Matchmaker Megan
Matchmaker Megan
1.1 Drake's Decadence
Drake had dropped out of school in favour of his career. He had joined the Janos Sisters as a backing guitarist, travelling across the country, but usually performing in the LA area. His parents had never forgiven his irresponsible behaviour.
When Joshua had married his smart, pretty, charming fiance Mindy Crenshaw, he had stopped talking to Drake, as well.
Drake hated Mindy with an ultimative passion, calling her all sorts of mean names, such as The Creature.
Josh had no longer been able to tolerate Drake's unkind demeanour towards Mindy. And jerks and dorks don't go together, anyways, thus Drake and Josh were finally done with each other - for good.
College girl Megan was occasionally seized by mere pity, she just couldn't let her brother drown in his own dung, thus she had been on and off looking after him. Megan was not proud of Drake's relentless drinking and smoking excesses, even less of his studdy demeanour. Drake had changed girlfriends faster than socks. As Drake didn't care for his laundry, Megan did, although she was downright disgusted by this. She had even continually lied to Walter and Audrey who would never have appreciated her care for that ungrateful loser.
Two years ago, Audrey and Walter had finally broken apart because Audrey could no longer tolerate Walter's childish demeanour.
Drake hadn't yet noticed - why would he care anyways?
While Megan knew about it, she was pretty much indifferent.
Only Josh had been sad, but this feeling had passed away soon because Mindy's love made up for all pains Josh had come to throughout his life.
1.2 Another Visit from Megan
Megan halted her car in front of the apartment of her elder brother, somewhere out in the suburbs of LA. She looked carefully whether Drake was in there and hoped to avoid stumbling upon one of his random girlfriends.
This time, Drake was in a state more miserable than ever before. But there were none of the usual traces of his many girlfriends, although it had already been five weeks since Megan had cleaned Drake's apartment. But the stench of beer and cheap cigarettes was even worse than ever.
Drake was lying on his bed, smoking yet another one.
Megan grabbed a beanbag, placed it next to the bed, and sat down on it. She used Drake's guitar as a fan, waving the smoke away from her face. "Hey boob, something's nagging you. Spit it out!" Usually, Megan wouldn't care, but Drake was in such a desolate state, and he didn't even recognise how deep he had sunk.
"It's because ... of a girl ..."
Megan laughed obsessively.
Drake had never had problems with accessing girls, he had always been California's top womaniser. "Seriously. I never had any problems finding throwaway girlfriends, but ..." It wasn't easy for Drake to talk.
Megan started massaging Drake's neck, hoping it would help him confessing whatever happened to be on his mind.
"... but Lola is quite different, I don't want to have to throw her away, I care too much about her."
"Lola who?"
"Lola Martinez"
"That Lola Martinez? The aspiring Hollywood star?"
Drake nodded solemnly. The Janos Sisters had been invited as guest stars to Malcolm Reese's next movie, and, among other famous actors, Lola Martinez had attended their first rehearsal. Drake had fallen head over heels for the top actress, but he didn't have the guts to ask Lola for a date. For the first time in his life, he was afraid of spoiling something valuable by talking prematurely. And he still had no clue how to manage the whole thing.
Megan had to ponder the situation. If Drake was going to be serious, she'd stand by him, and he should be secure in the knowledge that she would. Of course Drake would have to change a lot. And she believed that he sincerely wished to be serious about Lola. "Don't worry, I'll help you out with Lola. But you have to help yourself, too."
"What do you mean?"
"An actress like Lola probably has been manipulated by a lot of boys. She needs a boy that respects her. You can't show her how much you respect her if you don't have any respect for yourself. See all the mess in here ..."
Drake lowered his head in shame.
Megan offered to show him how to keep his apartment in an acceptable state. "But, remember, it's you who has to do the actual work!"
Drake nodded in agreement.
Megan showed Drake how to keep his house clean. "You need to reduce your smoking habits. One cigarette less each day, and you will get down in a decent time. Same goes for beer. Send me an SMS if you have any questions, but don't expect me to come over for the next six weeks. There are two important matches for my school's soccer team of which I'm the captain, and one oboe concert."
Sighing, sobbing, and moaning, Drake agreed, as hard as it would be. But , by all means, Lola would be worth the trouble. She was the most charming, humorous, and expressive actress Drake had ever met, and this meant a lot for someone actively involved in the Hollywood scene.
