Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Degrassi: The Next Generation. I only own any character that I produce through my own imagination.

Authors Note: Hi...Long time no see! School is getting really hectic and I'm kind of stressed but I never leave a story unfinished...well I do but never a story that I've posted. I hope you enjoy the chapter and please review it would just make my day!
"Students you are dismissed, have a great holiday."

The loud speakers strategically placed around the school halls blast just as the final bell rings. Evette grabs her back and hurries out of the room. She fumbles with the lock on her locker before managing to open it. A large "Country Road" bag falls out of it. She swings it over her shoulder bending her knees under the weight and clips the heavy lock onto the strap. As she walks down the stairs a silver sports car pulls up in front of the school.

Students begin to gather around it running their fingers over the shiny and newly washed paint work. Evette pushes her way through the crowd of eager students and after throwing her bags in the back jumps in the front passenger seat next to Eric. She looks around and upon seeing Craig and Ashley she leans over and kisses Eric on the cheek. She looks back up at them and gives them a little wave before Eric speeds away.

"Craig."

Craig turns around after watching the silver sports car drive away. Sean stands behind him. He throws a notebook at him. There is a piece of paper stuck to the top of it. The words -hope this helps- are scrawled over the top of it. Craig lets go of Ashley's hand and begins walking in the opposite direction. Ashley looks at Sean with a confused look on her face Sean shrugs and walks away while Ellie comes up behind Ashley and drags her away.

Craig has been sitting in the dust for an hour. His legs are numb and his fingers trace the loops in the l and o's, the randomly scattered dots that rarely seemed to be placed about the I's and the tiny love hearts that replaced the dots above his name.

"Craig?"

From behind him comes a quiet voice. He moves slightly pins and needles engulfing his legs. Ashley sits down next to him and picks up the notebook the lies in his lap. He doesn't move.

"What is this?"

"It's...E...Evette's."

"But it says that it's Evonne's...but it's...Evette?"

Ashley's voice trails off she is confused and yet something is telling her that she knew it all along. Craig nods he isn't sure where to go on from here. Evette has already gone, back to San Francisco back to the place she belongs.

"Are...are you going to call her?"

Ashley stumbles knowing the final answer even if Craig ended up denying it for days, even weeks.

"I..."

Craig starts unsure of what to say. He had just started again with Ashley but then this, Evonne was Evette, and Evette was Evonne. That little girl that he had loved so long ago who had left him so suddenly came back equally suddenly and had made him fall in love with her all over again and then she had left him again.

"Ash..."

Craig tries again. She smiles a painful smile. She knows that Evonne came first, before her and that Craig never got over her. But she wanted to hold him so he didn't leave her. She wanted to rip the notebook up until no one could tell what it said. She wanted to isolate him so that he would never be able to leave. But she knows she can't. She knows that the more she tries to restrain him the harder he'll fight to go...that is if he wanted to.

"Do whatever. I don't...well I do care but it's because I care that I want you to go."

"Ash...I love you."

"But you love Ev...ette more."

"I..."

"It's okay..."

Ashley stops and takes a silent breath.

"...I love you too Craig."

She says her voice barely above a whisper before she stands up and equally silently walks away leaving Craig...alone...again. Before he too stands up and with notebook in hand he begins walking home a million thoughts passing through his mind ever minute.

"Joey, I'm going away for a few days."

Craig yells his hand placed on the front door ready to make a run for it if there was even the slightest attempt at giving him the 3rd degree.

"Wait, where are you going?"

Joey yells and runs towards the front door with Angela hot on his heels. By this time Craig is already at the bottom of their driveway. He looks back over his shoulder and jumps into a car which contains Spinner, Paige, Jimmy and Hazel. He winds down the window and leans out.

"San Francisco."

He yells before the car disappears around the corner.

"Craig!"

Joey calls out exasperated by Craig's sudden departure he mutters under his breath about Craig and getting what he deserves when he gets back.

Moments later Ashley comes walking up the driveway her hands folded her gaze fixed on the ground in front of her.

"Hey Ashley."

Joey calls out she raises her head but gives little other indication that she is happy to see him.

"You just missed him."

Joey says as she reaches the doorstep this statement succeeds in catching her attention.

"What?"

"Craig, you just missed him, he said he's going to San Francisco, I'm surprised you're not with him. I'm also surprised at how he got the money to go."

Ashley doesn't reply him her eyes are filling with tears even as she strains to hold them back. She nods and she knew it was coming she knew that he would go but she tried so hard to deny that fact she had tried all week after Craig had found the notebook. It was no use he was gone already. He left her all alone. But he had said he loved her...he loved her...something in her mind clicks it was that word "loved" it was past tense. Craig was gone and could do nothing but cry.