Chapter 12

Oh How Things Change...

San Diego California…

Audrey was making herself lunch in the kitchen, the light coming in through the window over the sink. She'd just spent the afternoon cleaning the house for no reason in particular. She knew Walter wouldn't notice that his ties were neatly color coded in his drawer and Drake would never notice that his room was a little less dusty when he came back.

She sat back in a chair at the small kitchen table and sighed. She missed her kids. With Drake and Josh off touring the country, Megan in Denver with her friend, the house was far too quiet for her. She missed the days when she had to stop Drake and Josh's fighting and force them to be nice to their younger sister. She hated to admit that she was glad Drake was coming back home. Though she did wish he'd done better in school so at least he could to San Diego State, but she was proud that he at least got his High School Diploma. Plus she figured a year off would do him good. He'd get to actually do some work with his band and possibly produce a record by the end of the year.

She was just about finished with her chicken cesar salad when the phone rang. Megan wasn't due back home for another week and Drake wasn't due back until then either. Megan had been calling her every other night just to check in and the boy's hadn't called her at all. She hoped that the phone was none of her children. She looked at the caller ID and when it didn't register she feared the worst that Drake and Josh were calling her from some phone booth in the middle of nowhere because something had happened.

But instead of a Mom she got… "Audrey?"

"This is Audrey, Who is this?" She asked rinsing out her lunch bowl.

"Audrey, its Mike." The male voice said on the other end.

"Michael Parker? The man who left me with two children for someone else?" Audrey stated she grabbed hold of the kitchen counter; she didn't know if she should pass out or hang up on him. "I thought I told you the day you left that I wanted nothing to do with you."

"Audrey, forget about that. The past is the past after all."

"You think you can call me 11 years after our divorce and tell me that the past is the past?"

"Audrey, Drake stopped by today. Actually he just left." Mike said as he looked up at the clock on his desk. "That kid has my face but your bitterness. How'd you know where I live? I thought moving across the country would ensure that we never saw each other."

"I take it Drake's fine then. And I never told him where you lived. I never knew you where you ended up. I never cared. I still don't care." Audrey said with bitterness in her voice.

"Yep, Drake definitely has your bitterness."

"I take it he said something to you."

"He made me realize what a jerk I really was when I left you 11 years ago."

"Well I never told him to say any of that. He must have decided to do it on his own."

"Audrey, I know apologies won't ever equate to the shit that I did. But, I want you to know that I really am sorry. And all it took was seeing my son again."

"Your right apologies won't make any of it okay. Mike, I'm still pissed at what you did, I probably always will be. But I'm happy now; I have a husband, two sons, and a daughter. And just so you know…

"He's a weather man." They said at the same time.

"How'd you know?" Audrey asked.

"Drake told me. You know that kid has got my sense of pride."

"You never had a sense of pride. You didn't raise him Mike; he has nothing from you except your genes. Everything that Drake knows is because of me. I raised him Mike, I raise both of them. Megan doesn't even know who you are. Sure she's seen pictures but she has no memories. Do you know how hard it was to tell both of them that their Daddy was never going to come back? Megan got over it but Drake, Drake never got over it. Whatever he told you he deserved to tell you and you deserved to hear it, however unflattering and hurtful it was." Audrey yelled as tears started to fall down her cheeks.

"Audrey…" Mike began but knew his words would be meaningless.

"Goodbye again Mike, I hope you realize what you did, but just so you know we're all happy and fine without you. We always were." Audrey said softly as she hung up the phone.

Audrey wiped the tears from her face and walked upstairs to start packing her bags. Walter would be coming home soon for their trip to Cambridge. They were going to meet Josh and Drake at Harvard to see their son off to college. They were going to leave tonight, she knew now that they were close. She'd lied when she told Mike that she never knew where he lived, she'd known all along that he'd lived in Hershey Pennsylvania. She'd known since he'd left. Carol, always trying to be nice to everyone had called her and tried to be 'friends' with Audrey. Audrey knew it wouldn't work; you can't be friends with someone else's ex. It just doesn't happen.

