Ch. 4 - Emotions

Drake was back in Marlene's bedroom and saw her on her phone while Sarah napped on her lap. she looked to him. "sh... she fell asleep all of a sudden" she also gently pat the spot next to her.

He walked over and sat beside her. "thanks for being around like you are... and being so nice to her..."

"it's no problem, Drake we're friends, so I'll have your back," She said and leaned her head onto his shoulder.

these were the words he's has been waiting, all his life to hear. he didn't notice before. but, she was warm as well smelled so sweet. he then spoke softly. "that... means a lot to me, Marlene... I don't feel like I deserve it..." he said and gently rested his head on hers softly.

"well... too bad, you're my friend. you better do the same for me tough guy" she said.

"I'll have your back too... don't worry..." it felt the time had stopped for a moment. Her mother captured the moment, in secret when things were quiet for so long. she was still concerned as also the only adult. she was also seeing a side of Drake that wasn't ever shown. she let them be, and began making some snacks for all of them.

"Should I put my sister on your bed?" he asked.

"I don't mind her... but, maybe you should... I do want to change out of my uniform" she said and slowly mason stood himself up. "okay... just a sec." moved to the other side and spooned his kid sister lifting her up and carefully setting her onto the bed, he then tucked her in the sheets.

"mind grabbing her stuffed animal, Marlene?" he asked while he took out his phone, he saw the cracked screen and sighed. he played music quietly and left it by her.

"here you go..." Marlene passed over the stuffed toy, and Mason had gently wrapped her arms around it.

"she will be asleep a while... so we have time to ourselves. You wanted to change right, I might as well leave you to it, I'll step out" he said.

Marlene watched him politely leave and turned to his sister who was on her bed. "your one lucky girl..." she smiled and crawled over patting Sarah's head. she stood up and went to change getting into something more refreshing.

Drake heard Jess coming up, and he looked over when she asked him.

"Why are you in the hall?"

"Marlene wanted to change... so I'm giving her space until she was done... sorry..." he said out of habit.

"Why are you saying sorry? you're just being considerate... thank you," she said and handed him the tray of sandwiches and cracked with boxes of juices. "enjoy okay... and dear, stay the night, please... if it's gonna be a problem, I can talk with your-" she was stopped by him.

"Okay... don't worry... about them, they don't... listen to me... or care very much... so we accept your offer... thank you," he said and she just smiled. she even walked up behind him patting his head in a little hug.

"You're a good boy Drake... despite how you look... keep both my daughter and your sister safe okay... and you be careful too" she softly kissed his cheek and left his side. "you can wear my husband's clothes for pajamas... I'll find something for Sarah, I probably have some old clothes from when Marlene was little she could use" she left going back downstairs.

Drake, for the first time today too, felt true motherly love and care. it made him soft and even made him a bit weak on his knees. he was back though when the door opened and Marlene came back out to him. "come in" she said and he followed.

"your mother left these for us... well, she gave them to me..." he set it on the table and saw the outfit she was dressed in. tight yellow short shorts and a pink tank top.

he didn't say much and soon she turned on the tv in her room. he didn't notice it too much, but her room was spacious. one corner had her desk, and just against that was the bed behind them. the center of the room had a small table they could sit by and a widescreen right across them. "you have such a nice room here... lots of space and I like your color of choice for it..."

"Thanks, yeah it's a lot of room, for one girl, but it gives space for moments like these..." she said as she sat up next to him. "now, I'm guessing you never watched any anime or cartoons or even shows, so let's watch what I pick..." she said and began to look through channels. until she stopped an anime.

he grabbed a bite to eat and watched the show with her. once again both were leaning on one another. It was a quiet time together between them as they just enjoyed the time together spend in solace.

after some hours just slipped by, Sarah woke up and looked around. it wasn't a dimly lit room and the smell wasn't bad, it was Marlene's room. she saw her brother and Marlene together. She lifted the phone and saw how cracked it was, she freaked a bit hoping it wasn't her. still, she focused on her goal, she opened the camera and a snap and flash were heard.

