Little Secrets

Summary: It's basically "Pool Shark: Part 2," my version. Drake and Josh get to visit Chip at his house, and they get some unexpected surprises, one of them being Chip's fourteen-year-old daughter, who Drake takes a strong liking to right away. However, that's not the only thing that they don't know about Chip.

Hello! I know! It's been SO long since I last posted something on I'm so sorry. I've been really busy lately, chiefly with school, house, and my things on Check them out sometime if you get a chance. Anyway, this just popped into my head a few days after seeing this episode, and I just had to write it. So I hope you enjoy!

Chapter One

Chip

"This is so cool!" Josh Nichols exclaimed. "I can't believe we get to go see Chip again… at his house!"

"Yeah. You never did answer my question about where exactly you went to camp," his not so anxious stepbrother Drake Parker replied.

"Why does it matter? We get to see Chip again," Josh said, still ecstatic.

"I'm not so sure I'm as wild about it as you are. In fact, I know I'm not."

"Oh, very funny. You'll get used to him. He's pretty cool once you get to know him. He's not as scary as he looks."

Drake mock-laughed. Josh never lost a chance to tease him about their previous experience with Josh's former camp counselor Chip. He would never let it go. Drake had been hustling people; so Josh decided to turn it against him. They had gone to a pool hall with a bunch of rough-looking guys, two of them being Josh's former camp counselors. Both had taken a strong liking to him.

So Josh had decided to use them for this little trick. When he and Drake walked in, he immediately started with the hustling act, knocking the strike ball into Chip's plate. Chip and the other counselor had then gotten up and went over, asking the boys if they wanted to play a game, betting money. Drake had tried to warn Josh not to, but Josh jumped all over the opportunity. Chip and the other man didn't get one shot in. They just watched, as Josh knocked every one of his balls into the pockets.

That was when the real lesson came in. Chip and the other counselor acted very angry, slamming both boys up against the wall and telling them that it hadn't been a good idea to hustle them. Drake instantly agreed, begging for forgiveness and mercy.

After that, the two men let Drake and Josh go; and Josh explained what had happened to Drake, who, needless to say, was extremely embarrassed and upset. After Josh thanked his counselors, the two boys left.

Recently, they had run into Chip again; and he had invited them over to his house. It worked out perfectly, since Drake and Josh's parents weren't going to be home that night, and Megan was over at a friend's house for the night. They didn't want to leave the boys alone; so they decided that it would be all right if they stayed over at Chip's house for the night, the next morning, and part of the next afternoon.

"Come on, Drake," Josh said cheerily, grabbing a few things from around the room and tidying up. "You've got to admit it. That was pretty funny, and you learned a very valuable lesson."

"No I don't," Drake mumbled, referring to the part about having to admit it. He then collapsed on the couch in the room that the two boys shared.

"Fine, but we've got to leave very soon. You ready?" Josh asked, staring at his brother exasperatedly.

"Not really. Never will be," Drake replied, staring back at his brother.

Before Josh could reply, Drake's mother called up the stairs, "Boys, it's time to leave!"

"Drake, come on," Josh said. "Look, I'm sure you'll find something that'll change your mind."

"That first part, I don't have a choice on," Drake said, grabbing his jean jacket and following his stepbrother out of the room. "That second part I'm not so sure about."

Josh just sighed exasperatedly.

"You boys ready?" Josh's father asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Drake replied softly.

"Let's go!" Josh exclaimed, his eagerness a stark contrast to his stepbrother's melancholy attitude.

The boys and their parents piled into the car, and they were off, the first stop being Chip's house. The route worked out well. Chip's house was on the way to the place that Drake and Josh's parents were going to.

It wasn't long before they arrived. Drake got out sullenly, while Josh practically jumped out and ran to the door. After saying goodbye to their parents, the two boys approached the door and rang the doorbell as their parents drove away.

From inside, they could hear Chip's voice. "Alana, could you get that?"

"Sure, Dad!"

Both Drake and Josh looked at each other with confused and surprised looks. Daughter?

The door opened before either could say anything, and it revealed a very beautiful girl. Drake practically fell over. "Oh, hi. Can I help you?"

"Yeah, we're here to hang out with your dad. He used to be my camp counselor," Josh said, filling in for Drake, who was speechless, his eyes and mouth wide.

