After the Start, Before We Begin
((Post-series, implied Drake/Mindy pre-relationship, past Josh/Mindy - Rating: K+; Words: 960))
can be read as a follow-up to Halfway Across the Sky or as a stand-alone
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The sky is filled with clouds and Mindy is just waiting for the heavens to burst open. That they will seems inevitable, necessary.
Walter swears that the rain will hold, the chance of precipitation this even is only twenty percent and the increase to forty percent isn't for well after midnight.
"It's going to stay dry tonight," Walter insists with his misplaced optimism. "And if by chance it does not, we can easily move all of the festivities inside, huh?"
He smiles the same goofy grin that Josh smiles so often and suddenly Mindy can picture her ex-boyfriend in about twenty years or so, with the same timid mannerisms and well-meaning but blind optimism as his father.
Mindy looks up at the sky again. The air is thick with moisture and the dark clouds are heavy; it's going to pour.
Megan sidles up to her. "Hey. We've got a betting pool on when it'll start raining; you want in?"
Mindy raises an eyebrow. "I'm not putting any money in but I'd say that the first drops will fall in the next ten to fifteen minutes."
Megan scrolls through the app she's using to keep track on her phone. "Drake bet fifteen to twenty. Sure you don't want in?"
Mindy's eyes search the party-goers for a few seconds she finds Drake, leaning against a tree, drink in hand, chatting with a group of admiring young women. He starts to laugh and he looks up, his eyes meeting hers and he stops laughing, his eyes still twinkling, a smile on his lips. Mindy gives him a small smile from across the yard. She wasn't staring at him – not intentionally anyway. His grin broadens for just a second before he breaks eye contact with her, once again focusing on the females fawning all over him, but he keeps casually glancing in her direction.
Megan's eyes flit from Mindy to Drake and back and forth, her eyes narrowing as the wheels turn and pieces of a puzzle start taking shape and interlocking in her head. She gasps as her eyes widen and she gawks at Mindy. "Omigod! You and Drake!"
Mindy looks equal parts stunned and embarrassed for a split second before shaking it off and putting on her poker face. "Drake and I what?"
"Oh, don't make me say it, Mindy; you know what the two of you have done," Megan says, disgusted, making a face before shaking her head. "Seriously, I don't understand how so many girls have ever liked either of my brothers but somehow you've managed to fall for both of them. You hit your head at some point, didn't you?"
Mindy starts to open her mouth then closes it. She swallows then clears her throat. "Not that it's any of your business, Megan, despite the fact that we are talking about your family, while it is common knowledge that I cared deeply for Josh and that I still do, platonically, I can assure you that I have not 'fallen' for Drake."
"Really? 'Cause you just sort of zoned out when you were looking at him. I don't know if you were, like, swooning or thinking dirty disgusting thoughts about him but you totally went to another place where it was all about him."
"Megan—"
"Don't try to BS a bullshitter, Mindy; I've been at this longer than you have. Just admit that you're hot for Drake. They say that the first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem. Or, in this case, a sickness."
"I will do no such thing," she scoffs.
"Oh, Mindy, you are so much better than ending up being one of his…I don't even know how to phrase it without throwing up. I mean, I have a good enough idea of what he does with his dates, but ugh. Eww. Don't you have more respect for yourself than to lower your standards to the point of them bottoming out?"
Mindy stiffens then cocks her head to the side. "Excuse me? I have plenty of respect for myself. And despite all the faults that Drake may have, I am sure that he has a number of redemptive qualities as well. He and I are two completely different people with different strengths and weaknesses, different interests, dreams, and goals. I would by no means be lowering my standards with Drake. I would just be operating outside of the box, out of my comfort zone, and everyone's preconceived notions."
"Gross. You two totally did it." Megan sucks in a breath, a little excited about the potential meltdown and carnage. "Does Josh know?"
"Drake and I…Josh doesn't…what I mean is…" Mindy lets out a frustrated sigh. She closes her eyes and shakes her head as she admits quietly, "It was one time. Josh does not nor will he ever know."
Megan pouts. "What's the fun in him not knowing? I want to see his head explode."
"Megan!"
"What? You used to love torturing him too," the younger girl gripes. "And Drake. How do you go from that to shacking up with them? I don't get it."
"You don't get it? I don't get it. I mean, Josh and I made perfect sense. Drake and I—first, off, there is no 'Drake and I' so it doesn't matter."
Megan rolls her eyes. "Then why does he keep looking over here at you like he wants to jump your bones? Again. You keep getting this lost in a daze look when look at him." She shakes her head. "I used to admire you, Mindy. I still do but I am judging you. A lot."
"I—"
The sky opens up and a heavy rain begins to fall, bringing a halt to their conversation as everyone rushes inside.
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*** Finis ***