A/N: Sorry for the delay. Been kind of busy. But I'm back now with a longer than usual chapter! :)

It had been about four weeks since that first coffee date and now it seemed that Robin and Casey were somewhat of an item. He would walk her to dance practice. She would sit in on hockey practices, while doing homework in the bleachers. They had been to the movies, dinner, and even short talks about spending a day or two with his family a couple miles outside of campus.

That day Robin was walking Casey to her practice. Fingers interlocked and her eyes were speckled with little cartoon hearts. Robin knew how anal and obsessive she could be and it didn't drive him totally crazy. Casey knew that Robin often ate with his mouth open and slept 6 feet from Derek but it wasn't a total deal breaker. The leaves were turning gorgeous shades of auburn and gold with just the right amount of nip in the air.

"So, I know the homecoming game is only a few days away but I still feel really unprepared." Casey moaned. She had officially been promoted to captain of the freshman section and was dancing front and center in charge of seven other girls.

"Cay, calm down." Robin soothed. "You know you'll be fine." he picked up her hand and kissed it.

"I know. I know. But I can't get Vanessa to listen to me! We are the same age and with the same skill, nearly. But she just doesn't respect me because she thinks she should be Frosh Captain over me.." Casey huffed.

"Shh, you're okay. So, I was thinking. Do you want to go on a double date?"

"With who?"

"Derek and his girlfriend Poppy. Poppy brought it up. The four of us could go out to dinner and then mini golf or something."

"Wow. Well, that doesn't sound awful." Casey hesitated but it had been two months and it was time for Derek and her to be okay around each other, especially with Autumn Break coming up. They reached the gymnasium and kissed goodbye with Casey ready to stubbornly attack Vanessa for her lack of respect.

The very next night Casey sat across from Derek and beside Robin. Derek with his hoodie and jeans and stupid green t-shirt made Casey squirm uncomfortably for reasons unknown. His hair fell perfectly over his hazel eyes and the way he looked at Poppy made her feel sick. But Casey chalked it up to the greasy cheese fries the boys had ordered.

"So, we were both in line at the cafe and she took the last bowl of chocolate pudding." Derek was telling the story of how he met this gorgeous brunette with cat like green eyes.

"And I told him that if he wanted it, he would have to take me out." Poppy finished and kissed the tip of Derek's nose. "How did you two meet?"the way she clutched his hand and leaned into him made Casey's stomach turn with what she assumed was rage.

"Oh, um. I let him borrow my history notes." Casey retold unenthusiastically. She hardly noticed Robin's wounded expression. Casey plucked another fry and chewed slowly.

"Well, that's sweet." Poppy tried. "Do you know Derek very well?"

"All too well." Derek mumbled as he took a drink of his Dr. Pepper.

"We are step-siblings. Our parents married when we were 15." Casey explained.

"How fascinating." Poppy swooned. Robin rolled his eyes, he was quite tired of hearing all about Derek and Casey's past. Their high school fights. Their summer fights. Their winter fights. Their family reunion fights. It was exhausting how everything was all about DerekandCasey not Casey and Robin or Derek and anyone else.

"No, not really interesting at all." Derek bit off the words and his eyes met Casey's with a burning intensity. She felt her face catch fire and her intestines began to squirm. "She made my life a living hell for four years and these two months apart have been heaven."

"Yeah, well our home life wasn't exactly peachy for me." Casey snapped. "I'm thrilled to be away from you."

"Then why are you dating my roommate." He arched an eyebrow, challenging her.

"Because I like him. You are an unwanted accessory."

"Well, this is awkward. Poppy, let me show you the arcade." Robin sighed.

"Gladly." Poppy said quietly. The two walked to the back of the pizza place to the sticky arcade with outdated games.

"Well, thanks. You scared off our dates." Casey pouted.

"I didn't do anything. It's not my fault you're so shrill and demanding."

"Der-ek! Can't you ever just shut up!"

"Space Case, I haven't talked to you in months. I have effectively shut up to make you happy. But its never enough. Nothing I do is enough. I give you space and you find my roommate. I find a girl I like and you are on the dance team with her. I find another girl I like and she wants to go out with you. I can't seem to avoid you and your stupid brown ponytail or weepy blue eyes." Suddenly Derek was too real. His voice was low and seething. Casey sensed this wasn't their normal give and take fight, in fact Poppy and Robin could probably sense it across the eatery.

"What was that?" Casey whispered.

"Knock of the whiny woe-is-me act, Princess." he got up from the table. "I've gotta piss. Don't eat all the fries. We both know salt and grease make you break out."

Casey was left alone at the table. Somehow her heart had gone cold. Even when everyone rejoined she still felt cold and lonely.

At the mini-golf course Derek tried everything to focus on Poppy but his mind wouldn't get off of Casey. She was smiling but it was forced. She was laughing but it was shallow. She was holding onto Robin's hand but it was loose. She wasn't happy and he felt somewhat responsible. He scored a hole in one and Poppy threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. But her lips felt too wet and thin. Casey was watching this play out. Robin was watching Casey. The sun was setting. The date was ending. And so was something else.

"Cay?" Robin asked. as the two couples walked back to campus. Casey and Robin were walking behind the other duo and Casey was glowering at the back of Derek's head. Casey had been shoving Derek. Derek had been hitting Casey with his golf putter. They had spent a great deal of the excursion shouting at each other about points and rules. Poppy seemed to be taking it in stride, as she was currently holding Derek's hand and swooning up at him, but Robin was exhausted.

