Chapter Twelve: Did You Really Want to Know the Truth?

"Good morning, sunshine!" called Robbie the next day, walking into the combined kitchen and living room.

"Good? Good?!" Riley replied. "Have you ever slept in this thing?!"

"No, tell me what it's like," said Robbie, watching and listening intently.

"Like sleeping on a bed of rocks. I was tossing and turning all night!" she glared at him.

"Well, how's breakfast sound?" he asked, turning to the stove.

"Robbie, what do you know about cooking?"

"Enough to do toast and eggs! I'm not Wolfgang Puck you know…"

"Oh, believe me, I know… I can't stand to watch this, I'm going to get dressed," she said, rolling her eyes and leaving the room.

As she was brushing her hair, she heard a high-pitched, girly scream, then something starting to beep loudly. "Is that the fire alarm?!" she muttered to herself. "ROBBIE! WHAT'S GOING ON—" She opened the bathroom door and came out into the kitchen, immediately beginning to laugh.

"Stay calm, everything's under control!" said Robbie, running back in with a fire extinguisher. He turned it on, and sprayed the flaming eggs that were on the stove and the fire was put out. "Whew," he said, wiping his brow and setting the fire extinguisher down. Just then, the toast popped up, burnt charcoal black. He jumped, picking one up and offering it to Riley, who was laughing so hard she was clinging to the countertop for support. "Hungry?" he held it in front of her.

"Even after all these years you still scream like a girl?!"

"Shut up."

"Well, you were right, you're no Wolfgang Puck, or Emeril, OR Bobby Flay! Even toast it a stretch for you! And that's okay, I've got to get to the studio, I'll grab breakfast on my way there, but thanks anyway!" She grabbed her keys. "Bye!"

"See you later!" he called as she shut the door. As soon as she left, he turned down the setting from the highest one on his gas stove and took the gasoline out of its hiding place and put it back where it belonged. He had done that on purpose, just to make Riley smile. Well, now that she was gone, he had some business to take care of.

…

Will awoke, sighing and stretching. All the thoughts from the night before came flooding back to him, but he shook his head to get rid of them. Riley was gone and he was going home. He walked down the hall to the kitchen, but he heard a knock on the door. He opened it, wondering who it was, and if it was Riley, perhaps she had forgotten something?

But he was greeted by a fist instead, punching him in the jaw and sending him flying to the ground.

"Good morning," said Robbie coldly. Hide the kitchen knives, because man did he look pissed. "After all she's done for you, you treat her like horse shit and send her into tears."

Will kicked his legs around as if he was break-dancing so that the young man was sent to the ground next to him, landing flat on his back. He tried to get up, but Will propped himself up on his elbows and kicked him full in the stomach, sending him out the open door and into the hallway. He'd feel that tomorrow. Will got up and made to shut the door on Robbie but he was too quick for him. Robbie got up and flew yelling back into the room, crashing right into the shocked Will and on the floor. Robbie straddled his waist and started to punch him.

"She lied to me," Will hissed. Then, he rolled over so that Robbie was now on his back and began to deliver punch after punch, rotating hands for every other one.

"Did you really want to know the truth?" Robbie asked, glaring, then rolling over again, grabbing Will's long hair and beating his head into the hardwood floor. "I hope I'm knocking some sense into you, 'cause you need it badly."

Will frowned and kicked up, hitting Robbie in the ribs and flipping over out of the way, but Robbie was too quick for him. He kicked Will on his side so that the flip got messed up, but he was utterly exhausted, and by the looks of things, so was Will.

"You… you sure are one heck of a fighter," said Will. "Where did you learn that?"

"I'm a black belt in karate, and Riley taught me a few things," Robbie gasped, clutching his ribs. "Look, man, she really likes you, she showed up in my apartment last night crying like she never had before. But you never answered my last question… did you really want to know the truth?"

Will thought for a moment. "No," he said, sighing.

"Ri really misses you," said Robbie. "And I'm betting you do too," he said, crawling over to the coffee table. Will stayed where he was on the floor, but before Robbie could even come within inches of the table they both passed out.

…

Gotta love Robbie, always there for his best friend. Review please!