AUTHORS NOTE: Stop.

If you have not read This Is Reality, stop, turn around and go read it right now. You'll be lost otherwise.

I kind of threw this one up quickly because I was excited to get this all up...they will get better I promise! Please review. Also, I don't own Degrassi – if I did, I would be shopping on Rodeo Drive right now...

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It was the first day of summer. The hot sun glowed warmly onto the grass, and the only sounds you could hear while being outside were the sounds of green trees swaying with the breeze.

Callie opened her closet door, reaching on the top shelf for one of Craig's plaid shirts that he had left there. She took it out gently, pressing it up to her face and smelling on it. She creased it perfectly and folded it into her suitcase.

"So you're really leaving?" Aaron asked, peaking into the doorway of Callie's room.

Callie stood in silence.

"Don't talk to me." She replied, coldly, as she reached for the picture of her and Paige to put in her suitcase. God, does he not get the hint?

"I think you're overreacting a little, don't you?" He said, advancing closer to her closet, where she was packing.

"No. I don't need to be here with you and your psycho father. Me and Craig are leaving, together." She said, turning around to face him.

"Oh please," he said, grabbing her chin, "You and loverboy won't last a minute. Like he could actually love you, let alone run away with you. And you'll run away with his until when? Till his mommy and daddy come calling him home for supper?"

She slapped him with anger.

"His parents are dead you jerk."

"Craig, this is insanity. Where are you two gonna go, what are you gonna do? Your seventeen years old!" Joey asked, following Craig around the house.

"Get away from here. Its better for the both of us. This town is cursed. And I can't let her continue to live in that house." He replied, while opening the fridge.

"Don't you think that's something her family needs to figure out?" Joey said, slamming the fridge shut as Craig attempted to open it.

"Her family is the problem!" He rebutted.

"There isn't anyone in her family? Craig, I love you. I'm not going to let you do this. I'm not letting you throw your life away like this! Look, Callie is a great girl, but..."

"But what? Joey, if you don't let me do this, I'll never step foot inside this damn house again!" He said angrily.

"Look, she can stay here, temporarily. Just until she can find someone in her family to stay with. This is not your place to try to interfere in her life, or for her to interfere with yours." Oh god, what am I doing. Callie is a nice girl, and they're so young. Maybe they'll break up if they see what its really like living together. But I can't let them go out like this.

"Are you serious?" He asked.

"I guess. But this isn't a free ride for her. I want her earning her stay. And the second I catch you two doing anything you're not supposed to do I'll..."

"Thank you, Joey." He said, giving him a hug.

The doorbell suddenly rang, and Craig went to open it, knowing it was Callie.

"Hey." She said, taking a step in and setting her bags down on the floor.

"Hey," he replied, grabbing her hand. "I was thinking. Or Joey was thinking, actually, why don't you just stay here, temporarily? He's cool with it. And it might be kind of fun, you know, you here for the summer...we'd be playing house."

Callie hesitated, and jingled her charm bracelet. She didn't want to. But if she stayed with him, they could have more time to figure out what they would do.

"I guess so."

He smiled at her ecstatically and grasped her bags with both hands.

"C'mon, let's take your stuff into the guest room."

They started to walk up the stairs, until Angie ran from the bathroom onto the wooden steps, thumping on them loudly.

"Callie, Callie, are you gonna stay here forever?" Angie asked, pulling on Callie's corduroy skirt.

"No Angie, not forever, but for a little while. Maybe we can play with your dolls later!" Callie replied, winking at her. Craig continued down the hallway with Callie's bags and dropped them in the peach painted guestroom, setting them down gently.

"You don't have to take me in. I'm not your orphan." She said, leaning in the doorframe, as Craig sat on the edge of the bed.

"Trust me, you're not. And don't try to tell me about being an orphan, I've been one my whole life." Craig responded, with a dark humor.

Oh, that was stupid, Callie thought. Now I'm just reminding him of his father.

"Don't say that. I didn't mean it like that."

"I know. Just to let you know, Joey wants you to make yourself 'useful' around the house."

"That's not such a bad thing, I love babysitting Ang."

"Yeah, but I can also think of one major advantage."

"And what's that?" Callie said, raising one eyebrow. Craig got off the bed and approached Callie in the doorway, putting his arms around her waist. He leaned into kiss her, but she turned her head, and at the last second his lips graced her cheek.

"One thing though Manning." She said, with her faced turned to the right.

"Anything." He muttered, his lips still on her delicate, porcelain cheek, and eyes still shut.

"No sneaking any girls here while I'm sleeping. Got it loverboy?"

"Got it." He said, kissing her neck.

"Stop it! That tickles!" Callie chuckled, playfully motioning for him to let go, though he wouldn't.

She laughed and wrapped her arms around him, giving him a little kiss. All he needs is a little taste. We have plenty of time to do whatever we want...but this could get interesting.