Megan sat back in her beanbag chair, commanding Drake who was doing his housework. Her voice was sarcastic, but Drake really needed that. Otherwise he'd never get on his feet. Megan unpacked her oboe, playingBella Figlia dell'Amorefrom Giuseppe Verdi's opera Rigoletto - a few lines meaning: Beautiful daughter of love, I'm a slave to your charms. With a single saying you may ease my pains. Drake turning serious, Josh might reconcile with him. Finally, Drake was meant for something better than just being a backing guitarist to the Janos Sisters, as famous as they might be. Or that's what Megan thought and hoped for. Megan's eyes told Drake not to mess up again, it would be his last chance. Megan hugged Drake before driving off into the evening sun.
1.3 Craig and Eric
The next day, Drake's old nerdy pals Eric Blonowitz and Craig Ramirez showed up for a short visit. They had just completed their MA studies at Berkeley's, now preparing for a PhD in Epistemiology, the science of science.
"Would you join us for a beer or two, and a few girls?" Craig asked.
Drake was very tempted to do so, at least the beer part, but ... "No, sorry, I'm going slow on that stuff."
Eric and Craig were shocked, until Drake told them the long story. The nerds had serious problems understanding Drake, but they appeared to respect his decision. They really wished to have such an iron will and discipline. They always scared the girls away due to their nerdy talk and dry humour, but they could not leave their fingers off them.
2 Logan's Party
2.1 Janie's Boyfriend Dustin
Megan needed to find a way to contact Lola. This wouldn't be too hard, because in her college near Los Angelos, there were certainly students with good contacts to the Hollywood scene. In fact, Megan didn't have to look very far.
Janie, her best friend and room-mate, had befriended with a guy who had just graduated from an exclusive boarding school close to Hollywood. Many stars and children of stars studied over there.
"Hi Megs!"
"Hi Janie! I need your help. You are friend with some blond dwarf who had been at that elitary high-school near Hollywood."
"Dustin? Oh yeah, and we're a bit more than just friends." Janie held up her fingers, exposing a beautiful promise ring.
"Wow, you're fast!"
"Well, Dustin and I, we share many interests, tastes, styles, and both of us are smart and fun-loving."
"I'm glad for you. Thing is ... he was at that school ..."
"The Pacific Coast Academy?"
"Yeah, a school where many Hollywood stars ..."
"Ah, you want to get hooked to some ..."
"No, it's not for me. It is for Drake. He needs my help to approach a famous actress."
"Drake? He needs your help for what? You must be joking!"
It took Megan some efforts to convince Janie that she was serious.
Janie messaged her boyfriend. The girls were to meet him after the afternoon classes, down in the seminar's lounge.
2.2 Dustin's Idea
"Hey , dwarf! I need your help!" Megan greeted Dustin, but he was proud of his size.
Dustin snuggled close to Janie who hugged him suggestively. He was visibly smaller than Janie, but real lovers don't count the inches.
"The boarding school you went to was close to Hollywood, right? So you probably know some ..."
"I sure do. Actors, producers, movie technicians, playwrights, ..."
"That's great! Maybe you even know Lola Martinez?"
"Of course I do! She had been my sister's room-mate at high-school. You're a lesb..."
Megan laughed outrageously. "Oh no, it's for my brother Drake, he has a heavy crush on her and doesn't dare to ask her out."
Dustin suggested: "Another friend of mine is Logan Reese, the son of the greatest Hollywood producer these days. Logan is a jerk, but he loves to give parties. Lola is usually invited. All I need to do is to get him to invite you, Megs, then ..."
Megan cheered. It's so good to have friends like Janie and Dustin.
Dustin continued: "You really care about your brother's luck, don't you? My sister - Zoey - is totally patronising. I couldn't tell her that I'm together with Janie, she'd be upset."
"I'll take care of Zoey because you help me with that Logan guy."
Janie noted that Megan would do that anyways, being a good friend and stuff.
2.3 The Ex-Step-Brother
Logan Reese had no objection to Dustin's suggestion. He welcomed each single pretty twenty-years old girl at his party. It would increase the fun.
The same day Dustin proferred these news to Megan, she met Josh on her campus.
Josh earned himself some extra bucks by tutoring and student teaching. Megan leaped into the arms of that big guy.
"Aw Megan! Too bad you haven't been around lately in Mindy's and my home."
Megan did not deem this bad. She had always had her troubles with Josh when he had still lived at home, but since he had left for college, the relationship between Josh and Megan had improved more and more. They really needed the distance in order to become closer, as paradoxical as that may sound.
Even after Walter and Audrey had separated, Josh and Megan had decided to stay friends, in spite of being no longer step siblings. She wished the same to be the case between Drake and Josh.
"See, Joshie, we're still good friends. And Drake and you should ..."
