Chapter 27

Riker POV

As Rocky, Ellington, and I were leaving Alex's house, I saw that Alex looked more than worried about something. We had just made up. What was she worried about?

"I'll meet you guys over there in a minute," I called out the door to Rocky and Ellington.

"Alex, what's wrong? We made up. Everything's fine now," I said.

"What? Nothing! I'm fine."

"Ok, well, are we going to finish that movie tonight?"

"What? Oh, I have plans actually. Sorry. I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"

"Uh, yeah, sure."

As I walked out the door, I saw Alex take out her phone and text someone.

"So, what do you guys want to do tonight?" I asked, once I was inside.

"I thought you had plans with Alex," said Rocky.

"Not anymore. Something came up."

"Ok, well, we could watch a movie," said Rocky.

Ross came down the stairs.

"Hey Ross," I said.

"Are you guys…"

"Yeah."

"Good."

"We're going to watch a movie. Can you go invite Ryland and Rydel?" I asked Ross.

"Sure."

I looked out the window and saw the girl I had driven home today, go to Alex's house. I think her name was Katelyn…?

I helped Rocky make popcorn for the movie.

Katelyn POV

"You have to tell him!" I shouted at Alex.

"I can't! They finally all made up, just in time for things to return to normal before their interview on Friday. If I say something, I could undo everything I just fixed!"

"It wouldn't be fair to him if you didn't tell him! He should know what Rocky said!"

"Katelyn-"

"Alex, you have to!"

Alex sighed.

"I can't. Not yet."

"So, you're going to lie?"

"No. I just won't say anything at all."

"That's almost the exact same thing."

Riker POV

Ross put on the movie we watched with the killer. We had gotten halfway through it the other night, when our parents made us shut it off. They would be back in about 10 days. Rydel, Ellington, Rocky, Ross, and Ryland all sat on the larger couch, just like the night Alex came over. I was sitting by myself on the same chair Alex and I had shared.

10 minutes into the movie, I got up and went to my bedroom. I just couldn't sit there through this movie. I texted Alex, wondering if she wanted a ride to and from school tomorrow. She told me yes. I got up and got ready for bed, finally remembering to put on my acne cream. I got in bed, and fell asleep.

The Next Morning…

Riker POV

I woke up, and got dressed. I waited for Alex to come out so I could drive her to school. A few minutes later she came out and got in my car without saying a word.

"Good morning," I said.

"Good morning…"

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah, just tired."

She barely talked to me during the whole drive to school. Something was up. I dropped her off at school and drove home. To my surprise, Rocky and Ellington were awake.

"Hey, are you ok?" Ellington asked me.

"Uh, yeah… Alex was just… weird today… I don't know…"

"Why don't you invite her over for dinner or something?" Asked Rocky.

"Ok."

I spent most of the day in my room. There wasn't much to do. Next week the internet and TV guy was coming, so we could only watch the movies we had brought until then. I was tired of watching scary movies. It seemed like that's all everyone brought! Halfway through the day, Ross came upstairs, looking for me.

"Hey, where have you been?" Ross asked.

"In my room…? Why?"

"Did you want to go swimming? I asked Rocky and Ellington and neither of them wanted to go to the beach. They won't let me go by myself."

"Where's Rydel?"

"She's been busy pretty much all day. Laundry, dishes, unpacking…"

"Oh, well I guess I can go for like an hour, but then I have to go pick Alex up from school."

"Ok, cool. I'll meet you downstairs."

I changed into my swimsuit, and headed down to the beach with Ross.

"Come on Riker, let's swim out to the raft," said Ross.

"Nah, I'll just watch from here," I said.

"At least come a little bit closer. You're only in up to your knees. The water isn't even that cold today."

I reluctantly walked further into the cool water. How was it not cold to him?

"Watch me do flip!" Called Ross from the raft.

I was watching Ross when he slipped and belly flopped into the water.

"Ross! Are you ok!?" I shouted.

Ross climbed up on the raft again.

"Yeah! But you won't be!"

"What!?"

I heard splashing behind me and whipped around just in time to see Ellington and Rocky come charging at me. The next thing I knew, I was body slammed into the water by both of them.

"What was that for!?" I said once I stopped coughing.

"We wanted to have some fun!" Said Rocky.

"Trying to drown your brother is fun?" I asked.

"Oh, please. Come swim out to the raft with us," said Rocky.

"I'm fine here," I said.

Rocky and Ellington each grabbed one of my arms, and began pulling me out further and further into the lake. I couldn't touch anymore, and was still being pulled by the both of them, half swimming, half being dragged.

"Guys let me go!" I protested.

"Not until we get to the raft," said Ellington.

When we finally got to the raft, I was out of breath. I grabbed onto the side of the raft, trying to catch my breath. Rocky and Ellington both got on the raft and started doing crazy dives off of it. When I got on, Rocky decided we were going to play a game.

"Ross and Riker against me and Ellington. Whichever team knocks off both people from the other team first, wins."

"Do we have to play this?" I asked.

