Ch 7

Rocky POV

After taking off her shorts, Alex got in the kayak. It wasn't a normal kayak with a hole to sit in. It was kind of like a big piece of plastic that had a seat carved out. I sat on the very back of the kayak. My legs were in the water and it wasn't too comfortable. Alex suggested that I try sitting on the front of the kayak instead. My legs were still in the water, which was freezing, but it was more comfortable than sitting on the back. Alex took the paddle and started paddling out from the shore.

After a few minutes, I looked all around us. We were really far out from the shore. There were a few little summer houses with flowers around them. The summer homes seemed to be "tucked in" between the trees. I realized I was completely forgetting why I went kayaking with Alex. I was supposed to find out what was wrong.

"Isn't it a beautiful night out?" I asked.

"It's kind of cold, don't you think?" She responded.

"Well you're practically naked," I said.

"Well so are you. We're both wearing swim suits and if you're not cold, you're crazy!" She said.

"Ok, maybe I am a little cold. Especially with my legs in the water," I said.

"So take them out. Sit cross-legged instead. Just be careful not to tip this thing. We're not wearing life vests," she said.

"Don't you know how to swim?" I asked.

"Of course I can swim. I was actually worried about you in case you couldn't. I can swim the whole half mile back myself, but not while trying to save another person," she said.

"I can swim. Can you really swim that far?"

"Yeah. Probably longer actually."

I tried my best to get my legs out of the water as carefully as I could, but the kayak was just so wobbly. I had finally managed to get in a fairly stable position after 5 minutes. I made Alex scream a few times in the process though.

"Maybe you could give a little warning next time you almost sink us?" Alex said.

"Sorry. I've never been on one of these things before. Have you ever actually tipped over before?"

"Yeah. My friend Katelyn and I tipped over a few times last summer. Everything was fine. I mean, we were wearing our swim suits, we both know how to swim, and the kayak floats," she said.

Riker POV

"Ellington!" I shouted.

"What?"

"Let's go down to the lake and see what Rocky and Alex are doing," I called back.

Ellington came downstairs where I was sitting in the kitchen.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"15 minutes ago Rocky put on his swimsuit and I saw him and Alex walk down the street, probably to the lake. I want to find out why."

"Mmm, I don't really feel like it. And besides, it's getting dark out. I know you're not a big fan of the dark, Riker,"

He was right. But I was dying to know what Rocky was doing.

"Well, let's leave right now, we'll bring a flashlight, and come right back up as soon as we're finished spying on Rocky. It's not that dark yet," I said.

"Ok, fine. Let's go."

Ellington and I walked down the street in the direction Rydel had said the lake was.

Ellington POV

Riker walked so close to me, I was surprised he hadn't crashed into me yet. At every little sound in the woods, he jumped a little. I knew he was totally scared as we crept closer to the lake. Riker was scared of a lot of things. He didn't like bugs, thunderstorms (he claims he's gotten over it though), scary movies, and mainly the dark. It was so easy to sneak up behind him and scare him too. He was the oldest in R5, but definitely not the bravest.

We rounded a corner and there was the lake.

"Riker?"

"Yeah?"

"I have to turn the flashlight off now so they can't see us coming ok?"

"Uh, yeah, sure."

I turned off the flashlight and walked down the hill toward the lake. About halfway down, I realized that Rocky and Alex weren't there. I stopped walking.

"What?" Asked Riker.

"They're not down here," I replied.

"They're not? I don't know how that's possible. I could see out the bathroom window that Rocky and Alex walked down the road this way," said Riker.

"Well they're not here. Do you see them?"

"I can barely see anything. I took out my contacts already," said Riker

"Well then why aren't you wearing your glasses?"

"I can't find them…" Riker said softly.

We continued down to the beach. I shivered as the wind picked up. I looked out across the lake and I saw something… I couldn't make out what it was, but it looked like it was orange.

"I think they went boating," I said.

"What?"

"Like on a kayak or a canoe or something. I can see 2 sets of footprints leading to the water, and I see a pair of shorts on the picnic table over there that probably belong to Alex," I explained.

"They went boating!? Now!? It's almost pitch black!" Riker exclaimed.

"I really don't know what was going through Rocky's mind earlier. But yeah, they're getting closer, I can see them out there," I said.

"Well let's go back to the house. We know where they are now," said Riker.

"It was your idea to spy on them. Let's stay down here and hide. When they get here we can eavesdrop on what they're saying," I said.

"But-"

"We'll be fine, Riker. Trust me."

I pretty much knew Riker was going to stay down here with me. As scared as he was, he wasn't about to go walk back to our house alone.

Riker and I found a picnic table to hide under that was close to the shore so we could watch them get closer and closer. They wouldn't be able to see us though because it was so dark out. Riker and I got under the picnic table and waited for Alex and Rocky to come back.

Rocky POV

We were heading in to the shore and I was losing precious time. I needed to find out what was bothering her. Although from how she acted tonight, nothing seemed to be bothering her.

"So…" I said.

"Yeah?"

"I was just wondering… Um… Is anything bothering you? You can trust me," I said.

"Don't even tell me Rydel sent you to ask me that," said Alex.

"No, it's just, you're really quiet and I was wondering if you were ok."

