So, like I said, this is pretty much the same scenario as Season 6, but with the exception that Craig is present in Degrassi. As for his music career, I'll explain in his POV, and what's to come with this story.


Craig's POV

It's been a while.

Degrassi, how I expected you have changed, but probably remained the same.

There wasn't much to say regarding anything drastic with Degrassi I thought, it pretty much was how you expected.

Coming back to Toronto was a much more difficult feet on its own. While my contract with Leo expired recently, the recent strings of success with my album, concert shows and much more proved to be too valuable, and as a result, more prominent producers and record dealers were eyeing me up, with big intentions for me.

It was at this time where my album had been a hit across Canada, and many of them wanted me, in particular to move to LA to gain a bigger audience down south in the US. In the end, I had negotiated that I would ultimately finish high school, balancing my career and education. I would continue to record in a nearby studio, with the record dealers there gaining connections to my previous producers.

That way it was a win-win situation. They would get the music they wanted, and I could finish my education, and maybe even get the girl of my dreams.

Ellie. Ellie Nash, my crush, and also my best friend. How I had missed her so. My time away from Degrassi and Toronto made me truly realize how much I had missed her. How much I yearned for her. Up until then, I was scared. Scared to ruin a wonderful friendship we had developed. We had seen each other through our tough times. Her through my bipolar episodes, and me when she was dealing with her recently sober mother.

Our friendship was something I held with my dear heart, and in the end, I let my fears get the best of me. I had told myself that a consistent friendship was better than risking a relationship, and with my past relationships, who can blame me? But now I knew what I wanted. Through talks with physiatrists and some help with mental cleansing and meditating, my mind was clear on what I wanted to do.

I wanted Ellie. I knew now, that the benefits of having her by my side was greater than the risks, and all I had to do was show her. I feared that I had waited too long, but now I wanted to take the chance as soon as possible.

Walking out of the apartment I had rented, it wasn't a luxurious one, but wasn't one to puke at either. It was a basic one room apartment that had everything I needed. A bed, kitchen, shower, and a quiet area. I wasn't worried about recording because that was for the studio my dealers had sent the address to me for.

Going towards the parking spot, I saw the beauty in front of me. A nice, jet black motorcycle that kind of looked like a sports bike. While I had originally wanted a fancy car, I quickly realized how useless it would be if I had just gotten something fancier. Eventually, after watching a motorcycle race, and with the help of some of my coworkers who gladly taught me, I had gotten my M license.

So where did the motorcycle here come from? Simple, Joey's Motor shop. While Joey and Angela ultimately did move to Calgary shortly after I had returned, I had got to spend some time with them. As for his shop, he basically passed the business on to someone who was more passionate. After recognizing me as the step-son of Joey and the Rockstar, the manager gladly gave me the motorcycle, with a generous discount.

I wasn't spending a lot of my money, in fact, I had plenty more that was saved up. Being a Rockstar with plenty of royalties in producing and vocals allowed the cash to come in smoothly, and I had quickly realized I had too much money than to spend. With help from Joey during the few visits I had, he had recommended me to save a big chunk of the money I was getting, so that's what I did.

Letting the engine of the motorcycle roar to life, and with my school backpack inside a storage at the back tail, I made my way to Degrassi, somewhat curious on what to expect.

And I was right to expect nothing less. Not much had changed entirely, and I wasn't that surprised. Taking off my helmet, I opened the combination for my storage box to get my backpack. Putting my helmet in place and locking it, I looked towards Degrassi.

"I made the right choice."

Was all that was going through my head. While I was tempted to forget about school, I ultimately realized the reasons why I was here, and I pushed myself forward.

My mind thought about Ellie, knowing she was probably somewhere renting a room alongside Marco near the University of Toronto. I smiled at the thought, knowing how she was probably being woken up by Marco, who was excited for a new phase in his life. Knowing Marco and Ellie, that's probably what happened.

Noticing the number of new students, I couldn't recognize, I knew that this year would be different. But this year, was just going to be me getting through this year without any girl drama. No, the only girl drama I wanted was with Ellie, not Manny, not Ashley, no new girls. Just Ellie. Making my way up, and opening the front door, I felt the nostalgic breeze of cold air hit me immediately.

