This chapter is dedicated to all my readers <3

***

It was a Tuesday.

It was that day of the week when Drake chooses to literally disappear, switch off his phone and is untraceable.

But this Tuesday is different from other Tuesdays cause he was taking me with him to where he goes on that particular day of every week. Infact, sitting in the car next to him, I knew where we were going.

I was nervous. Very nervous cause I hadn't imagined I would have to live a day like this. The one thing that left me baffled the most about the news article that Sophia had showed me was the photograph of Drake's father. Drake looked exactly like his father. If I was to picture Drake fifteen or more years down the line, he would have the exact built and features like his father had.

To be honest, if I had a choice I would never ever go to the place that we were going to. It was freaking me out but it was important cause I now have a fair knowledge that Drake is laden with all sorts of insecurities that he had been perfectly masking all this while. I wanted to not only make him believe in himself but also to make sure he knows how much I love him despite everything.

"I hope you still don't think I'm prying." I said.

"Nope. You aren't. You're one important part of my life. So, you've the right to know what goes on in the other part of my life." Drake responded.

"That means a lot." I smiled in love and gratitude.

"You already know what happened."

"Yeah..." I replied, "Your mother shot your father who was a cop. But I know its not like how it appears to be."

"My father was a psycho, a dangerous one. I was a kid that time. Like always, he had come home drunk that night and was assaulting me and mother.  And then, my mother did something that was unlike a gentle, kind and sensitive person like her. She fetched his gun from his closet and fired three bullets at him. My father stopped kicking me. I saw him fall on the ground, smeared with blood. He died in front of our eyes. My mother was arrested for killing a cop. No one believed her cause father had great friends and acquaintances in the police. My mother sacrificed her life to protect me....."

I was numb hearing all that. Can't imagine the horror and tragedy that he had to go through early in his life....

Shortly afterwards, we had reached the prison to see Drake's mother

****

Drake and I were seated at a small round table, waiting for his mother Grace to arrive. There were other people too in that room waiting to talk to their friends/relation who were imprisoned. I was feeling very weird inside. The tense and suffocating atmosphere could give anyone the creeps.

And then Grace arrived, attired in the infamous orange outfit. She had short brown hair and kind eyes. She was beautiful inspite of the bit of dark circles under her eyes. She looked tired, yet was very happy and eager seeing Drake and me.

"Its immense pleasure to meet you Mrs. Spencer." I greeted her.

"You really made my day by coming here Andrea!" she said.

"How are you, Ma?" Drake asked fondly.

"I couldn't have been better! Finally you've got your girlfriend along!" Grace chirped. I blushed a bit at that.

"Andrea," she turned to me, "Thanks for coming. We talk a lot about you. The past has left a severe impact in Drake's life. He has this grave phobia that he would eventually turn out to be like his dad cause he has his dad's genes in him. That's why he wants to be cut off from the world and not commit to anything. I've been trying to get him out of this whole notion. And I'm so happy that he has found real happiness with you and that you've stood by him. Andrea, you're that pure sunshine who has lighted up the darkness of my son's life."

Drake was looking down at his shoes.

"Mrs. Spencer, honestly, I'm lucky to have Drake's love and attention. Your son can never ever be like his father cause Drake has an amazing heart and a beautiful mind that's gonna stay with him forever." I turned to Drake and then back to Grace, "Well, that's a different story that he can be really annoying at times."

I gave a dramatic sigh.

"I used to love you when you were saying good things about me but now I don't." Drake grumbled.

Grace laughed, "Is he, day by day, growing to be a bigger bookworm? I was worried when his Grandma said so."

"You bet!" I quipped, "Drake once told me he would have liked me more if I were his Physics textbook. I felt insulted."

"In that case Andrea, I give you permission to get him into a lot of detentions at school." Grace chirped.

"Infact, I've thought of writing '101 Ways To Land Drake Spencer in Detention.'" I added.

"I can't believe you two are plotting against me right under my nose!!" Drake frowned.

Grace & I laughed. We three talked for some more time after that. Then it was time to take leave. From this meeting, all I can say is Grace is a wonderful woman. My heart sank at the fact that she is forced to live the life of a criminal in such a traumatic place....

***

It was sundown when Drake pulled up the car a few blocks away from my house.

"I am really sorry Andrea that my actions caused you a lot of pain. I ditched you due to my insecurities but you never left me. I couldn't commit to you like how I should have cause I was paranoid that I might hurt you in the worst possible manner like my dad.....After all, child does turn out to be like his parent...That is the main reason why I let Daniel propose you on the first place. But it hurt like hell seeing you with him."

