Emily entered Casey's room and sat down on her bed with her back resting against the headboard. Casey closed the door. She walked over to her stereo and pressed play. She adjusted the volume so that it could be heard from the hallway but it wouldn't be hard to talk over it. She walked to her bed and sat down facing Emily. She took a deep breath, but didn't say anything because she didn't know how crazy Emily was going to think she was.

"Is something wrong?" Emily asked her, with obvious concern in her eyes.

"Not exactly..." Casey murmured. She took another breath. "Okay, listen. Derek's been acting really strange lately. He's been acting...well...nice. To me."

Emily shook her head, not understanding. "So?"

"Em, he's never nice to me. He looks at me in the halls, he asks me to pass him things at dinner and he even drove me to the mall," Casey told her. She continued, "When I dropped the butter the other night, he didn't even make a comment about it. He said that it wasn't a big dea. And last night, he took me to the mall and I didn't have any money and he paid for my leggings and this headband."

"So he's being nice to you. Shouldn't you welcome it?"

"But it's so strange!" Casey exclaimed. "I don't know what to do."

"Accept it?" Emily said. "You've always wanted him to be nice to you, I don't get it."

"Yes, but now he's being overly nice. I think something's up with him," she confessed.

"Casey, you're going to have to help me out more because I have no idea what you're getting at."

"I think-" Casey took a deep breath and prayed that Emily wouldn't think she was crazy or vain "-that Derek likes me."

Emily nodded. "Yeah."

Casey raised an eyebrow.

And then Emily's eyebrows shot up and her mouth opened and she got it. "You think Derek's got a crush on you!?" Emily exclaimed.

"Shhhh!" Casey panicked. "Be quiet!"

"Casey, just because he did a few nice things for you doesn't mean-" Emily started but Casey cut her off.

"I know Em. If it were any other person I'd think they were just being nice but this is Derek. He's done so many things to me that this is the only reason why he would be nice to me."

"Why would he start liking you now?" Emily asked her, still unconvinced that Derek had a crush on Casey like she claimed.

Casey shrugged, "I don't know. I wish I knew. I wish I knew what to do. I want to know for sure if he likes me or not."

"What's that going to do? You're step-siblings."

"I know," Casey groaned. "But it would just make me feel better if I knew."

"How are you going to find out?"

"I don't know."

"Well, it's not like you can just ask him. That would be incredibly awkward," Emily said.

"I wish I could, it would just make things so much easier."

"Case, I don't mean to hurt your feelings or anything, but I don't think Derek likes you," Emily said softly.

"You don't know that," Casey retorted. "I thought you would understand. But I was wrong."

"Casey, I have to get home," Emily told her. "Good luck with Derek." Emily got up and left Casey's room, closing the door behind her.

Some best friend she is. She can't even pretend to be interested or happy. She's probably just jealous.

Casey picked up a pillow and hugged it to her chest. Maybe she should just ask Derek how he felt about her, without him knowing what she really wanted to hear.


I hope you guys are all feeling good. 'Cause I know I am. I got into my first choice for college!! I'm so incredibly excited. And d'you know what else I'm excited about??? The next chapter. Any guesses as to what's going to happen? Look for it Tuesday!