Kelsie and Craig arrived in Sechelt, in their rented jeep. Craig gazed out the window to see how beautiful the scenery that lay around them was, and loved it. In Toronto there wasn’t this much nature, or beautiful views. Now this was like heaven on earth, he thought.

“I can see why you loved it here so much,” he said as he gazed out the window while she drove.

“Wait until you see where Brennan lives in Halfmoon Bay, it’s got even more nature around you.”

“So where are we staying?” putting his hand on hers that was on the stick shift.

“At the Bay Inn; it was nicest place to stay in town.”

“Sounds good to me, as long as I’m with you, I should be great,” he said making her smile.

******

When they approached the Inn, Kelsie felt a little strange, as if something wasn’t right. She just couldn’t figure out what, so she just brushed it off. She didn’t want to spoil her time here. What could really go wrong on this trip?

Craig grabbed their suitcases from the back, while Kelsie went to check in.

“Hi, I have a room for two under the name Kelsie Fitzgerald.”

“One moment please,” the receptionist, said typing it into the computer. “Yes here we are…you’re in room 217.”

Handing her the key, “Thanks.”

Kelsie meets Craig by the elevator, “You need any help?”

“No I’m fine,” leaning in for a kiss.

******

When they got into the room Craig shut the door, and grabbed Kelsie around the waist, and crushed his lips on hers, slowly walking her to the bed. He pushed her gently on the bed, then crawled on top of her, and began kissing her neck. He moved his hand down her body, when Kelsie moved from underneath him. “It’s time for you to explore this place.”

“I was already on my way to explore my girlfriend a little," coming closer to her again.

“Not right now you’re not,” she laughed. “Now grab your camera. I know where you can get some nice shots.”

A little disappointed, he plopped off the bed, “Alright if we do this now then I want to finish where I left off," kissing her neck, “when we get back.” He then went over and grabbed his camera out of his bag.

“Maybe," giving him a sweet smile, “if I feel a little generous.”

“I don’t like it when you tease me,” he pouted. It had been a while since they had some alone time. They had spent most of their summertime with friends, or with Angela. Therefore, he wanted to take every advantage of it.

“Oh poor baby,” she said as they walked out the door.

******

Once they were outside the inn, “So where is this place?”

“Right in the front of you,” pointing at the bay that was before them. “We can walk down the path and see if you get inspired.

Craig pulled Kelsie down the path, as water splashed against the pebbles. “You’re going to have to pose you know.”

“Okay, just tell me what you want me to do,” yanking him down the stairs, down to the beach. She ran down the beach, just laughing. She was so happy; it felt good to be home. Craig kept on taking shots of her fooling around on the beach.

******

After spending sometime taking pictures, Kelsie took Craig to a near by coffee shop. As they approached the shop, Craig had Kelsie on his back.

Someone saw them approaching the shop, he stared at them with sadness in his eyes. The thought of Kelsie being with someone other them him hurt. Why had he not told her when he had the chance, before they got too close? Life hadn’t been fair to him this past year. He saw how happy she looked in his arms. Well at least she was happy, he thought. He left out the other door before Kelsie was able to spot him; he didn’t think it would be that good of an idea.

Getting off Craig’s back, “You’re going to have to give me copies of those photos.”

“You got it,” grabbing a hold of her hand.

“What do you want?”

“Iced Latte.”

“Sounds good!” Turns her head to order, “Can we have two iced lattes.”

“Where to now?” Craig asked as they walked out of the shop, not sure where there was to go in this town.

“How about I show you where I went to school?”

“Is it in walking distance?” not sure if he was up to walking too far, since he had carried her on his back for a while.

“The thing you need to know about this place is everywhere is within walking distance.”

“I guess you weren’t exaggerating when you said it was a small town.”

“Nope, trust me it can be nice at times, but other times it can be bad, like for rumors going around and all.”

“So where is this school?”

“Up that hill,” she pointed. “It’s hidden by all those trees.”

Looking at how high the hill was, he was kind of dreading having to climb up it. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea of his.

