Welcome to Gaia! ::

When they were driving to Will's apartment complex Drake was still using his right hand to ease the pain on his left shoulders while listening to Ari talk while smoothing the pain as much as he can.[color=red]"Please go away soon....."He said in his head. When she asked him if he needed to be checked up or any assistants he looked at her and gave a small smile to her the one he usually uses for Ari when they were dating,"No....I'm fine....thank you...."He said in reply as he knew he was lying but, he didn't want her to worry."Thank you for your concern though.."He said to her to simply say thanks. He knows that she would check up on people incase they were hurt or sick. However she does get used a lot for that but, Drake has never used her for anything.

When they pulled up to the complex and both got out of the car they were greeted by two of the football players from there team standing outside."Sup."Drake said to them as they nodded their heads."Will is waiting for you both with everyone else...."Said one of the guys as they both went inside the guys as they walked to Will's home. When they entered home they see a good amount of people inside from the party as Will turned his direction to the door and saw both Ari and Drake."ARI!!!!"He yelled out and ran to her to give her a hug.

((It's fine smile As long as you are okay! smile ))

"Wait what?"Drake said as he felt Ari's hand on his shoulder and pushing him towards the bathroom door to go there."Will?!? You ain't gonna tell her to not do this?!?"He shouted to him while they were heading there as he shrugged his shoulders."Sorry man, if she wants to check up on you then I'm not stopping her."He told her as he laughed a bit to see them both enter the bathroom as the lights turned on as he sat down on the toilet with her locking and blocking the door. Drake quickly got up and stood in front of her as she wouldn't budge."Please....Ari...."He started to plead to her."I'm fine....I swear!"He told her even though it was a dang lie and he knew she wouldn't fall for it.

After begging and pleading she still wanted him to take off his shirt for her to see what's wrong with him."Um....."He said to her as he wouldn't know what to think."Awwww man.....what would Will think?"He said to himself as he remembers when he would take of his shirt for her to see if anything happened to him he would give her a kiss as a payment and of course something to eat afterwards for being such a great caregiver. With that memory in his head he started to sweat a bit from the sides as the lights started to get bright on him as he felt a bit weary. Not from the fighting but, from the thoughts he started to have when he would take off his shirt."Hold on....."He said as he quickly got up to use the sink as he turned on the sink water and would splash his face several times to calm down. The water splashing to his face from his hands started to help him cool down a bit as he grabbed the towel from the racket and wiped his face to get the water off of him as he turned off the faucet.

"Okay...hold on...."He said as he turned his back on Ari as he lifted his shirt slowly from the bottom to lift over his head. From lifting his shirt his left shoulder started to hurt again as he would do a quick stomp on the floor as he felt it hurting as he was finally able to take off his shirt with some pain. He sees his muscles on his arms and on his body as an athletic fit person as he was also covered in some tattoos. His back was covered in a christ cross with Jesus on it and on each shoulder tattoo he would have tombstones on them with some dates marking his grandmother and dad's birth year and death. He looked over his left shoulder to see that there wasn't any bleeding but he could still feel the pain as he used his right arm to ease his left shoulder as he turn around to Ari for her to look at him."Alright doc...."He started to say."Go for it..."He told her exposing his body to her.

((That is good to hear! Take it little by little everyday that is all I can say! I hope that helps! You're welcome! smile ))

When Drake sat down and let Ari take a look at him the way she was positioned standing in front of him and the way he was sitting made him get a flashback."Hold still....." she said to him as she was checking up on him but, of course Drake had other plans as he would wrap his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him,"Nah....I'm alright...." he would tell her as they would proceed to kiss at that point. He quickly snapped out of the flashback as she slowly examined his body looking at the tattoos. He looked at her and smiled a bit but, this wasn't the same Ari he saved. The Ari he knew would kiss his tombstone tattoos cause she knew how important those two were in his life. She would get closer and slowly feel on his shoulders and chest to make sure he was okay. Now he looks at this Ari the one who loves Will, the one who just looks at him as a friend. He had to accept that as he would put his hands on his lap while she still examined him. At this point he would just hold her but, he knows he can't now. The memories of this are killing him in the inside. He had to accept it, this is what he chose to save her.