"I love you Drake. And you don't have to fear about anything. You're never gonna turn into a monster like your father cause you're a very good human being and I know you love me more than I could possibly imagine."

Drake leaned towards me. I closed my eyes when our lips met. Our breaths mingled, our tongues tangled a lot of times and we kissed passionately.

"Uh oh." he exclaimed suddenly, breaking our kiss.

"What?" I asked curiously.

"We didn't tell Mark yet about us!"

"Um, yeah, seems like we have a lot of drama coming up. Lets get done with it anyway. We will tell him tomorrow."

****

"Drake and I are dating." I told my brother

There was utter silence for a few seconds. Drake, Sophia, Mark and I sat still at the school canteen table the following day. No one spoke a word after the revelation for a few seconds.

And then, suddenly, my brother burst out laughing.

"I'm really dating you sister, Mark!" Drake said.

Mark was laughing, "Okay, that was definitely the best joke I've heard in my life! I'm not a fool that I would believe this. Moreover, its not even an April Fool day today!"

"We're not joking Mark." I said on a serious note.

"Puh-lease Andy! Drake and you dating is next to impossible and who knows that better than me cause I've been a referee to all of your fights!" Mark was still laughing. He found the idea entirely incredulous.

I pulled Drake towards me and we both ended up having a really long passionate kiss in front of my brother and his girlfriend.

After Drake and I pulled apart, Mark wasn't a happy guy anymore. His face was twisted in an ugly frown.

So yeah, my brother got enough proof that there wasn't any joke around.

To say the least, Mark looked very angry.

"Since how long have you been back stabbing me, Drake?" he asked curtly.

Before my boyfriend could reply, Soph spoke,

"Its not back stabbing. Drake and Andy are in a serious relationship for quite sometime now."

"And you knew about it?" Mark was baffled.

"Yeah, Andy told me cause she knew I won't be creating a fuss like you." Soph shrugged.

Mark grew all the more angry.

Soph and her big mouth! Oh boy!

My brother turned to Drake and me, "Both of you betrayed me. You two dating was the last thing I would ever want. And Drake, being my best friend, you backstabbed me! You—-"

"I'm sorry Mark. I didn't mean to—-"

"You can't interrupt me like this, Drake!!" Mark rebuked.

"Um, sorry.."

"Today is the black day of my life. My near ones deceived me. I 'm pained a lot. I must have repeated a million times that I don't want you guys dating. But who bloody cares about a guy called Mark?" my brother was about to walk away.

"Mark, I'm sorry! I—-"

"Why are you saying sorry every time, Drake?" I snapped at him.

"Ermm..." Drake ran a confused hand over his hair.

I turned to Mark with an irritated look, "I don't understand why are creating such a big issue out of this??"

"I can't believe you're asking me this! It feels so weird living with the fact that my best friend is kissing my sister and doing other things with her. And, if at all both of you get into a serious fight, whose side am I supposed to take? Won't it be awkward for me to choose between my best and my sister? If I choose to be with my sister, it will ruin my friendship with my best friend!!"

Whoa Man! Seriously, I never thought Mark is even capable of thinking to that deep extent!

"Well, I will make things easier for you there, Mark." Drake spoke, "If Andrea and I get into a serious issue, we will sort it out much before you even get to know there was a fight. Fair enough?"

I giggled hearing that.

"Big Talks." Mark grumbled.

"I don't remember myself creating a big fuss after knowing Soph and you were dating." I remarked.

Mark sneered at me. I rolled my eyes.

"Markie" Soph called him in a seducing tone, "Anger does not look good on your handsome face and sexy voice. You're such a sweetheart, why don't you agree to their relationship? Please baby?"

Sophia seductively caressed Mark's arm and then his hair

My eye brows must have fallen off from my face.

Whoa Man, I never knew Soph could seduce so well!

"Um, okay baby. If you say so...." Mark said, "Drake, Andy, I've no issues with you. You guys can date, I won't butt in."

Soph kissed him on his cheek and did my brother just turn a bit red?

Okay, my eyes brows have officially fallen.

I was finding it real hard to control my laughter. Drake and I looked at each other. He was on the same page as mine.

Soph!! Oh boy!

That was a lot of drama for one day, wasn't that?

Oh wait! I realized that there was more drama to come when I sat at the dining table with my parents and brother that night.

"So, you two! What's latest in your life?" Dad asked.

Mark shrugged, helping himself to his veggie soup, "Nothing much. I saw Andrea kissing Drake. So yeah, she is dating him."

I was just about to bite into the chicken but froze hearing what my brother said. Our parents were looking at me without blinking.

