Chapter 10

Megan POV

Riker and I walked outside and sat down on the edge of his porch. Riker was acting awkwardly and wouldn't look at me.

"Riker?" I asked.

"Yeah?"

"Can we talk about what happened a few days ago?"

"Yeah."

"I'm not mad."

"You're not!?"

"No. You didn't know. It wasn't really your fault. I just feel like you're avoiding me..."

"Well I was scared you were mad at me."

"I'm not."

"I'm really glad."

Riker turned and wrapped his arms around me. I hugged him back. Riker and I got up and walked back inside. Riker walked over to Ellington and whispered something to him that Ellington seemed happy about. I sat down at the kitchen table, not wanting to watch anyone play videogames in the other room. Riker and Ellington came over and sat down on both sides of me, looking at me strangely.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing. I'm just glad you aren't mad at me," said Riker.

"Ok… Well how's your wrist feeling?" I asked.

"It actually still really hurts, more than I expected it would."

"Do you think you sprained it or something?" I asked.

"I'm not really sure. But if it still hurts this bad in a few days, I'm probably going to go to the doctor's."

The Next Day…

Megan POV

Toby and I were eating lunch in my bedroom.

"Did you actually beat the level?" I asked.

"Well yeah, but we kind of cheated, so Rocky wants to redo it without cheating," said Toby.

"You got back so late yesterday."

"Well we were trying to beat that level! You could've stayed!"

"No. I didn't want to. Riker was in a lot of pain from his wrist, and he ended up going to the doctor's to get it looked at. I don't really know Ellington, and things were just kind of awkward. He was acting kind of strange… I don't really know…"

"Oh! So how are things with you and Riker?"

"What do you mean?"

"He pushed you in the pool and stuff."

"I told you. I wasn't mad. While you guys were playing videogames, I pulled him outside for a minute and we talked about it."

"And?"

"Well I told him I wasn't mad, and he seemed really relieved. It was kind of strange how worried he seemed. I mean… I don't know…"

Toby gave me a strange look, but I didn't quite know what he was thinking…

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing. I just don't like you being around him."

"Toby enough with that already! I thought we moved past that!"

"Whatever…"

Later…

Riker POV

"No! Don't touch it!" I shouted.

"Riker, you need to go to the hospital!" Rocky said.

"I'm fine!"

"No, you're not! Riker, you're lying on the ground, in a ball, in pain!"

"I'm fine Rocky. Just give me a few minutes!"

I had been helping Ellington carry his drum set to the basement when something happened to my wrist. I didn't know what exactly happened, but suddenly, it felt like something snapped and I felt a really sharp pain in my wrist, dropped Ellington's drums, and fell on the ground in pain. Ellington ran to get Rocky, and Rocky was really concerned.

"Is that the same wrist that you fell on the other day?" Rocky asked.

"Yeah."

"You shouldn't have been carrying his drums! Your wrist wasn't better yet, and you should've let it heal! The doctor said it was fractured!"

"Ugh! It just hurts!"

Rocky POV

I had never seen my brother in this much pain before, and it was scaring me.

"Riker come on. We need to go to the hospital."

I helped Riker stand up, and walked him to my car. He got in the backseat, so he could lay down. We got in, and I realized I had absolutely no idea where the closest hospital was. I texted Toby.

"Where's the closest hospital!?"

"I don't know. Why? Ask Megan. She volunteered there last summer," said Toby.

I texted Megan next.

"Megan!? Where's the closest hospital!?"

When I didn't get a text back immediately, I started worrying. But a few seconds later, Megan came running outside, saw us in the car, and jumped into the passenger seat next to me.

"What's going on!?" Asked Megan.

"Riker needs to go to the hospital. It's his wrist again. Where do I go!?" I shouted.

"Go left on Gardener Avenue, and take the highway until exit 17," said Megan.

I started the car, and sped down the road.

"Still doing ok Riker?" I asked.

"Noooo…!"

"Megan, get in the back seat with him. Just make sure he doesn't faint or anything," I said.

"You're on the highway!" Megan shouted.

"Just get in the back seat!"

Megan quickly took off her seatbelt, and climbed closer to Riker. She sat down behind me, with Riker's head in her lap.

Megan POV

Not only was Riker shaking, but he was extremely hot! The amount of heat coming off his body made me even more worried.

"Where do I go now!?" Rocky shouted.

"Take this road until you see Route 84. It should be on the left. Then, watch for a sign that'll tell you where the hospital is," I said.