"Okay....go for it...."He told her when she warned him about putting cream and applying pressure on his shoulder that was bad. When she started to apply the pressure on his shoulder he squirmed a bit from the pain he received,"Ugh....."He said as he started to embrace the pain as she continued to do her work. Drake clinched at his hand the longer she took with the cream and rubbing it on his shoulders as it started to work but, it would only help temporarily as it was the shoulder pain from the accident from that day. He could get it to be numbed and not feel it but, he remembered the deal he made with the mysterious person."Every small memory she remembers that it was you...the pain will come back...." The voice echoed in his head as he nodded his head to shake off the thought.

When she started to patch him up and telling him to go see Hina at the clinic asap he nodded his head to cooperate but, he knew that he wasn't going to show up."Yeah.....I''ll make sure to go...."He said as she finished up patching him as he got up and grabbed his shirt and just put on his undershirt exposing the bandage."It wasn't bad....sorry....and thank you...."He told her as he put his regular shirt on his shoulder and smiled at her as they both walked out from the bathroom as Will and Hina were waiting for the two of them."Hey...."Drake said to the two when they got out,"I''m gonna go on the porch for a bit....to get some fresh air..."He said as he looked at the group and gave them a small smile before heading out to Will porch to go out for a smoke.

Will waited to Drake walked away as he looked at Ari,"Well....at least it wasn't his throwing shoulder...."He started to say as he looked at Drake opening the porch slide door and closing it when he went outside."Anything else to report? You guys were in there for along time."He said to Ari.

When Drake closed the door that lead to the patio he felt the breeze coming from the wind blowing around him as he can hear the tree branches making noises reacting to the wind and seeing paper flying around the parking lot where the teammates, Will and Ari's car was parked as he took out a cigarette and a lighter to lit up the tip and smoked from the other end as the smoke cloud blew around him. He can hear chatting going on inside Will's apartment as he can hear some conversations going on. From plotting revenge to talking about the game Drake can hear some of it as he continued to smoke until it was small and would put it out and smoke another one. He was down to his last cigarette as he put the empty box in his pocket as he started to have more flashbacks of Ari and him. The figure let Drake keep the memories but replaced him to Will in Ari's. It's starting to slowly haunt him as he remembers her and Hina would make food for the team whenever they were at his or some person's house. Ari, Hina and ocasionally some other girl's would prep them food since they know the boys can get hungry after the home games. Drake can smell the food that was being made as it was nachos and pizza's being made as he remembers Ari putting extra cheese on the nachos for them to have some alone time away from the people. He chuckled from the food being made and the team digging in as he was done with his last cigarette.

Before he could put it out. Drake quickly felt a sharp pain coming from his side where his bad shoulder was."Ugh....."He said as he spit out the bud and quickly put it out as he used his nonthrowing arm to clinch to his side and his hands to grip onto the railing to prevent him to falling on his side."Damn....."He said in his head as he started to think that Ari was thinking of something maybe about them as the pain started to go away a for a bit as he could still feel something inside of him as he still used his arm to clinch onto his side. By the time it went away someone had opened the door to get Drake,"Hey..."said the fellow teammate."Food's ready man..."He told him as Drake slowly turned around when he put on his jacket."I'll come inside man."He said as he slowly walked in to see everyone eating.

"I have to get out of here...."He thought to himself as he smiled and made small talk to some people as he slowly made his way to the door. By the time he was bout to past the kitchen Will shifted his eyes to Drake and handed him a plate."Yo!"He said putting the plate to Drake's chest as he put some force to it by accident as he was caught by surprise."Eat up man!"He said to him showing him the food as Drake nodded his head."Yeah...I should..."he smiling at Hina, Ari, and Will as he grabbed two slices of pizza and eating it as a teammate was talking to both Hina and Drake."Man....I need to get out of here...."He said to himself as he was eating and being cautious being prepared to clinch to his side again with his arm if it comes back again.