"Well, I often see Mark going to the janitor's closet with Sophia. So yeah, he is dating her." I said casually.

Now it was my brother's time to freeze in the middle of gulping down his soup. Our parents turned their heads and looked at Mark without blinking.

Ha Ha! Take that Markie!!

And then few seconds of silence followed. It was one of those silences that make you feel that ants were running a marathon inside your stomach.

Clearly, Mum and Dad weren't expecting to hear what they just heard from Mark and me.

And, then suddenly, Mum squealed in excitement.

"Both my children are dating!!! Did you hear that, Honey?" she told Dad, "They are dating!!! I need to ask Drake and Sophia whether my kids kiss well or not!! I might just cry out of happiness now!!! And soon, I will see my kids getting married!! And then I will have grandchildren!!Oh, I might just faint in joy now!!"

Dad sighed heavily at that.

Mark was suddenly trying to use the fork to have the soup.

I facepalmed.

Yeah, that's Mom for you!

And that's how the dinner ended. Oh boy!

***

"Where is Laura?" Soph asked, puzzled.

"I don't know. She just texted me she won't be coming to school today." I responded.

We were heading to the first class for the day when we came face to face with Susan.

She gave me the most ugly look she could ever give, stomped her feet and walked away.

"Whoa! That was something!" I exclaimed, amused.

"Speaking of Susan, Amber came second in the Short Film Festival." Soph said.

"Ohh...."

Damn! That is going to make Amber ever more snooty and disgusting!!

I still feel Laura deserved to be in that festival. But guess, things aren't always as we would want them to be.

"Guys!!"

Sophia and I stopped. We turned around in surprise to see Laura. She seemed out of breath and excited about something.

"Hey Laura, what's up?" Soph asked, amused.

Laura rushed towards us, "Do you know J.L Collins?"

"Yeah of course." I responded, "He is this famous Hollywood Director. Why?"

"He has seen the Advertisement that I had made with you, Andy. He liked my work, says that I've a lot of potential and asked me whether I would like to assist him in his next film!!!!!" Laura said that in one breath with the widest grin I've ever seen on her face.

"Omigod!!! That's HUGE!!" Soph quipped in delight.

The very next second, all three of us were screaming like fanatics. Laura hugged me tight. It was hard to explain in words how happy I was for her. I was almost in tears like her.

"You deserve it Laura! All the best! You will do amazing!" I raved.

"I'm still shaking! Its like a dream! Can't believe I will be working in a Hollywood film! And I am finally moving out of my parents' house!" Laura said joyfully.

"I just want to see the priceless expression on Amber's snooty face when she comes to know about this!" Soph said evilly.

"That'll definitely be a treat!" I added. All three of us laughed.

****

Everything was happy happy. That evening Drake, Mark, Soph, Laura and I celebrated Laura's happiness. There was cake cutting and lots of yummy things to eat with all of us chatting, laughing, joking and having a really good time.

All was going on really well until Drake's phone beeped. His expressions changed when he read the message.

"What?" I asked curiously.

He looked at all of us, "Ermm...not to spoil the fun or anything, but just to remind you that our year end exams are just two weeks away..."

"WHAT!!!"

We all looked at him in horror.

Damn! We completely forget that we were students in a High School and that exams were an evil part of our lives.

"Oh No! How many subjects do we have in total?" Mark asked, slumping onto a chair like a tired old man.

"My revision is yet left." Drake muttered.

"You're speaking of revision? I don't know one freaking word of any subject." Soph was depressed.

"I can see myself flunking in Math." Laura uttered.

"And I yet don't know the difference between Physics and Chemistry." I mumbled stupidly.

"You're gonna be fine, Andrea!" Drake kissed my lips.

"Okay, don't do that again in front of me. Its still weird." Mark muttered.

I giggled. Infact, everyone laughed.

So yeah, I've no clue how we are gonna fair in the exams. But I do know this that Drake and I are together. I know we will continue to taunt each other like we do. We will continue to tease each other like we do. We will even continue to have our silly bickering. And above all, I also know both of us have the deepest of love, care and concern for each other. We are Drake and Andrea. We are D 'N' A.

THE END

~*~*~~*~~*~

A/N

So here we are at the end of this story. Thanks for reading! A big Thank You to all those who voted and commented. It because of you guys that I was motivated to write and complete the story!

I 'm feeling both happy as well as sad. Happy because I completed my first ever book. Sad because there won't be any chapters to write for this story....

I really hope you will check out my new Teen Fiction 'Neighbours'. 

Once again, a big heartfelt Thank You to everyone out there who have supported me for D'N'A. You all have been amazing!

With lots of love,

HazelEyes_1