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.
I said it wasn't over...of course, if you'd been keeping up with my series you would have known that. :-) This next chapter is a bit emotional...if you're a crier, you may want to break out the tissues...of course, that's coming from me...I cried during War of the Worlds. By the way, if you can't handle gross stuff, probably not the best movie for you. Good movie...not for those with weak stomachs. Anyhoo, chapter eight.
They arrived at Cassandra's house at 2:00. Audrey had already called her parents and explained to them what happened. When they pulled up at the house, Cassandra's mother came flying out to meet them.
"Oh!" she exclaimed. "Cassandra are you alright?"
"Yes Mom," said Cassandra. She hadn't spoken much since the accident, and when she did speak, it came out in short sentences.
"Come inside," she said. "Walter, what happened?" she asked. "Please, come in and explain."
Walter and Drake stepped inside with Laura and Cassandra.
"Are you both okay?" asked Cassandra's father.
"Yes," she replied. "May I please go upstairs?"
"Of course," said her mother. She watched Cassandra climb the stairs. She looked very worried about her. She sighed and looked toward Drake. She made eye contact and glanced from him to the stairs. He got the message, but he was a bit shocked that the woman who wouldn't let him see her daughter a few months ago wanted him to go comfort her, in her bedroom. He wasn't stupid. He knew one of the reasons he had been forbidden to see Cassandra was that her parents thought he'd try to take advantage of her, but in reality, he would never do that to her.
Drake knocked on Cassandra's door.
"Come in," she said. Drake walked into the room and closed the door softly behind him. Cassandra was lying on her bed.
"Hey," he said. "You okay? You haven't talked much. I'm worried about you."
"I'm fine Drake," she said. "I just keep reliving everything right now. I was really scared today...scared that..." Her voice caught in her throat. She turned over and away from Drake.
"What's the matter?" he asked. "Come on, you can tell me anything." He sat down on her bed and rubbed her back.
She turned back over and looked up at him. There were tears in her eyes.
"When I knew we were hit, I thought about everything that happened when I was in the accident with Matt. I was scared the same thing happened all over again. I was scared you were..." She choked on her sobs.
"Cassie," he said. "I'm fine. We were hit in the back. It's all okay."
"I know. I just couldn't help but think...I couldn't lose you too."
"It's alright," said Drake, pulling her into a hug. He had no idea she had been that scared or that worried about him.
Cassandra sighed. She felt better when he was holding her. She leaned against his chest. She could hear his heart beating, and that made her feel much more calm.
Drake thought about when he first learned about Cassandra losing her brother. He thought about how sorry he felt for her. He felt like crying, remembering his own past. A past that he wanted back but couldn't have. He had to tell her. He couldn't keep it from her anymore.
"Cassie," said Drake. "You know my dad died when I was younger."
"Yeah," she said.
"I feel like I lied to you last year. I said I couldn't understand exactly how you felt. I can. My dad died in an accident on his way home from work. I don't like to think about it. I don't like to remember when I came home from school to find my mom crying because she lost her husband." Drake felt a tear slide down his cheek. He was crying in front of his girlfriend. Great.
"Drake," said Cassandra. She reached up and gently brushed the tear away. "Why didn't you say anything before?"
"Because there's a lot of stuff I'm afraid of. It might have helped you before, and that makes me feel terrible."
"Drake, that's okay. We all deal with that in our own way."
"Yeah, I know. I just kept it pushed away for so long that I just stopped thinking about it. Even when you told me about your brother. I didn't feel like I could tell you about my dad. I feel like a coward for it now. You're so much braver than I am." He sighed. It was true in more ways than one, and he knew it. He was scared people would think less of him if he showed weakness.
"Drake," she replied. "I don't..."
"You are," he said. "I'm scared I'm going to fail if I show any sign of weakness."
"That's why you were worried about college."
"Yeah," replied Drake. "I know it's silly."
"No it's not," she replied. She looked up at him. "Thank you for telling me about your dad. I do feel better knowing someone does understand a bit more than I thought."
"I can't know what you were thinking exactly in the car today. I've never been in that situation before. It does hurt to unexpectedly lose someone you really cared about though."
"Were you really close to your dad?"
"Pretty close," said Drake. "I was really upset when I found out my mom was getting married again. I don't think I could ask for a better step-dad than Walter though."
"You've got Josh too and Megan. I wish I had a sibling. My parents were talking about having another baby before Matt died. They decided not to after."
"I see," said Drake. He sighed and looked around Cassandra's room. The walls were a pale blue that matched the bedspread. They weren't lined with posters, but rather, collages of pictures of her favorite bands and singers cut from posters and magazines. One even contained a collection of Orlando Bloom, her favorite actor. There were also collages of photographs. One held pictures of her and Matt. Another had pictures of the three weeks she'd spent in Michigan with Drake's family.
Drake sat there for a while with Cassandra. Neither realized they had fallen asleep until Walter came in to wake Drake up to go home. Drake looked up and realized he was lying beside Cassandra with his arm around her. He carefully got up so he wouldn't wake her and left with his dad.
In the car on the drive back home, Walter spoke to Drake.
"I'm sure Josh will be willing to drive you to school," said Walter. "If he can't, your mother will."
"Okay," said Drake. He was thankful that Josh was his brother. He was really kind, and Drake knew he'd offer to give him a ride, even if his dad didn't tell him to do it.
"I don't know about your car Drake. If they can't fix it you'll have to get a new one. Given the circumstances, your mother and I could help you a little bit. In fact, we can help you pay the damage on your car if it can be fixed. I know you're probably a bit upset about it."
"The car doesn't matter Dad," Drake replied. "I'm just glad the both of us are okay, and as upset as I am with the guy that hit us, I'm glad he's okay too."
"You handled today very responsibly son," said Walter. "Your mother and I are proud of you."
"Thanks Dad."
They finally got home where Audrey, Josh, and Megan were waiting for them.
"Are you okay Drake?" asked Audrey, immediately getting up from the couch.
"Yes Mom," said Drake.
"How's Cassandra?" asked Josh.
"She'll be fine," said Drake.
"That's good," said Josh. "I'll be glad to give you a ride to school."
"Thanks Josh," said Drake.
"Drake's had a long day," said Walter. "Maybe we should let him get to sleep."
"Do you want anything to eat Drake?" asked his mother.
"Well," said Drake. Then his stomach growled. "Actually yeah, then I'll go to sleep."
His mother went into the kitchen and fixed him some food. Drake sat in the kitchen eating when Megan walked in.
"Hi," said Drake.
"Hey," said Megan. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah," said Drake. "The worst damage was done to the car I think. Everything's fine."
"You took so long to save up for the car, and that's the last thing you're worried about?"
"Some things are more important Megan."
"I guess so," she replied.
"Yep," said Drake. He stood up and put his plate in the sink. He turned to head upstairs. First, he gave Megan a hug.
"What was that for?" she asked.
"Because, you're my sister. I'm lucky to have you."
A moment between Drake and Megan. Yes, I had to throw one in eventually. Oh yes, the next story in this series is finished as well. That'll come after I finish posting this one. Anyway, please review.