Alright, so I know it's been a while since I've update and I'm sorry about that. I'd decided that I was only going to work on one story at a time because it was easier, but I had some spare time today and I was in the mood to work on my stories and the one that I have been working on I just updated last night, so I thought I'd update some of my other stories.

This one's a Casey chapter and its got Dasey written all over it. But I do believe the next chapter's no quite as lovey-dovey...oh well, you'll have to wait and read that one when I get it up. I'll try to update soon instead of just working on one story at a time.

Dara Tavar

You Had Me From Hello

~*Casey’s POV*~

I silently snuck out of my room, heading for Derek’s room. It was nearing nine-thirty and the sun had almost disappeared.

I was just about to pass the bathroom when Lizzie’s door opened up and Edwin stepped out, making me freeze guiltily in my tracks.

“Hey Casey…what are you doing?” Lizzie asked stepping into the hallway beside Edwin.

“Edwin, Lizzie…I could ask you the same question. What are you two doing up?” I asked curiously, trying to distract them. On school nights we were supposed to be in our rooms by now getting ready for bed. They weren’t even in the pajamas yet.

“We were going over our work for a school project. You know, some last minute rechecking. I may be the end of the school year, but we still want to get a good grade on this project. You of all people should understand that, Casey.” Edwin replied with a shrug. “We’re not going to let out grades slip this nine weeks just because school will be over in a couple weeks.”

Alright Casey, you know what we were doing…now what are you doing out here?” Lizzie asked suspiciously.

I thought about where I was standing and replied, “Just heading to the bathroom before going to bed.”

Lizzie was acting out of character lately.

“Sure you weren’t heading to Derek’s room?” Lizzie asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

I fought a blush at the thought of her suspecting where I was really going and crossed my own arms, raising an eyebrow. “What are you getting at, Lizzie? And why would I be heading to Derek’s room at this hour?”

Edwin shifted uncomfortably. “Lizzie, drop it.” He mumbled under his breath, glancing up and me before looking back at the floor.

I hid a smile at his tone. He sounded just like Derek sometimes.

“Casey, come on. I’m not stupid.” Lizzie began.

“She never said you were.” Edwin grumbled, glaring at the wall.

Lizzie elbowed him and he grunted, turning his glare on her as he rubbed his sore side.

“You shouldn’t have done that. He was only telling the truth…I’ve never called you stupid in your life.” I replied casually.

Lizzie rolled her eyes, obviously deciding to just ignore us and continue. “You two have been spending a lot of time together, locked away in your room…or the den, doing who knows what. You tell us that you’re just talking but I’m not sure if we can trust that. You’ve been acting really nice to one another and you act like friends now.”

“So…” I leaned against the door frame, “being friends with someone is illegal now, is it? I must have missed that.”

Lizzie rolled her eyes and shook her head, obviously deciding to just give up. “Goodnight Edwin. ‘Night Casey.”

With that she turned around and walked back into her room, shutting the door behind her.

“Night Lizzie.” Edwin and I called through the closed door.

“Goodnight Casey.” Edwin told me, smiling before moving toward the attic steps. He hesitated and looked back at me. “Don’t mind Lizzie, she’s just been acting a bit…well, different lately. She doesn’t mean anything by what she says.”

“Thanks Edwin, and goodnight.” I said with a smile.

As soon as they were gone I continued to Derek’s room.

I knocked as lightly as I could, hoping not to make Lizzie open her door back up at the sound.

“Come in.” Derek said quietly.

I smiled slightly and opened the door, walking in and closing it before looking at Derek. I smiled wider at the sight of his lying on his bed.

He was just lying there with his eyes closed, his head resting on his folded arms. His shirt was on the floor and all he was wearing was a pair of pajama pants.

“What is it?” he asked without opening his eyes.

I locked the door, having already closed it. “Do I have to have a reason to come and visit you?” I asked, letting my eyes wander over his bare chest.

Derek smiled, opening his eyes and turning his head to look at me. “You…no, anyone else…definitely.”

I smiled wider and walked over to sit on the bed beside him.

Derek propped himself up on one elbow and leaned closer to me. “And what, might I ask, is the reason for this unexpected, but pleasant, visit? I wasn’t really planning on you coming, well I was hoping, but I didn’t know if you would or not…”

“Do you ever know when to shut up?” I asked quietly.

Derek blinked, then looked as though he were thinking it over. His lips parted to say something…but I cut him off with a kiss.

He slid his arms around my waist, leaving nothing holding him up, so he fell back onto the bed, pulling me with him.

I moved with him, already halfway on his bed.

I cared for Derek and wanted this badly…but something in my mind said that it was too soon. I wanted revenge against Sam for cheating on me, and sleeping with his best friend without him even knowing it was a good way to get that revenge…but I didn’t want Derek thinking that that was why I wanted this.

The part of my mind that whispered that it was too soon warned me that if Derek thought, for any reason, that I’d slept with him for revenge I’d lose him.

My mind wasn’t ready to look into why I didn’t want to lose him, but I promised myself that I’d think about why later.

