So in this chapter I will be addressing more about what happened to Zig the summer before school started. Also, I will be addressing what happened to Maya during her summer in Paris. I was asked to explain more background detail about them, so I will be doing so this chapter. :) I also want to state that this story isn't necesarrily going by the show. Some details might be from the show but other than that this is a story I made up my own.

*Zig*

He sat in his room on Katie's bed and staired at the ceiling. A lot went down tonight, and he sat in bed thinking about it. He couldn't get his mind off of Vince. He didn't want to confess to it, but he was very scared of him. He knew Vince had weapons, he knew too many people.

He started to think about how all of this happened, when everything went bad.

It was the start of the summer going into sophomore year. Money was tight with his family. His mom was still struggling at the store, less people would come in since it was summer. She hardly at the money to pay the bills, put food on the table. It had been this way his whole life growing up. He knew there was always a money problem, and he kept it to himself. He was embarrassed by it. He realized she was struggling and decided to go out and find a job.

On his way to look for one, he came across a man who looked like he was in his late 20's early 30's. He wore a black hoodie with his hood up and old ripped jeans. He eyed Zig, Zig stood out to him. He motioned him over.

"You lookin' to buy?" the man asked.

"Buy what?" Zig asked, and then saw what the man had in his hoodie pocket, it was a bag of weed. He quickly nodded his head no.

"That's too bad, I gotta sell before Saturday." the man bowed his head.

"For whom?" innocent Zig asked.

"For him," he motioned his face towards a tall black man, who looked to be about 20. "I also gotta pay my rent."

"You get paid for selling?"

"Yeah, it ain't a lot but it's something. We all get a little bit of the money." Zig began thinking. Had had went to several places looking for a job, but no one was hiring. He knew it was risky, but it was worth asking.

"Are you guys looking for a new worker?" Zig asked and the man laughed.

"Don't ask me, little boy. Ask him." He motioned to Vince once again.

And that's how it all started.

It was August when she found out. Zig had been working for them for about two months now, keeping it on the down low so his parents wouldn't find out. He would never be able to explain his reasoning for selling drugs to his mom, even if it was for her. He had told her that he found a job at the local book store, which was a big fat lie. What she didn't know wouldn't kill her, he thought.

But she did find out.

He had never seen so much disappointment in his mother's tired eyes.

"You're doing what?" she cried. She began pacing back and forth in the small little living room they had.

"You were never supposed to find out," he began, following her around the store as she cried. "I'm doing this for you."

"Don't you dare say that," she stopped right in her tracks, turned around and looked at him. "What were you thinking, Zigmund! I thought I raised you the right way, I thought you were smart enough to not go and join some gang and sell whatever the hell you are selling!" She was yelling, almost screaming.

"I'm not in a gang, mother." He began. "I'm just...I'm just making money." He had no idea what to say. He knew he had done wrong, it was a terrible idea. His family had very little time and money, and growing up in their situation was difficult.

"You know not to make money that way!" She was crying. She paced to Zig's room, as Zig followed. She practically whipped his door open.

She began packing a duffle bag.

"Mom, what are you doing?" Zig asked, following her in every step she took.

"Do you have any idea how dangerous gangs are?"

"Mom, I'm not in a gang!"

"What would've happened if one of those guys came into our store, our house!" she faced him, crying. "What if they hurt your little brother, what if they came in the store with a weapon? Were you even thinking!"

"Mom, just listen.." He moved his long black hair that covered his forehead out of his face.

"No, I'm done talking about this." She handed him the duffle bag. "Now leave."

"You're kicking me out?"

"We are in danger now, you're little brother and I. This does not only affect you!"

"Mom just take a second to listen to me!" he cried.

"Leave," she pointed to the door. "Leave now!"

And with that Zig was practically pushed out the door.

He didn't know where to go after that, but he knew one place where he could go. Vince.

He walked about two miles to the other side of town, to an alley way where Vince usually was always at. Vince lived in a small apartment, where he usually never stayed in except to sleep. He lived alone, he spent most of his time either selling or doing drugs. He had been close with his friends, who were in his gang.

"Well look who we've got here, gentlemen." Vince said when Zig appeared. He had been with four other guys, one who had an orange Mohawk whom they called Tiny. Vince motioned to the duffle bag. "What's in that?"

"I have no where to go." Zig looked down at his feet, and his long hair covered his eyes. Vince then took a loud deep breath.

"Your mom found out, didn't she?" He asked and Zig nodded.

"She doesn't know it's you guys, though." Zig looked up at Vince.

"You better hope she doesn't."

When Zig began selling, Vince scolded him about keeping it all a small secret. Vince was always on the down low, he wasn't one to sell because he had been on probation with the cops, which is why he had people sell for him. If the cops found him on the streets again, selling, he would be in jail for a long time. Vince never told Zig about why he had been on probation, but Zig wasn't going to ask. The less he knew the less more trouble.

