4 days later...

Last week of the ski trip

Casey can't really remember how exactly she got here but she knows it involved a lot of alcohol. She drank and drank until her brain couldn't feel anything and her vision blurred. She was so out of sorts that nothing could physically stop her from going where she wanted to go- Evan's room.

The past four days, she had gotten a bunch of texts. Texts from Sharice and Tanya, asking if she was okay. Texts from Quinn and Penelope to try to get her to leave the room for some fresh air. Texts from Evan...

It was only that night that Casey had finally replied him, after downing a bottle of gin that Quinn had stored away in her cupboard. It felt as if her soul was leaving her broken and wracked body as her mind wandered to places she never thought was possible.

She felt sick and good at the same time. She just needed that one last bit of... distraction. It was what she wanted and needed so badly that night. That's how she found herself replying Evan that she would be going to his room.

Casey didn't even bring a jacket. The cold was the least of her concerns, she could barely even feel it. She saw that Evan had replied but didn't bother to read it, knowing that he would drop everything for her. She was going to use him and she was going to feel horrible about it tomorrow. But she needed it so, so bad right now. No amount of alcohol could help her get over Izzie and all she needed was Evan to make her feel good so she could hopefully forget about her... at least for a while.

When she had reached Evan's room, he was in his pyjamas and looked concerned as he saw her drunken state. "Casey... have you been drinking?" He asked warily and she chuckled. "You know why I'm here..." She whispered, moving closer to him and he sighed. "We're not doing this if you're drunk. And don't you... don't you have a girlfriend right now?" He asked, the bitterness overt in his voice.

"Look, this is all casual. No strings attached. Let's not go into the politics of it," She slurred as she slowly pushed him into the room. That was what she was afraid of- Evan going into the politics of it. Evan mentioning Izzie.

The moment anyone would say her name, Casey would go into a spiral and had a feeling like she just wanted to die. It was suffocating.

Having sex with Evan helped... a little bit. Casey refused to admit that she kept seeing Izzie instead of him but she had somehow managed to push any thoughts of her down to focus solely on Evan.

It was clear that Evan wanted Casey to stay the night but before he had the opportunity to ask, Casey was already out of the bed and changing back into her clothes. "You're leaving?" He asked as he sat up on the bed and Casey nodded as she felt herself sober up and very much about to cry.

"Going back to Izzie?" He continued and Casey stopped in her tracks as she was about to leave. "You know... if you're cheating on her with me then it's obvious who you love more..." He said, hope and desire dripping in his voice.

Casey slowly turned around to look at him before shaking her head. His eyes dropped in realisation. "You're not even together with her anymore," He stated, his eyes widened.

Casey left without another word, terrified to hear Izzie's name again.

...

"IZZIE!!"

The familiar sound of her siblings playing in the living room and the wafting smell of her grandmother's cooking reminded her that she was home.

The journey was a long, tiring and depressing one for Izzie. She was at the villa a few hours ago and now, she had come back to face reality. She always thought coming home would be painful with having to deal with her mother's nonsense and taking care of her siblings. But right now, Izzie knew deep down that nothing would be more painful than whatever happened with Casey. She physically could not finish the trip and look at Casey anymore. She had to come home.

And just like that, Casey just became another fairytale chapter in Izzie's life. And that chapter was now over. As much as Izzie wanted to turn the pages back, she knew she couldn't. No matter how happy she was during those weeks with her, Casey Gardner was just a phase and she would have to get over it.

"How are you guys?" Izzie asked as she knelt down to hug her siblings. "Mum left home yesterday," Danielle, the oldest after Izzie, said. Izzie sighed but forced a smile nonetheless, reminding herself that her grandma was still here.

"Did y'all have a good time with grandma?" Izzie asked the two younger ones, Chloe and Ashton. They nodded vigorously before pulling Izzie into a bigger hug. "They really did miss you," Izzie heard the familiar, warm voice of her grandma and her eyes widened.

She ran forward to hug her and the moment Izzie fell into her arms, she felt the ache in her heart again. Her emotions were starting to build up but she wasn't ready to talk about it yet.

Izzie had given her grandma the excuse that she wasn't feeling well and thus, had to come home earlier. She knew this meant her grandma would be spoiling her and taking time out of her day to take care of her which also included caring for the young ones whenever her mum wasn't around. Izzie felt guilty about this, knowing she wasn't actually sick. But God, she needed a break.