Alas, Josh didn't think like that. "That guy swallows like a black hole, and he smokes like a chimney. You're his blood sister, it's OK that you don't let him go rot, but what he did to Mindy and me ..." Josh sighed. He knew that, with hindsight, Mindy has seen Drake's insults as compliments. "But OK, Megs, if he's able to stop being such a poor excuse of a loser, I'll give him a chance as well."
Megan hugged Josh again, for that's all that she could expect or even wish from Josh, at least at the moment. She knew that Drake was on the right way. Sooner or later, even Josh would see that.
"Remember, Joshie, I'll turn twenty in a few months, and I'm going to celebrate my birthday together with both Drake and you!" Megan said in a determined voice, emphasising the and .
2.4 Megan meets Lola
Finally, the day of the party at Logan Reese's appartment in Malibu Bay was there.
Logan Reese had sent a limousine in order to fetch Megan, Janie, and Dustin.
Logan greeted them in a friendly manner. He had prepared a great banquet for the guests, dance musics, a whirl pool ... Logan was the perfect party host who had thought of everything. Logan had become a famous model for teenage sportswear. His tan was just perfect.
There were many colosses of the Hollywood scene.
Megan recognised Ashley Blake, a teenie diva she had met almost ten years ago at the cinema where Josh had been working. Also her brother Vincent was there.
Dustin informed Megan that Vince was Lola's former boy-friend. She had to be very careful.
Janie kept Vince busy, while Dustin swept Lola across the dancing floor. Dustin introduced Megan and Lola to each other.
Megan and Lola could converse painlessly.
"So you're the famous Lola Martinez? I've seen your movies, but ..."
"I know, I look a bit different in those. Mask, make-up, spotlights, ..."
"I understand. I guess life as a star is not what many of us viewers imagine it to be."
"Yeah, most of you think of little work, lots of fun, fast money, fast fame, but ... "
"My brother has been a backing guitarist for famous bands, such as the Janos Sisters, thus I know a bit how they must feel. But for girls it's probably even harder than for him."
"Your brother is who? Say that it's Drake!"
"He is."
Lola shrieked like a sirene. "Drake is so cute. I'd love to meet him."
"I guess I may arrange that."
"Oh cool, you're the best! Yeah!"
Megan discovered Lola's tastes and styles and preferences, they matched pretty much Drake's.
And Lola confirmed that many boys had abused and manipulated her, trying to leech her fame and money.
Drake would have to give his best, and Megan would prepare him for this. Megan was convinced that Drake and Lola should take a chance on each other.
3 Drake and Lola
3.1 Craig and Eric
Drake sat in a pub, accompanied by Eric and Craig.
"So you have really stopped smoking, and you're down to three beers a week?" Craig asked.
Drake nodded.
Eric sighed: "Craig and I, we've discovered that hunting for girls isn't our thing. The only ones we may rely on are each other, and we came to the conclusion that this is enough for us."
"This way, we have more time for our studies. We're writing a thesis about ..." Craig added, while Drake didn't want to hear what they were talking about.
He wouldn't understand a single word of it. "And Megan actually got me a date with Lola, we're meeting in a coffee bar in downtown LA, next friday."
"Congratulations, bud! You will make it. After all, you finally care for yourself."
"I know. But I'm still anxious."
3.2 Rehearsing
Before Drake's first date, Megan visited him.
"Wow, boob! You've made a big progress. Even Josh will appreciate this."
Drake shrugged, he wasn't anywhere close to sure that Josh would ever forgive him all his nasty words about Mindy.
Megan and Drake rehearsed a bit for the date.
At the end of the rehearsal, Megan told him: "OK, boob, now you may forget everything that we've rehearsed, and you may just be yourself!"
"Aw Megan , why did we have to rehearse ..." Drake didn't see it, but it made sense. Drake had used up all of his anxiety for the rehearsal with Megan. Now he was quite relaxed when he arrived for his appointment.
3.3 First Date
Lola had been a bit early, studying a catalogue of a popular Californian fashion vendor.
"Hi Drake!"
"Hi Lola, you're even much more beautiful then you seem to be in the movies!"
"Oh, really? So, Zoey is right, and beauty comes from within. And she's a fashion designer."
"She certainly means a lot to you."
"Yeah, we were like sisters when we studied at the Pacific Coast Academy. It wasn't always easy."
"It wasn't?"
"We called her Miss Perfect."
"She was great at everything and didn't tolerate any weakness. But without her, I wouldn't have made it anywhere. She taught me the discipline I needed for making my way. You have that little sister, Megan, so what is she like?"
