Chapter 25

Riker POV

Alex had fallen asleep, her head next to mine. I was eventually able to calm myself down, and drifted off to sleep too.

The Next Morning…

"Riker… Riker… Riker get up…"

My eyes snapped open and I looked next to me. Alex was on the other side of the bed, her eyes closed.

"Riker… Get up…"

"I'm up. What is it?" I said, still not fully awake yet.

"Your phone keeps buzzing. It's annoying..."

I grabbed my phone off Alex's nightstand and looked at it.

"7 text messages and 3 missed calls?"

"Who are they all from?"

"Oh no…"

"Riker, who?"

"Ross…"

"What did he say?" Said Alex, sitting up suddenly.

"All of his texts say for me to call him."

"Well then you better call him!"

I dialed Ross's number and anxiously waited for him to pick up.

"Riker I've been trying to call you all morning!"

"Why!? What's wrong!?"

"After you left last night, I got up and locked the door. I didn't want anyone to wake up and find you missing. Rocky and Ellington are both up now and they keep knocking on the door, asking to talk to you. I think they're getting suspicious. What do I do!?"

"Hold on, let me call you back in 2 seconds, I promise," I said as I ended the call.

"What'd he say?"

"Rocky and Ellington are knocking on our door. They want to talk to me. Ross is stuck in there, and we need to come up with a plan."

"Why can't they know you were here? I thought they were fine with this? What's the big deal?"

I had to think about that for a moment. Alex made a good point. What was the big deal?

"Good point… I'll call Ross…"

"Yeah?" Said Ross.

"Tell them whatever you want to. I don't think it should matter where I am. I'm 18. I can do whatever I want to."

"Riker, I'm not sure that's a good idea-"

"I don't care."

"What do I tell them?"

"Whatever you want to!"

"Riker-"

"Ok, then don't tell them anything. Tell them I made you keep it a secret. Tell them I had to go somewhere early this morning, but I told you not to tell. I don't care…"

"I'm not going to tell them anything then."

"Fine!"

I hung up.

"Are you feeling alright?" Alex asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"You don't care what Ross tells everyone? You don't care what they think? This isn't you, Riker."

"Do you have a problem with me?"

"No, Riker. I just-"

"Why don't I just go home then? You're leaving today anyways."

"Riker-"

"I'll see you later."

"Don't open my door!"

"Why not?"

"My dad's probably awake!"

"Ugh!"

Alex POV

Riker opened my window, took out the screen, and half fell, half jumped out the window. What was up with him today?

Whatever. I had to get ready and pack. The funeral service was going to be in Connecticut, and we would be there for a few days.

Later that night…

Alex POV

I laid in the hotel bed, thinking about Riker's actions today. I had tried texting him today a bunch of times. He wouldn't text me back. I decided to try texting him one more time before I went to sleep.

"Riker, I know you're going through something right now, you don't have to tell me what. But I really need you to text me. Tomorrow's the funeral, and I just wish you were here. I know you can't be, but at least if you texted me, that would be the next best thing. I love you. 3 Alex."

I sent the text, put my phone on the nightstand, closed my eyes, and fell asleep.

Sunday Night…

Alex POV

I had finally gotten home after a very stressful couple of days. Riker hadn't texted me. I wasn't exactly mad, but I wasn't too happy either. My parents decided to walk down to the beach, but I just wanted to go to bed. I walked to my room in the dark. I opened my door, slipped inside, and turned the light on.

"Riker! You scared me!" I shouted, jumping back against the door.

Riker was sitting at a table he had brought into my room, smiling at me.

"What's going on? How did you get in here? Why didn't you text me?" I asked.

Riker stood up, walked over to me, and gave me a much needed hug.

"After you left for Connecticut, I realized I had acted like a jerk. I don't know what happened. I was just having an off day I guess. I wanted to make it up to you."

I looked at the table. Riker had brought candles and something else that was covered.

"Riker…?"

"Come on, let's sit down and talk about this."

I locked my door and walked over to a chair as Riker pulled it out for me. He lit the candles, shut off the lights and sat down across from me.

"How did you get in here?" I asked.

"You left your window unlocked and the screen was out. Ross helped me up and I unlocked the front door. Ross helped me with practically everything. He helped me get the table and chairs... He helped me make everything perfect, for you."

I could feel my face turning red.

"Why did you do all this?"

"I told you, I wanted to make it up to you. I even made you this," said Riker, uncovering the cake he made.

"Riker, this is insane!"

"Shhh, I think I heard your parents come back."

"Alex!? We're going to bed. Don't make a lot of noise," my mom called through my door.

"Ok!"

Riker picked up a knife and started slicing through the cake.

"Riker, this looks delicious. Did you make it?" I whispered.

"Yeah, I had a little help from Rydel though."

I took a bite of the cake.

"It's delicious! Uh… How are things between you, Rocky, and Ellington?"

"I, uh… Haven't really talked to them…"

"At all?"

"Nope."

"Riker, I know you're mad, I'm still mad, but they're part of R5. You need to fix things."

"Let's not talk about that right now, ok?"

I gave Riker an annoyed look, but agreed.

"Are you ok?" Asked Riker.

"Yeah, just really tired. I have to get up early for school tomorrow."

"Oh, should I leave? It's late. I don't want to keep you up."

"Will you stay a few more minutes?"

"Yeah, of course."

I got up and sat down on Riker's lap.

"I missed you… sooo much…" I said, hugging him.

I leaned my head on his shoulder.

"I missed you too," said Riker.

"Thank you, for the cake, and… Everything."

Riker POV

I could hear the smile in Alex's voice. We sat there for a little while longer, not saying anything.

"Alex?"

"…Mmm?"

"You're falling asleep…"

I picked Alex up, put her in bed, and pulled the blankets over her. I smiled as I opened the window to leave. She looked adorable when she was tired.

I slid out the window to the ground. I walked back to my house and up to mine and Ross's room. He was asleep. I quietly got changed into my pajamas, got in bed, and fell asleep.