YAY! Finally a long chapter! Not that long, almost 4,000 words but hey that's long right?

I see you're all very happy about Ross finally liking Ratliff which is where the Rosslington is starting to kick off and the Rockliff kicks off even more in this chapter woo! I feel like by the end of this chapter you'll all be shipping Rockliff in this story more than Rosslington... but that'll probably change soon. Hopefully. If not, I don't mind. Haha.

Chapter 21

Rocky sighed heavily, walking through his bedroom door and dumping himself on his bed face first, completely fed up. It was the next day and there was still no sign of Ratliff and by this point, everyone they knew were looking for him. No matter how shocked and slightly creeped out by the pregnancy situation, they knew he shouldn't be out there alone wherever he is.

Ross and Rocky were out all night looking for him. Literally. It's now 9 a.m. and Rocky is just getting home, he dropped Ross off at his and Ratliff's apartment merely five minutes ago. That's how desperate they both are to find him before something bad happens. Ross obviously has his reasons for why he wants to find him, but Ross kept on asking Rocky why he's looking for Ratliff and he told him because he was his best friend and he cares as well. Rocky didn't even dare tell him the truth.

He sighed, rolling over onto his back on the bed. "C'mon Ratliff, where are you..." Rocky silently whined, wiping his face with his hands.

He really wanted to text him, Rocky had left several of those and as did Ross, but he needed sleep at the same time. He groaned as he started wrestling with his conscience. Rocky got up from the bed and crawled into it properly, closing his eyes and starting to fall asleep.

That was until his phone started vibrating on the desk beside his bed.

Rocky opened up his eyes and grabbed his phone, seeing a text from...

Ratliff.

Rocky smiled in relief as he sat up and opened the message.

It said that he was okay and that he just needed some air and to process what had just happened through his head. Rocky scrolled down a little more seeing the rest of the message, telling Rocky exactly where he was.

Wasting no time, Rocky threw the covers away and ran to the door. Not caring if he woke anybody up. Not that he was anyway. Ryland was the only one in bed, he could hear his parents starting to get up, Ross doesn't like there anymore, Riker's up downstairs in the kitchen and Rydel stayed over at Laura's for the night. Nobody to wake but Ryland really, and he sleeps really heavily so Rocky running out of the house like there was a stampede shouldn't wake him up. Hopefully.

Rydel sat on the edge of Laura's bed wiping her face to wake herself up a little more, as she had just finished getting ready and she figured she needed to get back out there and look for Ratliff. By the looks of everything on her phone there was no sign of him, and apparently Ross and Rocky had just gotten in from looking for him.

She shook her head, standing up. Those boys really did care for Ratliff a lot. Especially Rocky. Now that's weird. Rydel knows they're best friends but sometimes Rocky would seem to look like he was trying to take things to another level. She didn't even think anything of it. It's Rocky. He's always trying to take things to another level.

"Rydel..?" Laura asked, sleepily as she opened up her eyes and saw Rydel standing from the bed.

Rydel turned around and knelt down at the side of the bed "Go back to sleep, Laur," she said, stroking her hair "I'm going back out to look for Ratliff. Ross and Rocky have only just gotten back from looking for him, so no doubt they're going to want to have someone out there looking for him. Plus, I want to, too. I need to know he's okay."

Laura nodded, understanding "Okay. Come back though, when your finished and after you find him, if you do?" Laura asked, seeming nervous and scared. She was nervous and scared incase Riker came round and started kicking off like she has the feeling he's going to sometime soon.

Rydel smiled "Promise," she leaned over and kissed Laura on the head "I'll see you later. I love you."

Laura smiled a little "Love you too."

Rydel brushed her hair again, looking at her with admiration. something she'd never really done with anybody she'd had a crush on before or 'loved'. Like when she had that crush on Ratliff when they first met, she didn't act that way with him. Most definitely not. But she got over that really quickly. She gave Laura one last smile, as if she wasn't going to see her again, before getting up and leaving.

Laura watched as Rydel left through the door. She sighed before turning over and wrapping herself up more in the covers to try get back to sleep.

Rydel walked out of the front door and shut it behind her, and stopping after it was shut and she looked over the front of the house. She let out a small huff before turning round slightly and looking at the door, sort of sadly. She didn't know why. Rydel shook her head and made her way down the driveway out of Laura's house to go find Ratliff. Her main priority at the moment.

