When Casey awoke the next morning she found herself sprawled across the bedroom floor. She hadn't realized how long she had been there. It seemed like merely hours ago, she was arguing with Noel. Her tears had dried, her face was no longer swollen, but that all didn't really matter because inside she still felt like the biggest idiot in the world. An idiot for two reasons. Number one, thinking that certain men were different. Number two, for letting herself be vulnerable again.

She had once been vulnerable in her life and it made her a lesser person. It made her someone who skipped class to be with a guy, to hop on the back of a motorcycle that may/may not have been stolen, and to break all the rules. When Casey moved, she had changed, for the better. She started becoming someone she could only dreamed of being and it felt right to her.

Now she was vulnerable again, she had put trust in someone, and it had been her downfall. She always knew she was too trusting. That's why she never allowed herself to be close to anyone. Not to Noel or even Derek for that matter. Though somehow she had grown close to them and put her faith into them, even Derek to whom is a little more reckless. She knew that getting close to someone would only allow her to feel weak again and that was something she was not about to do.

She continued to think about the events of last night. Her fight with Derek. What the hell had been going on with that anyway? Why was he waiting up for me, that's totally and un-Derek like thing to do. In fact he always encouraged my reckless behavior. Why the hell would he care what time I showed up. She thought and pondered more but something about her conversation with Derek struck her mind. He just seemed so angry and fixated about the whole Justin thing. I mean I kind of figured, Derek would hate him, but I didn't expect him to react so vigorously towards him. Her thoughts leaned toward another thought. What about Justin said about Derek making suggestions. Derek was totally shocked by that. "Is that what the loser formerly known as your boyfriend told you?" Can I really trust Derek at this point? He's been trying to destroy my life from the moment I walked into this house.

As Casey settled further into her place on the ground she began to think more. Noel, she thought sadly. The girl, the number, what was said. Why should I even care? He's not my boyfriend, truth be told he has the right to speak with whoever he wants to. If a girl likes him enough to give him her his number,I shouldn't be upset. Than why am I? Is it because I had faith that Noel was better than that? That he had more self respect than to hit on anything in a skirt (That's more Derek's way anyway). Still the thought of Noel with all those women, gives me this sharp pain inside my stomach. I cannot think about this anymore I'm going to drive myself crazy. I just need to take a break and think maybe lie down and try and clear my mind.

She ran to her bed and threw herself onto it, crashing onto the soft warm pillows. She began to fall asleep again. Her eyes rested ever so gently, she attempted to wake herself up, but it was useless, she had succumbed to sleep.

A few hours had passed and she hadn't realized it. She looked at the clock it read 9:00. She started freaking out. She jumped from her bed and tossed on some clothes and ran down the stairs as fast as possible.

"Casey?" A familiar voice called from the kitchen.

"Yes, It's me. Mom, If you don't mind I'm going to be late for school!" She yelled rushing to grab her Keys.

"Oh, Don't worry honey, I called you in," Nora said from inside the kitchen. Confused Casey walked into the kitchen.

"You what?" Casey asked strangely. Normally Nora didn't care what time you woke up, school was school.

"I called you in. I think you needed a day off and there's a new spring line in and I know how much you love shopping. It's been a long time since we hung out, so I thought a mother daughter shopping trip was just the fix."

Casey smiled, "So you're letting me play hooky?"

"Just for today. I notice you've been stressed lately and I felt you needed a day off. Besides I didn't see you come in last night," She pointed her eyes at Casey "But we'll talk about that later, in the meantime go get dressed and meet me in the car in 20 minutes."

Casey smiled and turned to leave but before she completely rushed out of the room. She turned to her mother and gave her a hug and said, "Thanks Mom."

Once she was ready she had met her mom in the car as promised. She went to the radio but then hesitated.

"It's okay, you pick the music." Casey smiled.

She turned to the CD player and took out her new Avril CD. She popped it into the CD player.

"Hey hey

you you

I don't like you're girlfriend

no way now way

I think you need a new one

hey hey

you you

I want to be your girlfriend..."

Casey started singing along silently to herself but then she noticed that while her mom was driving she was singing along as well. Quite off-key but singing none the less. Casey smiled and she began to sing along.

Just then the two began to sing and get louder. They were smiling and laughing and all though they weren't in perfect harmony with each other they were having fun. Waving there arms around and dancing around, just letting loose.

Shopping with her mom had been a fun experience. They started with the outlet stores and then would finish up with the mall. The outlet stores were tons of fun because they went to these really different boutiques. There was this one store that sold kimonos and Casey immersed herself in them. Trying on different ones, she even managed to get Nora in one.

The other stores were different stores. There was one store that sold really weird clothes from the 70s. With these bell bottoms that felt like they were going to fall off of Casey.

When she saw Nora immerse from one of the dressing rooms dressed in a shirt that was clearly too big for her and pants that spread out way past the floor. Casey couldn't help but laugh.

"What's the matter with these?" Nora asked honestly.

"Um, mom have you looked in the mirror yet," Casey said pointing towards the mirror.

"Oh my gosh, you're right! I look like a hippie!" Casey smiled.

"It's okay mom, we'll hit the mall and I'll help you find some clothes there," she said and then she turned around sniffing her mom. "Oh Mom, no offense, but you smell like a Museum."

"No I don't!" She smelt her arm. She turned her face away from the clothing, "Ooof.. yeah that's kinda bad."

Casey laughed, "Just a little."

When they got to the mall they couldn't help but notice the hordes of people. They pushed through the amount of the people.

"Geeze, this is crowded," said Nora

"Well this is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. The new spring lines are in and everything is marked down."

