CHAPTER 5
According to Drake, the day preparing for the tour was far worse than packing for the tour. They spent the last three hours in the local grocery store buying over three hundred dollars worth of diapers, two hundred dollars worth of snacks, and over a hundred dollars worth of other "needs." Not to mention, Josh had to spend fifty dollars alone, buying some SPF 105. Drake had to mention to Josh that some sun wasn't going to kill him, but Josh didn't want to take any chances. The teen aged cashier practically had a heart attack seeing all twelve of the shopping carts, and was extremely glad they paid in credit, but was unhappy when Josh was using every coupon available.
Drake alone hated clothes shopping, but hated even more baby clothes shopping. He never knew how to match girl outfits, or what patterns went with what. Josh wasn't much of a help either, and Frank, he just agreed with whatever Drake said.
"Why does she even need more clothes? She has enough clothes to last nine weeks—even more!"
Josh rolled his eyes. "Because, babies spit up. They poop, have accidents, and they don't care what the outfit is. Also, she doesn't have any thick sweaters."
Drake protested against Josh's words. "It's summer! Like she's really going to need a wool sweater in the middle of July."
"But that's just in California. You're going to be in places where at night it could be as cold as forty, and the north can get really chilly, even for the summer."
"Whatever." Drake didn't really care at the moment, and let Josh have his way. Right now, all Drake could really concentrate on was the conversation they had last night. If all Josh said was true, then could Drake really be bisexual? It made Drake wonder. After all, he and Josh never had a normal relationship. Then there was that time Drake said he needed Josh a lot more than Josh needed him.
Josh pulled Drake out of his thoughts. "Hey, you ready? If we pack when we get back, we can be on the road by tonight."
"Yeah,sure,whatever."
Four suitcases, three hours, and two bathroom breaks later, everyone was ready to go. Their first stop was just in San Diego, so it wasn't supposed to take that long; it really only took three hours maximum, but because of the tour bus, it seemed to feel like it was going to take longer.
Josh's summer job officially started an hour ago. So far, all he did was change a diaper and give Hannah her bottle, while watching Drake practice a song from the corner of his eye. It was catchy, and defiantly a toe tapper, but the lyrics, Josh couldn't understand them. He didn't know if Drake was doing so purposely, or accidentally.
"Guess we'll just see soon then, huh?" Josh grinned a goofy grin, while tucking Hannah into her carrier.
"What was that?" Drake asked shaking the hair out of his eyes, looking up from his guitar.
"Nothing. Just can't wait to hear your new song."
"Oh that,"Drake smiled excitedly, "It's going to be awesome;I just have to work out the last few cords, then it'll be done."
Drake was dead on excited about this song. He wrote it for Josh about Josh, but Josh didn't know about it. It was going to be a shocking song for everyone. His fans, Josh,--even himself. He wrote it after thinking over what Josh said to him the other night about being gay, and knowing when you love someone.
Drake tucked away the lyrics into his pocket, and took a nap so he could prepare for his upcoming performance in about four hours.
The first hour before the performance was always the most nerve racking to Drake. Some, well most, were pretty calm compared to the first performance of the first stop, on his very first tour. The sound guys were running around, making sure every microphone worked, and cursing out the ones that didn't. Frank kept coming up to Drake every ten minutes asking if everything was "A O.K"; Drake still didn't have his song completely finished for Josh, and Hannah spit up three times in the past twenty minutes.
As if matters couldn't get any worse, Josh confirmed Drake that their parents and Megan were supposed to come to the performance. As much as he loved his mom, the she-devil Megan, and...Walter, they weren't exactly the best crowd of people for his concert. His mom usually sat down, and watched the concert politely, and would afterwards come back stage and compliment Drake on his performance, and how "well" it was, and would then give him a kiss, hug him, rub his hair, and then act all motherly. Megan would simply watch the concert, and note every mistake Drake did, write it down, and keep it as blackmail. With the press at his concerts, and with Megan there, who knows what could be on the next cover of "Celebrity Secrets." And Walter, he'd just act Walter..ish. He'd sing and dance..badly, attract unwanted attention, and then make Megan wish she went to an all girls boarding school away from all this.
With a half-hour before the concert starting, fans already started to arrive. Drake peeked from behind back stage into the crowd. Six young, hot, teenage girls were already claiming their seats, and off to buy beverages. Drake grinned, these girls were definitely after party material.
Drake's cellphone vibrated in his pocket. He quickly pulled it out, and checked the message. He sighed with relief hearing the message from his mother.
"Drake, Sweetie, sorry we won't be able to make it to your concert tonight. Walter has this important meeting to go to, and Megan has an oboe recital, followed by an important soccer match. Wishing you all the best. We love you."
Drake felt a million times better, and felt as if twenty pounds was taken of his shoulder. He wasn't exactly ready for his parents to hear the song, or really what the song was about. He himself, didn't know if he was ready to show the song or not.