Derek pulled back and a sound of disappointment slipped from my open lips. “Wait Casey…”

I sat up, panting slightly. Why had he stopped? I thought he loved me… Didn’t he want this too?

‘He doesn’t want to be your form of revenge…he doesn’t want to get hurt…’ A little voice whispered in my head.

“What’s the matter?” I asked when I’d caught my breath. “Is there a problem, did I do something wrong?”

Derek shook his head, smiling. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

I frowned, trying to ignore that nagging little voice that was trying to tell me that he thought I might use him for revenge. I wouldn’t do that, not to Derek…and yet, even that nagging little voice couldn’t tell me why I was loathe to hurt him.

“Then what is it?” I asked, tilting my head to one side.

Derek looked into my eyes and moved so that he was sitting up as well. “I have feelings for you, as you know. I just want to make sure that you’re not doing this as a way to get revenge against Sam because of how he hurt you…and I know you’ll probably want revenge now, to hurt him like he hurt you. And I have to admit that revenge is sweet, but…not when it hurts someone who cares about you, who love you. And if you’re only doing this for revenge then…I can’t be a part of it. I may not know what it’s like, but I have no intentions of finding out what it’s like to have someone you love do something like that to you.”

I was stunned to learn that that little nagging voice, probably my conscience, had been right.

I thought about it for a moment, trying to picture this from his perspective. In his eyes, I could see how it might look like I wanted revenge and how I might be willing to use him to get it.

I took his face in my hands and looked right into his eyes. “You’re right, I do want revenge…but I’m not willing to hurt you to get it. That’s not why I wanted this…but I realize that it’s still too soon for this. I don’t want you to think I was going to use you to get revenge again Sam though, I want to know that he knows I got him back when I do finally get revenge against him.”

Derek was watching me intently now. “Why don’t you want to hurt me Casey?”

I bit my lip. “I care about you and don’t want to hurt you…”

Derek watched me for a moment and I hoped he wouldn’t ask more questions, I wasn’t ready to look too much into my feelings for him.

But finally he nodded and simply said, “I guess that will do for now. But I’m still holding out for something else.”

I took a deep breath and nodded, I’d known he would. With a quick kiss I stood up and went to leave, but Derek grabbed my wrist gently to stop me.

“Wait…come with me.”

Derek stood up and pulled me over to the window, pulling me with him as he climbed out onto the roof and went higher up.

At first, I was afraid that I might slip and fall. But with Derek holding my hand, I felt safe, for I knew he’d never let me fall. I let him lead me up higher, but I refused to look down…I even closed my eyes and just let Derek guide me.

When we reached the flattest part, I opened my eyes by Derek’s instruction and glanced around.

There was a large blanket spread out with two more blankets folded on top of it, two pillows, and a small cooler.

Upon further inspection, I found that the cooler held four cans of pop and several pieces of cold pizza.

I looked around at all the things lying on the rooftop, and then looked at Derek. “You were planning on coming up here?” I finally asked.

Derek smiled as he watched me. “Yes I was…though I was hoping I’d have company, I wasn’t exactly expecting it. But I am glad that you came, and as long as you’re the only company I have tonight…I’ll be the happiest guy on the planet.”

I flushed and looked down. With a smiled though I reached out to take his hand and pulled him down on the blanket beside me.

We watched the sun set without talking.

Derek moved the pillows to the top of the blanket and lay down, resting his head on one while leaving the other one for me.

He looked up at the moon and stars, his eyes darting from one star to the next that appeared.

Derek let out a sigh before his eyes found mine and he smiled. Unable to resist, I smiled back.

“How long are we planning on staying up here?” I asked as I laid my head on his shoulder, glancing up at him from beneath my lashes. “I really don’t want to be up here if it starts to rain or storm…”

Derek smiled lightly. “We can stay up here however long we’d like to. Never fear, I checked the weather and it’s supposed to be a nice night, no rain or anything. There won’t be rain until Wednesday.

“Alright…” I watched him for a moment before looking up at the stars. It was a beautiful night and already you would see a lot of stars.

Derek turned to study the stars as well. “I can see the Little Dipper.” He pointed up and circled the area with his finger.

“And I see the Big Dipper.” I replied, doing the small as he had done and circling it with a finger. “Do you see…O’ Ryan’s Belt?” I asked as we looked at the stars.

“Yeah, right there.” He showed he were it was.

I felt the night air growing cooler and shivered, snuggling closer to Derek as I rubbed my arms.

Derek realized I was getting cold because he reached over to grab one of the other blankets, unfolding it and covering me up.

I threw half the blanket on his and pulled him closer, wanting to keep us both warm and wanting to be close to him.

Derek wrapped his other arm around me and held me tighter against his side, pulling the blanket tighter around us.

I looked up at him even as I felt my eyes closing, even as he did the same.

I knew we were both about to fall asleep, but I didn’t care, I just hoped that no one saw us.

That was my last coherent thought before I gave in to the pull of my exhaustion.