When we finally made it to the hospital, we ran in, and Riker was taken into the emergency room.

Later that night…

Megan POV

"Was it really that bad?" Toby asked.

"Toby! He was like dying from the pain! He broke his wrist! You've never broken a bone before! It hurts!" I shouted back.

"I don't get how you can break you wrist by carrying drums. They can't be that heavy!"

"His wrist wasn't better yet. He fractured it a few days ago."

"Why do you care about him so much? I feel like you pay more attention to him than you do to me!"

"Are you the one with a broken wrist?"

The next day…

Riker POV

"So how ya feeling?" Rydel asked, walking into my room.

"Better than yesterday. They gave me really strong pain meds, so they're helping a lot," I said.

"Well that's good. Uh… You have a visitor downstairs…"

"Who?"

"Megan."

"Ugh, my hair is a mess!"

"Riker, it looks fine. She won't even care."

"But-"

"I'll go send her up."

"Wait Rydel-!"

She was gone. Megan came into my room a minute later.

"So how's your wrist?" Megan asked.

"Well, better than yesterday," I said.

"Yeah. That's good."

Rocky popped his head into my room.

"Hey Riker. We're leaving now. We'll be home around 11:00 tonight. Feel better," said Rocky.

"Where's he going?" Megan asked.

"Oh… They're performing somewhere today. But obviously… I can't really even do anything anymore…"

"Aww!"

Megan sat down on the side of my bed and gave me a hug.

"Riker, you're still an important part of R5. You're like a puzzle piece. They need you to complete the R5 puzzle."

"Or I'm the broken puzzle piece that doesn't fit anymore."

"Riker, you're not broken."

"Megan my wrist-"

"No. There are other things you do for R5 besides play bass. You help write chords and lyrics. You help organize show dates. Riker, you're still important."

"I know… Sometimes it just feels like I'm the least important out of all of them. I don't play a lead instrument, and I'm not the lead singer."

"But you're still important! Riker, they care about you, and they need you!"

I looked at the floor, avoiding her eyes.

"Riker… Didn't you see how concerned Rocky was yesterday? He cares about you. So much. And everybody else does too, including me."

I sighed.

"What?" Megan asked.

"Sometimes it's just hard."

"I know. But you can get through it… I promise."

The moment seemed right. But do I kiss her? Do I not kiss her? I knew she cared about me, but in that way? I wasn't sure, so I didn't.

"Come on, do you want to come hang out at my house?" Megan asked.

"Sure," I said, smiling.

Megan and I spent the day watching movies in her living room. It got a little bit boring watching movie after movie, but it helped keep me distracted from my wrist. We ate junk food all day too. By the time dinnertime came around, I was ready for actual food.

"So what do you want to do for dinner?" Megan asked.

"I want like real food. Not that I didn't enjoy eating junk all day, but I'm just really craving a real meal right now," I said.

"Alright, then let's go out to eat. I'll drive. Come on."

"You don't have to do that Megan, really."

"No, it's fine. Come on, I know a really good restaurant."

I followed Megan out to her car, and got in next to her. I didn't really know what to say since I felt bad about Megan driving me. If I had just been more careful with my wrist…

"So are you hungry?" Megan asked.

"Yeah, you?"

"Yup."

Megan pulled into the parking lot and parked in a spot really close to the entrance. We got out, and walked in.

Later…

Riker POV

I felt like Megan was more comfortable talking to me during dinner. I got to see her silly side, and I loved it! I really got to know her better, which only increased my love for her.

"And here's your check," said the waiter, leaving it on our table.

"I'll pay," said Megan.

"No, Megan, let me."

"Riker, it's the least I can do for you!"

"Megan, please, I want to."

"Fine…"

After I paid, we walked back out to the car. It was cooler out now.

"Ugh! Come on!" Megan shouted.

"What?"

"My car won't start."

"What? Why not?"

"I have no idea. I think my battery's dead or something. I'll just call Toby. He can come meet us, and help get my car started again."

Megan called Toby, and he said the soonest he could leave would be in 20 minutes. If he actually left in 20 minutes, it would take 30 minutes to get here, and we would be waiting here for close to an hour.

"I'm sorry. I really don't know what's going on right now," said Megan.

"It's fine Megan, really. If I had to get stuck waiting in a car for an hour, I'm glad it's with you."

Megan smiled.

"Aww, that's so sweet!" Said Megan, leaning her head against my shoulder.

I looked down at her. She was so pretty…