Sleepover
Drake stared into the sky watching the sun's burning bright glow shining upon the ground. It's hues giving a dark orange and yellow sheen making shadows dance with each passing step. The air slowly becomes more colder knowing that the day's end would soon to come and pass. Drake didn't want the day to end. In truth, he's been having fun learning new things from the group of kids he now would call his friends. Mackenzie. Coco. Bluey. Bingo. Jack. Chloe. Snickers. Lucky. They all gave him a wonderful time today here at the festival with different games they played. They ended up finishing Toss the Monkeys, and going back to the music stage where they all sang and dance where they originally found Drake by himself on his lonesome. Still, what is he to do now that the day is ending? He didn't want to go home. Nor did he feel like separating himself from the people he's really close with. Drake felt like if he were to do that; he'd never see them again and it scared him. Drake's thoughts overran with anxiety as to what he should do. The air brushes against his hair and his fur as if to try and calm him. It didn't help much. The shivering increased though. He's only wearing pants and a tee. It had been nice out originally. The warmth that Drake liked had gone. His brows furrow. It'd soon turn to darkness and envelop the country in it's night. Drake didn't very much like the dark. A concept of unknowing and mind playing tricks on him. He wasn't even paying attention to anything really. Moreso staring into the sky.
"Ak? Drake? Drake!" Coco's voice interrupted his thoughts where he stopped moving and shook his head from the overwhelming train of thoughts. The group of friends having stopped and looked up at him where they had been waiting for an answer. Drake didn't hear what they were saying. Or rather, what Coco was asking. "Are you okay? You weren't saying anything for a while." She pointed out. Had he really been that silent for that long? He just didn't notice it then. He does that at times when he's not in a conversation. He's alright. Just thinking.
"Oh. S-Sorry guys. I.. uh was thinkin' abou' things." Drake answered honestly. "I forgot wha' you guys were askin'." Bluey knows Drake means well. From the last few hours that she got to spend time with him, she realizes that he's a good friend. He's funny, honest, but doesn't know a lot of things. They even learned Drake isn't even from Australia. Like Mackenzie, he moved here from a different country called England! Drake is British! Which was cool because they didn't know a lot of people who weren't born in Australia. Drake told them about how he's been over to a lot of countries, but, they had to move for unknown reasons. Though he didn't exactly look happy about it. Bluey assumed it was because he had to leave a lot of friends behind. She knew what it was like to lose friends. She hoped that he would be here to stay. She couldn't have another Jean-Luc situation. Not After playing with him for so many hours and getting to know him.
"It's okay, Drake. We were asking what you wanted to play last." Bluey reminded Drake which to Drake's surprise that she even offered it at all. Drake doesn't know how to answer. He doesn't really know what there was left here to do. Drake still looks around regardless to look for something. He didn't want to stop playing already. That wouldn't at all be fair to them and besides, he's been wanting so badly to find the last thing that could make the day memory-lasting. Drake's eyes notices a semi-small Ferris Wheel in the distance that overlooked some of the trees to get a great view of the Festival. Drake wondered, why not do that? It seemed like fun and Drake wanted to see what the Festival really looked like from a distance. Drake looked down and grinned.
"Why don't we go over there? I wanna try tha' thingie." Drake said not sure what it's called. It looked scary to him due to how big it is entirely. Drake still wanted to prove he's brave. So the last thing he wanted to do is ride the Ferris Wheel.
Bluey nodded. "Okay! It's called a Ferris Wheel. They're really pretty, but kinda scary when it's up that high." Bluey said a little bit hesitantly. Jack smiled.
"Don't worry. We have enough kids for a buddy so we won't have to be scared." Jack reasons with Bluey which she knows he's right. There's nine of them, and once approaching the Ferris Wheel upon closer inspection, there's two seats on either side meaning three people could fit inside.
"Okay, I'll go with Coco n' Jack." Snickers says firstly.
"I'll go with Mackenzie and Lucky!" Chloe said with her tail wagging excitedly.
"Then I'll go with Bingo n' Bluey." Drake said with their roles all together, they approach the last vendor for the event of the Fall Festival. He waves them over in a friendly and greeting manner.
"Hey kids! Glad you could all make it. The festival is beautiful in this time of day. Just let me make sure I close the doors behind you guys so that way you guys get to enjoy the scenes as much as possible." The vendor would say as the first three carts would be on ground level making it easy for everyone to come and go inside. With everyone's partners assigned, the 9 kids would enter inside of the Ferris Wheel with the door closed behind them where they had seats to sit on and a good window view. Bluey seemed nervous still, but she's putting on her game face to seem brave for Drake and Bingo. The Ferris Wheel shudders lightly where the kids would take their seats with Bingo sitting next to Bluey and Drake by himself on the adjacent seat. The cart began to move upwards at a very slow and relative pace for everyone to take in their surroundings. The suns reflection passed by where the Ferris Wheel would cast a shadow over the trees. Being lifted into the sky, Drake's eyes widened a bit noticing how big the event actually was compared to what they thought.
"Ooooh! Look over there. Everyone looks so tiny." Bingo said giggling pressing her hands against the glass looking down at the ground. They weren't up that high, but it felt like everyone was still tiny regardless. Like ants. Bingo watched the other people dance in the distance with memories of herself and her friends doing the same time not even a hour ago. They left because it was becoming too crowded for them to really enjoy themselves. But Bingo's satisfied.
"It's really big. Dad always said that you could get lost for hours here." Bluey remembering the stories of when he used to come here in the car on the way to the Fall Festival. How his brothers and him would play all the games and then come home tired afterwards. He wasn't wrong, Bluey could feel herself getting a little sleepy along with Bingo. Being the last event, they wanted to make it fun for Drake as much as possible. They learned from Drake that he's never been to a festival before this one. He's never really had a chance until now. Which is why Bluey wanted to make this a important memory. Where she met Drake and got to experience her own festival too. The suns starting to dip lower into the trees. They would have to return back to Bandit and Chili and the others parents soon. She still didn't know if he'd be here long term for once. To stay and live in Australia. His parents never having to move again. He said they moved because of work but never stated what kind of work.
