Reading Between the Lines

((Alternate History in which partners are assigned in Mindy's Back - Drake/Mindy UST - Rating: K+; Words: 1000))

A/N: Been holding onto this one for a while because it's not as smooth and cohesive as I'd like it to be but I've wanted to post it so here it is. Reviews are always welcomed and appreciated! :-)

After school, Mindy finds Drake at his locker. She clears her throat and waits for him to turn around. He glances over his shoulder at her, not bothering to turn. She takes a deep breath and precedes thusly, "I know you don't care about your grades and I don't expect you to do much work but I do expect you to at least pretend to be making an effort on this project. I hate the idea of us working together as much as you do but there's nothing we can do about it. I'd like for us to get a head start and brainstorm on ideas and draft a work schedule this evening at the library, say, 6 o'clock?"

Drake finally turns around as he slams his locker closed. His face is screwed up in consternation. "The library?"

"Yes, you know that big building full of books and knowledge‚ much unlike your brain."

"I know what a library is." After a beat, "I'm just not sure where it's it."

She rolls her eyes. "Of course you don't know where it is, you can't pick up girls there."

"Oh, I can pick up girls anywhere." He sounds proud and confident.

"Probably not all you're picking up," Mindy mutters under her breath. "Just remember that we'll be there to do research and work on our project, not for you to find your next play date."

There's a cocky grin on his face. "I can't promise you that. All work and no play makes—"

"Makes you immature and unmotivated, or in your case, you."

"Or it makes you a crazy bitch, or in your case, you," he sneers.

She presses her lips into a thin line and slings her bag over her shoulder. She huffs, "Josh can give you directions. Don't be late."

Mindy waits in the vestibule of the library, tapping her foot impatiently. It's 6:07 and she hasn't seen Drake nor heard from him since she arrived at 5:45. She waits until 6:10 then she stalks out of the library, fishing her phone out of her pocket. She stops on the concrete steps. Drake's leaning against a tree, chatting with some girl who's batting her eyelashes and falling hook, line, and sinker for every line he throws.

Mindy narrows her eyes, frustrated that he can't put his libido to rest for one evening. The hardness in her eyes fades as her body relaxes. She punches a text message into her phone and sends it to Drake. She watches as he tosses his hair, sliding his hand into his pocket to retrieve his phone. He reads the message, grimacing as he looks over his shoulder and sees her. She gives him an annoyed look before stomping back inside the library.

It becomes their routine for the following three weeks except for the evenings when Drake sends her text blowing her off at the last minute, informing her that he has a date. On those nights, she just rolls her eyes, and deletes the message with a huff before walking out of the library and riding her bike home.

When he deigns to grace her with his presence, he spends most of his time texting or doodling. She lets out a frustrated sigh and slides a note card over to him. "The least you could do is make yourself useful and get these books. We still need a couple more primary sources."

Drake stares at the writing, trying to decipher the combinations of numbers and letters. "I don't know what this means."

"They're the call numbers for the books."

He continues giving her an uncomprehending stare.

She drums her fingers on the tabletop for a moment, taking a few calming breaths before pushing her chair away from the table. "Come along, slacker. The least you can do is learn a little something."

He trails behind her through the stacks as she tries to briefly explain the Dewey Decimal System as well as the Library of Congress' system.

She spots one of the books that they need on the top shelf and uses the stepstool since Drake doesn't seem to be absorbing anything she's said. She jerks, looking down at him in surprise when she feels his hands on her hips, keeping her steady.

When she hops down off the stool, Drake's hands are in his pockets and he's glancing at her out of the corner of his eyes.

There's clearly something on his mind and she knows better than to ask but she does anyway. "What?"

He shrugs. "I was just thinking—"

"Shocker."

Taking a step towards her, he continues, "—that I've never spent this much time with a girl without kissing her."

Mindy shirks away, her back hitting the wall. "What are you doing?"

"Just stand still and calm down. I have a reputation to maintain."

There's an acute awareness of her heart pounding in her chest as she watches him move closer, closing what little distance remains between them. In spite of herself, she's leaning forward, rising on her tiptoes and responding eagerly to his kiss. There's a whispering in her head, reminding her that she has a crush on Josh, that he's the one she wants. Drake, for all his other faults, is what she imagines a good kisser is and there's that old song her parents listen to about loving the one you're with and Josh is nowhere around.

Mindy stands silent, eyes wide, in a shocked daze when Drake pulls back.

"So, where's this other book?" he asks, indifferent, like he didn't just kiss her.

"But you just—"

"It didn't mean a thing," he says coolly, eying a girl standing at the end of the aisle across from them.

Mindy frowns. He's right, it didn't. She had always hoped that her first kiss be a meaningful one, special, not stolen by the school dunce and Casanova in the library stacks.

She sighs and leads him in the direction of the other book they need.

*** Finis ***