Disclaimer: All Drake & Josh characters copyright their proper owners. I just wrote this. And "You're Beautiful" is by James Blunt. "Ever the Same" is by Rob Thomas. Where the Heart Is is written by Billie Letts, and I used an excerpt from pages 355 and 356 of a Warner Books paperback copy from 2000.

A/N: Like the last part, not everything will be cleared up in this part. However, since there's only one part left after this, everything will be cleared up in part three. I am going to clear something up from part one in this chapter. Remember Christine describing a guy to Drake that she liked? You'll find out who it is. I'm going back and forth between Christine and Drake in the beginning of this chapter. I hope it doesn't confuse you because I've also got song lyrics and the novel excerpt weaving in and out as well. If you're confused, just ask me. I'll try to clear it up for you.

Chapter Thirteen: The Right Colored Rose

Christine sat on the couch in her living room. Her mom was out for the day, Mindy had a large report to do, Michelle had academic team, and Drake was giving Ford one last chance. There was no way any of them would be able to keep her company that day. As bored as she was, she was glad they were all working, and she was proud of Drake for giving Ford that one last chance. She decided to take the day to read Where the Heart Is again. Although, it brought back emotions that she had pushed away for a long time.
Drake drove slowly to Christine's house. Why did Josh talk to Ford in the first place? What had compelled him to do it? Drake sighed. It was all because Josh loved him. He didn't want to see him get hurt. Ford obviously didn't want to either, but he made a lot of mistakes. Drake didn't know what he was going to do about Ford anymore. He just wasn't Dad. Walter was Dad. Drake couldn't see things any other way. Maybe he and Ford could be friends on some level. He must have cared if he'd kept all the letters Drake had written to him.

Drake stopped those thoughts. Ford wasn't what he was dealing with now. Christine was.

Christine sighed as she turned the page of her book. She was nearing the end. She had just gotten to the part where Novalee finally tells Forney she loves him. Novalee thought she'd be holding Forney back, and she couldn't hurt him if they weren't together. The story was all too familiar to her life. You just didn't want to risk hurting a friend, especially when they wanted so much more. You'd hurt them because you could never be what they wanted in a relationship.
You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You're beautiful, it's true
There must be an angel
With a smile on her face
When she thought that I should be with you

But it's time to face the truth
I will never be with you

Drake sighed at the song played on the radio. Was that really it? Would he never get to have her?

"Novalee could feel her heart quicken. Then, squeezed between convulsions of air, the words exploded from her lips.

'I lied Forney.'

Seconds turned into lifetimes while Novalee strained to hear some sound . . . a whisper of a voice, an embrace of breath.

'Oh, don't let it be too late, Forney. Please don't let it be too late.' She prayed he was still on the line, prayed they were still connected.

'I lied to you . . . and I'm sorry.'

Then she heard him draw a deep ragged breath."

Christine sighed. Life wasn't like the one Novalee led. It was too difficult to just tell someone you loved them. Well, it had been for Novalee, but she eventually did something. Not everyone could just do that, or could they? Could she look at someone she cared about for so long and tell them how she felt, when she hadn't in the first place because she knew they wanted better than her?

We were drawn from the weeds
We were brave like soldiers
Falling down under the pale moonlight
You were holding to me
Like a someone broken
And I couldn't tell you but I'm telling you now

Just let me hold you while you're falling apart
Just let me hold you and we'll both fall down

Fall on me
Tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you forever in me
Ever the same

The next song playing was the Rob Thomas song "Ever the Same." At least it wasn't depressing Drake as much. Actually, it did make him think of Christine. He had wanted to help her last year when she first started to deal with her parents' divorce. He had let her lean on him. Maybe something could come of all that.

"'I thought you wanted something else--a different life. I thought you wanted to go back to Maine . . . go back to school . . . become a teacher. And I was afraid if I tried to keep you here with me . . .'

'Novalee . . .'

'So when you asked me if I loved you, I said . . .'

'You said, 'No. Not in the way you need to be loved. Not in that way.''

'But it wasn't true, Forney. I do love you.'

'Then . . .'

'I lied because I thought you deserved something better.'

'Something better than you?' His voice was husky and thick. 'Novalee, there isn't anything better than you.'"

Christine lay the book down in her lap. She wondered if maybe it was possible for things to work out the way they did for Novalee. She got her love when she finally decided to stop running from it because she didn't think she was worth it to Forney. However, she soon learned she was what he wanted.

We would stand in the wind
We were free like water
Flowing down
Under the warmth of the sun
Now it's cold and we're scared
And we've both been shaken
Look at us
Man, this doesn't need to be the end

Just let me hold you while you're falling apart
Just let me hold you and we'll both fall down

Fall on me tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same
Call on me
I'll be there for you and you'll be there for me
Forever it's you
Forever in me
Ever the same

Drake sat listening. He thought about the dream he'd had back in the fall. Why had he said he loved her when he begged her to come back? Did he really? They were eighteen. Was that old enough?

You may need me there
To carry all your weight
But you're no burden I assure
You tide me over
With a warmth I'll not forget
But I can only give you love

Fall on me
Tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same

Call on me
I'll be there for you
And you'll be there for me
Forever it's you
Forever in me
Ever the same

Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same

The song ended. Drake glanced into the passenger seat where a single red rose lay. Yes, that was how he felt about her.

