Chapter 12

Alex POV

I took the note off my door and reread it over and over again when I had gotten inside. It was from Ellington.

"Alex, I know you're busy and all, but I was wondering if I could talk to you tonight, maybe around 6:00. Please text me as soon as you get this. From, Ellington."

"What do you think he needs to talk about so badly?" Asked Katelyn.

"I can't even imagine," I said.

"Well then maybe I should go home…"

"No. Stay. Honestly, I would rather have you here with me when he comes over."

"Ok. Well you better text him back soon."

I grabbed my phone from my backpack and called Ellington.

"Hello?"

"Ellington? This is Alex. What's wrong?" I asked.

"Look, I can't talk right now, not here. When can I come over?"

"Anytime."

"What about now?" He asked.

"Yeah."

"I'll be right over."

I hung up the phone and looked at Katelyn.

"What happened?" Asked Katelyn.

"I don't know. He wouldn't tell me. It sounded urgent though. He's coming over now," I said.

I watched as Ellington quickly walked out of his house and over to mine. I opened the door and let him in.

"Hey Alex," he said.

"Ellington, this is my friend Katelyn. She came home from vacation last night. She's my best friend and I basically told her everything, so you can say what you need to in front of her," I said.

I made sure to make it clear to him that we were friends again.

"Ok, uh nice to meet you Katelyn," he said.

He was taking too long to say anything else. He looked like he was nervous or embarrassed to say whatever it was, so I asked.

"So, what did you need to talk to me about?" I asked.

"Well, uh, it's actually 2 things. First, I was wondering if I could practice my drums in your basement tonight," said Ellington.

He wasn't telling me something…

"Uh, yeah. Why?" I asked.

"Well… You have to promise, both of you, not to tell anyone that I told you this. But Riker keeps interrupting me when I'm trying to practice and it's driving me insane. I've been trying to practice all day, and I haven't made it past the first verse yet. You swear you won't tell anyone?"

"Yeah," Katelyn and I said.

"Well, Riker keeps interrupting me because he's upset about you, Alex."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Um…"

"Does he like me?" I asked.

Ellington stood there looking at the floor.

"Ellington, tell me," I said.

"Yes, but you can't tell Riker I told you that," he said.

"You had no problem telling me that the other day," I said.

"That's because it was a guess. I didn't know for sure," he said.

"Do you know for sure now?" I asked.

"Um…"

I stared at Ellington until he gave me an answer.

"Ok… yes, he does. But don't tell him I said that. What time can I come over to practice?"

"Anytime you want. And thanks for being honest and telling me," I said.

Ellington left, so Katelyn and I walked down to the beach to find Rydel sunbathing.

"Hey Rydel. What are you doing down here?" I asked.

"Trying to get a tan. I needed to get away from my house for a little while. Who's this?" Said Rydel.

"This is my friend Katelyn. She lives down the road. Are you down here avoiding Riker?" I asked.

"Yeah, how did you know?"

"Ellington wanted to practice his drums at my house tonight and he told me Riker was bothering him," I said.

"Can I tell you something?" Rydel asked.

"Yeah. Anything."

"I think Riker likes you," said Rydel.

"Yeah… Ellington mentioned something about that too," I said.

"Whatever you guys talked about the other day is driving him crazy," said Rydel.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Well, maybe we'll see you later. Bye Rydel," I called as Katelyn and I started walking back home.

A few minutes after we had gotten back to my house, Ellington and Ross knocked on the door. They were carrying Ellington's drums. I led them downstairs to my basement. Ellington started practicing while Katelyn, Ross, and I walked back upstairs.

"So Ross, I'm about to make dinner. Do you want to stay?" I asked.

"Uh, yeah sure," said Ross.

Katelyn and Ross sat at the kitchen table and chatted while I made 2 large pizzas. While the pizzas were cooking, I went downstairs to see if Ellington needed anything.

"Oh, hey, sorry to interrupt. I was just wondering if you needed anything," I said.

"Could I have a glass of water actually?" Asked Ellington.

"Yeah sure. Oh, also, did you want to stay for dinner tonight? Ross and Katelyn are staying, and I have 2 pizzas cooking right now," I said.

"Yeah sure. Thanks."

I ran upstairs and got a glass of water for Ellington. I brought it downstairs to him. He looked like he was confused about something.

"Are you ok?" I asked.

"Yeah. I'm just having trouble remembering how the song goes, so it's hard for me to play this one part," he said.

"Alex?" Katelyn yelled down to me.

"I'll be right back," I said.

I ran upstairs to see what Katelyn wanted. She had gotten a text from her mom saying that she needed to come home because her dog needed to go to the vet. She left and Ross was looking at me.

"Hey, do you want to come downstairs? It sounds like Ellington needs a singer," I said.

"Ok," said Ross.

Ross and I walked down the stairs. Ellington explained what he was having trouble with to Ross. Ross took a sheet of paper that had lyrics on it from Ellington. Ross sang the part while Ellington figured it out. I stood to the side, watching them.