Rydel walked down the road of Laura's street and turned the corner to where there were a bunch of small shops. A regular store, a small take-out shop that was open in the mornings and late at night and some others which were sort of the same.

She walked quickly over to the store, deciding she needed something from in there because she was starting to feel herself go hungry.

Rydel walked into the store, seeing a girl about her age stood at the counter. She glanced up and took a quick look at Rydel before looking down. Rydel turned away and went to go get what she wanted. She picked up a packet of crisps as she passed them and something up for Ratliff incase she does find him and he's hungry, and whilst she was at it she bought a drink or two also for the pair of them. She couldn't help but laugh at how she was acting as if she was going to meet him.

Rydel closed the fridge to the drink and turned around, facing the magazine racks. She sighed, walking over to them. Luckily there was nothing on them about yesterday. Rydel smiled in relief before going over to the counter. She put the stuff on the counter for the girl to count up and charge her for, that was when Rydel's eyes caught a full stack of magazines waiting to be cut open. She leaned closer to them and saw everything that she didn't want too.

Everything of what happened yesterday, slapped on the front of the magazine.

Rydel jumped when she heard the girls voice calling her name. She didn't realise she had zoned out that long. She turned back to the girl, shaking her head "T-thanks," Rydel said, taking the stuff from her that was in a little plastic bag. Something occurred to Rydel "How did you know my name?" Rydel asked.

The girl put her hands under the counter and lifted up a magazine, one of which was from the stack and holding it for her to see "Who doesn't now?" She asked "that... and I have a little sister who's obsessed with your band. Well... at least was," she said, as if not sure which made Rydel nervous "I don't know if anything that happened yesterday had some sort of impact on her liking you guys anymore or not..." she then shrugged, smiling at Rydel "Thanks for coming in."

Rydel nodded, immediately turning around and leaving through the store. Realising today was the beginning of everyone's nightmare.

When she stepped out the store, she looked both left and right to decide which way to go to look for Ratliff. No doubt Rocky and Ross had searched around here. But that didn't matter, it didn't hurt to look more than once did it?

She turned right and walked down the path slowly, taking her phone out of her pocket as she felt it ringing in her pocket. She opened up the message and saw it was from Ratliff. Rydel smiled in absolute relief he'd finally answered back. Rydel continued to walk past the shop, coming to a small corner of an alleyway, and opened up the message to see what he had said. But she never got the chance too.

As soon as the message opened Rydel felt someone's arm go round her waist and one go round her mouth, she let out the loudest scream she could with the hand over her mouth and dropped her phone on the floor along with the carrier bag as the person dragged her away round the corner. Rydel thrashed to try get out of the persons grip, but they were having none of it. Instead they tightened the grip.

And once they were out of sight, the person let go of Rydel. She turned around to see who it was who grabbed her, but never got the chance as whoever it was smashed her straight in the face with something which sent her straight to the floor head first. She landed on the floor, seeing in front of her a blurry vision of somebody's feet before feeling something else connect to her head where she immediately became unconscious.

Rocky parked his car atrociously in the parking lot of the beach and jumped out of it, locking the car as he ran, slowly at first but started to get quicker, away from the car. Once the orange lights had flashed, telling him the car was locked, Rocky stuffed the keys into his pocket and picked up his pace of running to find where Ratliff was. He had no idea why he was on the beach.

He and Ross had checked here just incase and they couldn't find him.

Standing in the middle of the sand, Rocky looked left and right to try spot him. The wind kept blowing his hair in his face, so it was making it more difficult to see clearly. Rocky moved his hair out of his eye sight where he saw what he wanted at long last. Ratliff.

He was sat on the small wall, looking down all depressed slightly and like he had, had just about enough of the world. And to be honest, Rocky couldn't blame the poor guy.

Rocky jogged over to him "Ratliff." Rocky said, catching his attention as he looked up. Rocky stopped when he got in front of him "Dude, you look like crap." He tried to say in the nicest way possible, but it just wasn't happening or could be said in a nice way. His hair was a mess and his clothes were too. It was as if he'd been sleeping under a bridge or bush for the night.

God knows where he had slept last night.

