Greek:

Chapter 2.

The minute the door closed the bar exploded with noise. Cappie watched as Ashleigh pushed away from the bar, worry heavy on her face. He locked eyes for a moment with Evan as his former friend spun on his heel and followed Casey and Ashleigh. Cappie felt a hard drop of guilt settle in his stomach as he lifted his beer to his lips. Just what had been happening in Casey's life since he abandoned her to be with Rebecca? No, not abandoned. He'd never abandon her; he was just busy.

"Cappie?" A small voice said from behind him as he polished off the almost full glass. He turned to see Rebecca standing behind him, an odd mix of concern and anger showing in her eyes. He had to do something. Even Rebecca expected him to, the thought crossing her mind before it had in his.

"I'll be right back," he said quietly, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Cappie don't." Rebecca said, a dangerous warning tone in her voice, her hand gripping his arm tightly.

At that he stopped and turned, grabbing her hand.

"I'll be right back," he said as he brought her hand to his lips, barely brushing them.

Hey, it's Casey. I can't answer right now soo…click. Cappie sighed as he stuffed his phone into his pocket. It had gone straight to voicemail.

When he left the bar there was no sign of Casey, Ashleigh, or Evan. Deciding that Casey and Ashleigh would go back their house, he set off at a fast pace. He needed to catch her before she went inside or else he would never get her to come out and talk to him. And they definitely needed to talk.

"Cap?" A small shaky voice called out to him. He froze in his tracks and backpedaled to find Casey sitting on the curb between two cars. He had been walking so fast and his vision was so blinded by his thoughts that he hadn't seen her.

"Casey," he breathed. His stomach twisted as he looked down at her hunched figure. Tears still fell from her eyes making a stain on her knees, which were pulled close to her chest. Her arms were wrapped tightly around her knees, her bare shoulders shaking. Cappie could never stand to see her cry. It didn't happen often but when it did it made him feel sick. His chest hurt as if someone had kicked him there and his stomach clenched.

"Where's Ashleigh?" Cappie said, sitting down next to her, his feet planted at shoulder width apart and his arms lazily draped over his knees.

"I sent her home," she murmured. Cappie nodded at that, his gaze taking in her hazel eyes. Her long lashes stuck to one another and more tears escaped her although he knew she was trying to hold them back for him.

"Casey," he said softly moving to brush the dampness from her face. "You know I can't stand to see you cry."

She leaned her cheek into his palm, closing her eyes. "I'm sorry Cappie. I should never have…."

"Shh," he cut her off, soothing her with the gentle rubbing of his thumb on her cheek. "Don't blame Evan."

Eyes whipping open, Casey jerked her face away. "You're defending him? After all that he's done!"

"No, I'm not." Cappie said slowly. "I just know how it feels to love you and to watch you slipping away."

"Cappie," she said, extending the last syllable of his name as the tension in her shoulders eased.

"It makes a man desperate, making him resort to all kinds of things…like bribery." A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"That was different," Casey said flatly. "You bribed a T.A. so you could show me that I was making a mistake. Evan bribed Shane because he didn't want me to be happy unless it met his needs as well."

"I hurt you though," he said, remembering the anger in her voice the night that he had told her he wanted to be with her for the long hall. The night she had gotten lavaliered by Evan.

"No, you didn't. I was just angry. Angry that I let myself want you again."

Cappie's breath caught in his chest and he wished that he had known that little fact in that moment.

"I kissed you because I wanted to," she continued, "not because you manipulated me into it. The reason I was there was your doing but the kiss was mine. We could have just finished the paper and I could have left, second guessing my feelings for Evan, but I wanted you. I couldn't stop and I was mad at myself."

Casey's tears had tapered off as they fell into their own thoughts. Each too afraid to reach out and grab what was right in front of them. Slowly Cappie brought his eyes to meet Casey's and the back of his throat closed. She was giving him a look that he hadn't seen in two years.

Well, that wasn't entirely true. He had seen a glimpse of it the night that she had used him to get back at Evan. He remembered her straddling him as he sat on his bed. He had been kissing the perfect peaks of her breasts, his arms wrapped tight around her waist and hers around his neck, her fingers buried in his hair. He had looked up to see if she was enjoying herself and there it was, that look. His reaction must have been all over his face because she had quickly covered it up, making him doubt that it was even there to begin with. But now as he looked at her tear-streaked face he knew he was seeing it. It was the look she gave him when all she wanted to do was be wrapped up in his arms.

Casey knew that he knew what the look meant and she made no attempt to cover it up. This fact sent a powerful punch straight into Cappie's groin and he stifled the urge to act upon it. She was so close to him and all he had to do was reach out and cover her lips with his. She wanted him to and he knew how she would react. Her body would go all soft and pliant under his touch and she would fold herself against him, fitting to his body better than anyone ever could, even Rebecca. Rebecca.

"Evan has always felt threatened when his name and his money couldn't get him something," Cappie said after clearing his throat. "That's the only way he knows how to live and as much as he believes that he wants people to see past that, he also fears that they will. He doesn't always handle things the way he should. Don't let yourself be hurt by him."

The look had disappeared from Casey's eyes as soon as Cappie had said Evan's name. Her shoulders slumped slightly and Cappie knew he had gotten his point across. He couldn't go back, not with Rebecca tugging him toward the future.

"Thanks Cap, you're a really good friend," Casey said giving him a weak smile, the first that Cappie had seen from her all night.

"Not good enough," he mumbled guiltily. When Casey's eyes turned questioning he added, "I didn't know you were going through such a rough time with Evan or Shane even. Look, just because you and Rebecca don't get along doesn't mean that you can't come to me when you have a problem."

"I know," she replied, taking his hand and squeezing it in reassurance.

Neither of them bothered to take their hand back but after a few moments Casey let go and sighed. "I think I need some alone time."

Cappie's eyes narrowed in suspicion and Casey chuckled. "I'll be fine." When he didn't look convinced she said, "Really. Maybe tomorrow I'll go find Ryan Prince and finish the date that was interrupted by me having to cover your girlfriend's ass."

Cappie gave her a lazy smile; things were going to go back to normal.

"Okay, but no more crying. If you do, I'll have to" kiss your tears away, he thought, "sic Spitter on you," he said after dramatic pause.

Casey put her hands up as if to say that there was no need to go to extremes. Smiling sheepishly she leaned across the space and threw her arms around him for a quick hug before pulling away. At that Cappie nodded, standing to leave her to her thoughts.