Enjoy:)

Derek threw his hockey bag on the floor and huffed out a deep sigh. His limbs were finally able to relax after a long first week of University and frankly, he wondered how these people had time to study, let alone party. He could hear the beginnings of a party start at some frat on his walk from the rink. Perhaps with time (lots of time) he would get used to this schedule and eventually find time for all that stuff. For now, sleep sounded more appealing.

He heard the door to his dorm open and slam and a similar exhausted huff followed by a bag being thrown to the ground. His roommate Cameron was also a Freshman here and he, too, was on the hockey team. Derek was grateful for that, because he needed someone to help keep him on his feet, and it was cool to think that he could possibly keep Cam on his feet, too. He heard the body hit against the bed and a groan.

"I have so much fucking homework." Cameron grumbled, throwing an arm over his eyes.

"Shit...me, too." Derek groaned, and sat up.

"I better do it now, before I fall asleep. Can't count on me doing anything during the weekend with all the practice and work." his roommate sighed, and rolled off the bed.

"I'll start in five." Derek sighed loudly. "If I fall asleep, just throw a shoe at me, that's what usually works." he grunted.

He heard a chuckle, and rummaging. The noise was becoming an issue until he heard Cameron let out an annoyed sigh.

"You have a pen, D? I bought three new packs and can't fucking find one." Cameron kicked his bag over.

"Yeah, check my desk drawer. My step mom packed me like a million different brands so I could test out what I like most." Derek mentally rolled his eyes. He knew exactly where Casey got her OCD tendencies.

"Hey, D?" Cameron was curious as he approached Derek's desk and he studied the pictures.

"What?" Seriously, he just needed like a few minutes just to close his eyes before he got up and did more work. If he'd known college would be this hard, he would have taken the managerial position at Smelly Nelly's.

"Who's this chick in all your pictures?" Derek peeked up and Cameron was holding a picture of him and Casey at some graduation party they'd gone to. She had her head on his shoulder and his arm was thrown freely around her.

"That's Casey." Derek sat up, and reached for his bag, because it didn't seem like he was getting any rest any time soon anyways. May as well start his homework.

"Is she your girlfriend?"

"Casey is not my girlfriend." Derek clarified. It was always weird saying that out loud. Why was everyone so curious, and why was it anyone's business?

"Oh, your sister then?"

"Ugh..." Derek gagged. "Don't ever say that again."

"Then why do you have so many pictures of her?!" Cameron laughed. "Nobody carries this many pictures of a girl if they're not family or a girlfriend."

"She's...just Casey! I don't have that many pictures of her!" Derek got up, and walked over to his desk where he had a cork board full of pictures and a couple of them framed. There were three on the cork board of them together (Not counting one of just her), and one of them both in a frame.

"There's a lot of fucking pictures." Cameron said in amusement.

"Well..." Derek was at a loss for words. He honestly didn't think there were enough pictures of her.

"So she's not your girl friend, and she's not your sister. Who is she?" Cameron picked up a framed picture of them. It was them at graduation and in an especially rare moment, Derek had full on hugged her and was laughing happily down at her because she was the reason he even got to walk that day.

"She's...just Casey! Why does it matter so much?" Derek was whining, because the conversation always made him uncomfortable.

"Does she come to Uni?" He cocked an eyebrow up at Derek.

"No...she's in New York." Derek rolled his eyes, and turned back to his bed so he could finally start his work.

"School?"

"No, she was actually supposed to come here. That was our plan, at least." Derek grumbled the last part.

"Big fight?" Cameron pushed.

"No, we fight too much for it to actually start affecting our long term decisions." Derek grinned.

"Okay, so you seem pissed she's in New York, you planned on coming to college together, you have like a fucking million pictures of her, and you have long term decisions made with her...and she's...not...your girlfriend?" Cameron just wanted a straight answer, really, he wasn't trying to be annoying.

"No! And no we don't always make decisions like that together! It's just...she decided to go to New York for a year so she could dance...she deferred for a year." Derek shook his head. He was still pissed at her for doing this. The pain was still so real, and he'd been giving her the silent treatment for a good three weeks. It was honestly the longest time he'd gone without talking to her since they'd met.

"A dancer, eh?" Cameron wriggled his eyebrows at Derek. "She's kinda hot."

"Kinda?" Derek snorted, and then wanted to slap himself. He hated when he lets slip a tiny shred of how attracted he was to Casey. "Look...she's Casey. She's...special to me." Derek could slap himself again, because although that were true, he was sure there was a less wimpy way of saying that.

"Off limits?" Cameron put the picture down finally, and sat on his bed with his text book.

"You could say that..." Derek said uneasily. "Look, she's helped me through a lot of shit... with school and my brother and sister. We're just...there...for each other a lot."

"So like a best friend, then?" Cameron tilted his head to the side.

