Sorry it took so long to update! I had a bit of trouble with this chapter as well, but I finally got there:)
As Drake got in the car and started driving, he didn't know where he was going. He just knew that he needed to go. Anything to get as far away from that meeting as he could. Anything to assure himself that he wouldn't turn into those people. Anything to tell himself that he could get better, get Mindy, and get Josh to the point where he wasn't waiting to wring his neck. He wanted to talk to someone, and he knew that at this point, Josh was probably his only option. Drake wanted to see Mindy, but he was sure she wouldn't want to see him after the recent fiasco. Before long, Drake found himself pulling into Josh's driveway, confused as to why he was even there; he knew Josh was still angry at him, too.
Drake pulled the keys out of the ignition, taking a deep breath before getting out of the car. He walked up to the porch and rapped his knuckles on the door waiting anxiously for Josh to answer.
Josh, who had been grading papers, was startled by the noise. He tucked his favorite red pen behind his ear before walking to the door and peering through the peep hole. He was shocked to see that it was Drake standing there, rocking back and forth nervously on his feet.
Drake had internally rehearsed what he was going to say to Josh once the door was opened, but his practiced word went out the window when, "You win, I'll go" slipped out of his mouth without much thought.
"What?" Josh asked, motioning Drake in without a hint of reluctance.
"I, uh, went to that meeting thingy like you said. I tried like you and Mindy said I should, and it was scary." Drake sighed and rubbed his head. "I don't want to end up like the people there. They were…I don't want to be like them."
Josh suppressed the knowing smile that threatened to creep onto his face. "Good," he said, patting Drake's shoulder lightly. "I'm so glad. Scary what you can end up being, isn't it?"
Drake nodded, sitting down on the couch. He wished that Josh could've seen the people that had scared him into wanting to stop his addiction. The stories they told were far worse than anything he'd ever done or been through. "Shitload of papers," he observed, pointing toward the large pile that sat on the table.
"Welcome to my life," Josh laughed, sitting down in a plush armchair across from his brother. "It's not bad, though. I love doing that stuff just like you love doing music."
"Used to," Drake corrected. "I liked music a hell of a lot more the people at Spin City decided to fuck it up for me." He still wrote music and played shows, but not like he used to. It was like the fire inside him was gone.
Josh sighed, having momentarily forgotten about the story that Drake had told him just days ago. He couldn't imagine someone ruining another person's passion; he couldn't even fathom how empty Drake must've felt. "If you get clean, maybe you can start over."
Drake laughed, happy that Josh had faith in him, knowing the harsh reality of the music business; at twenty-six, it wasn't likely that he could make a triumphant return. The world didn't work that way as much as he truly wished it did. "Ha, I doubt it."
"You'd have a better chance."
That Drake couldn't argue with. While he'd be competing with fresh faces who were ready to be molded to fit the charts, something he had never done, he'd have a higher chance of success if he was sober. He shrugged before brushing off the subject by saying, "God, bro, those people at the meeting tonight were scary. Thank fuck I'm not that bad."
"Were they really that bad?" Josh asked, trying to comprehend the stories his brother could've heard.
Drake ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know if it was so much that they were horrible or just that I don't want to be like that. I don't know where to go or what to do to get help exactly, but I'll do it."
Josh nodded, happy that Drake was finally making an effort. Drake did little to help himself; he was stubborn and barely listened to what anyone else had to say. It was about time he did something for his own good. "I'll help you find somewhere," Josh told him with a gentle grin.
"Thank you," Drake said, relieved that Josh was willing to help him. There was no way he could do this alone. "Um, can you call Mindy?" he added quietly, feeling slightly guilty for even asking. "I'd do it, but I'm sure she's still pissed at me from the other night. Tell her I'm sorry and I'm going somewhere?"
"Yeah, bro." Josh knew that this would give Mindy hope that her relationship with Drake could work out. He hoped that Drake wouldn't hurt her being so acutely aware of his brother's past history. "I'm sure she'll be glad to hear you're helping yourself."
"I hope so. I'm sorry if it's awkward for you, man, but I really do like her."
"Yeah." Josh cleared his throat. "You have to call Mom and Dad, though."
"Josh! Can't you do it?" Drake moaned, his brown eyes becoming so large and pleading that it was almost impossible to say no. Josh didn't understand how Drake was capable of doing that; it was like he knew exactly how to pull on his heart strings. He'd been able to do it since they were teenagers, and it baffled Josh each and every time.
"You have to do it. You have to be an adult," Josh said firmly, surprising himself with his resistance.
Drake shot Josh a look full of sadness and nerves.
"But I'll help you every step of the way."
"Thank you," Drake said with a smile. "Hug me, brotha?"
Josh grinned and stood up as Drake did and threw his arms around his brother. "It'll all be okay."