Drake and Josh characters belong to their proper owners. I did create some characters for this fanfiction. "Measure of a Man" is sung by Clay Aiken. It was written by Steve Morales, Cathy Dennis, and David Seige. Any other songs mentioned also belong to their proper owners. Because you all know how much I love sticking lyrics in these things.

I love this next chapter. Want to know what's going on in Cassandra's head? Read on!

Drake walked through the hallways at school. There were three weeks until Homecoming. He hadn't found a date. He hadn't even been looking for one. He really wanted to go with Cassandra. That didn't seem very likely. Her parents were still as strict as ever. It had been three months and neither had dated each other, or anyone else for that matter. He passed poster after poster advertising Homecoming. He didn't know what to do.
A week later, Cassandra sat in her room when the phone rang.

"Hello?" she answered.

"Cassandra," came her grandmother's voice. "Is your mother home?"

"No," said Cassandra.

"Oh, well please let her know your grandfather and I will be coming for a visit next weekend."

"Okay, sure," said Cassandra. She missed her grandmother since her family had moved. She'd be so glad to see her again.

It was a week before the Homecoming game. That meant they would be announcing the court. Five girls and five guys would make it on court and from there, there would be a guy and a girl chosen for king and queen. Everyone was screaming. Excitement filled the gym. Mr. Height stood in the middle of the gym.

"...and now the moment you've all been waiting for!" he called. "The court!" Everyone let out a scream. "Okay, okay, quiet down or else you won't hear."

Cassandra sat a few seats in front of Drake. He looked at her intently. He didn't hear the court being announced until...

"Drake Parker!"

Drake stood up and made his way to the gym floor. Josh gave him a thumbs up. He looked in Cassandra's direction and she gave him a small smile. He thought a moment. He'd have to go to Homecoming now. He'd have to have a date too. The problem was, he didn't want any other date but Cassandra.

"So," said Mrs. Blane when Cassandra sat at home doing her homework. "Who made Homecoming court?"

"Drake did," said Cassandra, giving her mother a look and ran up to her room.

Her mother sat on the couch. Had she been too hard on her daughter? She was still very upset about not being able to see Drake anymore. No, he wasn't right for her. He'd do nothing but eventually break her heart.

Cassandra sat in her room. She put in one of the mix CDs she'd made from her collection of albums. She lay on her bed listening for a while until she heard the familiar tune of the Clay Aiken song she kept playing on her guitar lately.

If one day you discover him
Broken down, he's lost everything
No cars, no fancy clothes to make him who he's not
The woman at his side is all that he has got

Why do you ask him
Move Heaven and Earth
To prove his love has worth?

Would he walk on water?
Would he run through fire?
Would he stand before you
When it's down to the wire?
Would he give his life up
To be all he can?
Is that
Is that
Is that
How you measure a man?

Her mother wanted her to have someone perfect. She felt smothered. She wanted Drake, and her mother judged him for who he used to be and not how he cared about her. Her mother wanted him to be so many things he wasn't. Cassandra didn't care what he was.

If by chance all he had to give you
Was three words wrapped around your finger
Would that be deep enough
At the end of everyday?
And how will you ever know
If a man is what he says?

Why do you ask him
Move Heaven and Earth
To prove his love has worth?

Would he walk on water?
Would he run through fire?
Would he stand before you
When it's down to the wire?
Would he give his life up
To be all he can?
Is that
Is that
Is that
How you measure a man?

Cassandra was angry with her mother. Drake was who he was, and she didn't care. Why should her mother? Her mother didn't know about when they were in Michigan. He stood before her when he thought a killer might be there. If there had been, he would have been putting his life on the line for her.

He never gives up
Let's go of his dreams
His world goes around
For his one true belief
Is that how you know?
Is that what it means?

Hey-ey
Would he walk on water?
Would he run through fire?
Would he stand before you?

Will he be your anchor
When the dark unfolds?
Will he always love you
The best that he knows?
Would he give his life up
To be all he can?
Is that
Is that
Is that
How you measure a man?

His dreams were unrealistic. So, what? He was talented. He had a shot. If he didn't make it, then she didn't care. He meant so much to her, and he was true to himself.

Would he walk on water?
Would he run through fire?
Would he stand before you
When it's down to the wire?
Would he give his life up
To be all he can?
Is that
Is that
Is that
How you measure oh-whoa

Is that
Is that
Is that
How you measure a man?

Cassandra stared at the ceiling. Her mom shouldn't measure Drake up in the way that she had. She should have accepted that he made Cassandra happy. Now, she was miserable.

"Cassandra," called her mother. "Your grandparents are here, and it's time for dinner!"

Cassandra turned off her CD player and headed downstairs.