Chapter 12

Riker POV

"Your dad!? What?"

"Riker. I really don't want to talk about it. Please. Can we just… do something else?"

"You can't leave me hanging like that!"

"Riker. Please don't make me."

I sighed. I could see the hurt in her eyes. Something really bad must've happened…

"Alright. Fine. What do you want to do?"

"I don't know. I'm actually really tired. I should probably go home."

"Aw… Do you have to?"

"I need sleep, Riker. What do you expect?"

"I expect you to stay here with me forever."

Alex smiled. Good. She would be leaving happy, and not upset about whatever happened with her dad.

"So what are you doing tomorrow? My dad's going to be home, so I don't know if I can do anything, but are you free?"

"Uh… I don't know yet. Rocky was supposed to call this guy today, and he was supposed to get a few more recording dates. I don't know when they are yet though."

"Ok. Well text me when you find out. Maybe we can work something out. You know, I really like spending time with you again, Riker. It's like… how things used to be. I like that."

"I like spending time with you too."

"But I mean, it's not just the dating stuff. I enjoy that too, of course, but even if I wasn't dating you, you're just an awesome person, and I'm just glad that I met you."

"You're not planning on breaking up with me are you? And then saying, but we can still be friends…?"

"No, of course not. I'm just saying, it's really nice now that I get to see you again. I missed you."

I gave Alex a hug before she left, and then I went to sleep.

The Next Day…

Alex POV

Luckily for me, my dad got called in to work because something happened apparently. My mom went with him, since they both worked at the same place, the town hall.

I texted Riker asking him if he was free today. Unfortunately, he was busy. They were all going to a recording studio. So… What do I do all day?

Call Katelyn…

And… She was busy too! Why was everyone busy!? I had to resort to my last option. Katelyn's brother, Brenden. Sure he could be annoying sometimes, but he would keep me from boredom!

I called Brenden and invited him to come hang out for the day. He told me he'd be right over.

"Hey Alex."

"Hey Brenden."

"What's up? You and Katelyn normally tell me I'm annoying. Why'd you want me to come over?"

"I don't know. Nobody else was free. They're all busy. I wanted to hang out with someone."

"So instead of your 800 other friends, you chose me?"

"You live right down the road! And you're not that annoying."

"Gee thanks."

"I didn't mean it that way."

"I know. So what do you want to do?"

"Uh… I don't know. I guess we've never really done anything together before… Uh… Do you have any ideas?"

"We could go kayaking or swimming."

"Ok. Which one?"

"Uh… I kind of feel like swimming."

"Ok. Me too."

Later…

Alex POV

Surprisingly, Brenden and I were having a lot of fun. He just understood me like Katelyn did.

We'd been swimming all day. It was really fun. More fun than when I went swimming with Riker, actually. But that was only because Riker couldn't do anything. Brenden was the complete opposite. He was actually making me a little nervous with all the crazy stuff he was doing. He enjoyed jumping, diving, and whatever else he could think of, off the raft.

"I bet I can find a rock down there in one breath."

"Brenden, come on. You need to be careful. I don't want you to drown."

"I'll be fine. Is it a bet?"

"I'm not making any bets! I won't motivate you to do something dangerous!"

"Ugh! Come on! Please? Just once?"

"Fine. How much?"

"5 bucks."

"Fine. Deal."

I watched as Brenden took a running start, and dove into the water. The bottom was probably 15 feet down. I knew it was a stupid bet, and I was going to lose, but I didn't care. It was just nice to hang out with someone who actually liked the water. I just wished Riker was a better swimmer.

"Ha! I got one! You owe me 5 bucks!" Brenden shouted.

"Ok, ok. Fine. But I know you totally set me up for that one!"

"I did not!"

"You did so, and you know it! How hard is it to find a rock down there?"

"Well… Not very hard…"

"Exactly."

"Well what do you want to do now?"

"I don't know."

"Do you want to swim in?"

"Nah. I'm finally all dry. The water's really cold."

"You'll have to get back in it at some point. You can't stay out here on the raft forever."

"I know, I know. BRENDEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"

And before I knew it, I was in Brenden's arms, at the edge of the raft.

Riker POV

We had finished recording early today, so I went to see if Alex wanted to hang out. She wasn't home, but her car was in her driveway, so I figured she was down at the beach getting a tan, or over at her friend Katelyn's house. I decided to go check at the beach.

Halfway down the hill to the beach, I saw Alex out at the raft with some boy.

"BRENDEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"

Alex was in this guy's arms, and he was now standing at the edge of the raft, saying something to her that I couldn't hear.

"NO! I'LL GET WET! BRENDEN PLEASE! JUST PUT ME DOWN!"

The guy, whose name I learned was Brenden, backed up to the other side of the raft slowly.

"BRENDEN NO! DON'T!"

And he took a running start before throwing Alex off the raft, and jumping off too.

"UGH! BRENDEN IT'S FREEZING! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DO THAT!?"

"Because I wanted to swim in."

Alex and Brenden finally got to the shore, where I was standing, a little confused. Who was this guy, and why didn't I know who he was? I should know all of Alex's friends. And what's he doing hanging out with her?

"Oh. Hey Riker. What are you doing here?" Alex asked, walking over with Brenden to a picnic table.

"I finished recording early."

"Oh. Cool."

Alex was shivering from the cold now.

"Ugh. I forgot my towel," said Alex.

"Here. Just take my sweatshirt," said Brenden.

"Thanks."

Who is this guy, and why is he giving her his sweatshirt!? That should be me! She's my girlfriend. Right?