Zig had began staying at an abandoned house then, that was close to wear the gang usually was. Vince and his guys helped Zig with money for food. He would shower and use the bathroom at Vince's apartment. In that last month of summer he had gotten close with the gang. He had also gotten a haircut, which was "very needed" as Vince would say. It was no longer on his forehead.

Little did he know he was actually a part of the gang, well he was in Vince's eyes.

He had grown close with one of the members, whose name was Tiny. Tiny had been the quiet, small one, hence his nickname "Tiny". Zig knew very little on his background, but he didn't ask.

When school had started, he was automatically put in the Rubber Room. He had "attitude problems", at least that's what Simpson said.

Ever since he had been living at the Matlins, he had been avoiding the gang more and more. He had skipped several of Vince's calls. He knew Vince would look for him, would get some kind of way to contact him. He had talked to Tiny in the Rubber Room. Tiny knew where Zig was staying, and promised to keep it a secret. Zig was happy he had someone like Tiny to trust, and Tiny didn't say a word to Vince.

He underestimated Vince's ability. Whether he liked it or not, he knew he wouldn't be able to get away. Not that easily.

His number one priority was keeping Maya safe. Tiny had told him in the past that Vince has hurt other people before, including women. He wasn't kidding when he said,

"I would hate to see anything bad to her."

Those words haunted him. He had to keep her safe.

ooo

*MAYA*

Maya lied in bed on her side, thinking about what had been going on. A lot has changed for her this past month. Zig had been living with her, she broke up with Miles. So much was going on in her mind. She silently cried to herself, thinking about Miles, and how they met.

It had been three months since Cam died. She didn't confess it, but she missed him. His death affected her life a lot, and although she didn't show it she felt alone with out him.

She lost touch with Tori, ever since she moved. Their friendship had kind of ended when Zig, who was dating Tori at the time, kissed Maya. Tori had been there for her when Cam died, but it was never the same. She didn't blame Tori, she would've been upset too.

She hadn't talked to Zig for a month. The last time they talked was when they held hands in the back of the school, when Zig told her everything would be okay. She was messed up at the time, her mind was in more than one place.

Tristan was her only true friend. When they heard about the summer trip to Paris, they began looking at brochures and staying up all night talking about how amazing it would be to go. It took her mom a lot of convincing until she finally said yes.

Her mother felt bad for Maya. Cam had just died a few months ago, Tori moved away. It was her 8th grade year when Maya's dad had left them. He had cheated on her mom, and it affected the family a lot. That entire year had been a blur to her, she didn't like to remember it.

Her and Tris spent the last week of Freshman year getting ready for Paris. They went shopping, they did a lot of research on the cool hot spots. It was their summer. Or at least that's what they thought it would be.

When they aboarded the bus and left Degrassi, it was like a new beginning for Maya. She was leaving behind all the drama, all the hurt, for two months. She had her best friend, and that's all she needed.

"Let's go to Starbucks, I heard they have like three different drinks in Paris." Tristan said. It was ten in the morning, and they had been in Paris for a week now. They had gone to a lot of places, met a lot of new people. Maya had gotten close to Alli Bhandari, who was a junior. Alli, her and Tristan would often visit a ton of places.

"Yeah, I could go for a coffee." Maya replied. She had began liking coffee ever since Tristan made her try his. They got changed and were on their way. They were lucky enough to have a Starbucks right down the street from where they were staying.

It was so cool in Paris. So many different people, different accents and languages. Everyone was so nice, so welcome. The atmosphere just made you so happy. It was much different than Degrassi.

Maya opened the entrance to Starbucks, looking down at her phone. All the sudden her face was in someone's chest. She looked up to see a tall, very cute guy.

"Oh, I'm sorry." The guy said, looking down at Maya.

"Oh, it's totally my fault." Maya looked into his eyes, basically drooling. He had brown hair, and musky brown eyes. Tristan looked at both of them.

"I'll get your drink, Maya." Tristan whispered to Maya, knowingly.

"I'm Miles." Miles put his hand out to shake her hand.

"I'm Matlin," she started. "Maya. Maya Matlin." she nervously laughed. Wow, way to go Matlin.

He laughed and shook her hand.

"Are you here for the class trip?" He asked her, sitting down at a table and Maya followed.

"Yeah, I am. I'm guessing you live here?"

He laughed. "No, I wish I lived here. I'm here for the class trip also." He replied.

"Really? Degrassi?" She asked.

"No, I'm from New York. I'm transferring to Degrassi this year though, I believe I saw you on the bus here."

Maya felt dumb.

"Really? I didn't see you. I might have glasses but no one said they really help." She chuckled and he laughed also.

