Since When?
Nichols-Parker house
1 hour later after Chapter 7
This was so typical of Drake. He was hogging the shower again, like he always did. He
knew that Josh always liked to take a few showers a day. Also Josh had to go to the
Premiere to get his picture taken for the new I.D. badges since he was sick in the bed
when the original pictures were taken much to Helen's chagrin of having to reschedule.
Thank god it wasn't just him but Crazy Steve and new girl Melody that had to get their
photos taken as well.
"Dr—ake, come on!" Josh pounded on the bathroom door.
There were days when he'd give you the money he earned from the dream come true of
playing with rock band Zero Gravity because Josh repurchased the red Fender Strat
that he broke and went through the trouble of trying to get backstage to get Devon
Malone to autograph it where his brother was all grateful and then there were days
when he like this when he monopolized the bathroom.
Their mother spent less time in the shower than Drake did.
"Drake! You better just be showering in there!"
Josh paced in a little circle around the door getting more anxious by the minute. He
couldn't be late for the rescheduled picture day. Helen would have his rump for
breakfast if Crazy Steve made it but he didn't.
Sometimes Drake Parker could be the most ignorant brother on the planet.
"Screw you. I'm coming in!"
Josh decided the best revenge was going to be to take a piss and then flush the toilet
while the shower was running.
It would serve Drake right.
After all the only reason he'd be showering not counting band concerts nights was so he
could try and get into the panties of some young, hot, but incredibly shallow girl. Josh
had no time for such nonsense besides if you are going to fantasize in the shower
better it be Oprah than some self-proclaimed hot tart in algebra II.
It's not like Drake was going to settle down with any one whose number was in his little
black book.
"Drake, what is your problem, man?"
There was absolutely no reaction when he flushed the toilet.
That was not like Drake at all. He usually would call him a name that began with the
letter 'f' and throw a bar of soap over the curtain to whack him for flushing the toilet while
he was in the shower.
"I have to go the Premiere, Drake! Stop using up all of the hot water!" Josh went up to
the curtain ready to pull it.
Drake felt an inner peace wash over him as he parked his car in the driveway after
coming back from the store. The beige Jetta was in the garage so that meant Josh was
home.
He hoped that he and Denise were getting along. Josh's confidence improved as the
years went on and Drake felt he had some hand in it. That his self-assurance was
rubbing off on his step—no—It might have taken awhile like it did to accept Walter, but
Josh was his brother now pure and simple.
There were no steps about it.
Drake was certain that Josh was probably trying to get Denise to watch one his Oprah
tapes.
The little box with the shiny ruby red paper and miniature silver bow with the curly tails fit
in the palm of Drake's hand, he said he was going to his band mates house to pick up
a guitar tab book and he did, but when he drove past Rutherford's department store he
felt compelled to go in.
It took a lot of courage for Denise to make herself known to Drake that he wanted to buy
her something special, so that she would be more at ease about the situation. He put
the box in his side jeans pocket.
Just as Drake was at the front door the cell phone in his brown track jacket with the
vertical yellow stripe on the right sleeve rang. He thought it was ironic that he did not
cave in and get a ring tone. It might have been because everyone had one and Drake
Parker wanted to be an original.
It was Brittany from history class. For the first time in his life Drake did not want to
answer a call from a girl.
"Hello, I'm home," Drake casually announced letting the phone call go
Unanswered, "Denise, Josh…."
No answer here either. They must be upstairs.
Drake went upstairs to find Denise gently knocking on the door of the locked guest
room that was across from his parent's bedroom.
"Josh, come out. It's okay."
They didn't fight already?
"Hey."
"Hi, Drake. Did you get your guitar tab book?"
"Yeah. Why did Josh lock himself in the guest room?"
"He thought it was you in the shower instead of me and he kind of saw things." Denise
giggled. He certainly wasn't the first man to see her naked.
She had a soft spot for shy.
Drake let out a laugh that was so typical Josh. Things like this could only happen to his
brother.
"J-Josh, open the door," Drake said, "I bet his face turned bright red."
"Why would he lock himself in the guest room though?"
"Because there are moments when he acts extra Josh-ish."
So much for Drake's confidence rubbing off on his brother.
"I'm so-rry," Josh said to Denise with his head down.
Was this guy for real?
"It's okay, Josh. Weren't you grumbling about having to go to the Premiere?"
Whatever that was.
That perked him right up like a horse out of the starting gate.
"OH NO!" He looked at his watch, "I'm LATE! HELEN IS GOING TO KILL ME!"
Josh sped past Drake and Denise who burst out laughing.
"Is he for real?" Denise questioned. He forgot to take his shower. Wasn't that what he
wanted to do in the first place?
"Yeah, he is."
"Drake," she yawned, "I hope you don't find it rude, but I'm tired. I'd like to rest for
awhile." They walked to his and Josh's bedroom.
He noticed her lilac checkered sleeping pants. Although he wished she wore a sweater
to bed with her black tank top with a little bunny appliqué on the tip of the v-neck.
"You're not rude. Sure."
"I like that bed." She pointed to the top bunk. This was an awesome room.
"That's mine."
"We seem to have a lot in common."
"I should get you a cleaner blanket."
"No. You don't have to go through any trouble."
"You aren't any trouble."
When Drake got Denise settled for her short nap. He quietly took the box from
Rutherford's out of his jeans pocket and slipped it in the open side pocket of her purse.
He took his Walkman off his dresser and quietly left the room.
Denise was home.
Drake sat on the back porch still deciding whether or not to call Brittany back when
Josh came home forty minutes later.
"Drake."
"Josh." He turned the radio off.
"May I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"Who is Denise? She looks just like you! Never mind that I feel so embarrassed that I
saw her naked. I swear if I didn't know any better, I'd swear she was your twin. How
messed up is that?"
"Denise is my sister."
"Since when?"
"Since 1986." Duh.
"And I'm just finding this out now!"
"Relax, Pacey. I just found out myself."
Their conversation was cut short when they saw their parents drive up to the garage.
"I don't have to tell you to keep your mouth shut, do I?"
"Why would you not—"
"Shut up!"
"Hi, boys." Audrey came up the back stairs with several shopping bags.
"Hi, mom." They both said
"Josh!" Walter called out to his son. He needed help carrying the new lamps.
Drake continued to stay seated on the steps. Hoping that Josh could keep his mouth
closed.
Denise had wanted to put on the television. The room was too quiet to sleep in. She
stopped in her tracks when she heard footsteps in the hallway didn't sound remotely
like Drake or Josh.
How long could they really keep this up?
Her eyes caught a box sticking out of her purse pocket that wasn't there before.
He didn't.
Denise softly climbed back into the soft bed with her box and opened it very slowly to
not only savor the moment but to make sure that door did not open unless it was Drake
or Josh.
It was a silver green enameled 'D' initial pin.
The gift card was silver with pearlesque swirls on it.
Denise,
First gift but not the last gift,
Much love, Drake
Her eyes teared up as she pinned on the 'D' to her tank top.
Her brother was the real gift.
"I love you, Drake." Denise whispered into the pillow before falling asleep.