Chapter 15

Don't go, not yet

6 months later...

The past 6 months had been bliss. Summer came and Drake, Josh, and Claire awaited their senior year. It was a sunny, rather warm, August day. Claire slept in a bright hospital room. She'd just giving birth to a beautiful baby girl a day ago. Drake sat there holding the baby in his arms. He couldn't belive he was here, in this moment, holding his daughter. Claire had decided to name her Elyse after a character in a book she'd read. Drake liked the name, it wasn't something common like Sarah, or Shannon, or Emily. It was originial. Elyse had blond hair and brown eyes just like Claire. It was so amazing to finally see the person that'd been living in and kicking Claire for the past 9 months. All was perfect.

Audrey walked in. Drake looked over at her and stood up, cradling the baby in his arms.

"You take her." Drake whispered as he passed the baby to his moms arms.

"She's beautiful." Audrey sighed.

"Isn't she?" Drake replied.

"Elyse right?"

"Yeah."

"Pretty name."

"Claire picked it out. Quiet though she's sleeping now." Drake said as he looked over at her. She deserved to sleep, she'd done the most amazing thing he'd ever seen in his life.

"She get's to take her home today, right?" Audrey asked as she held the baby.

"Yeah."

"You taking her?"

"I think so, why?" Drake questioned taking Elyse back from his mom.

"We're having a little party at our house. So take her there." Audrey told Drake as she got up. "Well, I've got to get going. I'll see you in an hour or so." She said as she kissed her son and her granddaughter.

"Thanks." He said softly. He sat back down in the chair. "Elyse." he whispered.

Claire stirred. She was up now.

"Hey, you feeling better now?" Drake asked as he got up.

"Yeah, she's awake now." Claire smiled as she took her daughter from Drake.

"Yeah, she's been awake for awhile now." He smiled too. The two people he loved the most in the same room.

"Must be because you're here."

"Must be." Drake joked. Both of them laughed. "We get to leave soon."

"Want to get her dressed?" Claire asked as she motioned for Drake to get the duffle bag she'd brought with her.

"Can we do that?" Drake asked.

"She's my baby and she doesn't have any clothes. I think I'm going to dress her." Claire laughed. She did have a point.

"What do you think she should wear?" Drake asked as he pulled out a pink jump suit and a white one with hearts on it out of the bag.

"Either or. You decide."

"This one." Drake said holding up the pink one. "It has a matching hat." Claire put the clothes on Elyse and wrapped her back up in the blanket she was in.

"I think she picked up on your laidbackness." Claire joked. "She didn't cry once doing that. In fact she hasn't cried all day."

"Once again, it's because I'm here." Drake laughed.

They left the hospital and enjoyed the receving party that their parents had thrown them. A few weeks passed and school was going to start again.

It was a rainy late August night. A few days before school started. Drake had spent the day watching Elyse while Claire went out with her mother and Drake's mother, for a ladies night out. He was now lying in bed thinking, sleep was miles away, he could hear Josh lightly snoring in the next bed over. He heard the knock on the window before Josh did. Figuring it was one of Megans jokes he walked over and threw the window open. Claire was standing at the top of a ladder Megan had left outside the window a few days ago. Both too lazy to take it down. She was soaked and through the rain that drenched her face he could see the glimmer of tears.

"Claire..." Drake gasped as he pulled her in and closed the window. "Here, take this and tell me what happened." He said as he handed a towel and guided her over to the couch.

"Drake, it's not fair. They can't make me do it." She cried as she spoke the words.

"It's not Elyse is it?" He asked, jumping to the first thing he could think of.

"No, she's asleep at home, she's fine. Drake, my dad's making me move. Tommorrow. We're moving to New Hampshire, New Hampshire. I've only been there once, on a school trip in 8th grade. Drake, I don't even know what the hell's in New Hampshire." Claire cried harder. He started to cry too. "Drake, I can't run away this time." she dissovled into sobs and buried her head in his shoulder.

"Stay here tonight." he whispered to her.

"I planned to." she said softly as she pulled back from him. He kissed her. It was one of those 'I love you and I won't let anything hurt you' kisses. He wanted her to know that he meant it too.

"Here." he said getting up and walking towards his dresser. "Take these." He said throwing her a shirt and a pair of pajamas. "And don't worry about ever giving them back." he added as he touched his forehead to hers.

She changed and climbed into his bed with him. The two pulled the blankets up to their chests and faced the other, looking into each others eyes.

"You're not like other girls I've loved." Drake sighed.

"I know." was all she had to say.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

They fell asleep, enjoying the last few hours they had with one another in embraced in each others arms. Josh didn't need to worry about this one. He'd heard the whole conversation and felt bad for Drake. He knew what it was like to lose the one you loved.

Morning came and both woke up with tears already filling their eyes.

"It's too soon for you to leave." Drake said as he got up and dressed.

"I know." Claire relpied pulling on her clothes. Josh had dried them for her when he saw them on the couch that morning.

