Only A Dream.

Once they got home, Casey told Derek to take the car. He seemed confused until she reminded him that he had a date with Kendra.

"Look Case. I understand if you don't want to talk about it, but I'm here if you need me. He shifted a bit and looked slightly uncomfortable. Casey looked up in surprise.

"Thanks Derek. But it's not a big deal. Go have fun on your date." She smiled softly at him.

"How about we just hang out or something?" he still looked uncomfortable.

"I still have a few assignments to do. Maybe tomorrow ok?" she replied.

Derek rolled his eyes. She was back to normal. "Casey, its Friday. Nobody does their homework on a Friday."

"Which is exactly why the drop out rates are so high!"

As he listened to her go on about the statistics of dropouts he couldn't help but wonder if she was really okay. When they were in the car, she was so out of it. Not now Derek. Just please, not now. She sounded so sad. How was it that she could go from almost breaking a girls finger, to ranting about how everyone should do their homework as soon as they get it?

"Yeah, whatever, I'm leaving now!" he yelled as he grabbed his leather jacket and walked out the door.

Casey sighed and went to get out her homework.

………………………………………………………………………….

"Honey, I have another date tonight and Lizzy's gone to hang out with a Kayla. Do you mind picking her up at 7?" asked Nora as she put on an earring.

"Yeah sure mom, no problem." Replied Casey. She didn't have anything to do anyway.

"alright, well you have my cell phone number, and Kayla's number is on the fridge. Call if you need anything."

"Yeah sure mom. Have a good time tonight."

"Thanks case. I love you." Said Nora as she grabbed her car keys.

"Love you too." Replied Casey as Nora kissed her on the head before rushing out.

Not five minutes had passed since she left when the doorbell rang.

"sorry Ace, Merlin's not here." Said Casey once she had opened the door to see Ace standing there with his hands in his pockets.

"Um yeah. I know. I just wondered if we could talk."

Casey looked confused. Sure Ace was a nice guy, but the only time they ever spoke was with Merlin.

"Uh okay.. Come on in." she said opening the door wider.

Once they sat on the couch Ace started to talk.

" Marie and I broke up."

Merlin's real name was Marie, but when she was little, Casey became enchanted with the nights of the round table and the Lancelot stories. She had decided that Marie would be Merlin the warlock in the games they played, and the name just kind of stuck. People had started calling her merlin along with Casey, but soon became frightened of Marie's reaction.

"What? Why?" Why is he telling me this?

"She thought I was cheating. Looking at other girls and stuff in front of her." He said rolling his eyes.

"Oh. Well why don't you go talk to her about it? Maybe you can work it out." She said, emphasizing on her.

"The thing is, that although I wasn't cheating on her, there's someone else." He said confusing Casey even more. Why is he telling ME this?!

"I've had my eye on her for a while now. And I think that she's had her eye on me but hasn't really done anything about it because of Marie." He continued.

Finally Casey decided it was time for him to leave.

"Look, im not sure why your telling me this, but Merlin's a really good friend of mine, and I don't think she'd appreciate you talking to me about you love life. I think its time for you to go." She said as she stood up.

As he stood up, Casey suddenly became uncomfortable. He looked bigger somehow.

"I don't think you quite understand Cas. How about you show me your room?"

"Look I really think you should go. My moms going to come home soon." She said. Now she was scared.

"The more the merrier right?" he said as he roughly grabbed her arm and started up the stairs.

"Let go of me!" she yelled. When he continued to pull her, she bit down with all her might.

She felt a flicker of hope as he yelped in pain but it quickly died when she saw him smile. A sickening smile that she'd never forget for as long as she lived.

"Oh baby, I'm so glad you like it rough." He said as he pressed his body against hers and continued to drag her up the stairs.

……………………………………………………..

"Casey wake up!" Yelled Lizzy. Casey was shaking violently in her sleep letting out loud whimpers.

As Casey looked around, she saw that she had a blanket over her. 'I must've fallen asleep while doing my homework.'

12:45am she saw as she looked at the clock on the TV.

"Casey? What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" Derek heard Lizzy ask as he slipped in through the back. He was late for curfew and didn't want to get caught.

"Derek, you can relax, mom and George went to a party and decided to spend the night. I told them you were already home." Said Casey as she saw his shadow.

Derek whipped his head around. "How'd you know it was me?"

"Your not exactly suddle." Replied Lizzy.

"Why are you so late anyway?"

"You know how dates can go." He said winking.

"Ew Derek! That's my sister you're talking to!" yelled a disgusted Casey.

"Casey, I'm twelve. I know what you do on a date."

"Excuse me?! And who has been taking you on these dates?!" Yelled Derek.

She breathed a sigh of relief as she quietly slipped out the room and into the kitchen.

At least lizzy wasn't asking her about the dream anymore. Casey's breath caught in her throat as she thought about the dream. She felt tears fill her eyes as slid her back down the wall and sat down.

'He can't get to you if you don't let him.' She remembered her therapist saying.

Exhale. I'm better then him. Inhale.. It was just a dream. Exhale. He cant get to me if I don't let him. Inhale. And I wont let him get to me. Exhale.

"What's his name? I swear to god I'll kill him!" Casey whipped her head around and sighed a breath of relief when she realized he was still talking to Lizzy about her 'dates'.

She smiled. Derek had his sweet moments.

"Ouch!" she yelped as she stood up and banged her head into the pots handing above the stove.

"Hey Klutzilla, try not to break anything on your way out will ya?" called Derek.

Casey rolled her eyes.

Apparently the moment was over.

"Yeah I'm fine! Thanks for asking!" She yelled back as she rubbed her head. That was going to leave a bump.

…………………………………………………………………………..

And that's it as of now. I've written a couple of other stories, but have never finished passed the 2nd chapter. (I think..) I always lose interest. But I'm determined to do a good job on this one, so let me know what you think! (If it's a good thought..)

To my reviewers, thanks a lot! I'm glad you find it interesting!

As always, if you don't like it, don't read it. No flames. Review please!

JJ