They smiled and found the way to their stores. They found some really cool stores and Casey found the perfect bracelet. She knew Em would love it. It had dolphins on it and and Emily always loved them. She decided to bring it back for em, since she had to go to school.

They walked into this really fancy chic boutique. Clothes that some people could only dream about.

"Wow this is amazing!" awed Casey.

Nora and Casey looked around the story and in the corner Casey saw the most amazing dress. It had a corset like top followed by a long flowy skirt. It was exactly what she had scene in fairy tales but there was only one person she could see wearing this.

"This dress is amazing," Casey said.

"Why yes it is, do you want to buy it?"

"For you," Casey said.

"Me?"

"Yes, Mom you'd look absolutely beautiful in it! George would love it. Try it on! It's in you're size!"

"Casey,I don't know...I..." She shoved her mom in a dressing room dress in hand.

"Okay, but if I look ridiculous. I'm blaming you and giving you up for adoption!"

Casey laughed. Not too long later, The door began to open and her mom stepped out.

"OH MY GOD! MOM! You look HOT!"

"Casey, I'm a mother we don't look hot, we just look old."

"Whatever Mom, You look amazing! You have to buy it!"

"I will not Casey, I refuse!" She then went back into the dressing room to change.

"I'm just going to buy it for you anyway," Casey said softly.

"I heard THAT!" Her mother yelled inside the dressing room.

Once dressed her mom came out dress in hand. Casey allowed them to get out of the store before making up an excuse to go back. "Oh Mom, forgot my purse I have to go back. You meet me at the food court."

She ran back to the boutique and found the dress. She turned to the sales counter, "I'd like to buy this dress." She said to the lady.

She rang it up, "It'll be 125.67."

She handed her card and the lady began to wrap it up, however Casey stopped her. "Hey do you think I could pick it up later like tomorrow?"

"Sure, I'll set it aside for you."

"Thank you very much," and she turned back towards the food court.

She found her mom at the food court apparently, she had already gotten their food. Chinese. "Mmm. My fave!" Casey said sitting down.

She allowed herself to get situated and then began to eat and chat with her mom.

In the midst of conversation her mom began to speak about something new, "Casey, I'm afraid I haven't been quite honest with you."

Oh no, here it comes, thought Casey.

"You see I had ulterior motives for taking you out today," Nora began.

"I figured," Casey sighed.

"We haven't talked in ages and I've noticed something different with you lately. I guess I want to know. Is everything okay?"

"Of course, " Casey lied.

"Nice try, Casey," Nora said. Seriously am I that transparent? Can seriously everyone see through my lies. Geeze, Casey thought.

"It's nothing," she said softly.

"Casey, it's just us girl's here. Just you and me, you can tell me anything," Nora said. Great, she's pulling the mom card. That is so low.

"Fine," she said. "Maybe there's something that's been on my mind lately."

"Go on.."

She then proceeded to tell her everything that had happened in the last week. The truth behind the Justin situation. What happened with Derek and Noel. She left out the bar part because she knew Derek would get in trouble and she left out the kiss because she herself hadn't come to terms with that that one. She left out Noel staying in her room because she knew she wasn't allowed boys in her room. She told her about fighting with Noel and arguing with Derek, and Justin's manipulative ways. The show, the gig everything.

"I see..." Nora said finally.

"Yeah," Casey said. "So what should I do?"

"Well about Justin. I haven't a clue, I seriously thought he was little Jay Jay from not so long ago and I guess he's not so little anymore."

"That's one way of putting it," Casey gritted.

"Well I will have a talk with him and his mother. Don't you worry about that. So about the show?"

"Yeah, pretty stupid right."

"Heck No! Sounds just like you. You always loved to sing and I know you loved singing with 'D Rock'. I think it's great," Nora said.

"Yeah I know," Casey said softly.

"However there is something more important than all of this."

"There is?"

"Noel," Nora said.

"Oh..." Casey said sadly.

"How do you feel about him Casey?"

"I...I'm not sure. For awhile he's just been my friend, my pal, the person I could count on. He's always been there for me and he's just been an amazing friend," her voice was a bit happy. "Well then you know people disappoint you."

"He disappointed you?"

"Well not really. Well yeah. I don't know. I guess I heard something about him and a couple other girls and it's really got me upset."

"Who'd you hear this from?"

"Justin."

"And you were so quick to believe him because you trust him completely after he's treated you so poorly this last week?"

"Well.. I.. I don't know. I guess that's my flaw, I tend to think the worst in people."

"You really care about him don't you?"

" I don't know..." She said softly.

"Casey, Do you want some advice?"

"Sure," she said.

"Figure out how you feel about him. You can't deny it anymore. Believe me it'll eat you up inside if you're not honest about your feelings. You know what's in your heart, and you know who that is."

"Thanks mom," she said getting up from her chair and throwing her arms around her mother.

The conversation then went drifting to other things and they were just about finished around 7:00. As they turned leave out the doors a flashing piece of yellow paper caught her eye.

Open Mic Night! Friday Night!

Featuring:

Stellar Hideaway

Nimbletoad

and Casey McDonald and the Drifters.

Fury filled through Casey's brain. Must..KILL..JUSTIN.. NOW!!

A/N: Hides behind Noel. Don't kill me! I promise there will be Dasey in this story and Nasey. I just needed a transition chapter. I hope you enjoyed this little chapter. I thought we could all use a tad break from the heartache and settle into something easier. Thanks again for reading. If you can reviews are very much appreciated. Thanks and I'll update soon ;)

-Ally