They gave her time to go upstairs to her room to wash up before dinner. She threw her luggage on the floor, knowing she had no intentions of unpacking. She then proceeded to do what she had been doing since she left the villa.

She took out her phone from her back pocket and went to her chat with Casey, rereading the last message she had sent her for the millionth time.

Casey: I don't know how else to convince you that it wasn't me. 

Casey: Please baby, don't do this to me.

Izzie let out a shuddered breath before locking her phone again.

The thing that hurt the most is... she did believe Casey. She knew Casey didn't do it. But it was too risky... too risky to continue what they had. Izzie didn't end things based on anger, she ended it based on fear. She didn't want to live in fear no matter how much it would hurt to not have Casey by her side.

Newton and Clayton were pretty near to each other and Izzie knows for a fact that she and Casey live in the same town. Izzie knows everything. She knows Casey's family, she knows Casey's address and Casey knows the exact same things about her.

How would they avoid each other?

How would Izzie go back to school? All the judgemental eyes would be on her. When she had first met Casey, she thought she finally had the chance to drop the act and be herself. The chance to feel things and make mistakes.

"Look where that has gotten me," She would think to herself, every time she thought about what she had seen on Penelope's phone.

But Casey wasn't a mistake. Casey would never be a mistake. In fact, Casey was the best decision Izzie had ever made in her life.

But it was just... too... risky.

"Izzie? You coming down for dinner?"

The moment she heard Danielle's voice, she wiped her tears away quickly before opening the door. "Hey Dani... yeah sorry I was just... lying on the bed..." Izzie mumbled and her sister furrowed her eyebrows.

"You don't look very good," She continued and Izzie forced a laugh. "Well yeah, I'm sick. That's why I came home."

Dani didn't look very convinced. "Okay, you definitely came home early for a different reason. What the hell is up?"

Izzie sighed as she knew Dani could see right through her. There was no use trying to hide.

Dani closed the door before sitting next to Izzie on the bed. She smiled at her reassuringly, giving her time to start.

Izzie didn't even realise that tears were already rolling down her cheeks. "So I... I was rooming with this girl..."

...

"You look happy..." Sharice said with a smirk as Casey entered the hotel room with a giddy smile.

Casey felt like a child on Christmas morning right about now. She had the urge to jump up and down right at that moment. She quickly sat opposite Sharice and Tanya on the bed before squealing.

"I swear to God, you're high," Tanya gasped and Casey giggled. "I just... I had sex..."

"EW!"

"Shut up! Ask me with who!" Casey continued and Sharice and Tanya looked at each other in confusion.

Izzie had given Casey the permission to tell Sharice and Tanya and she knew it was a perfect time to tell them. She was on cloud 9.

"Ummm... Evan?"

"NO. IZZIE!"

"WHAT?!"

Sharice and Tanya started to jump on top of Casey. "Wait... wait... wait... are you guys...?"

Casey nodded vigorously and they proceeded to jump on her even more. "I'm so happy for you Case! So when are you going to sneak us into your fancy villa so that we can crash one of your dates?" Tanya continued and Casey nudged her.

Just as she was about to tell them more, her phone buzzed.

Izzie: Can you come back to the room?

Izzie: We need to talk

Casey furrowed her eyebrows and Sharice and Tanya got less excited. "Casey? Everything okay?"

"Yeah... it's just... Izzie wants to talk to me..." She mumbled nervously. "Well, don't keep her waiting!"

...

Izzie sat on the sofa in their villa, phone clutched to her hand. She didn't ask Quinn or Penelope any questions. She wanted to hear it from Casey herself. She tried to numb herself. She wasn't going to let herself feel anything until she talked to Casey.

But she was fucking freaking out.

She heard a gentle knock on the door and didn't react until Casey opened the door and slowly walked inside. Izzie looked up to see Casey smiling but she could also see the anxiety behind her smile.

"Hey... you wanted to talk?"

Casey was sure this had something to do with the sex. Did Izzie not enjoy it? Did she go too far? Casey had figured Izzie out somewhat and she knew that communication was key if they wanted this to work. She wanted Izzie to know she was 100 percent committed. That Casey cared.

"Can you come sit down next to me?" Izzie pleaded and Casey's heart broke at how distraught she sounded. Casey nodded and quickly sat down right next to her but Izzie moved away a little so that there was space between them,

Now Casey was terrified.

"Is everything okay?" She asked. She wanted to put her hand out to stroke her cheek but didn't know if that was the right idea right now.

"Casey... can you explain this to me?" She said quickly, throwing her phone on the space between them.