"Drake?" Blue inquired the other shifting nervously back onto her seat. Her expression turned a bit more serious.
"Hm?" Drake turning his head to face Bluey which she had the expression of her going to ask something important. He knew the look all too well since he did the same thing whenever he needed to ask something important too.
"Does your mum and dad want to stay here? I want to play games with you more and get to see you again. I don't want you to leave." She said seeming to keep her eyes locked on him. She meant it. She wanted him to stay. She wanted him to play with her and Bingo and everyone else as long as possible. Something in her gut told her this was meant to be. That meeting Drake was apart of fate. Just like Jean-Luc. But she never saw him again even when she was sure he would stay. Drake sits back in his seat uncomfortably. He doesn't know. He doesn't want to go either as this day had shown him that this is a life he wanted ever since he's never had a friend before. A place of happiness. A life of friends, laughter, running and pretending. Isn't that what a kid is meant to do? To be free? He huddled up into a ball on his seat and stared at the floor trying to find a way to answer that would appease Bluey. He's not going to lie, he doesn't think he can. But he's going to make it count. He shrugged with no answer finally after moments of thinking. He just can't find an answer that would satisfy Bluey and Bingo no matter how much he tried to reason with himself.
"I..I don' know Bluey. I'm going to stay here as long as I can. I'll try to.. convince em'." His answer felt vague. Like as if not sure if his parents would let him stay or not. Bluey wasn't satisfied with the answer at all and Drake could tell she wasn't. Even Drake wasn't satisfied with his own answer. Her own expression tightened as if going to cry.
"Oh.. okay." Bingo noticed that Bluey wasn't exactly going to have a good rest of her time like this. So, Bingo had to think of something quick. She placed a hand on Bluey's hand to put her mind at ease.
"Wait! I know, why don't we ask mum and dad if he can stay over for the night. Like a sleepover." Bingo offers with a huge grin on her face. Bluey's expression seemed to brighten after that realization.
"Bingo, you're right! Yeah, let's do that!" She said hugging Bingo for cheering her up. Drake tilted his head a bit confused. He's never done something like that either. And to be frank, he's not done a lot of things a kid his age should've completed by now. He sits more normally into his chair interested.
"Uh.. what's a sleepover?" Drake felt awkward asking that because it sounded like a stupid question to ask. It's like one should know something about it, but can't explain it. Bluey gasped in shock. "You've never had a sleepover before!? That's it! We're gonna have the best sleepover ever!" She exclaimed giddly mixing with laughs. Drake still doesn't know what it meant and why she's excited about it. He wouldn't want to ruin her mood. Drake just has no idea what he's getting himself into. Bingo notices Drake's confusion and would answer Drake.
"You can come stay at our house for the night. We'll play a little bit longer, watch movies and have all kinds of fun!" Bingo threw her hands into the air excited with Bluey. Drake blinked momentarily.
"Yur mum and dad would let you guys do that?" He asked them. Bluey pressing her fingers against her lip in a thinking posture. "We'll still have to ask since that's what we have to do when we invite anyone over for a sleepover." She said to him. Oh gosh, he forgot. They still have to look for his Mom and Dad and he had hoped they'd forget about it. But the realization set in. If they have to ask their mom and dad, then that meant Drake would have to do the same. Drake turns his head to face the window, not saying anything else momentarily processing this. Drake didn't want to have to through this, but, now he's just needing to mentally prepare himself. Bluey noticed Drakes' apprehension.
"Aren't you excited Drake?" She seemed a little confused why he wasn't showing glee like Bingo and Bluey were. How does he tell them? It's not like he's not excited for it, he's always up for anything new. He's just unsure how to ask Bluey and Bingo's parents if he can't get an ok from his own parents. Their eyes pleading with him to say yes to it. He wasn't going to ruin this for them since Bluey had shifted her mood on a dime when Bingo brought up the idea. He's out of options. Friends don't hurt or upset one another. He'd do it for them.
Drake shook his head at Bluey to answer her question. "It's not that, Bluey. I want to do a 'sleepover' with you. But, do I HAVE to tell my mum n' dad? I Jus..' dunno if they'd agree to it." His voice had a tinge of guilt in it as well. Bluey and Bingo look at one another confused with their brows in worry.
Now they're more confused. "Why wouldn't they be okay with it? It's just a night." Blueys never heard of a parent disagreeing with a friends sleepover. Maybe his parents were more stricter about who he hung out with? There were some kids who had parents like that. Drake stumbled on his words to find the reasoning. "It's just.. uh, well, you know.. they're really protective of me." He stated feeling a sigh of relief internally feeling as this was a solid reason. They didn't let up about the questions. Now it just added more fuel to the fire.
"If you're really protective of you, Don't you want your mum and dad to know where you are? If I didn't tell mum or dad where I was going, they'd be really scared." Bingo said to Drake trying to reason with him to tell his parents about the sleepover. Drake folded his arms, processing what to do next. Drake didn't want to disappoint them and he certainly didn't want the day to end just like that when he had no way of contacting Bluey or Bingo if they went their separate ways like this. Drake noticed the ride coming to a end with them approaching the ground at this rate. Drake just exhales and offers a smile, even if the forced.
"I can do the sleepover, and then go back home? I'm sure they'd be okay with it." Drake said giving a thumbs up. Bluey and Bingo still didn't think it was sound, but they supposed they could convince Chili and Bandit somehow. They always could in some way. Besides, Bandit seemed to think Drake is okay and Bluey really wanted her new friend to hang out with them more.
"I guess that can work. I dunno if mum or dad will let us without your parents ok." Bluey said unsure if this outcome will work. She's going to have hope, but it's a high risk, high reward outcome. Even if he couldn't, she could always ask for his parents phone number since he said he'd go back home in the morning so he'd have to call them. The ride comes to a complete stop making Drake stumble a bit.
