I know I've got two other stories on here already. But Riker Lynch just won't leave me alone, and it's his fault this has been written. So send all your comments to him! No, not really. But hi! This is my third story on here that I think is going to be another favorite of mine. It's dark... does that surprise you? But it's definitely got the most romance in it of all of them, and I'm quite proud of it. I know it's not an Austin and Ally story, but R5 is also always written in this section, and I hope you'll give it a chance.

With this story, without giving away the plot... this is going to deal with a very serious topic. I don't want to say much, but please know that it's very AU and that Riker goes through some very sad things in this story, but don't worry... there is very much some fun things in store as well. As for the story title, don't take it as literal as the song from R5's album. It's got a slightly different meaning and you'll see in time. Anyway, I hope my readers will enjoy this just as much as my others, and if you know me... you know I like to make my stories different. Maybe you like that too. ;D I hope you do.

Let me know what you think! Enjoy!

"You need to come to this party," my best friend pleaded with me, swinging her school bags around so she could grab my shoulders and give me those stupid puppy dog eyes. I rolled my own set and shook my head, not giving her the time of day. Not one to easily settle, she continued, "Please? Wes is going to be there." She paused and flailed her arms. "It's my only hope to ever get his attention and make him fall in love with me!"

I stopped full on in the middle of the hallway, her dramatics literally causing me to still. Her eyes filled with hope at the look on my face, but fell the moment I shook my head. "Wes is just another teenager heartthrob who wants you to fall in love with him!"

"Please," she begged. "Do something like a normal teenager for once! I need you for moral support. I'm hopeless without you."

I continued to walk toward my locker, prepared to leave the hell hole that was Westmouth High for the weekend, and shaking my head at her. "Teenage parties are highly overrated. But you're correct… you are hopeless."

"REMY," she shrieked, causing everyone to stare at her. "What is this crap?"

We made it to my locker, where I shoved half of the things into, piling some into my bag before turning to her again. Her eyes were wide and clear. For such a small girl, she had a way of being the loudest person in the room. "Laura," I moaned. "Come on. Ask someone else."

"I don't want to ask someone else," she whispered. "You're my best friend."

"Don't pull that card on me!"

"But you are!"

I slammed my locker shut and looked at my phone. I had an hour to make it to my job and with her on my tails, a half hour of it would have to be filled with her voice. Besides that, I didn't really want to work tonight. "On one condition," I started, as she jumped for joy and started dancing. I waited until she was done, and added, "You're working for me tonight."

"DEAL!" she yelled, grabbing my hand and nearly dragging me to my car. She flopped into the passenger seat, her mouth moving faster than any words could actually be said, and I settled into the other side, shaking my head. This party was going to be absolutely horrible. Luckily, it was tomorrow night, and I had a day to dread it even more. I quickly put on the radio to drown her out and drove toward where we both worked, a small clothing store near the city of Los Angeles, and nearly threw her into the building, driving away before she could say another word.

Arriving home meant I could sit out back and enjoy the afternoon, with no distractions. My parents worked late on Fridays, leaving me with our house to myself. At least, that was my plan. It seemed to work well for me at first, as I made some tea, grabbed a book, and headed out to sit on the porch and begin a romance novel. I was about five chapters in, or just when the lead character does something embarrassing to make the other lead character fall for them, when a loud car door slammed. The momentary interruption didn't faze me at first, but it didn't end there. It was followed by other loud noises, and men talking in voices and in words that were only meant for places like a bar.

"What the fuck?" I growled. Was someone breaking in next door? In broad daylight? Our neighbors had moved across the country almost two months ago, and no one lived in the house to my left since then. It had been for sale, but no one had bought the comfy, but small place that had been quite nice all of this time. I didn't want to get involved, especially if they were breaking and entering… but they were ruining my afternoon that I had so happily acquired.

I set my book down on the table and walked through the house, opening the front door. The sun flooded in, and I peered out to my right to see… much to my surprise, a moving truck in the next driveway, with several men unloading things from inside. A small, heavier woman with a pretty face was talking to one of them with a smile, her hands waving excitedly as they laughed together.

Next to her, had to be her husband, though he was quite different in appearance. Tall, thin, and business type like, he stood with a more reserved smile, as he listened to his wife and the moving man make conversation. He seemed to notice me for a second, but pretended I wasn't there, and that made me smile.

