by Laiza Millan
Quickly, she turned to the miffed nurse and apologized, "I'm so sorry for his rudeness, the word 'manners' is not in his vocabulary." She whirled around to face Drake, her eyes wide to give him the subliminal message that, "Apologize to the nurse and get your butt on the wheelchair, Drake, so we can leave this room."
"I can walk on my own, thanks." Drake scoffed, shaking his head as he continued to sit on the bed and glare at that strange looking chair. "I have legs that work perfectly."
"I understand that, sir." The nurse, bless her, so very kindly said. "But like your wife said, it's just our rule here at the hospital. You get to go home today, so I have to escort you out with a wheelchair - just a safety precaution and procedure. Nothing personal."
Drake looked like he wanted to say more, like how he feels it's completely ridiculous he has to use a damn wheelchair when probably someone out there who really does need it could use it.
"Fine." He let out with a gruff. "But only because you just assumed she's my wife."
"Oh!" the nurse looked alarmed, "I'm sorry, I thought -"
"We're engaged," Emma assured her with a smile, as she returned her visual attention back to Aidan.
Bending down, she gently placed his arms inside the loop of the belt and locked him in; adding a small folded blanket to the side of his head to prevent his neck from hurting, and placing his teddy on his side. The baby's thankfully asleep, not have to witness Drake's childish needs to be stubborn. "So, I guess, I will be his wife in a few months."
"Months?" Drake questioned, as the nurse helped him off the bed and lead him to sit down.
He's not incompetent; he can definitely walk on his own! Medical people and their need to be extra careful, ugh it's so annoying sometimes.
Emma made sure that Aidan was safely buckled in his stroller before standing up. "Yes, months. Why? Too early?"
"No." Drake said, already feeling embarrassed that he's being pushed by a nurse.
He's a tough guy, he doesn't need someone to push him, damn it. Why can't these women understand that?
"Great!" Emma grinned, as she pushed Aidan's stroller to follow them out of the room. "Because planning a wedding -"
"Days." Drake interrupted her with a smirk. "You will be my wife in a few days."
Even the nurse let out a few amused chuckles.
"Drake," Emma stressed, shaking her head. "It can take weeks or maybe even months to plan a wedding. The only way to get married in a few days is to just get hitched and marry at a chapel next to a stripper place in Las Vegas, Nevada."
"That sounds perfect." Drake turned his head to look at her in confusion. "We can have our honeymoon inside the stripper place. What better yet to celebrate then to have naked people twirling around a pole like a bunch of idiots?"
Besides, Rich would surely love that. Drake needs to find his Best Man a woman already, because he's not liking the whole 'flirt-with-Emma-to-piss-Drake-off' act.
Emma reached and pinched his arms. "Stop it!" She could feel her face redden with embarrassment for the nurse having to witness all of this.
Drake chuckled back, enjoying her discomfort."You're cute." He turned to look straight ahead of him and frowned, "Wait, where are we going?"
He could feel the nurse pause in confusion, looking down at Drake's head as she explained, "Outside, sir." Speaking loud and slow, as if Drake was a dim witted kind of guy, "I'm escorting you out because you get to leave -"
"I know that," He snapped, annoyed. "But I thought I told the doctor I wanted to visit my father in the ICU before I actually leave?"
"Oh!" The nurse looked at the clipboard she was holding and sighed, "Normally we're supposed to escort the patients out of the hospital and make sure you're safely inside your vehicle."
Why the hell do hospitals and their staff have to make things so complicated? He gets that it's for the patients' safety and blah-blah-blah, but really? C'mon now. Drake tried to turn his body around, catching the nurse's eyes and giving her a disgusted glare.
"But I don't see why you can't see your dad." The nurse continued on, rolling her eyes and turning his wheelchair on the opposite direction.
"Thank you so much." Emma kindly said, knowing Drake might blurt out something rude and condescending.