"I guess all we can do is ask, right? Let's go see everyone, yur mum said that you had to meet them at the front gate by the end, right?" They both nodded. "Okay, then let's start heading there." Drake offers to lead the way hopping down from the cart helping Bluey and Bingo down since he's taller. Drake waited for the others to come out of their carts still thinking how he's going to convince the Heelers parents to let him stay the night. He's never done this before. Having to lie to adults in this manner. 'It's just a night and then I'll go straight back home. No excuses or questions asked.' He played in his mind where everyone seemed to be happy to have one last game to relax on as they left their carts.
"I totally just watched someone throw up!" Mackenzie said with Snickers laughing.
"Ewwww. Mackenzie!" Coco stomping her foot and exclaimed cringing at the sound of that.
"Haha, Gross!" He said to his friend hopping down from the ride approaching the three. "Oh! Did you guys get off first?" Snickers asked standing in front of them.
"Yeah, we just got off and we were waitin' for you guys t' get done." Drake answers him with the rest of the group of friends filing up. Everyone's here then. Drake's disappointed that it had to end. Shadows turned into pure dark. Lights above them began to spring to life casting them in safety. They all huddled close.
"C'mon guys, we should go home. We promised we'd be back by dark." Chloe reminded them to which everyone agreed. They all knew they had to go back and they didn't want to play in the dark without supervision. They turned around and began to head in the direction where they all entered in at first talking amongst one another to pass the time.
"I wanna come back here again next year!" Jack said happily and began to run ahead with the group running with him. It was a fun day today and they all would have great memories here. Laughing and dancing with friends, meeting Drake, eating candy, and so much more. Mr. Heeler was right. This place is a blast. Approaching the front entrance, the parents of the kids were waiting for them as planned with Drake hiding behind the group of friends since he only knew Bandit and not the other parents. Chloe's dad seeming to pick up another kid with them.
"Well, look at this. You guys got a new friend." Proud like that the kids would add another arsenal of fun to their ranks. Chloe looked at Drake who was doing the usual shy thing he did like he did with Bandit. "Yeah, this is Drake. He was alone when we found him so we thought that we could invite him to play with us today." Chloe said to her dad.
"Glad you kids could find someone that needed it. C'mon, Chloe. We need to head back." He said gently and Chloe nodded. "Okay, dad! I'll see you guys sometime?"
"Yep! We can catch up tomorrow.' Mackenzie said and would wave goodbye to his friends leaving with his dad. And then the next. Then the next. Until it was only Drake, Bingo and Bluey left. Bandit looked around for any sign of Drake's parents who still haven't shown up. This was very odd. Shouldn't his parents been waiting for him? Bandit knelt down a bit to ease Drake's nervousness.
"Heya, squirt. Your mum or dad ain't around still, huh?" Drake shook his head at Bandit. "N-No. They're waiting for me at home. I think.. I walked here." Drake meekly. Bandit gives a warm smile. "Must've been really nice out earlier then." He nodded.
"Yeah, it was a bit cold. But it wasn't bad." Drake replies nonchalantly. Chili stepped in. "Drake, is it? If you need a ride home, please don't hesitate to ask. I don't want you to walk alone in the dark. It's not safe." She said cautioning him. Drake swallowed. "W-well, I do it all th' toime. S' nah tha' bad." Drake says. Chili didn't exactly like that answer. "As a mum, I want to see you at home safe with yur parents, ok? We have enough room for you." Bluey stepped for Drake giving the best attitude she could.
"Actually, mum. Me and Bingo wanted to ask if he could stay over with us tonight. I don't want him to go yet." Bluey said with Bingo joining in. "He said that doesn't want to go home yet too. We really wanna play with him more. Please, mum?" Bingo pleaded with Bluey next to her keeping their hands conjoined together. Drake trying to sell the point by giving a rather awkward smile himself. He really didn't think this was going to work since Chili seemed like a really smart cookie. The two parents looked at one another raising a brow. They weren't buying it.
"We can't just take him if his parents doesn't know where he is, kiddo." Bandit said gritting his teeth nervously. "What if his mum and dad come here and find he isn't here." Bandit wanted his girls to think about things logically. Not only that, but Chili wasn't really sure if doing this without his parents okay is a good idea either.
"His parents are looking for him around here, surely. We just have to look for them." Chili would glance her head around for anyone that resembled Drake. She couldn't spot anyone through the crowd which lessened as it got dark. "This isn't good.." Chili knows that they can't spend the last tiny hour of sunlight they had looking. They had a routine to go back home to and make sure all is well. They still needed to make dinner and bathe and get ready for bed. Chili isn't sure what to do here. They've never had this problem before where someone was lost, especially a kid. She turned to face Drake. "Kiddo, are you sure your parents know you're here?" Chili questioned. Drake's ears folded. "They should.. I think." Drake's tone sounded like he was growing upset. Chili knelt down to him and placed a hand on his shoulder comforting him.
"Don't worry, we'll get you home. I'm sure they're worried sick about you." Drake couldn't tell her the half of it. He shook his head gently at the notion. "I.. I'm not ready yet." Chili frowned a bit. "What's wrong, kiddo? Why don't you want to go home? It's all nice and warm there I'm sure."
Memories flooded in. "Oi'm just not ready yet. Please." Chili looked over to Bandit whose face grimaced a bit. Chili knows something is up. No kid would act like this without reason. She sighs in defeat knowing she can't get him to open up like this. She'd have a stern talking to his parents after this if he's this afraid to go home. She stood up and looked at the rest of her family. She kept her hands on his shoulders making him aware she wasn't just going to abandon him like this. Sighing in defeat, she would begin to help him up. "Alright. I suppose one night doesn't hurt." Chili said smiling down at Drake reassuringly. Drake wiped at his eyes.
"R-really? You'd let me stay the night?" Chili motions him to follow her and the others. "I'm more then fine with it, kiddo. But you need to let your parents know right away in the morning? Ok?" Drake nodded in response. "Yes, ma'am."
