Author's Note: Um, this story kinda takes a while to break into Craig/Ellie interraction because they haven't seen eachother since their Casablanca scene in Degrassi Goes Hollywood. It's eventual Crellie, I guess. The first couple chapters are mostly an introduction to the rest of the story. If you want to skip ahead, I guess you can, but if you wan't the full expirience, I'd read it from the beginning. Well, that's all. For now. I guess, enjoy.

familiar faces

a Crellie

a

he said/she said-style

story

detailing

the last meeting of

Craig

and

Ellie

alone-Ellie

I 'm such a loser. I think as I realize I'm probably the only person in this room who isn't in the middle of a deep conversation about the meaning of life or health care or how they get the jelly in the jelly-filled doughnuts. Nope. I'm standing all alone in the corner, desperately wishing I had dragged Marco along to this so I could at least pretend I was discussing one of life's mysteries.

"It's okay, Marco! The seminar only lasts a week, and you can't miss your calculus classes. Besides, I'm sure I'll find somebody to talk to. I mean, I'm not some loser sociopath."

And here I am, standing alone in the corner, wishing the clock would tick faster so we could all just go back into the auditorium for the next lecture like some loser sociopath. I take a bite of the cookie I'm holding and notice a cute guy across the room. I would go up there and talk to him, but I'm suddenly frigid with fear. Marco always goes up to talk to people for me. He makes insta-friends and then he introduces me. THAT'S HOW IT GOES.

I eye a passing waiter carrying glasses of champagne. That sure would break the ice, I think. No, Ellie, bad Ellie! That never leads anywhere good! Nope. If I'm going to make an ass out of myself, I'm going to do it stone-cold sober.

I study the guy for a while. He seems to be talking to somebody, but not really lost in the conversation, so I wouldn't be interrupting the meaning of life. I take a deep breath and swallow the last bite of my cookie. I'm going to do it. I'm going to approach him. I can do it, I tell myself as I slowly make my way across the room towards him. I'm a few feet away from him when I catch his eye. I try to act like I'm just taking a stroll and not desperately seeking companionship.

I don't think this works, because he soon says something to the other person, shakes his hand, and starts walking towards me. I breathe a quiet sigh of relief; he's going to approach me. Even if it is out of pity, it's still something. He walks over toward me and I take this moment to examine him; long, coffee-colored hair tied into a short ponytail at the back, tanned skin, and a blinding white smile stretched across his face.

"Hello, I don't believe we've met before." He says, coming up to me and extending a hand. "Are you here for the Journalism seminar?"

His eyelashes are really long…they almost remind me of…wait…he just asked me something. Um…a nod is a legitimate answer to most questions, right? I nod and introduce myself. "Hi, I'm Ellie Nash." I reach for his hand.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance," He bends over and kisses my hand. "Gabriel Jimenez, at your service."

I can feel my face go completely red and my cheeks start to burn. Well, aren't you a flirt, Mister Gabe. "Um, yeah…" I awkwardly say as I awkwardly pull my hand out of his grasp. Awkwardly.

"So, do you live around here?" He says, remaining really smooth considering how awkward everything has gotten on my side of the conversation.

"Actually, no. I'm from Toronto. Studying at TU." I awkwardly gesture to the poster hanging outside the auditorium detailing the seminar. "I'm majoring in journalism."

"Interesting. I'm actually attending a class right now, History of Rock N' Roll, upstairs. It just ended and one of my friends is at this seminar, so I decided to come down to visit him."

"History of Rock N' Roll? That's seriously a class?" I awkwardly blurt out. I realize how ignorant that must've sounded, so I quickly added, "Sounds awesome! Learning about The Smiths all day? Sign me up!" And I make this awkward by emitting a half-assed chuckle.

He didn't seem to notice. In fact, he laughed a little himself. "The Smiths? Uh, no. I said History of Rock, not History of Suck," He said, taking a sly sip from his glass.

My eyes widened. Well, there's no accounting for taste. I look off to the side and mumble something to the floor.

"What was that?"

"Oh, nothing. Just that you must either have a brain hemorrhage or bad taste in music." I raise my eyebrows, challenging him.

"And this is coming from a Smiths fan." He smiles, rolling his eyes.

I can't finish my 'mhm', because a woman's voice over a loudspeaker interrupts me. The voice calls everyone back into the auditorium for the next lecture.

"Oh, I should…probably…" I gesture to the crowd pouring through the auditorium doors.

"Oh, yeah," I turn towards the auditorium, but he grabs my arm, pulling me back. "Actually," he says, "I'm having a party tonight at eight. Do you want to come? We can finish this conversation there."

"Sure," I smile and he quickly scribbles down an address on the back of the seminar schedule.

He hands it to me and I nod to him, "I'll see you there!", before turning back into another part of the crowd.