******

They were sitting on the bluff, at the school when Kelsie got a phone call. She at first didn’t want to answer it because she was loved just sitting there in Craig’s arms, she didn’t want to be bothered. Then thought what the heck, they would have more time to be alone anyway, a whole month to be exact. She got up to answer it, “Hello.”

“Hey girl, I heard you were in town,” Danielle said having heard it from a friend who had seen her, “So when did you get in?”

“This morning…I thought I told you that?”

“You did, but forgot to mention exactly when.”

“Oh sorry, where are you?”

“I’m at Steve’s, with a couple of people. He’s having BBQ /pool party.”

“That’s kewl! Did your source tell you that I brought my boyfriend?”

“Yes, and I get to finally meet him after hearing so much about him.”

“Yeah he wants to meet you guys too,” getting a little nervous about what they may think about him. Would they think he was good for her?

“Why don’t you come over?”

“Okay, how about in half an hour.”

“Sounds good!”

“Okay, see you then, bye.”

“Bye.”

Kelsie approached Craig while he knelt down taking photos of the beautiful view of the town. She rather hated to bother him while he looked so into his work.

“Craig,” she said softly.

“Yeah Hun,” glancing over at her.

“That was Danielle; Steve’s having a little get together now, and wants us to come over so they can meet you.”

Getting up, grabbing her hand, helping her walk off the bluff through the bushes, “So…let’s go.”

“Alright, but we have to go get our bathing suits from the Inn, and grab the car; Steve lives in West Sechelt.”

******

Kelsie and Craig headed through the path on the side of the house towards the backyard, to find about ten other people in the back. They were all laughing having a great time.

Abby came running towards her, “Kelsie!”

“Abby,” hugging each other. “How are you?”

“Great, Steve and I are an item now,” she said so giddy.

“Really, that’s so great!” happy that it had finally happened; she always believed that they were meant for each other.

Abby walked up to Craig, “So you must be the infamous Craig?”

“Yes…what did she tell you about me?” curious to what she would have said to get a nickname like that, hopefully it was all good, he thought.

“Well…that you’re very talented, a total sweetheart, and very HOT.”

Blushing, “Well I think she is all the above too!” Pulling her into his arms, and giving her a kiss.

Steve came and put his arm around Abby’s waist, “Well you treat her right then, because she deserves only the best,” especially after all she had been through, he thought.

******

The next week she spent hanging out with her friends, catching up with their lives. She didn’t think she missed this place that much! What she didn’t know was that someone had been watching her and Craig together whenever they came around town. He couldn’t help it; he was just needed to see her, to be able to see her beautiful smile again. He couldn’t go up to her for he was afraid what she might say. In addition, he wanted just wanted to see her happy, which she really seemed to be, so just watching her with him was okay. It was better that she didn’t know, he didn’t want to make things more complicated for her.

******

Craig and Kelsie were at the Lighthouse Bistro eating dinner, when she needed to use the washroom. She slowly got up and strolled towards the bathroom, she wasn’t paying any attention where she was going, and ended up bumping into someone. It caused her to lose balance, as she started to fall over he caught her in his arms.

Kelsie gazed up at his face and screamed, just before fainting.

Oh, she looked more beautiful than he remembered, he thought as he caressed her cheek, “Kels, wake up.”

Craig heard the scream, and came around the corner to see her in the arms of another. His eyes began to flare, “What’s going on here?” That’s when Craig recognized the gus; his eye widened in shock. What was happening?

“Kelsie fainted, I was just helping her,” he said glancing over at Craig. He didn’t want him to think he was trying anything.

Kelsie than awoke to see his face shining down on her, she felt weird, “Am I dead?”

He shook his head and smiled, “No!”

Moving out of his arms, and backing away from him, “Is this some kind of sick joke? It has to be, Chris is dead,” she stared at him, looking a little distressed. He hated the thought that someone was messing with her, playing a cruel joke on her. Had she not been through enough? She felt like throwing something at this person for messing with her.

Trying to close the gap between them, pleading with his eyes, “No, it’s really me!”

She couldn’t handle the news, she felt like the walls were closing in on her, as if she couldn’t breathe. She had to get out of here. She pushed past both Chris and Craig, out of the door with tears filled in her eyes. Her life never seemed to stay normal, everything always ended up so complicated. What had she ever done to deserve any of this?

