Chapter 18

Alex POV

I was stuck under the kayak. The waves were still huge, making it impossible to get out from under the kayak. There was a barely even a small pocket of air underneath the kayak. I tried pushing the kayak up, but it was too heavy, and the waves were making it hard enough already. I started pounding the underside of the kayak hoping Riker could hear me.

Riker POV

I flew off the kayak, heading face first into the water, arms flailing wildly. I came back up, coughing. I looked around. I couldn't see Alex, but then again, I could barely see at all. I could hear a weird thumping noise…

Alex was trapped under the kayak!

I grabbed the edge of the kayak, desperately trying to flip it. The giant waves were making it extremely difficult. Water kept splashing in my face and up my nose, making it hard to see and breathe. I pushed as hard as I could, finally flipping the kayak off of Alex.

Alex grabbed onto the side of the kayak, coughing. I grabbed onto the kayak too, making sure I was near if she needed help.

We stayed in the water for a few minutes, waiting for our breathing to return to normal.

"Are you ok?" Asked Alex.

"Me? Yeah, I was worried about you!" I said.

"Yeah, I'm ok. I couldn't get out from under the kayak. The waves were too strong. Thank goodness you were here to flip it off me."

My heart started slowing down. We were ok.

"Do you know how to get back on this thing?" I asked.

"Yeah. I've flipped before. It's a little tricky, but it's possible," said Alex.

Alex showed me the easiest way to get back on the kayak. It took a few minutes, but I was able to get back on too.

Alex POV

I started paddling back to the shore, when I realized something.

"Riker?"

"Yeah?"

"Turn around."

Riker turned to face me, showing just what I feared.

"Riker, this is not good!"

"What!?"

"You're wearing a white shirt! You can see through it now that it's wet! Everyone can see your stomach!"

"What should I do!?"

"Squeeze as much water out of it as you possibly can. It's pretty dark. Maybe it won't be that noticeable," I said.

"Alex, we shouldn't take any chances. If anyone sees it, this could all be over."

"Look, I don't see them. They probably went back to your house."

"Are you sure?"

"I don't see them," I said.

I paddled closer and closer to the shore. Riker sat facing me, his back towards the shore.

"They're not here," I said as we reached the shore.

Riker and I got off the kayak and carried it to the kayak rack. It was really dark and hard to see. Riker and I were shivering as we walked up the road.

"I can't go back to my house," said Riker.

"I know. Your shirt's still wet. I'm just worried someone's going to be suspicious or something, you know, that you didn't come straight home," I said.

Rocky POV

I had been sitting in my room for a little while. When it started getting dark, I heard everyone come home. Someone was knocking on my door.

"Come in," I called.

Rydel and Ellington came in and closed the door. They both walked over and sat on Riker's bed, looking at me.

"Rocky, I think we need to talk," said Rydel.

"What's to talk about?" I asked.

"Why are you so concerned all of a sudden? It's like out of nowhere, you just blew up. I don't understand. Do you know something else we don't?" Asked Rydel.

"Ok, yes. I didn't want to worry Ross and Ryland more than I needed to. They're younger than us, and I didn't want to scare them. You remember last night? We were sitting at the table. Riker asked for a can of soda. I tossed him one. He missed, and it hit him. He seemed more hurt than he should have been, just from a can of soda. I don't know… Maybe I'm just being paranoid, trying to find any excuse that he might be hurt. I just don't want anything to happen to him. Don't you remember everything his old girlfriend did to him?"

"Mandy?"

"Don't say her name! If I hadn't walked in on Riker that day, he could have ended up in a hospital. I've always felt so bad since then. I should have noticed something was wrong with him, and I didn't. I would've never forgiven myself if something ever happened to him!" I said.

"Rocky, calm down. Riker's fine. He would tell us if something was going on again," said Rydel.

Someone knocked on my door. Ellington got up and opened it. Ross and Ryland were standing at the door.

"Hey, we just saw Riker and Alex walk home. Do you want to invite them over to watch a movie?" Asked Ross.

"Uh, yeah. You guys go over and ask. We'll meet you guys downstairs in a few minutes," said Ellington.

"Ok."

"We'll talk about this later," said Rydel, as she got up to leave.

Ellington stayed for a minute after Rydel left.

"I am in no way saying that I think Alex did anything. But, I just wanted to let you know about what happened yesterday. I was heading to Alex's house. Riker passed me, and I couldn't tell for sure, but I think there was blood on his shirt."

"What!?"

"I'm not sure it was even blood! It probably wasn't. I couldn't see that well. I just wanted to tell you, in case it was."

Alex POV

"Give me your shirt. I'll throw it in the dryer before you go back," I said.

"So I'll have a dry shirt and wet shorts?" Asked Riker.

"What do you want me to do?"

"They're going to think it's weird if my shirt is dry and my shorts are soaking wet."

"Ok, well, what if you take a shower, and while you're showering, I'll dry your shirt and swimsuit and you can put them on when you get out?"

"What about my hair?"

"You can use my hairdryer. Now go. Hurry, before anyone comes over here looking for you," I said.

Riker walked to the bathroom and started the water. I heard a knock at the door. My heart started racing.