That was when I saw them. Two kids, about my age, standing by the car, looking both unhappy and bored. Their parents didn't seem to care too much about this, but this made me thrilled. Not too many kids lived around here. Most of them lived in the more expensive neighborhoods, and didn't bother with coming this way. The girl caught my eye and a delicate smile graced her blonde face, and she looked much like her mother. She waved, and I waved back, not too sure what this all meant. Did this mean we were friends?

I took a timid step off the porch and crossed over the grass to their property, figuring they already saw me, might as well introduce myself. "Hi," I said with a smile as I neared the two. "I'm Remy. I guess you're moving in next door?"

"Looks that way," she replied with a cheery grin. "I'm Rydel. Riker is my brother."

He nodded at her with a smile, but didn't say a word.

"He's grumpy because he didn't get to sleep on the way here," she said with a laugh. "Don't mind him. He's usually much friendlier."

He shot her a glare at this and took off toward the house, leaving me with the bubbly girl. "So, is this a nice neighborhood?"

I shrugged. "Most people who live her come to stay for retirement and things like that. Honestly, you're the only other person around here other than me and Laura."

"Who's Laura?"

"My best friend," I explained. Laura and I had gotten close because we had lived so close growing up. Most of the kids didn't want anything to do with us because our parents weren't rich like the other kids, and spent most of their money actually on bills, instead of fancy cars and things like that. "She lives down the block. She's working right now."

"Oh! Awesome."

"Yeah," I said awkwardly.

She nodded as well, swinging her hips as she watched them unload her things. Her face lit up again seeing something come off the truck and she ran toward it. It was a keyboard. "Come here, Remy!" She didn't seem all that awkward like me, which was great. A natural conversationalist, hopefully who would make it a lot easier to get to know. "This is my keyboard," she gushed. "I named him after Harry Styles from One Direction." At the look on my face, she blushed. "Sorry, I think he's adorable."

"I'm more of a Louis girl myself," I laughed. "But not really. Laura's into them. You'll enjoy that."

"Oh! Okay, well," she said, turning toward her parents who were looking her way. "Guess I'd better unload and stuff. Maybe I'll see you later. It was nice to meet you!"

I didn't even get to answer before she darted into the house, leaving me to smile awkwardly at the base of my own.

The night was quite boring after that, and I found myself watching their house from my bedroom window. It was quite lucky that my room faced theirs, and every once in a while, I see one of them leave, grab some things, and run back inside. Everyone but Riker, that was. He hadn't made an appearance since he ran inside earlier that day.

The light suddenly came on in the room across from mine. I gasped, trying to dodge being seen, but it was too late. Riker stood across from my view, and his face was one that said he was either amused, or surprised. Perhaps both. He paused as I pretended to be doing something, only to chuckle when I stopped to take a peek. He waved once and then went to sit down on his bed, which I could see clearly from where I stood as well. "Hmm," I said.

He got up a few minutes later when his mother brought in a box that was labeled, "CF" and set it down on a dresser near his bed. She patted his arm and walked back out, and he scowled at the box like it held something terrible. Maybe it did… but honestly, I didn't know. I was intrigued, I must say. He didn't seem to care that I was watching anymore, either. He was now unpacking other boxes, setting out guitars (interesting) and some posters of bands like Fall Out Boy and some others I didn't recognize. At least he had good taste in music.

I finally settled down near my own window, back with my book, but continued to peek on him throughout the night. Being creepy wasn't something I usually did, that was more so reserved for Laura, but I couldn't help it.

At about eight, after an hour of my parents being home and dinner being served, I noticed the light in his room go back on. He walked in, his father behind him, and they closed the door. They pulled some sort of machine out of the box, big and bulky, and set it down near his bed. His father motioned to something, and Riker flopped down on the bed, face first. He sat like that for a few minutes, and I couldn't look away. What were they doing? Suddenly, his father was kneeling over him, pounding him on the back, or hitting him. I wasn't quite sure. I jumped back in alarm, tripping over my shoes, and causing quite a bit of noise. When I looked back up, his father was scowling at me through the window, and with that, the blinds went down.

The next morning, I would have thought I could sleep in. Not only did I have off from work, but it was the weekend. No, that can't happen though. Laura was up in my room only an hour after nine, bouncing on my bed, cheering about the party, clothes, and Wes. I groaned as she pulled me out of the bed, and began pulling clothes out of my drawers. Shirt after shirt, dress, and pants, she growled. "There is nothing in here you can wear!"

"I'm glad you think so," I mumbled through my sleep filled eyes.

