Chapter 3

Trivial Pursuits

Last Saturday of the month

With Walter and Audrey seeing a play at the San Diego Civic Theater and Megan

hanging out with her Campfire Kids group at Pete's house for a sleepover was when

Mindy executed her plan. She and Josh were playing Trivial Pursuit in his and Drake's

room.

"I can't believe this." Drake's Barbie-of-the-Month complained to no one in particular as

she did the "I'm bored" slouched sitting pose on the sofa.

"Someone slashed my tires." Drake said punching numbers into his cell phone.

"Really? That sucks, Drake. It's probably the guy or guys that were mentioned in the

paper."

"Well you can always stay here and play Trivial Pursuit with us." Mindy offered

"Drake!" The bimbo complained

"Uh, I don't think that's going to happen."

"What's the matter? Are you chicken? I can mop the floor with

your brain."

"Bring it on, Creature." He stopped dialing the number for Triple A. Suddenly beating the

pretentious Mindy Crenshaw was more important then getting his slashed tires fixed.

"Drake!" His arm candy was getting annoyed.

"This will only take a second."

In reality it was taking an hour and a half and Drake had two pie pieces. From the

entertainment and sport and leisure categories. His date for the evening fell asleep with

her hand on her chin. She didn't seem so attractive in that position.

"Green for a pie piece." Josh announced

"I can see that Josh."

"You'll NEVER get this one Drake. Name the six noble gases from the chemical

series?" Mindy asked

"Helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon."

Josh smiled before Drake said the answers. He knew he'd remember that for life once

it was embedded in his brain through a little School House Rock form of studying.

"How do you know that Drake?" Mindy asked while she drank her iced tea. It was her

third one of the evening. Drake made her so nervous, but nervous in a good way. If

tonight went well she could go through the next stages of her plan.

"I'm not as stupid as you think."

"Josh would you get more pretzels?" Mindy asked. Maybe it was the salt from the

pretzels that was making her so thirsty but it didn't matter she just needed to get Josh

out of the room and Sleeping Bimbo on the sofa wasn't a concern.

"Sure, my lady."

She rolled her eyes. That was so embarrassing.

"So, Drake, when is your next gig?" Mindy nervously played with the remaining colored

plastic pie pieces that were in a Ziploc bag because Josh ruined the one that came with

the game when he spilled Mocha Cola on it.

"What do you care, Mindy?"

"I-I don't. I just thought I'd ask to be polite. It's called conversation."

Damn It.

"You don't think I like you do you? I just want to beat your ass in this game."

"But you like HER?" Mindy pointed

"Not really," Shit. He didn't mean to admit that out loud especially to Mindy of all people,

"That's not any of your business."

Drake stood up.

"You're leaving?"

"We'll have to continue this game later. Cindi's curfew is in fifteen minutes and we have

to walk home."

"She'll trip in those inappropriate heels."

Mindy sulked on the inside as Drake woke up his most recent girl d'jour. She

complained the whole time from Drake waking her up to them leaving the room. Mindy

really wanted to hurt her.

"Here's your pretzels." Josh said

"What? I'm not hungry anymore."

"What's with you? Oh no. Did you and Drake have a fight? Is that why he left?"

"No. We did not have a fight. He had to take the skank home. Josh, I was thinking,"

Mindy put her hand on the inside of his thigh it was the first real move she made since

she developed feelings for Drake. "Do you think I can come over to your house for

Sunday dinner?"

"I'm sure tomorrow---"

"No another Sunday. Maybe next month."

"Sure. I'm sorry I never invited you over. I didn't think that it was your thing. I mean you

really don't want to be grilled by my parents do you? And do you really want to sit at the

dinner table with Drake? That'd be a terrible situation for the both of you."

"I think it could be a nice afternoon spent with good people."

Was that too corny? She hoped that wasn't too corny. "Maybe, we can all go to a

restaurant. I can put it on my Dad's credit card and we can get all dressed up. Your

parents would like that."

"I don't think---we'll talk more about this later. Your curfew is creeping up as well and I

don't want your father to get mad at me. How about a kiss?"

Mindy stood up. "I need to use the bathroom. I'll meet you in the car."

Damn this night didn't go how she planned it at all.

When Josh left the room Mindy who really did have to use the facilities had to do

something that was more important at the moment and that was to write in Drake's little

black book that he kept by the phone.

She flipped to the section of blank pages that were in the back and took out her fine

pointed black ink pen and printed in her most basic 'it could be anyones' handwriting.

Drake,

I can't get you out of my mind. I'm wondering if you felt the same way?

Signed,

Not Yet

P.S. Your butt looks f-i-n-e in those tight jeans.