"huh?" they turned around and saw Sarah holding the phone who was just caught in the act of taking their picture.

"uh! I..." she ducked and tucked herself in to hide. "sleeping..." she was nervous.

drake chuckled and crawled on over. "no more sleep sis... you need a bath and dinner before going back to sleep," he said and she turned to him.

"I broke your phone..." she looked sad.

"no, you didn't... I dropped it at school... don't worry, now why did you take a picture...?" he asked playfully to her.

Marlene went and grabbed the phone while they talked. Sarah then spoke. "you... both looked so cute, I just wanted to remember the moment for you... it was a nice picture... please don't delete it" she said and sat up looking at him.

"well... I don't mind..." he said, and Marlene then grabbed her phone. "I like it..." she said showing both her new screen and Drakes. half and half with her screen kept half that was Drake and the opposite for Drake on his phone with it having her. "I so get what you mean Sarah, very cute" she smiled and then passed both phones to Sarah for her to see and enjoy that her picture was shared between them.

Marlene scooted over to Drake and smiled at Sarah while she enjoyed how her picture of them was used.

"we're not dating though Marlene... are you fine with this?" he asked.

"eh, why not, it makes her happy... and knowing you now a little, you just not even use this pic..." she said and softly bumped him.

"Alright, sure... we'll leave it like that then..." he agreed and Sarah then put down the phones. "Draky... do we have to go home now...?" she asked a bit sad.

"no... her mom is letting us stay here for the night..." he explained.

"yup, so you get to sleep here with me tonight," Marlene said happily to her and stood up.

"I think mom has some. clothes for you so let me just get them and Drake go look through my dad's stuff and pick something that looks like it would fit." She said, as Marlene then followed her holding her hand. Drake stood up himself leaving his phone. "I just can't win all of a sudden with them... I don't mind it..." he spoke to himself and left the room, now checking the other two rooms. one looked like a second bathroom, so he then checked the other. he walked inside and looked into the closet where he would find male clothes hung. "this feels wrong... but even her mother said it's alright... just grab shorts and leave..."

And did just that, he picked one thing and left. going back to the room and leaving them there. he went back downstairs where he smelled food.

"glad you came down finally, how about us all eat," Jess said and sat down.

"what about, your husband?" he asked, and then remembered what Marlene said, but to his surprise.

"well, he was going to stay late at work today, but I did give him a message about you, hehe I'm sorry, it was earlier before we met... and after the call and commotion early in the day, he's gonna stay home a while sorry Marlene"

she then tilted her head. "for what?"

"well, you two won't have time alone... when the father is home" she teased.

"it's not like between is mom, we're... just friends," she said, but then looked to Drake and then away thinking on it a little.

"I can explain it to him... I don't want him worrying or thinking the worst has happened, I just hope we can still hang out" Drake said as he then sat down.

"I don't that will be necessary, I'll talk with him now let's enjoy dinner, I'll heat the bath also when we're done," she said and put down dinner, it was steak with mashed potatoes and gravy with a salad for a side dish. together they ate, and for some reason, this food tasted better than anything he ever could make. even if his food was cheap, the ingredients, he wasn't bad, he was a chef at his part-time.

he also began to think, as he looked up to see everyone eating. it was like a normal family, he was sitting and dining. this wasn't the first time he felt like this, he began to remember the same moment with Maria, his principal and her husband, his counselor just before Sarah was born. "thank you for the food... Sarah, say your thanks to..." he said and lowered his head.

"it's... nothing..." she said and heard Sarah.

"oh, thank you miss! this is yummy, better than anything I've ever had..." she bowed too and quickly ate again.

"it's true... even my cooking isn't as good... but, I'm glad for this..." he said and Jess smiled.

Marlene added. "I didn't know you could cook..."

and Jess added. "id like to see..."

"no, my cooking isn't anything great... I also don't want to waste your ingredients... how about you come by my work?" he suggested.

"and where is that?" Jess asked.

"it's a family dinner, it's ways away from school... I usually work in the evening, so just as school ends I'm over there... I'm a chef for them, I get praises there so I'm cooking, it might as well be there" he said and ate up, but also cut up Sarah's steak for her.

