Beautiful Stranger

an fanfiction by Ravenrules23

Summary: When the famous actress Valentine Browning enrolls at Degrassi, she's afraid that she will be constantly recognized like at the previous high schools. However, when she meets Craig, they click instantly. The only problem is, Craig is still with Manny and he has no idea that Valentine's a celebrity. Things are about to get interesting…

Author's Note: Here I go again with yet another fanfiction! This time, not featuring JT, Liberty, or Emma! Although I love those characters (I'm not a fan of season 5 Emma, however), I want to write about someone else. Maybe I'll have better luck with Craig! Plus, I thought a lot about this one and hopefully you guys will like it!

Part One

Valentine took a glance at her new school. Seems pretty normal, kinda nice looking. Hopefully better than the last school. She thought back to her experience at the last school she attended and shivered. No one would leave me alone! I know I'm famous and all, but they seemed to completely forget that I'm a person too. She parked her car, grabbed her backpack, and walked up to the main entrance. So far, nobody recognized her. This might just work.

"Hey, what's up?"

She turned around and saw a average height, brown haired, brown eyed, and seemingly cute guy in front of her. He wore a simple t-shirt, jeans, and carried a worn-out messenger bag. Oooh, and they got eye candy too. Awesome.

"Nothing really, just getting ready to go in and be helplessly lost. And yourself?" she replied, smiling to reveal her ultra white, naturally straight teeth.

"Your first day, I see. I would have graduated last year, if I didn't fall short of credits. Kinda stinks, but I wasn't ready to go to college just yet, so in a way it all worked out." he explained. She found it cute how he was so comfortable talking to her. After all, they had just met.

"Yeah, I'm a senior too. I just transferred from Beverly Hills High." she said. She hoped that he didn't realize that she was Valentine Browning, actress. It would completely ruin the normal conversation they were having, and he would be too star struck to even talk to her. It happened all the time. Once people realized who she was, they went away.

"So what brought you here to Toronto? Degrassi isn't all that exciting. Well, minus the shooting that happened here 2 years ago, and some of your typical high school drama. Catfights, people making out, that kinda stuff." he said. She laughed a little at his description. He had a sense of humor, and he was not up on his pop culture either. I like this guy.

"My mom got a job up here, so we moved." she explained. It was true; her mother did get a job in Toronto and they had to move. It couldn't have been better timing for Valentine, since her nasty publicized split with Landon Hughes, the famous basketball star. But she figured this guy didn't need to know about that.

"Cool. Well, I might as well show you around. Wouldn't want you to be confused for a freshman now, would we?" he said. She smiled and followed him into the school. Once he had shown her all her classes, he stopped. "I forgot to ask you for your name, by the way. I'm Craig."

"I'm Valentine. Weird name, I know, but I was born on Valentine's Day so my mom figured Valentine would be a good name." she said, extending her hand. He shook it and smiled.

"Well, it was very nice meeting you, Valentine. Why don't I give you my phone number, just in case you get lost or find yourself needing someone to talk to?" he said. She happily agreed and they exchanged phone numbers. "See ya around."

"Bye!" she said. Once Craig was out of sight, she did a dorky happy dance and went to her homeroom. I have the feeling that this will actually work out…

Craig poked at his lunch, consisting of a turkey sandwich, mushy fries, a cup of red Jello, and a milk carton. None of it looked edible. But, after being at Degrassi for so long, he was used to it.

Manny set her tray next to Craig's and kissed his cheek. "Hey Craig. So, what's up?"

Craig looked down at his lunch. "Should I even attempt eating this?"

"Probably not a good idea, but when you're hungry like me, it will have to do." Manny replied, eating a fry. "Eww."

"My point exactly." Craig said. He noticed Valentine walk in and motioned for her to come sit with them.

Manny looked at Craig oddly. "Who is that?"

"A nice girl I met today. She's new, doesn't really know anyone. You don't mind?" Craig explained.

"No, why not?" she replied. She couldn't help but notice how jaw-dropping pretty this girl was. Her caramel colored hair seemed to glow against her slightly-tanned skin and her gorgeous green eyes. She oddly resembled Valentine Browning, a actress that was on one of Manny's favorite shows. She figured Craig knew this, so she didn't say anything.

"Hey Valentine. I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Manny. Manny, this is Valentine." Craig introduced. Valentine extended her hand and Manny shook it, eying her up and down.

"Nice to meet you. I hope I'm not interrupting anything or something like that." Valentine said.