Alright then... Time to face the man who pretty much helped fucked up his life.
.
.:Junior Year:.
"You have two choices, son." Oscar said, taking a sip of his breakfast tea.
Drake glared, "What the hell are they?"
"Break up with the girl." His father shrugged, as if he doesn't care.
"Or?" Drake was clearly miffed, angry that his father wouldn't give him any helpful advice. "What's the other choice?"
"Or you stop this foolish behaviour of yours with your ignorant friends!" Oscar snapped impatiently, "I will not have my only son embarrass me because he wants to join some American teenage imbeciles' terrorizing the very city I'm trying to build!"
"What does Emma have to do with any of this?!" Drake snapped, his voice rising. "My problem is the gang, why can't you see that?"
"Your girlfriend might end up dead because of you," Oscar harshly scoffed, roughly slamming his cup on the table due to his frustration. "And besides, she won't ever fit with our family. She's a mere peasant compared to the likes of us."
"Peasant?" Drake bristled, "Don't talk about her like that you -"
"Do yourself and your family a favour and end both relationships." Oscar continued on, as if Drake hadn't interrupted him. "You will end your relationship with that wretched girl and those so-called friends of yours."
"That wretched girl and those so-called friends are the only ones I have!" Drake immediately stood up, not even bothering to excuse himself from the dinner table. Fuck this, and fuck his father. He doesn't know anything! He can't simply end his relationships, it's not that easy.
Especially with the gang.
Does his father expect him to just walk up to Jay and the others and be like, "I'm resigning from my position of this group." And hope for the best? Is his father that ignorant?
But there is one thing he can do...
If he can't protect himself, he can protect the other person who he cares so much.
.
Drake sat on the bench, casually waiting for Emma as she stepped out of Jenna's car. Her, Jenna, and her boyfriend Jason, usually carpooled together since Jenna is her American host family.
He swallowed hard, the nervous itchiness crawling against his neck as Emma waved good-bye to her two friends.
However, despite his inner battles, he could still feel the corner of his lips pulling upwards with the way her smile was radiating on her face; it was almost contagious. When she put on her backpack and gathered her textbooks, she turned to meet his gaze and frowned when he abruptly looked down on the floor.
He's so confused right now.
He has no idea what to tell her or even if he should tell her. What if he just simply tells her the truth? How will she take it?
He looked up again and felt a small jolt against his chest as Emma walked towards him with her arms wrapped around her textbooks against her chest in a protective manner, and her face split into that wide smile.
When she saw him looking at her again, she quickened her pace and felt her hair swish back and forth against her due to her motion fueled with excitement. After a few more steps, she immediately threw one of her arms around his neck and bent down to place a shy kiss against his cheek.
Oh man, he secretly finds it adorable whenever she does something like that.
"Good morning, handsome!" Emma greeted him warmly, sitting down beside him and placing her textbooks on top of her lap.
Drake leaned forward to kiss the side of her head, chuckling. "Good morning to you, Nerdy. How's your morning so far?"
"Now that you're here? Fantastic." She charmingly teased, lifting her hands to touch his chin with a wink. "What time did you arrive?"
He lazily looked
at his watch and shrugged, "Probably around seven thirty, or something."
"Oh." Emma hummed, taking one of his hands. "Well we have about thirty minutes until first period starts, do you want to start heading inside?"
This is their usual morning routine.
Either he or her, depending who arrived first, would wait for the other person every morning before they go to their first class of the day. Drake was the one who insisted they meet up first because, "I want to be able to see your beautiful face first thing in the school morning before I go to the fiery pits of hell called, math."
They've been doing this for four weeks, every single day.
But that might just change this very second.
"Actually," Drake used his free hand and scratched the back of his neck, a clear sign of his uncharacteristic nervous feeling. "We need to talk."
Emma stiffened.
What? Okay, this may be her first ever relationship but she knows that those four words are almost always an intro to something bad.