Casey looked at her for a while before picking up the phone. It was a video.

She played it and took a while to understand what was happening. And then she saw it. The changing room.

Izzie's face and her topless body clear in the frame together with Casey's hands all over her.

There was nothing inside to prove that it was Casey but everything pointed towards Izzie. Her face... hell, Casey even said her name as she kissed down her body. It seemed as if the video was being filmed from a camera on Casey's body, moving together with her.

"Wh-what..." Casey mumbled, choking up. The anxiety that consumed her made her stomach ache. "Izzie... where did you... get this vid-"

"Did you film it?" Izzie asked, her voice louder this time.

"What... you really think I would do that?" Casey asked, the hurt evident in her voice. "Then tell me why the camera just happens to be on your body. Give me a fucking excuse Casey!"

"IZZIE I DIDN'T FILM YOU! WHAT THE FUCK!" Casey screamed, getting off the couch. "THE WHOLE OF FUCKING CLAYTON HAS THIS VIDEO!" Izzie screamed back before wailing and falling back onto the couch.

"Izzie... look okay we can get through this just-"

"WE?! YOUR FACE ISN'T EVEN INSIDE! AND DIDN'T YOU WANT TO SHOW PEOPLE?!"

Izzie was going on a spiral here. Casey started to laugh, unable to comprehend the situation. "First of all, I'm not some disgusting pervert that needs to film us making out just to prove a point. And second of all, why the hell would I send that video to people in Clayton if I did want to prove a point? None of them even know me!"

"Ok then give me an explanation. How did a camera just magically appear on your body?"

Casey wanted to hug her so bad. She was angry and scared. Angry at whoever did this to Izzie. Scared about what was to come.

"Izzie... I don't know... but please, you have to believe me."

"Now everyone knows I'm fucking gay. How fucking great!" She said sarcastically, standing up again. "NOW EVERYONE HAS SEEN MY BODY!"

"Baby... I promise we can find a way out of this just-"

"We can't do this."

"What...?"

Both girls were crying now, fists clenched as they stood in front of each other, evident space between them.

"Casey I can't... I can't do this... we can't do this..."

"No... what're you talking about? Izzie just... just give us some time okay? I promise we'll be okay," Casey choked up, moving closer to her to take her face between her hands.

"Please... I love you..." Casey whispered and Izzie broke down.

"Casey... I can't."

"Iz-"

"Let me explain. I was doing fine in Clayton. This tough rich girl act was doing me good. And then you came along and you make me... so, so happy. And you let me be real. But look what happened."

"You're kidding me Izzie. Please tell me you're kidding. Izzie please I can't do this without-"

"I love you too," Izzie whispered and Casey pursed her lips, trying to control her tears which she eventually realised most definitely could not be controlled.

"But we have to break up..."

Casey said nothing and simply kept her eyes on the floor. Izzie wiped her tears and took a deep breath before moving closer to her.

She made an attempt to hold Casey's hand but Casey forcefully shoved it away as her lips quivered, salty tears running down her face.

"I... I got a train ticket. It leaves in an hour."

"Fuck you," Casey looked up straight into her eyes.

Izzie didn't react. She knew she deserved that. Casey then only noticed the packed bag that was next to the couch.

Izzie reached an arm out to get the bag before looking at Casey again.

She got on her tiptoes and brought Casey's face down before pressing their lips together. Casey didn't fight it. Instead, she cried. "I love you," Izzie whispered against her lips before leaving the room.

...

"Izzie... I'm so sorry..." Dani whispered, pulling her into a hug. "I... I miss her..." Izzie cried, resting her face on her shoulder.

"Look, from what you told me, I think this girl really loves you. I don't think she would have done that..." Dani said, stroking her hair and Izzie nodded.

"Does it matter? This video of me has been circulating and... I've already gotten so many DMs from people... like weird questions about my sexuality."

"Fuck them. Izzie look, just focus on getting over Casey. You can take a break from school."

...

"We have a tray of s'mores, bags of chips, Netflix..." Quinn tried her best to sound excited as she and Penelope suggested things to a depressed Casey who was lying in her bed (what used to be hers and Izzie's bed). She had just returned from Evan's room.

Casey remained quiet as she laid on her side, back facing them. Between her fingers was a polaroid of her and Izzie and she couldn't remove her eyes from it.

Everything around her reminded her of Izzie. Her towel still hung in the top rack, the bedsheets still smelt like her.

Casey didn't believe she could move on. And Izzie didn't either.