Prompt: Black and White


"Hey, Drake."

Drake meets Josh's eyes in the mirror. His brother's hair is wet and he's got a towel slung over one shoulder. "Hey," Drake says. His eyes move back to his reflection and he continues to comb his hair, but inwardly he's cringing. Shit. He'd meant to be gone before Josh got out of the shower.

"What are you doing?"

"What's it look like?" Drake drops the comb on the bureau and swipes at his bangs with his fingers. "I'm getting ready for my date."

Josh's mouth drops open. "What? You can't go out. We're grounded."

Drake snorts. "So?" He turns away from the mirror. "You gonna rat on me?"

"Well..." Josh shifts his weight from foot to foot, his expression tense. "No," he says finally, sounding disappointed with himself. He yanks the towel from his shoulder and tosses it onto his bed, his mouth set in an angry line.

"Cool," Drake replies, a tiny smile curling his lips. "'Cause Marissa is waiting and I do not want to let her down."

"Marissa?" Josh says, flopping down on the couch with a book in one hand. "I thought you were dating Lyndsey. Or no, what's-her-name... Anna?"

"Pffft. They're both so last week." Drake grabs his keys off the desk and palms his wallet. "Hey, you want to come with me? Maybe Marissa has a desperate friend I can set you up with."

Josh pulls a face. "Ha, ha. No, thanks. We're grounded, remember? And I've got some studying to do anyway."

"On a Friday night?"

"Yeah, well, we've got that quiz on Monday. Besides..." His voice trails off and he looks down at the book in his hands.

"Josh." Drake sighs. "When are you going to get over Mindy? You guys broke up like, three months ago already."

"I know. There's just no one else I want to date right now, that's all." Josh opens the book and settles back on the couch, signaling an end to the conversation.

Undeterred, Drake steps up beside him and pulls the book out of his hands, turning it over so it's right side up before handing it back. "Whatever," he says. "Can I borrow a few bucks? I'm broke again."

"What am I, the First National Bank?" Josh says, his cheeks flushing, but he doesn't say anything to stop Drake when he crosses to Josh's desk and flips open his wallet. "You already owe me about five hundred dollars."

"I'll pay you back when I'm famous," Drake replies, stuffing two twenties into his pocket.

"Just be quiet when you get home," Josh says sternly. "I'm not going to cover for you if Mom and Dad find out."

"Yeah. Right," Drake says, giving Josh a lopsided grin as he heads toward the open window. He's not worried. If push comes to shove, he knows Josh will be there for him. Josh has always been the dependable one that way.