Bluey and Bingo cheered happily hugging on another bouncing up and down excitedly. "Yay! Drake gets to stay over!" They both exclaim and began to run behind after their mom to get into the car. Drake followed behind with Bandit next to him. "They seem to really like you, Drake. I'm glad you made friends with them." Drake smiled looking at them talking with one another. Their expressions brought a smile to his own face.
"No, Oi'm glad tha' they were friends with me."
.
.
Approaching the parking lot, Bandit helped his kids get into the car buckling them into their respective seats with Drake waiting idly besides him. The car itself resembled a family van. The lights inside were on as the back car door was slid open. With the two younger children inside, Bandit stepped out of the way for the 9 year old to get inside. "There's a space where you can sit between em', mate. Should be a bit of room. We won't be long getting back to the house." With that being said, Drake hopped up inside of the car and bent down a bit since his height made it a bit hard to stand fully inside of the car.
"Thank you, Mistah Heeler." Drake turned to face behind him to graciously thank Bandit. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Aww, it's not a problem kiddo. You can call me Bandit if you want. 'Mr' makes me sound old." He joked and closed the door behind him where Drake would squirm his way between the childrens seats where there was a spot in the middle of the back that is open for him to sit in. Drake buckled himself into the seat where he leaned forward slightly to give himself room and be able to speak to Bluey and Bingo. With everyone inside, Chili driving and Bandit in the passenger seat they were all ready to leave the Fall Festival. The back lights turned off leaving the three in darkness with the street lights illuminated around them. Drake couldn't believe that it actually worked. He's going to go home with Bingo and Bluey for the night. What comes after it? He doesn't know. He'd have tonight to figure it out.
The car began to move forward and exit the festival. Other cars that had the group of his other friends left as well. The large festival becoming smaller and smaller in the distance. He really spent a whole day there. It's nice. Of course he's a bit tired, but what kid wouldn't be after a day like that. "Hey Drake." Bingo began. "What do you want to play when we get home? There's a lot of things we can play. Bluey and me like to make up games if you want to play with us."
Drake smiled. "Of course I wanna play with you guys. You guys are awesome. I don't know wha' t' play though." He didn't come join them for no reason. He wanted a fun time with them all the while learning what he can about the games they play in their environment. This is his first sleepover with the group of friends. Or friends really at all. So; he'd do his best to listen to their rules as best as possible. Bluey chipped into the conversation. "I know! We can play Dragons and Princesses. Drake can be the Dragon!" She giggled excitedly. Drake wouldn't know how to be a dragon. He'll try of course. "How do you be the dragon?" He asked. He needed to learn the rules before playing.
Bluey began to claw at the air. "Like a big scary lizard! Rawrrr!" Bluey gets a laugh from Bingo and a chuckle from Drake. He can attempt that sure. From the stories his parents used to tell him when he was a toddler, the dragons were always big winged beings that could breath fire. He couldn't breath fire of course. Bluey continued after calming down a bit. "You have to try to get us and bring us to your cave. We'll show you where the cave will be." She said. "Once me and Bingo are inside the cave, you win! But the rules are that you have to flap your arms to move and the Princesses can save each other." She finished. It would be fun for everyone she thinks. The Princess role had a chance to continue and that meant the dragon role had to play strategically to win.
"Okay, I think I can do that. Sounds fun!" Drake replied. He didn't mind how he played the dragon as long as they were enjoying their time too. Drake thinks hard about it. 'How does one be a good dragon'. Then, it came to mind. He can just pretend to breath fire, right? Drake's attention finds itself with the passing lights of the street lamps, passing shadows on the car. Drake's been in numerous cars before. Nothing felt as magical as this one though. His wrists sat comfortably on his knees having a continuous smile on his face. It's contagious. This is a good feeling. A feeling he wanted to keep. Smiling. Smiling because he's truly happy. Drake watches the two of them for a moment. Bingo kicking her legs idly staring out the window just like Drake had been. Drake decides to strike up a conversation with his friend.
"It's pretty dark out there.. M' actually glad I didn' have t' walk home in that." Drake said actually relieved that this is the outcome he wanted. Bingo turned to face Drake. "Me too. It's cold when it's dark now. I wish the sun could be out out forever." Drake grinned. "Then how would any of us sleep?" Bingo realized her mistake. "Oh yeah. You're right. I forgot about that." Drake hummed in thought momentarily. "My mum an' dad used t' tell me tha' th' Sun is really far away. Like really, REALLY far away. We could only reach it by going on a spaceship." Drake said matter of factly. Bingo still took interest. "So, that means we have to go in a really, really big spaceship."
"I don't think we can land on it, Bingo. Our feet would just melt!" Drake said laughing to himself. The thought is scary, but, Drake continued. "Still, it's better we're down here. Cause s' really toasty down here. Uh.. when.. it's summer." Drake was never for winter. The snow is nice and all, but it's too cold for his liking.
"You'll love summers here, Drake. I've been to England before for work before. No offense, but a bit damp over there." Bandit says shivering just at the thought. Drake raised a brow. "How many places have you been to?" Bandit couldn't name on the top of his head. "Oh, I've been to lots of places. My personal favorite is France. Been meaning to take the family over there one day as a family vacation if we get the time for it." He answered. Drake's been to lots of places too. Drake decides to confide this.
"Oh, me too. I been to a lot of places." Drake said to him looking at the floor memorized by some of the fun memories he's been to. "I think my favorite place I've ever been to is.. Canada..? I think it's called." Drake can't remember the official name. Bandit raised a brow. "What does your parents do, if I can ask?" Drake felt a tinge of uneasiness in his system when the question was asked. Drake stayed silent for a minute. "Well.. my mum's a doctor, she makes people feel better an' my dad's a scientist. He gets to work around cool things." Drake answered back. Bluey and Bingo awed in amazement.