The hallways, lockers and overall atmosphere looked the same, maybe with a fresher view, but overall, everything was the same. Despite roughly a year's absence, I still remembered the layout of Degrassi.

Once I had gotten my schedule from the office, with Ms. Hatzilakos giving me a warm welcome.

"You may be a Rockstar, but here you are still a student, so don't think you have any extra privilege."

I laughed in response, simply shrugging before I was out in the halls. Looking around, I could see some new students I didn't recognize, and some I did.

Looking to one side, I noticed Emma, Liberty, Manny all in one area. Emma seemed to be preoccupied with a man as her lips were clearly being used.

On the other, however, I had a mild shock arise in my head. There, was Toby, talking a man in a wheelchair I knew straight away, Jimmy.

But it was the other man who was beside them that made me surprised. A somewhat burly man with pale skin. Despite the shoulder length hair, I could tell who it was.

Making my way towards them, I put a hand on the man's shoulders.

"Sean, how are you doing man?" I smirked, watching him turn around. His face of confusion turned to a mix of shock and a smile.

"Craig." He started, "You look different."

I laughed, "I'm a Rockstar now. You look different as well."

Laughing, he turned back to Toby and Jimmy, who all gave me a wave.

Grinning, Sean looked back to me, "I haven't talked to you in ages man, we got some catching up to do."

I smiled and nodded, "Agreed, here's my phone number, make sure you tell me yours because I get a lot of fan calls."

Laughing originally, I saw him quickly clamp up. Too quickly, that's odd. Realizing he was staring in one direction, I turned to see where he was looking.

To see him watching Emma and that dude in a lip-locked kiss. Looking back, I had some sympathy for him.

"Want to go see Emma again?" I asked, to which he made a noise.

"Yeah." Was all he said before walking towards them.

Surprised at his sudden movement, I ran to catch up to him.

"Emma!" I heard him call out.

She looked towards us and smiled, "Sean! Craig! What are you two doing here?"

"I moved back!" We both said at the same time, which made Sean and I look at each other before laughing. Emma giggling slightly.

"I live with Jay, now" Sean continued, which made me a bit suspicious, why was he with Jay?

She nodded in acknowledgement before the man she was lip locking with put a hand across her body, looking at her.

"Who are they?" He asked her, clearly annoyed that we interrupted whatever they were doing.

She smiled, "Just good friends I knew in junior and sophomore year."

I rose my hands up, "We'll let you go back to whatever you two were doing."

Walking away, I saw Sean seethe in anger, "I hate that guy."

"I do too," answering back as I realized who they guy was. Peter Stone, seemed like a bad person to me.

Our thoughts on Emma, however, faded as we made our way to Toby and Jimmy, the former smiling upon seeing me.

"Hold up, so you mean to tell me you're eyeing-"

"Ellie?" I answered for him, "yes."

He laughed, "That's totally fine, we were done once I left her."

I nodded, right now, we were talking to each other at the end of the school day. We had two classes together, and we connected just as well as we did back then, when I we were going through our lows.

Now, however, it was different. It wasn't our difficult lives that brought us close, but actual similarities.

"That's funny, though, you obsessed with my ex who also happens to be your best friend's ex."

I laughed slightly, putting on a more serious face, "Yeah, stuff happens."

Right now, we were walking down the school entrance.

"So that's it, huh?" He asked, looking towards my motorcycle.

"Yes," I replied, "that's my ride." I grinned, to which he smirked.

"Where did you get it from?"

I shrugged, not paying too much attention to his facial expression, "Joey's Motor Shop, my step-father used to own it."

"Joey's, Craig, you know I work there alongside Jay."

Well then, so that's why he was living with Jay.

I chuckled, "Alright, so thanks for the discount off this motorcycle."

He eyed it, "You got some good taste in cars."

I chuckled, before I turned serious, "Hey, about Jay."

He looked confused, "What about him?"

I looked around, making sure no one was around, "He and Toby have been fighting each other, like they despise each other."

He looked rather shook, "I'm not too surprised, Jay always used to pick on him, but what I am surprised about is his appearance."

