Chapter 12

Riker POV

I angrily walked to the end of the street as the sun started to set. When I got to the end of the road, I entered the woods. I kept walking until I was far enough that my siblings wouldn't be able to find me. I fell to my knees and did something I haven't done in such a long time. I started crying. Hard. How could Megan go out with someone besides me!? She probably didn't even like me. And that was breaking my heart.

I rolled over on my back and covered my eyes with my hands. Why? Why is this happening to me!?

Megan POV

"Hey Jesse!" I said, answering the door.

"Hey! Ready for our date?" Jesse asked.

"Yup! Let's go!" I replied, walking out and getting into Jesse's car.

"So where did you want to get dinner?" Jesse asked.

"I don't know. Wherever."

Later…

Megan POV

"So how was your date?" Toby asked.

"Why? Do you hate Jesse as much as Riker now too?"

"No. I actually think he's perfect for you."

"Well that's too bad. Because I broke up with him."

"What!?"

"We're still friends and stuff. I just don't like him that way. I feel like he tries too hard and stuff. He wasn't acting like himself. I don't know. It felt like he was reading from a script. And there's actually someone else I like. Did you and Ross and Rocky and whoever else beat the level today?"

"Yeah. But wait. Just to be clear, you're not dating him?"

"Nope. But we're still friends. And that's the most important part."

All of a sudden, Ellington came flying through our front door.

"HAVE YOU GUYS SEEN RIKER!?"

"What? No. I was out on a date? Why? Is he ok?"

"I don't know! We can't find him anywhere, and he won't pick up his phone or anything!"

"Where could he be!?" I shouted.

"We don't know! Can you guys come over?"

"Yeah, of course."

All 3 of us ran over to the Lynch's house and sat down in their living room.

"Does anyone have any idea where Riker could be?" Rydel asked.

"Well actually… He stormed out of the house this evening. I was going to follow him, but he told me to leave him alone, and I figured it would probably be better to let him have some time to himself and to think. I should have gone after him. I don't know why I didn't…" Said Rocky.

"It's not your fault Rocky. What time would you say he left?" Asked Rydel.

"Uh… I think around 7:00ish."

"It's 10:34 now. That's a long time… Um… What should we do?" Asked Rydel.

"We should call the police and tell your parents," said Ellington.

"No, I don't want to call them. Not yet. And our parents aren't even home! Mom, dad, and Ryland all went to New Jersey to look into a recording studio for us. But we need to find him!" Said Rydel, starting to cry.

"Why don't you guys look around in the woods in your backyard? He might just be lost," I said.

"For 3 hours?" Rocky asked.

"You never know. I'll go walk up and down our street and see if I see anything. But someone should stay at your house incase Riker comes back while you're all looking," I said.

"Ok. Rydel, you stay here. Toby, Ross, Ellington, and I will split up and look in the woods," said Rocky.

"Ok…" Said Rydel.

"Well what are we waiting for? We need to find him!" Said Rocky.

"Ok, I'll see you guys later," I said, walking out the front door and heading down the street.

Riker POV

I had walked a little further into the woods, and I was laying on the ground, on my back, crying my eyes out. It was really dark now, and I could barely see. I guess I'll be staying here until morning. Nobody will even care if I don't come home tonight, especially Megan. I covered my eyes with my hands, and laid there, shaking. It started pouring rain, and I could feel the temperature dropping. I stayed on the ground, not caring about anything anymore.

Toby POV

I continued forward into the woods. I recognized some areas from when we played manhunt. I was actually trying my best to find Riker. I didn't really like him, but he was Ross's and Rocky's brother, and Megan's friend, and I didn't want them to be upset. I just wanted to find him, and get our lives back to normal.

Ross POV

"Riker?" I called.

I kept calling for my brother, but he never answered. I was starting to get really worried. His car was still in the driveway, so he couldn't have gone that far! But where was he!? It started raining pretty hard, but I didn't care. I just wanted my brother back.

"AHHH!"