Monday, July 10th....
*First Draft*

"I've got it!" I yell out to Mom as I walk towards the front door. I push a strand of hair out from my face before reaching out to open the door. Nadine greets me with a smile. "Nicki!" She steps inside, giving me a quick hug before releasing me.

"I really appreciate this. I'm sure the kids' prefer this to just sitting around in the diner all day." She rambles, turning her head to look out the door. A very happy looking Saige skips inside, her hands grasping her backpack straps on her shoulders like this is going to be one of her best days ever.

Drew, on the other hand, looks like his pet dog just died.

He walks slowly inside with a frown on his face, practically dragging his backpack, hanging from his right hand, on the ground as he goes. Everything about him screams 'displeased' with a passion. From the way his shoulders are hunched together like he's severely uncomfortable, to the way his eyes flicker uneasily about his surroundings, never still.

Right, he totally looks like he's liking this better then the diner. . . Not.

So apparently Mom and Nadine went behind my back on Saturday while we were visiting and planned for me to 'watch' Drew and Saige this week while they worked. Ugh, scheming parents. But hey, I'm not really complaining. I get a whole week off, so duh.

Besides, this could be fun....maybe.

"I'll go see if your mom needs any help." Nadine says, walking up the hall. "She's in the kitchen. Second door to your right!" I call back to her as I shut the front door. I look between Saige and Drew.

"Right, so....living room?" I walk ahead of them before either can answer, heading for the living room that's practically right where we are already. We walk into our cozy living room, two large sofas and a flat screen tv with plenty of potted plants to go around thanks to Mom.

I motion to the sofas, and Saige plops down on one like she's lived here her whole life. Drew slowly lowers himself down a few feet away from Saige, setting his backpack down on the ground by his feet.

I perch myself on the loveseat across from them, clasping my hands in front of me. Saige sets her backpack down in her lap, rustling through it while Drew continues to sit with a obvious tense posture.

My eyes stay glued to him.

I can't help it. Something about him just seems so....different than when I last knew him. And not just his physical appearance. It's something....else.

It's a mystery Charlie Brown.

My eyes swing up to the entrance to the living room as Nadine abruptly walks through. "Thank you again, Nicki." She repeats, stopping next to the chair I'm sitting in. "You're welcome. I really don't mind." I tell her, shifting my legs. She pulls something out of her pocket, holding it out to me. "Here's some money if you guys decide to go somewhere."

I slowly take the thirty dollars from her, not really sure if I needed to take it. I guess I can always return the money.

Nadine then turns to Saige, who's now happily playing on her DS. "Bye, Saigy." She says, bending down to wrap her in a hug. "Bye, Mom." Saige takes her attention off the electronic long enough to return the hug.

Nadine stands back up, her eyes landing on Drew. He avoids her eyes, his arms folded over his chest as he keeps his jaw tight. She delicately sidles over to him, mumbling a few incoherent words to him before she attempts to hug him.

He quickly pulls away, looking down at his lap. Nadine frowns, resorting to simply placing her hand on his shoulder before straightening back up. I quickly look away as she glances over at me, absentmindedly picking at a loose string on my jean shorts.

"Alright....Bye now." Nadine looks down at Drew one more time before turning to walk out from the room. Mom pops in as soon as Nadine disappears, a smile on her face. "Just coming to say bye." She pauses her steps halfway through the room. "Nicki, I left the keys to the suv by the door." She reminds me. I give her a salute, and she chuckles before leaving the room with a wave.

I hear the front door close before a thick silence envelopes the room. I bite my lip, perching my elbow on the armchair before placing my chin on my hand.

What now?

Miss Frizzles appears literally out of nowhere, jumping up onto the sofa and startling Saige. "You have a...cat!?" She quietly squeals, sitting completely still like she's afraid any sudden movements might make her disappear.

I laugh. "Yup. I do." I lean back, watching them with obvious humor. "Her name is Miss Frizzles. And you can pet her. She won't mind." I tell her, glancing over at Drew. He watches his sister and my cat with little to no interest, his left hand fiddling with one of his bracelets on his right wrist.

Saige slowly lowers her hand down onto Frizzles back, and she immediately arches it, begging for more as she meows like she's been deprived of human interaction her whole life.

Drama queen.

I stand up as Saige continues to stroke Frizzles, who's now decided Saige's lap is as good a place for a nap as anywhere. Moving to the tv, I shuffle through our movie collection.

