Author's Note:How are you guys liking this story so far?I know that its been a long time since I've updated this story,and I'm really sorry about that.Thank you so much.I know that it might seem a little out of character in the first chapter,but I'm trying really hard to bring that Drake and Josh funny into this story.So, basically what I'm trying to do with this chapter is show that Drake still does get himself in to predicaments...And that no one's perfect.I re-wrote this like 10 different times, that's why it took so long to finally be posted.Here it is!

Chapter 2:Listen To Your Heart

Driving all the way to San Diego was always boring,and excruciatingly long and terribly lonely.The drive back,always seemed to fly by,and was always a blast.Maybe that was because I wasn't alone,and I was with Drake.I could tell by the sound in Drake's voice,that he was excited to know that I was coming to pick him up.Something told me that it wasn't just because I was getting him out of the temperary hell that he was in,staying with Audrey and Walter.I knew he wanted to see me,if not for romantic reasons,then he wanted someone to build him up again.There were many times when even I didn't recognize the voice on the other line as being Drake's.Sometimes he was so bummed out about being unsuccessfull in all his attempts to make it big time,that I thought perhaps he was on the vurge of suicide.All he ever really wanted was to entertain,and when they wouldn't let him,he,yes Drake Parker,the guy who could pretty much intimidate any guy with a girlfriend,felt insecure.He saw the success of his brother,as a smash to him.Josh had always been successfull academically in school,whether it be High School,or College.But,I don't need to tell you that.Another thing that I suppose got Drake upset was that Josh,the clumsy,goofy,self-proclaimed "science nerd" had a model for a wife,and even at the age of 30 had never had a serious relationship.Many times I had told Drake that it wasn't worth his pain to stay single for me.I was married to Josh,however un-happilly it was,it was a commitment that by law I was morally obligated to uphold.But,Drake was so stubborn that it wasn't worth me telling him what to do,because he would just do the exact opposite.Ugh,I guess it just goes to show that you can't help someone that doesn't ask for your help.Sighing,I turned on the radio.It was an old classic song,one from the years of my teen-hood.D.H.T.'s Listen To Your Heart.Wow,if that wasn't a sign of something,I don't know what a sign is.I don't really know what the next songs were,because after that song came on,I became absorbed in my thoughts.What was I going to do about Drake and me?I couldn't keep doing this,no I couldn't keep having an affair with my husband's brother.How could I do such a thing?I must've been some kind of a fool for letting myself fall in love with him.Especially when I was supposed to be in love with Josh!

Eventually,I arrived at the Parker-Nichols residence.Even though the "real" Parkers didn't live there anymore,as Megan had moved out years previous,and visited only when she had a chance with her hectic schedule.I knew Audrey and Walter didn't hold it against her.She was a veteranarian,and mother of two.The real reason it was known as the Parker-Nichols home,was because Audrey never gave up on the Parker side of herself.She went along writing checks,calling herself,and responding to Audrey Parker-Nichols.The woman with a dead-beat dad's last name,and with a kind,warm,gentle,and soft-tempered current husband's name.When I parked the car, and walked onto the porch of the famous house, I couldn't help but feel like I was being watched.The feeling of being watched is such a strange feeling that it almost makes you want to run and hide,like a scared little girl. I shook my feelings of paranoia off, as just that. A feeling, and since I couldn't prove that I was being watched, I let it go, but not entirely.I knocked on the door, and after three knocks, Drake came to the door, in shorts and a t-shirt, with flipflops on. I could smell cookies baking, and could hear Audrey and Walter talking.

"Hey Holly. Thanks for coming. Come on in. I gotta go get my stuff.", Drake said,letting me in. Audrey and Walter stopped talking about whatever it was that they were talking about previously, and turned all their attention to me.Audrey was the first to approach me.

"Hey sweetie. How are you?Wow, you look prettier everyday.",Audrey complimented. She gave me a hug that I couldn't refuse without coming off as a complete jerk.I smiled and patted her back.

"I'm doing great.Thanks.How are you guys doing?", I asked.Walter and Audrey smiled simotaniously.Audrey sat down next to Walter on the couch, and pointed to a chair on the side of the couch.I sat,and waited for Drake to return,and for their reply.

