Jesse became nothing but a distant memory as college life granted Casey with new prospects and, at long last, a new boyfriend named Rob. Well, let's pump the brakes. Rob wasn't her boyfriend as of yet, but after five really good dates, Casey had a good idea of where this was going. They mutually agreed to be exclusive without labels to see where their budding relationship might lead, and Casey was over the moon. Derek, however, was tired of hearing about her sappy romance and wished she could find a gal pal to divulge this information to.

Everything was going great in the love department for Casey... until it wasn't. She began to catch Rob in several lies; his tone of voice, his sweaty palms, and his averted glares were enough to set her radar off. Casey wasn't as perceptive as Edwin, but it was clear this guy was lying through his teeth, and he wasn't very good at it.

So, she did what any normal, sane person would do, and she followed him.

Rob was at the library instead of in his dorm like he said he would be.

Casey inconspicuously sat a few tables away from Rob, hiding behind a worn-out book in her hand, nearly losing her mind when Derek took a seat beside her, threatening her cover.

Of all the places she predicted running into Derek, the library wasn't one of them.

"Hey, Case." He might as well have had a megaphone with as loud as he called her name.

"Shh! What are you doing here?!" She hissed, making sure Rob didn't notice her a few yards away.

"I'm studying." Derek was an even bigger liar than Rob. Since when did he study, much less on a Friday?

"You don't study! What are you really doing here?"

"Alright, I'm here because my annoying roommate wanted the place for him and his girl, and I'm not one to be a third wheel. Apparently, I'm the only one without a date on a Friday night. Well, you, too, but that's not exactly newsworthy," he snickered.

"As great as this conversation has been, can you go away?" She seethed at the very thought of Derek ruining her covert operation.

"I would, but I'm not in the business of giving you what you want. So, are you going to tell me why you're hiding behind that book?" Derek picked up the book, saw the word feminism, and grimaced. Casey snatched the book back and slouched in her seat.

She eventually gave in and told Derek everything in hopes he would get bored with her tragic dating life and walk away from the table.

"The guy I'm seeing is cheating on me. Well, I don't have any definitive proof, but that's why I'm here."

Derek followed her gaze to Rob, tapping his fingers on the sticky table in front of him.

"That guy? I say cut your losses and run while you still have the chance. He's below average, even for you."

Looking at Rob sitting there alone, Casey honestly didn't see the appeal at first glance either, but it had been his personality that drew her in initially. Rob was a nice guy to talk to, or maybe he was just manipulative enough for Casey to think he was nice.

"As tempting as that sounds, shut up," she told Derek.

All of a sudden, Casey snapped her head back to Rob when a pretty blonde walked over to him and, without hesitation, gave him a big kiss on the lips, solidifying every horrible assumption Casey had about him. A kiss on the cheek could have been deemed as friendly, but not a kiss on the lips!

Casey was right all along! Sometimes, she hated being right.

If Rob didn't want to be exclusive, he should have just said so instead of stringing Casey along.

"Wait, I think I know her. Yeah, I definitely went out with her." Derek shot up from his chair and started toward them, avoiding Casey's gaze and her effort to tug him back to their table.

"Der-ek!" No matter how hard Casey tried, Derek paid no mind to her sad attempt to get him to sit back down. He was on a mission, whether Casey approved of it or not.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Cindy Lancaster. You know, I thought we had a great date last week and here you are, with another guy."

"Derek, you told me that you're not into relationships," Cindy mentioned.

At least he was honest, Casey thought.

"Oh, I know," Derek smirked, folding his arms to his chest.

"Then what's the problem, dude?" Rob was the next to speak, standing up from his table while visibly agitated their library date was being interrupted.

Good thing the librarian was far away from the tables, or else they would all be kicked out for a disturbance.

"The problem, dude, is you're supposed to be seeing Casey," Derek said, directing his thumb behind him at a now fully uncovered Casey McDonald.

"What's it matter to you?" Rob barked.

To Derek, Rob's bark had no bite, and even if it did, it wouldn't deter him from telling this loser off.

"It matters to me because she's my stepsister. No one is allowed to treat her like crap unless it's me. So consider whatever relationship you had with her over."

"Oh really?" Rob turned to Casey, but she said nothing.

The joke was on Rob if he really thought he was going to see Casey again. The worst mistake Casey recalled making was going back to Truman French after he cheated on her; she was not making that mistake again.

"Really. Come on, Case. Grab your lady books, and let's get out of here," Derek nodded toward the door.

Cindy, surprised to find out her date was involved with Casey, rushed out of there without a word to anyone. What a coward!

Casey stood up next and followed Derek without protest.

"Wow, Derek," Casey said, opening the double doors of the library.

"I know what you're thinking, and don't you dare," Derek warned, pointing a finger in front of Casey before moving out of the way.

