Hmf. I was going to update when I got to 60 reviews, buttttt... Well, anyways. I hope you all are enjoying the story so far! Feedback?

Because They Said So - Chapter 4

"Casey, I didn't know you were dating Derek!"

Casey stared, utterly bewildered, at a short blonde girl who had a wide smile plastered across her face.

"Tori... how did you...?"

"I saw you two! You hugged!" She mentioned the word 'hugged' as if Casey had rather been bitten.

"O-oh... well it's not like--"

Tori leaned in closer to Casey. She glanced around either side of her before continuing.

"Between you and me, Case, I think that is totally cute!"

Caseys jaw dropped as her eyes came in contact with Tori's. The blonde merrily winked and galloped off in the other direction.

000

"So, dude, word's out that you're dating Casey."

Derek looked up from his gym locker at Brick, the rather buff, broad chested goalie on his hockey team.

"Brick, where did you hear that?"

"Y'know Tori... big mouthed, small blonde chick?" Derek nodded. "Said she saw ya' two huggin' yesterday. I think that's hot, dude."

Brick raised his eyebrows suggestively.

"Look, Brick," Derek said, glancing around before leaning his head in closer. "You tell anyone and I'll make sure Coach finds a replacement for you... got it?"

Brick gulped and nodded before making his way through the crowd.

000

"Great, just great! If Tori Ammington knows, the whole school might as well know!"

Casey groaned as she plopped herself down on the couch.

"Brick is pretty big-mouthed, too," Derek sighed, hopping onto his recliner.

"What are we going to do?" Casey rubbed at her temples and let out slow, shaky breaths.

"Well, we have to act like a... like we're... together... at school, that's pretty much the only way Emily and Sam see how we're doing..."

"Derek," she interrupted crossly. "I'm like this close to quitting," she hissed, motioning with her her index finger and thumb.

"C'mon, Case," he said, suddenly turning to face her. "That isn't fair..."

"No, Derek," she cried. "I'll tell you what's not fair! What's not fair is being dragged into some stupid freaking bet, without my permission, might I add, for just one hundred and fifty bucks and acting like I'm in love with this pathetic excuse I call my step-brother!"

Dereks eyes narrowed.

"Well if you didn't have to start with that 'emotional range of an ant hill' crap and make Sam and Emily bet on us..."

"Don't make me have any part in this!" She barked. "Don't you dare. This was a hundred and fifty percent your fault!"

"If you just let me and Sam enjoy the game, instead of making us watch the Wordbook..."

"It's Notebook!" she screamed, blinking back burning tears.

Derek rolled his eyes.

"Here comes the drama queen..."

"Why don't you go fuck off and die, Venturi!" She roared, before running upstairs.

"After you, MacDonald!"

000

"I hate Derek, I hate Derek, I hate Derek!" Casey muttered under her breath.

"What else is new?"

Lizzie patted her sister's back, while mopping at her eyes with a tissue.

"Sorry, Liz... you don't have to be in here with me..." Lizzie shook her head.

"It's okay, Case," she said softly. "What were you two fighting about anyway?"

"Casey and Smerek were fighting?"

Marti skipped into Caseys room, soon followed by Edwin.

"What happened?" He asked, plopping himself down on the floor.

Casey diverted her gaze between the three children, who looked up at her with pleading eyes. She sighed.

"Can you guys keep a secret?"

Nyahh! I made it short. Butttt, I know this isn't my best chapter. Actually, I consider it the worst so far. But I'm having major writer's block, I don't know what to write about. I wrote and erased this chapter over and over again. Reviews would be SOOO appreciated. They encourage me to write more! THANKSS!