"Oh! You must be Josh! Come on in," the girl said, ushering the two boys in.

"Alana, who is it?" Chip asked, rounding the corner. "Josh, hi!" He seemed very surprised. "I forgot you were coming. Sorry. It's just been so busy. I guess you've met my daughter Alana."

"Yeah," Drake said dreamily, staring at her.

Alana just raised an eyebrow, looked at Josh, looked at her father, and then backed up a step, biting her lip.

"It's a long story," Chip said in response to Josh's confused face. "Why don't you boys come on into the living room? We've got a lot of catching up."

That's just what they did. There was a large hallway leading into the living room, and they took that hallway to find two couches facing each other, a T.V. between them but in front of both of them, and a fireplace across from the T.V. and behind the couches. Drake and Josh sat on one couch, and Alana and Chip sat on the other, Alana resting her head on her father's shoulder, and her father stroking her hair.

Drake finally spoke with a sense of reality to his words. "No offense, but you don't look like the type to have a daughter."

"Yeah," Chip agreed with a sigh. "I never intended to, but that doesn't mean that I'm not happy. I love Alana to death. Shortly after camp, I married. Almost as soon as we got married, my wife became pregnant. Unfortunately, she died during childbirth. I was left to raise Alana on my own. It hasn't been easy, but I've managed."

"He's done a wonderful job," Alana put in with a smile.

Chip smiled back.

Suddenly, the phone rang. "I'll get it," Alana said, gracefully bouncing off of the couch and grabbing a nearby phone. She was so close that the others could hear the conversation. "Hello?" Alana asked. After a few seconds, she quickly said, "I'm sorry, sir. You must have the wrong number. Bye." Then she hung up the phone. It took her a few moments before she turned around slowly. "It was just a wrong number," she said. She was smiling, but Josh could see something behind the mask, fear and a few other mixed emotions.

"We seem to get those all the time," Chip said, putting an arm around his daughter's shoulders when she sat back down. He was also smiling, but his face covered the same emotions.

"So what would you guys describe yourselves as?" Alana asked, trying to change the topic. "Dad's told me a lot about you."

"Well—" Josh started.

Drake cut him off. "I'm a people person, and you are most certainly a person."

Alana just laughed and shook her head. "You were right, Dad. He is most certainly an impetuous person."

Alana, Chip, and Josh all laughed; but Drake didn't think that it was so funny. He just crossed his arms and sat back.

Josh came to his stepbrother's aid. "Seriously, though, most of the time, he's kind, funny, and an all-around great guy. He's my stepbrother, after all." Josh put an arm around Drake's shoulders.

Alana laughed again. "I'm sure he is! What about you, Josh? My father has only told me good things about you."

Josh blushed. "Oh, well, we did have a fun time at camp. Your father is a great guy. You should be proud of him."

Alana looked up at Chip and smiled, resting her head on his shoulder once again. "Believe me, I am." Noticing the concerned look on Josh's face, she said, "I'm just tired. It's been kind of hectic around here lately, really busy. I haven't gotten a whole lot of rest."

"Neither one of us have," Chip agreed with a weary smile and a tired wipe of his hand over his face. "Like she said, we've been pretty busy."

Josh wondered with what, but he wasn't about to ask. He knew that whatever was going on was a delicate subject. He'd have to ease into it, but he didn't know how long he had. Time was a thing that most of the time wasn't available, especially in the situation that Chip and Alana seemed to be in.

"Well," Chip started sighing, and putting both of his hands on his knees. "You two must be pretty tired as well. I'll let you get settled in, while I get a few things ready, like some refreshments."

"Sounds good to me," Drake replied, putting his hands together.

"Alana will show you to your room and help you unpack. I hope you don't mind sharing a room, but we don't have many to spare," Chip apologized.

"Oh, no," Josh assured him, effectively cutting off any negative response from Drake. "That's fine. We share a room at our own house."

"Good," Chip said with a smile. "Alana, go on. You boys take as long as you need. I just have a few things of my own to attend to."

"Okay," Drake said, any trace of the negative attitude at having to share a room with his stepbrother gone and replaced with a cheeriness that made Josh roll his eyes and Alana giggle.

"Come on," Alana said with small laugh. "Your room is this way. It's kind of small. Sorry, but like my dad said, we don't have a whole lot of room."