"Eh." Derek waved his hand side to side. He'd never even call her an acquaintance to her face, let alone friend or best friend. "If best friends argued too much, constantly insulted one another, and hate each other's guts one third of the time...then yes. We're the bestest friends ever." Derek could talk about her all day, but just thinking of her lately infuriated him. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes.

"I can see this conversation is exhausting you. Don't think I'm done, though." Cameron grinned, shaking his head, and finally putting his pen to the paper and zoning out.

Derek heaved a huge sigh of relief. He was grateful for the conversation to come to an end.

It wasn't at all that he wasn't happy for Casey doing the dancing thing. She was amazing, after all. He just thought that she cared a lot more about her education and all that. It stung worse knowing she'd picked that Jesse guy over him and she'd only known the guy for two minutes for fucks sake.

So the silent treatment just seemed...logical. And childish. But mostly logical. Casey was supposed to come to university with him! Not run off with lover boy right when her real life was going to begin!

Silent treatment would be a whole lot easier if she wasn't calling him every other day and leaving him threatening messages to pick up his phone and for once in his life stop being so selfish or so help her. He knew he made ignoring her look easy, but it really wasn't, because he really was dying to know how she was doing. He wanted to be sure she was safe and that she was eating because he knew how crazy she gets once she starts dancing. She'll start skipping meals and working out. She'd gotten out of hand once, and he put a stop to it by shoving a burger at her and making it a point that guys don't dig skeletal women.

Eventually he did cave in, about three weeks into Queens, as he was leaving class and his phone was ringing. He was walking on campus at the time, on his way to the dorms and once it started ringing, he just stared at the screen; a picture of her popping up with her name across the screen. He sighed loudly and closed his eyes as he finally answered.

"Hello?"

"De-rek!" she shrieked his name. "Why are you ignoring me? I've been calling you for weeks!"
He couldn't help but grin widely, because from the sound of her voice, she hadn't changed a bit, and that was what he was most afraid of.

"I wasn't ignoring you, I was just enjoying my time away from you." Casey could practically feel his smirk on the other end.

"Oh sure, whatever! You live for irritating me to no ends, just like you are right now. So what gives? Why aren't you talking to me?" She was raising her voice, and Derek could kick himself for thinking of how much he missed her yelling at him.

"I don't have anything to say." he said casually. He was already walking in his dorm, and he saw Cameron at his desk writing an essay. Derek nodded at him with a smirk, and walked over to his bed.

"You always have something to say. So let me have it. You're pissed at me for coming to New York? Is that it?" she pushed him.

"Casey, I could care less about that." He lied smoothly. Cameron's ears perked up when he heard her name, but he played it cool by pretending he was still doing his essay.

"Then what, Derek? Partying too hard to give your ol' stepsister a call or text or even email? God you're such a jerk! Why do I even care so much?" She ranted on.

"I don't know, why do you care so much? You're the one calling me, after all."

"Stop doing that! Stop acting like you don't care!" she whined. "It drives me crazy! If you didn't care, you probably would've come and said goodbye to me when I left!" Derek felt guilty as he heard her voice start to crack, but she soon recovered. "But no you have to stop talking to me altogether and be a little girl about everything!"

"Or maybe I don't really care at all, but I still like to get a rise out of you and know how much you hate the silent treatment. I only answered today, because you keep calling during my classes and I need you to stop that." He was grinning ear to ear, because he craved the routine him and Casey had together in high school of fighting, and now he was just feeling very nostalgic. He reached in his bag for his laptop, and opened up his email right quick, clicking away while Casey talked on.

"Well if you'd have answered your phone or talked to me at all like a mature adult, I would've known when you had class and we wouldn't be in this mess, you idiot!" she yelled.

"Chill out, Princess, I just sent you my schedule so stop whining." He shut the laptop and leaned against the wall with a huff, trying to seem annoyed but really, he was deeply pleased that they were going to start talking again.

"Wha-really?" he could hear the smile in her voice and that made his stomach flop for some reason.

"Duh. Now stop calling me during my classes. There's no excuse now." He retorted like he was talking to a child.

"I'm going to ignore your condescending tone for two minutes to ask how school is." Casey was all business now.

"Good, I'm actually going to all my classes and shit."

"Language, Der."

"And shoot." He corrected himself with a laugh. "Coaches were pains in our assholes about keeping our grades up. With the scholarship and all, I thought what the hell, might as well try for once."

"Pains in our assholes. Nice." She repeated, making Derek laugh.

"Language, Case."

"Bum-holes." she corrected with a giggle. "Well at least you're actually kind of smart-and I will not repeat that so wipe that grin off your face. I'm really glad it's going well." her voice was solemn, now and it was then that he knew Casey missed him just as much as he missed her.

"Hows dance?" Derek tried to get her out of that mood.

"Oh, Der..." she sighed dreamily. "It's great. I mean, everyone is super anal-and that's coming from me. But once we all have it down, it's wonderful." He could hear the smile in her voice.