"Is that your boyfriend over there?" He put his focus on Tristan, who was trying to not make it noticeable that he was staring at them. He made a little face to Maya when Miles wasn't looking, mouthing the word "Hottie!"

Maya laughed as she looked at Tristan, also. "No, he's my best friend. We uh - we both like boys."

"Oh, I see," Miles started, looking at his watch. "Oh crap, I promised my friend Chewy I would meet him somewhere like five minutes ago." He said, as he stood up. Maya stood up too.

"Well, it was nice to meet you." She said to him, smiling. God, he was so cute.

"It was nice to meet you too, beautiful." He replied, smiling back.

"By the way, a couple friends and I are going to this cool resteraunt tonight, if you and your friend want to come with us." He took Maya's phone from her hand, which surprised Maya. He was already comfortable around her, she could tell. "Let me put my number in your phone..." He paused as he looked at the screen. "You have a text message from someone named, Zig?"

Crap.

"Oh, he's just this guy I know, probably asking me about the summer reading or something." Maya took the phone from him and exited out of the message. She gave him the phone again. "Here, you could put it in now."

He put the number in her phone and they said goodbye. In a matter of seconds, Tristan was in front of her.

"Okay - who was that guy?" Tristan smiled, gazing at him through the window as he walked down the street.

"He's transferring to Degrassi this year," Maya began, then showing him her phone, which has his contact on it. "And he invited us to hang out tonight."

"Are you serious?" Tristan was practically yelling of excitement. "You guys are totally going to date, totally."

Well, it happened.

They ended up going to the restaurant, where her and Miles flirted the entire night. She noticed a brown haired girl, who was staring them down the entire night. She must have been one of Mile's friends.

They walked out of the restaurant, and towards the Eiffel Tower. It was just the two of them. Tristan was getting along with all of Mile's friends, they decided to leave early to walk alone.

"Are you having fun?" Miles asked, putting his hands in his pockets. It was surprisingly not crowded on the streets at all, probably because it was a Thursday night. The streets were beautiful, all lit up with lights.

"Yeah, I am. I think my friend is too." She said, looking behind her at the resteraunt.

"Is this your first time in Paris?""

"Yeah, it is." She replied. "How about you?"

"I've been here about ten times." He laughed.

"Are you serious?" she asked with wide eyes. He nodded.

He must have been rich.

They walked for a couple more blocks, until they saw a good view of the Eiffel Tower. It was absolutely breathtaking. It was the prettiest sight Maya had ever seen. It was all lit up, it was the perfect night.

"I don't know if I told you already, but you look beautiful tonight." Miles smiled. She was wearing a black dress, with a red belt. Tristan picked it out. She had her hair curled, and she was't wearing glasses.

"Thank you," she blushed. "You look pretty handsome yourself." They began walking again, but this time, Miles put his arm out, and Maya wrapped her arm around his.

"I couldn't help put notice that girl from that TV show looking at us, Zoe Rivas." She asked. Miles sighed.

"She's - well she isn't my ex. We never dated. We just-" he began. "We just hung out, a lot."

"Ahh, I see." She smiled at him. "Wow, how many other celebrities do you know?"

He chuckled. "Quiet a few, I would say. My father has a lot of connections."

He had to be rich, he had to be.

He stopped walking again, grabbing Maya's hands.

"I would love to take you out again," he began.

"Yeah, I would love to go out again, too." She smiled. He looked at her lips, and in a matter of seconds they were kissing. She looked into his eyes again, and he smiled.

"We should probably get back to the rest of them, it's getting pretty late." He said, grabbing her hand.

She was shaking. So many thoughts we going through her head. She had just kissed possibly the best looking guy in Paris. All the sudden she heard her phone buzz in her purse. She took it out and it was from Zig.

"Where have you been? Want to meet up?" The text read. He had no idea she was in Paris. She noticed Miles looking over.

"Is everything alright, Maya?" Miles asked. She looked at him and smiled.

"Everything is perfect." She replied as she rested her head on his shoulder.

Everything was perfect. It was like a dream, like a movie.

When did it become so messed up?

She knew it would never be the same with them. She put so much love in their relationship, and then he did what he did. She would never look at him the same, ever again.

She suddenly remembered Zig was two doors down from her. Whenever she thought of him she got butterflies. She knew she liked him, just a little bit. He had been there for her through one of the worst times, she knew he cared about her.

No one ever cared about her as much as Zig did. She felt different around him, she felt safe and secure.

"If you could save a life, would you?"

She thought hard about what she did next. She couldn't take it anymore. She jumped out of bed and flung her door open, to find Zig already in the hall way. She could tell he was about to come into her room.

It was at that moment that their lips met.

Definitely the hardest chapter to write, it took about four days. But there you have it :) Make sure to review, so I know if I should continue with this story. :) Also, feel free to PM me if you have any special requests :)