"She had been so annoying , downright mean, but sweet at the same time. Alas, once I had left home, she was the only one to care for me whenever I was really down, unfortunately too often, and she brought me to care for myself"
"Zoey would be the last one to let me down, either, if it came down to it."
"I can't rely on Megan forever, though, she deserves her own life, might move away after college, and marry sooner or later. Her life task shouldn't be that of looking after me."
"I see. I heard you also had a brother, sort of ..."
"You probably think of Josh Nichols, he had been my step-brother for several years. We shared a room and were about best friends. Alas ..."
"So what happened?"
"I always hated his girlfriend, Mindy. Josh defended her, of course. With hindsight, I have to admire him for that, but this hatered tore us apart when the two of them married."
"I hope for you that you will reconcile, one day. It would hurt me a lot if Zoey were at my bad side forever."
They continued talking about their careers, their glories and failures so far, what they had in mind for their future, Drake having had too many girls, Lola having had the wrong boys, etc. They both showed that they had learnt a lot from their failed expectations, and they fully understood and respected each other.
"So, do you think we should meet again?" Drake asked Lola who nodded enthusiastically.
"Definitely we should. Next friday afternoon? And greet your sister on my behalf!"
The more they met, the closer they became. It was obvious that they would not be fair-weather friends, but could support each other in good and bad times.
3.4 Reconciling the Boobs
Finally, Mindy and Josh arrived at Drake's apartment. They were astonished because it looked fairly normal, no empty bottles of beer strewn across the floor, and no toxic smoke penetrating the air. Nevertheless, Josh didn't trust the whole thing. Finally, they stood face to face. In spite of being impressed by Drake's improvements, Josh didn't dare to say the first word.
Drake became insecure. Had he done anything wrong?
Mindy watched the two former step-brothers staring at each other. She pushed a button in her trouser pockets. Suddenly, a trapdoor opened underneath Drake and Josh, and a net closed over their had. Mindy dialed some numbers on her cellular telephone. "Hi, this is Mindy, the fish are in the net!" Mindy whispered into the phone. She tuned the incoming voice to maximum decibel.
"Hi boobs, why are you hanging here?" a familiar voice boomed from Mindy's handheld device.
"Aw Megan!" Josh and Drake thundered unison.
"See, I told you that I'd bring you together as close as you used to be. Now hug each other, and Mindy will let you out. Thanks, Mindy! I'll see you all at my birthday party!"
"No prob, Megs!" Mindy beamed like some thousand suns.
"Squeeze me, brother!" Josh and Drake squealed at the same time, while Mindy freed them.
Years after having done everything to set Josh and Drake up against each others, the girls had achieved reuniting them.
3.5 Wedding Plans
At Megan's birthday party, Drake, Lola, Josh, Mindy, Janie, and Dustin had been sitting together for hours when Drake unpacked a little box depicting a bow. "Lola, do you want to be forver by my side?" Drake asked her.
Lola nodded before kissing Drake. "Always and ever!"
They donned the ring that Drake had chosen with Megan's help. Zoey would design the tuxedo suits and gowns for the wedding.
"Zoey will be my maid of honour. Who's your best man?"
Drake didn't have to think. "Josh, of course!"
3.6 Faithful and True
It was a bright, sunny Californian midsummer day when Drake and Lola faced in front of the altar. Audrey arrived, accompanied by her new fiance, Gavin. Walter arrived with room-mate Bruce Winchill. Even producer Malcolm Reese attended the wedding, together with his fiance Helen, a former actress and now owner of California's largest cinema chain.
"I, Drake Parker, take you, Lola Martinez, as my lawfully wedded wife ... love, hold, honour, and respect ... for better and worse days, wealth and poverty, ... until death will part us."
"I, Lola Martinez, take you, Drake Parker, as my lawfully wedded husband ..."
After this flood of emotions, Zoey couldn't help consenting when Dustin proposed unto Janie.
Megan completed her task as a matchmaker by playing the Bridal Chorus from Wagner's opera Lohengrin. Dustin, Janie, Craig, Eric, and Mindy chanted:
Faithful and true
We lead ye forth
Where love triumphant shall crown ye with joy
Star of renown
Flowr of the earth
Blessed be ye both far from all life's annoy
Champion victorious, go thou before!
Maid , bright and glorious, go thou before!
...
The End
- Title: Matchmaker Megan
- Author: Klaus Schilling
- Disclaimer: I don't own Drake_and_Josh or Zoey_101
- Genre: Romance, Family, Friendship
- Rating: Teenagers
- Fandom: Drake & Josh, Zoey 101
- People: Drake, Megan, Josh, Mindy, Lola, Dustin, Janie, ...
