Thanks again to everyone who reviewed. They really do mean alot to me. I know this is alot different but thanks to anyone who is reading. It felt weird writing this chapter, not sure if its cos I am really sad that JPC is over for now, or that its cos it was Craig and Hannah lol. Most likely a bit of both. Anyways hope you enjoy.

Claire xx

Craig stared aimlessly out the window, it was only the first day back, the class hadn't even started and he was already bored. He zoned out as everyone around him chatted away about what they been up to over the summer, desperately trying to avoid anyone asking him about he's summer. He had nothing to relay, it had been exactly the same as it was before, he had spent the summer the same way he had spent he's time at school, just without the school part. He's days had been filled with spending time either with Tom or Hannah, and then working at the pub he's Mum and step Dad owned, and listening as people continued to talk about the holidays and dramas that they had over the summer only reminded Craig even more that he was standing still. The only thing that comforted him was that he had one more year, just one more year then he could say goodbye to this place, and for once do what he wanted to do.

He turned to look around the room, and then back down to he's desk, he opened he's sketch book, and took in the scene around him, surrounded by people but being ignored, as if he wasn't even there. Craig had always felt like an outsider, and it had only been even more confirmed last year, when the news of he's coming out became public knowledge, nothing seemed to stay quiet for very long in Hollyoaks, rumours seemed to have a way of spreading around very quickly. He noticed the looks and heard the whispers, but he ignored them, and never spoke out as to whether it was true or not, it only made him realise that he's outcast status was now confirmed, and whereas at one point he may have desperately tried to fight against it, instead he welcomed it happy to not be involved in some kind of clique. He had he's friends and he knew who they were. He began sketching without even really thinking he's mind wandering away to somewhere else, he looked down at the paper in front of him, he saw himself sitting in the classroom, much like he was now, but instead of the people that surrounded him, he was alone, sitting at he's desk. It was okay in theory. Being alone meant no one ever worked there way in, putting up defenses acting like you were strong enough to face things alone, yes in theory it was okay. But the reality of the picture he just drew was the fact that he was alone. At least thats how it felt. In front of Tom he could be confident happy Craig, he bought it, just as everyone else did. But it didn't seem to quiet those fears that he had when he was sitting here by himself.

The sound of books being slammed down on the desk next to him snapped Craig out of he's daydream. He looked up to see Hannah frowning down in he's direction. Her arms were filled with books as her bag that fell off her shoulder came crashing down to the floor.

"Never let anyone say Hannah Ashworth isn't prepared for the first day back at college" Craig smiled and stood up taking the books off Hannah, as she grabbed her bag from the floor.

"Thanks. And I'm not prepared for this Craig. This is our last year. I can't screw this up."

"Han. You're the smartest girl in our year. You not gonna screw this up. You will however have to save me from screwing this year up"

Hannah smiled back at him and then started working her way through organising her books "You'll be fine, you just need to stay focused. Last year was different. You had a lot of stuff... you know going on."

"You mean constantly worrying about how I was going to tell my family that I'm gay, and then finally telling them that and then realising that actually it wasn't that scary to begin with?"

"Something like that yeah" Hannah nudged him lightly and then returned to her books. Craig smiled and looked back down at he's drawing. He and Hannah had formed a quick friendship. Pretty much as soon as she walked into class her first day looking around the room shyly as all the other students looked at her like she wasn't good enough to be there, Craig knew how it felt, it was how they looked at him everyday, and she had sat down next to him, and not spoke for ages, and then when Craig finally asked her about herself he hadn't been able to get her to shut up since.

"You have a good time Friday night?"

Craig smiled "Yeah it was good. You should have come out..."

"I don't think Tom likes me"

"Hannah, you don't think anyone but me Nancy and Sarah like you. And besides thats just what Tom's like, once you get to know him, he's great. We're going out Saturday you should come"

"I dunno..."

"You have to leave the house sometime, sitting at home playing scrabble with your baby brother every Saturday night is not good for you"

"Hey! We don't play Scrabble. Sometimes we play Monopoly too..."

Craig shook he's head and laughed "Thats my point. Come on promise me, say you'll come out with us, we'll invite Nance and Sarah too, you never know you might meet someone"

"Oh yeah and going to gay clubs with you and Tom is the way to do that? I don't hold out much hope seeing as you can't even find a bloke yourself"

Craig shifted in he's seat, as the truth of Hannah's statement resounded through him. "Maybe I'm not looking for anyone."

"Oh come on Craig. Everyone's looking for someone. Even you"

"What does that mean?"

"Well you know. You haven't exactly seen anyone since..."

"For your information. There is someone" Craig didn't even realise why the words had fallen out of he's mouth. He couldn't really count what had happened on Friday night as him meeting someone. But the truth was John Paul had been the only person he had really been interested in, who had managed to make him want to act on he's feelings, before he had been too scared, but something about him had made him want to talk to John Paul.

"Really? From Friday night? Who?"

Shit. He knew he shouldn't have said anything. How could he possibly explain this? There really was nothing to say. He had made a complete fool of himself. He had put himself out there and got rejected in a monumental style.

"It's nothing really..."

"Oh come on it can't be nothing, you've got that look on your face..."

