Picture Perfect
Chapter 31
By Katie

Casey sat in her room thinking everything over. "Shit, this is too confusing." She hopped off her bed and grabbed the phone.

"Hey Aj." She said into the phone when he answered. "I'm bored. Can I come over? Great, I'll sneak out around 11:30...I'll see you then."

**

Nick woke up to someone stomping in the hall. He looked up at the clock and groaned.

"Who the hell would be up at 3:00 in the morning?" He got up and rubbed his eyes. When Nick got to the door of his room, he was surprised to see Casey stumbling around in the halls.

"Casey!" He hissed. She looked over at him and grinned.

"Hey NICKAY!" She yelled but then covered her mouth when she realized how loud that was.

"Oopsies." She started giggling uncontrollably. Nick rolled his eyes and walked over to her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her into his room.

"Oh, Nicky's being controlling. I like that in a man. What do you say we lay down on the bed and you can control me some more stallion."

Nick frowned at her. "You're drunk aren't you?"

"You're so smart." She hiccuped and then giggled.

"Where did you go?"

"Aj's. We had a partay!" She began dancing around the room singing "Let's have a party". Nick's eyes flashed with pain and jealousy for a second but as quickly as the emotions came, they were gone. His eyes turned dark with anger.

"Didn't my mom tell you not to sneak out anymore?"

"Oh silly billy." She hit him on the nose. "Did you really think that I'd listen to your mom when I could be out having fun?"

"Why?"

"Why what? I had too much to think about so I needed something to relieve me. Aj's a great reliever did you know that?" Nick looked at her sternly.

"Case, you better stop. I don't want to slap you again."

"I don't want you to slap my face. But you can slap my ass." She giggled and pointed to her butt.

"Casey. I'm warning you. Why don't you just get back into bed and sleep. You're going to have one helluva hangover tomorrow morning." Casey didn't budge so Nick picked her up and carried her to the bed.

"Nick, will you sleep with me?" Casey looked up at him with innocent eyes. Eyes that almost reminded him of the Casey that he used to know.

**Flashback**

"Nick, I'm scared." Ten year old Casey looked at Nick, the terror evident in her huge eyes.

"I'm so sorry Casey. I know how much you loved your dad."

"Will you sleep with me? Please. I'm too afraid to sleep by myself."

"Of course I'll sleep with you Casey." Nick crawled up into the bed and wrapped his arms securely around Casey. He stayed there until her breathing evened out and she was asleep. Nick kissed her forehead and whispered into her ear.

"I'm so sorry Casey. I'll never let anyone hurt you."

**

"Please Nicky?" Nick sighed and crawled into the bed with her.

"Goodnight Case." Nick started but stopped when he realized that Casey was already asleep in his arms. Nick was halfway asleep when he heard Casey mumble in her sleep.

"Why didn't you love me back?"