"You guys want to watch a movie? Then we'll figure something else to do." I question, looking back at them from over my shoulder. "Sure." Saige agrees. Drew stays quiet.

"Hmmmm...ooh!" I pull one of the movies out. "How about Cats and Dogs? Though we might have to blindfold Miss Frizzles so she doesn't get any big ideas." I turn back to them, holding the movie up with a large grin. Saige looks up at me, shrugging. "I've never seen it. But okay." She shrugs, continuing to fawn over Frizzles.

My jaw drops. "How could you never have seen this?! It's like a classic." I look down slightly. "Though, It is a bit cheesy." I admit. I look over at Drew. He stares up at me from underneath his bangs that pop out from under his beanie, his stare droll.

"It sounds lame."

I gasp, holding a hand up to my mouth. "Oh yeah, dis one of my favorite movies." I turn around. "But we're watching It anyway." I smirk, opening the case and sliding the CD into the DVD player.

I grab the controller, plopping back down on my seat as I face the tv.

Time to prove him wrong.

*Time Skip*

I press 'off' on the controller, flopping back in my seat to peer over at my group of viewers. Saige still sits with Frizzles curled up in her lap asleep, while Drew has his head perched on his right hand, staring at the tv with a seriously unimpressed expression on his face.

Well drat.

"So....what'd ya think?" I slowly question, pulling my legs up to my chest as I wrap my arms around them. Saige giggles. "I thought it was funny, and cute." She strokes Frizzles, looking down at her with soft blue eyes. "What about you, Drew?" She moves her gaze over to her brother, a almost daring look now in her eyes.

He shrugs, moving his right arm to wrap around his stomach. "It was still lame." He announces, staring straight across the room in an act to avoid our gazes. I frown over at him, needing to remind myself how upset he got the other day over me just suggesting he try out running competivily.

I glance over my shoulder to see what he's staring at so hard, only to find it's Mom's array of pictures she has framed and set up on the small lamp table off to the corner of the room. They all practically have at least Mom and I in them, and occasionally Miss Frizzles. All telling of a happy day.

"Whatever." I mutter, turning back around. I really don't want to get a headache by arguing with him over a cheesy movie right now.

I sit back in my seat, tapping my right index finger on the armrest. What to do, what to do? It's only ten thirty in the morning. Still a lot of time to kill.

An idea hits me like a bolt of electricity.

I jerk up into a sitting position, Drew's and Saige's attention snapping over to me. "I know!" I stand up. "What do you, since we have a lot of time left, say we head over to the fairgrounds and attend the local fair?" Both mine and Saige's eyes light up, and I dance around in a circle.

What? I love the fair.

"Yes, yes, yes, YES!!" Saige squeals, gently moving Frizzles off her lap to join me in my happy dance. That only lasts about five seconds before the harsh sound of Drew's refusal penetrates our happiness.

"No."

Both Saige and I stop, staring slack-jaw at Drew. "Whaaat?" I blink a few times, feeling my chest shift in sadness. "How could you not want to go to the fair? It's like...the fair for goodness sake!"

Drew keeps his eyes averted, brows furrowed and jaw tight.

Saige gets back on the couch, crawling across it towards Drew with large, sad eyes and pouty lips. "Please, Dew." I almost have to hide a smile at his apparent nickname. Drew ignores her, tightening his arms around himself.

"Please, please, please, please!" She begs, literally perching herself on her knees next to him as she clasps her hands in front of her. One look at her eyes and she has me feeling like I would do anything for her.

And I already agreed with her. Heck, I came up with this idea in the first place.

  I see Drew release a long, slightly irritated, sigh before glancing over at her without turning his head. He stares at her for a few seconds before his face softens a degree.

"Fine."

I immediately jump up and down, and Saige squeals before falling forward to wrap Drew up in a hug. He seems a little taken aback, staying completely still as he stares down at her. Then he slowly places a hand down on her back in his way of returning the hug.

Saige pops back up, the largest smile I've yet to see on her face. Bright like a Christmas tree on Christmas Day.

Five minutes later, we're piling into my mom's SUV she's allowing me to use.

I frown as Drew takes a seat in the back with Saige, looking at them through the rearview mirror. "You know I don't bite, right?" I question, buckling up as they do the same. Drew glances up from buckling, a muscle in his jaw noticeably tightening.

"Obviously." He mutters dryly, making me roll my eyes. "I just....prefer the back." He adds after a few seconds, fiddling with his seatbelt.

