Author's Note I'm on a writing 'spree'. At the moment I'm in the zone. Another chapter is coming up quick. I had to end this chapter short otherwise the flow would be off. The flow is important to me, and I'm sure the fact that it flows helps readers enjoy the writing. :D In this chapter we get in a little more to Dereks' feelings. Not too deeply. I don't want to say it all at once. Of course. And Casey's emotions of course. Symbolism is littered in this short chapter. So much pertaining to the future and how they feel. A lot of the symbolism is so minuscule you may not see it, but I hope that you look out for it. I like a nice over-analyzation every once in a while. I amuse you with a story, you amuse me with over-analyzation. 50-50 relationships rule. Enjoy? Look out for the next chapter within an hour. :D

Disclaimer My creativity on this matter is seriously lagging. I remember my first fic, It's You That Gets Me High, I seriously thought those random things up and threw them out. Some people even commented on how they made them giggle. I love to make people laugh. It makes me sad that I don't make people laugh at my disclaimers. So instead of disclaiming that I own this 'Life with Derek' idea...I make a claim that I do...n't own it. Boo yah. XO

Casey faced away from the door after Derek's door was heard shut in the background. The sound continued to echo in the night air. He didn't just find out. That would be ridiculous. She stared out of her window. There was no moon and the night seemed emptier and darker without it. Night and day; versus love and hate; versus Derek and Casey.

What difference was there? Night is dark; hate is dark; Derek is dark. Day is safe, love is safe and I am safe. Those are false. I'm not safe...The darkness is the only thing that seems to hold truth for me and it is the only thing that I can't keep my grasps on.

He is crazy.

Casey sat up with a jolt. He is crazy! That would make his stories and acting less unbelievable. After biting her lip in thought, she leaned back slowly and rested her head on her pillow. Maybe I am crazy. Maybe he's just evil. Maybe I'm trying to give him an excuse so I feel less horrible for letting this happen.

Casey turned to the door. Her tiredness was gone, vanished to the panicked eyes of Derek. She looked up. Why did I let this happen?

Laying for hours, in thought, the dawn came quickly and even sooner a loud alarm sounded stirring Casey from her troubled thoughts. Calmly she turned the 'beeping' off and hung her feet over the side of the bed.

Looking down, she noticed the blue lines beneath her skin. The blue lines that spread blood about her body. Blood that was hot, and dying to come out of her. In a sick and twisted moment of self-hatred she imagined her skin paler and her eyes lifeless. The family sat in rows in a funeral home, roses and lilies were littered about the room and about her casket. Derek walked over first. The dead thing inside her soul let him walk over first.

His smile was treacherous; Nora cried harder and harder.

"He's so brave. He really did care about Casey." Lizzie looked to Derek in honor and amazement.

"Derek, such a great big brother. He's realized what he's lost." Wicked laughter. Casey laughed to herself. The blue lines pumped harder and all she wanted was to cut myself. Let myself bleed all over him. Let his bloodstained sheets be known to the world. Let me fall to the emptiness I feel and just be empty of my blood.

Lizzie rapped her knuckles against Casey's door and walked in when there was no answer.

"Hey are you alright? I heard your alarm clock but you haven't left your room yet…" Casey didn't look up at her. She continued staring at her wrists. Lizzie glanced out the door and then walked in and shut it behind her. "Casey, are you okay? I'm really worried about you." Casey looked at her. Slowly, she shook her head no.

"I'm not okay. I will be. But I'm not okay. And it's all my fault." Lizzie walked over to Casey and sat down next to her.

"Do you care to tell me what happened?" She put a comforting arm around Casey, but Casey shook her head no and brushed her arm away.

"I've tried to tell you, and mom..., but I can't bring myself to speak about it. I can't. Not now at least. I'm not sure when…" She stood. "Lizzie…can you promise me something…" Lizzie stood and twiddled her fingers.

"Anything sis…" Casey turned around and put her hands on Lizzie's shoulders.

Derek dried himself off and put some clothes on. He stared about his face, wondering about the sides of him he was dying to meet. The persons' inside of him that kept knocking him out. What other treacherous things had they done? What about kids at school; His parents; His friends; Marti. His heart raced at all the imaginary events. Though he knew what he had done to Casey, he couldn't recall exact words or actions. Not to mention anything else he may have said or done to others.

This is torture. He clenched a fist and tensed his arm. Pretending to punch the mirror, he held himself back, then lightly touched it with his knuckles. In his mind the mirror had shattered; in reality it was still all in one piece. Nothing he could think of was in one piece and the mirror image of himself mocked him.

Derek left the bathroom and heard Casey muttering words to someone. He leaned against her door and heard only one sentence.

"Never be alone with Derek, if you know what's good for you." Lizzie furrowed her eyebrows. Without any explanation, Casey turned and left the room.

Derek heard Casey come and he quickly got into place like he was walking to his room. She cast him an empty glance, then drifted down the stairs.

His heartstrings shattered just as his imaginary mirror had.