For an incredible five months - a personal best for Drake in a relationship he pointed out every chance he got - the boys enjoyed parental oblivion. Granted, a few people knew; Megan and Mindy, of course. Not that Mindy mattered anyway at this point. She had been accepted back into the program. (Finding excuses for why Josh had decided not to try again had been left up to Drake. As had most of their excuses and little 'white lies'.)

Then there was Craig and Eric... Helen... Drake's ex-girlfriends... his band... who all had caught on the night of the party. Yet, at Megan's request no less, all agreed to accept and let go because, as she plainly put it; it was so obvious anyway.

Not to mention she was still holding her breath for one, or both, of them to screw up themselves. Though their system of Drake answering for them every time they were questioned about their dates and destinations worked flawlessly.

One day, they will catch Josh alone. Was the one thought keeping her going.

Finally making it home after a long session of oboe practice, she walked in on Josh seemingly lost in thought. He hadn't even noticed she had walked in.

He was surrounded by several acceptance letters from the colleges he'd applied to just the day after he had arrived home.

Rather than bother him, she went straight for the kitchen, the sound of the door swinging shut nearly knocking Josh's thought off track.

It was like Drake had said; he could get into any college he wanted.

They sure took no time in letting him know they wanted him.

Megan was just about to enter the living room when the front door slammed shut. Drake had been with his band for a long practice session of his own.

"Man, we are so going to rock next Saturday!"

"That's great." Josh said, distantly.

Drake took a seat next to him. Picking up one of the letters, "I thought you had all this figured out..."

"I do." He answered in the same distant monotone.

"D-did I do something wrong?"

Megan couldn't resist getting in on what was looking like, from Drake's shifting expression, what may become a lover's quarrel.

"No, no. Amazingly you have been nothing but awesome to me these last few months."

"Boobs." She greeted, taking a seat, "Still looking through those letters? I thought you had a school picked out." She added, trying to hide her disappointment over the 'sweet' remark from Josh.

"Yeah, I do..."

"Ever consider Scripps College?"

"Yeah, Josh, there's no Scripps College in he-"

"Probably because Scripps is a women's college!" Drake playfully jabbed Megan, letting go a quick "Ha!"

"Somethin' funny?"

"Yeah, it's about time she got a stab at you..."

"What?!"

"Oh yeah, like when I told you to stay out of my clothes," She laughed before becoming deathly serious, turning on Josh, "It goes for you too."

"Yeah. Ha. Ha." He snorted, going back to his moping in thought.

Drake and Megan exchanged glances and nodded in silent agreement; there was definitely something wrong.

"Ok, Josh, what's really bugging you?"

Josh forced a smile. He knew Drake well enough to know once he got his mind on something, he would dig and dig till everything surfaced. He shook his mind clear, he did want to tell Drake, but not in front of Megan. Especially not in front of Megan. This was going to hurt, not only Drake, but himself and having Megan stare them down...

He thought of asking her to leave, maybe easing that part a bit, but then like brother, like sister; it would only raise her curiosity and then she'd dig.

He wrapped an arm around Drake's shoulder and pulled him back, "Nothin', 'kay? I've just been thinking is all..."

"About what?"

"Nothing big." He said brightly.

"You're lying." Drake snapped. It was just like when he was with Mindy; there was no getting anything past Drake.

"I don't want to talk about it right now, ok?"

"O-ok. So I didn't do anything?"

"Drake it isn't you... it's me..."

Drake broke from Josh's embrace, "Oh, I get it..."

"What?"

"It's the old 'it's not you it's me' thing! Come on, Josh, I invented that!"

"Yeah, only in your case it was you." Megan smirked.

"Will you stay ou-"

"Ok, fine; it does involve you, but... it's not about you... I really don't want to talk about it..."

"Oh no, see, you're lyin' so we're talkin'!"

Megan scooted to the edge of her seat, the urge to make popcorn loomed, but she was afraid if she left, she'd miss something good.

"Drake..."

"H-how can it involve me, but not be about me?!"

"Honestly, not everything is about you..."

"But it involves me, I wanna know!"

"Fine, ok. You asked..."

"I did."

"Megan, leave." He demanded.

"Oh no wa-" she was cut short by the most sinister glare she'd ever seen. She could practically feel it tearing at her chest, "O-ok. See ya guys."

Josh turned the glare onto Drake, "Ok, Drake. Sit."

Drake obeyed. The last time he'd seen that look in Josh's eyes, he nearly had his arm ripped off.Josh joined him. Placing his hand on Drake's knee, he took a breath to calm down. He knew if he went into this angry, Drake would become defensive and try to leave.

"Look, first off... I-I'm tired of lying to mom and dad..."

"But, you don't lie! I lie! Remember? We leave it up to me and we're..."

"Found out by half of San Diego..."

"Yeah, but not mom and dad! Not to mention, you're worshiped by like every guy..."

"Yeah, yeah, I hear it all the time; "Thank you God for taking Drake 'off the streets' and 'out of my girl's pants'..."

"You're a hero, dude!"

"You... will you stop changing the subject! Will you listen!"

Drake thought a moment, remembering the 'first off' remark, usually a good sign there was more.Wanting no part of what may be coming next, he toyed with Josh a little more to keep off whatever subject he was trying to pull.

After a few minutes, Josh caught on. Annoyed, he gave up and managed to get Drake to leave him alone for a while before realizing this was a blessing. There was no easy way to break to Drake what was weighing him down.

Yes, the lying was wearing him thin, but since Drake took on that responsibility, it gave him more time to think about what was really bothering him. There was something missing...

Girls.

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