"Oh, it's okay," Drake said quickly, cutting off Josh this time and slipping in next to Alana. "Where's your room?"

"My room is down the hall on the left. Dad's is right across from mine. If you ever need anything, you're welcome to come to either one of us. We're both available just about anytime," Alana replied, pointing to both of the rooms.

"I'll keep that in mind," Drake said with his usual flirty attitude.

Alana shook her head with a smile, but it seemed almost sad. "Do, but use it wisely."

Josh didn't have time to consider what the underlying warning or meaning was, because at that moment, Alana opened the door and ushered them into the room. It wasn't much, just as Alana and Chip had said; but it was still cozy and nice, wonderful to Josh all the same. "It's beautiful!" he exclaimed.

Alana blushed. "I'm glad you like it."

"If you're in it, any room would suit me," Drake put in.

Alana smiled and gave another almost imperceptible shake of her head. She looked at Josh. She and he both knew that Drake's eyes were fixated on her alone, and he probably didn't care about anything else. However, they both knew that this probably wasn't a good idea. Alana had to turn her eyes away from Josh, because she knew that he knew that something was terribly wrong. She felt that he could see into her.

"So where do we put our stuff?" Josh asked, trying to change the subject. He had to earn her trust. He had to find out what was going on and what Alana and Chip were trying to hide, but he didn't want to look too obvious and look like he was pushing to find out what was troubling them. If he didn't talk about it too much or make them feel uncomfortable around him, maybe they would open up.

"Right here," Alana said, jumping into regular teenaged girl hostess mode again. She led the two boys over to a wood dresser. "It's not much. Will your things fit?"

"Perfectly," Josh replied. "It's wonderful. Thanks."

"No problem," Alana replied.

Drake and Josh started unpacking their things, and Josh and Alana exchanged glances unseen by Drake, each of them grateful that he hadn't made another flirty comment. Alana could think of quite a few he could have made, and she was sure that Josh could, too.

Suddenly, Chip called out from a different part of the house. "Alana!"

"Oh, excuse me," Alana said quickly, putting her hands out and starting to back away. "Will you guys be okay on your own?"

"Yeah. We'll be fine," Josh replied.

"All right. Good. Coming, Dad!" With that, Alana rushed out of the room.

Josh turned to Drake. "Did you see that?"

"I know," Drake said dreamily. "Isn't she wonderful?"

"I'm not talking about her looks," Josh replied irritably. "I'm talking about her emotions, hers and Chip's. They're hiding something, something that they're afraid of."

"What are you talking about?" Drake asked, looking at his stepbrother and beginning to take a little bit of interest.

"I'm talking about the way that they were acting, that phone call. Alana was scared after that, and she and Chip were trying to cover up what it was really about," Josh explained.

"I didn't notice anything," Drake said dubiously.

"Of course not! You were too busy focusing on the way Alana looked! Look, if you really care about her, you'll listen to me. If we don't help them, who knows what could happen?" Josh asked.

Drake still seemed dubious, but as he sighed and ran a hand through his hair, he replied, "All right. I'll risk it. What are you planning?"

"Well, we have to get them to trust us so that they'll open up. We have to do it quickly, though; because we don't have a lot of time here. And I have no idea how much time they have. There was somebody on the other line in that phone call, somebody that has power over them. I'll bet you anything that whomever it was has to do with what's going on. We can't look like we're pushing for them to open up, though; so we should be careful to ease into the subject and chiefly let them make the first moves," Josh explained.

Drake nodded. "It sounds like a plan. Hey, you're actually pretty smart. Good job." He clapped a hand on his stepbrother's shoulder and then returned to unpacking.

"Thanks," Josh replied. Then he realized what exactly Drake had said, and his smile faded as he looked down at his stepbrother, shook his head, and returned to unpacking with Drake.


What do you think? Should I reveal what transpired with Alana and Chip during that conversation between Drake and Josh? Is that even his name: Chip? I don't know. I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to that episode, unfortunately. (I was exercising.) Anyway, tell me what you think; and if you want, you could give me some suggestions. I'm completely open. I'm not entirely sure what I want to do; so suggestions are definitely welcome. Should I reveal the secret before it plays itself out? Should I start developing bigger and deeper relationships (not necessarily boyfriend/girlfriend)? Should I have more "phone calls" or things? Just let me know what you think. I'll try to get the next chapter up soon!