By the time Drake was done he put away his plate into the trash can as he walked towards Will and tapped on his shoulder when he was talking to Ari,"Hey I'm gonna go."He told him as Will looked at him,"So soon man? You need a ride?"He asked Drake as he nodded his head no."Nah man, thank you though."He said to him as he turned his eyes to Ari and back at Hina then back to Ari."Oh and thanks for the food you two."He said to them and gave them a small smile. After saying his byes to the group he made his way out of the complex as he took a deep breathe."Finally...."he said as he was holding his side heading to the park he goes to that is near his house. He didn't want anyone to worry about him and his some pain he was getting and was happy he was able to leave the house before he held his side with his arm to raise no attention as he wasn't feeling any pain but, didn't want to risk it.

Drake just arrived at the park walking onto the sidewalk that was next to the two lane street that was near him usually seeing cars passing by him but, the streets were empty at the time of night. He knew the bus schedule always ran every 30 mins as he looked for the schedule to see what time the bus would come to the park stop as he was heading there."Hope everyone is okay....."He thought to himself as it was a busy day for him. Seeing Ari dating his best friend and the fighting going on and having her take control. Yeah it was a pretty busy day for him. It didn't make things better as his thoughts took control when he was walking on the sidewalk. He started to remember the picnics and having fun at the park if Drake and Ari were bored they would walk to the park together and stay there till it was bright moon. The thoughts rushing into his head had got him feeling if he had made the right decision as he felt like beating himself up for what would happen to him as he would continue to see this for a long time."No....I made the right decision....."He said to himself as he continued to walk down to the stop.

He heard his name close by and lights on him as he turned around to see that Ari stopped her car and putting on her emergency lights so other cars can pass her on the lane she was on. "Hey Ari...."he said with his usual smile as he listen to her offering him a ride. He smiled at her again and shook his head no in reply."It's fine....you done enough...."He chuckled at her but focused his attention back at her."What are you doing here?"He asked her waiting for reply to that question as he started to speak again."I mean....I'm sure Will is looking for you right now and probably worried....if it's about that talk me and him had...I'm sorry...."he told her in apology as he heard his phone vibrate in text sound as he ignored it but, ironically Ari's phone buzzed as well."That must be Will..."he said to her as he leaned in the window to talk to her.

((It's fine smile ))

Drake slowly backed away when he pulled his head from the car window,"Alright..."He said as he was back on the sidewalk looking at Ari and smiling a bit to her,"I'll see you around...."he told her as she waved at him and pulled away as he sees her lights go down all the end of the street till he can't see them anymore."I miss you....."he whispered to himself as he put his hands in his pockets and slowly made his way back to his apartment complex, which was a couple of building down and across the street from Ari's ironically. After walking down the sidewalk and stopping at the stop signs looking both ways before crossing. He finally made it to his complex. It was a gated community that people with a code keypad can get in. When he reached at the gated door he typed in his code that his apartment number was given as he heard a click sound and proceeded to go through. When he was at the complex he walked past the small playground they had for the children to play and seeing the big area in front of him next to the building that him and the other teens would play some pick up football games. Will every now and then but, since they play tackle football he refused to go at times. Drake walked up to a football that was on the ground and picked it up and felt the ball and to his surprised it wasn't deflated at all. He looked at the other side of the field and saw the tire swing from the big tree that was there since he was little as he looked at his throwing up and cocked it back and threw the ball with some force as he sees it spiraling in the air and went throw the hole on the tire."Still got it...."he said to himself as he made his way inside the complex building.