- Pairings: Drake/Lola, Janie/Dustin, Josh/Mindy, ...
- Summary: Guitarist Drake Parker has got a crush on Hollywood actress Lola Martinez, but is too shy to fess up. Megan comes to his rescue.
1.1 Drake's Decadence
Drake had dropped out of school in favour of his career. He had joined the Janos Sisters as a backing guitarist, travelling across the country, but usually performing in the LA area. His parents had never forgiven his irresponsible behaviour.
When Joshua had married his smart, pretty, charming fiance Mindy Crenshaw, he had stopped talking to Drake, as well.
Drake hated Mindy with an ultimative passion, calling her all sorts of mean names, such as The Creature.
Josh had no longer been able to tolerate Drake's unkind demeanour towards Mindy. And jerks and dorks don't go together, anyways, thus Drake and Josh were finally done with each other - for good.
College girl Megan was occasionally seized by mere pity, she just couldn't let her brother drown in his own dung, thus she had been on and off looking after him. Megan was not proud of Drake's relentless drinking and smoking excesses, even less of his studdy demeanour. Drake had changed girlfriends faster than socks. As Drake didn't care for his laundry, Megan did, although she was downright disgusted by this. She had even continually lied to Walter and Audrey who would never have appreciated her care for that ungrateful loser.
Two years ago, Audrey and Walter had finally broken apart because Audrey could no longer tolerate Walter's childish demeanour.
Drake hadn't yet noticed - why would he care anyways?
While Megan knew about it, she was pretty much indifferent.
Only Josh had been sad, but this feeling had passed away soon because Mindy's love made up for all pains Josh had come to throughout his life.
1.2 Another Visit from Megan
Megan halted her car in front of the apartment of her elder brother, somewhere out in the suburbs of LA. She looked carefully whether Drake was in there and hoped to avoid stumbling upon one of his random girlfriends.
This time, Drake was in a state more miserable than ever before. But there were none of the usual traces of his many girlfriends, although it had already been five weeks since Megan had cleaned Drake's apartment. But the stench of beer and cheap cigarettes was even worse than ever.
Drake was lying on his bed, smoking yet another one.
Megan grabbed a beanbag, placed it next to the bed, and sat down on it. She used Drake's guitar as a fan, waving the smoke away from her face. "Hey boob, something's nagging you. Spit it out!" Usually, Megan wouldn't care, but Drake was in such a desolate state, and he didn't even recognise how deep he had sunk.
"It's because ... of a girl ..."
Megan laughed obsessively.
Drake had never had problems with accessing girls, he had always been California's top womaniser. "Seriously. I never had any problems finding throwaway girlfriends, but ..." It wasn't easy for Drake to talk.
Megan started massaging Drake's neck, hoping it would help him confessing whatever happened to be on his mind.
"... but Lola is quite different, I don't want to have to throw her away, I care too much about her."
"Lola who?"
"Lola Martinez"
"That Lola Martinez? The aspiring Hollywood star?"
Drake nodded solemnly. The Janos Sisters had been invited as guest stars to Malcolm Reese's next movie, and, among other famous actors, Lola Martinez had attended their first rehearsal. Drake had fallen head over heels for the top actress, but he didn't have the guts to ask Lola for a date. For the first time in his life, he was afraid of spoiling something valuable by talking prematurely. And he still had no clue how to manage the whole thing.
Megan had to ponder the situation. If Drake was going to be serious, she'd stand by him, and he should be secure in the knowledge that she would. Of course Drake would have to change a lot. And she believed that he sincerely wished to be serious about Lola. "Don't worry, I'll help you out with Lola. But you have to help yourself, too."
"What do you mean?"
"An actress like Lola probably has been manipulated by a lot of boys. She needs a boy that respects her. You can't show her how much you respect her if you don't have any respect for yourself. See all the mess in here ..."
Drake lowered his head in shame.
Megan offered to show him how to keep his apartment in an acceptable state. "But, remember, it's you who has to do the actual work!"
Drake nodded in agreement.
Megan showed Drake how to keep his house clean. "You need to reduce your smoking habits. One cigarette less each day, and you will get down in a decent time. Same goes for beer. Send me an SMS if you have any questions, but don't expect me to come over for the next six weeks. There are two important matches for my school's soccer team of which I'm the captain, and one oboe concert."
Sighing, sobbing, and moaning, Drake agreed, as hard as it would be. But , by all means, Lola would be worth the trouble. She was the most charming, humorous, and expressive actress Drake had ever met, and this meant a lot for someone actively involved in the Hollywood scene.