"What am I thinking?" She fluttered her eyelashes ever so innocently, but Derek wasn't having it.

"You want this to be some feel-good family moment where I let you hug me under the moonlight, and it's not gonna happen. Stay away from me, or I'll go back inside and tell Doorknob Rob you want to see him again."

"You wouldn't."

"Don't test me, McDonald."

"What's the fun in that?" Testing Derek was the highlight of her day, especially knowing how he liked to do the same.

"You know, I almost feel bad for the guy. Losing that hot blonde has got to be a big hit for the ego."

Casey shoved Derek on the shoulder, gritting her teeth. He could be a caring guy one minute and such a jerk the next!

"So what does that say about you? You dated her, didn't you? Only you would let such a great girl slip away," Casey chuckled, walking alongside her stepbrother to her car.

Derek could have walked back to the dorms. Surely, he could have found a way to ruin his roommate's date, but he wanted to make sure Casey got to her car safe. It was getting late, and he felt a bit protective over her, not that he would admit to it out loud.

Plus, there was something he needed to ask her about.

"First off, I never said Cindy was great; I just said she was hot. Secondly, the move was strategic; I have to keep the field open this early in the semester. I'm playing a smart game, if I do say so myself."

"You and smart in the same sentence? Please," Casey scoffed.

"I must be pretty smart to be at the same nerdy college as you," Derek defended himself.

"You got in by the skin of your teeth, Derek. Hopefully, college will be good for you. Maybe you will mature." Fat chance of that.

"Mature? In college? Casey, Casey, Casey, have you forgotten who I am? This is college, and I'm going to experience all of the parties, alcohol, and girls this place has to offer. You can focus on your boring little index cards, and I'll get my education in the real world." Big words for someone who was also at the library alone on a Friday night.

"Mm, well, enjoy your short experience because when the real world actually hits you, you'll be begging me for a place to stay with the quarters you found in the cracks of the cement."

"Uh, yeah, speaking of a place to stay, can I crash at your place tonight?"

"What? Why?" Casey nearly gasped.

"Well, I wasn't completely honest about my whole roommate situation. I mean, yeah, he has a date over, but that's not the whole story. Truth is, he doesn't like me," Derek explained.

"I like him already," Casey smiled.

"He gets mad when I play my music late at night. To get me to stop, he tossed my keys out the window and into the bushes. Normally, I'd sneak back in, but this guy is bigger than The Fridge. I'll admit I'm a bit intimidated."

"As much as I'd like to help you, I can't. I don't like your music at night, either, and I have a lot of studying to do."

"It's Friday; there's nothing you have to study for. I promise I won't play my music tonight."

"I -"

"Come on, Casey; I'm begging."

Casey rubbed her lips together thoughtfully, watching as his hazel eyes poured into her blue ones.

"Is that why you helped me with Rob? Because you needed a place to stay?" She accused.

"That was just a happy coincidence."

"Alright, fine. You can take the couch."

She always gives in. It was a curse!

When arriving back to her apartment, Casey flicked on the living room lights and noticed a duffel bag was already sitting on her couch.

"You knew I was going to say yes?"

"You know, you should really lock your doors before leaving the apartment. Anyone could have come in and helped themselves to the food in your fridge. Luckily, it was just me." Derek smirked, plopping onto the couch and hoisting his feet onto the coffee table as if this were his home. He was going to get himself kicked out after barely walking through the door.

"Derek, manners! Get your feet off of the coffee table!" Casey kicked his feet off and furiously wiped the footprints off.

Derek admired Casey's flushed cheeks as she cleaned the table but quickly closed his eyes, adjusting himself on her fancy throw pillow. He much preferred this couch over the bed in his dorm.

"So how are you entertaining me this evening?" He asked, eyes still shut, and hands balancing his head as he relaxed.

"I'm not. There's a television in here if you want to stay occupied, but I'd suggest a shower first. You stink."

"Yeah, dorm showers aren't my thing."

"Derek, you forgot I lived with you; showers weren't your thing at home either," she scoffed.

Derek rolled his eyes and rose to his feet, looking for something clean to wear.

Searching for towels, he rummaged through a few of her drawers, panicking when he found her underwear drawer, and then stopping when he noticed she still had his old high school jersey he thought Nora threw away. He didn't think too hard about it, though. For all he knew, she was using it as a duster. I mean, this is Casey, after all.

As he took a shower, Derek tossed his bar of soap to the side and opted for Casey's luxury, cherry-scented body wash. He couldn't help but notice how much it smelled like her, and how awfully weird it was that he wasn't opposed to the smell. He tried to rinse the body wash off, resorting to scrubbing, but it was too late. He was going to have to go to bed smelling like, and thinking of, Casey McDonald.