"Sounds like fun, okay maybe all of us should go someday..." Jess said and soon they all heard a car and someone at the door.

"I'm home!" a man came and began walking inside further smelling food he didn't think much until he saw who was also in his home.

"what's... all this...?" he asked, and from his uniform, he was a police officer, but more accurately he was a chief of police. this fact startled Drake a bit. and he suddenly tensed up.

"hi hun... these are... hmm... he is Marlene's friend and this small one is the boy's sister..." Sarah looked up chewing with messy cheeks. and waved.

"is that so..." he said and looked to drake, he is what he had his eyes on. drake then lifted his collar a bit to hide the side of his tattoo from him.

"Nice to meet you, sir..." Drake said.

"is it..." he walked over and looked at him further. "Marlene can you explain why this boy is my home...?"

he said, getting to the point. his shifting tone scared Sarah a bit.

"dad relax... I invited him because he got hurt at school..."

"shouldn't his parents be in charge of that and him?" he said. and Jess got up.

"hun... out now". she walked over and grabbed him pulling him away. "you three finish up okay... and Marlene take Sarah to a bath with you," she told Marlene.

Drake looked at his sister. and grabbed a napkin. cleaning her cheek. "it's okay... just finish hour food..."

"I'm so sorry about him..." said Marlene as she moved over hugging Sarah.

she nearly cried thinking she was going to get yelled at. she nodded and held back onto Marlene.

"you could have told me your dad was a cop..." drake said, feeling a bit uneasy.

"I know, I know... I should have said something... I'm sorry... but he isn't bad... he's just overprotective. he'll warm up to you..." she said, and looked to Sarah.

in the hall, Jess and her husband talked, she got him to calm down and explained what she knew to him. but this wouldn't have been enough, so he asked, for a talk with Drake himself and there was no avoiding it. she agreed, as long as he was himself here, and not his work self. everyone would finish eating before Drake was now left alone at the table. it couldn't be helped after Jess said, he wanted a talk with him. so he agreed also, and soon heard him again walk in. he came over and sat across from drake.

"so your my daughter's friend here huh?" he said, and Drake nodded.

"that's right sir..." even though he wasn't in trouble, he responded like he was being interrogated.

"You don't seem or look that friendly, but you have manners at least... what's with the piercing... and outfit..." he asked.

"it's my preference sir..." he could look at him in the eyes, his head stayed down.

"that's fine... but kid, you have to look at someone when they are talking to you..."

he bit his tongue a bit and looked up at him.

they both had a good look at one another and he spoke. "you look like the trouble type... so what's this I heard about you getting hurt...?" he asked.

"five other students jumped me at the start of the day..."

"you're not hurt or banged up too bad... so, how badly did you leave them...?" he asked judging he must have won.

"It was just in defense, I only pushed them off me enough until teachers came... by then I blacked out a moment and the next thing I knew I was helped here" he explained.

"Alright... now why not go home?" he said. "I don't want my daughter around some trouble maker... I just know I'll end having to find you somewhere on the street..."

"with... respect sir... home... is the last place I want to be... for both myself and my kid sister... but, I do understand what your concern is... after tonight... we'll head to school, and I and my sister won't get involved with your daughter anymore..." he lowered his head. as he was grabbing his jeans hard they could tear. He didn't want to stop being around her, but he knew he was a problem.

"talk about your home..." he asked.

"it's... not good..." he answers.

"details kid..." he asked again.

"Please... don't sir..." drake asked. he couldn't have some cop taking his sister away, he couldn't bear being separated from her.

"dad! the hell is wrong with you?" Marlene came down slightly were from her bath and walked over to Drake. "why are you treating this like work...!" she said. "he's my friend and our guest! come on... let's go..." she said, and dragged Drake away.

"hold on..." her father said, and she didn't listen.

the father sat back down alone. "I... wasn't trying too... but that boy... why does he look familiar... Drake right..." he spoke to himself and remained in thought.