Megan sat back in her beanbag chair, commanding Drake who was doing his housework. Her voice was sarcastic, but Drake really needed that. Otherwise he'd never get on his feet. Megan unpacked her oboe, playingBella Figlia dell'Amorefrom Giuseppe Verdi's opera Rigoletto - a few lines meaning: Beautiful daughter of love, I'm a slave to your charms. With a single saying you may ease my pains. Drake turning serious, Josh might reconcile with him. Finally, Drake was meant for something better than just being a backing guitarist to the Janos Sisters, as famous as they might be. Or that's what Megan thought and hoped for. Megan's eyes told Drake not to mess up again, it would be his last chance. Megan hugged Drake before driving off into the evening sun.
1.3 Craig and Eric
The next day, Drake's old nerdy pals Eric Blonowitz and Craig Ramirez showed up for a short visit. They had just completed their MA studies at Berkeley's, now preparing for a PhD in Epistemiology, the science of science.
"Would you join us for a beer or two, and a few girls?" Craig asked.
Drake was very tempted to do so, at least the beer part, but ... "No, sorry, I'm going slow on that stuff."
Eric and Craig were shocked, until Drake told them the long story. The nerds had serious problems understanding Drake, but they appeared to respect his decision. They really wished to have such an iron will and discipline. They always scared the girls away due to their nerdy talk and dry humour, but they could not leave their fingers off them.
2 Logan's Party
2.1 Janie's Boyfriend Dustin
Megan needed to find a way to contact Lola. This wouldn't be too hard, because in her college near Los Angelos, there were certainly students with good contacts to the Hollywood scene. In fact, Megan didn't have to look very far.
Janie, her best friend and room-mate, had befriended with a guy who had just graduated from an exclusive boarding school close to Hollywood. Many stars and children of stars studied over there.
"Hi Megs!"
"Hi Janie! I need your help. You are friend with some blond dwarf who had been at that elitary high-school near Hollywood."
"Dustin? Oh yeah, and we're a bit more than just friends." Janie held up her fingers, exposing a beautiful promise ring.
"Wow, you're fast!"
"Well, Dustin and I, we share many interests, tastes, styles, and both of us are smart and fun-loving."
"I'm glad for you. Thing is ... he was at that school ..."
"The Pacific Coast Academy?"
"Yeah, a school where many Hollywood stars ..."
"Ah, you want to get hooked to some ..."
"No, it's not for me. It is for Drake. He needs my help to approach a famous actress."
"Drake? He needs your help for what? You must be joking!"
It took Megan some efforts to convince Janie that she was serious.
Janie messaged her boyfriend. The girls were to meet him after the afternoon classes, down in the seminar's lounge.
2.2 Dustin's Idea
"Hey , dwarf! I need your help!" Megan greeted Dustin, but he was proud of his size.
Dustin snuggled close to Janie who hugged him suggestively. He was visibly smaller than Janie, but real lovers don't count the inches.
"The boarding school you went to was close to Hollywood, right? So you probably know some ..."
"I sure do. Actors, producers, movie technicians, playwrights, ..."
"That's great! Maybe you even know Lola Martinez?"
"Of course I do! She had been my sister's room-mate at high-school. You're a lesb..."
Megan laughed outrageously. "Oh no, it's for my brother Drake, he has a heavy crush on her and doesn't dare to ask her out."
Dustin suggested: "Another friend of mine is Logan Reese, the son of the greatest Hollywood producer these days. Logan is a jerk, but he loves to give parties. Lola is usually invited. All I need to do is to get him to invite you, Megs, then ..."
Megan cheered. It's so good to have friends like Janie and Dustin.
Dustin continued: "You really care about your brother's luck, don't you? My sister - Zoey - is totally patronising. I couldn't tell her that I'm together with Janie, she'd be upset."
"I'll take care of Zoey because you help me with that Logan guy."
Janie noted that Megan would do that anyways, being a good friend and stuff.
2.3 The Ex-Step-Brother
Logan Reese had no objection to Dustin's suggestion. He welcomed each single pretty twenty-years old girl at his party. It would increase the fun.
The same day Dustin proferred these news to Megan, she met Josh on her campus.
Josh earned himself some extra bucks by tutoring and student teaching. Megan leaped into the arms of that big guy.
"Aw Megan! Too bad you haven't been around lately in Mindy's and my home."
Megan did not deem this bad. She had always had her troubles with Josh when he had still lived at home, but since he had left for college, the relationship between Josh and Megan had improved more and more. They really needed the distance in order to become closer, as paradoxical as that may sound.
