A/N: OK, I definitely agree that things need to be wrapped up with Max. She did dump him quite suddenly...thank you to my four lovely reviewers...
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Casey and Noel spent the rest of the night dancing away. Max had stormed off in a huff and was nowhere to be found. Casey was sad when the dance ended...it had gone by faster than she had hoped it would. When Derek and Casey came home everyone was already asleep.
"So...you and Noel," Derek said as he hung up his coat.
"Yeah," Casey couldn't stop grinning.
"What does Max think about you two?"
Casey's grin instantly faded. She was beginning to feel guilty. Derek raised his eyebrows.
"I kind of dumped him very...harshly," Casey squirmed where she was standing.
"Like, how harsh?"
"Well...it was very sudden...I have to call him!" Casey said grimly.
She suddenly felt like Derek...she was trying to avoid breakup tears BIG TIME, and she didn't like that feeling. Casey ran up to her room and called Max's cell. No one answered. She didn't want to call his house and wake his parents up. She kept trying to call him until she fell asleep on her bed.
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The next morning Casey got up and showered with every intention of going to Max's house and explaining herself, but Max beat her to it. When Casey was downstairs eating breakfast the doorbell rang.
"Max!" Casey exclaimed when she opened the door.
"Casey...we need to talk," Max said grimly as he stepped inside the house.
"I was going to go to your house to talk to you today. I tried calling your cell last night, but you didn't pick up."
"Yeah, I kinda didn't want to talk to anyone last night. Casey what's going on? Why'd you break up with me? I thought things were going well."
Casey sighed, "I thought so too, at first. But when I really started to think about our relationship, it just didn't seem right."
"What was wrong with it? Our relationship was perfect!" Max no longer held back his frustration.
Casey stared at him. He didn't get it, and that was why she needed to break up with him.
"Max, that was the problem! Nothing new ever happened between us!I'm so tired of the same old hum-drum relationship!"
Max frowned.
Casey continued, "Look Max, I care about you. I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I have to move on."
"Casey-"
"Max, please don't! I'm not changing my mind. Please just accept my decision."
"Right," Max backed away. "I guess I should have seen it coming...I mean when he kissed you during the musical...there was something more there...I was just in denial about it."
"Max, I'm sorry."
Max sighed, "I am too. I hope this one works out better for you."
Casey hugged him, but it was very awkward. Casey breathed a huge sigh of relief when Max finally left.
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Casey's day brightened when Noel came by. When she opened the door and saw him standing on her front step, she grinned.
"I was thinking we could have a High School Musical marathon. I've never seen it and I know how much you love musicals," Noel grinned back at her.
"Awesome! The second one premiered last night, but they're showing a rerun tonight."
"Sounds cool."
Noel was gazing at her intensely. She noticed he had a habit of doing that and whenever he did it she felt warmth spread across her abdomen. Casey smiled; Max and Sam had never looked at her that way. Noel leaned down to kiss her and she responded with enthusiasm. After some time, Casey and Noel sat on the couch and watched as the Wildcats sung and danced the night away.
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The End (for reals this time).
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Emma