Picture Perfect
Chapter 11
By Crystal

"Casey Jana Summers, get your ass back her now!" Jane yelled. Casey stopped, turned around and walked back into the room.

"What?"

"NO MORE! Do you hear me?"

"With you screaming it's a little hard not to."

"I mean it Casey! No more piercings, tattoos or hair dye! Got it?"

"Wait a minute, what's wrong with all that?" interjected AJ. Casey, Nick and Jane all looked at him. "She's just living up to her lifestyle. You know that I would never undermine your authority Jane, but she really hasn't done anything wrong. She's just being herself. Nothing she's done is out of the ordinary. I mean, look at me."

"AJ, these are different circumstances," Jane tried.

"What's so different?" he asked.

"Well then, I guess there's at least one normal person in this stupid town. I have to go get ready for work. Excuse me." Casey ran out of the room which left AJ with the two Carters staring at him.

"Why do you encourage her?" Jane asked, defeated.

AJ smiled at her, trying to reassure her. "Jane, if you tell her not to do something it's just going to make her want to do it even more. I think you're just going to have to get used to the fact that she's not the old Casey. She's not like Nick either. She's… evolved. You can't try and control her because she'll just end up being even more out of control."

"So you're suggesting that I just let her do whatever the hell she wants?"

"No! I'm just saying don't try and keep her locked up in a world she doesn't want to be in. She's not Nick's little best friend anymore. Maybe both of you should see that. See ya later man." AJ put on his sunglasses and left.

"What happened to our sweet Casey, Nick?"

"Look Mom. Don't ask me questions like that please. As far as I'm concerned I was never friends with that bitch."

Casey walked back into the room.

"Speak of the devil," groaned Nick.

"You know Nick, you really should stop talking about yourself. No one likes a self-involved loser," she retaliated.

"What does your shirt say?" asked Jane, trying to get a glimpse at the top. Casey straightened up.

"Boys suck," she said.

"How would you know?" Nick challenged.

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

"I can't handle this! I'm going to take a warm bath." Jane picked up her purse and walked out of the room.

"You are such a heinous bitch!" he screamed at her.

"I want to show you something Nick."

"Oh yeah? And what's that Casey?"

Casey lifted up her top, revealing a black bra. She pointed to a tattoo of a halo that rested on her left breast. He looked at it, then at her face.

"Now go run along and tell mommy dearest that big bad Casey has a tattoo on her boob. I bet she'll love to hear you tell her that. Oh, and one more thing," she flipped him off, winked, smiled and walked out of the room.