Author's Note Yes, the end of last chapter was cute wasn't it. I just want to tell you guys that you probably won't get the ending you are hoping for. Hope away though, and just know that it won't be all bad I PROMISE! Just keep in mind this is a dark dasey for a reason…

Lots of action in this, lots of ideas. Well, not lots, but you'll know what I mean when you read the chapter. Let me know your thoughts, theories, etc. I love 'em, my readers know this...:D Anywho. We still have lots of ground to cover, I'll be going into chapter 30 for sure but I think after that it's not likely, but possible...depending. I have the ending in my head, (For the most part) it's getting there that I think will take about ten more chapters, so I hope you guys don't lose interest!

Also, let me know what you think of Noel. Is he OOC? (He's only in 2 eps, and honestly I could see him being like this given the situation. Thoughts?)

Disclaimer Dont' own it beatch.

Casey collapsed onto her bed and fell asleep instantly. It was the best sleep she had experienced even before her decision to 'liberate' herself.

Morning came and Casey woke a bare second before her alarm clock. She turned it off and exited her room. After a shower and breakfast, Casey and Derek headed to school together. They went in silence, and though the air between them was slightly awkward Casey embraced it, thankful that there was a more logical explanation for Derek's other behavior. Though, she may have accepted any answer that he could have given convincingly, no matter how completely ludicrous.

As she reached her locker, Derek departed from her and Casey questioned where Emily was. Remembering they had fought the previous day, she disregarded her interest in Emily's where-abouts, which she could only assume was with Peter.

Angie walked up to Casey, looking a little frazzled.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to bail on you yesterday when we were talking. I have a lot of stuff going on in my personal life and-"

"It's okay." Casey said, cutting her off. She reached up in her locker after she opened it and pulled out her English textbook. "It's not a big deal. I have stuff too, I'm human too."

"Well, duh, but I was just making sure you weren't mad." Casey raised her eyebrows and shook her head no, reassuring her. Angie smiled, and held a gaze in Casey's eyes. Casey mad a confused face and she shook herself from the trance. "Um, anyway, I talked to Noel, and he said that he tried but you were fighting with Derek about something."

"Huh?"

"He tried to ask you out, well, when he was going to, he saw you walk out of the cafeteria last week, on Friday, and was going to ask you then but you were fighting with Derek." Casey closed her locker and started walking, Angie followed.

"Oh. Oh well. I don't really know how I feel about Noel anyway. Even if I liked him, now wouldn't be the best time for me to date him." Casey said lazily, "But don't tell him that. If he actually asks me out, I'll say it myself. Third party information isn't good for people who want the truth and not second hand facts."

"O…kay?" Angie seemed a bit confused at what Casey meant, but continued with the conversation. "May I ask what you and Derek were fighting about?" Casey bit her lip. She hadn't thought anyone had seen them the other day, but Noel could have left as soon as he saw that Derek was talking to her, not leaving any time for her to have realized that he was there at all.

"Um, well, you know how that family stuff goes. Sibling rivalry and all." Angie got a knowing look on her face.

"Oh, I get it. He was upset that you were becoming more popular. I saw how his friends migrated to your table with Emily. That must have been an ego blow." She smirked. Casey let out a giggle and shook her head. Little does she know.

"Yeah, I suppose. But you know, he's always making empty threats." Kelly walked up to the other side of Angie and looped an arm around her waist. Angie pushed her away awkwardly and Kelly looked hurt and disgruntled, but walked closer to Angie.

"Hey Casey." Kelly said unenthusiastically. Casey smiled unwillingly at her, not liking something about her.

"So anyway, if he asks you out let me know. You know how I love gossip and talking about boys." Kelly nudged Angie at this remark and Angie gave her a twisted face that was supposed to send a secret message. She rolled her eyes at Angie and walked off.

"Right... What was that all about?" Casey asked as they reached her English class. She shrugged her shoulders.

"Kelly's odd. I wouldn't worry about it. You probably wouldn't want to know the details anyway." Angie winked curiously at Casey and then left. Confused, Casey sat at her desk.

Lunch rolled around and across the cafeteria, there Emily was, amongst the members of the 'popular crowd'. On her left side was Peter, who was rubbing her thigh a little too affectionately and on her right was Max. Emily caught Casey's eye, and she glared, unforgiving, in Casey's direction. She pointed and Max saw her. He smirked like he knew something she didn't and then looked away.

Her guts told her to leave, and she had learned her lesson recently to trust her instincts. Without even getting food she left the cafeteria and sat in front of her locker.