I laughed, "I know, he's gotten buff and tall."

Sean looked at me, "I wouldn't want to mess with him, and now knowing he fights Jay, remind me not to get on his bad side."

I laughed before giving Sean a handshake, "Alright man, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Wait!" I turned to him before I got the engine roaring.

"What?"

"I work at Joey's Motor Shop alongside Jay, so you can visit there whenever."

I grinned, "Sick! Alright man, see you."

It was definitely nice to catch up some friends after not seeing each other for a long time. Now all I was thinking about once I gotten back to my apartment, is someone who I haven't seen in a year, but was more than a friend.

Once I had gotten back, I had gotten a text from Sean

Sean: Hey, wanna meet at Woodbridge?

Craig: Sure, I'll be there in 15.

Grinning at the prospect of hanging out with Sean again, I grabbed my coat and head out of the apartment, making my way towards my motorcycle. Right now, it was 4:30, and I had a studio session at around 7:30, so I had at most 3 hours to hang out, it's not like anything bad will happen, right?

Making my way towards Woodbridge, with the address given to be shortly after, I eventually found Sean with Jay, alongside some unexpected guests in the form of Emma and Peter.

It seemed that the engine of my motorcycle got the attention of many, as I saw them looking at me. Once I had stopped, and taken off my helmet, I saw the smirks of them, alongside the gasps of some, who recognized me as the Canadian Rockstar Manning.

Getting up, I did my handshake with Sean, who remarked, "Glad you made it."

There wasn't really much to do, aside from talking with Sean, I eventually made my way around to explore the area once I noticed Emma approach Sean to chat.

Aside from the stares of some people, due to my Rockstar status, not much was happening until I heard the sound of a girl, "Okay everybody! Jay and Peter, to the start line!"

Raising my head, I saw the two getting into cars. Running to catch up with Sean, my motorcycle not far behind him, I asked, "What's going on?"

He smiled, "You'll see." Was all he said before I noticed the cars getting into position. Jay in a sporty orange coloured car and Peter in a recently tampered blue.

"Okay, around the lamp post and down to the fence! Ready? Go!"

And just like that, the two cars sped off, with the cars eventually reaching their stop.

However, just as soon as that happened, a siren went off, and a police car was in the distance. Noticing Sean and Emma running towards his car, I immediately sprinted towards my motorcycle and grabbing my helmet, I hopped on. Engine roaring, and I sped out before the police car got near.

Once I had gotten a safe distance away, I had checked the time, 7:12.

"Shit!" I exclaimed, realizing how long I had truly spent. Increasing the speed, I made my way towards the studio.

Today was an interesting day.


Toby's POV

1 Week Later

It seemed that the reunion of seeing everyone was short lived. Within a few days, everyone had gotten caught up in their own sorts of drama. Two days after Sean's return, I had heard that he had gotten suspended after having pot in his locker, which seemed a bit fishy? Craig, who had gotten excited over having his old best friend returning, was of course furious to see what happened, and the rest of the school day yesterday was me trying to calm him down.

Remembering when I found Craig when he came back to Toronto, it was around mid-July when he called me and told me he had gotten back. While he had instead spent a lot of his free time finding an apartment and spending the limited time he had with Angela and Joey, I still was happy to know he would return. While he wasn't in much of my classes, he was a nice lunch buddy, alongside Jimmy and Sean.

A day later, however, during lunch, Craig had informed me that Sean was arrested after running over a bystander after racing Peter. This shocked me, as I hadn't expected Sean to do something like this, but knowing him, there has to be a reason. For now, I told Craig to just let everything happen.

As if the drama with Craig, Sean and Peter wasn't enough, there was Jt, Liberty and Mia. The two newest couples on the block, Jt and Mia clearly had something going on, and Liberty clearly seemed jealous. It wasn't at that point where they were fighting each other, but they were glaring daggers at each other.

Sighing, I walked alongside Craig, who was upset at the whole incident and situation with Sean, and Jt, who was on the phone with Mia.

Thinking back, I thought about the summer I had spent. It was around two weeks after the end where Jt had called me and told me regarding Mia. Apparently, they had met during a child show Jt had gotten a job on. Apparently, Mia's child adored the channel.

