Casey had got up the next morning at approximately 6:15. She had apparently slept through dinner and hadn't woken up until morning. She looked at her window, the bright shiny sun shown through her window. Just then she realized that she had to be ready in a half hour. Noel was going to take her the the coffee shop before school so they could get caught up.

She ran to the restroom and accidentally bumped into Derek. For a moment she began to feel flustered.

"Hi..." She said softly.

"Hey," Derek let out. After a few moments of awkward silence, she ran into the restroom. That was weird, Derek thought before heading back inside his room.

Despite the awkwardness between herself and Derek this morning, Casey managed to collect herself and get ready to go out with Noel this morning. She went inside her room and decided to put on a a pretty off the shoulder long sleeve top and jean skirt with opaque leggings. She decided to let her hair down into wavy lofts.

At about 6:55 the doorbell rang. Casey ran down the stairs before anyone else, so that way she could get the hell out there. She assumed Justin would be asleep upstairs considering well he didn't go to Thompson. She went to answer the door and as she hoped Noel was standing out there waiting for her.

"Hey," he said smiling. "You look great! Though you always manage to." Casey blushed. There was always something about Noel that made Casey feel something. She didn't even know how to describe the way he made her feel.

She looked at Noel. He still looked ever so handsome in his green hooded jacket and black jeans. She smiled at him, "Ready to go?"

"After you," He said gesturing to his car, holding the door open for her. She looked at him again and gave him a soft smile heading out to his car.

The two of them talked the whole way to the coffee shop. They talked about the most random things. Books, Movies, about how hilarious it would have been if Wendel and Ms. Zeldin got married. Noel had the ability to make Casey laugh. No matter what mood she had been in before after spending a few minutes talking to Noel her mood automatically changed to happy.

They finally got to the coffee shop Casey suddenly got worried that they would run out of things to talk about.

Noel didn't have to ask what kind of drink Casey wanted. Every time they had come there she had always ordered the same thing. Ice Blended Mocha with whip cream on top. While he went and gathered the caffeine fixes. Casey went to find their special table the one they always sat at when they came there some mornings for coffee.

Noel returned shortly after drinks in hand. He handed Casey her drink.

"Why thank you," She said.

"Why, Your welcome," he said jokingly to her. She smiled at him again.

"So, I know we covered pretty much every topic on the planet in the car," She said.

"Oh I disagree. I mean did you ever hear about urine mints?" He said trying to awe her.

She looked at him and laughed. Sometimes Noel can be really weird, She thought. Well thank god that's what I like about him.

He caught her awkward gaze, "Well it's a really weird story but my sister was watching this show called 'Gilmore Girls' and when the main character was running out of things to talking about on this date. She brought up the idea of urine mints which actually is very beneficial to eating out. Strange business this urine mints thing. So when I heard about it, I thought it would be an interesting anecdote for when we ran out of topics to talk about,"

"I see, so you think we're on a date?" She asked smiling. She didn't know why she brought that up. I mean at first Em had just brought it up and Casey was still unsure about Noel. She didn't know how she felt. Oh my god. Did I just say date? What the hell is wrong with me. Why would I say that? I am an idiot, She worried.

Luckily Noel just said, "No I mean not saying that at all. I mean not that your not date worthy. It's just you know that we're friends. So yeah but still I mean I don't want you thinking this was a date, because obviously it isn't. So don't feel like, not that you should feel that way..." he continued. He's acting really squirmy, Casey thought. I'd better try and fix this.

"Noel," she said. "I was just messing with you."

He looked kind of relieved, and Casey smiled at him.

"Ha Ha very funny McDonald," Noel mocked. She stuck her tongue out jokingly at him and then threw a napkin at him.

"Really Casey, and I thought you were more mature than that," he joked. Then proceeded to toss back a sugar packet.

She grabbed his book and grabbed her coffee cup and dangled her coffee cup over the book, "Throw another sugar packet and the book gets it!" She warned smiling.

"You play dirty McDonald, I like your style but you over looked one factor," Noel said.

"What's that?"

"I'm a guy," and then he proceeded to go over and tickle Casey on her side of the couch. She couldn't stop laughing and Noel was laughing even harder as well.