While roaming the hallways to his apartment number he can hear some of the rooms having their tv sounds all the way and some people having a get together as he passed one of the people who lived here for a long time just exiting out of their room."Ah...Drake!"said a fair old man with his cardigan and khaki pants and shoes to match the cardigan slowly made his way to him as Drake walked up to him so he didn't need to walk far."Mr. Robinson!"Drake said in excitment as he gave Mr.Robinson a gentle hug. He has been here since his Mom and himself moved here and always took care of the fellow kids who lived her and Drake when he would need to babysit them. Mr.Robinson was a father figure to Drake when he was growing up. Teaching him how to ride a bike, throw a football, and dress up nicely, etc."I saw your game on t.v.!"He said to him as he pat him on the back,"You did a great job!"As he rested his hand on his shoudlers."You're making your mom and the community proud."He said to him as he smiled.Drake put his hand on his shoulders back as he couldn't help but continue to smile."I'm just doing my best Mr.Robinson. Trying to win games and such..."he said to him as Mr.Robinson took his hands away as Drake did the same."I must be going boy...heading back to the store!"He said heading to the doors as Drake waved bye to him as he went to his apartment door and slowly opened the door when he used his keys to unlock the door.

When went inside his apartment, he was greeted by the television playing a sitcom show as he sees his mom passed out on the couch with the blankets on her body and snoring as he went over to the tv and turned it off as she was still on the couch sleeping. He went to his room and gently closed the door as he changed into his sleeping wear with his gym shorts and undershirt he wore. He turns off the lights and just lay on his bed and looked up at the ceiling seeing the eventful day he had,"God....I wish you here...."he said as usually if he was lonely he would sneak out of his apartment and go to hers and climb up the stairwell and she would be waiting at her window to let him in.

Drake was staring at the ceiling of his fan that was making the circular motion as the blades of the fan were giving him the breeze he needed for his hot room as he was moving around his bed trying to find the comfy spot for him to lay on. When he found a semi-comfy spot on his bed with him under the blanket the thought couldn't escape his head."Did I really make the right decision?"He said in his thoughts as he kept fighting back and forth thinking he made the right decision or not."You did make the right decision but...."he said in his head moving around trying not to think about it."She's dating my best friend Will.....Am I going to be okay?"He said for his final thought. However that thought of being okay was stuck in his head. He tried to fight it as he went to his phone and head to the music section and hit play for the playlist he made about the band/group Combichrist music he has started to play. The first song started to play was Never Surrender from the game DmC or Devil May Cry. When the song was playing the thoughts started to get more and more heavier as he then felt his eyes started to get heavy as he slowly fell asleep on his bed.

He woke up thinking it was already the next morning but, as he slowly started to get up he felt something unusual. He took one whiff of the air as he smelled something cooking in his kitchen. When he sat up he looked around his room seeing everything was normal until he looked at the hoodie that was on his computer chair and seeing some new shoes that were near his at the door as he looked closely to see it was Ari's."No way...."He started to say as he slowly got up noticing he was shirtless showing his muscles and tattoos and putting on some gym shorts he usually wears. He goes to the kitchen as he sees a similar figure making some pancakes and toast as he was standing on the entrance way of the kitchen seeing it was her. She turned around and smiled at him,"Good morning sweetheart..."she said as she walked up to him and kissed him as he kissed her back and smiled. This wasn't an ordinary smile he would have on his face. This was the only smile that Ari could get from him as he felt the smile he gave her."Good morning to you to Ari..."he said. He hears some music playing as the song "Guts Over Fear" Eminem ft Sia as Sia's part started to come up. Drake quickly and gently wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her kisses on her neck gently as she giggled and sway with him to the song. When Sia's part started to come up she started to sing it just like her. When they were dating and when this song had came out Drake would always listen to this song before football games or any sport games he has done. This song reminds him how he was a nobody in sports and everyone has doubted him but, he worked hard and showed everyone that he can do it. She would always sing it to him before he board the bus for the away games and in the tunnel before he went to the locker room for the home games. When she kept on singing he kept getting closer to her as she would put her hands on top of his and continued to sing like Sia as Drake stood close to her,"This is too real...."He said to her as quickly he was awaken by something on his side.

