AUTHORS NOTE: So sorry I haven't updated in a while. And I apologize if parts of the next two chapters don't make sense. I don't own Degrassi, just Callie and such.
Callie ran into the kitchen, shoving a notebook, a pen, and a bottle of water into a small blue book bag. Dashing out of the kitchen she didn't look back. She didn't want to look back.
I love her so much. More than anything in this world. I can't stand it how much I want to be with her, every second of every hour of every day. I want to be with her. She's like no other girl I've ever known in my life. She's amazing. She's beautiful. She makes me feel like I belong in this world. She's my everything. I need to marry her. Craig studied his ceiling some more, staring at a picture of Callie sitting between his legs. She looked beautiful – she was beautiful.
What am I doing here? Callie thought, standing at the edge of the pier. Feeling the cold water against her feet, she stood completely still, hoping not to slip. With her heart pounding out of her chest she stared down at the current, watching the ripples glide across the water.
Taking off her shirt she set it on the pier, stacking her shoes on top of it, the sun glaring in her eyes. She tilted her head up at the sunny sky, the blaze of the orange rays scorching her retinas. It was the most beautiful morning of the whole summer – birds chirping, trees swaying gently with the breeze. Walking closer to the edge she stared into the water, feeling her body quivering. Lifting a foot up she grazed it against the top of the lake, skidding droplets quietly. Submerging her numb foot completely into the cold water tingled her foot, chilling it frigidly. Sliding her toes to the edge of the wooden pier she watched her own reflection in the water, seeing the distorted image of her face ripple with the waves. Closing her eyes she took another step, slipping into the water. She opened her eyes underwater, watching herself fall further and further.
Craig got out of bed, walking downstairs. His hair still ruffled and pajamas still wrinkled he grabbed his camera off the hallway end table, more joyous than ever. As he picked up his camera he noticed a small piece of paper, glued slightly to the strap. Unfolding it he held it in his hands, close to his eyes.
I wish you knew how much I want to be with you. I wish you knew how sorry I am - I wish you knew everything. I wish you knew you'll always be the only person I'll ever love. I wish you knew why I can't stick around. Craig Manning, I wish you knew how much I love you because you'll always be my world. I hope you're the first to see this…
Callie
A suicide note. Oh my god. Staring at the paper he immediately ran for his car, his keys ready to start ignition. Where would she go? Driving in different directions he tried to think, think about anything that would help him find her.
"Is that like your biggest fear, not dying humanely?"
"I think in the event that I did die, it would probably be with you and the smelly jello, but just the fact that I could get on a plane tomorrow and crash into the ocean just scares me."
"Well, I'd never let that happen,"
Water. Water. Water! Craig remembered very suddenly, quickly speeding his car around in an illegal u-turn and nearly hitting Toby, who was walking with JT on the sidewalk.
Very tranquilly Callie kept her arms at her sides, not moving them. She knew what she was doing, and it didn't bother her at all. Still watching the pier grow more distant, a montage of her life in Canada echoed through her mind, digging up some of the happiest and most painful memories.
As her ears filled with water, she relived almost every moment since she had met Craig, rekindling every existence of her life last year. This year was a whole another story.
"Craig-ory. Er, I mean Craig! I'm Craig Manning,"
"Ms. Taylor, Mr. Manning, I highly recommend that you refrain from passing notes."
"DAMMIT WHO MOVED MY BRIEFCASE? WHOSE BEEN IN MY OFFICE WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING YOU LITTLE BITCH,"
"Here, I'm not very cold. I live down this street too, can I walk you home?"
"Actually, I'm trying to get away from home."
"Will you read to me?"
"Since the first time I saw you you were like an angel,"
"How can you be a dancer with that figure?"
"Happy Birthday."
"Dance with me. You are the light that's leading me, to the place, where I find peace again – you are the light to my soul – you're my everything – you calm the storms and you give me breath - how can I stand here with you and not be moved you? Would you tell me how could it be any better than this."
"Um, I love you?"
"Callie…."
"Craig, You need to go."
"You don't know what you want."
"Yes, FOR ONCE I DO. I want you Callie."
"It doesn't fit."
"What do you mean it doesn't fit?"
"So, that dance showcase thing – you going? My cousin dances there."
"I'm kind of in it. I have the finale solo."
Edging over the toilet and gagging vomit until no breath was left.
"Cal, are you going to Craig's tonight?"
"Sure. Whatever."
"Ok Call, now, I have the perfect idea - Sean. Sean Cameron likes you! Why not go have a little fun? It's the perfect idea, really. He really likes you, its so cute. And he is not bad looking at all – think about it Call. He's on the rebound, fresh, gorgeous and tall. What more do you want?"
"Callie, you wanna get out of here?"
"Callie, open the door! Open it right now!"
"Ooh Craigy-poo! Why can't you let me and Sean have some fun? Your not the boss of me you know! But aww, you're just jealous because that wasn't you. Why won't you just tell me that you want me?"
"Callie, who gave you something to drink? How many did you have?"
"That doesn't matter. La la la…aww, Craig, your so sweet,"
"Callie, you don't what you're doing."
"YES, I do! And you want it too – remember, at my house?"
"Callie, who got you to drink?"
"Manny, Sean, no Manny, no Sean, yeah Sean, Seanny Wanny Bo Ban…"
"What…happened…last night?"
"I don't know what to say,"
"Why did you keep so much from me?"
"Craig, you need to calm down."
"We need to talk."
"No, I need to leave."
'Callie, good luck tonight! –Marco'
'To Callie – you're going to be great, break a leg! –Paige and Spinner'
"Cal, wake up, please wake up. Someone call an ambulance!"
"I love you."
"Did you just say what I think you just said?"
"Believe it. I LOVE CALLIE LAUREN TAYLOR."
"No need to brag. I love you."
"I love you too."
"I'm moving at the end of the term."
"Don't think about it,"
"Why can't you kiss me like that every time?"
"Kiss me more, and I will."
"I think I'll be kissing you a lot more before I…leave."
"You can't honestly be leaving me. You've changed my life around in a million ways."
"Than come with me."
Coughing persistently a sea of bubbles surrounded her face, fading her vision. As she shut her eyes she deliriously thought she had seen Craig, like in her dreams, but just shut them. Tumbling over she felt her head slam against the wooden leg of the pier, piercing her hard and rough. She was so close. She could feel it.
Craig stared down at the pile of clothes in front of him, shocked. He didn't know where she was; he just knew she was in there somewhere. Taking a large dive he sprayed into the water, choking on the dirt and aquatic plants. Gliding around he struggled to keep his eyes open, which were being pierced by brown debris. As he wipped his body around in an underwater summersault, he screamed underwater, choking on his self made bubbles. Jetting his legs as fast as they could he kicked over to her, feeling like it was taking forever. Scooping his arms beneath her he shuffled above the water, gasping for breath. Tredding helplessly he strived to keep him and Callie both up, who was now lying loosely in his arms. Struggling towards the shoreline he took her with him, trying to keep her up.
"No! Stay with me! I need you!"
In a small flash of light, Callie thought she heard Craig's voice. Stttayyy, she heard, in a deep, stretched slow motion voice. Out of the small opening in her eye she even thought she saw his wet brown hair, but concluded she was dreaming, and it was not worth fighting to try and listen to it.
Dropping her in the dirty sand he pumped his arms on her stomach, breathing into her mouth. Giving every breath he could manage he breathed into her mouth again, until his face turned blue with exhaustion. Picking Callie up he ran to his car, gasping and trembling. He knew what she had tried to do. But he wasn't going to let her go – not like this.