Christine got up off the couch and began to head toward the stairs to put her book upstairs. She heard the doorbell ring. It was odd because no one was supposed to be around at all that day. She set her book on the desk and headed toward the door to open it. When she found Drake standing there, she was surprised. He was supposed to have been with Ford all day. Had things not gone well? Christine hadn't been expecting much after Drake's last encounter with him, but she had hoped things would go better this time.

"What's the matter?" she asked. "Did something happen with Ford?"

"Yes," Drake replied.

"He's still not..."

"No," Drake responded. "That's not it at all. I am here because of him but not because of him upsetting me. I guess I understand now why he did some of the things he did. I wouldn't be here now if it weren't for him, I guess."

"Then, why are you here?" Christine questioned

"I really need to talk to you," Drake said.

"You want to come in then?" Christine offered.

"Sure." Drake sat on the couch. This would be difficult. "Before I tell you anything, I want to give you something." Drake handed her the rose he had bought before driving to her house. Christine stared at it for a moment. A look of surprise filled her face.

"Drake, I told you that this meant..."

"I know."

"Then..."

"I know I've been acting very strange lately. I have to be honest now. I've been jealous of David, and that's not right. I guess I should have figured it was someone like him when I teased you and made you describe who you liked to me last year. By now I know it was him."

"Drake, that wasn't David," Christine said, a bit embarrassed.

"Oh, well, which honor student was it?"

"I said he wasn't an honor student."

"You said he was smart."

"Yes. I also said he respected me. And he was cute." She glanced up at him. He looked puzzled. "It was you."

"Me?"

"Yes."

Drake nearly hit the floor.

"Then..." he sighed, "I probably could have said something last year. I should have. I'm sorry. I care about you a lot. More than I thought I did."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I was afraid of hurting you. I didn't want to be like Ford. He told me today he didn't want me to be like him anyway," Drake said. "He didn't want me to make the mistake of giving up something that could be so wonderful."

"Drake," Christine said. "Maybe this isn't such a good idea. It would ruin everything we have."

"Will it?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

"I don't want to lose you as a friend, but I care about you a lot. I already made the mistake of not telling you once. I don't want to do that again."

"Drake...I...we..."

"I don't want to hurt you. I also don't want to be Ford. He always hid his emotion and affection, and even he hates where that's gotten him now. I care about you, so much"

"I feel the same way about you," she replied.

"Then let's not let this go," Drake said. "I know this is scary and different, and we might come out of this broken hearted, but isn't it worth it to at least try? I love you. I want us to be together. I want to try. If we don't try, we might regret it. I don't want to regret it."

"I don't either," Christine replied.

"Then let's try, please. Hey, I promised you we'd always be together. I won't let anyone or anything break that promise. Besides, I also promised I'd take you to prom if neither of us had a date, and well, we don't."

Christine was nervous. Her best friend had just told her he loved her. That was pretty big. If she hurt him, she would never forgive herself. Drake meant more to her than any other guy ever had. She stared at the rose he'd given her. He'd remembered. He knew her better than anyone. She felt a tear slide down her cheek. She wanted Drake. She wanted someone she could laugh at Jon Heder with. She wanted someone who knew what music she liked to listen to and someone who let her know she was never alone. That was Drake. It always had been Drake. She knew what she had to tell him. She'd learned something from Novalee. You couldn't let these things go. Christine and Novalee had a chance to make things right. They should take the opportunity. Not everyone was as lucky.

"I love you too, Drake," Christine replied.

Drake smiled. He felt a burst of happiness inside him. It seemed to replace the jealousy he used to have for David. Things were fine now. Drake wasn't going to let Christine go easily. He didn't know it, but at that moment, Christine made the same vow toward Drake.

Drake couldn't stand it any longer. He had to do what he'd wanted to do for a long time. He bent down and kissed her. He hadn't since they were eleven. Seven years later, it meant everything. When Christine felt Drake's lips touch hers, she remembered the time when he promised her they would always be together. The kiss felt right then, but it felt even more right now. Their kiss grew more passionate as Drake brought his arms around her and held her close to him. He felt her cling to him just as tight. This was what he'd always wanted. Neither of them wanted to break that kiss, but they knew they had to do it eventually. Finally, they did. Drake continued to hold Christine. If they could be that way forever, life would be perfect.

"Can I ask you a question?" Drake asked.

"Sure," Christine replied.

"Why didn't you say anything about wanting to be with me?"

"I guess I thought with all the girls you dated you were only interested in the really pretty ones. The ones who were better than me."

"I thought you deserved better than me," Drake responded.

"I guess we had the same thoughts then. I have to admit, there probably is a better girl than me out there for you. You just haven't..."

"Something better than you? Christine, there isn't anything better than you."

A/N: Maybe a bit corny way to end this part. I liked it though. I love that book. And do you see what Mindy meant when she said Christine's mind seemed like it wassomewhere else? The last part will be up in a few weeks...actually, we'll have to see. I have some finals coming up soon for classes and papers to write for them besides. We'll see. Shouldn't be more than a few weeks. I need to get moving on it. The last part will tie up everything. I'll go more into Megan and Walter's feelings, and Drake's going to have to deal with Ford yet again. I'm also bringing back another character from part one and developing him/her more. Until then, I hope you enjoyed part two.