Ratliff let out a small laugh, barely smiling "Thanks."

Rocky smiled slightly too. He dropped the smile and sat down next to Ratliff, waiting a few seconds in silence before he punched him in the side of the arm "Dude, what the fuck was that you scared us all to death!" Rocky yelled slightly, sounding worried and mad at the same town.

Ratliff let out a small "ow" from the punch in the arm and began to rub where Rocky had punched him, feeling his arm starting to go dead. Rocky felt guilty for punching Ratliff in the arm like that, so he stroked where he had punched him gently as if it was going to take the pain away. Rocky saw the sad look on Ratliff's face, he moved closer to him and put his arm around him before bringing Ratliff in so his head was resting on his shoulder blade, almost into the crook of Rocky's neck.

Rocky sighed "Oh, cheer up you big lug," Rocky said, trying to be amusing for Ratliff "it'll get better. Besides, your going to face worse in your life," he said, trying to give him some hope but then looked like he had to think about what he had just said, looking up at the morning sky "actually... that's a lie... you won't face anything as worse as this..." Rocky let slip out thoughtfully. He felt Ratliff shake slightly "Sorry, but it's true! But, you know it'll get better eventually. Would you rather like another guy and have the whole world thinking you're dating a girl your not even dating and then having to face the world when it comes out about who you like?" Rocky asked "cause be my guest Ratliff, I'll gladly let you have it. I'll take your place if you like." he joked slightly, as if Rocky was being serious about switching places and that it was possible. Even though it wasn't.

He shook again. "Are you cold?" Rocky asked, Ratliff nodded. Rocky saw he was still wearing Ross's hoodie from yesterday "And with Ross's hoodie on? Wow Ratliff, your almost suffocating in that thing how can you still be cold?" He took his arm away from Ratliff and draped the coat he had brought with him that he had in his hand around him "better? Warmer now?" Rocky asked, Ratliff nodded. Rocky sighed "C'mon dude, you can't keep interacting with me by nodding and shaking your head. Say something."

"Everyone hates me."

Rocky rolled his eyes. "Look dude, your not gonna get all heart felt about this are you because you know I don't do sad things," Rocky said, even though he knew it was insensitive about this situation. He sighed, seeing the small glare he got from Ratliff. "Ratliff, nobody hates you. They're all worried about you," Rocky paused, letting Ratliff take that in "and a little creeped out..." Rocky admitted, thoughtfully and with a slight pitch in his voice "but overall nobody hates you. Heck, Ross is going out of his mind cause he's that worried, Riker's worrying too."

Ratliff scoffed bitterly at the sound of his name "Riker can go screw himself for all I care."

"Yes, yes, we get it. He's an ass," Rocky said, seeing Ratliff's side to this as well as trying to see Riker's too it as well "but he never meant too tell the whole world. He was just so caught up in the angry moment with Ross. Besides, you know he hasn't exactly got it easy right now... you know, with Rydel and Laura cheating behind his back and Laura being pregnant. It's not easy for him."

"I'm pregnant! But you don't see me losing my mind with everyone, do you?!" Ratliff snapped, starting to get tears in his eyes.

Rocky leaned backwards slightly "Whoa, hormones dude... watch it," Rocky let silence fall over them both and let out a huff "c'mon. Your going back to yours and Ross's apartment. You need a shower and fresh clothes. And Ross. Because I'm afraid if you don't go back there he's going to lose his mind."

Ratliff nodded "But, I texted Rydel to come here too a few minutes before you got here."

Rocky shook her head, standing up "I'll text or call her and let her know we're going back to Ross's." Rocky said, supporting Ratliff as he stood up even though he didn't need it.

"Are you sure?" Ratliff asked, seeming unsure as they began to walk towards the parking lot.

"She'll be absolutely fine, Ratliff. Don't worry."

Ross laid in his bed in his and Ratliff's apartment. He had been home for half an hour, trying to get to sleep in the bed he now shared with Ratliff but he couldn't. Every time he turned over to where Ratliff slept, he expected him to be there but he wasn't. That made him sad and sigh every time he didn't see him. He did try to sleep with his back to Ratliff's side, but his natural instinct each time was to turn and face him as he slept.

He did it all the time when Ratliff was here. For some reason he found it peaceful watching Ratliff sleep. Well, he knows the reason he just doesn't want to say it out loud even though he did to Ella.