Walter came home to bags waiting by the door with Audrey dressed in a pair of jeans and a red velvet blazer.

"Where are we going?" Walter asked. He was like Josh; it always took him a second or two to put the pieces together.

"We're going to Cambridge; the boy's will be there sometime tomorrow." Audrey said as she grabbed the bags.

"Can I go change first?" Walter asked pointing out that he was still wearing a suit and tie.

"Sure just be quick."

"And what about Megan?"

"She's not going to be back for another week. I called her and told her were we'd be." Audrey said soothingly she just wanted this whole day to be over, she just wanted both her boys safe where she could reach them.

Walter ran upstairs and changed into a pair of pants and a sweater. He helped Audrey load the luggage into the car and drove to the airport. It was going to be a long flight to Logan Airport, then a long drive down to Cambridge the next morning.

Some Suburbia outside Hershey…

Drake had finished crying and wiped the tears off his face. He didn't know why he felt so guilty and dirty for crying in front of Josh and Taylor but he appreciated what they did by leaving him alone.

Drake had only known his father for 8 years but it was those 8 years which made him not believe his Mother when he asked her 6 years later what happened between them. Even at the age of 14 he found it hard to believe that his Father was the jerk his mother said he was. Drake believed it now and he figured he owed his mother an apology.

He turned on the car and began to drive around the neighborhood knowing he'd find Josh and Taylor somewhere.

He found them sitting on the curb a few minutes later.

"What are you boobs sitting there for? Get in; we've got to make it to New York today." Drake laughed as he rolled down the window. He was always able to hide things like that; it was always put on a smile and be the center of attention. Drake was always the puppet.

Taylor and Josh smiled too figuring it was what they should do. They both knew if Drake wanted to talk about what happened he would in time. If not they both knew that they shouldn't press it.

Josh climbed into the front seat, Taylor into the back.

"I'm here for you bro." Josh said softly as he placed his hand on Drake's arm.

"I know you are." Drake replied as he turned on to the main road and headed towards I-81 N.

In two hours he'd be in the one city he loved more than Los Angeles, New York. His favorite place was Times Square, so many people, so many lights; there he could be just another pretty face in the crowd. At least in LA he fit in, everyone else there was just as good looking as he was and no one would pick him out from a crowd. That's what he liked about cities, you were never alone but at the same time you were always alone.

Drake merged onto I-78 east and noted that he and Josh were the only ones awake. Taylor had fallen asleep listening to Josh's Geo. Who knew that there was another person that liked the same music he did.

"Josh thanks for doing what you did back there. I mean leaving me alone and what not." Drake stated as he hit the gas a little more pushing the speed up to 78 mph. driving fast was a release to him as it was many other people.

"I figured you needed to be alone as always." Josh said as he shifted in the seat.

"I bet you want to know what happened." Drake laughed. Josh always had to know everything, which was the catch 22 about his caring personality; he just had to know, always.

"You know you don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Josh said softly. Though he did always like to know everything about everyone he always felt guilty if someone told him when they didn't want to.

"It's okay, I want to tell someone who can understand and not try to make it better."

"So, what was it like meeting your Dad again?" Josh asked. Josh wouldn't meet his mother again. She died when he was 6 and it'd really impacted his father more than it had Josh. Josh still knew that his Dad didn't think that his mother was dead.

"My mother was right the whole time. She told me he wasn't a good person. I never believed her. He's a jerk. It's probably where I get it, I mean I do have his face, or at least that's what he says." Drake said with a tone of regret in his voice.

"So what if you have his face, you don't have to be like he is."

"Who leaves one family for another one Josh? I mean he has a daughter and a son with Carol. He had a son and a daughter with my Mother, I mean our Mother."

"Well, at least your Dad just left, I mean not that it was good but he's still alive. My mother died."

"Yeah, that must have been harder I guess." Drake shrugged. Their losses were both pretty painful.

