A/N: I AM SO SORRY!! I have been so caught up in trying to finish school, and my book, and then I got writers' block, and all that, and so it took me so long! And it's not even a very long chapter, and for that I am sorry. But I promise, the next two chapters will be good and long.

I'm afraid I'm losing my Dasey love... can someone help me find faith in it again?

R&R, please.

-Jaclyn :)

Chapter Ten: You Forgot Me Long Ago

Casey's phone was ringing. It had been ringing for the past twenty minutes, almost non-stop. Someone was trying to call her, but she wouldn't pick up. She stared at the screen as a picture of her and a dirty-blonde haired boy, kissing. Above the picture was the name: Alan. The phone continued to ring, and Casey cringed at the sight of the picture. She hated the fact that she had actually dated this boy whom she didn't know, but what she hated the most was that while she had been dating him she had dated two other boys. She reached out and grabbed the phone. She stared at the picture for a moment before shutting off the phone.

She rolled over on her bed and stared at the ceiling. Derek was downstairs; Edwin had talked him in to playing Babe Raider. When Lizzie had bounded down the stairs to watch, Derek asked Casey if she wanted to stay and watch as well. Casey had declined, and Derek had sadly watched her leave, as Lizzie immediately started bombarding him with random questions and smiling really flirtatious up at him. She stood up from the bed and left her room, sighing. She felt bad for Sean and Alan. She had never meant to hurt anyone, she just didn't know them. And she felt even worse after finding out what she had done to them. It just made her feel like a horrible person.

Derek had tried to make her feel better, but nothing he had said had made any difference. Without him, she had become a cheater, the one thing she swore she would never be. She didn't understand how life without Derek had caused her to be like that though. Derek had even planned to two-time someone once. How is it, that with him around, having an example like that, she never ended up a cheater, and without him around she did? She felt so confused. She figured it was because fighting with Derek had always kept her so busy, she had never had time to date anyone else but the person she was with.

But could that seriously be the whole reason? She shook her head, she had never once thought about cheating on anyone, even before she had moved into Derek's home. So why on earth would she start now? Or then? She closed her eyes as she stood at the top of the stairs. She knew that the alternate reality her wasn't who she really was, but it made her worry, if this was actually an outcome of her life, what else was she capable of? She reopened her eyes and made her way downstairs.

"So, Derek, do you play Babe Raider a lot? Casey hates the game. I can't believe she's alright with you playing it. She always gets made when Edwin plays it. Wow, that was a cool move, how'd you learn to play so well? You're amazing. I think you're going to beat Ed's high score!" Lizzie was still going on and on and on. Casey managed to smile and roll her eyes before going over the couch where Derek, Edwin, and Lizzie were sitting. She rested her hands on the back and watched as Derek made his way through one of the hardest levels of the game. She smiled as she remembered fighting Derek about this game, and then ending up actually liking the game.

Derek finished the level and looked up at her. He smiled and hopped off the couch. Lizzie looked disappointed and shot her sister a death glare. Casey widened her eyes, and raised her eyebrows at her. Lizzie huffed and turned back to watch Edwin play. Derek looked at Casey in the eye and tried to see if she was still upset from earlier. She smiled at him letting him know everything was fine for the time being. He looked relieved. He really hated tears. He tilted his head toward the kitchen and he began to walk, knowing she would follow. As soon as they were out of earshot, Derek turned to her.

"Casey, about what happened earlier today…"

"Derek, please, I don't want to talk about it."

"But, Case, I think we have to."

"Why?!" She looked scared, and Derek's eyes widened and he took a step back.

He then shook his head and got closer to her, "That guy seemed really mad, and it looks as if he could follow through with a threat like that."

"You don't honestly think anything really bad is going to happen, do you? He's just some high school kid, who got told he was dumped. And three-timed… but anyway, it doesn't matter! He's not going to do anything!"

"How can you be sure? You don't even know the guy."

