DISCLAIMER: See Chapter 1 for Proper Disclaimer.

Author's Note: I apologize for the lack of the updates. I've been busy, since I've had a small writer's block (thankfully, it didn't stop me from finishing up 'BND' and starting to write up a sequel for this.) I like to thank those that have been reviewing, especially miller330, Edward Cullen's Girl, and xxroxy-dogxx. This is more or less of a filler chapter leading to the great Mount Rushmore sequence and the finding of the City of Gold. Here, you get to see Riley's side of things a bit and see more of how Cassie's character is.

And now, without further ado...chapter eight of 'Boy Next Door'!

Alex was asleep while Ben was driving to the parking lot of the Mount Rushmore National Park. Riley was looking out the window again as Abigail was content with having small talk with Patrick and Ben. Riley turned from the window to find Alex's head on his shoulder, a look of content on Alex's face. Riley smiled a little as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and rested his head back on the window before falling into a light sleep.

(DREAM/FLASHBACK!)

Alex, Riley, and Cass were sitting in a diner, talking about finals and what everyone was doing for Winter Break. The three seemed to have only milkshakes in front of them.

"I'm going to see if I can go do some stuff in Manhattan while I'm visiting my folks," Cass said to the other two. "Say, why don't you guys come with me to New York? I'm sure that your dad's willing to let you go, Lex, since Riley's already going to see my parents and brothers and sister," Cass said as she took her milkshake and took a long GULP from it.

"Easy on the intake, Cass…don't wanna have to perform any CPR on ya," Riley jested as Alex shook her head.

"I might be able to come up for a couple of days…seems like J.D. needs me for a back-up on his play or something, right Cass?" Alex said.

"Yeah…dunno why he keeps asking for you, but he seems to like ya enough to get you some part in his works…did he say what he wanted you do to this time?"

"He said that it was a horror/comedy type of play this time. Almost like 'Young Frankenstein', only more focused on Dracula. I think it's called 'The Passion of Dracula'."

"Almost like that show that we went and saw the other week?"

"Nope…kinda like the Liam Nelson type of comedy," Alex said.

"Ah…then, it should be a hit then, knowing how you perform," Cass said as Riley took two straws and made them stick to his teeth.

Alex and Cass turned to face Riley, who was making a funny face with the straws in his mouth. Both girls started to laugh as Alex grabbed for her camera and took a shot of Riley and Cass.

"That-that was-priceless!" Cass said in between her laughing her butt off.

Riley took the straws out of his mouth before he joined in the laughter. Alex then looked over at Riley and winked as she took her straw out of her milkshake and one of the wrappers for the straw. Riley took the hint and did the same as well. Cass had stopped laughing to find both her cousin and her best friend about to do something with straws and the paper wrappers. Cass scooted out of the booth before she ran for the door, with Riley and Alex following in pursuit. Alex and Riley, before scooting out of the booth, paid for their meal and left a good tip for their waitress to get.

At Cass's funeral, Riley was off at a corner of the wake in the funeral home. He saw relatives, including his dad, talking to one another and comforting each other. But, he had yet to see Alex or Ian in the room. He went outside the room to find Ian on his cell phone. He looked a bit nervous while trying to call whoever it was he was trying to call. Ian turned to see Riley looking at him, so he got off the phone and made his way over to Riley.

"You've seen Alex? I can't find her anyway," Ian said, his voice wavering a little.

"I thought she was with you," Riley said.

"I haven't seen her since she got discharged two days ago…"

Then, both of them turned as someone exited from the women's restroom. Alex was staring back at them with a blank stare, although her eyes were as red as everyone else's. Her black eyeliner did little to hide the fact that she had been crying recently.

"You all right, Alex?" Ian asked, showing concern to Alex.

Alex just nodded her head.

"I'm going to get that water bottle from the car. I'll be right back," Ian said as he left Riley with Alex.

Alex then turned to Riley…but it wasn't Alex that was staring at him…it was Cass instead.

"I'm so sorry…" Cass said before she came at him…

(End DREAM/FLASHBACK)

Riley woke up to a start. He noticed that Alex was up already, looking at him with a concerned look on her face.

"You ok?" she asked.

"Just a nightmare…" Riley said.

"Same one from a couple months ago?"

Riley nodded his head. Alex then shifted in her seat so that her back was facing Riley.

"Try going back to sleep, Riles…" Alex said as she started to fall asleep on Riley. "I'll wake you up when we get there."

Riley closed his eyes and went back to sleep, the soft breathing from Alex seemed to lure him back to sleep easily and without any more nightmares.

A short while later, Ben pulls the car up to a parking spot in the parking lot of the National park. As Abigail and Patrick got out of the car, Ben realizes that his sister and Riley were still asleep in the backseat of the car. He shook Alex first, who opened one hazel eye to look at her older brother's brown eyes.

"We're here. Wake Riley up, will you?" Ben said just before he got out of the car quietly.

Alex turned herself around so that she was facing Riley. Taking in the innocence while Riley slept, Alex waited a moment or two before she tapped Riley's shoulder. Riley opened one eye before he opened both of them.

"We'reherealready?" Riley slurred as he got more and more awake.

Alex nodded her head as she sat up a little. She winced a little from the way that she slept, so she cracked her back, earning another wince from Riley.

"You know, you shouldn't do that, Alex…mess up your back more than it already is," Riley said as he sat up as well, wincing at the numbness of his joints. "Never mind…I see what you mean by cracking your back…" Riley added as he opened the door, but he ended up falling out of the car with Alex falling out with him.

Ben, Abigail, and Patrick all looked to see Riley and Alex both on the ground, Alex on top of Riley. The two looked up at the three with a sheepish grin.

"Sorry…" Riley said as Alex got to her feet before helping Riley to his.

"Right…up we go," Ben said as he led the way.

Abigail and Patrick took the middle of the trek while Riley and Alex took the rear. Both seemed to be quiet about whatever happened in the car, but didn't have to wait for long before Wilkinson, Emily and a couple of Wilkinson's men came up the path that both Alex and Riley were watching. Alex and Riley watched as Wilkinson met up with Ben and Patrick.

Author's Note: Ok, you know the drill. Click on the Review button, please. Thanks for reviewing, guys: without you, this story would have never been a success.

-Jade Opal-