Drake was in her room again, and she looked at him. "don't listen to him okay... forget about the whole thing..."

Drake took the moment to catch his breath and breathe. he walked up and hugged her around her shoulders as he fell to his knees slowly with her.

"ah? Drake? what's up?" she was flushed and clueless. she also hugged his waist back. "I'm wet from my bath... let go..."

he only held her closer. "thank you..."

"what's up with you? did he say something?" she asked.

and, he shared his head. "no... just... let me stay kike this a bit longer. please..." he squeezed her gently.

"ah... sure... but you know... I'm just in some small shorts and a big shirt... aren't you embarrassed... I am" she said.

he gently let go. "sorry... I.. was just in thought... where is Sarah?"

"Mom wanted a turn to spoil her" she explained. "hold on, don't break our hug yet.." she said and he looked at her.

"but I should..." Drake said as he looked at her.

"why did hug me?" she asked him. "you can't get away until you say... I'm your friend tell me.."

"the talk with your dad... it felt like interrogation... I've run up with bad cops, not that I'm saying he is, but... I am okay. and he began asking about my home., and parents... I couldn't say..." he hugged her again. "what if he reports my family... I'll never see Sarah again, and ill be somewhere I don't want to be again..." he said slowly getting his words out and how he felt.

"Drake..." she held onto him tightly.

"he also... didn't want me around you anymore... so... I'm hugging you... like this..." he said and never showed her his face.

"Why?! What!" she got mad and gently clawed his back. "I'll tell him off...! that's too far even for him"

"no... it's alright... he has a point... I just cause and bring trouble... so, after tonight... we don't know each other okay..." he said, but hated the feeling of loss.

"No... I will not accept this" she said and looked at him. "I don't want that, and I know you either..." she held onto him, and gently put her head on his chest. "just don't say anything anymore..."

"Can I let go now...?" he asked.

"No..." she said, and looked up and buried her face into his neck pulling him down on top of her. "you're staying here..."

he felt her legs grip his waist and how clingy she suddenly was. "this pose... someone walked in..." he said

"I don't care... your not leaving me tonight..." she said

"why?" he asked and held onto her.

"because it could be our last time and night..." she said and held onto him tightly. "just... shut up now..."

in silence and together, he was just barely pinning her. he then moved, grabbed her waist, slid his hand along her thigh, and slowly lifted her. he picked the girl and went to lay on her bed now instead of the floor. she was put on top of him, and he stayed with her in her dimly lit room

"Drake..." she spoke. "can you promise me, we will stay friends... stay together... I don't care if I get in trouble... but it's hard making friends when your all alone... so don't leave me... please" she asked.

"I don't want to stop getting close to you Marlene... so I promise... I'll stay by you..." he said and felt her lips on his neck. "Marlene?" he asked and didn't move.

she was gently biting his neck with her lips and gently kissed the same spot, she intentionally made her mark on him.

he squeezed her waist and let her, hugging her tightly. The door was suddenly opened, and Sarah as well Jess walked in and saw them. Jess covered Sarah's eyes and both were alerted. he sat up, holding her in his lap, but she then crawled off.

"My My... even though my husband is home... hold bold of you Drake... and Marlene" she messed with them. and Sarah slowly removed her hand so she could see. "huh? what are you two doing?"

"nothing Sarah..." Said drake as he got up. and walked over. "go and get in bed with Marlene..." he asked of her, and when in the hall with Jess. "I mean it... we weren't doing anything ma'am..." he said. But.

"I know... don't you worry..." she noticed the mark she left, and oat his head. "go to the bath okay... and come back here to sleep with them... I know my husband still must have given you trouble, didn't he... I know how he can be... I'm sorry," she said and walked away.

He listened and nodded. he grabbed the shorts and went to the bathroom and took a bath. he had a moment to think to himself. After that moment with Marlene, he was able to also then calm his nerves after the talk he has with her father. Because of Marlene, he thought about giving it another chance to get along with him. even if he was a cop, he didn't want to be on and terms with him.

he washed up, and left the bath, wearing shorts he took also from his dresser. went he left the bathroom, Jess was there again. holding a basket. "Your clothes, I'll wash them for you..."