"We're doing great.Your father finally got the Newsie Award for favorite Weatherman Personality.",Audrey said,boasting.I smiled,and wanted to laugh.For thirty years or more,Walter had been trying to defeat Bruce Winshell and had never succeeded.

"Congratulations.How'd you finally beat him at his own game?", I asked.Walter looked at me questioningly.Like I was missing an enormous ammount of information and what I said made no sense because of it.

"Didn't you hear?Bruce Winshell died six months ago. Supposedly someone at a restaraunt gave him cow milk instead of goat milk,and he died.He was deathly allergic to regular milk.I can't believe that Josh nor Drake told you.Oh well, at least you know now.",Walter replied.Allergic to milk?I couldn't imagine anyone these days having a problem with milk, but I digress.I suppose it is possible.

"Have you heard from Megan?", I asked. Megan and I had been very close during my college years.That was when she and I lived fairly close to eachother.We used to go shopping, to concerts, parties,anything.We were like sisters.

"Yes.As a matter of fact,she told me to tell you she said hi.She's pregnant again.She's four months along.I just can't believe my baby girl is having another baby.",Audrey replied,happilly.I know that by me not having any kids made her sad.She barely ever got to see her children, or grandchildren since Megan lived in Rochester, New York.When she was a teenager, we had talked about New York.We both had always been attracted to New York.I loved the bigger cities of the world,where she liked the second-rate cities like Rochester.One thing was for sure, Megan loved where she was in life, because she barely ever visited her parents.Whenever any of us heard from her, she told us everything was working out great, and that she was extremely happy. I was happy she was happy,but sad that she couldn't find time or money to arrange a trip to San Diego to see her aging parents.

"Wow.That's good.That's really good.",I said, not knowing what to say.I took a piece of hair and started twirling it.Where is Drake?How long does it take for you to get your clothes,when you don't really have a lot?

"So how's my son doing?He's not working too much is he?It seems like all he ever does is work.",Walter said.

"He's still a work-a-holic,that's for sure.I couldn't tear him away from his work if my life depended on it.",I replied honestly.Josh and I hadn't been able to connect in quite sometime and I wondered why that was.I wasn't acting any different than what I had been for years, but it was Josh that was working extremely long hours, and disconnecting himself from myself and his family.Josh had always been so close with his family,especially Drake,and I swear he hadn't talked to Drake for about six months,when he used to talk to him more than I did!

"What a shame.So how are you Holly?Any exciting announcements?",Walter asked.I knew he was hoping that I would announce that I was pregnant,but it wouldn't be the same if I said it and I wasn't would it?

"Not really.I got signed as a Ford Model.That should be interesting.",I replied.I was really excited about getting signed as a Ford model.After years,and years of hard work as a model,it was like everything was finally falling into place and I was going to be successfull.

"Really?That's great.How did Josh take the news?",Walter asked.It was like he was the only one that asked questions pertaining to Josh.His son, his questions, I guess.

"He's really excited for me.I should probably go see what Drake is doing.I promised Josh I wouldn't be all day.He worries so much.",I replied half-lying.He did worry about me a lot,but hadn't limited me to a specific amount of time.I walked upstairs and decided that the logical place for Drake to be,would be his bedroom.I didn't bother knocking,he was supposed to be packing.When I opened the door,I saw Drake,of course as expected.But,a girl probably like 18, who was about 4'11 with platinum blonde hair,with pink,purple,and black in the underlayers of her hair.She had tan skin,and brown eyes.In fact, she looked like a rocker chick,fresh from a night club.

"What the hell is going on in here?",I asked walking into the room.Drake,looked horrified.The girl looked like she was going to laugh hysterically.I marched myself over to the rockchick,and as much as I wanted to make her acquintated with my fist, I knew that hitting her wouldn't make it any better that Drake had betrayed me.

"Hi.I'm Holly.You are who?",I asked,in my Mean Girl tone.

"Holly,I played at a club last night.They just opened a new one here in San Diego.It's called The Apple Branch.I met Alyx there.Her band is called Unchartered Territory.I got drunk, and one thing led to another.You see the thing is, mom and dad don't know she's here.Actually they have no idea I went clubbing last night.So,could you help me get Alyx out of here before mom and dad kill me?",asked Drake in his usual, chaotic tone.

