**Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi. I just own the plot.

Hey Guys! I'm back! Just like I promised!

This is the sequel to Ransom Romance, so if you haven't read that, please read that first.

I promise that I will stick to my time line, and I hope you guys like this story, as much or possibly more than Ransom Romance. I already have the story etched out with what I want to happen but as you go along, feel free to give your opinions and what you want to see because I'm writing this for me but I'm also writing this for you guys too. I hope you guys enjoy!

As always, Read and Review!

Clare's POV

"Hey? Are you ready?" I turned around to see Jake standing there.

"Ready as I'll ever be." I stated.

"I'll start bring these to the truck then." Jake said, picking up one of the boxes by the door.

As I finished packing the last of the boxes, I looked around the room that I've called home for the past year, and sighed. It was bare, and looked just about the way it was when I moved in. Only now, things were different. Now, Jake was moving to the States for business permanently, and I was moving to New York.

I haven't spoken to my parents in over a year. A year and two and a half months to be exact. Not since the day they officially kicked me out. They kept their distance, and I kept mine. I didn't want to speak with them anyways.

Darcy was the only one I spoke to, occasionally, since I moved out. However, she went back to Kenya about a week after my move to the States and I haven't heard from her since. She explained to me that she understood why I did what I did, but didn't believe that it was the right thing to do. She also told me that being around me and my past, was just too much.

She told me that it reminded her too much of what happened to her when she was my age. When she was raped by some guy at a party and was humiliated by her peers and friends when the story came out. She tried to kill herself then too. She told me it was a really dark period in her life, and she never wanted to go back to that, or think about that ever again. So she left.

I can understand that I suppose, but I really wanted that family-base I was so used to having. I hoped that my parents would come around but they didn't, and then I figured Darcy would, but she moved to the other side of the world. Now Jake and I were going our separate ways, and I am left on my own. Without that family-base. In a new country and in a new city. One that was known for it's over-crowding and traffic-ridden streets.

I don't know if I'll like it in New York. All I know is that I need a fresh start. Somewhere. Anywhere.

After packing up the last of my things, I brought them down and met Jake at the van. He rented me a van to transfer my stuff to the dorms, I would drop it off the day after I arrived there. I was thankful for him to do that, but it also stunk that he wasn't going to be going with me. He had a demolition job to do over the long weekend, so it was up to me to move myself into my dorm.

I didn't really have that much stuff, and none of it was big since I would get a desk, bed, and nightstand already in my room. So all of my furniture from Jake's apartment, stayed there. I told him he could sell it all but he said he was going to keep it for when I visited. He didn't need the extra room and wasn't going to use it anyways.

"Are you all packed up?" He asked.

"Yup." I said.

"Got your passport? Your student visa?"

"Yes, Dad." I teased. "I have everything."

"Remember your visa expires every year. And you have to get it renewed beforehand or you will be deported." He continued.

"Jake. Don't worry." I smiled.

"I know. I know. It's just, you, going off on your own. After everything that happened last year, I am surprised you are doing this." He explained.

"It's because of what happened last year. I want a true fresh start. I graduated high school. I saved up enough to do this, and I have the scholarship and the financial aid helping me out. Plus, I've got some money put away. Once I get a job there, I'll be set. It couldn't be a better time to do this." I stated. "I'll see you at the holidays, okay?"

"I'll see you then." He smiled, hugging me. I glanced back at Jake once more before climbing into the driver's seat.

"Here goes nothing." I said to myself, starting the truck up.

I watched through the side mirror as the town, I once called home, disappeared.