"Yeah but what pisses me off is the drunk driver didn't die. My Mother died and he didn't, he barely had a scratch. The scary thing is that I was almost in that car." Josh trailed. He was so lucky that his mother was late to his recital so he drove home with his father that night.

"I didn't know it was an accident." Drake said as he looked at Josh.

"Yeah, I was 6 and I had my first school recital. It was a play about the food groups. The teacher made me the Ham." Josh laughed. It was impressive how much weight he'd lost over the last 4 years. Drake was impressed as he watched it happen. Josh had dropped nearly 100 lbs and he was starting to compete with Drake in the looks department, but Drake didn't have to worry much about Josh being better looking than he was. Josh was attractive in his own way.

"They made you the ham?" Drake laughed

"Yeah…it wasn't my best moment. At least I wasn't the watermelon or something like that."

"Now that would have been a sight to see."

"Shut up. I'm sure you had some embarrassing moment when you were a kid."

"Not that I can recall. But, Josh man how come you and Walter, I mean Dad weren't in the car?" Drake asked changing the subject back.

"She was late from work. She was coming to see if she could catch the tale end, but it had already been over for 20 minutes. Dad and I were on the way home and we passed the crash. Dad saw the car and knew it was Mom's. He stopped and told the police that it was his wife in that car. I only remember the lights swirling past; crying because I didn't know what was going on. Dad rode in the ambulance with Mom and the police took me to the hospital to meet up with them. My Mom was DOA and they'd tried everything they could but she needed blood." Josh stated solemnly. Sure Drake's Dad had cheated on his Mom but it was nothing compared to what had happened to Josh.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I mean if she hadn't died, my Dad would have never met your Mom and we'd never be here right now. We'd probably hate each other. You'd probably make fun of me and I'd have never ended up having all that I have right now." Josh smiled. "I'd never have an awesome brother like you."

"I'm sorry that I thought that I had it worse this whole time. I mean, I thought it was bad that my Father cheated on my Mother and I had to witness it. I'll never forget the day she found out that he was actually cheating on her. We came home from that Padre's game, her Megan and I. Dad had said that he wasn't feeling well and didn't want to go to the game. We came home a little early, after that fight that you and I had, and I guess he was expecting us later, or he just wanted it over with. Mom saw her car in our driveway and knew something was wrong. We came in through the garage and Mom told me to take Megan upstairs. We could hear them yelling, all three of them. Carol didn't say much but she left. Megan was crying and I told her to stay in my room. I went downstairs only to see Mom throwing all of Dad's things out the door at him. The height of it all was when she threw her hair dryer at him and he decided that he was leaving forever. I went to their wedding. I don't know why but I did. I'll never forget having to comfort Megan that night. It's not like she knew what was going on; she just didn't like the yelling or the tears." Drake recalled.

"Don't be sorry. What happened to us was hard in different ways. You had to deal with the fact that your father had left you guys for someone else. I had to deal with the fact that my mother had died."

"I'm just glad that everything's okay now. I'm sorry I was such a jerk to you in the beginning. I just didn't want a brother at the time. I was content being the only guy in my Mom's life."

"I just wanted a family." Josh said. "And I got one. Drake we're brothers now and I think we've come a long way from where we started. I'm just happy that we're friends now and I hope that we'll continue to be friends."

"As long as you're willing to keep in touch with me when you're off having fun and partying it up at Harvard." Drake laughed.

"I don't think I'll be partying too hard. I mean you won't be there to get me into situations."

"Oh, I think I've had a lasting effect on you. You'll be off studying hearing the party in the hallway and you're going to think, 'What would Drake do in this situation?' and of course the answer will be to go out there and party. Why? Because you only live once Josh, so I better get a call from you after you've had your first hangover and you've finally made it past 1st base with Mindy. And you better tell me what it was like living Drake Parker style." Drake said as he gave his brother a sideways glance.