"You better not be starving yourself." Derek said seriously.

"Not this again, Derek." Casey grew annoyed. "That was one time, and even I know that was stupid. My diet is strict now, but I make sure that I'm getting everythingI need. Plus every Friday night I have a steak dinner with my dad."
This pleased Derek. Not only that she was eating well, but that she was spending time with her father; and he knew she missed him dearly.

"And Jesse?" he practically spat his name out, it leaving a dirty taste in his mouth.

"Oh, we're like on different schedules, so I rarely see him." She said without a care. Derek breathed out a sigh of relief, shaking off the jealousy that had taken over.
They talked a little while longer, little banter to get on the other's nerves, until the conversation came to an end about an hour later.

"I have to go, Der. Next time don't be so dramatic and ignore me. Theatrics are my thing." she scolded him, but even then he could hear the playfulness in her voice.

"Yes, dear." he rolled his eyes.

"And, Der?" Casey said hesitantly.

"Yeah?"

"I really miss you. It's kind of...weird...being here without you. I guess I'm just used to us doing everything together." Her voice grew soft, and he closed his eyes relishing in the sound of it.

"Ditto, Space Cadet. Call me anytime, yeah?"

"Sure, Der." she whispered, and hung up.

Derek sighed, tossing his phone on his desk, and throwing an arm over his eyes. He'd resorted to lying down during the conversation. He felt so much relief that they were talking again, and it really was weight off his shoulders to know she was doing well.

"So..." Cameron put his pencil down. Derek turned his head to look at his roommate, almost forgetting he was even in there. "That was Casey on the phone?"

"Yeah, trust me, she's more infuriating in person if you could believe it." Derek mumbled. A smile curved on Cameron's face as he smiled at Derek shaking his head.

"When were you going to tell me you were in love with her."

Derek sat straight up and scoffed. "Excuse me?"

"Yeah. You love Casey! Why didn't you just tell me that? What is she, the one that got away?"

"Why would you even think that?" Derek asked, almost nervously.

"C'mon! I mean you talk to us guy's plenty, but I see you deflect any girl that approaches you or even tries to talk to you. Once Casey calls, you can't stop! Plus, you know...the married couple thing." He shrugged.

"What married couple thing?"

"You guys were arguing like an old married couple. Sort of like a dynamic you already have down to a tee."

"That doesn't mean I love her. We just know how to push each other's buttons." Derek shrugged, hoping it seemed like a good enough excuse.

"You can't lie to me, you know. I have the best bull shit detector in town." He cocked an eyebrow up at Derek and gave him a challenging look as if to say 'Lie to me one more time so I can call you on it'.
The stare got too intense for Derek, and he threw himself back with a groan.

"Fine!" He huffed. "I love her, okay! She doesn't know."

"That's my boy!" Cameron laughed with amusement.

"I don't want to hear it. I'm not into people teasing me!" Derek whined. "Plus, it isn't like anything can happen between us."

"Why not?" Cameron was curious.

Derek sat up, not sure what to say. His friendship was still new with him, he didn't need to know the complete basics of his and Casey's relationship. He didn't need to be deemed a freak right now, or ever for that matter. Maybe he'd tell him later, but for now, he'd just avoid that part of the complete truth.

"She's..." He sighed, shaking his head. "too good for me." that part wasn't a lie. He really did believe that.

"You seem like a good enough guy." Cameron shrugged, getting up from his desk and sitting on his bed across from Derek's.

"Look, you don't know her, but...she's sort of perfect. I'm...not even close."

"Well, if she's still single, and has been bugging you everyday since you've been here, I'd say, you're just what she wants."

Derek chuckled sadly, and shook his head again. "No. I'm not. I'm pretty good at reading her when she has a crush on somebody or is even remotely interested. She gets all flustered and klutzy. She's perfectly composed around me."

"Maybe she just doesn't know she's in love with you."

"No...no. She's pretty in tune with her feelings, believe me." Derek rolled his eyes, and then rubbed his hands up and down his face. He hated talking about feelings.

Cameron studied his friend for a while and noticed the stress this put on him, so he dropped it. He honestly felt bad for the guy. He probably had the whole college experience planned out (with her in the picture), and she wasn't even there now to experience it with him. Cameron was a sucker for happily ever after, though he'd kill anyone who ever found that out. So he secretly wished the best for his lovesick roommate.

Yay for another story. I know I totally suck with updates. Hopefully this one will be updated once a week since I plan on it being a 3-shot.

Don't worry about my other two stories that are still in the works. I'm just thinking long and hard about them. Be patient! Hopefully it'll all be worth the wait.

I'd like to thank A. Summer for the story idea! I really appreciate it and hope I live up to your great ideas! Hopefully I don't butcher it haha.:) I'm using your idea with the thoughts of Never Shout Never's Dare4Distance (mostly because it's to do with two lovers separated and one of them is in school).

-Bonnie