When he shot up from the bed he could feel a sharp pain coming from his side that was were his bad shoulder was. Surprisingly while holding his hurting side he looked to see his bad shoulder was healing."UGH!!!!!"He started to grunt to not wake up his mother who he thinks that she is still home. He slowly stood up as his knees were a bit wobbly as he could barely move them."Damn....how could this be happening?"He said to himself as he remembered what the mysterious figured said about her unlocking each small memory they have together if she found out it was Drake and not Will in those memories."No....it can't be...."he said eying on what is on top of his dresser is painkillers that he was prescribed to him when playing football."I just got to make it..."he said as he slowly made his way to the dresser. Each step he took felt like he was going slower and slower and the dresser was far away. He could feel the sweat coming down on his face as he wiped it away with his hands as he finally made it to the dresser and popped open the bottle to take out a pill. He grabbed the bottle of water next to it and swallowed the pill and drink water along with it to help him. He sighed in relief as the pain started to feel numb or not sting anymore and his shoulder was feeling a bit better."That's better...."he said to himself as he walked out of his room and to the apartment living room."Mom?"He said throughout the place as he heard no response, when he walked into the living room seeing no one was there and blankets were folded up neatly and the tv was off. He went to the living room to see that a plate was there with two pancakes and two french toast and a note on the table for him. He went over to the table and opened up the note to see what it says:
Drake,
I had to work again. Here is some breakfast.
Great job at the game! Saw the highlights!
Let's eat out tonight?
Love,
Mom

He folded the note and kept it with him as he chuckled and sat down and started to eat. When he went back to his room he put on some workout clothes as this time he wore a red Houston Rockets gym shorts that no one knows he has and a plain black hoodie with a black mouth masks to cover half of his face except for his eyes and part of his head. He usually wore that just so he could go unnotice when he went out for a job. He then grabbed small backpack that he takes with containing a small bag of painkillers and a water whenever he stops at his usual place the coffee stop. He put the note away that his mom made and left it on his desks with the others as he then went out of the complex leaving and locking his door and started to run his usual route. He made sure that his music was jamming into his ears to not be distracted as he was being aware of his surroundings to make sure to look down so no one can see him. When he was running past Ari's complex that was done the street from him he sees a familiar figure heading there as he saw Will and quickly looked down and hopefully he didn't notice as he started to jog towards the town.

"Hey Ari...."he said in reply in the same tone as hers thinking he did something wrong from last night. He then proceeded to her as he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her lips slowly as he feels her lips pressed upon his as they slowly puled away.They both went towards the table as he pulled the chair for her as she sat down and scooted in as he walked over to the other side of the table as he sat down."This looks good...."he said to her as he grabbed his knife to cut up egg and uses his fork to pick up the egg and bacon to eat. While he was eating he could feel that no one was speaking, the room felt silent. He looks up to see Ari playing with her food as he looks down to see he is almost done. He wiped his mouth with a towel as he looks at her,"Ari....."he started to speak to her,"Are you okay?"He asked her.

Drake had took a different way as he was running from the dirt trail outside the city as he kept jogging for a bit until he reached an abandon warehouse that use to belong to a company that was first here until the city grew and the company started to lose money and closed down. Drake found this when he was a freshman in highschool and took anything from milk crates, small dumbbells, bench press sets, etc. To make his own private gym. He never tells anyone about it since he would want to work out alone as well as he made sure no one is following him when he enters the warehouse by entering a door from the back. The only person that knows that he uses the warehouse was the mayor of the city as he agreed to not tear down the building and some people he trains with that he has personally talked to. Drake walked along the dark hallways using his cellphone as a flash light as he found a switch and turned it on as he sees lights slowly flashed on revealing the small homemade gym he made. A boxing ring was there, football equipment to help with his speed for running and throwing, throwing power and accuracy, and other stuff that helps with shaping his muscles. He walks over to where there was speakers on the side of the room as he grabs the aux cord and plugs it in his phone as he then goes to music and starts to play Eminem ft Sia-"Guts Over Fear" as he it was playing throughout the area inside and making sure the volume wasn't too loud for other people to hear from the outside. He then goes and grabs a football from the back a rack full of them as he turns on something on the otherside as it shows figures with hands sticking out and moving side to side left to right as they mimic receivers. This helps him out with his accuracy and be aware where he needs to throw it at as he starts the drill while listening to the music playing.

((So sorry for the late reply and a well crappy one!))