It was daring. He was new, had a small fan base, and was still considered a "teen artist." His fan base consisted of teens and their mothers, and a song like this could either trash, or raise his reputation.
Drake was then pulled out of his thoughts again, by being called that he goes on in five. Drake quickly took a sip of water, and then cursed at his self for having to pee.
As if a moment too soon, he stepped out onto the stage, girls screaming wildly. He glanced at the audience, and gulped, slowly walking towards the microphone stand. It wasn't that he was scared; he had no right to be. He's been on stage since the age of twelve, and even before then, he performed. Even if it was just a pretend concert to his mom, Megan, and stuffed animals.
Drake tapped the microphone as the audience quited down. "Um, hi. I'm Drake Parker and-" he paused. Never has this awkward fear of fear entered his body. Even on TRL he seemed more confident. Maybe this was why Josh was so paranoid. This thinking everything out, every possible situation. Thinking, Drake decided, was to much trouble.
Drake mentally told his brain to shut off, so he could just not worry and have a fun party-concert mode. He stepped back from the microphone and took a breath. "The first song is a song I'm sure most of you've heard of, called 'I Know.' "
Drake started up the song, feeling a little tense. This forgetting the fear method wasn't working, and the audience could tell Drake was uncomfortable. He started up his second song, hoping this one would make his audience more awaken.
Well I never thought that it'd be so simple but
I found a way, I found a way
I always thought that it'd be too crazy but
I found a way, I found a way
If you open up your mind
See what's inside
It's gonna take some time to realize-
"Drake!" Josh hissed from the side of the stage, making Drake loose concentration. Drake looked over to Josh's direction and mouthed 'not now' and continued to play, before he made a noticeable mistake.
Josh ignored Drake's command and uncontrollably ran onto the stage. Drake stopped playing causing the audience a huge confusion and hissed at Josh. "Josh! I'm in the middle of a show! Can't whatever it is wait?"
Josh shook his head and tried not to shout. "The baby won't stop crying, no matter what I do! She won't sleep! I've tried everything, EVERYTHING! I've read to her, gave her milk, and I even sang her songs. I even tried reading her my chemistry notes! No sleeping baby equals an unhappy Josh!"
Drake sighed, there were two possible explanations for this. One: "Did you give her her teddy bear?"
Josh hissed sarcastically at Drake. " Of course I did! And all she did was get drool on him. Drool!"
"And you sang?"
Josh nodded. "Every song I could think of! And no sleeping!"
Drake rolled his eyes. Then the only reasonable explanation was reason number two: "Josh, she'll only sleep to the one song I sing to her."
Josh glared angerly at Drake. "Why didn't you tell me that before?"
Drake reddened and blushed "I forgot?"
Josh rolled his eyes and muttered some nonsense under his breath. "So what am I supposed to do?"
Drake sighed. He was getting pretty annoyed at this. "Here, just give her to me."
"Very well then." Josh handed Drake his baby, as Drake picked up his acoustic guitar, forgetting about the concert.
You were so clever,
You kept it together today
By the way
I'll no longer ignore you
I wanted to show you again
I'm your friend
Sometimes we just pretend
And all I can say is you saved me,
Changed all the things that have made me,
Entertaining,
Thoughts are raining,
Down We Fall,
When Hannah fell asleep, he quietly handed her back to Josh, who tiptoed off stage. He put down his guitar, and looked out into the audience. A general percent of the women in the crowd were awing and a few were even crying.
Drake reddened. "Uh, sorry about that. That was just my daughter Hannah, couldn't sleep, so I had to sing to her and stuff. And with her was Josh, and yeah-" Drake took a breath. If he could sing Hannah to sleep in front of his fans, then surly he could sing this song? Before he could even stop himself, the words poured out of his mouth. " And actually, the next song is for Josh. I wrote a little while ago, and he finally gets to hear the big 'mystery song'." Drake let out a chuckle. "This one's for Josh."
Lost a lover
Gained a friend
I can't afford all the love that I spend
You said you'd wait for me
But there's not commitment I see
Can't you see I'm in love with you
Can't you see there's so much I do
You keep my head spinning around
It's hard to keep my feet on the ground
Josh watched Drake's performance, and stared in aw at the lyrics to Drake's song. This, this, was the 'mystery song'? This was Drake's surprise?
Talk to you in metaphor
I know the end babe
I've been there before
Oh how I want to be your friend
But I don't want this love to end
Josh could feel his eyes watering throughout the song. He picked up the corner of Hannah's blanket, dabbing his eyes. This, perhaps, is one of, no the nicest thing anyone's ever done for him. This suddenly makes up for all the times of no gas, or forgetting to pick up Megan, or driving to school.
Drake ended the song, applause wilder than when he first started and said into the microphone. "Love you Josh."
For the first time in Josh's life, he had no sarcastic remark to make to Drake.