Picture Perfect
Chapter 19
By Crystal

Casey pulled up into the garage around ten and slowly walked into the house with all of her packages. It had been a long day at work and a semi-successful day of shopping. She walked out of the garage and dropped her stuff down by the stairs before walking into the kitchen. Jane was there cleaning dishes with BJ.

"Hey Casey! How'd work and shopping go?" asked Jane as she handed BJ a plate to dry.

"Work was tough. Lots of weird people day. I mean, more than usual. Shopping was, well, it was not as expected. I actually stepped into Contempo Casuals. I had you in mind, Jane. I got some things that you'll approve of."

"That's great!"

"Yeah, and of course I want to see and try on!" exclaimed BJ.

"You got it kiddo. Look, I'm really tired and super hungry. Can I just take something up to my room?"

"You didn't get to eat anything?" asked Jane with a concerned look on her face.

"No. I didn't feel like eating at the mall and I just went shopping for a little while."

"Tell you what, go ahead upstairs and I'll bring you up something to eat, okay?"

Casey smiled at her. "Thank you. I'll see you guys later. BJ, tomorrow! Remind me. And maybe you can help me go get more clothes, I'm lost here."

"You got it! Night."

"Night." Casey went to the stairs, picked up her bags and went up to her room. She opened the door, flicked on the lights and threw everything down on her bed. She then turned on her CD player, dropped in her Creed CD and kept the volume at a tolerable level. She went for the Eminem poster and hung it on the back of the door.

"At least something is normal now," she mumbled to herself. She quickly changed into a pair of baggy shorts and an oversized shirt that said "I hate boys". She piled her long hair into a messy bun on the top of her hair and rested her bed. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted her guitar. She picked it up and started to strum along some random notes.

A knock on her door startled her. "Come in," she called.

The door opened and AJ appeared.

"Hey stranger. What are you doing here so late?"

"Nick and I were messing around with some music. Jane asked me to bring this up to you." He handed her a plate with a gigantic sandwich on it.

"Thanks. I'll be lucky to eat even half of this." She put the plate down in front of her and looked back up to AJ. "So, are you on your way out?"

"I guess. Is there anything you want to talk about?" he asked.

Casey eyed him carefully. "Is that a question or a statement?"

"Curious minds want to know."

"Whatever Nick told you, forget about it."

AJ laughed. "Damn, you know, you're a lot smarter than I think people give you credit for."

"Yeah, well apparently you're blind. I was expelled from school."

"Why?" he asked.

"The final blow was flipping off our class president. She needed a good finger though."

"Ouch. You're pretty quick with your tongue."

"Most guys seem to think so," she laughed.

"So, did you get into trouble for coming home so late?"

"Actually, no. But it sure was fun making Nick think things that he shouldn't be thinking."

"Uh oh."

"No. Actually at first I told him that I fucked your brains out."

"Lucky me. Did I enjoy it?"

"Immensely. But I finally told him that it didn't even come down to that."

"Shit, you guys are too much."

"Speaking of too much, check out this green house I'm living in. I feel like a bee or something."

"I really shouldn't be doing this, but how would you like to make a break for it tonight?"

She licked her lips and leaned in closer to him. "I'm listening."

"Be outside by the garage around twelve and I'll help you escape. Sound like a plan?"

"I never refuse a good looking guy."

"Let's hope so. See ya." AJ got up and left the room. A few minutes later Casey got up to wash her face in the bathroom. As she opened the door to her room to leave, Nick was in her way.

"Jesus! Why the hell do you keep doing that? Must you stock me?"

Nick walked forward, causing Casey to walk backwards into her room. He shut the door behind him and pointed his finger in her face. "You cannot keep sneaking out at night?"

"First of all I haven't been sneaking out at night and second of all, fuck off!"

"What is up with your rebel routine? Are you trying to prove something?"

"No I'm just trying to have a good time, something you obviously know nothing about. Take that gigantic stick that is up your ass, pull it out and learn to relax. Now get out and if you're in my room by the time I get back in her you are going to be sorry. She flew past him and shut the bathroom door behind her. When she was done washing her face, she went back to her room and found it empty.

At midnight she snuck out to meet AJ. She didn't return until nearly five the next morning. The sun was starting to rise and she knew the rest of the family wouldn't be up for at least another hour. She successfully snuck upstairs but as she opened her door she saw Nick inside. He was sitting on the window seat, fast asleep.

She walked up to him and lightly slapped his face to wake him up.

"Hey Nicky boy! What's happening?" she laughed.

Nick looked at her, annoyed and rolled his eyes. "Are you drunk?" he asked.

"Better yet. I'm high as a kite and damn, I feel good. Never had a better night in my life. You know, AJ is a much better fuck than I imagined him to be. And he has really long fingers, if you get my drift. You know what Nick? I noticed how nice your fingers are too. Too bad you spend more time sticking them up your nose than you do anything else."

Infuriated, Nick slapped her. She closed her eyes then opened them and looked up at him, shocked and overwhelmed.

"Did you just hit me?"

"Maybe if you weren't fucked up you wouldn't even have to ask me that."

"At least I'm fucked."

He slapped her again.

"Jesus! What the fuck is your problem Nick?"

"You're my problem! All you do is talk shit, eat shit and treat people like shit!"

"Fuck off!" she screamed at him.

"No thanks, I don't use damaged goods." She slugged him hard across his face. He pushed her back. Casey lunged for him but lost her balance and ended up grabbing Nick's shirt and pulling them both down to the ground, with Nick on top of her.

"Get the fuck off of me you shit!" she kneed him hard in his balls, to which he crumpled over. She tried to get up but he grabbed her ankle and twisted it, causing her to fall again.

"Oww! God damn it!" she screamed out in pain. She went to hit him again. The door flew open and Jane walked in.

"What the hell are you two doing?"

"Beating the crap out of your stupid son." She lunged for him again but he got up before she could and she fell to the ground again.

"Nick Carter! I want an explanation and I want it now!" his mom yelled. Nick looked hatefully down at Casey. She had passed out from the drugs.

"What happened? Why is she passed out?"

"Because she's high mom! She deserves to pass out. Maybe it'll knock some sense into her."

"Put her in bed and go back to bed yourself. You can expect to have a very detailed and long conversation about this in the morning! Now do it!" She left the room, leaving Nick with Casey. He wiped a little dribble of blood away from the corner of his mouth and looked at Casey, who was groaning and moving around a little.

He bent down and scooped her up in his arms, picking her up. Then he placed her down on her bed and pulled the comforter over her. When he looked back at her face, she was looking at him.

"I've never hated you before, but I'm certain that I hate you now," she said softly. Nick just looked away and left her room.