"No, I don't. But I don't think we need to take this threat seriously. The guy's just hurt is all. I doubt anything is going to happen. So, just drop it, please, Derek."

He sighed, "Fine. But if anything happens, I can't promise you I won't kick the guys butt."

She laughed, "You can go right on ahead."

He grinned, "Good, because nobody is messing with my girl— partner for the project. If anything happens to you, I'm gonna fail!" Derek quickly changed his sentence when Lizzie walked into the kitchen.

"Derek, I doubt that you would fail. You seem so smart! I bet you could do the project all on your own."

Casey bit back a giggle, as Derek's face got red, and he began to stutter, "Well, I well, um, I, um. I couldn't do the project without Casey. She, um, she just makes sure I get the work done. Without her, I would procrastinate my way through the whole thing, and then throw something together the night before."

Lizzie laughed, "Derek, you're so funny!"

Derek laughed nervously, "Uh, thanks…" he looked over to Casey, pleading with his eyes to make Lizzie go away.

She smiled, "Uh, Liz, speaking of the project, Derek and I really need to talk about it. So if you could, please…" she pointed to the living room.

Lizzie folded her arms over her chest, "Fine." And with that she huffed out.

Casey burst into laughter as soon as she was gone, and Derek looked down at her, "This is not funny." He said, half-pleading.

"It's pretty funny." She giggled, "Anyway, what were you saying?"

"Oh, um, I was saying that nobody is going to be messing with my girlfriend, and live to tell the tale." He took her hand in his.

She smiled, "Oh, so now you're going to turn into one of those psycho-path killer boyfriends, are you?"

"Only if they make me."

She laughed again, "You are so full of it."

"Hey, if you don't want to protect you, fine. But don't come crying to me when some guy messes with you."

"Hey! You'd really leave me to myself if that happened?"

He looked down at her, "Why on earth would I do that?"

"I don't know. You just seemed so serious."

"You really need to learn how to recognize sarcasm."

She gave him a look, "Maybe you should just be more clear when you're using it."

"That kind of defeats the whole purpose, babe."

"Did you just call me 'babe'?"

"Um. Only if you wanted me to."

She giggled, "You're goof."

He pretended to be hurt, "Your words are cruel."

She smirked and walked began to walk away from him. He shook his head, "Oh, no. You're not getting away that easily." He grabbed her arm and pulled her close to him. He leaned down to kiss her, but she pushed him away.

"Derek! They're right there!" she whispered.

"Fine." He said, and pulled her over by the back door, and pushed her against the washer machine. She looked up at him, a bit surprised by his forcefulness, "I think you need to apologize for being mean."

"Oh yeah? And how would I go about doing that?" she asked, smiling as he brought his face closer to hers.

"I can show you better than I can tell you." And with that he pressed his lips against hers. At first the kiss was soft, gentle, and caring. But then, it deepened into something a bit more passionate. Derek's hands were wrapped around her waist, and hers were wrapped around his neck. She suddenly heard a noise, and instantly broke apart from him. He smiled, "It was just you moving the washer." She grinned, and leaned in to kiss her again, she shook her head.

"No, Derek. We might be seen."

"Who cares? Let them see us making out."

"Derek! No! George would throw you out on the streets in seconds! You wouldn't be able to stay anymore!"

He sighed, and leaned his forehead on hers, "Man, this is good practice for when things go back to normal."

She pecked his lips, "Yeah it is." Then she quickly slipped out of his grip and made her way back to the kitchen.

He leaned back on the washer and watched her as she left, grinning to himself. They heard a knock at the door, but they let Edwin or Lizzie answer it. Casey looked behind her at Derek and smiled at him. And, lost in each other's eyes, they didn't notice Edwin hurry into the room, looking a bit scared.

"Derek, Casey. Someone's at the door for you." He said, sounding nervous.

Casey shot Derek a worried look, but he kept face, and hurried out into the living room, closely followed by Casey. As they approached the door, Casey gasped, and Derek narrowed his eyes.

For, standing in the door, looking very dangerous, was Sean.