappie and told her she still loved him, too. As sad as she was that she broke up with Max, she couldn't wait to see Cappie's reaction.

Once she was back at the ZBZ house, Casey ran up to her room and started looking through her closet for something to wear.

"What are you doing?" Casey turned around at the sound of Ashleigh's voice.

Casey grinned. "Looking for something cute to wear. I'm going to the KT party. Want to come with?"

Ashleigh crossed her arms over her chest. "And why are you going to the KT party. Aren't you hanging out with Max tonight?" Ashleigh noticed Casey shrug at the mention of Max's name.

Casey gave Ashleigh a small smile. "I broke up with Max."

"What?" Ashleigh exclaimed. "I thought he was your perfect guy."

Casey rolled her eyes. "You were right this morning. It's someone's imperfections we're supposed to love." Casey slowly smiled and said, "And I'm in love with Cappie."

".God!" Ashleigh screamed out.

"Ow, Ash," Casey said, covering her ears while smiling at her best friend. "I have to tell Cappie."

"Wearing that?" Ashleigh wrinkled her nose at Casey's outfit.

Casey laughed. "I am not wearing this. Help me put something together."

With Ashleigh's help, Casey decided on a pair of dark jeans that hugged her butt perfectly and a cream colored camisole that showed off her tanned golden shoulders and arms. Ashleigh helped her put some make-up on. Casey dusted her lids with a beige shimmery shade and applied lip gloss to her lips giving her a romantic and natural look. She brushed her blonde hair out. She was ready to reveal her feelings to Cappie.

"How do I look?" Casey asked.

"Gorgeous!" Ashleigh replied excitedly. "I can't wait to hear how everything goes."

"Aren't you coming with me?"

"Of course. I just can't wait, that's all."

"Let's get out of here." Casey slipped into a pair of brown boots and grabbed a teal cardigan just in case it got cold later.

They talked animatedly as they made their way towards the KT house. As they neared the house, they could hear a band playing. "Leave it to the KTs to throw the loudest party of the year." Ashleigh grinned.

"Come on," Casey urged. "I gotta find Cappie." Casey reached the front doors and turned to face Ashleigh. "Oh my God. I can't do this."

Ashleigh rolled her eyes and pushed her friend towards the door. "Go and find him. I'm going to go talk to Calvin. Good luck!"

"Ash!" Casey called after her best friend. Casey stood there for a second longer. She needed to do this. She went through the doors and immediately ran into one of Cappie's best friend, Beaver.

"Hey Case," Beaver grinned. "Welcome to what may be the best party the KTs will ever throw."

Casey laughed. "I don't doubt that." Then she gave Beaver a serious look. "Do you know where Cappie is?"

Beaver frowned at the mention of Cappie's name. "Case, I think you're awesome, but I have to keep you away from Cappie tonight. He's hurt because you rejected him last night."

Casey sighed. "Beaver, I'm here to tell Cappie that I want to be with him, too."

Beaver's smile widened. "You are?" Then he playfully socked her in the arm. "It's about time you two wised up. We've all been dreadfully waiting." Beaver looked around the room. "Cappie's over there." He nodded towards the closet. Our closet, Casey thought with a smile.

Casey marched over and shoved Cappie into the closet and shut the door behind them. Cappie was shocked to see Casey in front of him. "Casey, what are you doing?" Before she could lose her nerve, Casey bent Cappie's face down to hers and she pressed her lips against his. Cappie returned her kiss, but then she felt him gently push her away. "Seriously, what are you doing?"

"Cappie," Casey looked up at him and into his blue eyes. "I love you, too. I always have."

Cappie looked taken aback. He hadn't expected this from her. "What about Max?"

"What about him?" Casey said leaning towards Cappie again. "It's over between us."

Cappie held her back and looked down at her. "Casey, are you sure about this?"

"Of course I'm sure. Cappie, I want to be with you. You asked me to go to Europe with you and I'm saying yes." Casey smiled brightly at him.

"What about your internship?" Cappie asked.

"Maybe they'll let me start in August. I'll call them on Monday."

Cappie shook his head. "Casey, you can't give up your internship for me. It was selfish of me to even ask you to do that. You earned that internship and you should go to L.A. Don't come with me to Europe."

Casey looked up at Cappie with an odd expression on her face. "I'm confused. Last night, you told me you still loved me and you asked me to go to Europe with you. And I'm here telling you that I love you and I'll go with you. But now you're telling me not to go. What are you going to tell me next, that you don't love me?"

Cappie looked away from Casey's face. "I will always love you, Case."

"But?" Casey said barely above a whisper.

"But I got perspective on our situation and you're right. We're not 18 years old anymore and I need to focus on my future. I have to prove to myself that I'm worthy to be with you. I want you to be proud of me, Casey."

"But Cappie, I am proud of you." Casey told him, looking up at him with a smile.

"I wish that was enough," Cappie told her quietly. "But what if you wake up tomorrow and realize this is a mistake. You'll remember that I'm a childish, lazy, unreliable, unpredictable, unambitious frat guy who wants to party all the time and not grow up."

Casey could feel the tears forming. She was so confused by all of this. She had been so confident that Cappie would accept her back into his arms. But he wasn't. This time she was being rejected. "Cappie, I don't care if you're those things. I was too judgmental in the past and I let that affect us. It's my fault that I cared too much about what other people thought. But I don't care what anyone thinks anymore. I want to start living my life how I choose to live it. And it starts with you. I want you, Cap." Casey placed a hand against Cappie's cheek. "I want you, just the way you are."

Cappie knew that he should be jumping with joy, but he couldn't. He had to let Casey go. It was time. Cappie looked away from Casey's face. "Case, please forget what I said. I need to let you go."

Casey could feel the tears starting and tried to blink them away. "Cappie, I don't want you to let me go. I'm asking you to be with me."

Cappie shrugged and moved Casey's arms from him. "I'm sorry," he told her quietly.

"What happened in the last 24 hours to make you change your mind?" Casey asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

Cappie looked away from her; he couldn't bear to see the pained look on Casey's beautiful face. "Like I said, I got perspective of our situation. I'll always be a loser and you're not destined to be with one. You deserve a wonderful life Casey."

"Cappie, you're not a loser. I've never thought that about you."

"Case, I'm trying to let you go and I need you to let me go. We've played this song and dance way too long. Our change to be together has expired."

Casey looked at Cappie with sadness. She tried to be brave with what she said next. "Cap, our chance hasn't expired. I'm here, ready and available for you. I want you."

"It's too late." Cappie grabbed the door knob and gave Casey one last look. "I gotta get back to the party. See you around Case."

Before Casey could say anything else, Cappie walked out of the closet. Casey knew the tears were falling hard now. She had to get out of the KT house. She shielded her face from everyone as she made her way to the front doors. She could hear people shouting her name, but she didn't want anyone to see her. She needed to be alone.