"No wonder you get to get to go to all these cool places!" Bluey said. Drake still had fun memories regardless. He'd go back to these places when he's older. He'd have a blast getting to go to a beach or a playing Hockey. He learned how to play Hockey in Canada. Cold, but fun playing. "Maybe we can go ice skatin' sometime when it's winter? I wanna teach you guys how to ice skate. It'll be cool." Bandit laughs suddenly which confuses the three kids. "Hah! He said cool." Drake tilted his head. "Was that supposed to be funny?" Bandit sighs after a few good chuckles. "Yeah it was a good pun, kiddo." Drake doesn't know what a pun is, so he'll just shrug his shoulders. "Thanks, Bandit. M' glad it was funny."
After some time of the car ride, Drake felt a tinge of sleepiness come over his system. Had he really lost that much energy? He didn't want to sleep just yet, so, he roughly shakes his head to keep himself awake. Bluey notices this. "Are you okay, Drake?"
He nodded. "Yeah, Oi'm fine. Jus' a lil' tired from today." Drake sits back up straight. "Don' worry, I won't sleep jus' yet." He watches as they pulled into a more suburban neighborhood. Everyone's lights were about off except for a couple people. Drake's amazed how nice it looked here. His parents used to live in one of these neighborhoods before the 'incident'. Drake leaned forward a bit to stare out the front car window noticing they were approaching a home. The home itself looked MASSIVE. He couldn't believe that this is where everyone in the car lived. Besides him, of course. "Woooaah.." Drake awed. "You guys live here?" Drake's smile widened. He couldn't believe he's going to spend a night in such a amazing home!
"It's much more glamorous on the inside if you ask me." Chili said turning to face him wanting him to be excited. He is. Very much so. He couldn't wait to hop out of the car to explore what he could here. Very roomy from the looks of it. The car pulls to a stop up on the asphalt street of their home. Bandit and Chili exit the cars to help their kids unbuckle from their seats. Pulling the side door open sliding it to the side. Drake unbuckles his seatbelt and exits the car hopping down with his hooves clicking against the ground. Ground. Finally. Drake watched Bingo and Bluey come down from the car with Bandit's help rushing up to be besides Drake.
"Whatcha waitin' for. C'mon!" Bluey tugs Drake along towards the Heeler home. Drake gasped. Dang, Bluey's stronger then she looks. "Okay, okay! Oi'm comin'." Drake runs with Bluey to go into the house. Chili opened the door for the three to enter into, and his expectations weren't compared to what he was prepared for. His ears folded to the back of his head jaw dropped instantly. It looked so.. amazing. He couldn't put it to words really how to explain it. "Okay.. I-I uh.. wasn' expectin' this. This.. this is so amazing!" Drake's expression curled into a huge ecstatic smile. Drake stepped further into the house taking in his surroundings. Bluey and Bingo grinned at one another.
"We're glad you like it Drake. Let's stand over there." Bluey points to the floor of the rug where Drake stood in the middle with Bingo and Bluey standing in front of him. It's really spacious now that he's moving about the house. "This is a good spot!" Bingo said jumping on the rug twice. Chili and Bandit would enter into the home and close the door behind them.
"Dinner will be ready in a hour, kids." Chili tells the kids heading into the kitchen. "Okay!" Everyone would respond to Chili. She wasn't sure exactly what Drake liked so, maybe Mac and Cheese sounded nice for everyone for just the night. Something quick to make and everyone liked it, right? Chili grits her teeth and leaned herself from the corner of the hallway entering into the kitchen. "By the way, Drake. You're not allergic to anything, right?" Drake thought about it. "My mum said I'm allergic to peppers an' tha's it." Okay good, no spice then. "Thank you, kiddo. you guys can get back to your game."
Now, here's the fun part of the sleepover that Drake's been ready for. The game part! Bingo and Bluey take a step away from one another. "Okay. Remember the rules?" Drake nods. "Yep! I remember em'." Bluey took another step back. "Okay, good! Me and Bingo get a headstart since you're faster." This information being known since Drake could outrun some of the kids from the Festival earlier. Matching speeds with Lucky and Mackenzie. Drake's speed is limited though and he'd have to be careful not to run into anything. His hooves made him slip sometimes. "Okay, this is where you'll come in to try an' take us. The cave is over there!" Bluey would point over to a hallway that must've been what connected the living room and play area. "You start there." She said just wanting to make it fair for everyone. Drake does as told and would begin to head over to the hallway and out of sight. So, Drake had to flap his arms like wings to play, seemed simple enough. Though sounded tiring. Bingo and Bluey would bow before one another like royalty would, their hands behind their back.
"Well, if it isn't Princess Bingo! I'm very honored by your presence." Regal sounding as best as she could. Bingo would mimic her movements. "And I am honored by your presence, Princess Bluey. I hope you like my kingdom, I worked VERY hard onto it." Bingo would say and grinned proudly. Drake wasn't sure when his cue would be to enter into the scene. So he'd just come in anyway. Drake began to run into to room flailing at his arms wildly. "Rawwwrr! I'm a great big dragon! Grrrr!" He would growl like a beast. Both girls turn to face the 'dragon' approaching into the room and both screamed lightly. "Aahh! It's the dragon to come eat us all! Runnn!" Bluey would exclaim and both girls would run separate ways laughing all the while. He isn't sure who to go after first, so he decided to settle on Bingo first. He did let them get a headstart as asked.
Drake began to make his movements after the red Heeler, snorting a bit. "Arggh! I'm gonna getcha!" Bingo squealed in delight and tried to hop onto the couch to escape him by doing some sort of parkour, but the taller male would snatch her into his arms. "I got you! A treasure for the Dragon!" Drake said. He's only going off of what he knew about dragons in the storybooks who took things and people as treasures. The princesses would be captured until a knight would stop the dragon. Maybe it would've made sense for a knight instead of two princesses. But he's not complaining. Not everything had to make sense. "Nooo! I'm a goner!" Bingo would exclaim as suddenly Bluey would jump onto Drake's back giggling.