"Only if you call me up first and tell me that you actually did something with the year you have off. You better tell me that you worked your ass off on that record and that you're planning on debuting it sometime soon and that you're planning to make your first music video and tour the country. Because Drake, I never want to hear you say you're not good at anything because I know that school isn't your thing, it'll never be, being a rock star is what you were destined to be. You weren't born with good looks and musical talent for nothing." Josh added as he gave his brother a smile.

"Deal?"

"It's a deal." Josh said. "Oh and the loser, who ever doesn't follow through with this has to dye his hair pink." Josh laughed recalling their bet. He never forgave Drake that he hadn't actually dyed it and had just worn a wig. "And no wigs this time."

"Fine, I'll tell Megan when I get back and she'll make a contract that we have to sign. And when you don't party your ass off I want a picture of your pink hair."

"It's not going to happen because I'll party."

"Alright. I can't wait to see this." Drake laughed. Josh partying was something he'd love to be around for. He'd love to see what kind of drunk Josh would make. He'd probably be a funny one. He'd probably let loose and start doing magic tricks or something.

"Hey look you can see the Manhattan skyline." Josh pointed out.

"This is going to be one hell of a night." Drake smiled as he stepped on the gas a little more.

"You really like her don't you?" Josh asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Taylor?"

"Yeah, I've never seen you treat a girl the way you treat her."

"Well…" Drake paused turning red.

"You really do like her. She's not going to end up like Lucy who you dumped because she was in fact tougher than you. She's not going to be like Tori, who you broke up with because she called you her boyfriend, then you got back together with her, but then you realized that you really didn't like her that much."

"Josh, trust me I'm not going to do that. She's the one. I mean I said Lucy was, and Tori was, and Susan was. Josh there's been a lot of girls that I thought were. I lot of girls I lied to and said they were, but I swear she is."

"She's the one you're going to say the…" Josh was interrupted by Drake shushing him.

"Don't, not yet. It needs to mean something."

"Drake, I'm glad you decided that this trip would be a good thing. I think it's changed you." Josh smiled he was sad to admit that this trip was coming to an end. Tomorrow he'd be outside the Harvard campus, Mindy by his side, them starting the next chapter of their lives together.

After entering the city Drake and Josh tried to find the Hostel they were going to stay in. Taylor was the one that had come up with the idea, they were short on cash and Hostels were cheaper than hotels. Drake eventually found it.

"Are we like in the Ghetto?" Josh asked as he looked around.

"I think so, hey are you sure we can park on the street without like having this car stolen or vandalized?" Drake asked as the look of worry filled his face. "I do not want another incident with the police."

"I'm sure it's fine. There are no signs around at all."

"Well then let's check in, take a shower and hit Times Square." Drake suggested with a smirk on his face.

"That's never a good smile." Josh laughed. "That's a smile that means evil."

"Is there any other reason?"

"Hey, you know what I just realized." Josh stated as he opened his door.

"What?" Drake asked.

"TRL goes live in like a little over an hour."

"So…"

"I wonder if you could play again."

"I doubt it. We can just chill outside the studio. Plus, there are way cooler places to check out besides MTV. Hell, the Virgin records store is like right there and I'm thinking I need a new potato launcher…Toy's R Us is right there too."

"Please, not another potato launcher. That just brings back bad, bad, memories."

"Oh come on. I broke my arm that day too. We were as you said 'cast buddies'." Drake recalled as he gently woke Taylor up.

"When did we get to New York?" She mumbled as she sat up.

"Like 5 minutes ago. Quick we want to spend as much time in Times Square as we can." Drake said as he pulled his duffle out of the car.

They checked into the Hostel, they were on the third floor all three of them sharing a room with two bunk beds. They had a view of the patio and the balcony where a group of French kids were outside smoking and drinking.

"I get top bunk." Drake called as he threw his bag up to the top.

Josh unpacked his things neatly and grabbed his bathroom bag and towel. He grabbed a pair of dark jeans and a tee-shirt.

"I'm taking a shower." He stated though he knew he didn't need too.

