requested by: aliyahwt

SYNOPSIS: IZZIE GETS DRUNK AND THINGS HAPPEN

It wasn't a usual Friday night in Santa Clarita. At least not for Casey Gardner. Right now, she had her laptop sitting on her desk, with a show on, that she stared mindlessly at.

Her mind wandered to different things- how hungry she was, the fact that she started her first day back at Newton tomorrow, and of course, her beautiful, beautiful girlfriend.

Izzie Taylor was how she usually spent her Friday nights. Even though they saw each other all the time in school, they always set aside Friday nights as their nights, to just enjoy each other's company with no stress about school.

Tonight was supposed to be especially special because it was their last night together before Casey went back to Newton. Of course, Friday night date nights would still continue but this meant they wouldn't see each other much during the weekdays.

Unfortunately, the night before had ruined all that. Everything had been fine during the day and Casey came to watch Izzie train. They were walking, fingers intertwined, to Casey's car, as they always did after Izzie's training.

"Hey losers! We're going to Don's! Come with us!" Penelope yelled from her car. "Ooo, that sounds like fun," Casey mumbled to Izzie, not bothering to catch her reaction before replying Penelope with a "We'll be there!"

Casey immediately felt Izzie yank her hand away from hers, leaving Casey both confused and hurt. "Are you serious?!" Izzie yelled. "What? You love pizza. And you always love hanging out with the team. Besides, I'll be off to Newton tomorrow and I won't be able to see them as much," Casey defended.

"UGH! You're unbelievable!" She yelled once more, walking away from the taller girl. "Izzie! Izzie, wait!"

"Just go Casey. I really don't care."

The rest of the track team watched the scene unfold in shock. "Damn, what's up with her?" Quinn asked Casey, who was equally confused. "I don't know. Did I say something wrong?"

"Eh, just ignore her. You know how she gets."

Unfortunately, Casey Gardner does not know how to ignore Izzie Taylor. But Izzie seems to do a great job at it. Casey tried her cell many times but she never picked up. No call backs, no texts... Casey was especially hurt that Izzie didn't reply to her goodnight message. She never failed to say goodnight to her.

Casey stopped trying today. Throughout her relationship with Izzie, she realised many things about her girlfriend and about herself too. Izzie learnt to open up to her more as the months went on but there were still things that Izzie didn't feel comfortable talking about. Casey also realised that she's an over thinker who constantly worries about Izzie, even when it's unnecessary.

So she figured Izzie just needed space. But how much space? She was literally going to leave Clayton and start at Newton on Monday. She really didn't want to end off their last night like this.

Thankfully, Izzie didn't let Casey go to bed soon. She finally sent a text which caused Casey to flung herself out of her seat.

Izzie: CASEYYYY I SEEE YOUUUU

Izzie: I'm outside your windowwww

Casey's eyes widened as she walked towards his window, pleasantly surprised to see Izzie standing there with a wide smile.

"BABY!!" Izzie yelled and Casey buried her face in her hands in embarrassment, almost sure the entire neighbourhood had heard her.

"What're you doing here?" Casey asked and she heard Izzie scoff. "To apologise to you... and you apologise to me..." Izzie slurred her words. "Are you drunk?" She whispered, loud enough for only Izzie to hear.

Izzie brought up the beer bottle, that Casey now only noticed, to her mouth before taking a sip.

"No..." She replied. Casey sighed before leaving her room.

When she unlocked the front door, she saw her girlfriend already standing outside. Izzie giggled when she saw her which completely melted her heart.

She knew Izzie was drunk but drunk words and actions are sober thoughts right?

Izzie pulled Casey outside and held her close, only the dim light above them illuminating them in the dark night.

"You look so pretty Newton," Izzie whispered, looking at Casey with a dorky smile. "Oh but I hate that nickname now. It doesn't work now that you're ACTUALLY going back to Newton..." Izzie joked, but still a tinge of hurt in her voice.

"Now where the hell did you get this?" Casey asked, taking the bottle from Izzie's hand. "Have you not met my mum? Our house is literally an alcohol store!"

Casey rolled her eyes and looked at her more seriously. She knew that Izzie was lying. She would never in a million years even think about taking one of her mum's beer bottles. She would never want to drink in front of her siblings.

"Fine! Erika invited me to some party she had at her place. Had a drink or two and then eventually I couldn't stop. Is that a problem though?"

"It is very much a problem. I can't even kiss you properly because you probably taste wasted."

Izzie scoffed. "I don't wanna kiss you." She pushed past Casey and entered the Gardner household.

"MRS GARDNER!!" She yelled. "She's not home. Another reason why tonight would have been the perfect night for our date," Casey replied as Izzie plonked herself on the couch.

"I'm getting you some water," Casey sighed, disappearing into the kitchen.

When Casey had told Izzie about her decision to stop track, which effectively meant she was going to be leaving Clayton, obviously her first feeling was disappointment. Disappointed that she wouldn't be seeing her girlfriend as much anymore and disappointed because she felt that Casey was giving up too easily.

But after seeing Casey under so much stress and pain after their race, Izzie figured it was best that Casey do what she feels is best for her.