"Not if Princess Bluey has to say anything about it." Drake would stumble a bit having two children holding onto him. "Rawwwr! The dragon can't hold this much princesses!" Drake feigned about to let Bingo and Bluey go when he would slowly stumble backwards onto the couch with everyone falling down onto it. "The dragon! Is... dead! Bleh." Drake pretending to die with Bingo standing on top of Drake's chest. "Yay! The Princesses win!" Bingo said with Drake looking up at her. "Did I do good?" Bingo nodded. "You were really good!" She said hopping down from Drake's chest onto the couch seat next to him.
After some time of playing other games, dinner would be announced and everyone would be delighted for a easy night meal. Drake's never had anything like this before. It's creamy and soft texture with a great taste. It's like he had been missing out on some delicacies that every kid should've ate by now. but still, at least he's doing it now. It's warmth graced his stomach giving a good fill for the night. "How is it, Drake?" Chili asked curiously. Drake placed down his fork momentarily. "It's amazing, Mrs. Heeler. I really like it. I wish I could have it forever." Drake wasn't sure what else kinds of foods there was in the world. He's had a good portion, but nothing as soft and delicate as this. This might've been Drake's favorite food for now. He takes another bite into it eating at his food rather hungrily. Chili seemed to have been watching him carefully. She's noticing the stranger behaviors of Drake that Drake might not believe anyone would be picking up. She felt as though that Drake had been called to them for a reason. Or that; things were meant to be. The way the kid acted and ate, she wasn't stupid. She knows Drake is suffering in some way. Which is why she agreed to the sleepover in someway. That way she could watch Drake more closely to pick up on any more signs more things were wrong about him. Not that it's his fault, no. She just wanted to see if there's any other troubling behavior she should be aware of in case she needed to call the police for him.
Chili smiled however to lessen the tension. "If you need any more Drake, please let me know. I can always make more." Drake glanced up at the mother Heeler. She's so nice to him and she really doesn't know him that well. "Thank you, Mrs. Heeler. S' really noice of you. Oi'm okay for now." Drake replied back to Chili who continues to converse with her family and Drake. Drake learned that Bandit does Archaeology for his work and Mrs. Heeler does Airport Security work which is why she noticed the strange things about him so quickly. She picks up on things not many other think of. "Still, you're our guest here and we'd like to have you as comfortable as possible." She replied with Bingo chiming in noticing something.
"Wait, mum. Did Drake bring anything with him? He doesn't have his toothbrush or anything!" Drake knew he got called out unknowingly by Bingo. He totally forgot to bring his stuff with him, dang it! He would've grabbed it from his home down the road, but, he forgot. Drake glanced over at Chili as if pleading for her to help him. Chili looks back to Drake and gave a knowing subtle nod. "Don't worry, Bingo. Drake wants to grab his things later. Me and Drake will get it later." Bingo seemed to accept that answer.
"Okay! Don't be too long Drake." Bingo said taking another bite at her food. Drake sighs internally. A soft smile of gratitude is given to Chili for getting him out of the pinch. Drake knows it won't be long until someone sniffs something is up, so all he's doing now is buying his time until Chili confronts him about his behavior. Drake slowly eats away at his food feeling a tinge of guilt for lying to everyone like this. They would soon realize that he's not a normal kid like they think he is. Or, as normal as one can get. Drake stared at his food for a bit. Voices began to play within his mind like flashbacks.
'Careful, Drake. It's hot.'
'What is it?'
'It's called Tea, honey. It's got some lemon and herbs in it. It's good for you.'
'Okay, Mum. Thank you.'
'It'll help you get better. It's my favorite too.'
Drake began to zone out again, his dark blue eyes seeming to not realize where he is or where the time flown by. Drake decided he needed a break momentarily. Bluey noticed him doing it again like at the Festival. She poked at Drake's side gently to alert him. Drake gasped a bit and looked at the family. "Sorry. I.. I jus'.. uhm.. was thinkin' things again. Excuse me please." Drake would say and would begin to scoot away from his chair and would start to head towards the bathroom area needing a moment to just catch his breath. Bluey frowned a bit. "Is Drake ok? He's been doing that today and I'm worried." Bandit sighs. "Maybe he just needed to go to the bathroom. Don't worry, kiddo." He answered looking at the staricase where Drake had hurried to the bathroom.
Drake went upstairs and would close the door behind him. His heart racing a bit feeling the shakiness in his body. Drake knew they were side effects to the sickness a long time ago. Drake sniffles a bit and sat down against the tub looking down at his hand. Yep, shaky as ever. Drake knows it happens when he becomes overly exerted. "Why is this happening right now? I wish I had mum's tea right now. It always helped." He murmured softly. Drake stared at the door where everything looked like a blur, ears ringing. Drake noticed that his body became a bit heavier, and then..
A knock at the door which came him out of his episode. Drake looked up at the closed door. "Drake? Are you ok? You can talk to me if you need help." Bluey would say behind the door. Drake doesn't need her to worry. Not now. He would shakily speak. "I-I'm foine, Bluey. Jus', a lil' bit of Drake things. Haha.." Drake pitifully laughs. Drake stood up and began to head towards the door and opened it. "I'm okay, I just needed a bit. Sorry to make you worry, Bluey. I'm jus' a lil' sick is all." Drake answered. Bluey tilted her head. "Do you need to go home, Drake? I-I would understand if you do." Drake shook his head. No. He made a promise to Bluey and Bingo he wouldn't go home yet. Besides, he didn't want to go home either. Drake would motion for Bluey for follow him back downstairs. "No. It's okay. Don't worry about me, I promise I'm okay." Bluey wasn't sure what to believe but she'd take his word for it because friends wouldn't lie. Drake heads back downstairs with Bluey with Bandit looking over at Drake.
"You doin' good, Drake?" He inquired in concern.