"I'll be in there in like 5 minutes Josh, make sure you save a shower for me because I'll need to borrow your stuff." Drake added as Josh left the room.

"You two seem to have made up finally." Taylor stated as she sat down on the window ledge.

"Yeah. He's a good kid." Drake said as he grabbed a tee-shirt out of his bag and smelled it. "God, this stinks…Is there a washer here?" Drake asked as he threw the shirt on the ground.

"Yeah we passed it coming to our room."

"Remind me that I should do a load before we leave tomorrow."

"You should do a load before we leave tomorrow." Taylor got up off the ledge and walked over and put her arms around Drake's shoulders.

"That wasn't funny."

"Oh come on. What's bugging you?" She asked hoping to find out what had happened between him and his biological father. She knew it wasn't her place but she wanted to know.

"Nothing."

"I know it has to do with what happened today."

"I know you know. You'll find out soon enough. We've got another whole week or longer together. But since we're kind of low on money I'm thinking I just want to go home."

"Sounds like a good idea."

"I've been meaning to ask you what you plan on doing. Are you planning on coming back to San Diego with me? Or are you planning on getting off somewhere?" Drake questioned. He knew what he wanted her to say. He wanted her to say that she was coming back to San Diego with him.

"I don't know." She said letting go of her embrace and sitting on the bed. "I've been thinking about that too." She sighed as she felt him sit down next to her.

"Well the offer's open if you want to come to San Diego with me. I'm sure it'd be okay with my Mom…" Drake trailed as he remembered he needed to call his mother and tell her that they were almost near Harvard.

He took his cell out of his pocket hoping that the batteries weren't dead. They weren't and amazingly enough he got service in the building. He called his house but only got the answering machine. He left a message but tried his mom's cell anyway. He got her voice mail and left a message knowing that she'd get one or the other.

"What was that all about?" Taylor asked.

"Called my mom. I forgot that I was supposed to call her when we reached Pennsylvania."

"About your question before…" she started as she stood up. He got up too. "I know I don't want to go back to Arizona. I mean, I like you Drake. I would love to go back to San Diego with you but…"

"But what?"

"But common sense tells me that I should go back home. I mean my Dad is probably worried sick. I left a note but…Drake…"

"What?"

"Drake…I really do like you and this has been such an amazing trip, but what happens if it doesn't work out. I mean what happens if we don't work out? What am I supposed to do then? Roam the streets of Southern California?" She ranted but stopped when she felt his hands around her.

"I can't reassure you that it will work out. But I really like you too. Let's not listen to what better reason tells us to do. Let's just do what we feel like doing. This whole trip has been a just do what we feel like doing kind of trip. I mean Josh didn't get us kicked out of the Pentagon and I didn't get us kicked out of the Hershey Factory for doing what was right. You didn't just decide to join us because it was right to do." Drake smiled as he pulled her into a hug. She rested her head on his shoulder.

"You're right. And you should really go take a shower because you reek. I don't know if it's because of the fact that you haven't washed any of your clothes or because you were in a hot car all day."

"Hey, it's probably because I haven't washed this shirt in like a week." Drake laughed as he grabbed the best smelling shirt out of his duffel. "I'll be back soon, and you might consider taking a shower yourself." He added as he walked towards the door.

"Drake…"

"Yeah?" he stopped as he was about to open the door.

"Thanks."

"No problem." He said as he walked out into the hallway.

He walked into the bathroom and found Josh shaving something that Drake realized he needed to do, badly.

"Hey your stuff in the shower?" Drake asked as he walked towards the stalls.

"Yeah it's in that one."

"Thanks."

Drake turned on the shower and began to take off his clothes. Taylor was right, they were starting to smell. He couldn't wait to get back home. He no longer cared about seeing the rest of the country. He was going to go on the computer before they left and print out directions to get back home, the fastest way possible.

"Hey Josh…" Drake began as he stepped into the shower.

"Yeah?" Josh questioned as he started brushing his teeth.