Talking to her dad about it didn't help either. If anything, it made it worse. Those few days they were broken up was absolute hell for Izzie. But she would sacrifice anything for Casey's well-being. Even her own happiness.

But Casey found it condescending. What does Izzie know about what she needs? To be very honest, Casey doesn't know either. What she does know though is that all the stress she's been going through had absolutely nothing to do with Izzie. In fact, Izzie was the one that was making things better just by being there.

So Casey went over to Izzie's house to confront her. "But if you think it's what's best for me? That is so condescending. I can decide what's best. I can decide what I need."

And then they were back together. This time, stronger. Because both girls felt the pain of not being together and they knew they never wanted to feel that pain again.

But Casey was still going to Newton. And Izzie was still disappointed.

"So do you wanna tell me why you got mad?" Casey asked, sitting back down next to her drunk girlfriend. "You're so stupid Casey," Izzie mumbled, before giggling a little.

"You know, I don't like you getting drunk like this. Especially when you're alone at some random party," Casey whispered, dragging her fingers through Izzie's hair before she swatted her hand away.

"So now I can't do anything without your permission?" Izzie asked, her voice louder this time. "I didn't say that."

"This is good for us. A little space. You have time to focus on preparing for Newton and I have time for myself to let off some steam," Izzie said, crossing her legs on the sofa.

"Besides, Newton's gonna be taking up all your time anyways..."

How did Casey not see this coming? Of course her transfer would be hard on her girlfriend.

"Is this what this is about?" Casey asked softly. Izzie looked at her defensive, immediately shaking her head.

"Shut up Casey. I'm just telling the truth..."

The two girls sat in silence for a while.

Casey was the first one to break the tension by getting off the couch and going up to her room. Izzie was still drunk but sobered up enough to realise that coming to see Casey was probably a mistake. She wanted to be open and honest with her girlfriend about what she was feeling but the alcohol was preventing her from it. She also felt selfish about how she was feeling.

Izzie sighed and took one more sip from the beer before grabbing her jacket. Just as she was about to leave, she heard footsteps come down the stairs and she looked up to see Casey, this time with a letter in her hand.

"Look at this," She said, handing the paper to Izzie. Izzie recognised the Clayton logo on the top left on the paper. But her drunk state didn't allow her to read anything because the words seemed to jump around the page.

"It's my acceptance letter to Clayton," Casey explained. "Yeah I don't exactly like the school but never in my life have I ever regretted going there. Because I met you... and fell in love with you..."

Izzie looked at the letter with a small smile before returning back to her worried state. Casey looked at her with more concern now, hoping that Izzie would finally open up about what's been bothering her. But she kinda knew what it was about.

"You're not gonna love me any less after you go to Newton right?" Izzie asked and Casey immediately scoffed. "Oh Izzie Taylor, you have so many crazy ideas in your head," Casey whispered into her ear before planting a kiss on her temple.

"If anything, I'm gonna love you even more. I'll have more time for myself now. Which means focussing on my priorities. You being one of them."

Izzie sighed and continued to look down, still not convinced. "I've thought long and hard about this. It sucks that we won't be in the same school anymore, but I know me. And I know us. We can pull through."

"I'm sorry for blowing up at you yesterday. I guess I was just feeling anxious about it being your last week at Clayton and it felt like you didn't wanna spend time with me," Izzie admitted.

"And I really missed you. So I figured Erika's party was the best place to get drunk and let loose. But you were on my mind the whole night so I just had to come see you."

Casey immediately pulled Izzie in for a hug. Izzie rested her head on Casey's chest, fighting the tears that were threatening to come out. Casey had successfully reassured her that they wouldn't fall out of love when Casey switched schools but Izzie knew it would be hard not seeing her in Clayton and she knew after this, they would barely get to see each other. Casey is after all Izzie's favourite person. And no doubt, vice versa as well.

"You've got me wrapped around your finger. I'm not going anywhere," Casey whispered, her lips resting on her girlfriend's head.

"Yeah, you better not."

"I'm still gonna be thinking about you all day in school," Casey admitted. "Gosh, you're obsessed with me."

Both girls simultaneously giggled before Casey lifted Izzie up, bridal style. "Put me down!" She laughed as Casey carried her up the stairs. She carefully placed her on her bed before climbing over her. She stared into her girlfriend's eyes, wondering how she got so lucky.

"We'll be okay," Casey whispered.

"Forehead promise?"

"Forehead promise."

When Casey left for Newton, her first feeling when she entered the building was anxiety. She immediately wanted Izzie by her side and it scared her that she wasn't.

When Izzie returned to school on Monday without her girlfriend, her first feeling was emptiness. Now what? Would she go back to who she used to be before Casey? Someone she was not?

The first week was hard. They messaged each other every second, unsure of how to be alone.

But as the weeks passed, Casey started to warm up to the school and get back into her old, carefree Newton habits. Izzie was happy to find herself depending less on Casey but still staying true to herself.

Maybe this is what they both needed.

The weekends when they would see each other meant the world to them. The way they would kiss each other and hold each other for a long time... they looked forward to it every week. And they never had to do anything too special or extravagant. Izzie didn't even mind just laying in bed with Casey, no words spoken.

Casey was right. They'll be okay.