A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Sorry, my first chapter was short, but I'm working on making longer chapters. This is the beginning, and I just want to get show what Craig's feelings are during the beginning of summer. For example, when he saw Joey and Angie sitting at the table and felt left out. Those feelings, of being left out, will be important later on in the story.

By the way, unfortunately I don't own any of Degrassi or any of its characters. I'd like to, but nope, I don't.

2. Some Very Excluded Feelings

Finally, I got up off my ass, and went over to my desk, then plopped down in my chair and got out the lyrics for the song I was supposed to write for Kevin Smith's movie. After a bit, I dropped my pencil on my desk and sighed. I looked up at my computer monitor and turned it on, then checked my e-mail quickly. Nothing. No e-mails at all. I had sent Ash about 2 e-mails since last week, and she still hadn't replied. I punched my desk angrily, wincing at the pain. After rubbing my knuckle for about a minute, I picked up my pencil again and started to work on that stupid song.

A couple hours later, Joey and Angie finally came back home. Angie was carrying a shopping bag, probably full of some new toys Joey had bought her. He came up to my room, and looked at me, smiling.

"Hey, Craaaig." He said, stretching out my name. Obviously, he was relaxed. I looked up at him and gave him a quick half-smile. "How's it going?" Joey added. 'Hmm…well, I'm as bored as hell, I miss Ash, and she hasn't replied to my e-mail that I sent her a week ago. So, it's going great!' I thought sarcastically to myself, but instead of saying that, I replied, "It's going…okay."

Joey nodded, grinned at me, and then went downstairs. I sighed again, and my thoughts drifted back to Ashley. I hit my head against the wall of my room, and after swearing under my breath, I got up and laid down in my bed. After, I don't know how long, my eyes began to close and I quickly glanced at my clock. It was 9…Or maybe 6. No, definitely 9. I turned my head away from the now-getting-fuzzy clock and readjusted my pillow. Soon after that, I had fallen asleep.

I shot up and sat in my bed, sweat trickling down my forehead. I looked at my clock, 6 AM. I groaned and recalled the dream I had been having. Something bad, horrible…I was at home, sitting down on the couch, watching TV. Then, suddenly, Joey, Caitlin, and Angie are walking inside the front door. They're laughing and they walk right past me, not noticing me or saying anything. Then…I'm telling Ash how I want to come to England with her. She says the same things, that she needs to get away from me. Next…Ash is at the airport and I'm waiting for her to run towards me and jump into my awaiting arms. Instead, she looks around, then looks straight at me, but doesn't do a thing. A red-haired boy, the same height as Ash, comes from behind her and kisses her cheek.

'No…those things aren't going to happen. I know it. Ash and Joey and Caitlin and Angie, they love me. Don't they?' I wondered. I slowly got up and ran a hand through my hair. I blinked a couple of times, then went downstairs to the kitchen. I opened the fridge door. Surprise, surprise; there isn't anything inside. I closed it, and noticed a note on the fridge door. It said in messy handwriting (I almost had to squint to read it), Hey, Craig. Angie and I went out for breakfast. We're also going shopping and getting groceries. We might be back late, though, because Angie's aunt (my sister) invited us over for a while.

Joey

I sighed and crumpled up the note and tossed it in the trash. I walked over to the couch and plopped down on it, then turned on the TV. As I flick through channels, I realize this will probably be my most used spot for the summer. Wish it could be Ash's bed, though. Maybe if she hadn't abandoned me…I sighed and forced those thoughts out of my head, then tried to concentrate on the TV.

The phone rang, breaking my pathetic concentration on the TV. I looked at the phone, then back at the TV. Probably Joey calling. Let it be, I didn't care. After a couple of rings, the phone finally stopped. I half-smiled, hoping Joey was worried or something. I knew it was wrong to feel that way, but I couldn't help it.

A few minutes later, the phone rang again. I sighed, reached over, and decided to pick it up. I hated the sound of the phone ringing when the TV was on, or when I was playing music. I guess I also kind of knew what it was like to be the person calling, but no one was answering. It was like Ash not answering my e-mails. As I frowned at the thought of Ash, I shook my head at myself, then said, "Hello?" into the phone.

"Hey, Craig." Said a very, very familiar voice. A voice that…I didn't know if I wanted to hear.