Let's just get down to the point: I don't own Drake & Josh characters or anything like that. "Collide" is sung and written by Howie Day.

So, today I realized the first fanfiction I ever wrote was a Power Rangers fanfiction when I was in like second grade. I don't know how I remember that. The good one too. Like the first two seasons, not what they have now. I don't even know what happened to that fanfiction. Hmm. I want to write a Sailor Moon fanfiction and I have a Pokemon fanfiction to finish (it's kind of outdated though, but I still want to finish it!).

Anyhoo, here's the next chapter. Still setting things up a bit.

The next day at school Drake walked up to Cassandra while she was at her locker and tickled her up her back.

"Ah! Drake!" she shouted, giggling. "Feeling better?"

"Yep," he replied.

"Good to know," she said. "Did you study for the quiz today?"

"Nope," he replied.

"Drake..." she said. "Remember last spring? You almost ended up in summer school."

"Hey," he said. "I thought you didn't care how smart I was."

"I don't," she said. "I'm just concerned about you. I do want you to graduate."

"I know," he replied. "I just know that there are smarter guys than me who like you...like John."

"Drake, how do you know about that?"

"Josh."

"Oh boy. Josh and I are going to have to have a little talk."

Cassandra slid into her seat in calculus.

"Hi," said John, taking a seat next to her.

"Hi," she replied.

"Sorry about yesterday," he said. "I didn't mean to come across as trying to hit on you. Well, maybe I did. I'm sorry. I didn't know you had a boyfriend."

"Oh, that's okay," she replied. Josh had been right. He was a pretty nice guy.

"So how is your boyfriend anyway?"

"Oh, he's better. He had food poisoning, but he's back in school today."

"Oh, that's good," said John. "Food poisoning's the worst."

"Yeah," said Cassandra.

The teacher walked in and Cassandra pulled out her homework. John was a nice guy. If he was asking about her boyfriend, he probably wasn't jealous. She had dealt with guys like that before, Christopher for one. She just didn't want anything to get between her and Drake again.

Everyone in Mrs. Haifer's senior English class sat around waiting for her to come into the room. Josh pulled out his list of colleges. They were supposed to have three. Drake looked at his list. He had no clue how to do this. He didn't know where he wanted to go to school. He really just wanted school to end. He wanted to be a musician. People kept telling him to go to college though, and well, he decided to go. He knew everyone was right.

"Okay class," Mrs. Haifer began, walking into the room. "I asked you all to make a short list of colleges. We're going to have to do this quick. Most universities take applications for Fall until February. Other smaller colleges take them until the summer before. However, it is best to get applications in very early. Otherwise, your first choice may quickly fill up or you do not get accepted to the college you want."

Drake squirmed in his seat. He had no idea where to apply.

"Most universities..." continued Mrs. Haifer. "...will ask you to write an essay. I feel it is part of my job to help you with this part of the application. So, please pay attention."

Drake sat back and sighed.

"What's the matter?" whispered Josh.

"I don't know about this," Drake responded.

"We'll talk about it later okay?" said Josh.

"Alright."

When Drake and Josh arrived home that afternoon, Drake flew up the stairs to his bedroom and ran back down and out the door.

"What's with him?" Megan asked Josh.

"I have no idea," Josh replied. "He has been acting kind of funny today. I don't know why."

"Well," said Megan. "I guess that's no different than normal. Hey Josh, do you want a cookie?" she asked, offering him a plate.

"Well..." said Josh. They looked tempting, but he knew about Megan's pranks. Could he trust her cookies? "I don't know."

"Oh," she said. "You never trust me," she said, beginning to cry.

"No, wait! Look Megan, I'm eating it!" Josh took a bite and immediately made a horrible face.

"Ha ha," said Megan. "Gotcha." She ran out of the kitchen.

Josh spit the cookie in the trash.

"Megan!"

Drake had run to meet his friend Paul to talk to him and take care of something.

"Okay," said Drake. "So, once this goes out we have to wait two or three months for a reply. Same with the other."

"Right," said Paul. "Let's make it happen man."

The two guys dropped two envelopes into the mailbox and headed back home.

When Drake came back home and went up to his room he found Josh and Cassandra there.

"What's going on?" asked Drake.

"You said you weren't sure about college Drake," Josh replied.

"So, we thought we'd give you a hand," said Cassandra.

"Oh," said Drake. "You know, first of all, I'm not really sure about the whole college thing. I mean, graduation is supposed to mean freedom and no more school."

"Drake," said Josh. "Everyone has told you, you need to go."

"I know, I know, I know. Look, maybe you two can get in, but it's not exactly something that will be a walk in the park for me."

Cassandra looked up at Drake. She recognized the look on his face. She'd seen it often on her brother's face when he was very concerned about something and when she looked in her own mirror.

"You're scared," she said. After they had dated for a while, and before Cassandra's parents got in the way, she began to speak her mind. This case would be no exception. She wasn't afraid to face Drake. She did love him and knew he had to have someone stand up to him.

"What are you talking about?" asked Drake.

"You're scared of rejection," she replied.

"Huh?" asked Josh.

"That's why you keep saying you'll get a recording contract. Because you want it to happen. You might not. You think you stand a better chance at that then getting into college because you think you're better at music than school."

"I...uh...I," Drake fumbled with his words. How was she reading him like this? It was as if she could read his mind. It kind of freaked him out.

"Drake," said Josh. "Are you really scared of not getting in?"

"I'm not exactly Harvard material Josh."

"No one said you had to be," Josh replied.

"Drake," said Cassandra. "Schools look at everything. They will look at your current grades. They look at your extracurriculars and volunteer service. Grades aren't everything. Your essays will help too. Mrs. Haifer is helping us in school. I'm sure she'd help you more if you just asked, and we're all here if you need it."

"Yeah," said Josh. "I mean, come on, you're my brother. I'm not gonna let you stay home while the rest of us are at college. Besides, there's lots of parties and girls..." Josh stopped talking and looked at Cassandra. She was giving him such a nasty glare that Josh was scared she'd jump him and strangle him. "...did I say girls, I meant, I meant...sorry."

"Thanks guys," said Drake. "I just don't know where to go either. I mean, yeah they say if you go to college you should experience dorm life. I don't know what universities to go to though."

"We'll help you then," said Josh. "Mom and Dad will help too."

Josh and Cassandra sat Drake down and went online to show him some applications for colleges. They helped him fill out a few. Some he couldn't complete without an essay, but he'd have that soon. Besides, as Mrs. Haifer said, the sooner the better. Drake was a little less worried about applying now. His next dilemma to face was winning over Cassandra's parents Saturday night. It just had to work.

In the next chapter we get to see if Drake can survive dinner with Cassandra's parents. Please review.