Littleton Colorado, June 2nd 2006

Tuesday, 2:17 p.m.

Iris's P.O.V

It was almost the end of the year now. And despite how much I hated Rodrick at the beginning, we soon became fairly good friends, hanging out, though rarely. Riker and McKenzie, well, what could I say? He was happy. They seemed to really like each other, I should be happy.

But I'm not.

In hindsight, deciding not to go out or rush into things was a very wise idea, seeing as though it would keep them from giving each other a chance. I tried to be as nice as humanly possible to her, she did paint me a nice picture after all, but I don't see how beautiful someone would think it was stuffed into the very back of my closet. I was in somewhat of a rage that day she gave it to me. How was I to know the thing wasn't going to blow up anyway?!

Anyways, back on track.

Ever since Riker started dating her, I've been seeing less and less of him at school. All the classes we usually have together, we have with McKenzie, and when I get a smidge of free time with him here, he never pays attention anyway! I wasn't mad at first; I figured I had him all to myself once we were home. But no, he's always on the phone with her, chatting with her on the internet, his dad even got him a cell phone and all he does is text her now. And whenever we are together, he only talks about her all the time.

I love Riker to death, but this was starting to get utterly annoying.

Rydel and the others feel the same way. Except, they don't want to to say anything because and I quote, "He seems happy, lets keep it like that."

I rolled my eyes at my inner thoughts, hoping no one would catch me thinking or talking to myself out loud in the school hallway. I was summoned to a halt though, by none other than McKenzie and her friends. They were usually civil with me whenever Riker was around, but lets just see how they are without him.

They stood in their normal stance. Brittany on the left, Ashley on the right, McKenzie in the middle. Her coach bag hung off of her elbow gracefully as the arm was planted on her hip.

"Listen, Acker-" She said with a large amount of venom in her voice. I immediately tensed up. "I heard what happened between you and Riker-"

"Oh? And what exactly did you hear?" I asked with sarcasm dripping off my words.

"Shut up." Ashley sneered at me. They continued walking towards me until I felt the cold metal of the lockers on my back.

"I heard that you two kissed, on more than one occasion." She continued. I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah? Maybe we did. What are you getting at, Smith."

She then leaned in real close to me, jabbed her finger in my chest, and said with darkness and venom in her voice,
"Stay. Away. From. Riker."

I was outraged. I through her hand away from me and pushed her back against the other wall of lockers. "No way! Your out of your mind!" I said with rage and shock that she would even ask a thing like that laced in my voice.

She straightened herself up and said, "Stay away from him, or else." Then proceeded to walk away.

"Or else what?! I need a reason, McKenzie!" I yelled at them down the hallway.

She turned around and smirked at me.

"Or else Riker gets it. Don't you see? I have him under my little thumb. He's so completely into me, and I make him so happy. You wouldn't want to ruin that would you?"

I stopped dead in my tracks. Of course, how could I not see this before? Everything dawned on me in that moment.

"I must really have you scared, McKenzie." I said slowly as I walked towards them.

"What do you mean?" She asked with a confused look on her face.

I got right up in her face and said exactly everything that was coming to my mind. "Maybe you do make him happy. But so do I. You don't know him like I do, McKenzie. You don't know anything about him except for the fact that he's hot and could get your attention. But he's more than that, so much more. And no matter how much you think he likes you, he'll always love me more. And you can't stand the fact that he always will."

I let out a deep breath after I said that. It dawned on me as it dawned on her. She knew I was right, the look on her face said it all. Brittany and Ashley made a move towards me but she put her arm out, motioning for them to stop. Tears sprung to her eyes, and she covered her face before running out of the building. Ashley and Brittany gave me one last glare before turning and following after her.

I've never felt so bad in my life. Even though it was McKenzie, the girl who's made my life terrible since I've been here, she was still a human, she still had feelings. I bullied her just as she bullied me. I am no better than her. I made a promise to myself before I moved here that I would be as kind as I could be, even to the bullies. I promised I would never lose sight of myself, and I did. Why?

All because I fell in love. I fell in love with my best friend. I worried more about him then I did myself. I've spent countless sleepless nights crying myself to sleep or either just sleepless in general wondering if there was ever a chance he may love me back. I've spent the hours I should have focused on my responsibilities around the house or my schoolwork on daydreaming about him and how our lives could be together. It wasn't healthy, and I'm only fifteen! I had my whole life for love, and I was wasting it worrying about it now.

I hadn't realized I made it all the way past my house and to the park until I found myself sitting on the swing and rocked myself back and forth slowly.

That's when the hidden anger came out.

How dare McKenzie! She knew what she was doing to Riker but she still did it and I felt sorry for her because I told her to stop?! If only Riker knew-

"Hey," Speak of the devil, he's here right now.

I looked up and saw his smiling and cheery form bouncing up to me. Oh crap. Oh crap crap crap! Do I tell him about what happened? He sat down on the vacant swing next to me and stared at me, expecting me to say something, but I was lost in thoughts and emotional turmoil. I didn't notice tears on my cheeks. He did though.

"What's wrong?" He asked. It snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Who do you care about more? Me or McKenzie?" It was a bold question, but I had to ask. He seemed taken aback at my question and answered quickly.