Odd.

I shrug. "Okay. Whatever floats your boat." I shift to reverse after turning the vehicle on. Drew scowls. "Nobody says that nowadays." He says, leaning back in his seat. Saige leans up against her door, occupying herself with her DS once again.

Ugh.

"Yeah, well, obviously that's wrong." I smirk at his confusion. "Because I just did." I punch my right fist up into the air, giving a 'whoop.' Drew doesn't seem the least bit amused.

"Ha, ha, ha." He dryly mocks, perching has right elbow up on the door. I silently sizzle in my seat. "Killjoy," I mumble, turning out of the driveway.

A few minutes go by in silence besides the radio, I currently have on 95.1, humming in the background, and the sound of the vehicle on the road. I glance back through the mirror again as we come to a stop at a stoplight, and my eyebrows furrow on their own accord.

Saige seems completely content on her damn electronic while she absentmindedly hums to the song on the radio. Drew, on the other hand, doesn't seem to be enjoying the car ride nearly as much.

His right hand grips the door handle with a white knuckle grip while his left grips his left thigh. His eyes have a wide appearance to them as he stares straight ahead at the back of the passenger seat, and his face has a tension to it I can't explain. He's taking deep breaths in through his nose while he lets it out through his mouth.

Is he...okay?

Before I can think more on it, the light turns green and I'm pressing down on the gas to get moving. I bite my lip to contain the questions that are currently buzzing in my head like a annoying swarm of bees.

I want to question him. But I can tell he's not the sentimental type - the other day proved it. Questioning him would just make him hate me more.

Which is not what I want.

Oh shizzle.

I stuff an imaginary fist down my throat, concentrating on which roads to take seeing as I don't 100% remember if I'm indeed going the correcto way.

Whoops.

Five minutes later, and one turn around, we finally pull into the fair's parking lot. If you call a field marked with spray paint a parking lot. Shifting to park once the kind worker with the yellow polls directs us to a specific lot, I unbuckle, peeking around my seat to beam back at my two passengers.

"We're here!" I exclaim, probably smiling like a goofball. You'd think I haven't been to a fair in years, when in reality it's been maybe seven months. Saige, now off her DS, smiles back, her eyes wide with excitement. Drew keeps that scowl on his face as he surveys the activity outside, and I can tell he's trying for the 'chill and collected' look, obviously masking whatever was bothering him a few minutes ago. And expertly at that.

"You don't say." He sarcastically replies as he unbuckles, throwing me a look. I stick my tongue out at him before flipping back around to open my door. Once we've all piled out of the vehicle, I lead them across the parking lot towards the fenced off area full of noise, people, tents, both pleasant and unpleasant smells, and small carnival rides.

Saige walks up so she's next to me, grabbing my hand. I look down at her with a smile, and she beams up at me.

I hope this makes up for her missing out on the Fourth of July.

  Drew continues to straggle along behind us, his hands tucked in his jean pockets with his shoulders scrunched up to his neck while he looks around with wide eyes.

I pay for our tickets, using the money Nadine gave me for Drew and Saige, before we walk through the entrance. The array of smells intensifies as we enter, and I can't help the slobber that builds up due to the smell of kettle popcorn. Annoying carnival music grows louder, and the crowds thicker.

Because apparently, even though it's a Monday, there's people still coming in by the wazoo.

I look down at Saige, squeezing her hand. "You wanna see the animals first?" I question, pausing our steps. She nods so fast I'm almost worried her head might suddenly roll off, and she does a quick, excited, jump.
 
With a smile, I lead her off to the area roped off for the animals, quickly checking first to make sure Drew is still indeed behind us.

Though he is a big boy, with a phone. I'm sure he could handle himself if he got lost.....Which that reminds me....

I leave Saige to gush over some girls' rabbit she has out, stepping back the few feet so I stand next to Drew, who's watching his sister with something I might be keen enough to call adoration.

"So, uh." Drew looks over at me, and I have to look slightly up to meet his eyes from my position right next to him. Darn height difference. "Maybe I should have your number, you know, incase you get lost or something." I choke out, scuffing the heel of my Nike's on the ground.

Oh the embarrassment. I'll never live this down.

He stares at me a solid five seconds. Then, suddenly, a small, almost cheeky smile grows on the corner of his lips.

"Oh I don't know." He looks down, like he's pretending to be bashful or something, before glancing back up. "I'm not supposed to hand out my personal information to just anyone. And so forward too." He scolds, amusement burning in his green orbs.