"Okay... thank you" it was Wednesday, so tomorrow he would go to school. so he gave up his clothes to her. he then went to Marlene's room, and closed the door. She was stood up, laying down a futon for Drake after moving the little table.

"ready for bed..." she said, and looked to Sarah who was laid in hers. "you can sleep with her on my bed... I'll take the floor, just this once..." she smiled at him.

"no, you stay with her, I'll get the floor... this is your room that" they looked at one another and knew this wasn't going anywhere.

"how about, we share the floor then, you won't make up your mind, and I know I won't," she told him

"you have quite a problem... but, okay... let's get some sleep finally..." he walked closer to her and helped.

it was the first time, she saw him barely dressed. and could see his tanned skin clearly and how his body was shaped. he was just muscular, and not in a way that he was so bulky. and she did get flustered. and asked. "are you gonna really sleep next to me like that?"

"will it be a problem? I didn't want to go through your dad's stuff so much... I just grabbed something..." he explained and now it came to him. "ah... I see... maybe I should sleep with Sarah"

"no... you're fine," she said, both to his looks and the situation, "just come in bed already" she went to lay right down and waited for him.

He didn't say a thing and did join her under the futon. he left some space, and at the moment. he thought of the spot she left on his neck and moved closer to her.

"ah...~" she let out a little yelp. as she felt herself being held gently. "Drake...?"

"There isn't a lot of space..." he said as an excuse.

"well..." she turned, and gently leaned onto his chest. "you're right... but..."

"I won't do anything..." he said, and she couldn't help but feel mixed about it.

"night Draky... you don't mind... if I call you that too?" she asked.

"not one bit..." softly he held onto her more, letting her rest her head on his arm. and after a little talking, they both closed their eyes to get some sleep.

Meanwhile, back at Drakes and Sarah's home.

"Where the fuck is he...?" asked his drunk father, who was all drugged up. he was grabbing his wife by her hair as if she even knew, he asked her. but all she did was quietly speak,

"I... I don't know" she held back screams. and because she wasn't all-knowing, He punched her and kicked her after she was on the ground.

"that fucking brat... he forgot to pay the damned electrical bill..." the drugs were getting to him, as he sat down. "I'll beat... his ass if I catch him coming back here..." he said, in a fit of anger, and completely forgot he also had a daughter.

"Just... leave him..." their mother said to him, and he was already out. she saw and looked at him asleep. she got herself together, and left that night, going to work. she was a prostitute. so nights she would be out, and hardly ever come home. she hardly meant money, and when she didn't he'd best her. after all, she works only to fuel his bad habits and tendencies.

Not just that, but would even forget to buy any groceries or food. so, some days they spent mot having food even for tomorrow.

Drake, couldn't do anything about them. there was a time, he hoped they would be better. but they constantly kept making regret that. Time and time again, he would try to work, but his money would be taken and days went without eating. any money he kept was for his sister and food.

These were just memories, but also what was still going in now. He was still awake for a moment beside Marlene and began to compare his life here. he had a bed, a futon, not just a floor and blanket. he had someone to talk with and met someone he could trust. her mother was kind, and even though he had a bad impression of her father, he wasn't coming home and beating Jess, he spoke openly and worried for his daughter.

Drake felt envious of her. He was in a home, where there were loving parents. when he thought about it more. he had others too, but he never thought of them as parents until now. in this moment, where he got to reflect on his life, and who has been with him. he felt a little less scared. a little less lost. he cuddled up to Marlene and slept finally. he was going to cherish this moment. because after tonight. he would have to go back home, back to that creaky apartment and abusive family.

His emotions, we're still hard to express to convey and share, but with this girl, he got to meet and know, he was opening just a bit more.

Life just maybe won't be hard anymore for him.

Or, it will just get all the harder. things never went his way, and he had to always work hard to just keep his head above water. his tough body, and muscular build, wasn't to fight or to be intimating, he did it to protect himself from any abuse he would have to endure. but, even that was hard to keep up with at times.