Drake was sitting on his bed, practising a new song he'd written on his guitar. It still needed work of course but he thought he was onto something. Josh was on his laptop, studying. What else would he be doing in his spare time?
"Yo, boob!"
Drake and Josh turned to find Megan (who else?) walking across the room. She stopped at Drake's bed and threw a newspaper at him.
"Hey!" Drake said. He then picked up the newspaper. "What's this?"
"A newspaper"
"Well, any idiot knows that"
"You certainly got us there" Josh added.
"If any idiot knows then why'd you ask?" Megan replied, sitting on the sofa turning on the TV.
"I mean, why'd you give me this?" Drake asked.
"Turn it to page 3" Megan instructed. Drake did so and found in big block letters:
'Man Makes A Prison Escape'
"So?" Drake says.
"Just read it"
Drake read:
'A man, by the name of Bill Parker, has escaped from San Diego prison, just yesterday. He had five years of confinement left and is now on the run. Police still don't know how he escaped. He left no evidence and just disappeared. This man is considered to be dangerous. If you see this man please contact police immediately'
Josh saw Drake's expression change when he started reading from confusion to worry. He watched Drake as he read the newspaper. What was it?
"Drake, is everything ok?" Josh asked. Drake continued to stare at the paper for a few seconds, then moved his head in Josh's direction but his eyes were still glued to the paper. Eventually, he tore his eyes away from the paper to look at Josh and he opened his mouth to speak but for a small number of seconds he didn't say anything.
"Uh, yeh. Yeh." Drake replied, nodding at turning back to the paper.
"Our dad's escaped from prison" Megan said.
"What?" Josh said. "How?"
"We don't know" Megan replied.
"Why was he even sent to prison?" Josh asked.
"I don't know" Megan said. "Drake won't let me know"
"Yeh, and you're not gunna know" Drake said.
"Why?" Megan asked.
"Because…" Drake said and hesitated. "Because you're not"
"What so I'm never gunna find out what happened to my dad?" Megan asked.
"You probably will when you're older but not now" Drake said.
"Ok" she said, surprising Drake by giving up so easily. Nobody spoke for about ten seconds later. Josh thought he should say something but didn't know what. "Great! I'm now ten seconds older. Now, tell me"
"Just forget it, Megan" Drake said. "Now get out!" Megan sighed and did so. Drake threw the paper at her as he said, "And take this with you!"
Megan left it on the floor and slammed the door shut.
"What was all that about?" Josh said.
"Nothing" Drake said, lying back on his bed.
"Well, why won't you tell Megan?" Josh asked.
"Because she doesn't necessarily need to know" Drake replied.
"Well, it's her dad. She does have a right to know" Josh said. "Does Mom know?" Drake nodded. "Does Dad?" Drake shrugged. "Do I know and haven't realised it yet?" Drake shook his head. "Do you wanna tell me?"
"Do you wanna know?" Drake asked.
"Well, yeh" Josh replied. "Why was he put in prison?"
Drake said. "He was locked up for child abuse"
Josh stopped. "W-what?"
"That is why Megan doesn't know"
"He…he abused you?"
"Yep. But don't worry about it" Drake said sitting up and jumping off his bed. "It's over. So just forget about it" He across the room and opened the door.
"Drake, I-" Josh started, but Drake closed the door. Josh stared at the door and said to him even though he couldn't hear him. "I'm here for you, bro."
Drake walked down the stairs and picked up his jacket. He was about to open the door but his mum stopped him.
"Drake, should you really be going out?"
"Why?"
"You know why" Audrey said.
Walter and Megan were sitting on the sofa. Walter let Drake and his mum talk while he spoke to Megan who wasn't in a very good mood.
"You alright?" he asked.
"Sorta" Megan replied. "It's just Drake and Mom won't tell me about my dad"
"Don't you think it's kinda serious?"
"I think I have an idea of why my dad was sent to prison." Megan told him.
"Really?"
Megan looked at her brother and her mum talking. She listened in to what they were saying.
"Mom, I'm not a little kid anymore and I'm not gunna let him control life anymore" Drake said.
"I know but you gotta think this through" Audrey said. "You never know"
"I'm not gunna hide away again" Drake said. He decided to end that argument. He opened the door and slammed it shut leaving Audrey standing there as she put her head in her hands and rubbed her forehead.
"It's kinda obvious" Megan said to Walter. She stood up and Walter followed her lead and walked over to Audrey. "Mom, did Dad ever hit Drake?"
Audrey shot up her head. "What? Don't be silly" Audrey chuckled but then suddenly stopped smiling. "Why?"
"It sounds like he did." Audrey sighed. "Is that why he's in prison?"
Audrey nodded. "Yeh. Well technically, he's not now seeing as he's escaped but I'm sure the police will find him soon"
Megan hugged Audrey. Walter smiled at them both and went upstairs to see Josh. He knocked on the door and opened to find Josh sitting on his bed, not doing much.
"Hey" he said.
"Hey" Josh replied.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeh I think so."
"Has Drake told you? About his dad?" Walter asked.
"Yeh he did. Just now" Josh said. "It's kinda shocking"
"I know" Walter sat down by his son. "But Drake's a strong kid. He's over it now"
"I'm not sure now" Josh said. "Now his dad's back"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, all the fear he had years ago is gunna come back to him" Josh said. "He won't feel safe now that his dad can get to him"
"I see your point" Walter said. "He'll be alright"
"But will he?" Josh said. "Now that he's on the loose he could get Drake again"
"It's a possibility." Walter said. "But we're hoping that he won't and Drake's an adult. If anything happens he'll tell somebody. He said just now, he's not gunna let him take control of his life."
"Yeh. Thanks, Dad" Josh said.
Drake walked down the street hurriedly. He didn't know why. He felt like Bill could get to him now, anywhere at anytime.