Well....this is different.

I frown, folding my arms across my chest. I feel a heat run up my neck to my cheeks despite how hard I try to stop it.

"Shut up." I shove him slightly, taking a step away. He bites his lip, and I can tell he's holding in a laugh. "You know what I meant, idiot." I hiss, shielding my face as someone standing next to the alpaca pen gives us a weird look.

Drew doesn't seem to notice, his attention, for once, completely on me. He reals his amusement back in, sobering back up. "All you had to do was ask." He takes his right hand out of his pocket. "No need to make up excuses." He pulls his phone out of his back pocket, holding it out to me after typing a few things into it.

I take a moment to savor this sarcastic, easygoing Drew that's taken possession of the usual cold, despondent Drew. He even cracked a smile. And he's giving me his number.

This, this is the real Drew I knew.

I mean, yeah, we're friends, I guess, and that's all we'll ever be. But it makes my heart do a little dance anyway.

Playing off how I really feel in fear I'll scare the real Drew away, I place my right hand on my hip. "I was not making excuses!...I was just..." Realizing I don't know what to say, which is a first, I huff, grabbing his phone with more force than necessary.

I look down at his dim screen, needing to squint to read the numbers on the keypad. He chuckles as I furiously type my number into his phone. "Don't forget to, like, send me a text. Or else this is a lost cause." I remind him with a grumble, handing his phone back. "And geez, turn the light up on that screen or something. I think I almost got an eye cramp I was squinting so hard at it." I rub my forehead.

He grimaces, pushing his phone back in his pocket. "Sorry," he apologizes, for some reason. "I've got...sensitive eyes."

Before I can question him further, his gaze suddenly snaps back over to where Saige is, and his eyes widen as a flash of panic runs through them. My own eyes move back to the spot I've neglected to look throughout our whole conversation, sue me, and I feel dread grip my heart with a cold iron fist.

She's gone. But how? It's been, what? Two minutes?

"Where's Saige?" Drew cautiously questions, taking a step as his eyes scan the area beneath the tent we're under. My own eyes scan the grounds, frantically searching for the bright pink shirt associated with Saige.

Come on, it's hot pink. It should stick out like a sore thumb.

"Oh my god. We've lost her. We actually, freaking lost her." Drew mutters, pulling his beanie off before he furiously combs his hands through his hair. Not an ounce of amusement left in his face, eyes, or voice.

I swallow the sudden dryness away from my throat, lifting my left hand up to gently grab Drew's right arm. "No, no. We didn't lose her. She's probably on the other side of the tent. Most likely waiting on us to notice she's gone." I assure him, though I'm not sure if it's more for my sake or his.

Drew nods in a jerky movement, his throat moving in a swallow as his wide eyes repeatedly scan the busy tent.

My lord, not ten minutes into the fair and I've already lost someone. Maybe this babysitting job wasn't such a great idea after all?

I leave Drew behind, walking up to the little girl holding the velvety brown rabbit, who's no more than ten feet away. "Um, hey." I awkwardly wave, and she looks up at me. "Did you by any chance see where a girl, of about ten, dressed in a bright pink shirt, walked off to? She was just here looking at your rabbit."

The girl wordlessly shakes her head, resuming her vigorous brushing she's giving the rabbit.

I almost feel bad for it.

I bite the inside of my cheek, feeling the alarm spike in my mind. I nervously rub my arms, turning so I stand facing the opposite direction. Come on Saige. Where are you?

Nothing.

I turn to Drew, who's now standing next to me, looking his stressed face and panicked eyes over before motioning him foreword. "Come on. Lets check over here."

Two minutes later and we've still had zero luck, and I think we already walked in a circle.

I tap my foot on the ground, my eyes still scanning the area. Glancing over to my left, where Drew stands, I'm surprised to find him now crouching next to the wall of one of the tents we're in, his hands on his head as he mumbles incoherent things to himself.

I blink a few times to make sure I'm actually seeing what I'm seeing. And sure enough, he's still there, in the same position.

Well what'd you expect? For him to be skipping for joy over losing his little sister?

I slowly crouch down beside him, shooting a few curious bystanders a 'get lost' glare before hesitantly placing my left arm over his arched back. He tenses underneath my touch, and I feel him ever-so-slightly flinch away.

