Chapter 5

The Turning Point

2 Days later—Evening

It was Tuesday and Josh didn't have to work tonight at the Premiere. Mindy and Josh

were in the kitchen studying for their history test. Megan walked in to get a bottle of juice

out of the refrigerator. They were holding hands and doing the 'google-eyes in love'

routine.

"Megan, would you get out of here? We're trying to study." said Josh.

"It doesn't look like you are studying to me."

"It's all right, Josh," Mindy spoke in a softer raspy tone than usual, "You don't want to

waste your time getting upset."

Mindy was setting up for a game of verbal tennis with Megan. The younger girl thought

for a moment on how to handle the situation. Rather than give Mindy the sport that she

wanted she just decided to drop the ball and leave the room.

"See ya!"

She wasn't about to tell her that Drake and his band had a gig tonight, because Megan

was certain that Mindy knew of that. Just like how he always enters through the

backdoor and not the front after a show. It was no coincidence that they were in that

kitchen.

"Megan is so annoying." Mindy put her voice to a whisper.

"I know, but despite her prankster ways and general nosiness, she's a really good

sister. Just don't tell her I said that. Now where were we?"

"It's ten forty five." Mindy looked at her heavy-duty waterproof multifunction sports watch.

"Don't remind me." He leaned to kiss her, she accepted.

Mindy put her hand on Josh's cheek. "You didn't let me finish."

"Sorry. Would you like a refill on your soda?"

"Yeah. I'm going to miss curfew tonight. Chances are my parents fell asleep reading

their novels from the book-of-the-month club."

"Aren't you afraid you'll be grounded?"

"Nope. Besides, this test is very important. It counts for half of our grade."

"You'll get an 'A' you always do." Josh put the cap back on the two-liter bottle of Mocha

Cola.

"Megan aside, it's nice to have the place to ourselves."

Mindy stood up to stretch her legs and to casually look out of the window above the sink.

"Dad's doing the eleven o'clock weather to fill in for the evening guy. It won't be like this

all the time and Mom is at the moonlight madness sale at Rutherford's and Drake is

never home on most nights. Not to mention my job at the Premiere."

"Who is the unlucky girl this time?"

"Danielle Warner. I wouldn't call her unlucky, I keep hoping that one of these days Drake

will find 'the one'."

"What's holding him back?" Mindy asked as she took small sips of her soda.

"Youth."

"You are the same age he is."

"Yeah, but I have true love," He put his arm around her and squeezed her, "Drake's not

looking for that."

Mindy put her glass down on the counter so she could put her arms around Josh.

"I'm the luckiest girl in the world."

"And I'm the luckiest guy in the world. Kiss?"

"You bet."

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1

"Eww," Drake entered and wish he came through the front door when he saw Josh

locking lips with the Creature from the Black Lagoon. "Get a room."

He put his guitar case against the wall.

"Oh, we didn't hear you come in, Drake." Josh nervously wiped his mouth for any traces

of lipstick.

"So I hear that Danielle Warner is your latest crush?"

"I'm not going to discuss my private life with you." Drake grabbed a mini carton of

chocolate milk out of refrigerator and quickly left the kitchen. He'd bring his guitar

upstairs later when he went to get his amp out of the car.

Damn. He wouldn't bend one bit.

"Does he have to be so rude to me?" Mindy asked

"You can't expect Drake to like you. You never once apologized to him for what you did

to him and the whole Honor Council mess."

"Do you think I should? I mean if we're going steady there shouldn't be any bad blood

between me and your brother?"

"Knowing Drake, he won't accept your apologies. Let me talk to him. I'll see what I can

do. I do appreciate you, Mindy, for trying to make things right."

"Now what were we doing before your brother came along and ruined it?"

"We were kissing by the refrigerator."

"I say let's move that to the living room sofa, Cupcake."

"Now that is my kind of study session."

Mindy Crenshaw was the most amazing woman he has ever known this side of Oprah.

Next morning

It was unbelievable how Drake could sleep all through the alarm clock going off, Josh

getting dressed, and their mother shouting "get up" when she walked by their room.

"Drake! Wake up!" Josh threw a pillow at his face.

"H-hey. I am up."

"I want to talk to you."

"Can it wait?" he climbed out of his bed

"Yeah." Josh put his head down and focused on putting his red binder in his backpack.

Drake could tell that something of importance was bugging Josh so he did his best to

ignore the fact that he had to pee.

"What's bothering you, Josh?"

"You're going to get mad and I hate it when you get angry."

"What is it?" Drake decided to sit on the sofa.

"Promise me you won't get mad."

"I promise. Just tell me."

"Mindy wants to apologize to you for things she did."

"Tell her it's not necessary."

"Because we're going steady she thinks it is."

"Don't worry about it, Josh. I'll take care of it." Drake gave Josh no time to respond as

he sped out of the room.

Today was the turning point. Mindy couldn't keep a journal online or in old-fashioned

book form. Things like that only left a trail and that was the last thing she needed as she

was sitting at one of the smaller tables in the Belleview High School library. She was

supposed to be writing her report on the effect MTV had on adolescents, but all she

could think about was Drake. Josh followed the rules. Yeah he had an earring, but in the

past ten years a lot of kids started wearing them it wasn't rebellious anymore. Josh was

the designated driver in the party of life. It was only a matter of time before Drake went

to the tattoo parlor to get the 'I heart Mindy' tat on one shoulder and an electric guitar

with blazing wings on the other.

They would be so grea---

"Hey! I want to talk to you."

"Wow," Mindy smacked her lips together, "Drake Parker is in the school library. They

don't have comic books here you know."

"You don't have to worry about me, okay? You love Josh and that's fine. We don't have

to be friends."

Fuck.

"If that's how you feel."

"Bye."

Mindy's face flushed over with a milky anger despite getting a nice view of Drake's

bottom in his jeans as he walked away.

"I didn't want to do this," she whispered to herself closing her books with force, "It looks

like it's time to execute Plan B."

"You have a date with Drake Parker!" Mindy's ears perked up as she watched two

sweet tarts grab two encyclopedias probably only to copy from them and not use them

for the intended reference volumes that they were.

"Yeah—he doesn't keep a girlfriend long, Olivia."

"Tina--"

"Danielle Warner is in my English class and she's heartbroken that he…."

"Give Drake some slack. He doesn't want to be tied down to one girl. I can't say that I

blame him. I don't want to be tied down by one guy. We're all in high school. Just go out

with him as a friend. When I told him that he was relieved and that's why we're still

friends since ninth grade. Not that we don't occasionally make out. Accept that and

you'll be fine."

Imbeciles. You're all imbeciles.

Once Drake touches my lips he won't want ANY of you bimbos ever again.

And Mindy Crenshaw was sure of that.

Author's Note: Thanks NovMists ;)