Getting into Chris’s face, “I don’t know why you staged your own death, but it was the cruelest thing you could ever do to someone you say you love. And I thought from what I’ve done, that I was a jerk,” Craig said, before running outside to comfort Kelsie.

“Kels…are you alright?” putting his hands on her shoulders. She hated to see what this jerk had done to her. He could tell that she was very hurt, and all he wanted to do was put his arms around her and take her away from here. Take her away from a place where everyone had turned their backs on her, and lie about something so serious. She didn’t deserve to be treated like this.

Backing up a little, “Just leave me alone…I need time to be alone.” She jumped into the jeep, leaving Craig standing there, left to walk back to the Inn.

******

On his walk back to the Inn, his cell began to ring; he looked at the call display to see that it was from back home. He wasn’t sure if he was up to talking to anyone right now, but he decided that maybe he could help him out with his problem. “Hello," he said with sadness in his voice.

“Hey dude, how’s the trip going, if you know what I mean?” Spinner asked as he sat in the Dot, after a long shift.

“Great…until about 10mins ago.” He wished she would have let him help her instead of taking off. He could have helped her through this.

“What did you do?” knowing that Craig was bad for screwing things up.

“Nothing! Not everything that goes wrong in my relationships is necessarily my fault,” acting very defensive; he was kind of sick of people thinking he was the one that always screwed up.

“I know, I’m just bugging,” he laughed. “So spill!”

“Guess who we ran into?” as his anger began to grow at the thought of it. The thought of him right now made him to punch something, especially his face.

“Who?” not really knows any of the names of her friends?

“Let’s just say her boyfriend just came back from the dead.” He walked through the entrance to the Inn, looking more depressed then ever.

Spitting out the water he had in his mouth, spraying it on the table. “What, but how? Are you sure it was him?”

“Yes I’m sure. I don’t know the details on how, but we went out for dinner and then she saw him,” he said as he opened the door to their room. He strolled in, tossing the key on the table.

“What kind of guy does that to their girlfriend? He’s a jerk, she should be glad to be rid of him. Kelsie deserves so much better than that.” He now wisedh he was there too so he could rip him to shreds. No one has the right to do that to anyone, especially to a friend of his. He saw how much this had hurt her to lose someone; she had gone through hell, and what for; he never even died. He must have a sick mind if he could pull something like this to any person. It’s just pure evil!

“Well I don’t even know how she feels about it all because she took off on me, leaving me to walk back to the Inn.”

“Well I have no doubt on whom she will pick; I mean you guys are great together. You bring out the best in each other.” He wanted to sound optimistic for his friend’s sake, but he wasn’t quite sure. I mean this guys was her first love, the guy who still held a piece of her heart. Would she be able to move on now knowing that he was still alive, even after hurting her so bad.

Sitting on their bed in their room, “I hope you’re right.” Changing the subject since it really hurt him to have to talk about it. “What have you been up to?”

“Well hanging out with Emma of course! We went to Wonderland Monday, and tonight she’s coming over to my place to watch a movie; we just want to be alone.”

“Oh…” knowing what Spinner meant by that comment. “Have I been missing anything else?”

“Just the big party Emma threw. It was awesome; anyone who’s anyone was there.”

“Emma threw a party. You must have really changed that girl,” knowing that Emma wasn’t usually like that. She usually was one to stick to the rules. He just hoped that she wasn’t changing for the wrong reasons; he hated the thought of her doing something she may later regret.

“Yeah, but she is a much more enjoyable girl now that she isn’t so uptight. She actually likes to go out and try new things without questioning it.”

“Well good for you, as long as you are both happy. However, I’m going to let you go. I’m going to call one of her friends to see if they have heard from her.” He knew it hadn’t been that long since she took off, but he still worried because of the state she was in when he left. What if she had gotten into a car crash?

“Alright man, good luck,” knowing that he was going to need it.

******

Kelsie sat on the hood of the Jeep, leaning up against the glass, gazing up at the marvelous stars. It had been a while since she seen this many; in the city you can’t see the stars as well. Nature always seemed to be more beautiful here.