"Hey, Drew. It'll be okay." I gently rub his back, placing my right hand on the inside of his elbow. "We'll find her," I promise, holding him a little tighter. His breathing almost has a wheezing sound to it, causing me to stare in concern at him.

Is he seriously okay?

He presses his eyes shut, bending his head down to hide it behind his forearms. "S-She's...gone." He mumbles, sounding like he's on the verge of breaking down and losing it.

No. She can't be. She's a smart kid. She can find us if we can't find her. . . Unless. . . unless she was-

No. I will not believe that!

I stand up, looking down at Drew with renewed determination. "Well you can sit here and sulk. I'm going to go look some more." I hold my chin up, keeping my voice even. I hear what sounds like a sniffle before he runs an arm over his face a few times. Slowly, he pulls his beanie back on, drawing in deep, shaky, breaths. He stands up, wiping his face a few more times before he even attempts to look at me.

He doesn't even hold my gaze for two seconds before he breaks away, already moving forward.

We search for another solid five minutes before Drew suddenly suggests we check back where we first lost sight of her, and I mentally bang my head for not thinking of that earlier.

Of course. When she realizes she's lost us, she'd just go back to where we last saw each other.

And sure enough, as soon as we're within eye distance, I spot a bright pink shirt.

Drew wordlessly runs ahead, clearing the hundred yards in less then twenty seconds before he's embracing Saige like his life depends on it. I jog to reach them, practically shoving past anyone who gets in my way.

"I'm okay. Really, I am." Saige says to Drew as I come within hearing range, not sounding the least bit perturbed after being lost for ten minutes. Saige stands squished up against Drew's front as he continues to hug her, her arms wrapped around his back as her head peeks out from between his side and arm.

"Saige," I gasp as I stop just behind Drew. She gives me a guilty smile. "Don't ever do that again!" I tell her, thankful that she appears fine. "Sorry. I got distracted. Then when I came back, you guys weren't here." She explains, sounding completely apologetic.

I let a slow breath out. "It's fine. No harm done. Lets just not repeat this anytime soon, okay?" I ask, wanting nothing more than to put this past us. Yep, it's official. I'm definitely getting fired. Saige smiles, carefully pulling away from Drew. "I promise." She looks up at Drew, suddenly looking more worried than when we first reunited with her.

"Drew, I'm okay. See, I'm right here." She gestures to herself before reaching out to grasp his right hand. Drew furiously wipes at his eyes with his free hand, keeping his face averted from both Saige and I while also trying to hide from the general public surrounding us. "I-I know...it's just..." His voice cracks, and suddenly I get the feeling this isn't related to Saige disappearing anymore.

It's something. . . else.

I take a step closer, looking up at his face he keeps trying to hide. I'm immensely surprised when I see his eyes are rimmed with red, a small pool of water brimming inside. His face has a red tinge to it along with a sudden pale complexion. I'm more shocked to suddenly find his left hand, that's currently up at his head, fiddling with his beanie, is slightly trembling.

Okay. Now I'm concerned.

Saige gently tugs on his hand as he sucks in a large breath. "Do we need to call Mom?" She softly questions him in a whisper, sounding like she's speaking to a wounded animal instead of her brother. Drew shakes his head, rapidly blinking.

I take a step back, almost feeling like I'm intruding on something private.

"N-No," he snaps, suddenly sounding very annoyed, defenses going up. His tense posture loosens as he looks back down at Saige, shoulders slouching. "I'm fine. Just give me a-a minute." Drew mutters, squeezing Saige's hand. I set my jaw, hating how I'm so out of the obvious loop.

I lead them over to a more secluded section of the fair, and Drew takes a seat on the unoccupied wooden bench as Saige and I stand off to the side a bit. He leans over his lap, his face buried in his hands he has propped up on his thighs with his elbows, foot vigorously tapping the ground.

After a minute of gnawing on my cheek, and staring over at Drew with troubled eyes, I finally force myself to look at Saige, who's also staring at her brother with obvious concern as she nibbles on the end of a strand of hair. "Will he be alright?" I question, keeping my voice down to a whisper.

Saige nods, but the worry in her eyes doesn't leave. "Yeah. He just doesn't do well with...stress." She doesn't elaborate anything else, and I don't push her.

~~~

To be continued....

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A/N

Hello! I hope you enjoyed this chapter?! Have any new thoughts on Drew, or anyone for that matter? Why do you think he reacted so strongly towards Saige's disappearance?

Please VOTE and comment!!

Maggy