Audrey and Walter already knew, they knew a few weeks ago. Dan had told them, she refused to let that interferre with Drakes life, Claire's parents felt the same way, that's why they told them later. They ate a silent breakfast, words would only complicate the situation more. Claire's parents arrived and she and Drake said their drawn out goodbyes, promising to call and E-mail each other everything. Elyse would know who her father was. They also promised to meet up again a year from now, where ever life took them. Both cried and Drake couldn't watch his one true love drive out of his life like that.

Drake walked inside. The I'm-sorry looks from his parents didn't console him much. He ran upstairs to his room. Josh was there.

"What are you doing here?" Josh demanded

"The love of my life just left. Where else am I supposed to go?" Drake asked tears still falling.

"To meet her at the aeroport, to surpise her." Josh informed his brother. Drake noted the clothes she'd borrowed on the couch.

"I told her to take those." he muttered.

"Take them to her. I'll drive."

The boys left the house and drove as fast as they could to the aeroport. He saw Claire waiting, her parents nowhere in sight. Elyse sleeping in her carseat.

"Claire!" Drake yelled as he ran past baggage carts and jumped luggage to get to her.

"Drake!" She gasped as she hugged him.

"I told you I wouldn't leave that easily." Drake said as he kissed her. Tears falling down both of their cheeks. "Where are your parents?" He asked a smile on his face despite the situation.

"Eating, the flight doesn't leave for another hour." She informed him. A sudden wave of sorrow washed over her.

"It's so cold here." Claire said rubbing her arms.

"Take this." Drake said as he took off the track jacket he'd been wearing earlier. "Keep it, so you'll always have a part of me with you." he smiled as he placed it in her hands. She put in on and zipped it up.

"It smells like you." She whispered as she fell into his arms one last time. "I don't want to leave you. I don't want to leave San Diego. I don't want to go back to snow. I don't want to go back to Abercrombie." she cried. Drake rubbed her back.

"I know." was all he managed. "Why are you moving?"

"Elyse, too many people know what happened here. My parents say it's ruining their reputation. Their daughters a whore."

"Thats bull. Claire, that is so not fair. All they care about is themselves. You were raped for crying out loud." Drake said trying to control his anger. It didn't help that she was leaving.

"I know, but I have no control. I swear to god I'll come back as soon as I can. They can't make me stay there."

Elyse started crying. It was almost as though she could feel the sorrow of the situation. Claire picked her up and handed her to Drake.

"She's been crying all morning." Claire stated softly.

"She knows." Drake said looking at Claire.

"That's what I thought too."

They stood there in the terminal waiting the inevitable. Their lives were about to change forever. It seemed as though it was a natural occurence in Drakes life at this time. Elyse fell asleep in Drakes arms. He didn't want to miss her grow up, even though he knew he'd miss the first year of her life. He'd miss her first words, her first steps, he'd miss everything. He'd never once experience the innocence of her. He'd never hear her first say, "Daddy." Then again, he'd never quite be able to picture it because he still didn't quite feel like she was his. He and Claire sat down on the seats. It was then that Claire noticed the paper bag that was addressed to her.

"What's the bag for?" She questioned picking it up.

"One's for you, one's Elyse."

Claire opened the bag. In it was a picture of the two of them at Homecomming. The last true night of careless fun they ever had. It was in a silver frame, but was mounted on white paper with they lyrics to a song written on it. He saw the tears in Claire's eyes.

"It's so you'll always have a lasting memory of what it was like to be carefree." He said with a smile that faded quickly.

"Thank you."

She moved on to the next gift. A pair of denim overalls, a pink stones beanie, a pink track jacket, and pink converse. It also contained a letter. Claire opened it and began to read.

Elyse,

Once upon a time you weren't even a thought in the back of my teenage mind. Lusting after girls, playing guitar, and sleeping in school were my only priorities. Then, I met your mother. She was the single greatest thing to happen to me. I mean that. Even though the story of your conception is one filled with anger, greed, and ill intentions, your mother and I will never think of you that way, you're the one thing that keeps us together. Though you aren't my flesh and my blood, you're still mine. I was the one that spent hours playing you music, telling your stories, trying to protect you from the world. I know I'll never be able to protect you from it. One day the world will tear that wall down and I'll have to let you fly. Too bad that day has come too soon.

You'll never know how much I'll regret not being there. I'll never see you take your first step, never hear you say your first word, I'll never experience your infancy, you innocence. It will always haunt me for the rest of my life. But know this, that I love you. I love you and your Mother. The two of you have changed my life in so many ways. As of now, I'll never be whole if I'm not with you. And if I can't be there now, If I can't be your rock in the future, If I never meet you again, this letter will be the memory that you cling too. The thought that someone else is out there for you if you have no where else to go. But I swear, I promise, I cross my heart, that I will find you two. That all this chaos will be gone, forever. And the illusion of happiness will become a reality.