"No, we need to go shopping," she whined.

"I don't have any money to go shopping," I argued back. "Forget it. I'll find something."

Much to my surprise, she let it go. "Fine."

"Why are you here so early anyway? I figured you wouldn't be by until at least five."

"I saw the moving truck," she grinned. "Who moved in? Please, please let there be some hot guy."

"Uh, what happened to Wes?" I laughed. "But yes, there were two kids our age. A boy and girl, and no, I don't think he's particularly your type. Much too skinny, and definitely way too quiet."

"Damn." She peeked around me. "Well, he looks perfect for you!"

"How can you say that?" I went to ask, when I noticed she was staring beyond me. I turned around to see him in the window, getting dressed. Of course, he had boxers on, but everything else was exposed. I felt myself staring again, and sort of laughed. Definitely my type, she was right, but he was also really weird. And I could count every rib on the boy's body. "Oh. That's him. His name is Riker."

"That's unique," she gushed. "Maybe we should say hi! Bring him cupcakes or something! We've got all day!"

"What?" I muttered. "No!"

"Oh, why not? You're not doing anything today."

"I'm already giving you my entire night. Why should I give you my day, too?"

She laughed. "And what do you plan on doing all day that is more important? Other than sitting around and watching TV shows." She raised an eyebrow and I gave up. "Fine. But we're making chocolate!"

It was nearly two when we finished them and were bringing them next door. I had begged the girl twice already since leaving the house to keep her mouth shut and not make any comments if we were to run into Riker. I didn't want him to think I was weirder than he already seemed to, and honestly, I still wasn't sure what I had seen last night in his room. But much to my relief, Rydel answered the door. "Oh, Remy! Hi! Oh, you must be Laura!"

She nearly tackled her. "You told her about me? Aw!"

"Sorry," I laughed at my friend's words. "But don't worry, she doesn't bite."

Rydel laughed and seemed to notice the cupcakes in our hands. "What are these?"

"For you, welcome to the neighborhood. I'm Laura, like she said."

"Aw!" She gushed. "Come in! We just finished up lunch and I'm sure Riker and my mom would love one." We followed her into the house I'd been into once or twice over the years, and much to my surprise, it already seemed home like. There were pictures on the walls of each child, and a lovely smell was coming from the kitchen. There I could see her mother already working on dinner, and Riker sitting at the table with a laptop on. She cleared her throat and both looked up.

"Company?" her mother asked. "How lovely."

"These are our neighbors," Rydel explained. "Remy and Laura. They made us cupcakes. Aren't they sweet?"

"Yes," her mother agreed. "I'm Stormie and this is Riker. I think I saw you yesterday, am I right?" She pointed at me with a warm smile. "Nice to meet you again, and it's a pleasure to meet you as well."

"Riker, be nice and say hi," Rydel said.

He looked up. "Sorry. Nice to meet you both," he said quietly.

I waved once and set the cupcakes down on the table. "It's really nice to see people our age here," I explained. "We're the only ones in the area, so we're pretty excited."

"Hey, I have an idea," Laura said, after a moment. "There is a party tonight at one of our friend's house. It's about five minutes from here, and it's going to be awesome. Maybe you and Riker should come," she said to Rydel. Stormie immediately went on guard, I noticed but Rydel seemed thrilled.

"Oh my God, yes!"

"Rydel," Stormie warned, glancing at Riker. What was his problem? He didn't seem necessarily rude, but he definitely didn't seem all that friendly either. "Maybe another time."

"What?" she whined. "Why?"

"Rydel," her mother tried again.

Riker was next to speak up, much to my surprise. "Let her go," he said carefully. "It's okay."

"You can go too," she said quickly. "We won't stay long, just long enough to meet some new people."

Her mother gave her another look and it was obvious there was something neither of them were going to say in front of us. Riker looked uncomfortable, like he wanted to go but knew he probably shouldn't. I looked at him for the first time up close. He honestly was so thin and even more so tall. Like his father. But what really caught me was his warm eyes, which I had missed the first few times but now were staring back at my own.

"Maybe just an hour," he said, reasoning with his mother. "It won't hurt."

"You'll have to make your father agree to that," she warned him. He shrugged it off. "Okay, as long as you agree not to stay too long."

Rydel squealed. "Yes!" She turned to us. "Can we go pick out outfits? I can't wait!"

She pulled us by the arm, and Laura laughed, "I like you. Maybe you've got something that Remy can wear too because her stuff looked horrible today!"