Chapter 2: Bubbly

Drake’s POV

Ever since I was a kid, I was already an overly sensitive soul. Maybe it was because my dad was never home and I grew up around girls. When we were kids, Callie would always cry over the stupidest things, so maybe I felt that I’d get what I want if I whined and fought for it.

Okay, maybe choosing my younger sister as a role model was a bad idea.

Anyway, when Callie wasn’t home, my mom would tailor Callie’s dresses with me as a model. It sounded pretty sad, but I was always mommy’s little helper, a beautiful term for being a mommy’s boy. And nobody was ever going to understand how good it felt to actually feel the breeze between your legs while wearing a fluffy pink dress.

But no, I’m not gay. I mean… I love women as much as the next jerk. It’s just frustrating how I can’t seem to understand what these women really want. The first girl I ever dated was Marissa, a girl from Callie’s band back when she wasn’t really in Callie’s band. Yeah, I thought I’d take it slow and just relax, but apparently she wanted more to our relationship. I wasn’t ready, so… what the hell, she broke up with me.

The next girls after that were after the same thing, and I really just wanted an easy fling. Damn it. They were talking about all the lovey-dovey feelings, like that weird Colbie Caillat song my sister keeps singing about toes and noses and stuff. Bubbly, was it? Why was it called Bubbly anyway?

Finally, I decided to grow up and look at what’s going to happen in the long run. I’d eventually have to marry someone, and who knew if that’d actually be it, you know? So I started taking these girls seriously… okay, that was a stupid thing for me to do, right, after being labeled as the fling-man. Anyone who wanted a week or two of dates, at the most a month, would come to me, but no, I chose to grow up and become a “man.” Now I’m a stupid sensitive jackass who listens to “Thunder” every time a girl breaks up with me.

I should stop dating. Maybe I can become a priest or something! God knows my mother would like that. It would be an instant ticket to heaven. I wonder how pretty the angels are in Heaven… “Drake!”

I snapped out of my reverie and saw Callie leaning against the door with her best friend Rosie Spencer staring at me like I was crazy. “You were mumbling to yourself,” Callie said with a shrug. “Listen, I’ve got a gig later tonight, since it’s the Summer-Ender Celebration down by the beach. Come watch, please?”

“Okay, I guess.” I shrugged back and stared at her. Callie rolled her eyes again and glared at me.

“Will you come for sure if I play your favorite song?” She started humming “Thunder” again. I smiled widely and waited for another thing. Twin telepathy does come in handy, you know. “Okay, okay. I’ll dedicate it to you and everything.”

“I’ll be there with a banner and summer-ending spirit,” I promised.

“That’s just really gay of you, Drake. Ever considered same-sex relationships?” Callie questioned with a teasing smile, and I glowered back at her. “Okay, okay, I’m joking! Jeez. I’m just giving you options. Let’s just say there are more than a few boys willing to show you the ropes on how to be a homo.”

“Gross, Cal. Don’t get any ideas. As much as I love being a boy, I don’t think I wanna be WITH a boy.” I threw my pillow at her, and amazingly she caught it with ease. “Now you and Rosie go away. Please?”

“I didn’t do anything to you,” Rosie whined. Rosie and I were pretty much good friends too. Since she was almost always around, she’s pretty much hard to ignore. So when Callie’s busy doing something, Rosie usually came to me for entertainment. We get along pretty well, oh what the hell, really well. I just don’t see her as more than a friend because of Callie, you know?

“Oh no, Rose. I just want you to go away because you might end up taking care of my love wounds,” I said dramatically, placing my hand over my heart. Rosie rolled her eyes and smiled at me, tucking her reddish brown hair behind her ear.

“Whatever, Drake. We’ll see you later.” She waved at me before closing the door. I sighed and leaned back, staring again at the ceiling. I wonder what it really feels like to be in love. Is it really bubbly as that singer says it is?

I tugged on a pair of board shorts and a casual white shirt, staring at my rugged reflection in the mirror. I actually didn’t look too bad with my hair like this. I’ve never had it shaggy. “This is interesting,” I murmured, ruffling my longer hair messily as I slipped my feet onto my flip-flops. Rosie loved the fact that they were Havaianas. I honestly can’t tell the difference.

I trotted down the stairs and outside into the back patio. I left a note on the porch saying that I went to the Summer-Ender Celebration along the beach, and I walked out of my backyard and onto the sandy pathway. I could see the large gathering near the pier. Booths lined one side of the beach, while picnic blankets lay across the sand to watch the sunset. To one side there was a huge stage where I saw people setting up for the bands that night.

I strolled along the beach casually, kicking at stones in my path. I yawned and stretched my arms in the air, feeling the cool ocean breeze blow against my skin. “Hey Drake!” a familiar voice yelled, and I turned my head around curiously. A grin immediately crossed my face.

“Ryan!” I called out, just as my best friend rushed up to me and slapped high-fives with me. “Dude, it’s been awhile! How was New Jersey?”

“Ugh. It was horrible, man. Seriously, nothing great happened. Well, if you had been there, maybe you’d find that psycho soul mate you’ve been talking about. All the girls there just seemed to be into more than just a summer fling.” Ryan Shaw groaned. I laughed and shoved him playfully as we continued walking down the beach. “How was staying here all summer with Wendy? Are you meeting her at the bash or something?”

The image of my latest ex-girlfriend lip-locking with another boy entered my head, and I cringed. “We broke up.”

“That sucks, dude.” Ryan shrugged. “Oh well. Just date another girl or something.”

“At this rate, I don’t think I wanna date another woman.” I groaned and ran a hand through my hair. “I just don’t get what any of these stupid bitches want.”

“That’s the thing, man! They don’t know what they want.” Ryan stretched his arms and grinned in amusement. “That’s why we keep them to our advantage.”

“Manipulative bastard.” I rolled my eyes and smiled anyway. We finally reached the party, and it was really funny how older people enjoyed going to these parties as much as we did. Old couples were sitting on the picnic blankets, watching the sunset while cuddling each other close. A wistful smile crossed my face. “You see that, Ryan? I wanna end up like that someday.”

“Kissing a grandma?” Ryan raised an eyebrow.

“No. I mean… Be with someone like that, till they grow old.” I sighed and crossed my arms. “I mean, do you really—”

“Do you really wanna end up alone?” I heard a female voice say, and I tilted my head to the person who voiced my exact sentiments. There were two girls nearby, both blonde. “Don’t you just find it so sweet that they grew old together?”

It felt like the angels were singing a Hallelujah chorus while shining their blinding light on the one I’ve been looking for.