Speaking of Mia, I had heard that she was joining the cheerleading team, alongside Darcy and Manny. Apparently, she had just transferred from Lakehurst. Jt gave her his support, but they weren't an actual couple yet, instead they were at the stage where they were almost there.

Right now, I was alongside Craig were walking towards the hallway, making our way towards the gym. Right now, the Spirit Squad and a basketball game was about to begin. Looking at a poster, I had realized that Mia had not made it. Huh, I wonder how Jt would respond to that.

That's when I saw Manny and Mia walking with their spirit suits.

Looking to see Craig and I, Manny smiled, "Hey Craig, Toby."

I nodded, "Hey Manny, didn't I see the list say Mia did not make it?"

Manny scoffed, "Darcy didn't accept her because of her views."

Craig butted it, "She sounds scummy."

She sighed, "She kind of is, she's one of those girls who think having a child when you're young is wrong."

I saw Craig stiffen slightly, something Manny noticed as well, "Sorry Craig."

He shook his head, "No it's fine, it's just, if she's all against sex for pleasure, wouldn't she be against your abortion?"

Manny seemed to have a mind blown thought, with Mia looking towards her, "What does he mean?"

Manny sighed, "Long story short, Craig and I used to be a thing, and I gotten pregnant, and I eventually decided to abort it."

Mia seemed shaken to hear that Manny had gone through a similar scenario, but ultimately, they had made different choices, which changed the outcome.

"Wow," was what she replied, "So why doesn't she hate you?"

She basically shrugged in apathy, "She probably doesn't know."

"Huh."

It was clear that this conversation was getting uncomfortable, so I spoke up, "Well, it's almost time, go get them."

They nodded, "Thanks Toby." I watched as they walked off.

I looked up to Craig, who was on his phone. Curious, I asked, "What's going on?"

He looked towards me, "Emma's texting me for any updates on Sean."

I nodded, "What's going on?"

"They're fighting the case, getting him a lawyer."

That was good. He was getting up, especially after his attack.

Our thoughts were interrupted when a group of Degrassi Spirit Squad approached us, Jt alongside them.

Upon seeing me, Jt grinned, "Making your way to the gym, I see?"

I laughed, "I see you got a crowd."

Jt and Craig laughing alongside. Eventually, we opened the door, spirit squad very cheerful, with Jt, Craig and I a bit behind. Jimmy was seen coaching the basketball team.

The first thing I heard was a remark teasing us, "You're going down Degrassi!"

Looking towards the source of the sound, I saw it came from a brown-haired lean boy, with eyes full of ridicule. His face looked so punch able for some reason.

I didn't pay too much attention to it, however, as a basketball was thrown just over my head.

"Woah." was all I said

"Their big," Jt finished for me, to which I chuckled, Craig looking towards his phone.

"Size isn't everything." I remarked back to him, only for him to look back at me funny.

"What?" I asked, to which he shook his head, laughing at my sentence.

Suddenly, the tone became more tense, the cheerful spirit squad was now more serious, as two figures appeared: Manny and Mia.

"What is this?" I heard Darcy start.

"You can't keep her off the team," Manny shot back towards Darcy.

I didn't bother listening to them argue, and Craig felt the same, still looking towards his phone, probably for updates on Sean. However, Jt looked concerned.

What brought me out of my trance, however, was the sound of a push. The sound that happens when someone gets pushed. As someone who always was pushed, I knew exactly what the sound was.

Looking back, my eyes widened when I saw that Mia had pushed Darcy into the brown-haired boy who had a punch able face.

"Whoa!" He yelled out, before catching Darcy, "Degrassi chicks can't stop throwing themselves at me!"

At that sentence, I looked intently towards him, his eyes full of troublesome glee. I looked around to see that Jt and Craig had also eyed him up.

"Mia Jones." He called out, looking towards the girl who had just pushed Darcy, "So Degrassi is picking up all the other school's trash, now."

I started to seethe in anger, and looking and Jt and Craig, they looked just as furious.

For Mia's part, she seemed to have ignored him relatively well.