Just when I thought high-school couldn't get more twisted and sadistic, I become radically popular in a day, lose it in a weekend, lose my best, most trusted friend, have had a secret admirer since last year, could possibly be pregnant with my step-brothers child, meanwhile having to deal with said step-brothers' blackouts.

Casey tilted her head back against the locker and closed her eyes.

Of course, it seems that I'm always conveniently there for him, cleaning up his messes. Maybe this is just another con. What mess would it be that I am cleaning up then? Oh yeah…the mess he made of me…that doesn't even make sense? How can I clean up his mess if his mess is me? Argh…I don't even know…any- What is that?

Voices were heard a little ways down the hall in the boys bathroom. As it was lunch time Casey didn't know why anyone would want to use to hallway restroom if the cafeteria restrooms were open. Casey leaned her head back and closed her eyes again.

"I don't know what you are talking about Noel." Derek's voice was heard faintly. Casey looked toward the bathroom, now curious. He sounded slightly panicked.

"You know well what I am talking about. Just because I was the only one to overhear you doesn't mean you can pretend you didn't say that to Casey." She sat up, now hearing Noel's voice. He seemed really angry. Her heart was quickening and she slowly stood.

"I really don't know, I wish I could expla-" Casey put effort into slow footsteps, one in front of another, walking to the boys bathroom.

"I don't need an explanation. There's no good explanation to say those things to a girl, especially your step-sister." Their voices got louder as Casey got closer. She slowed her breathing, as though it would help her hear more clearly.

"What did I-"

"What did you do? What did you say? You said, and I quote, 'Do you think ignoring your feelings for me is going to make you feel happier?', and 'Quit denying me'. Who says that kind of stuff to people?" She reached the lockers just by the boys bathroom. Casey leaned against them and continued to listen intently.

"Noel, I don't have time for this, you don't under-" A loud whoosh noise was heard and a loud crack followed. Casey caught her breath. There was silence, and the world seemed to stand on it's own imaginary tip-toe. "Do you want…to understand, Noel?" Derek said, in a different voice. It was slightly deeper and threatening, just like when he-

Her thoughts were interrupted by sounds of punches and thrashings until the two boys came toppling out of the bathroom. Casey screamed from fright.

"STOP IT!" She yelled girlishly at the brawling males. Noel kicked Derek off of him and took a large swing at Derek face causing him to twist. Casey thought about jumping on Noel's back to get them to stop but decided that that would be a bad idea and kept screaming.

Derek reached up swiftly and grabbed a hunk of Noel's hair and dragged him down low enough to knee him in the face. She squealed in pure terror. Noel groveled painfully on the floor, his hands twitching.

"Derek!" He glanced at her, smirking and proceeded to kick Noel in the stomach. Some kids from the cafeteria had seen what was going on and came to watch. Casey was disgusted at the way they enjoyed this beating. "Stop it Derek!" She cried. Noel turned to her and gave her a helpless look, she desperately reached for his and pulled him away from Derek.

Derek's eyes penetrated her soul. His glare was threatening, ominous; she knew the look. He's not there, is he? He's not Derek…

"What?" He asked slyly? "Helping your new lover?" Casey chewed the side of her cheek, not gratifying him with an answer. Infuriated by her silence he rushed to her and she gave a swift kick into his groin. Derek fell with a loud thud and Casey stared at her foot. She too was now part of the violence.

Noel's face was bloodied and she couldn't think of anything to say to him. Her heart seemed to enlarge for him; the feeling was exasperating.

Angie came running down the hall, Mr. Lacitor in tow. As he reached the scene of the two boys down, with Noel's blood spilt on the floor, Derek reeling in pain and Casey standing between them; he looked to her first.

A teen in the unhelpful audience pointed to the boys.

"She was trying to get them to stop and when he was on the floor," The teen pointed to Noel, "She pulled him away and the other guy tried to attack her, so she kicked him out of defense." Derek's eyes were closed, his attitude had disappeared and he seemed to know what generally happened. He laid there, unmoving, knowing that his blackouts had gotten him into even more trouble.

"Is this true Casey?" Mr. Lacitor said, worry stricken across his face. Casey looked at him for a few seconds and burst into tears. Emily was looking out to her in the background, with the saddest face Casey had ever seen on her. Then again she was peering at Emily through tears. "Could someone help these young men get to the infirmary please." No one moved. "NOW Please." Two random teenagers walked out of the crowd and chose a boy and walked off. "Casey, please, come with me." Casey nodded at him through her tears and sobs, and followed him to his office.

The onlookers stared as they walked by, mostly at Casey, and in the distance she swore that she could hear Emily crying also, telling Casey that she was sorry.