"Why should I?I already drove over an hour to get you.Then I find out that you screwed some chick, and you want me to help you conceal it.No.I don't think so.I should just let you fry.Alyx,how old are you?You look like you're 10.Maybe troubles with Audrey and Walter won't be the only problems you'll be facing.Bad boys,Bad boys what you gonna do?What you gonna do when they come for you?"I sang in a mock tone that was meant to strike fear into Drake's heart.

"Look,I don't know what the hell your problem is,but I'm 23.Obviously you're really hung up on this guy.You obviously don't mean that much to him if he screwed me last night.",Alyx replied.I imagined in my head a scene similar to the one in Mean Girls,imagined by Lindsay Lohan's character,Cady in the cafeteria.

"Oh is that right?Yeah I guess I am a little bit hung up on this guy.He's lead me on for like 11 years!Screw you,Drake.Go to hell Alyx.You can find your own damn life to ruin,because I never want to see you again."I pretty much yelled in Drake's face.I ran out of the room in tears,and ran to the bathroom for refuge.I locked the door,and sat in the bathtub in the fetal position.Rocking back and forth,I let my tears soothe my pain.How could he?I thought what we had was special.Not as average enough to be forgotten once upon a drunken night with some random chick with unnatural hair color!Maybe all the times that we'd had not so drunken nights, he was really imagining a chick like Alyx.Maybe I was just a fool.A fool for love.About half way into my self-recovery, Drake knocked on the door.

"Holly?Are you okay?It's me,Drake.Let me in,we need to talk.",he said,like he cared a damn.

"Go away,asshole.I hate you.Didn't you hear me?Go away!",I screamed.I got up and stood in front of the bathroom door.

"I know you hate me,but that doesn't mean we can't talk.Please,just let me in.",Drake replied.He was actually begging me.

"Fine.Hurry up.",I said,opening the door.Drake stepped in,and I sat in the bathtub.He sat on the toilet.I waited for him to start talking,there was no way I was going to talk nicely to a man I despised at that moment.

"Holly, I made a mistake,like every human being does.Why is it so hard for you to accept?I'm really sorry.I didn't plan on it.You know how I am when I get drunk, I get out of control and don't know what I'm doing.Will you accept my appology?",Drake asked.

"I just wanna know.How many times out of eleven years that you have made human being mistakes.Being drunk isn't an excuse.I mean,you say the wrong thing on a first date,that's a mistake.Getting drunk is a choice.Having sex with a girl is a choice.Whether you meant it or not,you did it.It still hurts,Drake.",I replied.I was on the vurge of tears,and didn't want to let them show.

"I know.Just so you know,this is the first time I've ever cheated on you.I don't know what else to say,Holly.I 'm soo sorry.I'll never do it again.I swear on my life..I never meant to hurt you.I'll do whatever I can to make sure that I never do again.",Drake replied.

"I know.I'm still hurt,but I'll get over it.You know what song I heard on the way over here?It's like a sign.I think its what I gotta do...For situations like these.",I said.

"What song?",asked Drake in a happier and lighter mood then he was in not even a minute before.

"Listen to your heart,by D.H.T.I haven't heard that song since I was a teenager.So,should we get going?",I asked.It was getting later,and I didn't want Audrey and Walter to think of me as a liar.I'd told them that Josh worried about me being out late.

"Sure.",Drake replied.

"Did you get Alyx out okay?",I asked out of the bathtub.Drake was about to open the door when he replied.

"Yeah.She climbed out the window.She told me that you and me should have eachother,and that if I really love you I should appologize and make it right before things got all screwed up and we hated eachother for some stupid mi-choice.",Drake replied.He smiled at me,and then kissed my forehead gently.

"You still love me even though Miss.23 is like ten times hotter?",I asked.

"She doesn't have anything on you,Miss Holly Ryan.One night with you is better than a million with her.One night with her couldn't even compare to one second with you.",Drake replied.He opened the door,and we walked out.After we walked out of the house,after good-byes with Audrey and Walter,once inside the car,I replied.

"Drake Parker,I love you.",before I started the car, I kissed him and didn't care who saw.Luckilly we were safe in our secret, for then.