She felt like screaming, like throwing something, how could he do this to her? How could he put her through that kind of hell? Tears ran down her cheeks. She wanted to hate him so much for doing this to her, for putting her through hell, for turning her whole world upside down, for coming back to complicate things. She was doing a good job of moving on with a life without him, and now she finds out he’s not really dead.

A car made its way up the hill, and parked right beside her. “I knew I’d find you up here. This was always your favorite place to go, to get away from everything. I remember the many times we would just come up here to talk about life, about our dreams,” walking closer to her.

Kelsie didn’t look his way, she couldn’t bear to see his face, the face that had tore her life apart. To her he wasn’t the man she had thought he was if he could do something like this to her. “I’m not really in the mood to talk to anyone right now…especially YOU,” she spat, “SO LEAVE!”

“Kels just let me explain,” Chris said, sitting next to her. He needed her to hear him out, even if it didn’t mean them being together, she needed to know the truth about it all.

Turning to face him, “You had your mom and our friends lie for you.” With fury, “What a coward. I mean I made a total fool out of myself. And now you think you deserve a chance to explain?” she scoffed, glaring at him with ferocity.

“Trust me in some way I do,” he pleaded.

Looking out at the view, “Every night I cried myself to sleep for almost 2 months, a part of me blamed myself for what had happened; the other part felt like I lost the other half of myself. It was like losing our daughter, Satine all over again. I didn’t think I would ever get over it.” Glancing over at his, tears falling from her eyes, “If you didn’t want to be with me, you could have at least broken up with me instead of putting me through hell.”

“Can you even give me a chance to even tell you why?” he tried pleading with her.

“Fine!” she yelled, this should be good, she thought. What could actually excuse his actions for this one?

“I was in that accident after I left the airport. They didn’t t believe I had any chance of living, so my mom thought that I would want you to be in the least pain possible. So she decided since I was going to die anyways to tell you I had died already. She knew otherwise you would be on the next plane to see me, and knew it would be hard on you to watch me die like we did with our daughter.”

Pounding her fist on the hood, “It’s not fair; I shouldn’t have been left out of that. I mean you were my everything, the one I wanted to spend my life with.”

“I then ended up waking up in April, but still fragile. When I heard what my mom had done, I went crazy. I thought she didn’t have any right to do that. I wouldn’t talk to her for a while,” remembering how upset he had been.

“Why did you not end up telling me?” feeling so hurt that he didn’t feel the need to tell her after he was better.

“I wanted to tell you in person because I didn’t think it was the right thing to do over the phone. I didn’t want you to think it was someone trying to be cruel, and playing a joke on you.”

“What happened then?” looking at him with infuriated eyes.

“Well at the beginning of June I came all the way to Toronto, and came to Degrassi to surprise you. I even went and picked out your favorite flower. When I came through the door, I saw you with Craig. You were in his arms giggling, and kissing. I had known you two were together, but I never thought you were that happy until I saw it. I didn’t want to come back into your life and complicate things. So I left leaving you to be happy like you deserve to be.”

“Chris.” Pointing to herself, “That should have been my choice to make. It is my life too.”

“I’m sorry; it just seemed to make sense at the time,” looking down at his lap. He knew she was right, but at the he was just so scared that since she had someone else, that he no longer held a piece of her heart.

“You know I never took off this ring,” showing it to him as it hung on her neck on a necklace, “until about 3 months ago, and only because I thought it was time to move on. But I never…never stopped loving you.”

Staring into her eyes, “Really.”

“Really! We have a connection that can never be torn by anything.”

“Where do we go from here? Is there still a chance for us after all this?” hoping that she would say yes; he loved her so much.

“I don’t know because I love Craig too! I think I just need a little time to figure things out.”

“I understand, but just remember I never meant to hurt you,” he cried.

“I know that…my dad told me what you said after Satine died.”

“Well I mean it always, even if it means we can no longer be together,” he said giving her a smile.

Kelsie leaned over, and gave him a hug, holding him in her arms for a little while. It felt so nice to be in his arms again, she thought. She hadn’t realized these past few months how much she missed it. She looked up at him, into his eyes, and felt drawn to him like a magnet. She leaned in and gave him a kiss, soft, but quick.

