Casey opened her eyes to a darkening vastness. The sun was setting as a light glow illuminated her room. She had slept the entire day away. Her nausea was no more which was strange. Who had food poisoning or a stomach flu for no more than an hour? After a bowl of chicken noodle soup and half a bottle of Sprite, she passed out.

Casey stretched her aching body, her right hip hurt from having slept on it for hours without moving. She rolled onto her back and felt a sharp object jab her.

"What the..."

She reached beneath her and produced a small rectangle box but could not see what it clearly was for lack of light in the room. Casey sat up and reached for her lamp. She squinted her vision against the offensive brightness. Rubbing her eyes furiously, she then focused on the box that had her curious. After several moments, she noticed what it said. e.p.t. Digital Early Pregnancy Test.

"Are you kidding me?"

Casey was irritated that someone had planted this beneath her covers while she slept, though uncertain as to who it could be. If it was Nora, chances were her mother would have woken her up with the 'talk' and she wouldn't have hidden the box so no one could find it.

It had to be Derek.

Of all the asinine antics that jerk has played, this was by far the worst. She blows chunks one time and he took advantage of it to play a cruel joke on her. Rising from her bed, she opened her door with anger and turned to the right, walking straight into Derek's room. It was dark and empty. She flipped on a light and noticed the unmade bed, strewn dirty clothing, and a pizza box that had three stale peices of crust lying in it. What was missing in the mess was Derek.

Walking out into the hallway she stomped down the stairs and paused at the landing. Every single member of the family was watching a episode of Everybody Loves Raymond. It didn't take Nora long to notice Casey.

"Casey. Am I glad to see you up. How are you feeling?"

Casey opened her mouth to speak and then realized that she still held the absurd test in her hand so she flipped it around so it hid behind her forearm. "A lot better actually. I'm not sure what that was but it seems to be gone."

"Derek," George began. "Give Casey your chair."

That always seemed to be George's answer to everything.

"Actually I was wondering if...Derek can I talk to you for a minute." And with that, she turned around and bolted back up the steps. She didn't have to wait long for Derek to find her in his room. "Shut the door." Casey commanded.

He closed it slowly with a click and placed both hands into his back pockets.

"Case?" He said her name in more of a question than comment.

"What the hell is this?" she asked, producing the box and holding it out to him. Derek took it and looked at it, his expression stating that he was indeed the one to buy it.

"Looks like a test."

"Ya, I can see that. Why did you plant it in my room?" She began to tap her foot furiously, waiting for an answer that better be good.

"Kind of obvious isn't it? I wouldn't spend 20 bucks on something that wasn't important."

"You spent 20 dollars on that!"

"Ya," he answered like she was an idiot. "I want the result to be as accurate as possible.

Casey's skin blanched, realizing that he was serious about her being pregnant. It wasn't just some foolish joke.

"Y...you think I'm pregnant?" She stuttered and lost her balance, falling gently onto his bed with a cushy bounce.

"You were throwing up like crazy, I noticed that it was in the morning, and you didn't seem too bad after that so I just figured it couldn't hurt to take this."

Casey looked into the distance, similar to the way he had before. The test was no longer glowering at her like a joke but as something that would determine the rest of her life. The light box was going to judge her future. Would it allow her to attend college, have a successful career, or even finish high school at all?

"I think you should try it, Case."

She lifted her gaze to look at Derek. He looked serious; not a display she witnessed often. "I don't want to."

Casey scanned the filthy carpet. If she took that test and it turned out positive...it was unthinkable. Having a baby with Derek, her step-brother, the man she had come to love just as much as she hated, was a fate worse than death. Not to mention she was in a steady relationship with Truman and Derek was still seeing that harlot from work.

"I know," Derek whispered while sitting down next to her. He opened the cardboard edge and took out the thick white stick that looked like technology had gotten a good hold on it. "But not knowing won't make it go away."

Casey could feel him watching her, waiting for a reaction. Somehow, she managed a slight nod which encouraged him to continue.

"Umm," he began after running his fingers through his hair and leaning twords her to show the instrument. "I guess you just pee on this thin part for a total of five seconds and it should say 'pregnant' or 'not pregnant' in two minutes. If you screw up, its okay. It comes with two tests."

He opened Casey's palm and deposited it into her hand. "I guess I have to really pee," Casey spoke. "I havn't been to the bathroom for hours."

Derek just smiled and nodded his head, "you have been dead to the world."

She slowly rose from his bed and made her way to the bathroom. Derek was close behind, his presence weighing heavy on her but she wanted him nearby. Closing the door in his face, she sat on the toilet and carefully peed on the stick. When she was done, Casey placed it on the edge of the sink so the contaminated area was hanging off the edge.

She sat on the floor and waited...waited for an answer that would forever change her destiny. Two minutes past, and still she didn't look.