Chapter 14 - To Travel Or Not To Travel (Posted 26 April 2011)

A/N: I feel like this story isn't going anywhere... But next chapter there will be some drama. Sort of major drama, so watch out xD

"So..." Drake said to his sister. "Now what do I do?"

"Nothing." She said happily.

"Nothing?"

"Nothing."

"I can't just do nothing, Megan." Drake crossed his arms. "I have to do something! I have to... talk to him or... something. Anything, as long as it's not nothing."

"Drake, five minutes. Just sit here and do nothing for five minutes."

"Why?"

"Because, you deserve it. You're always working or studying or both. And now you've just made a decision that could impact the rest of your life. You need to relax, and do nothing. Let it soak in."

"That would be doing something."

"No, it would be letting things alone."

"Which is doing something." Drake was just trying to rile her now.

"Oh, just come sit with me. Nate is asleep, so we can do nothing together."

Drake sighed silently and plopped down next to Megan on the sofa. They sat in silence for a few seconds, until Drake broke it. "What should I say to him?"

"Be quiet, Drake." Megan shushed him.

"But I don't know what I..."

"Drake! Just be quiet. For five minutes. You'll figure it out."

Five minutes. He could do that. He could use the time to think. Think? Think about what? I have so much to think about. I have the speech I have to give at graduation. I have to think about my new hours at the grocery store for the summer. I have to think about Megan going away to Harvard. I have to think about how much I'll miss her and Nate. I have to think about Mom and when she'll visit again. I have to think about... Josh. Josh Nichols. My... ex brother? New... lover? Mon amour. That sounds better. Why does it always sound better in a foreign language? Maybe because I know English, and I know Josh was my brother. In English. I don't know how to say that in French, so it doesn't exist. In French. It exists in Spanish, though. Mi hermano, mi amor. Yeah, that's just as bad as English. But... he's not my brother anymore. He hasn't been for a very long time. And we were never related by blood. Le sang... pas de sang. La sangre... sin sangre. No blood. That makes it better, right? And... I do love him. So, if he's not my brother, and I slept with him... where does that leave us? Not brotherly love. Not friendly love. Actual love? I guess I can see that. No, I can really see it. Of course. I could smack myself! I love him. I love Josh. Josh loves me? Well sure he does. He always has. So what happens now? Do I tell him? Do I just say 'I love you' and be done with it? No... what happens after that? Some more sex? Ok, no complaint there. But then what? We just... love each other and have sex? That can't be it. What do people do when they love each other? They live together, right? Or they at least do things together, like go out to eat and see movies and go shopping and take walks and get a pet. Wow. I want to do all that with Josh. And more. But how do we get to that point? Oh, yeah. Duh. Tengo que ir con él. "I have to go with him."

"There it is." Megan said wittingly.

"There what is?" Drake asked.

"The answer you were looking for."

"How did you..."

"Don't doubt my intuition, Drake." Megan smiled at him. "He asked you to leave with him, didn't he?" she asked as if she already knew.

"Yes..."

"Of course he did. And you didn't know what to say because you're afraid. But you've been so worried about finding a job and finding someone to settle down with and having a family... and now your afraid when you find the perfect opportunity to have everything you want. You should go with him, Drake. He'll take care of you and you can adopt a whole horde of kids and you'll make each other happy."

"I'd like that..." Drake chuckled.

"Of course you would. You've had fun going to school and you're very smart, but would you actually want to work in some boring lab for the rest of your life?"

"No."

"Do you want to be a professor?"

"God, no."

"Then go with him. Pick up your music again and start having fun and being the take-things-as-they-are kind of guy you used to be. You once said you'd never give up on your music, whether it took you anywhere or not. What happened to that?"

"I couldn't do that and school at the same time... I had to give one up and... I chose school. I thought it was the mature thing to do."

"As much as I hate to say this," Megan rolled her eyes at herself, "I'm glad you've become a responsible adult, Drake. But the great thing about you is your immaturity. I miss that. If anyone can find a compromise between work and play, it's you. Especially now that you're trying to bring the real Drake Parker back."

"I don't know..."

"I bet you'd have a lot of time to write your music on the road, you know. And I'm sure Josh would be totally supportive of you."

"I'm sure he would too."

"So call him."

"I... don't know his number."

"What?"

"He never gave me his number. I guess. things just happened so fast, it got overlooked."

"Tell me he has yours..."

"Nope."

"Great. You two may be all grown up, but you're still a pair of idiots when you're together."

Drake just smiled broadly at her comment. "It is kind of great. That means he'll have to come get me."

"Or you could go to his hotel."

"Nah, I'll just wait for him to come here. It'll probably be soon anyway, I wouldn't want to get to his hotel only to find out he's already here."

"And what if he has the same thought?"

"He'll realize I want him to come to me."

"I'm sure he will." Megan stood. "I'm going for a walk."

"Ok."

"If Nate wakes up, give him a snack. Grapes or a banana or something. No cookies."

"Ok, no cookies." Drake said dramatically.

Megan sighed. "Fine, he can have one, only one. Please?"

"Yay!" Drake did a little dance in his seat.

"And if Josh stops by while I'm out, tell him I said thanks."

"Thanks for what?"

"For following you, obviously."