As Ross gently shut his eyes to try sleep, he heard the apartment door being knocked on. His eyes shot open and he darted out of the bed. He didn't need to get changed as he got into the bed with the clothes he still had on.

Once he was at the door, Ross almost ripped the hinges off the door as he opened it hoping that it would be Ratliff knocking on the door. But it wasn't. It was Ella. He sighed "Oh... I thought you were him..." Ross said, depressively.

Ella frowned in sympathy for Ross "I'm sorry, I know it must be hard for you. I just wanted to come by to see if you were okay and if he'd come back... obviously not..." Ella said, looking round the apartment as much as she could.

Ross walked away from the door, Ella followed him into the apartment and shut the door. She quickly stood behind Ross as he started making his way towards the bedroom "Ross, maybe you should get a shower you look horrible." She said, trying to make it sound as nice as possible. Even though there was no way.

Ross shook his head "I don't. It's called lack of sleep. Me and Rocky went out all of last night looking for Ratliff. We went after you left and never got back till half an hour ago."

Ella furrowed her eye brows in disbelief "Dude! What the hell! Are you both stupid?! Go to bed! Get some sleep!" She said, pushing Ross towards the bedroom but he was having none of it "Ross, go. Don't make me force you. Cause trust me, you and I both know you do not want that."

Ross looked down at Ella with some sort of suspicion "You sound an awful lot like Rocky, has anybody ever told you that?"

Ella shrugged "I may be a Ratliff, but really I'm a Rocky at heart," she nodded, agreeing with Ross a little on that matter "hey! Two in one!" She said, with a smile which soon faded "jesus that sounded wrong..."

Ross scoffed "Okay, maybe you're not Rocky because he would have just left that comment and smirked about it. Giggling like a five year old."

"Hey," Ella said, folding her arms "your the one who's going to have a five year old in five years time."

Ross stared at Ella in disbelief, eye brows raised again "Really? We're making jokes about this already?" He asked, Ella nodded "okay, I take it back. Maybe you are the girl version of Rocky."

Ella laughed at Ross's comment, Ross laughed a little too but were soon brought out from that when they heard the door being unlocked from the outside. Their eyes immediately moved to the door where they saw it open. Rocky walked through first, and Ratliff walked in next behind him.

Ross felt relief and all sorts of emotion run through his body when he saw Ratliff come through the door, seeing he was okay. Maybe not looking his best, but he was okay. "Ratliff," Ross said, immediately making his way across the room and over towards him "your okay!" he said, full of relief as he brought him into his arms and hugged him tightly, burying his head into the crook of his neck slightly. It took Ratliff a couple of seconds, but he hugged Ross back and done the exact same as him. Hugging him tightly like his life depended on it.

Rocky watched from the open door by the handle as they both hugged each other tightly and lovingly. Not happily that they were happy to be around each other again, but sadly as he was having all sorts of thought through his head. Though, he should be use to this right? The person he likes having someone else close to him loving them and having more of a chance to go out with him rather than Rocky.

It happened with Laura and Riker and now it's happening with Ross and Ratliff. He doesn't really talk about Laura because he soon got over it when he realised he liked Ratliff. Rocky was sad one night over the fact Riker and Laura had gotten together when it was clear Rocky liked her first, and Ratliff knew that because he knew Rocky liked her. So that very night Riker and Laura had gotten together Ratliff did his best to comfort Rocky and cheer him up. And that ladies and gentlemen was how Rocky discovered his feelings.

Ella smiled at Ross and Ratliff hugging, when she averted her eyes to Rocky who looked unhappy by this. Her smile faded when she saw this, feeling something was wrong with him. Almost like he didn't approve of this one bit. She decided she was going to question him further on this as she has noticed a change in Rocky's behaviour lately.

She slowly walked across to Rocky, past Ross and Ratliff, and took Rocky's hand "C'mon, lets leave them." She said, guiding him out of the room by the hand she had hold of as she felt if she didn't he wouldn't leave.

When they were out in the hallway, Ella took one last glance at the two boys before shutting the door.

Oh some of the foreshadowing in this chapter is hilarious. *inserts 567489387656787654567 smirk emoji's here*

Thanks for reading!

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