"Come on, Riker. It'll be fun," said Ellington.

Ross and I backed up to one side, while Ellington and Rocky backed up to the other side.

"GO!" Rocky shouted.

I ran forward, and immediately laid down on my stomach in the middle of the raft, terrified of being flung off. I watched as Ross tried pulling Rocky off, but Ellington ended up pushing him off instead. Ellington and Rocky were now trying to pry me up off the raft, and roll me in.

"Nooo! Stop!" I shouted.

"Not until you're in the water!" Said Rocky, half laughing.

Rocky grabbed both my arms, Ellington grabbed my ankles, and they picked me up.

"NO!" I shouted.

"1, 2, 3, throw?" Asked Rocky.

"Works for me," said Ellington.

They swung me back and forth, and threw me far out into the water. I knew I was destined to do a belly flop.

"AHHH!" I screamed, while flying through air.

*Splash.

When I finally came up, I had swallowed a ton lake water. Water had gone up my nose, and I could barely breathe. I swam back over to the raft, and Ross helped me up. It was very slippery now.

"One more round?" Asked Ellington.

"No! That hurt so bad!" I said.

"Oh, because your stomach's still healing and stuff?" Asked Ross.

"Yeah!" I said.

I looked down. My stomach was bright red.

"Well, then what do you guys want to do?" Asked Rocky.

"Wait, what time is it?" I asked.

Ross looked at his watch.

"1:50. Why?"

"I'm late! I have to pick Alex up from school at 2:00! She's going to kill me! I have to go!" I said, standing up.

"I'll swim in with you," said Rocky.

"Thanks."

Before I knew it, Rocky had pushed me off the dock, and I had fallen backwards into the water.

"Stop doing that!" I shouted when I came back up.

I started swimming to the shore. Rocky swam close to me. He knew I wasn't the best swimmer.

"Where are my shoes!?" I shouted.

"Ellington hid them."

"Ugh!"

I started running up the hill to the road as Rocky swam back out to the raft. I must have looked ridiculous. I was running on my toes, flinching every time I stepped on a rock, which was almost every step. I ran inside, grabbed my keys, and jumped into my car, forgetting I was dripping water all over the place.

"Oh, just great," I said, realizing what I had just done.

I started my car, and sped off down the road, sitting in a puddle of water. As I arrived at Alex's school, I knew I was busted. Alex was standing outside the school, arms crossed, glaring at me when I drove in.

"15 minutes late!? It would almost be quicker to have taken the bus!" Alex shouted as she got in.

"Sorry, it wasn't exactly my fault."

Alex laughed.

"What?"

"You look ridiculous!" Alex said, still laughing.

"So, you're not mad?"

"No. I can clearly see you rushed to get here. What happened? Do I even want to know?"

"Uh, probably not…"

"Ok. Riker?"

"Yeah?"

"Nothing. Never mind."

"Alex?"

"It's nothing. Forget I said anything."

"Ok… Do you want to do something tonight?"

"Uh, I can't tonight."

"Why not?"

"I… have to help Katelyn finish a project for school."

"Do you want to do something after that?"

"I have to study for a test tomorrow."

"Ok, well what about tomorrow?"

"Uh, maybe."

"Alright."

I parked my car in my driveway and got out.

"Do you want me to walk you home?" I asked.

"Uh, my house is right there. I'll be fine."

"Ok, can I text you later?"

"Uh, sure."

What was up with her? Was she avoiding me? Whatever. I'd make sure to make plans with her for tomorrow. I walked inside and helped Rydel do some housework for the rest of the evening.

"Thanks for helping me tonight, Riker," said Rydel.

"You're welcome. I didn't really have anything else to do."

I left the kitchen and went out on the porch. The light in Alex's kitchen was on. I could see inside her house. Alex was sitting at the kitchen table, her head leaning on her hand, staring off into nowhere. Weird…

I got up and walked over to her house and knocked.

"Riker?"

"Yeah, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out…?"

"Riker, I have stuff I need to do. I can't tonight."

"Can I at least come in and talk to you for a minute?"

"Riker-"

"Please. Give me 5 minutes."

"Fine."

I walked in, and sat on the couch. Alex sat on the other end of it.

"Alex, I'm worried."

"About what?"

"You. Ever since we all made up, you've been acting strange. I feel like you're shutting me out."

"Riker, I'm sorry. I really can't talk about this right now."

"Why?"

"I just can't."

"Well then when can you talk about it?"

"Friday…"

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"Are you sure you're ok?"

"Yes."

Her eyes seemed to be shouting "help!" But her mouth was telling me I needed to leave. I reluctantly got up, and headed for the door.

"Do you want a ride tomorrow?"

"Uh, no. Katelyn wants me to take the bus with her. She's a little bit mad I skipped out on her this week."

"Ok. I'll see you tomorrow."

Alex POV

Finally he was gone! It was so hard keeping this from him, I felt like I wanted to explode! I must have laid in bed for hours before I finally fell asleep. All I could think about was what Rocky had said to me…