Maybe he's got good news regarding his family affairs? Maybe he has to go back to England where his family migrated from? Or maybe it's something not bad at all, and she's just freaking out for no reason!
"Can we?" Drake asked, breaking the storm inside her head.
"What is it?" Emma asked in concern. The feeling of her hand against his was suddenly heavier.
Drake stared at her. Feeling his insides crumble by just that look she's unknowingly giving him. It's like she knows what he's going to say, but yet for the life of him, he can't bring himself to tell her what the hell is happening to him.
His friends... Emma... Father...
He can't tell her.
Screw it.
He has to do something to push her away from him.
He looked away and closed his eyes, willing himself and his energy to transform into something else. He cleared his mind, wiped it free from any lingering thoughts of Emma and their relationship, until it only zoomed in on that one emotion that had been glued to him since he joined this whole thing. He unclenched his fists and felt the muscles on his face relax completely, making sure there are no traces of emotions lingering beneath.
When he felt his entire demeanor change, he opened his eyes again.
Emma couldn't really explain it, but she immediately felt the change in him. His body had relaxed, and he pulled his hand away from hers in such a hurried way, it surprised her.
"Drake?" She tried to reach for him, but he dodged her touch and stood up, walking a few feet away from her. Feeling hurt, she remained sitting and only hugged her textbook again. "What is it?"
"We're done." Drake muttered, making sure his back is turned to her.
Emma stared. The words washed over her, leaving trails of cold and confusion dripping from her skin. "I... I don't understand."
She placed her textbooks to the side and stood up, walking towards him.
"Don't." Drake snapped, whirling around to face her. "Don't come any closer."
Emma halted; a harsh stab of pain in her chest as Drake looked at her coldly and... hatefully?
What the hell?
Why?
What's going on, why is he acting like this? Has she done something wrong?
"What's wrong?" Emma repeated; her voice stronger. She's determined to figure out what's with the sudden change Drake is displaying.
They were fine a minute ago! He can't just say those four words and say they're done like some bi-polar ass hole, without giving her a proper explanation. She deserves more than that!
"We are over." Drake told her again, crossing his arms as he continued to glare at her. "I'm serious, Emma. You were an interesting passing of my time, but honestly? I'm getting tired of your need to be perfect and -"
"I am far from perfect and so are you!" Emma snapped, taking a step closer to him. "What the hell is going on with you, why -"
"I said, we're fucking over!" Drake shouted, not caring that students were passing by them. Let them see, he doesn't care. "Come on, you're a clever girl! I only needed someone to help me do my homework and projects! Now that 11th grade is almost over, I don't need you. Did you honestly think that someone like me would go for some nerd ugly fat girl such as yourself?"
Wow... Is that what he thought this whole time?
Emma didn't want to show how much that hurt her.
Memories of all the good times they had together kept flashing in her head, moments of her teaching him how to cook, moments of him telling her she's beautiful, moments of him simply staring at her; gaze filled with admiration.
What happened to all of that?
Yes, she knows she's not drop dead gorgeous, she does have little baby fat left, but she's working on it! She didn't think it was that bad, despite her complaints whenever they joked around.
She's already exercising and dieting, she honestly thought she was doing a good job... And for Drake - or anyone, for that matter - to tell her otherwise, hurts.
"I loved you, Drake." Emma whispered, refusing to let the sting in her eyes overflow as she tried to grasp what is happening. This is probably her fourth time saying those three sacred words, and not once had he uttered it back to her. "You promised me you were different, you promised me that you wouldn't do anything to intentionally hurt me, you -"
"This is great," Drake laughed obnoxiously loud, making sure the people around them can hear. "Emma Collins believes everything I say! She loves me! Ha! As if I would ever feel for -"
"Loved." Emma harshly corrected him. "I loved you, past tense."
She noticed the way Drake looked at her, as if there was something he needed to say. But screw him; she's not going to play the weak easy bitch here.