"Yes… I'm fine…"

She sounded really annoyed. I was pretty sure she knew I was lying. I tried talking to Alex again, but she was just annoyed, and I could tell she was paddling faster. I had to get her in a good mood before we got to the shore. Or at least make her laugh. The night could not end like this. She wouldn't trust me again.

I started pretending to tip over the kayak.

"What are you doing!?" Alex shouted.

"I just don't want you to be mad at me. I'm sorry. I just thought we could have some fun before we get back to the shore."

I kept pretending to tip the kayak. Alex was yelling my name and laughing, thank goodness.

"Rocky if you tip this kayak, I swear, I will-"

"I'm not going to tip it," I said.

"I mean it Rocky. It's freezing out."

I kept wobbling the kayak. Alex kept shrieking. I started losing my balance for a second when-

*SPLASH

I was under water. My first thought was to make sure Alex was ok. I got to the surface and looked around. Alex was a few feet away from me coughing. At least we were only about 20 feet away from the shore.

Ellington POV

"Oh my gosh- they just tipped over!"

I banged my head against the picnic table as I got up, forgetting I was under it. I ran a few feet into the water to get a closer look. I could see both Alex and Rocky. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Riker had joined me now by the edge of the water.

"They tipped over? Are they ok? Do you see them?" Asked Riker.

"Yeah they're both fine," I said.

We walked over and sat down at the picnic table and waited for them to get here.

Alex POV

"ROCKY! I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU TIPPED US!" I screamed as soon as I caught my breath.

"Alex, I am so sorry. I did not mean to tip us. Really. I lost my balance and… I don't know. I am so sorry Alex," Rocky said.

Rocky and I swam the kayak into the shore. I knew I could get back on the kayak from the water, but I was too annoyed and I just wanted the night to be over. I was shaking so bad from the cold air against my wet body. Ellington and Riker were waiting for us by the shore. Riker looked… Like something was wrong. Ellington looked concerned, but happy to see us.

Rocky and Ellington carried the kayak out of the water and put it on the kayak rack.

"You're Alex, right?"

I looked to my left to see Riker looking at me.

"Y-yeah. I l-live n-next door," I said, still shaking from the cold.

Riker POV

Alex was shaking so bad. It was cold enough being dry. I couldn't imagine how cold it would be if I were wet like her.

"You look like you're freezing," I said while taking off my hoodie.

"Take my sweatshirt," I said.

"No, I'll get it soaking wet," she said.

"No really, it's fine."

"Thanks."

Alex took my hoodie and put it on. She turned around and glared at Rocky as he walked over to us.

"Rocky can I talk to you for a second?" Ellington was looking at Rocky as if to say a combination of "what do you think you just did?" and "I'm going to kill you when we get back home."

I watched Ellington and Rocky walk toward the docks. When I turned around, Alex was gone. She had started walking up the hill to the road. I could tell she had just given up on the night.

I ran to catch up with her.

"Alex! Wait up!"

"W-what?"

Alex was still shaking. Her tone of voice was a combination of sadness and anger.

"Let me walk you home," I said.

"Thanks."

I put my arm around her shoulder and walked her to her house. Not that I didn't enjoy walking her up, but I was looking forward to getting home because I would be out of the dark and coldness.

Alex POV

Riker is walking me to my house. I still didn't really believe it. And he had given me his hoodie. I was wearing Riker Lynch's hoodie! I was dying inside, but still mad about getting dunked in the lake.

As we walked up the hill, Riker put his arm around me. HE PUT HIS ARM AROUND ME! I could feel him shivering as we walked along. He was only wearing shorts and a T-shirt.

We finally got to our houses.

"Thanks for walking me up," I said.

"You're welcome. I'm really sorry about Rocky. I'm going to have a talk with him when he gets up here."

"Well, thanks. Did you want to come over and take a shower sometime?" I asked.

"Um, yeah. Tonight?"

"Sure."

"I'll wait until Rocky and Ellington get here though. Can I come over in 20-30 minutes?" He asked.

"Yeah, that's fine."

"Ok, well, I'll see you in a little bit then," he said.

"Ok, bye."

"Bye Alex."

I walked to my front door, unlocked it, and went to my room. I took off Riker's hoodie and my swim suit and changed into some comfy pjs. I sat in bed with Angel and finished watching a movie I had started the other day. Just as the movie ended, someone knocked on the front door.

"Come in!" I called from my bedroom.

"Alex?"

"In here!"

Riker POV

I walked down the hall towards the light. I found Alex's room. She had a whole wall of R5 posters. I also saw a guitar sitting on a stand. If she played guitar, that would be so cool.

Alex was lying in bed watching TV. She still looked cold.

"Uh, so could I take a shower?" I asked.

"Yeah, the bathroom's down the hall on your left."

"Thanks."

I walked into the bathroom and started my shower. I was thinking about Alex. I'll admit, she was pretty cute. I couldn't believe that a girl so sweet would have such horrible parents. What parents would leave their kid home alone for a week!? A week!

I had just gotten out of the shower when I heard Alex scream.

I grabbed my towel, secured it around my waist, and ran to her room, almost slipping from the water dripping off my body. Time seemed to drag by in slow motion. Alex was frozen. I stood in her doorway staring at her, trying not to scream myself.