Even after Walter and Audrey had separated, Josh and Megan had decided to stay friends, in spite of being no longer step siblings. She wished the same to be the case between Drake and Josh.
"See, Joshie, we're still good friends. And Drake and you should ..."
Alas, Josh didn't think like that. "That guy swallows like a black hole, and he smokes like a chimney. You're his blood sister, it's OK that you don't let him go rot, but what he did to Mindy and me ..." Josh sighed. He knew that, with hindsight, Mindy has seen Drake's insults as compliments. "But OK, Megs, if he's able to stop being such a poor excuse of a loser, I'll give him a chance as well."
Megan hugged Josh again, for that's all that she could expect or even wish from Josh, at least at the moment. She knew that Drake was on the right way. Sooner or later, even Josh would see that.
"Remember, Joshie, I'll turn twenty in a few months, and I'm going to celebrate my birthday together with both Drake and you!" Megan said in a determined voice, emphasising the and .
2.4 Megan meets Lola
Finally, the day of the party at Logan Reese's appartment in Malibu Bay was there.
Logan Reese had sent a limousine in order to fetch Megan, Janie, and Dustin.
Logan greeted them in a friendly manner. He had prepared a great banquet for the guests, dance musics, a whirl pool ... Logan was the perfect party host who had thought of everything. Logan had become a famous model for teenage sportswear. His tan was just perfect.
There were many colosses of the Hollywood scene.
Megan recognised Ashley Blake, a teenie diva she had met almost ten years ago at the cinema where Josh had been working. Also her brother Vincent was there.
Dustin informed Megan that Vince was Lola's former boy-friend. She had to be very careful.
Janie kept Vince busy, while Dustin swept Lola across the dancing floor. Dustin introduced Megan and Lola to each other.
Megan and Lola could converse painlessly.
"So you're the famous Lola Martinez? I've seen your movies, but ..."
"I know, I look a bit different in those. Mask, make-up, spotlights, ..."
"I understand. I guess life as a star is not what many of us viewers imagine it to be."
"Yeah, most of you think of little work, lots of fun, fast money, fast fame, but ... "
"My brother has been a backing guitarist for famous bands, such as the Janos Sisters, thus I know a bit how they must feel. But for girls it's probably even harder than for him."
"Your brother is who? Say that it's Drake!"
"He is."
Lola shrieked like a sirene. "Drake is so cute. I'd love to meet him."
"I guess I may arrange that."
"Oh cool, you're the best! Yeah!"
Megan discovered Lola's tastes and styles and preferences, they matched pretty much Drake's.
And Lola confirmed that many boys had abused and manipulated her, trying to leech her fame and money.
Drake would have to give his best, and Megan would prepare him for this. Megan was convinced that Drake and Lola should take a chance on each other.
3 Drake and Lola
3.1 Craig and Eric
Drake sat in a pub, accompanied by Eric and Craig.
"So you have really stopped smoking, and you're down to three beers a week?" Craig asked.
Drake nodded.
Eric sighed: "Craig and I, we've discovered that hunting for girls isn't our thing. The only ones we may rely on are each other, and we came to the conclusion that this is enough for us."
"This way, we have more time for our studies. We're writing a thesis about ..." Craig added, while Drake didn't want to hear what they were talking about.
He wouldn't understand a single word of it. "And Megan actually got me a date with Lola, we're meeting in a coffee bar in downtown LA, next friday."
"Congratulations, bud! You will make it. After all, you finally care for yourself."
"I know. But I'm still anxious."
3.2 Rehearsing
Before Drake's first date, Megan visited him.
"Wow, boob! You've made a big progress. Even Josh will appreciate this."
Drake shrugged, he wasn't anywhere close to sure that Josh would ever forgive him all his nasty words about Mindy.
Megan and Drake rehearsed a bit for the date.
At the end of the rehearsal, Megan told him: "OK, boob, now you may forget everything that we've rehearsed, and you may just be yourself!"
"Aw Megan , why did we have to rehearse ..." Drake didn't see it, but it made sense. Drake had used up all of his anxiety for the rehearsal with Megan. Now he was quite relaxed when he arrived for his appointment.
3.3 First Date
Lola had been a bit early, studying a catalogue of a popular Californian fashion vendor.
"Hi Drake!"
"Hi Lola, you're even much more beautiful then you seem to be in the movies!"
"Oh, really? So, Zoey is right, and beauty comes from within. And she's a fashion designer."
"She certainly means a lot to you."
"Yeah, we were like sisters when we studied at the Pacific Coast Academy. It wasn't always easy."