"Are we the only ones in here?"

"Yeah." Josh mumbled.

"Thanks."

Drake was one to always sing in the shower. According to him it was the only place with the best acoustics besides those really, really nice recording studios. Drake started singing…

I'm tired of all your excuses

I'm tired of all your lies

Your filthy schemes and abuses

Well I've finally grown wise

Got tired of chasing it down

Maybe it's better that I'm not around

And I'm on a highway to nowhere

Trying to get high without you

And I don't know why it took me so long to

Wind up back in nowhere with you

Josh smiled as he heard his brother singing. It'd been awhile since he heard Drake play his guitar or sing. Josh smiled because he knew the song was the one that got him the gig on TRL. This was one of Josh's favorites. He like the duel meaning in it, the connection towards his Father and girls that he'd found himself dating more than once just because he was Drake Parker and knew he could.

It's time for a little pay back

It's time for a little respect

You can just rewind and playback

All of the shit that you wrecked

And I'm on a highway to nowhere

Trying to get high without you

And I don't know why it took me so long to

Wind up back in nowhere with you

"Drake the rest of my stuff is under your door." Josh stated as he slid his bag under the stall door.

"Thanks bro."

"No problem. Just hurry it up. I know you can take a long time to get ready."

Drake laughed it was true. He took as long as some girls do to get dressed and out the door. He dried his hair and pulled on his clothes. What he would give to just sleep in his bed again. He knew that going back home would be different.

He opened the door to hear two French boys talking about what he assumed were girls of some sort. He did hear, Oui elle était très joli, followed by a, Je sais, mais tu vu la blonde ? Elle était très coquet n'est pas? Drake had been surprised to find out that he knew French, or at least parts of it. That was probably due to Monique, the French girl he dated. He realized that he could actually speak it when he and Josh decided to pull the Alien joke on Megan and he spoke French instead of Alien. Just hearing them speak French for some odd reason made him want to pretend that he was.

"Bonjour." Drake said as he smiled at the confused look on the kids faces.

"Tu parles francais?" The very thin brunette next to him said with a confused look on his face.

"Non." Drake smiled as the boys went back to what it was they were doing before. He left the bathroom and found Josh in the room, Taylor nowhere to be found.

"She's in the shower just so you know." Josh stated as he pulled out a map of New York City. "I don't really feel like doing anything." Josh sighed as he looked at the map.

"I don't really either. I just kind of want to sleep." Drake yawned as he stretched out on the bed.

"I mean I'm almost one hundred percent positive that I'll be back here someday."

"Me too, L.A. is so much better. There's more glitz and more glamour."

"You're right."

Both boys sat there in silence not wanting to do anything but enjoy the time they had left with each other. The hustle and bustle of Times Square was something that they didn't feel was necessary at the moment. Drake was snoring before Josh could ask him if he was going to take Taylor back home with him or not. Josh had forgotten that she didn't start the trip with them. She was just kind of like an older version of Megan, well except for the fact that she and Drake were a couple now. He'd forgotten what had started this trip on a sour note and what had changed it, the car breaking down in the middle of the Nevada dessert. Though Josh wasn't one to muddle in Drakes love life, he hoped that he and Taylor stuck it out for at least a year or two. They were good for each other; well more or less she was good for him.

Josh folded the map of New York City and gathered his, Drake's and Taylor's dirty laundry. Josh smiled he'd be at Harvard tomorrow moving into his freshman dorm, Mindy by his side.

A/N: Okay so I felt that this chapter was kind of lame...but that's just me and it did take me like over a month to write. Only because I got stuck so many times and I didn't feel like writing them taking a trip into NYC it just didn't work for me. And don't expect anything soon. I'm going to L.A. and San Francisco next week and then I only have THREE DAYS to make up all the work before Finals...it sucks majorly. I'm only going to look at colleges though. But then, then, it's summer VACATION! And I fully plan on finishing this story and Broken Innocense and another little like 5 chapter story I've been working on.

Peace Out Morgan.