Author's Note It will start getting dark around chapter 6 or 7, just so you know. This fic is not complete, but I will probably be working on it everyday. Something about the darkness needs to get out of me. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer Dye-my-hands-yellow is screaming bloody Michael Seater. At one time I may have trusted her, but the little skank doesn't know he's actually sleeping in my bedroom. I own nothing. But MSeater's boxers. (HA!)

Liberated Casey walked down the stairs to the dinner table with such an air of confidence and spontaneity that Lizzie twisted her face in confusion.

"Are you alright Casey?" Casey took a bite of her food before answering Lizzie. Her eyes wandered to her little sister and she swallowed.

"I'm perfectly alright. Why do you ask?" Her grin could not be removed. Derek kept his eyes on her. Intent on her motives.

"You aren't on...drugs…are you?" George leaned in cautiously to say it before Marti got to the table. Casey laughed.

"Of course not. Why would you think that?" The un-liberated Casey was screaming to get out. Of course not! How could you even THINK that?

"Blood-shot eyes." George remarked. Casey touched her eyes.

"Oh, well I was on the computer for about 3 hours setting up my online journal and doing some other things." She dismissed it.

"Hey Dad, can I go over to Michelle's this weekend? She's going bowling with her family and she wants me to meet them." Edwin asked while shoving food in his face.

"Sure. I see nothing wrong with it."

"Well, Mom," Lizzie piped up, "Is it ok if I go over to Jamie's? He invited me to play some soccer with some of our friends." Nora looked at George for a moment.

"I don't have a problem with that. Have fun Lizard."

"Thanks!" Lizzie began eating her food while glaring at Edwin. Marti climbed up into her chair and started eating.

"Does that mean me and Daphne can go over to Dimi's?" A chunk of potato fell out of her mouth. Un-liberated Casey screamed and rattled her cage. Oh, that is just SO gross. Don't talk with your mouth full! Pick it up before it falls onto the…the potato hunk fell off of Marti's shirt and onto the floor…floor.

"If it's alright with Dimi's parents." Nora said sweetly.

"It will be. It always is." Marti said arrogantly. Derek laughed. Casey glanced at Derek. His eyes turned to her and instead of her squinting her eyes she simply raised her eyebrows and smirked. Predictable? Could you have predicted an unpredictable streak? Take that Venturi.

The Wednesday night whirled down to Casey's kitchen duty and a house of sleeping people. She kindly scrubbed the dishes, happy for the silence and time to think on her now liberated self.

Is it alright for me to be dangerous? I mean, I haven't stepped to dangerous territory yet. But the unpredictable people are followed by unpredictable patterns and now that I've started it, if I continue it at school,

Will I gain an unpredictable trail? It's not like it could be a bad thing to let myself change into something I'd rather be. I won't let myself get stupid though. I already did that with Max. Unpredictable and intelligent. I'm going to be frightening.

Casey smirked and moved onto the next dish.

"Are you sure nothings' up with you?" A deep voice called to her. She lifted her head up, leaned sensually against the sink and turned her head.

"What ever do you mean Derek?" He walked a little closer.

"You didn't act how you usually do. Did…Something happen at school today?" Casey looked at him, still smirking.

"Casey, of course you signed up for that. You are so predictable it's painful. But do you think for ONCE you could have left me out of it?" Emily said in aggravation.

"Em, I needed a partner and you were busy talking to the jock on Max's football team that you just won't get over."

"How predictable. You do something that involves me not wanting to do also, and then find a way to make me feel guilty."

"No. Why would you think I needed a reason to be different. Not that I am different." Derek raised his eyebrows.

"Maybe because you need a reason for everything. It's in your…nature." Casey turned her whole body to him.

"Well, it's also in human nature," Casey was gaining an attitude, she dashed it away quickly and added a sweeter voice, "to change. What's wrong with wanting to be…better." She smirked with a slightly open mouth, tongue lining against her teeth. Derek's eyes softened. "Besides, why do you pay so much attention?" Casey raised one eyebrow.

"I don't know." Derek said tilting back. "I'll have to get back to you on that one weirdo." He turned away, and Casey felt strange. Not happy strange, defeated strange. A face that Casey couldn't see, Derek's face, was twisted into a pleasure smile, and he walked upstairs feeling as though what he wanted all along was now on the horizon.

I knew she'd come along eventually. Derek thought to himself, laying on his bed. They always warm up to me eventually.