Drew was shaking. Adam looked over at his brother with concern. They were sitting in the car in silence as their mother drove them home from the Vegas Night dance. It had been quite a rough day on Drew ending with bad breakup.
Adam had never seen him like this. Drew wasn't really one to get dumped. Actually, come to think of it, Adam couldn't remember a time when his brother was the dumpee and not the dumper. Being the player that he is, Drew never really got emotionally involved in relationships. He let the girls fall in love with him and, when he saw another girl, Drew would just end it and move on. Adam never particularly liked this about his brother, but he tolerated it as it was his brother.
Their mother kept eyeing Drew through the rear view mirror, but he didn't seem to notice. His eyes were glazed over and dropping. He was seemingly looking at nothing in particular with his head down. Drew's entire body was slightly shaking and his breaths were short and shallow. Adam peered at his mother who seemed to be ignoring her eldest son's body language. It disgusted Adam who cold hearted their mother could be at times. He turned his attention back to Drew.
He and Drew had only talked briefly between exams and the dance when they were both getting dressed. Of course, Drew hadn't told him about the boiler room, but he had mentioned the recent flirting between him and Bianca. His mind flashed back to their earlier conversation.
"What?" Adam practically yelled. Drew shushed him before eagerly shaking his head. Adam looked at him in disbelief.
"I swear. One minute KC and I are studying for exams, right? And the next Bianca is leaning over me – practically shoving her boobs in my face – and I'm zipping up her sweatshirt for her!" Drew's mouth hung open as he recoiled back into the moment.
"That I believe," Adam agreed as he buttoned up his shirt.
"Ah, my young brother, believe it all," Drew said grinning widely with his eyebrows raised.
"I'm sorry, but I just can't believe Bianca would send you a…picture of herself. I know she's a skank but…" Adam trailed off. He reached around Drew to grab his tie just as Drew began spiking his hair.
Drew sighed. He reached into his pocket to grab his phone. After a few seconds of tapping the screen, he rolled his head and shoved his phone at Adam. Adam glanced at the picture before pushing it away from him. Drew smiled in victory.
"Alright," Adam admitted. "I believe you. But, nothing happened right? Just some mindless, carefree flirting?" Adam questioned worriedly. He had never seen Drew happier than when he was with Alli. She made him joyful and lively and just fun to be around. Adam had seen Drew mess up before with random girls whose names he'd forget as soon as he walked away, but this was a real relationship and Adam hoped Drew could make it work.
Drew gulped and instantly Adam knew something was up. "Andrew," he said in a warning tone. His brother faced him with an innocent look.
"What?" he asked harmlessly. "Nothing happened, Adam."
Adam gave him a once over before giving up. "Good," he said, "because you and Alli are pretty great together." Adam smiled at his brother before pulling his beanie in place and walking out of the bathroom. Just before leaving he noticed Drew standing uncomfortably in front of the mirror looking at his reflection with disappointment and self hatred.
Adam snapped back to reality. He should've known right then. Perhaps he did. He just didn't want to think that his brother would do something like that.
As the events of tonight sunk in, Adam began to feel for Drew more and more. Adam, just like everyone else at the dance tonight, had learned about Drew's infidelity through the gossip and rumors all confirmed by Bianca. He had wanted so badly to just slap her. Did she have nothing better to do than mess with him and Drew? Or was it just a hobby of hers? Either way, he hated Bianca.
The worst part about tonight for Adam was that he was so wrapped up with the Eli vs. Fitz drama that he failed to go over to Drew once. He couldn't help but feel slightly guilty. After all, he was the one to help Drew get Alli.
He knew he should hate Drew right now – he had hooked up with the girl who made his life a living hell the past few weeks! But he couldn't bring himself to despise his brother. Sure, Drew messed up big time. And sure, it stung that Drew would so easily forget about what Bianca did to his own brother just for a quickie. But Drew wasn't a bad person and so Adam saw no reason to hate him.
Everyone was picking sides and almost everyone was sympathizing with Alli. Adam couldn't blame them. He probably would've too had he not known Drew and what this did to him. Yes, Adam felt bad for Alli, but he felt just as bad for Drew.
Not only had Drew lost the best relationship he had ever had, but he also had to deal with his mother who would probably be giving him lecture after lecture about sex and dating and priorities and respect. But the absolute worst part of the night for Drew was hearing that the girl he loved was with Owen in the boiler room. That was what killed him because Drew knew just what kind of person Owen was when it came to girls.
And now here Drew was, shaking and pained. His eyes, lifeless. His skin, pale. His expression, deathly. Honestly, right now, he scared Adam. Who would've thought that the strong, cocky football quarterback would be sitting in his mom's minivan scared and hurt?
Adam didn't know what to do. He knew words wouldn't help. He could say he understood, but he didn't. He could say things would get better, but he didn't know that. He could say that it was just a little mistake, but it wasn't. There was nothing Adam could say to help Drew and he knew it. But he had to do something.
Adam reached out and put a reassuring hand on Drew's shoulder. Drew glanced at Adam who just nodded at his brother telling him that he was here to help and whenever Drew wanted to talk, Adam was ready to listen. This simple gesture told Drew that Adam wasn't mad. It said that things sucked right now but that they would get through it, together.
And finally, Drew smiled. It didn't reach his eyes in the slightest, but that was to be expected. Adam didn't expect Drew to feel better in a day. It might take all break or the rest of the year to get Drew back to somewhat normal. But hell! Rome wasn't built in a day.
