Chapter 4

When Drake opened his eyes again sunlight was pouring in through the window at the head of his bed. He rubbed his face and glanced at the clock. The red, digital display read 9:47, beyond that Drake could see that Josh's bed was empty and neatly made. This surprised Drake. Josh usually slept in on Sunday mornings and it was slightly disorientating for Drake to wake in an empty room. Stretching his arms above his head he closed his gritty eyes. It had been a long night, and he was tempted to roll over and grab a little more sleep, but Drake know that he had to talk to Josh before their parents got home that day. With a heavy sigh he rubbed his eyes once more then sat up in bed.

The house was quiet when he padded downstairs. A note on the counter told him that Josh was dropping Megan off any Janie's and then heading into work until three because Gavin had called out. Running his fingers through his already disheveled hair Drake open the refrigerator in search of breakfast. He still had a few hours to figure out how he was going to explain his situation to his brother. Just the thought of that unavoidable conversation had Drake chewing restlessly on his bottom lip. After a moment he closed the refrigerator door and left the kitchen empty handed, his appetite gone. In the living room Drake stretched out on the couch and turned on the television. Idly he flipped through the channels without paying attention to the images that flickered across the screen. His mind wondered as he flipped, and Drake found himself wondering what Molly was doing. His leg began to bounce as nervous energy flooded through his body. Shaking his head Drake gave up on the idea of zoning out in front of the television and stood up turning off the flickering screen before tossing the remote onto the coffee table.

A shower is what I need to clear my head. Drake told himself, but as he made his way around the couch a picture on the far wall caught his attention. It was one of him holding Megan. He couldn't have been more then six or seven years old in the picture, yet his arms wrapped protectively around his baby sister. He remembered his mother showing him how to hold her so that her neck was supported and his grip on her was secure, but not too tight. He looked so happy in the picture, so proud to be able to hold his little sister. Drake walked over to the wall and stared at the framed photograph taking in every detail, and it wasn't hard for him to find the sheen of terror in the eyes of the child he had been. It was hidden behind the pride and the joy, but it was still there, and Drake could see the same look reflecting back at him from the glass that protected the memory. After a moment his eyes wondered to the other pictures on the wall. Birthday parties, weddings, school pictures and little league games hung in neat rows and columns documenting his life from birth right up to the previous spring's junior prom picture. Drake felt his eyes dampen as he wondered if there would be a wall to document his child's life, and where that wall would be.

Suddenly Drake had an overwhelming urge to see Molly, to talk to her, to hold her. Turning quickly Drake sprinted up stairs, twenty minutes later he returned to the living room, fully dressed, his hair still damp from the shower. Smiling for the first time all morning Drake left the house, an apple in one hand, his car keys dangling from the other.

Traffic was light and Drake managed to drive the few blocks to Molly's house quickly.

He debated on calling her, but when he saw that her blue Neon was the only car parked in front of the small, one story ranch house he decided to just knock.

Head down, Drake walked up the narrow red brick path that led from the driveway to the front door. He hesitated a moment, hand raised, before knocking softly on the pale yellow door. While he waited Drake ran his fingers through his hair making it stick up in places, then with damp palms, smoothed it back down. After a long, silent moment Drake gave up and walked through the dry grass to the back of the house. As he neared Molly's bedroom window he found himself wondering if it would rain soon. He hoped so or else they would be facing another drought, and growing up in southern California , Drake knew that meant one thing, wild fires. The thought made him shudder as he gripped the edge of Molly's window and peaked inside.

Molly lay curled up on her bed beneath a pale blue blanket, music videos flickering quietly across the television across the room. Drake watched for a moment as she adjusted her grip on the pillow in front of her and snuggled her head against it. Quietly he tapped on the window. Molly jumped sending the long pillow flying off the bed, but when she saw Drake's face at her window a slow smile crossed her face. Pushing her hair back she climbed out of bed and crossed to the window. Drake felt his brain go foggy as he watched the thin pink material of her pajamas shift over her soft skin.

"Hey." Molly said quietly as she opened the window.

"Hey." Drake responded forcing his eyes up to her face.

Molly grinned, "You want to come in?"

Drake swallowed hard, "Yeah."

"I'll unlock the front door." She told him, the turned away from the window.

Drake watched Molly cross the room, tossing the pillow back onto her bed as she made her way to the door, then turned and sprinted back around the house. She met him at the door, and he couldn't help smiling as she pushed her long hair back behind her ears. She wore no makeup, and her eyes were still slightly puffy from sleep or crying he couldn't tell, but Drake still couldn't help thinking how beautiful she was. She wrapped her arms around him as he walked through the door and Drake kissed her gently.

"How are you?" he asked, her arms still hooked around his neck.

"Ok," she told him with a slight shrug, "just tired."

Drake hung his head, "I'm… we…" he sighed.

"I know," Molly said, guiding him through the house, "there's a lot to talk about."

Drake nodded. He had thought they had talked about everything possible the previous night, but now his head throbbed with unanswered question, possible scenarios, and a bad case of the 'what-ifs.' She led him down the hall to her room, Drake hesitated at the door, but Molly nudged him inside.

"What about your…" Drake started.

"Parents are at work, they won't be home until after five." Molly reassured him.

"Have you," Drake gulped, "have you told them yet?"

It was that question that had Drake swallowing hard, the question that he had come here to ask.

Molly shook her head, not quiet meeting Drake's eyes. "Not yet."

"Will they… how bad do you think they'll take it?" Drake asked pulling her against him.

"I don't think they'll be…pleased." Molly said with a sigh. "Honestly I don't know how they'll take it. Mom didn't have me until she was in her twenties, and was already married to dad. So there's no help there, and I don't think anyone else in the family was ever… in my, our, situation."

Drake tightened his grip on her, "We'll get through this." He promised quietly.

Molly rolled onto her toes and kissed Drake on the cheek, "You want to watch a movie?"

Drake forced a smile and nodded, "I'm thinking we could use a comedy." He said with a wink.

Molly smiled back, "How about The Princess Bride?"

"My favorite." Drake said with a wink.

They spent the remainder of the morning curled up on Molly's bed giggling as Westley fought to save Buttercup from the odious Prince Humperdinck. During the battle scenes Molly snuggled against Drake, his arms wrapped firmly around her, and when Buttercup realized that the man in black was her beloved Westley Molly rolled over in Drake's arms. The next time they looked at the screen the end credits scrolled upward as the music faded out.

Drake glanced at his watch, it was just after two in the afternoon, and he knew that if he wanted to catch Josh before he left work he would have to get moving soon. Drake glanced down at Molly. She lay beside him, her head on his shoulder, staring up at him.

"You have to go." She said quietly, it wasn't a question, and they both knew it.

Drake nodded, "I have to catch Josh before he leaves work, but I'll be back."

Molly cocked her head, a slightly confused look in her eyes.

Drake leaned down and kissed her forehead, "I'll be back tonight. I'll come back, and we'll tell your parents together."

Molly smiled, "Thank you." She breathed before stretching her neck up to kiss him. "Now go, I'll see you tonight."

Drake smiled, "I'll be here." Then climbing out of bed, he gathered his cloths, dressed quickly, and left the room. From the door way he turned and blew Molly a kiss before disappearing down the hall.

Alone, Molly stretched across her rumpled bed, Drake would be back later, and she wouldn't have to face her parents alone. As frightened as she was of her parent's reactions, knowing that Drake would stand beside her made the whole ordeal seem bearable. With a smile on her face Molly wrapped her arms around the soft pillow that still smelled of Drake and closed her eyes.