"Like I give a shit." Drake said mockingly; though his eyes said otherwise. "Fuck off, please. I don't need you anymore. I only used you for my own source of pitiful entertainment. You're boring me now, so leave."
Emma swallowed hard and continued to stare at him, a small seed in her mind just hoping he would change his mind and tell her what the hell is really happening.
But he's not.
And with each second passing is like another knife painfully stabbing her heart. When he kept that disinterested look of his, Emma finally nodded in defeat.
"Okay then." She whispered; her voice cracking.
Taking a step back, she bent down and took her textbooks. She started walking away but stopped abruptly when she heard a heavy sigh coming from him.
Turning around, she made sure to clear her face from any expression before addressing him, "I don't know what's going on with you, but know this: If you change your mind and want us to start again, I will never forgive you, Drake Rogers, even if you beg."
And there she sees it.
A flash of panic appearing on his face as he unconsciously took a step closer to her.
But he remembered what his father said and stopped himself. With that thought in mind, he threw her a cold glare and just said, "Don't worry; you'll never see me beg."
.:End:.
.
"Don't take it personally; he does this all the time." Emma pinched his shoulder, earning a yelp from him.
"What was that for?!" Drake snapped, rubbing the sting away and glaring at her.
"You're daydreaming again." Emma smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Did you dream about me?"
Drake stared at her and swallowed hard.
"And we're here." The nurse said, as they reached the room number. "Are you ready?"
She knocked the door.
Drake reached to his side and grabbed Emma's hand, lacing their fingers together as he glanced at Aidan as well.
"Come in." The muffled voice behind the door called out.
"You can do this, Drake." Emma murmured, temporarily letting go of his hand so she could push the stroller. "You'll be fine."
Drake took a deep breath and let it out slowly as they entered the room; the beating in his chest becoming uncontrollable as the nurse pulled the privacy curtai
ns aside, revealing Oscar Rogers on the bed and - to his surprise, Nancy, on the side.
"Baby," Nancy immediately stood up and rushed towards her son, greeting him the same way he's used to. "I thought you were coming home today?"
"I am." Drake muttered, can't even find himself to look at his father's face as he hugged Nancy back. This whole room feels so claustrophobic now that he could see him conscious and alert.
When Nancy pulled back, she quickly went back to the unoccupied chair beside her husband's bed. Drake could feel his father's stare, but he still couldn't return the favor.
Instead, he turned his head to the side and lifted his right arm up, gently grabbing Emma's wrist. He pulled her towards him until she was right beside him, and felt his whole body suddenly release the stressed tension he didn't realize he was carrying.
Emma noticed this and smiled, bending down to give him a reassuring peck on the head before turning around again to attend their son.
Maybe Oscar would like to see Aidan? Emma's sure they were never formally introduced, so why not now?
So, she unbuckled his safety belts, letting out an amused chuckle when Aidan started bouncing his arms and legs with excitement; finally being let out by his containment. She gently cradled him in her arms and turned around again to return back to her side next to Drake.
"Son?" A raspy voice coming from the bed.
Drake snapped his attention to the occupier and swallowed hard. "Father."
Oscar merely stared at him, his face blank but his eyes wide. Oscar could feel the awkwardness chilling in his bones as his own son stared at him with that same cold expression he would always wear in front of him.
"How... How are you doing?" Oscar bit out; as if that wasn't the most cliché question he could ask his son. "I mean, I can see you're doing well but I remembered you -"
"Are you serious?" Drake interrupted him harshly, the old anger that was deep inside him finally resurfacing.
"Son -"
"That's probably the most stupid question you've asked me." Drake continued on, not even caring if he sounded ungrateful.
His father was an ass to him when he was younger; he left him and his mother without so much as a good-bye note, so he's not in the mood to play the father-son bonding moment. "I've been shot by your other son, so how do you think I'm doing?"