At two oclock last night, Casey had made up her mind. Derek Venturi would forever be a presence that she refused to acknowledge. It should be easy. She was going to New York and he was staying behind to attend Queens University. They no longer had to share a home. Besides holidays, Casey would never have to lay another eye on his disgusting person. Even then, she would make sure to stay clear of his destructive path. But already her plans were being ruined.

They were driving down interstate 401 outside of Smith Falls when a terrible down pour had startled Casey out of her screaming thoughts. Soon after they left the Great Blue Herron Lodge, it began to rain; almost a monsoon. She glanced at Derek for the tenth time. She only hoped that he would get them home in one piece.

He had the windshield wipers on full blast, trying his best to see in front of him. Casey had no idea how he was doing it. The vehicle infront of them continuously tapped on their breaks, making it easier to see a path. They had succeeded in staying behind the family van for more than an hour before it began to rain. And now George was completely out of sight.

The only person she had to rely on was the one person she wanted absolutely nothing to do with. Why was she being tested? It wasn't fair. Last night wasn't fair. Her entire life was being turned upside down within a matter of hours. Even the conversation with Jesse had turned out worse than she had anticipated. His accusing gaze had nearly undone her. How dare he judge her on something Derek did. Why was she the only person that could remember Derek was her step-brother? Jesse didn't care. He admitting to being jealous of Derek. After years of fighting and living together, if anything were to happen, it would have transpired years ago.

Wouldn't it have?

Casey squeezed her palms tight together as the rain continued to pour. It seemed to be getting heavier with every minute they drove. She glanced at the clock. 10:13. They had been driving for the past two hours which meant they had four more to go without the rain. This was going to be the longest afternoon of her life. Derek was driving at a steady fourty miles per hour. It would be six o'clock before they reached London.

Casey rubbed her temples in frustration. Thunder cracked and a blinding bolt of lightning illuminated the dark sky. She jumped slightly. She had always hated storms, ever since she was a small child and watched her Aunt Jenna, Dennis's sister, get struck by lightening and suffer severe brain damage while a twister barreled through the country side in the far distance. Even at the tender age of four, she remembered every second of that day.

She gazed to the left to check on Derek's concentration on the road and noticed him looking at her. He wasn't paying attention to the highway like he should be. Casey opened her mouth to yell at him but quickly shut it. His dark eyes were steadying her intently with a mixture of curiosity and concern. If he wanted to drastically change his horrendous personality over night, that was his prerogative.

"Keep your eyes on the road, Derek," she said softly.

Derek turned back twords the road and stretched his neck side to side. "Stop telling me how to drive, Klutzilla."

Casey rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't have to tell you how to drive if you would pay attention to the road. Now is not the time to suddenly become interested in me."

One dark eye brow shot up and Casey realized what she had said. "I mean interested in looking at me...looking at me, period! You know what I mean! You're the one who keeps staring when you should be paying attention to what's in front of you."

"I'm a better driver than you are so shut up and put your make-up on while you let a man do his job."

"Better driver!" she squealed while turning to face him. "And who was the one who taught you to drive? Or have we forgotten our little living room session?"

Derek gave a heavy sigh and leaned his forhead against his left hand. His chest was rising quickly in anger but Casey could tell that he was trying to calm down. She never minded their fights in the past, but these were becoming increasingly different. They were more heated in an uncomfortable way. It was as if they had no control over their arguing; as if Derek didn't even want to fight with her anymore.

Casey wished that he would stop. She wanted him to blow up in her face and tell her how ugly and uncoordinated she was. Why wasn't he doing any of that? It made no sense.

Folding her arms, she slammed back against the seat and looked out into the darkened day that blurred in front of her.

Her phone began to ring. Casey reached into her purse and pulled it from the side pocket. It was her mother.

"Hi, Mom," she answered a little less enthusiastically than she planned.

"Casey, are you okay? You sound a little funny."

"No. I'm fine. Derek and I are just fighting...like usually."

"I wish you two could stop for one minute and take a breath. After four years, one of you is bound to get exhausted."

"You'd think," Casey replied. "Where are you anyway?"

"That's what I'm calling about. We're in Belleville and the roads are all closed due to flooding. I know that we've barely started home, but there's no way we can make it home today. I wish we had stayed at the lodge but it's too late to turn back."

"Where are you at and we'll come to you."

"We're at the Bayswater hotel. How far are you from Belleville?"

Casey considered the question and realized that she had no idea where they were at. Swallowing her pride, she kept her gaze straight. "Where are we?" she asked Derek.

Her curt voice cause him to turn a seething glare in her direction.

"Just past Kingston," he growled.

"I guess were just past Kingston, mom."

"Were nearly a half hour ahead of you guys. Have Derek pull off onto the next exit and stop for the day. I don't want you two on the road any longer. It's too dangerous."

"No!" she screamed into the phone. "Another half hour is nothing. We'll be there in no time."

"Casey," Nora said in a stern voice. "You stop right now."

"But..."

"Call me when you check in. I love you." And then she was gone.

You have got to be kidding me, Casey thought. She wanted nothing to do with the bane of her existance and now she was being forced to spend the next day with no one for company except for him. And after the dance last night, how was she suppose to survive? What if he tried to touch her again?