"It wasn't?"
"We called her Miss Perfect."
"She was great at everything and didn't tolerate any weakness. But without her, I wouldn't have made it anywhere. She taught me the discipline I needed for making my way. You have that little sister, Megan, so what is she like?"
"She had been so annoying , downright mean, but sweet at the same time. Alas, once I had left home, she was the only one to care for me whenever I was really down, unfortunately too often, and she brought me to care for myself"
"Zoey would be the last one to let me down, either, if it came down to it."
"I can't rely on Megan forever, though, she deserves her own life, might move away after college, and marry sooner or later. Her life task shouldn't be that of looking after me."
"I see. I heard you also had a brother, sort of ..."
"You probably think of Josh Nichols, he had been my step-brother for several years. We shared a room and were about best friends. Alas ..."
"So what happened?"
"I always hated his girlfriend, Mindy. Josh defended her, of course. With hindsight, I have to admire him for that, but this hatered tore us apart when the two of them married."
"I hope for you that you will reconcile, one day. It would hurt me a lot if Zoey were at my bad side forever."
They continued talking about their careers, their glories and failures so far, what they had in mind for their future, Drake having had too many girls, Lola having had the wrong boys, etc. They both showed that they had learnt a lot from their failed expectations, and they fully understood and respected each other.
"So, do you think we should meet again?" Drake asked Lola who nodded enthusiastically.
"Definitely we should. Next friday afternoon? And greet your sister on my behalf!"
The more they met, the closer they became. It was obvious that they would not be fair-weather friends, but could support each other in good and bad times.
3.4 Reconciling the Boobs
Finally, Mindy and Josh arrived at Drake's apartment. They were astonished because it looked fairly normal, no empty bottles of beer strewn across the floor, and no toxic smoke penetrating the air. Nevertheless, Josh didn't trust the whole thing. Finally, they stood face to face. In spite of being impressed by Drake's improvements, Josh didn't dare to say the first word.
Drake became insecure. Had he done anything wrong?
Mindy watched the two former step-brothers staring at each other. She pushed a button in her trouser pockets. Suddenly, a trapdoor opened underneath Drake and Josh, and a net closed over their had. Mindy dialed some numbers on her cellular telephone. "Hi, this is Mindy, the fish are in the net!" Mindy whispered into the phone. She tuned the incoming voice to maximum decibel.
"Hi boobs, why are you hanging here?" a familiar voice boomed from Mindy's handheld device.
"Aw Megan!" Josh and Drake thundered unison.
"See, I told you that I'd bring you together as close as you used to be. Now hug each other, and Mindy will let you out. Thanks, Mindy! I'll see you all at my birthday party!"
"No prob, Megs!" Mindy beamed like some thousand suns.
"Squeeze me, brother!" Josh and Drake squealed at the same time, while Mindy freed them.
Years after having done everything to set Josh and Drake up against each others, the girls had achieved reuniting them.
3.5 Wedding Plans
At Megan's birthday party, Drake, Lola, Josh, Mindy, Janie, and Dustin had been sitting together for hours when Drake unpacked a little box depicting a bow. "Lola, do you want to be forver by my side?" Drake asked her.
Lola nodded before kissing Drake. "Always and ever!"
They donned the ring that Drake had chosen with Megan's help. Zoey would design the tuxedo suits and gowns for the wedding.
"Zoey will be my maid of honour. Who's your best man?"
Drake didn't have to think. "Josh, of course!"
3.6 Faithful and True
It was a bright, sunny Californian midsummer day when Drake and Lola faced in front of the altar. Audrey arrived, accompanied by her new fiance, Gavin. Walter arrived with room-mate Bruce Winchill. Even producer Malcolm Reese attended the wedding, together with his fiance Helen, a former actress and now owner of California's largest cinema chain.
"I, Drake Parker, take you, Lola Martinez, as my lawfully wedded wife ... love, hold, honour, and respect ... for better and worse days, wealth and poverty, ... until death will part us."
"I, Lola Martinez, take you, Drake Parker, as my lawfully wedded husband ..."
After this flood of emotions, Zoey couldn't help consenting when Dustin proposed unto Janie.
Megan completed her task as a matchmaker by playing the Bridal Chorus from Wagner's opera Lohengrin. Dustin, Janie, Craig, Eric, and Mindy chanted:
Faithful and true
We lead ye forth
Where love triumphant shall crown ye with joy
Star of renown
Flowr of the earth
Blessed be ye both far from all life's annoy
Champion victorious, go thou before!
Maid , bright and glorious, go thou before!
...
The End