They were being rather loud and they corrupted the coffee shop owner, "What is going on here?" She said looking down at the two teenagers.

"Nothing," they said innocently and then the coffee shop owner left them sending them a dark glare.

"I think we made her angry," Noel said to Casey.

"Yeah, maybe just a little," she said and then they both busted out laughing. They caught one another's gaze and stayed there for a moment. They had this awkward moment much similar to the one with Derek this morning. Except for this time Casey didn't run into the bathroom. Also just in this case, it might have looked silly.

At that moment broke the gaze looked at her watch, 7:50. Oh no, Casey thought. "Noel we have to go school starts in ten and it takes five minutes to get back there." She grabbed his arm and they ran out of the coffee shop to get to school.

"Don't worry, we'll make it there in time," said Noel. As they got into the car and fastened their seatbelt.

After about five minutes of driving and worrying they made it to school with five minutes to spare. Casey rushed to her locker Noel followed her only to discover Justin standing there waiting for her.

"Justin, I don't have time for this," and with that she ran out tossing her stuff into her locker, grabbed her chem book and left to her class. Apparently forgetting that Noel was still with her. Noel didn't mind too much though. He had something to do.

As Justin turned to leave Noel caught up with him.

"You see, I don't know too much about your history with Casey but I do know Casey and whatever your planning," Noel began sounding kind of angry.

"Your right. You know nothing about me or Casey, so maybe you should just-" Noel turned around to face him. He was much taller than him so he kind of towered over Justin.

"I may not know you, and thank god for that. Though I know Casey I've been her best friend for the last six months. I know when something is bothering her and I know what she feels because I know Casey. If you think I'm going to let you come to town and hurt her than you have another thing coming," Noel warned.

"Sounds to me like you think of her as more than a friend, but let me break it down for you. She's not interested mate, so maybe you should just get over it."

"First of all it's not about that we are just friends and I respect Casey. Oh and two it's funny that you would tell me to get over it when your the one who came to place where your clearly not wanted," Noel said. "Oh and if you ever try and hurt her you'll have to deal with me," he added. Then looked at him and walked away.

Justin rolled his eyes and walked on. That's when he decided to wait for Casey at lunch time. He knew she'd had no choice but to talk to him then.

-In Class-

Casey could barely concentrate in Chemistry. She had been to focused on what had happened this morning. First that awkward run in with Derek earlier and then what happened at the coffee shop at Noel and finally what had just happened in the hallway with Justin. What the heck is going on, Casey thought.

When class was over she quickly rushed over to her math class avoiding her locker. She thought it would be the best way to avoid Justin. It's not like he knew her schedule.

She ran in there without a second thought. She spent most of the period looking down. Just then a piece of paper flew into her lap. She looked around and saw Derek eying her. She lifted up the paper to him. He nodded and she opened it.

What's going on with you? You look depressed.

-Derek

She sighed and looked back at him. She was confused. Since when does Derek Venturi care about my well being, thought Casey. She took out a pen and wrote back.

When she was finished she tossed the note back into Derek's lap. He unfolded it and read.

Didn't realize you cared? Is Derek Venturi finally showing compassion for someone other than himself and his fragile ego?

-Casey

He scoffed almost laughing and wrote back once again tossing the note back at Casey.

Don't flatter yourself. I was merely asking because unfortunately if you went all depressive and emo then I wouldn't have someone to cheat off of in Math.

-Derek

Casey laughed and then turned back to her work. Suddenly she felt a tad bit better. Though that feeling wouldn't last because she knew that she would have to face Justin at lunch.

When lunch time was over Casey decided to walk into the cafeteria with her head held high. She wasn't going to run from him any more, she was going to be the bigger person and deal with her problems head on.

Justin came up behind her, "Finding it hard to keep avoiding me?"

"Don't flatter yourself," she said turning around. "Let's chat."

A/N: Okay not a long chapter at all, in fact it's my shortest one. Though I figured it was okay since I updated with two chaps. Alright well I tried to combine the three ships in this chapter. I hope it came out okay. Please Review, your thoughts inspire me to write more and I can't write more to this story without your help. So anything is welcome. Thank you such for reading thus far. I promise to update soon.

-Ally.