"Oi'm foine. Jus'.. a bit sick s' all." Drake said as if things weren't looking up at red flags for Drake. Chili sighs and stood up and began to approach Drake. "Maybe we should rest early, hm?" Drake looked at Bingo and Bluey who both were worried for him but, they knew they needed their friend to feel better again. They smiled at him reassuringly. Drake sighs softly and would begin to walk with Chili upstairs to the couch room where she sat him down gently. "Oi'm sorry for ruining th' night. I jus' don't know what's wrong with me." Drake said sadly. Chili knew Drake was acting strange, but she wouldn't press him any further. "Don't worry, kiddo. You can always see them again, you know." She said to him not wanting him to blame himself. It wouldn't be fair for him to think that he ruined their night. They got to spend time together and they all were relatively happy with him spending the night with them. Chili stood up. "I'll get extra blankets for you."
"Thank you, Mrs. Heeler." Drake said huddling up a bit and rubbed at his cheek removing the patch of dirt from his face from earlier. Drake knows he didn't have extra clothing on him, so, he would just have to make do with the jeans and dirtied tee for now. After a minute or two, Chili returned back with two fluffy blankets and placed it on top of him. It's colored red silk felt comfortable and warm to Drake. Better then what he had. "Is this warm enough?" Drake nodded. "Mmhm. Thank you. It's really comfortable." Drake leaned back against the couch slowly with his head resting against the pillow of the seats cushion. "If you need anything, you can find me downstairs." With that, she left the young boy and turned the upstairs light off and returned back downstairs where her family was who finished their dinner. Chili sighs softly and begins to place the dishes into the sink. Bingo approaching her mother.
"Mum? Is Drake okay? He really seemed sad." She said folding her ears a bit. Chili knelt down to comfort her daughter. "He's just had a long day, remember? He must be just tired from being at the Festival today." It would make sense considering that everyone was a bit tired from their hours long play. "Yeah, you're right. We'll see him tomorrow, right?" Chili hugged Bingo. "Of course you will. He'll still be here tomorrow in the morning. C'mon, kiddo. Let's get ready for bed." She said guiding her daughters upstairs being mindful of the sleeping Drake at hand. He seemed like he was knocked out from exhaustion. They must've not realized how tired everyone is. The parents too. Bingo and Bluey took their baths, brushed their teeth and would be heading off to bed respectively. Bingo and Bluey realizing how tired they are too once they had a chance to stop and notice it. The heavy eyelids, the slight stumble, and the yawns here and there. Tonight everyone needed to sleep. To just refresh in the morning and to reenergize.
"Goodnight Drake. See you tomorrow." Bluey would gently hug Drake in his sleep and would bound off behind Chili and Bingo for their bedrooms. Drake shifts in his sleep a bit, seeming to grip tighter onto the blankets. His ears fold lightly back on his head. "Bluey..." He muttered softly from having heard her voice through his subconscious. A friendly voice. Something that calmed him down a bit. Drake typically didn't like to sleep alone since a lot of the times he had to. In his home, there was a certain weakness that couldn't be tolerated. As the night went on, Drake's whines became more apparent and slightly noisy. A dreamstate that he can't escape from.
The voices. They played again. This time a memory of a week before the second incident where he finally is free. White walls covered the room, fluorescent lights made his head hurt with the young calf sitting on a medical table. Surrounded by faces he didn't like or trust. He doesn't know any of these people. Their faces had been covered by some weird masks with suits on. Drake remembered this place. A doctor's office. "Sub.. 303.. respon-." Their words were jumbled and unintelligible. Drake looked up to the scary people, and tilted his head. "I.. I don't understand." Drake would say nervously. Their masks garbled their voices good. Drake watched them approach him with needles in their hands to take some sort of fluids or bloodwork. Drake hated the bloodwork done to him. They always made it hurt in a way that's purposefully painful.
"Stay still, 303." The person in the suit ordered. The young boy couldn't control his own actions. As if they were played for him. "My name isn't 303! Stop it!" Drake would jerk his arm away from the man in the suit. He didn't let up. "303, I said stay still!" He would grip onto Drake's arm more tightly. "I said no! Get off of me!" Drake exclaimed and would begin to hit at the mans arm knocking the needle away from the mans hand landing onto the ground shattering in half. The man held Drake down by his arms pressing a button to alert other doctors of Drake's tantrum. "No! I said no! I don't want it! Get away from me!" Drake began to kick and struggle as best as he could. But it's like there's a huge weight on his body that wouldn't let him escape from this torment. Drake began to cry and whine in protest. "Mum! Get them away from me!" Drake cried out, but none helped or listened to him. Drake's body began to shudder and change before their eyes. The man in the mask grunted. "He's attempting to change! Put him under!" Drake cried out louder for help. But once again. None listened. "Mumma!" The calf cried out where suddenly all white turned to all black kicking the blanket off of his body and began to stumble forwards on his hands and knees. The shadows still played around his mind making them look like figures standing near him. "Get away from me!" Drake would slug a heavy fist towards the first shadow that was near him.
Drake's body began to shine slowly in the dim moonlight, reflecting anything that gleamed onto him. Drake's fist would drive into the nearest object that he could perceive as a threat sending a sickening and splitting crunch of his fist into the staircase nearby the couch. Drake's panic turned into realization of what he's done to their home. A guest of the house turned into a vandalizer. Drake didn't mean to! He thought they were the bad people! Drake's breaths began to pick up heavily. Desperation to get his fist out of the Wooden staircase that let up to the bedrooms and bathroom.
..
"Get away from me!"
Chili and Bandit were the first to hear these screams all of a sudden that could only belong to their guest in the room. Their ears instantly perked up and shot up in bed realizing something was happening. Was there a burglar? Or, something else? They were quick to their feet to help their guest as his cries couldn't be ignored. Chili was especially scared since there was a sound of something breaking in the living room. It's currently 2:00 AM. Very early in the morning which Bluey and Bingo had to leave for school in the morning. So; the sooner they helped Drake back to sleep, the better everyone is as that scream surely woken up the children too. Opening their doors they peered out the hallway. "Drake, bud? What's wrong? What's going on?" Bandit quietly called out.