Promise me you'll be strong, your Mother will need someone to fall on. I'd be the one to catch her, but I'm the one that caused her to fall, so you'll have to do that. Promise me that you'll never once leave the innoncence of childhood, that you'll live carefree as long as you can. That despite the pressure to grow up, don't. Stay as young as you can as long as you can. You only get one life, one youth. Don't be the one to waste it. Promise you'll love like you've never been hurt, to get up when you fall because the only way that you'll make it in life is to fail a dozen times but try a dozen more. Promise you'll treat everyone with the respect that you know you should, don't fall victim to the hatred of this earth, hold your head high and move on, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Never let anyone tell you you're something you know you aren't, don't let them cloud your perception like they did mine. Don't make the mistakes I made.

-Drake

"Drake..." Claire began but words weren't needed.

"My father wrote me one. I figured it's almost like his legacy." Drake explained as Claire folded up the letter. Her parents walked back in. Only 5 more minutes until their flight left. Passengers were already boarding.

"Claire, I'm sorry, It's time." Her father said as he and his wife began to board. "We'll save you a seat." They said as the walked away. Elyse woke up the second she was placed in Claires arms.

"She wants you." Claire cried. "It's so unfair, but I know how she feels because I want you too." She said. "Come with me. I don't think I can do this alone." Claire cried. She broke down now. Drake took Elyse from her while she sat down and gathered her belongings.

"You can, you will. Claire you'll find a way. We'll find away. We always find a way." Drake said crying too. He placed the quiet Elyse in her car seat and buckled her in. He placed her blanket over her. "If she crys place the jacket on her because it smells like me, it should work for a little bit." he said as he helped Claire up from the seat. He kissed her for what he knew would be the last time in a long time.

"I don't want you to go."

"I'll always be here. I'm not going to leave San Diego until you come back." He said kissing her once more. She hugged him for the last time. She pulled away but he let his arm linger on hers. Memorizing the way she felt. He picked up Elyse's seat, put the pacifier back into her mouth. Helped Claire carry her things too the entry way. She showed her ticket and grabbed her boarding pass. Drake kissed her one final time, placed the seat in her hand and watched as the two people he truly loved left his life.

The remainder of the flight boarded and he watched as the plane left the runway. She was gone, gone maybe forever. He held on to the glimmer of hope that she'd return. The glimmer that she'd still love him.

He left the aeroport and began the process of healing.

Claire sat on the plane her Elyses seat next to her, her mother next to the seat. She hugged the sweater closer to her taking in his scent. She knew it would fade, but the smell relaxed her now. If she closed her eyes it was like he was here. She reached her hand into the pocket and pulled out what was inside. She unwrapped the CD that was addressed to her. It was his, on it a sticky note said, Incase you get lonely or incase Elyse won't stop crying. Her songs are on here. Love Drake. Claire smiled and placed it in the diaper bag. She opened the letter next.

Claire,

It seems like only yesterday that I met you. The only one sober enough to help me. To be honest I never expected you to do what you did. I never expected you to even help me, I'd been so cruel to you. Then once I found your comfort, I knew that night that I was in love. I knew it. I never expected for a single moment that you'd ever love me. I never expected it. Then again, it's safe to say I never expected half the things that happened this year to happen. And there it goes, the one person I ever loved is leaving my life. I'd like to say not forever but I respect the fact that forever is a possibility. But just know, that I'll always love you and I'll always love Eylse. Not to sound too posessive and self flattering, I don't think you'll find that anywhere you go. I honestly have nothing else to say because it's already been said a hundred times.

-Drake Parker.

Claire folded the letter and placed it back in her pocket. She leaned her head against the window and watched the clouds fly past in the expanse of the blue sky.

Drake walked into his room. A bottle of moca cola and a bottle of Dr. Fizz along with bowls of gummy bears and cheese balls were laid out on the table. He smiled despit the tears.

"I know it's not much but, how about we play gameshpere, like we used to." Josh said as he handed Drake the controler. "You can have the purple one." Josh joked. A faint smile spread across Drakes face. The memories the two shared in this room were endless. They were about to start the final chapter of their life in a few days, their senior year.

"One glass of Dr. Fizz..." Josh started.

"One glass of Moca Cola..." Drake finished.

"Mixed half and half for optimum drinking pleasure." They stated in unison.

The two boys enjoyed a fleeting moment of immaturity and good old fun before the embarked on the painful road that lay ahead. Claire called later that night. Josh had never seen Drake cry so much in his life. The one girl he'd ever loved, the one girl he'd ever dated for more than three days...was gone from his life. Like every other thing that he loved had.

Fin

okay so...for all of you. That's the end of it. But don't worry, this is a TRILOGY! I know you can all party now because that means theres two more. The next one will be boring probably...but the last one...well...that'll be fun.

Okay hope you all like it. I'm starting a Josh centric fic next so for those of you who love Josh...it's cool for you.

-Mo