Casey had trouble sleeping that night.

She tossed and turned in the bed, images of Izzie leaving the room etched in her mind. She could not comprehend how someone could be so hot-headed but still have the courtesy to care about a stranger she barely knew, let alone bring them a bunch of ice packs for their sore back.

She also did not understand why Izzie refused to tell her why she had been obviously crying. Or maybe she understood that better. She couldn't expect Izzie to suddenly be open with her about her feelings. Casey was just shocked she had any feelings at all.

Casey got up extra early, mainly because she couldn't sleep anymore, and she found herself sitting on the bed, against the headboard, just... thinking.

Thinking about Izzie, thinking about Evan, thinking about everything. All these overflowing thoughts started to become exhausting but the sound of the door opening got her attention immediately.

The small frame of Izzie walked cautiously into the room, as if she was afraid to wake Casey up. Once she saw that she was already awake, she immediately went back to building walls around her. She had her classic judgemental eyes and hand on her hip, ready to brutalise Casey.

"What're you doing up?" Izzie snapped. Casey didn't know how to reply this question because... what kind of a question even is that? Izzie seemed to suddenly realise how defensive she sounded and softened a little.

She didn't wait for Casey to reply and walked into the bathroom.

Casey didn't feel like skiing today. Yes, it was only the second day, and she most definitely wasn't sick of it. Thankfully, her back was feeling fine now and she knew she could get on the slopes again. But she felt like her new motive on this trip right now was... Izzie Taylor.

Izzie Taylor.

God, Casey can't even think about her without feeling guilty. How could she spend more time worrying about a girl, who you couldn't pay to care about her, more than her perfect boyfriend who loves her to bits?

Casey knew she should do the right thing. To get back to her routine of completely ignoring Izzie, both physically and mentally, and instead focus on skiing and catching up with her boyfriend.

Yes, Casey will do that. It sounded like the perfect plan.

...

Izzie finally opened the bathroom door after Casey had knocked on it several times.

Her plan had failed.

"What Newton?" Izzie mumbled, trying her best to hide the fact that she had been crying and choking for the last 10 minutes.

"Izzie? Um, I just... I know we got off on the wrong foot but... if something's bothering you-"

"Nothing's bothering me."

"Okay. But if there is-"

"There isn't."

Casey sighed and continued to look into Izzie's eyes, refusing to give up. And eventually, Izzie caved.

"I'm just... going through something with Nate right now okay. It's not a big deal, all couples fight," Izzie admitted, looking away. Casey knew it had to be a big deal if her strong almighty devil was crying like this. But she didn't want to pry even further, content with Izzie opening up just a little.

"Yeah I get it. I fight with my boyfriend all the time," was all Casey knew to say and that seemed to peak Izzie's interest. "You have a boyfriend?"

"Do you think I'm incapable of love or something? But yes, I do have a boyfriend."

Casey could see a shift in mood in Izzie's eyes. She wasn't sad or angry anymore... she was almost... jealous? But then again, what does Casey know.

"I didn't say that I was just... nevermind. We should head to the slopes," Izzie said, walking away.

"Oh I don't really feel up to it today," Casey said and Izzie looked at her immediately. "Why? Is it your back? Does it still hurt?" She asked with so much genuine concern that it shocked Casey.

Izzie was embarrassed clearly as she turned back, pretending like she did not just say that.

"It's not that, I'm just not in the mood."

"Yeah, you might fall again," Izzie teased, hoping to go back to her mean girls persona.

...

Casey eventually did end up at the slopes after realising how quiet and boring it was without Izzie's brutality.

Sharice laughed, watching her trudge up. "Look who finally decided to show up."

"Shut up Sharice. I'm not having a good day."

"Is it the devil again?" She gasped. "Actually, yes. You know she came back from the party, crying. But she's refusing to tell me why."

"What do you expect Case?"

"I know, she hates me."

"I did NOT say that. Y'all bitches crushing on each other," Sharice said casually and this was followed by Tanya erupting into laughter.

"WHAT?! No way, why would you even think that?" Casey asked, nervously scratching the back of her neck.

"Because it's obvious. So when are y'all gonna hook up?"

"HOOK UP?!"

"Come on Case! You guys are the only ones staying in a big luxurious villa with one bed. Ask the villa staff to bring y'all some champagne or roses or something and get going with it!"

"You guys are fucking crazy," Casey said, blushing at the thought as she got prepared to head down the slope.

"It can be like hate sex."

"What the hell is that?"

"See, you need us," Tanya said with a smirk and Casey rolled her eyes. 

...

After about 10 minutes of skiing, the three girls stood at the bottom of the slope, cheering for the other classmates. It was then that the Clayton kids came after snowboarding at the other side.

Casey got a glimpse of Izzie staring at her and both girls looked away immediately.

Casey genuinely cannot remember how the entire incident played out but all she knew was that she was engaged in a heated debate with Sharice and Tanya about the idea of Izzie crushing on her.

But it wasn't till Sharice had said, "Honestly, I really don't see the chemistry between you and Evan." when Casey became unaware of everything around her as she processed her words. She completely could not hear Izzie yelling at her to get out of the way.

CRASH!

Casey landed, for the second time on this trip, back face onto the snow. She groaned as she felt the impact of someone else's weight hit her stomach.

Izzie's brown hair now covered her face as she held Casey closer, desperate for warmth... or for Casey in general.

Izzie looked down at Casey, who then only realised that Izzie had crashed into her. They let their eyes linger for a while and Casey swore she saw Izzie's eyes just about move down to look at her lips.

"Ooolala." Casey heard the familiar obnoxious voice from Nate and Izzie immediately pushed Casey away.