That is, until he shot back to her back, "Hey! Did you ever figure out who the father is?"

At that statement, Mia suddenly walked towards him, and slapped him.

"Shut up Nic!" So that was his name.

However, it seemed that wasn't the end of it, as blonde-haired girl wearing a pink dress, probably his girlfriend, alongside a short brunette with a yellow dress began attacking Mia, pulling her hair. This wasn't good.

"Whoa whoa whoa hey, break it up!" I exclaimed, trying to create a gap between to two parties.

Manny was attempting to break the fight up as well, only to be pushed back into me, to which I caught her safely.

Looking around, I saw that a fight had ensued, with the girls, Mia and Manny on one area, and Jt and Nic in another.

I saw the pink dressed blondie take a push towards Manny. Looking pissed, Manny went on to tackle the girl onto the ground, punching her while she was down.

"Ooh!"

Before I could comprehend what was happening, a burly man, with short curly blonde hair, with black dress and grey sweatpants tackled me onto the ground, attempting to punch me.

Despite the initial shock, I quickly retaliated, despite being below him, I blocked his punches, while kneeing him to let up, and moving myself horizontally, us two tumbling across the floor,

While I had gotten a good hit at his face and hip, he eventually pinned me down just long enough to strike me in my eyes, knocking out my contacts. Now being unable to see properly, and with the blow in particular hurting more, I was vulnerable.

He continued to punch me, with me unable to see where his fists were coming from, all I could do was knee him in an attempt to get him off, but he was burly and sturdy.

Eventually he was off of me, and I could breathe and relax for a bit.

"Get off of him you piece of shit!" I heard Craig. Wasting no time, I quickly found my contacts after feeling the ground for them. Putting them on within 15 seconds, I saw Craig pinning the guy on the ground and putting a dent on his face.

"What it your problem?" I heard Jt say, before I heard the sound of another push, and the sound of an object hitting a face.

Looking back, I saw Nic on the ground, Jt on top of him. I also saw another man, this one was taller and leaner, with longer blonde hair, approaching Craig.

"Oh, hell no!"

I quickly intercepted his view of Craig, knocking him towards the ground, and pinning him on the spot.

"Stay right here," I heard Jimmy say calmly to what must have been the basketball team.

I continued to pin my captor on the ground, hurting him if he dared move, until I heard the sound of multiple footsteps.

I don't really know what happened after that. The blow to my eyes had hurt pretty badly, and I started feeling pain across my body, which was thankfully bearable. I put on my headband, which had fallen off in the tussle. I had hoped that because of everyone focused on people trading blows that no one would've recognized my now fading forehead scar.

"Uh..." I heard Jt, who was clutching his arm in pain, alongside his mascot suit.

Looking to Craig, I saw that while he didn't have a noticeable bruise, or a throbbing eye pain, I did notice his slight limp on his right leg.

All I knew now was that I was walking out of Degrassi, a two-week suspension given to almost everyone involved in the fight.

Everyone, from Manny to Mia and even Darcy were not spared of the suspension sentence.

"Hey Degrassi nerds!" I heard a voice from the other side of the fence, Nic, with a bruised cheek. "I'd sleep with one eye open!"

I couldn't care in the slightest about his threat. I looked back to see the burly man was in worse shape: his bruised face and his limp alongside him clutching his hip, had small amounts of blood pouring out, alongside his knuckles.

The tall and lean guy, however was in a worse condition. His grip on his ribs indicated it was probably fractured or broken. Alongside a limp, bleeding jaw and dislocated shoulder were all not pretty in the slightest. It also didn't help that he was still scowling at us, even with his bruised face.

"This isn't over." I heard Nic say before pushing himself along the fence.

Jt, Craig and I looking at him confused before walking off.

"Detention never sounded so good." I heard Jt say.

"I think detention now doesn't sound as bad." I heard Craig reply, in an attempt to lighten the mood.

I laughed slightly. The more I thought about it, Jt and Craig were actually similar.

As for Nic and Lakehurst, I didn't care in the slightest, we may have gotten detention, and while I knew we were in some hot water, I just couldn't take it seriously. I mean, what's the worst that can happen?