******

Kelsie walked back into her hotel room, and looked around, but Craig didn’t seem to be anywhere in sight. She rather expected this, but she knew he would eventually be back; there weren’t many places to go here especially after 8pm.

Kelsie sat on the porch watching the ocean. Tonight had defiantly been full of surprises. She wanted to be mad at Chris, but it wasn’t his entire fault, it was partly his mothers. Why did his mom think she had the right to play god with her life?

Craig walked into their room, after he had taken a stroll around the town. He had been going crazy waiting for Kelsie to come back so he thought it was best to past the time.  He noticed Kelsie sitting on the porch, hugging her knees; she looked in deep thought. He opened the sliding glass door, “Hey.”

Turning around to look behind her, “Hi, sorry about earlier. I just needed to be alone to think, to talk to Chris.”

“I understand…it was a shock to me too! But what Chris did was cruel,” he said sitting in the chair next to her.

“It wasn’t Chris,” she said, thinking that he should know.

“What do you mean?”

“Chris was in the accident his mother said he died in. He was never supposed to live, so his mom told me a lie so I wouldn’t come back to B.C, to only watch him die like I did with Satine. She thought she was doing me good.”

“Yeah, what good it did her,” raising his voice, thinking of the pain she went through, only to find out it could have all been avoided.

“Craig calm down,” putting her hand on his arm.

“You want me to calm down when you just take whatever the guy says to heart, and let him get away with his excuses. Have you forgotten the hell you went through this past year?” he began to rage. There was no way he wanted her to forget that, he wanted her to remember all of it. Make her realize that she deserved better then this.

“No!”

“I was the one who you turned to, and helped you through your pain, not him,” he yelled, getting frustrated that what he did didn’t seem to matter. “I watched you cry numerous amounts of times over him. To me he doesn’t seem worth it.”

Tears swelled in her eyes, “I know, but you know I never stopped loving him.”

“Well I’ve loved you since the first day you walked into my life. Words can’t even describe the feeling I feel when I’m with you. Doesn’t what I feel count?”

Craig was making this harder on her, “Craig,” putting her hand on his cheek, “I love you too, but at some point I’m going to have to choose who means more.”

Looking into her eyes, “Kelsie you think you have to choose, but in your heart you already know who it is.”

“No…I’m really not sure right now,” she tried to convince him.

“Kelsie stop lying to yourself, your heart already knows the answer,” he could read her so well; he could see it in her eyes.

Kelsie hated that he could read her. “Craig, don’t make me choose already, I’m not ready to let go,” she pleaded.

“Kelsie prolonging it is not going to make it any easier,” he said as tears ran down his face, especially on him.

Putting her hand on his cheek, “You know I never meant it to be this way…right!” he didn’t answer her. “RIGHT!!!”

“I know, but I guess we weren’t meant to be,” looking away from her. He couldn’t stand this; this was so unfair. He had given her everything, and yet he still lost her. He would try to be strong, he wouldn’t break down, well at least until she was gone.

“You will always be a dear friend to me.”

“I know.” Friends sure, that will really work. I don’t want to be just your friend I want to be more. I thought you promised me that you would never leave me, but I guess they all leave at some point, he thought.

“You can stay here as long as you want.”

“I think it would be best if I went back to Toronto, I need time to heal. I need to get away from the place that took my only love.”

Kelsie looked into his sad eyes, and began to feel bad. She had really hurt him; she had promised never to leave him, but here was what was she doing? A tear ran down her face, feeling maybe the best was to leave, and stay somewhere else, “Phone me when you’re ready to go home.”

“I will. You should go to Chris; he is waiting for his Angel to come back to him,” he said that comment with so much hurt. He always seemed to be on the losing end of things. It wasn’t fair!

Kelsie gave him a little smile, before leaving the room.

Craig sat there. The moment they stepped foot into Sechelt he felt like something bad was going to happen. He couldn’t even cry about it anymore, he hated her for doing this to him. He picked up the glass that was on the table outside and threw it against the wall.