"Just the horrible food we're about to consume. But that's about it." Craig said. Valentine laughed as Manny forced down a bite of her hot dog.

"Well, now I know to bring lunch tomorrow. So, how have your days been so far?" Valentine asked.

"Ok, not special or out of the ordinary or anything. How about you?" Manny responded. She had learned in the last year to not be mean to anyone new and to not automatically assume that Craig liked every girl he met.

"Nah, nothing special. Just trying to get used to everything." Valentine responded. "Well, sorry to cut this short but I have to go. I told Mr. Armstrong I was going to the bathroom and he probably is wondering what's taking me so long. See ya guys!"

Manny's eyes followed Valentine as she walked out of the cafeteria. She is definitely Valentine Browning. I mean, who else would have a name like that? I wonder what she's doing at Degrassi…and what she wants with Craig…

"Um, Manny, everything ok?" Craig asked, noticing Manny staring at Valentine.

"Yup. I'm good." Manny said, quickly snapping out of her thoughts. Craig kissed her lightly on her cheek, which comforted Manny. When they got into arguments, afterwards Craig always kissed her on the cheek to let her know that he's sorry about whatever they were arguing about.

You have nothing to worry about, Manny. Sure, this girl is very pretty and nice, but you know that you love Craig and that you trust him, Manny re-assured herself.

Later on, Valentine was sitting in her car, just thinking about her first day at Degrassi. That Manny girl seems like she doesn't like me. I could just tell by the way she was looking at me. Obviously she knows who I am…

She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, and she quickly took it out and checked to see who it was.

Hey Valentine, wanna hang out at the mall around 7? –Craig

Valentine smiled. Sure, why not? I'll meet you there. she replied.

Hmm…I wonder what Manny will think of this. She seems like the jealous type. Well, she'll have to get over herself, because absolutely nothing is going to happen between Craig and I. I barely know him. she thought. After turning off her cell phone, she drove home and sat down to watch a re-run of Project Runway.

"Hey honey, how was the first day?" asked Valentine's mom, as she walked in.

"Ok, I made a few friends." Valentine responded. "I'm actually going to hang out with one of them at the mall around 7. Is that ok?"

"Sounds great. You always were good at making friends." she commented, patting Valentine on the head and then going into the kitchen.

Craig checked his watch as he waited for Valentine to come. I really hope Manny doesn't get mad about this. God, sometimes I wish that Manny were more trusting. But, I know that I've cheated on her before…something I'm not proud of, but a reason for Manny to not completely trust me.

Finally, Valentine got out of her car and walked up to Craig. "Sorry I'm late. I didn't realize how low on gas I was."

"It's ok." Craig replied. "So, do you want to see a movie, or eat?"

"Eating sounds good right about now." Valentine said. They both went to the food court, paid for their meals, and sat down.

"Wow, I haven't had a decent-tasting hot dog in ages." Craig commented, squeezing more ketchup into his mouth.

"Such a shock to someone that consumes the processed crap they call 'hot dogs' at Degrassi." Valentine replied, with a laugh from Craig.

"Someone who likes sarcasm as much as I do. This is going to be a great year." said Craig, smiling. Valentine smiled along with him. It is literally going to take everything inside of me to not have a crush on this guy. I haven't met anyone so nice, not even at my old schools. If only he didn't have a girlfriend…

Manny and Emma casually walked, shopping bags in tow, in the mall. Manny had just vented to Emma about Valentine and how much she annoyed her, and shopping seemed to be the only cure to her problem.

"Seriously, this girl is like perfect. She's pretty, funny, nice, and a celebrity. What more could anyone want?" Manny said.

"Don't worry about Craig, Manny. I know you're thinking that they're probably hooking up right now. Craig did cheat on you, but I think he learned his lesson and won't stoop that low again." Emma advised, although she knew at the bottom of her heart that he probably would.

"Yeah, and who am I to trust that? It's Craig, Em! You never know what he will do, or how trustworthy he is. Yes, I absolutely adore him, but I'll never be able to trust him 100 around other girls. Especially really pretty girls." Manny protested.

As they went around the corner, they noticed Valentine and Craig sitting at a table, laughing. Oh great… Manny thought. She certainly doesn't waste any time.

End of Part One

In Part Two:

Will the relationship between Craig and Manny be strong enough to weather the seemingly rough Valentine storm? Or will Craig fall for Valentine and break up with Manny? Will I be able to actually complete this fanfiction successfully in a short amount of time? We will see!