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.

The book I read about the desk in is called Little House on Rocky Ridge. Okay then, that takes care of that.

Chapter six...oh...part of Drake and Cassandra's conversation in the car is why I rated this T. It doesn't show up very often in this story, and it's not much. I just didn't want to get the story deleted because I happened to mention it.

Drake hurried out to his car early one morning in January. He was supposed to pick up Cassandra, and they were going to drive to L.A. that day. The concert was that night and it would take two hours to get there. They wanted to look around and shop a while too. They planned on staying in a hotel but only after assuring their parents they'd be in separate rooms.

He pulled up in front of Cassandra's house, and she came outside right away. He got out and opened the trunk for her. She put her suitcase inside.

"My parents are still asleep," said Cassandra. "I told them I wouldn't let you wake them up with the doorbell."

"Okay," replied Drake. "Have you eaten?"

"Yes," she responded.

"Okay, good. We can just head off then."

They got into the car and headed off.

"So," said Drake. "Your parents still on your case about the hotel room?"

"Yes," said Cassandra. "Even after I told them about fifty times we'd be in separate rooms. Well, adjoining rooms. They seem to find that a slight problem. Like we'd be awake enough to do anything after the show anyway."

"I thought your parents knew you weren't going to have sex until you got married," said Drake.

"They do," she responded. "They just think they need to worry. They're pretty over-protective, as you know full well. I don't know what's going to happen when I go away to school. It's going to be phone calls every hour on the hour. If I don't answer, they'll send the state police after me."

"Speaking of school," said Drake. "When are we supposed to hear back from colleges?"

"Anytime soon," said Cassandra. "I hate waiting for responses. I just want to know if I'm in or not."

"Yeah," said Drake. "Some things take a while I guess."

Cassandra looked at him curiously. Josh had mentioned he had been acting a bit odd lately. Checking the mail before anyone else, always making sure there wasn't anything for him. Was he really jumpy about college? That wasn't like Drake. Maybe it was something else. Cassandra wasn't too concerned. Knowing Drake, it was probably a CD that he ordered, and it hadn't arrived. She had told Josh this and he agreed.

They reached L.A. at about 9:30 that morning. They couldn't check into their hotel until noon, so they decided to drive around and see a few things.

After a couple hours of driving around L.A., which was insane by the way, they stopped for lunch.

"This is a great city," said Cassandra. "Minus the traffic."

"Yeah," Drake agreed. "I guess I'll be living here if I ever get signed."

"Really?" asked Cassandra. She knew his dreams all to well. They were part of the reason her parents wouldn't let her date him for a while. He said he planned on going to college though. That way if he didn't get a record deal, he'd still be okay. Cassandra wasn't sure where she'd be in a few years. She had no idea what she was going to major in or how long she'd be in school. She wanted to get married and have children. All of her thoughts were jumbled though, and she wasn't sure what she wanted to do for her career.

"Of course," said Drake. "Where else could a rock star live?" Drake glanced at Cassandra across the table. He thought about his future. Yeah, he wanted to be a rock star, but what else was in his future? Was there a wife? Children? Would Cassandra still be with him?

They finished their lunch and checked into their hotel. After spending the afternoon around L.A. again they headed to the concert.

They walked backstage. There were more people there than there had been at the show Drake had been to when he played for Devon. Just then, Drake saw Devon come down a hallway. He stopped to get a drink before turning around to talk with the rest of his band.

"There's Devon Malone," said Drake.

"Yeah," said Cassandra. "You know, he's not too bad looking."

Drake gave Cassandra a look.

"I'm joking," she said. "Well, I'm not...Drake knock it off!"

He had turned his expression into one of disappointment and sadness, then he burst out laughing and slipped his arm around her waist.

Devon glanced up and looked at Drake.

"Well," he said, walking over. "If it isn't the kid who's brother crushed my hand so he had to play for me. You did good that night kid. The fans were almost not upset about me not being able to play. Oh, and who's this lovely lady?"

"This is my girlfriend, Cassandra," Drake replied. He was so glad that Devon remembered him.

"Well," Devon said. "She's a catch. I wouldn't let her go too easy."

"No way," Drake responded.

"Listen," said Devon. "I've got to head off and get ready, but it was great talking to you again."

"You too," said Drake. Devon walked off, and Drake stood there looking happy.

"You look like you got one of the biggest thrills of your life," said Cassandra.

"Hey, it's not everyday Devon Malone walks up to you and just starts chatting," Drake replied.

"I guess not," Cassandra chuckled.

After the concert they headed back to their hotel and got ready for bed. Cassandra walked over to Drake's room where he was watching television.

"Hey," said Drake. He moved over on his bed so she could sit down. Cassandra crossed the room and sat down beside him. She leaned her head against his shoulder and let out a small sigh. "What's the matter?" asked Drake.

"Nothing," she said. "I'm just happy to be alone with you."

Drake smiled. He brought his arm around her. He thought about how last year at about this time he abandoned her for Sam at the Zero Gravity concert. For a while, listening to Zero Gravity's music made him feel guilty. It wouldn't anymore. Besides that, she had forgiven him. He wouldn't have blamed her for staying mad. He felt he would have deserved it if she never wanted anything to do with him again. However, she was sitting right next to him with her head on his shoulder. Drake wanted this moment to just go on forever.

Aww...

I'll get in another chapter later on tonight. Right now, ER is about to start and it's a Christmas episode. I want to watch, so this is going to have to wait. ;-)