When Andrew and Cedric came home, Cedric asked Andrew how school went.
"It was pretty alright," Andrew replied, "I made a new friend."
"Oh, that great!" Cedric said.
Later, when Grey came home, he asked Andrew a similar question.
"As I said to C-dad, it was alright," Andrew replied, "I even made a new friend."
"You did?" Grey asked.
"Yerp," Andrew said.
When it came to Andrew's crush on Drake, he chose to keep that to himself for the time being. It wasn't that he didn't trust his parents. It was more that he wanted to wait until he got w/ Drake first before telling anyone.








...




(Andrew)
Song: (Diary of Underage Observation by Takeaki Wada)
Throughout the rest of the week, Andrew kept trying to get friendly w/ both Gasper and Drake. For Gasper, the attempt was kind of unsuccessful. Every time Andrew attempted to propose a friendship, Gasper pretty much shot it down. Words were futile as Gasper always managed to shut Andrew up. As for nonverbal attempts, Andrew tried different messages, but Gasper would ultimately rip them up. As for Drake..., it was more interesting in comparison. For classes, Andrew wasn't sure if Drake shared two or four w/ him. While Andrew would see Drake only in Home Ec. and Theater one day, he would see him only in English and P.E. the next! Strangely, in both classes that Drake wasn't in, there would be a giant human that looked like he was the same size as Drake. The human also felt oddly similar to Drake. Whenever Andrew to talk to Drake, Drake would just stay silent and look away. As for messages, while Drake didn't tear them up, Andrew wasn't sure how Drake felt about them as he didn't respond to them, though, at the same time, Andrew never did find them in any trash can/bin. As for lunchtime, Andrew and Drake kept on repeating their first meeting. Andrew kept following Drake while Drake would move away. Gwen asked Andrew why he kept on trying to make this work when it clearly wasn't. Andrew had simply replied by saying that he just felt that Drake needed a friend. Finally, when it came to seeing Drake on the rooftop, things were just as strange as the first time. Drake would softly speak in one direction for a bit. He would then stare down at the grounds below. Once all that was done, Drake would leave. This ended up going on for quite a while until one fateful day...

(Drake)
(Song: My R by Takeaki Wada)
Drake didn't know how to feel about the weird guy who had, for whatever reason, sat next to him at lunch on the first day. As usual, Drake kept himself away from everyone else because he felt that everyone would be worse off w/ him around. When he sat in front of his usual pillar, staring at his uneaten pasta, something horrible happened. A guy w/ stitches and horns came over to Drake and sat by him! The guy introduced himself as Andrew. As Drake's head pounded, he noticed w/ hidden surprise that eight different colors swirled forth when Andrew spoke. Usually, Drake only saw one, maybe two colors when people talked, but Andrew had way more colors in one person than Drake had ever seen! Either way, Drake attempted to move away and ditch Andrew at the pillar. Drake expected Andrew to just go away because that's pretty much what happened every time he avoided people. Much to his surprise and horror, not only did Andrew follow Drake from pillar to pillar, but he also kept trying to talk to Drake in later classes! Throughout the week, Andrew kept on trying to speak and send messages to Drake. For the speaking, Drake tried to ignore as best he could in the hopes that Andrew would give up and find someone actually worthwhile. As for the written messages, Drake refused to answer these too. For some reason, though, he stuffed the papers in his pockets. Drake didn't know why he put them away. He just did.
What is this idiot's problem? Drake couldn't help but think one day during Theater.
Andrew was trying to talk to him again, of course.
Can't you see? His head voice asked. He clearly likes you.
Drake sighed and massaged his temples.
Alter, you know that's not a good joke. Drake responded.
He heard a mental sigh.
Drake, buddy. If he didn't like you, why would he keep insisting on trying to talk to you?
I don't know, but you know as well as I do that he can't like me. Nobody would or should willingly want to associate w/ a wretch like me. Drake thought softly.
While Alter didn't have a defined face, Drake could tell his face would be full of pity and sympathy.
Oh, Drake... Alter mentally said, voice full of sorrow.
Another thing about Drake was that sometimes he'd switch between his monster and human forms every time he changed classes. It gave the illusion that Drake was two separate students. Drake didn't exactly know why he had both, but he did have one or two theories on why. He looked like a dumpster fire either way, so it didn't really matter which form he took. Finally, there was the roof. After school was finished, Drake chose to climb up to the top of the building. All the while, he dragged his face across the floor.
Not like I can ruin this garbage any further. Drake had thought the first time.
Each day, Drake contemplated jumping from the rooftop. He wasn't entirely sure the fall would kill him, but he hoped it would.
Don't you dare. Alter said.
"Why," Drake mumbled, "Nobody'd miss me."
Andrew probably would. Alter replied.
"No, he wouldn't," Drake quietly replied.
Yes, he would!
Drake, rather than answering, reached out to the railing. Before his hand could even graze it, Drake's hand froze in midair. He tried to force it forward, but it refused to budge!
"Alter, let go of my hand," Drake said.
I'm literally not doing anything. You know I have no control over this body. Alter replied.
Drake tried forcing his hand forward. Alter sighed mentally after a bit.
Drake, stop. This is getting sad.
Drake complied.
I'll come back again. Drake thought.
When Drake returned each day after until Friday, he kept trying to jump while Alter kept trying to convince him otherwise. Each time, for whatever reason, Drake just couldn't bring himself to jump. He didn't know why, but he just couldn't. As each day passed, however, Drake felt his hand edge closer to the railing. Eventually, Drake finally got his hand on the rail. He looked down at the ground below one last time.
Drake, don't do this... Alter said.
"Alter, please. Right now, I can finally do something useful for once. You'll go to heaven while I'll go to where I belong. Among fire and screaming," Drake mumbled.
Drake... no... I don't think that's how it works...
But Drake ignored him, tore off his hoodie, and climbed over the railing.

(Andrew)
As Andrew was drawing on the roof that Friday, he noticed Drake. He was near the railing again. While Andrew wasn't going to think about it too much, he then saw Drake tear off his giant hoodie. While Andrew thought this was strange enough, he looked on in horror as Drake climbed over the railing. Andrew immediately put his stuff down and sprinted forward. While Andrew didn't know what was going on, he knew very well that it wasn't a good thing!

(Drake)
Drake looked down, a shadow covering his eyes. He knew nobody would miss him and knew he couldn't avoid the flames of his eternal punishment forever.
Drake... Alter said softly.
But the word fell on deaf ears. Drake had already made up his mind. Alive, he was only a burden to those around him. Why not relieve that burden? W/o a second thought, Drake stepped forward, put his head back, put his treetrunk arms up, and plunged down.
Goodbye world. I'm sorry for being your biggest mistake... Drake thought.
As the wind rushed for a bit and Drake somehow felt a sense of vertigo, everything suddenly stopped. Drake thought he'd died for a second before he realized there was a grip sensation on his right wrist. When Drake looked up, he couldn't make out who had somehow grabbed him. All he could see was bits of bright orange as the individual grunted. Shockingly, despite Drake's immense weight, the person managed to actually pull him up slowly! Once the person had pulled Drake up all the way, Drake looked on in shock when he saw who the individual was. It was Andrew...