"Its stupid really." Craig shook he's head and looked back out the window. It really was stupid. But why couldn't he stop thinking about John Paul? He didn't even know him and yet he couldn't get he's face out of he's mind. Those eyes. He could still feel those eyes burning back into he's own, the way he had spoke, Craig had kept everything to he's memory. Keeping everything single detail about him locked in he's mind. And it was stupid. He was clearly never going to see this person ever again and yet here he was unable to shake him from he's memory. He turned back to see Hannah still staring at him with a quizzical look. He sighed heavily.

"Fine, but don't laugh alright?"

"Craig I would never laugh at you."

"Okay well we both know thats a lie. But I'm serious." Craig paused for a minute and looked across the room as everyone started to settle down and take their seats.

"Have you ever met someone who for some bizarre reason that you can't even begin to explain you just feel drawn to them? Like there's something inside you pulling you towards them. Because that happened to me, and I know its sounds stupid, but I can't stop thinking about this person, every time I close my eyes their there and won't go away... " Craig felt Hannah's hand squeeze he's arm lightly.

"Oh Craig... is it Tom?"

"What?!?"

"Tom? The person you like?"

"No Hannah. It's not Tom. It's this guy I met Friday."

"Oh thank god. I mean come on? Falling in love with your best mate? That can never end well."

"Thanks for that. Its just I know I won't see him again, so I know its stupid and I don't even know him but its like, there was this connection, undeniable and I know he felt it too, but he seemed really scared, and I know how that feels I mean I saw something in him that I see... saw in myself" Craig shook he's head and laughed at the stupidity of it all.

"I sound ridiculous don't I?"

"No you don't. Look I'm a firm believer in things that are meant to be. And if you're meant to find this guy again you will. And if not well then thats just how it is. You weren't meant to find him. Did you even find out mystery mans name?"

Craig didn't notice at first but as he looked down in he's sketch book he had written "John Paul" across the page. He shook he's head and screwed up the piece of paper. "No. No I didn't" He sighed and thought maybe Hannah was right, he hadn't really ever believed in all that meant to be stuff, but somethings seemed to work out that way, like how he had met Tom, like so many other things in he's life. Perhaps this was just another one of those things. Whatever it was he knew he had to push it from he's mind, because it was pretty unlikely that he would find him anywhere around here. He looked back at Hannah who was now sitting on the table deep in conversation with Sarah who seemed to have entered the room without him even realising. He hadn't known Sarah too long just from Hannah, and then had suffered relentless teasing from Tom after he found out he was hanging around with three girls. Not that he cared, for the first time in a long time he had people he could call he's friends, people that actually cared about, which is a lot more than he had before. He smiled as Hannah told Sarah about Saturday nights plans, who then started to get very excited and began planning what they were going to wear, causing Craig to zone out of the conversation again.

He got he's phone from he's pocket and checked to see if he had any messages. Then he shook he's head again. He couldn't believe how stupid he was acting. He already knew the truth, there wasn't going to be any messages from him, and yet he seemed to want to torture himself. He looked back up again as Nancy joined them, jabbering away about some new person she had just met. Craig sighed he bet it was another girl, which was fine he guessed like making it four girls he was friends with was any worse than three really. He stood up slowly.

And thats when he stopped dead.

He thought for a moment he had dozed off in he's chair, that he was dreaming and somehow had been transported back to Friday night in he's dreams. But as he looked around he saw he was still standing in the busy classroom, staring into those eyes that had captivated him just days before. And something inside him just wouldn't let him look away. And he was looking right back at him too, looking straight into he's eyes. Not turning away. Almost like time had somehow slowed down. He opened he's mouth to say something but heard Nancy speak first.

"John Paul." Suddenly he snapped back to reality as John Paul broke eye contact and began to move towards them. But still Craig couldn't seem to look away, he couldn't believe that he was actually standing here.

"Everyone this is John Paul. Hannah, Sarah this is John Paul" Craig watched as they chatted for a few moments, he knew that he was staring but yet couldn't seem to tear himself from looking away.

"And this is the uncharacteristically quiet Craig Dean" Nancy smiled in Craig's direction and he sarcastically smiled back. "John Paul this is Craig"

"Actually it's a funny story..." Craig smiled as he began to recall the meeting from Friday night to he's friends before John Paul interrupted holding he's hand out in front of Craig. Craig looked into John Paul's eyes once again, but he saw something different there this time, a desperation for Craig to keep quiet, something telling him to play along.

"Its nice to meet you Craig"

Craig took hold of John Paul's hand and shook it lightly, nodding. And he understood completely and totally. John Paul being there on Friday hadn't been a mistake, it had just been John Paul's secret, one he hoped no one would ever find out about, and Craig had ruined he's perfectly thought out plan. He still stood holding John Paul's gaze, before putting on the fake smile he used for everyone else.

"Nice to meet you too" He let go of he's hand and sat back down in he's chair, he looked at the ball of paper he had screwed up only moments ago, and remembered once again that he was alone, for some bizarre reason he couldn't explain in meeting John Paul that night, he had felt like he wasn't, he couldn't explain it, but now even as he stood so closely to him, the truth hit him harder than ever before. He was alone. And he had never been more aware of it.