"Do you want to sing with me?" Asked Ross.

"Me?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"Are you sure? I'm not that good," I said.

"Give it a shot," said Ross.

Ross held the paper in the middle of us so we could both see it. Ellington started playing. Ross and I started singing.

"Alex, your voice is amazing!" Exclaimed Ross.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah. You sounded really good," said Ross.

"Thanks," I said.

Ross POV

I watched as Alex went upstairs to go get the pizzas out of the oven.

"She was so good," said Ellington.

"I know. She sounded amazing," I said.

"Hey guys, the pizza's ready," Alex called.

We walked upstairs and had dinner with Alex. She made really yummy pizza. We talked about ourselves and got to know Alex better. She was a really cool girl.

After dinner, me and Ellington walked back home. Riker was pacing around in the kitchen, right where I had left him earlier.

"Guys, you missed dinner, not that I ate any anyway. I'm so stressed right now," said Riker.

"We actually had pizza at Alex's house. She invited us to stay after we brought his drums over," I said.

"Did she say anything about me?" Asked Riker.

"No, but she was a little too busy singing, to talk about you," I said.

"Wait. The girl sings now!?" Asked Riker.

"Yeah dude. You should've heard her. She was amazing!" Said Ellington.

Riker seemed amazed but started pacing faster.

"Riker calm down. You're wearing yourself out. If it's bothering you that much, walk across the street and go talk to her," Rocky said as he came into the kitchen.

"So where have you two been?" Rocky asked us.

"We were at Alex's. We stayed for dinner. She made the best pizza ever," I said.

"Really? Like better than mom's?" He asked.

"Wayyy better than mom's," I said.

"No way. Do you think she still has some left over?" He asked.

"Yeah. She made 2 large pizzas," I said.

"Awesome. I'll be at Alex's. I'll see you guys later."

Rocky was practically running to Alex's house. I laughed.

Riker was still pacing around the room. He had never been this stressed out before. He had been up most of last night, he wasn't eating much, and he would not stop pacing and talking about Alex.

"Riker, please. Just go over and talk to Alex. But if you don't, at least stop walking in circles. You're making me dizzy," said Ellington.

Riker flopped on the couch.

"I can't just go over and talk to her. I don't think she wants to be my friend. Or girlfriend for that matter," said Riker.

Alex POV

I was starting to clean up from dinner when someone started pounding on my door. It sounded urgent, so I ran over to answer it.

"Rocky?"

"Hey. Ross said you had amazing pizza over here, and I know you're probably still mad about me dunking you in the lake, but I'm really sorry about that, and can I please have some of your amazing pizza?"

I started cracking up. I was still a little annoyed about the whole kayak thing, but he seemed so desperate for the pizza, so I agreed.

"Yeah, sure, come in, take a seat," I said, still laughing.

I served Rocky the pizza and he ate 5 pieces of it!

"Alex, you make the best pizza in the whole entire world!" Rocky was practically yelling.

"Thanks," I said.

After Rocky had left, I put away the stuff from dinner and took a shower. Then I sat in bed and watched TV. Only a few more days until my parents got back. We were starting to run out of food, so I was glad they were coming back on Sunday.

I went to bed early that night because I was so tired. I was woken up 20 minutes before my alarm from a phone call. It was my mom. Why would she be calling me at 6:20 in the morning?

"Hello?" I said, still not fully awake yet.

"Alex?"

"Yeah mom?"

"We're coming back home today instead of Sunday."

"Why?"

"Don't get on the bus and go to school. Your dad's father is in the hospital. We don't know what's wrong with him yet, but your aunt is driving us to the hospital right now."

I heard a slam outside. My window was open and it was really loud! I looked out to see Riker sitting on his porch eating breakfast.

"Wait so when are you coming to get me?" I asked.

"After we get to the hospital, we're going to find out how serious whatever it is, is. Then depending on the situation, we'll get you when we can. Just hang tight. I know you were very close to him. Apparently it's fairly serious, but we don't know if its life threatening or not. I'll call you later when I have more information. Bye Alex."

"Bye."

My grandfather on my dad's side and I were so close. I used to see him almost every week when he lived around here. He wasn't at all like my dad. He was like the father I always wanted. But then he moved away a few months ago. We still kept in touch though.

I started crying when I realized I might never see or talk to my grandfather ever again. I went up onto my deck for better reception and called Katelyn.

"Alex. It's too early. I'm not even up yet," she said.

"No Katelyn it's an emergency," I said, crying.

"Oh my gosh, what is it?" Katelyn asked, now fully awake.

"My grandfather is in the hospital. I don't know for what yet, but my mom called and told me that it's pretty serious. She doesn't know if it's life threatening yet or not, but she's heading there now. I'm not going to school today," I said.

"No, I understand. I wouldn't go to school either if this happened to me. Do you want me to come over before school or anything?"