Kelsie walked up the path of the so familiar house. This place had been like a home away from home. As she approached the door, she felt butterflies in her stomach.

Chris was lying on his bed resting his head on his hands. Thinking of his many days with Kelsie, like the day, she told him he was going to be a father. He remembered been shocked about it, not sure if he was ready. He soon realized that as long as it was with her it didn’t seem to matter whether it happened the right way. A child with her would be a perfect gift to come out of their love. He often wondered if Satine would have had her mom’s heart and beauty; and what part of her would have been like him.

She lightly knocked on the door. Her hands shook a little, while she waited for someone to answer the door.

Chris heard a knock at the front door, but debated whether to answer it. He wasn’t in the mood to hang out with friends. He just wanted to be alone, but something inside told him to go get it.

He unlocked the door, as he opened it his eyes lit up with joy. With happiness in his voice, “What are you doing here?”

Drawing closer to him, closing the door behind her, “I came to see you.”

“Why?”

“I’ve realized that it doesn’t matter to me that your mom tricked me, or that you never told me that you weren’t alive, what matters is that you’ve been brought back into my life.” She didn’t care about any of the lies or anything, because even though it hurt her it didn’t seem to change how she felt for Chris.

“Does this mean what I hope it means?” he said with so much hope. He wanted to hold her in his arms and never let go.

Leaping into his arms, with a big smile, “YES!!!”

Kelsie grasped a hold of Chris’s head, and brought it towards her. She tilted her head a bit and crushed her lips on his.

Jumping out of his arms, taking the ring off her necklace, handing it to him, “Would you do me the honors?”

“It would be my pleasure,” he smiled, placing it back on her ring finger.

She watched him as he put it back on, and then looked up at him, “I love you!”

“I love you forever!”

He grabbed her by the waist bringing her closer to him, taking in her scent. They looked into each other’s eyes, taking in every moment. Chris finally took the lead, and leaned in, kissing her softly on the lips, running his tongue along the rim of her lips. He gently pushed her against the front door, pinning her hands to the door. He removed her shirt strap from her shoulder kissing her shoulder.

“Chris, I’ve needed this for so long.”

“Me too!” kissing her lips again.

Kelsie took his hand and started to lead him to his bedroom, closing the door behind them.

******

Craig had been home for a couple of days, but hadn’t left the house; he refused to talk to anyone. He stayed at home developing his photo’s from Sechelt for his portfolio, when he came across one of him and Kelsie. A tear rolled down his cheek, hitting the photo.

He remembered their conversation just before he left:

“I will always remember how you helped me. I don’t think as long as I live that I will forget you,” Kelsie said giving him a hug.

“You sound like you’re never coming back.”

“I’m not; Chris and I decided that I would finish my last semester at Chatelech, and then in the spring we’re moving to Victoria to go to school.”

“I know everyone will miss you, especially me and Paige,” thinking that this would probably the last time they saw each other. Maybe it would be the best, easier to get over her.

“I will be back probably at Christmas to pick up my stuff.”

He wasn’t going to cry in front of her, he promised himself he wouldn’t. “Good Luck!”

Craig began to think that maybe she was sent to him to show him to open his heart to other people. Maybe now when he got into another relationship he would be able to open himself fully.

When he walked out of his dark room, Emma, who was sitting on the couch in the living room, greeted him.

“Joey told me what happened. How are you holding up?” she said sincerely giving him a slight smile. She hated to think that Kelsie had left him brokenhearted especially after all he had done for her.

“A bit better. I’m happy I had her in my life even if it was for a short time,” there wasn’t much bliss in his tone as he said that though.

“That’s good. I’m in the same boat; Spin and I broke up too.” Not that she cared too much; there wasn’t much love loss there.

“Why is that?” not too surprised. He never thought they were right for each other.

“He was trying to change me too much; I was becoming someone I didn’t even know.” She couldn’t believe half of what she had done during the duration of the summer. Being with someone shouldn’t mean changing who you are.

“I guess we both have no luck with our love lives,” sitting down beside her.

 “Guess not,” looking over at Craig, “but at least we have a good friend who is there for us when we’re down.”

“True, true!” he said, hugging her.