Drake was sitting on the couch when josh walked into the room. He didnt move as the door opened, barly breathed as Josh walked over to him. He was trying to be a part of the couch, to stop existing as much as possible.

"Drake?" Josh asked, seeing the bruises. Singular, silent tears fell slowly from Drake's distant eyes. Josh sat down next to his brother, staring at him. Whatever had been happening with Drake had gone on long enough. "Drake?" He tried again.

Hesitantly, Drake turned his eyes toward Josh. He let the words he wanted to say fade away as he simply stared. He was waiting for the anger that he knew was boiling inside of Josh. Josh had always been his closest friend, the one person he could trust no matter what. Now he couldnt say a word.

"Drake, what happened tonight?" josh asked softly. It didnt matter that he was upset, because anger wasnt going to get through to Drake. Not when he seemed so broken down.

"Got in a fight." drake said absently. "Got beaten up..." he corrected himself. he hadnt done much to fight back, it hadnt really been a fight.

"Why did you go to a party after school?" It hurt to see Drake so empty.

"Had to." Drake whispered. "Had to go, had to drink... Had to..." He stopped talking, turning his face away from Josh. "Please," He begged. "Just go away."

"Drake," Josh reached out to take Drake's hand, only to have his own slapped away. Josh watched as Drake's gaze hardend, as he became tence.

"Just go." drake's voice was soft, but his words were hard. He didnt want to talk about any of it right now, not when the memories were still so strong. Josh had spent the last few days ignoring him, now Drake didnt want him around.

Josh stood up, hiding how hurt he was and slowly moved toward their bedroom door. He wanted Drake to stop him, to tell him what was going on. Drake didnt even look at him as he left the room, leaning against the closed door he let angry tears fall down his face.

Drake spent the rest of the night curled up on the couch. He didnt want to move, didnt want to feel the bruises on his body pulse. He closed his eyes, begging for empty sleep. At least this wish was granted.

That morning Drake skipped breakfest as he hurried to catch Josh before he left. He had overslept, and his entire body was sore. He climbed into the car, his backpack hiding the blood that had soaked through his dark sleeves. He felt ashamed of the cuts he'd made after waking up, but they were the only thing that brought him peace.

More then once Josh opened his mouth to talk, but everytime he stopped himself before the words came out. Drake didnt want to talk and he knew it. He was still angry at him, for the lies, for the way he'd been acting, but the hurt he'd seen in Drake's eyes last night had eaten away at that anger. Josh knew that Drake needed someone to talk to, but he didnt know how to get through to him.

They parted ways at the school, Josh joining Craig and Erik to discuss the previous nights homework, and Drake hesitantly approaching Cody, lunch money in hand. he didnt want to talk to them today, just give them the money and hop that they wouldnt talk about last night. What had happened... Drake could still feel the bartleby sisters bodies against his. The memory made him sick.

He shoved the money into Cody's hands and turned to walk away, stopped by Cody's voice.

"Where you going parker?"

Drake exhaled, turning around slowly. He didnt look at Cody, he didnt want him to see the tears in his eyes. "Class." He whispered loudly.

Cody smiled, stepping toward Drake. "The girls were pretty happy with last night." Cody said as if nothing had happened. "They want to get together again sometime."

Drake shook his head, clenching his fists. "No."

"No?" Cody snickered. "You dont tell me whats going to happen. I tell you and you listen." The smile had faded from Codys face. "If I tell you to jump, you get as far from the ground as possible. And if I want you to make those freaks happy, then you try your best, got it?"

"Not again." Drake said, glaring at Cody with determined eyes. He didnt want that to happen again, wouldnt let it happen. He didnt care how hard they hit him, he wouldnt be rapeed again.

Without caring who might see, Cody hit Drake, sending him back hard against the lockers. A few of the students in the hallway turned toward them, curious to see what was going on. In that moment Cody hesitated, his mind raceing as he tried to think of what to do. Drake smiled at Cody, loving that brief moment of power as he watched Cody struggle.

Drake flinched as Cody reached out toward him, pulling him forward as if trying to help him regain balance. "careful dude." He said cooly as he feigned worry. "You okay?"

Drake pulled away from cody, not saying a word to him as he pushed past the kids in the hall. He wasnt going to play along to make Cody look better. Despite the pain in his face, he smiled. For just a moment cody had been at the bottom. it felt good to feel like he had the power, even if it had only lasted a few secounds.

The rest of the day passed as they normally did. Drake spent his lunch period at Cody's table, watching the others as they ate. It was more out of habit now, he'd realized recently that he wasnt hungry nearly as much anymore. They told him he was fat, and he was all ready loosing weight.

On his way to english class he passed the bartleby sisters in the hall. He tried to avoid them, but once they saw him they smiled widely and stood side by side, blocking his way. He hated the smiles on their twisted faces. Twenty five cents... Drake shuddered, slowing his pace and burrying his face in his locker. He counted the seconds until they were gone, exhaling deeply as he pushed his locker shut. The bell echoed in the hall, alerting him that he was late for class.

Drake muttered under his breath and ran to class. He knew that he was going to hear about this, but he hoped that she wouldnt keep him after again.

Ms. Hayfer was glaring at him, her lips twisted into a smile as he burst through the door. "You're late."

"I know." Drake exhaled the words, sliding into his seat.

Ms. Hayfer turned away from Drake, addressing the class. "I'm assighning you all a paper to write tonight. Youre all to take a school relevent scenario or subject and write a three page paper discussing the pros and cons, its effects on the students and ways to improve, or resolve it. It's due back at the beginning of class tomorrow."

Drake spent the rest of class thinking about his paper. He didnt know a lot of things, but he felt like this paper was meant for him. he knew exactly what he was going to write it on. and hopefully it would be good enough to keep him out of remedial english.

~.~.~.~.~.

A/N: This chapter is really short, and it sucks, but I've been so distracted with other things that I felt bad for not getting anything posted over the last few days.