"What'd Nora want?"

"She said to pull off on the next exit and stop at a hotel. They're in Belleville but all the roads are closed past that. She doesn't want us driving any more."

"Great," Derek said, sounding just as enthused about spending time alone with her as she was him.

Exit 9 came into view and Derek took a slight right as they pulled past several restaurants until a simple motel came into view. It was a one story, run down establishment that made Casey cringe. But as Derek pulled into the parking lot, Casey refused to say a word. She just wanted out of the car quickly. The second he stopped the car, Casey opened the door and began walking towards the lobby.

A greasy looking man with a large belly stood behind the counter. The second Casey walked in with her short shorts and tank top, his attention was turned to her and a learing gaze made her shudder. "Hey sweetheart," he said through the toothpick hanging from his mouth.

Without saying a word, Casey sat in a chair located next to the door and waited for Derek. He was taking his sweet time and she was becoming more and more frustrated. Turning around, she noticed he was still in the car. He had one finger bent against his mouth in concentration while looking out into the distance. It was evident that he was just as upset with her as she was him.

Casey never wanted to admit the guilt she felt for the words spoken last night. Maybe it wasn't fair what she had said to him. It was the first time she told him he was beneath her. But she was angry. It was still hard to understand why she was so angry with him. She kept telling herself it was the dance and the way he held her. The entire incident had to be a joke. Why else would he have held her like that?

But then when he sat on the edge of her bed, put a hand on her hip...

She knew why she was pissed and it pissed her more than Derek ever could. Roxy. He smelled of Roxy and she knew that they had slept together. She doesn't remember a time where Derek simply made out with a girl without having sex with her. It had been happening since the second she moved into his home. School had been a nightmare from the sheer stories of Derek and his expert self. Casey wasn't stupid. Derek was nothing more than a player.

"You waiting on someone, beautiful?" Bile rose to her throat at the sound of the greasy clerks voice.

"Yes," Casey said "Do you have specific check-in times or can I get a room now?"

"For you," he looked her body up and down, pausing at her breasts, "I could make an exception."

"What do you mean?" Casey was afraid to ask.

"How 'bout you come over here and convince me to give you a room."

Casey gasped at the disgusting mans' proposition. She jumped from the seat, every intention of leaving, when Derek burst in at the same time. He reached out his hands to steady her, and instead of being angry, his touch was welcomed. His familiar cologne made her dizzy in a weird comforting way.

"Let's try somewhere else," she breathed out.

"Why, is it expensive? Doubt it. The place is a mess," he said pushing past her. He walked up to the overweight clerk and asked for a room with two beds.

The man looked at Derek and then her. "Two beds, huh? Seems like a waste."

Derek had been digging in his wallet for George's credit card. He snapped his eyes up at the man's comment. Casey could see the confusion in Derek's gaze as she walked up to the counter to stand next to him.

"Excuse me?" Derek asked with a hint of a challenge in his voice.

"Sweet thing like that doesn't need to be sleeping alone."

Derek began to grind his teeth together. His jaw was working side to side and Casey could tell that he was trying to keep his anger in check.

"How about you mind your fucking business and give me a room with two beds," Derek said in dangerously low voice as he slammed the credit card on the counter and waited.

The man took the toothpick from his mouth. Casey braced herself for a fight, but the man simply put a form infront of Derek to sign and said, "sixty-four buck."

He slid the card across the counter, never taking his eyes off of Derek. After filling out the necessary information, they received a key card to their room. Derek didn't say a word but stared the bastard down until he turned around to leave. Casey was fast on his heels as they left. Except for the f word being used, she was pleasantly suprised on how Derek had handled himself and the disgusting man. It was the first time that a stranger, and someone so much older, had talked to her in such a manner. But that was always something Derek had been good at. Defending her honor. She smiled to herself when she once again thought about the men who had wronged her and Derek being ready to set them straight, even if he himself wronged her more than any of them.

An awning wrapped around the building which kept the rain at bay as she walked to room 27 while Derek drove the car.

She waited for him, realizing he had the only key they were given. Before letting her inside, he went to the back of Prince and opened the trunk, grabbing one of her suitcases and his simple duffle bag. This dark curls were plastered to his head as rain ran down his face and body, causing Casey to envy every drop that clung to his person.

Derek still had a look of fury on his face as he slid the card into its slot and waited on the beep before entering. The room was chilled, making it colder due to the horrendous rain outside. They were both wet.

He threw their bags down and immediately discarded his shirt. Casey turned around without thinking. Her heart was beating out of her chest. It wasn't the first time she saw him shirtless. And as she thought to the past, every time making her shiver, she ignored their meaning until now.

"You have got to be kidding me. It's just my fucking chest, Case. Give me a break."

And before she could say anything in return to his rude comment, Derek disappeared into the bathroom, the steady sound of a shower drifting to her ears.

Author's note: It's the middle of the night and I have read over this several times. I hope that I was able to correct all of the errors in this chapter. I'm sorry if somthing didn't flow correctly or anything is misspelled. Thank you and review.