Scrambled Up
Part 3/4

Audrey had been looking at them funny ever since they got back. Well, the woman had raised Drake and Megan- she had to be paranoid if she was going to survive the experience. She watched as Drake gulped down some Mocha Cola in the kitchen and nearly swallowed his banana whole before he rushed upstairs and slammed the door shut.

Josh was still drinking his glass of milk.

"Alright, Josh-" Audrey smiled at him and put down the spoon she had been stirring the soup with. "What's up with Drake?"

Josh hessitated. He knew that if he had an embarassing experience, he would really appreciate it if Drake just kept his mouth shut. But that look on Drake's face and his refusal to talk about it set off about a million warning bells in Josh's head, and- like it or not- his Mom might know something that could clue Josh in on why his brother was acting so weird.

"Our History teacher, Mr Donovan- well, he made us read a paragraph out loud today, and Drake didn't do so well. He spent the whole day in my car."

Audrey bit her lip. "He hasn't told you, has he?"

"Tell me what?"

She shook her head. "That's for him to tell you." She kissed Josh lightly on the head. "Thank you, though. You don't need to worry, he'll be just fine."

And with that, she left.

Somehow, Josh felt even more confused than before.

When Josh headed up to his room just a few minutes later, he heard something extremely out of the ordinary. Instead of a guitar playing or a TV blaring, there were voices.

"Drake, sweetie- I can talk to your teacher about it, so he knows if it ever comes up again-"

"So? Then I'll have to read in English, then in Science, and before you know it, everyone's laughing at me."

"You do very well. You know that- you can't help it!"

Josh eased the door open just a crack, so he could see Drake and Audrey sitting on the couch together. "I'm not doing well enough. I almost didn't pass English again. I mean, what kind of idiot can't even pass his own language? I just- I hate school, I really do. I hate it."

Audrey gave Drake a hug, and Josh shut the door again as he saw Drake's shoulders begin to shake. As curious as he was, Drake deserved his privacy.

He walked away, the sounds of Drake's distress fading as he went.