Author's Note: Thank you so much for the great reviews. It means a lot. I hope you continue to read and review. This chapter contains little dialog. I felt that they wouldn't be in a very chatty mood. It's based on Derek's thoughts. I wasn't quite sure where to take this but I wanted to get a chapter up for my readers. I hope you enjoy. :)

He pressed his forehead against the cool tile as a harsh stream of steaming hot water massaged his back. His muscles were beginning to loosen up but the tension was still high. How was he going to spend the next twenty-four hours cooped up in a small motel room with Casey? He could see the disgust in her eyes every time she dared to look at him. It was driving him insane and hurt more than words could ever express.

Derek detested what she was doing to him. He hated her for it. Why now? Why ever? He had avoided the inevitable for far too long and now it was happening. A deep emotion that he forbid to surface long ago. She was a princess, Klutzilla, someone he never wanted in the past.

But he was lying to himself.

He had always wanted her in some bizarre way. Every move she made seemed to facinate him. She not only filled his head during the day, but at night, he dreamed of her on a regular basis. And last night had been the final straw. He needed to be near her for real. And once the opportunity presented itself, he took advantage of it only for something so innocent to backfire with a vengence.

Derek chuckled softly. If only Sam could see him now. How many times had his best friend talked about "The beautiful Casey McDonald" only to be told by Derek that she was ugly, uncoordinated, and that Sam was crazy for giving her a second glance? But Derek knew that he had been jealous. It took years for him to realize, but he was jealous that Sam was able to have her while he had to pretend to hate the little princess. It wasn't fair. He never asked his dad to marry Nora.

It wasn't his fault.

Derek turned the water off and stepped from the tub. Water cascaded down his lean body as he gazed into the foggy mirror at his own image. An image that he barely recognized. What had happened to him? He was suppose to be the master of deception. Lying was the one thing he was good at. He should be able to keep up a decent facade until the vision of Casey left his thoughts...no matter how long it might take; no matter how hard he might try. He'd been able to do it up until this point. But now he was losing at his own game.

It wasn't fair.

It wasn't his fault.

Casey was acting like the stuck up bitch that she truly was. But she was only ever a little cunt when it came to him. She never treated anyone else with the same amount of malice she showered Derek on a daily basis. And maybe he deserved it...but not this time.

If she was any other girl, he would simply fuck her to get her out of his mind. But she was Casey. It would never be an option for far too many reasons to count.

Casey would never let him close enough to allow Derek the time he needed to rid her of his thoughts. She was a girl that would be in his life forever. He would be reminded of her body more than he already was if she gave herself to him. Not to mention, he was pretty certain that she had never been with anyone before. Taking Casey's virginity left a bad taste in his mouth. She would never forgive him. It would be more of the same...pure hatred intensified by a million.

Derek wrapped a white towel around his hips and reluctantly opened the bathroom door, stepping into the chilled air that awaited him. The T.V. hummed softly throughout the room. He could feel the steady gaze of her peircing blue eyes on his back. Lifting his dufflebag onto the bed, he pulled a fresh pair of boxer shorts out and slipped them over his lean hips, letting the towel drop to the ground. It was barely 11 in the morning, and already the day was never ending.

Derek reached in the side pocket for a pack of cigarettes that he kept hidden. Usually he let no one see his nasty habit, but there were few things that he needed more than a smoke at a time like this. Daring to look over at Casey, he knew what he would find.

She was gazing at him intently, but not like he had anticipated. The covers were drawn up to her chin while damp hair fanned her pillow, making a delectable sight. Casey was looking at Derek like it was the first time she was seeing him. No hostility shown behind her long lashes. Confusion tormented his brain, making him wonder what thoughts were swirling inside her cute stubborn head.

He flicked his wrist until one butt rose from the pack. Putting the cigarette between his lips, he held her gaze with the same strong determination that she harnessed. Derek smiled as he recognized the look that she was giving him. It was the same regard that every girl had given him in the past.

Desire.

Was Casey even aware of what she was feeling? Her chest was rising at a rapid pace as she watched his every move. He took two small steps toward her, causing her to shrink deeper under the mountain of covers that acted as a sheild to her body. He paused before backing up.

What was he going to do? Walk over to her and expect Casey to let him into her bed? He was only setting himself up for failure. He had to get out.

Derek turned, picked up the key card, and stormed from the motel room with nothing on but his boxers. He lit his smoke quickly and took three long drags before sitting down on the small ledge next to the window. It continued to pour. The earth was flooding at a rapid pace that made Derek cringe.

Prince's wheels were already under five inches of water. It could be days before they could head back to London.

Derek took one slow drag and blew out a steady stream of smoke, a smirk forming at the corner of his mouth. Spending days shacked up with Casey could be a blessing or a curse.

Only time would tell.

Derek tossed the butt into a flowing river of water that streamed across the parking lot. He rose from the ledge and ran a hand through his hair. It was time to face the beast. The question was...could she be tamed?

He once again entered the room to find Casey in the exact same position that he had left her moments ago, only this time she wasn't looking at him. Her gaze was cemented to the T.V., watching without really looking.

Derek went to the coffee pot located on the dresser that housed the television, and proceeded to brew a cup.

"You want a cup of coffee, Case?" he asked her with caution while his back remained turned against her. He waited several breaths before a soft whisper responded.

"Sure."

That one small word helped Derek release the breath he hadn't noticed he was holding. "One cream, five sugars?" he asked with a smile. She drank coffee but only if it was sweetened like candy.

"Seven," she responded.

"Right."

After several minutes, he poured Casey's sweet java and his black one into paper cups. Willing his nerves to calm, he turned around for the first time and noticed that she had sat up, the bottom half of her body still clad in blankets. One delicate hand reached for her coffee. He placed the cup into her palm, letting his skin enjoy the soft feel of her fingers before reluctantly pulling back.

He sat on the edge, watching her take a sip, the hair falling around her face in a shroud to purposefully keep her hidden. Derek wanted desperatly to push the highlighted locks back but waited until she shook the tresses back into place.

"Can we talk?" Casey asked. She looked nervous which intrigued Derek more than he cared to admit. How could he deny her the one request that he had longed for all morning?

"You bet, Spacey. What's on you're mind?"

She took a shakey breath, and than Derek had wished he refused to let her speak.

"Why did you sleep with Roxy after touching me the way you did?"