"No, that's ok. But could you come by after? I mean if I'm still here? My mom might bring me to the hospital."

"Yeah sure. Alright, well I'll see you after school then. I'll text you."

"Thanks Katelyn. Bye."

"Bye."

I hung up and stared into the woods next to my house. I couldn't think of what life would be like without my grandfather. It's not like we did that much together since he was in a wheelchair, but we had a close relationship. I turned around and went back inside to lay in bed.

Riker POV

I had decided to try to talk to Alex before school. I was sitting outside on my porch eating breakfast when I saw her come outside on her deck. She was on the phone and she was crying. I could hear enough to know that her grandfather was in the hospital and it was serious. Alex said she wasn't going to school today. I guess I wouldn't be talking to her this morning…

I ran inside and woke Ellington up. I was pretty sure he had told me that he had Alex's number.

"Ellington! Wake up!"

"What is it Riker? I'm sleeping," he mumbled into his pillow.

"It's kind of an emergency. I need Alex's number. Like right now," I said.

Ellington reached over, grabbed his phone, and handed it to me.

"Thanks. Oh, by the way, have you seen my contacts?"

"No. You lost them?"

"Yeah, and I never found my glasses since we moved, so I can't really see," I said.

"Oh I know where your glasses are. I found them last night and you were sleeping, so I put them in the kitchen on the table."

"Thanks. I'll see you later."

I ran out of his room and I grabbed my phone from my room. I added Alex as a contact, and I tried calling her.

I got her voicemail. I tried 2 more times.

"Hello?"

"Alex?"

"Who is this?"

"It's Riker."

I could hear her crying.

"Alex, what's wrong?" I asked, not wanting her to know I had seen her.

"You tell me. You were the one out on the porch eating breakfast at 6:30 in the morning. Riker I have to go. I'll talk to you later."

She hung up.

I spent the rest of the day trying to contact her. I texted her, called her, and knocked on her door throughout the day, but she never answered anything. It was getting dark now.

"Rocky, I haven't talked to her all day. I'm really worried. I've called, texted, and knocked on her door, but she won't talk to me!" I said.

"Well I see a girl that looks like Alex, with a flashlight, walking out of Alex's house toward the lake, so, maybe that girl will talk to you," said Rocky with an annoying tone of voice.

I looked out the window. I could hardly see, but I could make out that Alex was wearing a bikini, and carrying a flashlight and a towel, and heading toward the lake. What was she doing?

I ran up the stairs and grabbed my swimsuit, threw it on, and grabbed a flashlight. I ran back downstairs.

"Whoa dude, are you really going out in the dark? And you're wearing only shorts because…?" Rocky asked.

"It's my swimsuit, and yes, I have to make sure Alex isn't doing anything dangerous. I'll be down at the beach," I said as I ran out the door.

I had forgotten to put on shoes before I left. It was very hard trying to run down the road bare foot. I kept stepping on sharp things. Halfway to the lake, my flashlight started flickering. Then, it died, and I couldn't see for a few seconds. My eyes adjusted, and luckily, I had my glasses, so I could kind of see. I kept running down to the lake. I saw Alex walking over to the docks. I ran after her. She put her stuff down and ran down the dock, jumped, and landed in the water.

"ALEX!"

I ran down the same dock and jumped in after her, holding onto my glasses, realizing I should have taken them off first.

I landed in the freezing cold lake water. I put my glasses back on and looked around. The wind was blowing and I was freezing. I saw Alex a few feet over from me.

"Alex what are you doing down here!?" I asked.

"Riker, a better question is what are you doing down here!?" Alex said.

I wasn't the best at treading water, so I spoke quickly hoping she would start swimming back to the dock.

"I was worried about you. I haven't heard from you all day and I didn't know what you were going to do."

"I wanted to jump in the lake. I knew it was going to be freezing, but I needed to clear my head."

I was getting so cold, it was hard to keep treading water. Alex started swimming back to the dock and pulled herself up and out. I followed her and had trouble getting out, but eventually did.

Alex wrapped herself up in a towel and sat on the edge of the dock, hugging her knees to her chest.

I sat next to her, shivering, freezing…

"Alex I'm really worried," I said.

She looked toward me and I could see she was crying.

"Riker, my grandfather is in the hospital, and you're telling me you're worried? He might not make it. The doctors won't let anyone see him because he's in surgery. He's been there all day. Something's wrong with his heart. My mom said his chances aren't good," she said.

"Alex, I am so sorry. Is there anything I can do?" I asked.

Alex turned to face me. For a few seconds, our eyes met, and it felt like nothing I had ever felt before.

"Riker?"

I looked into Alex's hazel eyes, leaned in, and our lips touched. It felt like more than magic.

Alex pulled away suddenly, got up, and started running up the road. She looked confused and scared.

I watched her run up the road until I couldn't see her anymore. What had just happened? I might have just destroyed what I was trying to save.