"What the hell Newton! I told you to get out of the way!" Izzie yelled, scaring Casey a little as her stomach flipped. Izzie was seething with anger as the Clayton kids continued to laugh at the scene.

She left Casey on the floor and ripped off the skis, stomping away from the entire group.

...

Casey wasn't too injured so she wouldn't need an ice pack. Not like Izzie would get her another one anyways.

"Casey you okay?" Sharice asked, noticing that she wasn't eating her food, which was surprising considering that the girl had a huge appetite.

"WHY WOULD SHE SAY THAT TO ME?!" Casey had reached a breaking point. "Woah, woah Casey what're you talking about?" Tanya asked, putting down her fork.

"Izzie! Why did she yell at me like that?!"

"Casey, you know how Izzie is. Why are you so upset about it now?"

"Because... because...."

Casey couldn't find the words because quite frankly, she didn't know either.

"Ugh! Whatever!"

And with that, she left the hotel.

"Stupid Izzie... stupid Nate... how is it even my fault she fell down? Why did she... look at my lips like that..." Casey muttered to herself, despite knowing how crazy she probably sounded right now.

She was just about to enter the front doors of the villa when she noticed a familiar figure, sitting on the steps near the slopes that faced the stars.

Casey knew she shouldn't bother. Because honestly, why should she care?

She should stay away from the devil.

But instead, she started to walk towards her.

"Izzie... I'm not gonna go away this time," Casey started, knowing that Izzie's first effort would be to chase her away.

Izzie didn't reply or even turn around as she continued staring out into the atmosphere at the falling snow.

Casey then noticed that Izzie didn't have a jacket and was shivering. She took off her own jacket and walked closer before offering it. Izzie didn't take it of course so Casey took the first step to put it around her, happy to see that it had helped as she snuggled closer to it.

Casey sat down next to her, not minding the cold biting at her skin as she waited for Izzie to start talking. She wouldn't care if she didn't even talk. She would wait all night for her devil.

"Nate cheated on me," she started.

"Oh... shit, I'm so sorry."

"It's fine he- he's done it before," Izzie said, chuckling at the end while wiping her tears. The anger rose immediately in Casey's chest. Who the hell does that boy think he is?

Izzie brings ice packs and cleans the room like a mother and gets fascinated when snow falls on her brown hair. How could he cheat on her?

Casey waited for Izzie to tell her. "At least 5 times."

"Jesus, Izzie you- you have to leave him."

Casey felt like she was crossing a line here but she couldn't understand why Izzie hadn't left him yet. Izzie deserves better.

"Izzie deserves me" she thought for a split second before erasing it from her memory.

"The thing is, I don't really care. I know how he is, I expected all of this to happen when we first started dating. And I always gave him chances. I caught him drunk kissing one of the girls at the party. But whatever, I didn't care."

"Are you sure? You seemed really upset."

Izzie finally turned to look at her. "I was upset. But not cos he cheated. I just- I don't know. You don't wanna know Newton trust me."

It was as if Izzie had suddenly become frightened and built walls again as she took off the jacket. "I don't want you catching hypothermia because of me. You should head back to the room first."

"Izzie, I'm not leaving. We don't have to talk if you don't want to I just... I don't wanna leave you," Casey whispered and she saw Izzie's knuckles tighten around the jacket.

"I have 4 younger siblings that I take care of. My dad's not in the picture and my mum's... an alcoholic. She's never home to take care of the kids," Izzie explained, trying her best to pretend like she wasn't affected by it.

"But a school like Clayton can eat you alive. It's dangerous for me to let any of them know how my home life is like. Maybe that's a reason why I'm dating Nate... and pretending to love him. Dating the supposed king of Clayton immediately makes you the queen and no one can hurt you. Who wouldn't take that opportunity."

Izzie was extremely terrified that Casey was judging her hard right now.

"I didn't know that. I thought you were-"

"Rich?" Izzie cut her off and chuckled while Casey nodded.

"It's whatever Newton. You can't do anything about it."

Casey really wishes she could.

"I have an autistic brother. It can be tough on our family," Casey had built the courage to open up too. "He's pretty high functioning but... even though he's older sometimes I feel like I'm the older one you know? I always feel the need to protect him."

Izzie smiled at her. "Thanks... for not judging me. It feels... nice to let it out."

"Hey do you know the term visual purple?" Casey asked and Izzie looked at her confused. "What the pigment in your eye?"

"Mmhmm, do you know what it does?"

"It bleaches in the action of light and then reforms when it's dark... so we can see."

"Wow so she's smart."

Izzie rolled her eyes and Casey could not help but fall a little bit in love with this girl's brain.

"Well, whenever you feel upset... about something you can't admit to your Clayton friends... I'll be here. As your visual purple. To help you see in the dark."

"Oh my God that is the corniest but smartest thing I've ever heard," Izzie laughed and Casey knew her grasp of biology definitions would do just the trick.

"Well, we should head back before we freeze to death out here," Casey settled on saying as Izzie agreed as they both stood up. "I'm sorry for yelling at you. You were just there and I needed to let my anger out on someone. It was stupid of me," Izzie mumbled and Casey smiled. "Yeah don't worry about it."

They looked at each other for longer than intended and suddenly they were brought back to their moment on top of each other in the snow.

"Um so do you like hot chocolate?" Casey broke the silence and Izzie raised her eyebrow before nodding.

"Great, because hot chocolate is great for this weather. I saw some packets in our room. And lucky for you, the hot chocolate I make is amazing," Casey said with a smirk and Izzie laughed genuinely for the first time in a long time.

"Um so do you want me to go to Quinn's room ton-"

"No. Stay with me. There's enough space for both of us on the bed."

So Casey slept peacefully that night. And for the first time in a while, so did Izzie, next to her visual purple