Drake knew he's in trouble now. He can't get away with explaining how he put a hole into the wall. Drake looked down at his wrist encased into the staircase. Tears welled up knowing they'd be angry at him for sure. He came as he pleased right? Drake's heart began to hurt. "No. no! I'm foine, mistah Heelar. S' nothin!" Drake replied between cries. The wood seemed to have caught between his digits which is why he's stuck.
Obviously, Drake's not okay. He just broke a part of their staircase having thought it was the bad people to take him away. Drake began to stumble a bit with his hand stuck. It's lodged in there for sure. Chili and Bandit would find themselves in the hallway next to the living room with Chili flipping the light on to the living room. "Drake..? What's wro- Oh my gosh.." Chili would cover at her mouth in a state of shock eyes widening. "Chili? Is Drake.. Okay?-" Bandit thought he's dreaming. But the look on his wife's face said it all. His eyebrows raise in astonishment. "Oh.. cheese and crackers." He muttered in shock himself. The two adult Heelers staring at the mess that is Drake. Except this wasn't Drake, was it? Before them, something horribly wrong had happened to Drake. His eyes stared at the two in utter shock himself. He tries to pull himself out of the staircase harder. Drake grits his teeth and forcibly removes his arm from the staircase sending splinters onto the floor and him stumbling backwards and falling onto his bottom. Hiccuping breaths knowing he can't get out of this one.
"This isn't wha' it looks like, I promise! I-I.. I Didn't mean to! I-I didn't mean to. I'm really sorry." Drake whimpered and hid himself in his knees shivering. His shining tears flowing down his face and falling onto the floor. Drake's body was something else. His fur replaced what seemed like to be a.. metal of sorts? It reached from the top of his head to the bottom of his hooves. Everything is covered in a shiny metal. Chrome of sorts? His hair, his horns and eyes, shining a dark grey. The metal itself reflected the light of the bulbs above where it was clear this isn't a magic trick. His skin literally turned to metal. His tears that ran down his face resembled dark chrome as well, but liquefied. "Drake..? I-I don't understand. What.. what was that?" Bandit said trying to make sense of everything. How could've this happened to Drake? The kid that was smiling and laughing hours ago, reduced to something like this. Drake's metal skin began to pull away into his skin reversing the affects that had been done to him. Revealing that scared normal child they met. Except this time, Drake knew they saw what they saw. He couldn't lie anymore.
Bingo and Bluey both popped their heads from their rooms. "Mum..? Dad? What's going on? Is Drake ok?" Bingo said rubbing at her eyes. Bandit jumped a bit startled as he glanced down at the young Heelers. Oh gosh, how does he tell them? They didn't see anything right? They weren't freaking out like the parents were, so that meant that Drake's secret is safe with the parent Heelers. But it's only a matter of time before they would find out themselves what Drake had. Chili began to carefully step forward with Drake backing away from her knowing she knows what he really is. "I.. I wasn't trying to break anything." Drake said through his cries. Bluey noticed the distressed Drake beginning to approach him. "Drake? What happened? Did you have a bad dream?"Gently nudging his arms. Bandit knelt down to his kids and began to gently guide them away. "D-Drake just had an accident, kiddos. Your mum's taking care of him. I'll get you guys back to bed. You can talk to him in the morning." Bandit helping Bingo and Bluey go back to bed with the uncertainty of what really happened. Bingo turned her shoulder to see Chili comforting Drake wishing she could do more to help.
"Ohh, okay.. it's okay.. it's okay." Chili knelt down to the distressed calf just trying to process everything herself. She is freaking out as someone normally should. But; she's trying to put on a brave face for Drake now that he's unarmored. She placed a hand down onto his back to which he flinched a bit, though eased up to Chili's attempts at comforting him. She glanced over to the hole in the staircase and then back to him. She really just witnessed that. This felt so much like a dream, but no matter how much Chili wanted to wake herself up, this is the reality that she's living in. Drake continuously apologizes hiding himself in his knees to not look at her reaction. The poor thing must've been scared out of his mind. Chili should try to get him back in bed. She'd talk with him about this in the morning where he would be more (hopefully) willing to talk. For now, he needed to sleep. She'd clean the splinters in the morning before anyone woke up that way it reduced the chance of injury. That meant she had to wake up early. Chili scooped the young calf into her arms holding him close to her. "I'm not mad, kiddo. It's gonna be okay. It's just me. Shhhhh-hhh.." She gently hushes. He's still a child and he would make mistakes. She's still a parent and needed to be one for him now.
Chili brought him back over to the couch after having turned the lights off once more. Her fur a little tear stained, but, she didn't care. Chili kept rubbing at his back slowly and soothingly. "Chili, M' really sorry.. I thought they were th' bad people." Bad people..? She knew that something was wrong. A mothers instinct one could guess. "No one else is here but us, mate. You're safe now." She whispered affirming him to quell his worry and fears. Chili leaned her head back against the couch keeping him positioned against her chest. Her voice slowly filled with a gentle hum that resembled a lullaby. Drake's eyes close fluttering in heaviness. Chili's digits stroking at his face tenderly to wipe at his tears. Chili figured she'd wake back up in her bed after all this, but, she had to face the reality. Drake is really not the normal kid she had expected in the beginning. That didn't change how she felt about him though. He's still a good kid. Little would she know what was prepared for her in the morning once the kids were off to School and Drake taken home back to his parents.
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A/N: Hey everyone! I really apologize for the wait on the chapter for the last couple days. Writers block hit me pretty hard this week and I was sick the other day, so I couldn't get much chapter content in. But I hope this will suffice as I polish the chapter and begin writing chapter 3 by next week sometime. I promise that the chapters don't usually get this long, but I do wish to ask if you guys prefer longer chapters or shorter chapters that way I know what you guys would like to see for the future updates!
The secret of Drake is revealed to Bandit and Chili, and Drake tells Chili about 'The Bad People'. Who they are is unknown and Drake will soon reveal who they are. Tune in for Chapter 3, 'Morning Confessions'. Thanks for reading everyone! Until next time on Heart of Steel.