"Yeah, sweetheart?" Casey asked without looking at him. They had just reached the dorms and where the path split between the her dorm and their dorm. Robin stopped walking and faced Casey. The girl he was really falling for. She was cute and sweet and funny. Dedicated and stubborn. And one hundred percent in love with his roommate. Whenever she came over to hang out and Derek was there she would squabble with him and help him study while Robin was left alone to watch a movie. When she went to hockey practices and Robin looked up into the stands, Casey was almost always studying Derek. It was heartbreaking. Derek clearly returned the affection without so many words. He would ask about all the details of every date. He would find reasons to tag along when Robin walked Casey to dance practice. He would "casually" ask when Casey was coming back to their dorm room.

"Can you be honest with me? Like, really really honest."

"Sure, Robin. I'm always honest with you." She tried to smile but something tasted sour in her mouth. This couldn't end well.

"Do you like me? Enjoy spending time with me?"

"Of course! That's why I'm with you!"

"I just don't think so...do you have feelings for Derek?" He tried to devoid his voice of tone or inflection but to no avail. He sounded sad and pathetic, even to his own ears.

"What? Robin, no. He's my step-brother."

"I know. But imagine for just one minute, that he wasn't. He was just another man on campus. How would you feel?" He paused. Casey was silent, looking at the ground. "Your lack of response, is a response."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying...well, I don't know. I feel like sometimes you're just with me to be closer to Derek. I like you a lot...maybe even more than that. But you're so mad about my roommate that I can't stand to see you pine over him while trying to be with me. I want you to be happy. Even if its not with me." he leaned down and kissed Casey's cheek. Casey was welling up and trying to wipe her eyes to keep tears from falling.

"Bye, Robin." she mumbled.

"Bye, Casey." he turned to walk away, but stopped short. "He feels the same way, you know."

Casey got back to her dorm, her heart heavy. Derek had ruined another relationship of hers. The small room was empty and dark. Jade once again, was missing. She flicked on the light and slowly undressed. Robin and Casey had only been together little more than a month so she was unsure why she was so sad. She was trying to fight the thought that she was so upset because she now realized that in Robin leaving her, she couldn't see Derek as frequently.

She got under the covers and pulled out her book from under her pillow. It was only ten at night but she was beyond tired. She curled up and faced the wall, leaving the lamp on. Just as she was drifting off her phone chimed from her desk. It was from mom.

Nora: Hey, sweetheart. I hope everything is well. I know the long thanksgiving weekend is coming up...but we've decided to take the younger kids to see George's family in South Dakota. Their break is shorter and earlier than yours, so I hope you don't mind staying at Queen's during the break. We will do our big family holiday in a few weeks! I love you!

Casey: No, mom. That's fine. I love you too. Does Derek know?

Nora: George just let him know. We will send two huge care packages. :) :) :)

Casey: Okay, neat! Send my love to everyone.

Nora: Will do. Sleep well, Casey. 3

"Fucking, hell." Casey sighed. All she wanted was to go home and snuggle with her mom and watch their shows. But now she had to spend another two weeks alone on campus. She replaced her phone on the dresser and closed her eyes again. Just as she relaxed a loud demanding knock sounded at her door. She got out of bed and opened the door to see a certain Venturi standing in the hall. Same jeans, hoodie, and disheveled hair, only now he had an added look of annoyance.

"What Derek? I'm really not in the mood." she crossed her arms defiantly and mentally refused to let another irritant in. Derek took her appearance in. Pink girly pajama pants, white tank top that was vaguely see through and no bra. Hair tossed up messily. And her eyes were puffy and pink, had she been crying?

"I assume you got the call?" Derek demanded, pushing past Casey.

"No, Derek. I got a text. A very rude and unceremonious text alerting me that while all my friends went home to see their families I would be spending another six days alone with you!" she had been approaching Derek while saying all of this and to punctuate her final word she pushed the palms of her hands into his chest. He looked quite taken aback, and she liked making him look like that. She shoved him again, this time he hit the desk. "I miss my family and you are being a...a...douche weasel so I don't even have you!"

"Watch out, Princess. You shove me one more time and it won't end well for you." His voice was barely above a growling whisper. She reached out to smack his face, feeling almost five years of anger and frustration and hostility bubble up inside of her. He caught her hand and then in one smooth motion he used it against her to spin her around and effectively chicken wing her. She brought her foot back and used her heel to kick him in the shin. He doubled over and she began swatting his back, unaware that she had begun crying. Derek bundled her calves together and hoisted her over his shoulder and threw her on her bed. He crawled on top of her, pinned her wrists down, and was about to work up a large ball of spit when he noticed she had stopped fighting back. He looked down at the dainty girl he had pinned between his rather muscular thighs. Her fragile wrists were secured under his large hands. They were inches away. Her Blue Raspberry Jolly-Rancher eyes were quivering with excitement, fear, and confusion. Slowly, very slowly, Derek leaned down and placed a nearly invisibly light kiss on her nose.

"I win." He declared. Derek rolled off of her before she noticed the tightening in the zipper region of his jeans. Casey sat up on her bed and pulled her knees to her chest. "Douche weasel, Case?"

"It was all I could think of." She sighed. "Robin broke up with me."

"I know. I decked him."

"Why?"

"He hurt you." Derek shrugged like defending Casey was something he did everyday. "And only I get that privilege."

"Where have you been for two months?" Casey mumbled and rested her head cautiously on Derek's shoulder. He didn't respond immediately.

"I was giving you space." he paused. "Did you miss me?"

"Only a very marginal amount." she mumbled.

"I'm back." he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and gently rubbed her arm. "I really need to teach you how to curse."

A/N: I hope this satisfied you! I love writing these two. I can't wait to show you what happens over Thanksgiving break. ;) Read, respond, review. Much love, Little Crickett.