"Look Iris, if your jealous of all the time I've been spending with her-"

"Just answer the question."

He contemplated for a long moment, staring into my eyes, then at his shoes, then to the side, and back to me.
"You, Iris." He said. I let out a breath of relief I didn't know I was holding.

"So, would you believe me if I told you something about her?" I asked him. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion and I took a deep breath, I had know idea how he would take it, so I tried to break it to him gently.

"What is it, Rissy?" Rissy, he hasn't called me that in so long- please don't let this blow up...

"McKenzie, is not what you think." I said starting off.

"What do you mean?" Riker asked. He seemed to get sadder with every word.

"Look, Rikes. I'm not good with words, and I don't even vaguely know how to tell you this, but she came to me after school in the hallway and told me to stay away from you, or else you'd get it. I don't know what she's planning to do but-"

Riker cut me off. "Woah woah, McKenzie's not like that anymore Iris-"

What? He doesn't believe me?!

"You don't believe me, do you?" I said accusingly, and standing up from the swing. He stood up too.

"No that's not what I'm-"

"Then please, let me finish! I can tell you exactly what happened!" I said, trying desperately to make him believe me.

"But what proof do you have?!" He said, his voice raising. I was mad now.

"What do you mean what proof? You need proof?! You think I'm lying?! I'm not lying, Riker!"

He didn't say anything, he stood there speechless, but there was nothing but pure anger in his eyes. He exploded moments later.
"You know what?! I do think your lying! You've NEVER liked McKenzie and you hate the idea that I can date someone who isn't you and still be happy!"

Tears sprung to my eyes, I can't believe it. I want to hope this is a dream but the pain is far too real.

"When did you become like this?" I asked, voice quivering. I looked up, fully aware that he could see my tears. "If this is who you are now I don't want to be friends anymore." I ran off before he could say anything else.

I made to my bedroom un-noticed because my parents were out on business for three days. They left me enough food to last and some extra money incase of emergencies. They figured with the Lynches so close I'd be ok.

I walked onto my roof, noticing the sky graying and I hoped it would rain, just to top off the rock bottom depression I was at. My wish came true moments later when it started pouring. I rested my back and head against the wall and rubbed my legs furiously trying to contain my tears, but when my mind over came me, I had lost all control. I cried and screamed and sobbed, not even caring a bit if I got pneumonia, maybe then I would die and this would all be over with the pain.

To add to my terrible mood, the TV in my room was settled on the music channel in my room. "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls came filtering through, loud enough for me to hear. What did I do to deserve this? Why can't I be loved?
As the tears blended with the rain rolling down my face, I somehow slipped into a sleep.

Riker's P.O.V

I walked home in the rain, trying to get home as fast as I could so I wouldn't get super wet. Maybe I was irrational or harsh on Iris. I don't know and I didn't want to think or talk about it right now.

I walked through the door and slammed it shut on accident. Mom jumped at the loud bang in the living room and said, "Riker honey is something wrong?"

I faked a smile and a happy voice and said, "No mom, nothing's wrong." I then noticed everyone gathered in the living room and dad with a serious face on.

"Come here Riker, family meeting."

I walked in cautiously and sat down in front of the couch. I noticed all my siblings had a face of confusion similar to mine.

"We wanted to talk about your futures." My mom started, making us more confused.

"What do you mean mom?" Rocky asked. Dad then took the floor.

"This band, It has a lot of promise. And I know this is what all of you want to do. What would you say if we moved to California? And try to make this work for real?"

I couldn't believe it- all my dreams were about to come true! As if on cue, all of us kids jumped up and started screaming and celebrating- happy that we'd finally have our chance to shine.

"But dad, what about Iris? Is she coming too?" Rydel asked. And just like that, I felt a knot in my stomach form, made from guilt and immense regret. They didn't notice my fear stricken eyes, or my paling face. Mom and dad looked apologetic.

"I'm sorry kids, she can't come." Dad said. And everyone immediately started whining and arguing in protest.

"Why not?!" Rocky asked, it was no secret him and Iris were close, an unexplainable sibling like bond between them.

"We talked to April and Martin, who in turn had a talk with Rissy about it," Dad started, then mom cut in.

"She just doesn't want to be famous kids. She loves her life here, and you know how she is. She has a good head on her shoulders; she can see the risks being famous would bring beforehand, and she said she just couldn't take the chance. It's too big of a risk for her."

Everyone had tears pooled into their eyes of losing our beloved Rissy, and they started looking doubtful, so I had to do something.

"Come on guys," I started, soothingly. I had to fight not to cry when talking about her. "Iris means as much to me as you guys. But this is what we want, she'd understand. She knows this is our dream; she'd want us to do it. Besides, we'd visit more than often right mom?" I asked looking at mom.

"Of course." she answered.

"So what do you say?" I asked then immediately crossed my fingers behind my back, hoping for a yes.

"Well-" Rydel started, looking around. Then everyone said it at the same time.

"I'm in."

I'm terrible. I know. I haven't update in like over to months! I've just been so busy and I just started junior year, which means ACT testing and boatloads of homework. I should be able to update by Friday and I'll be sure to make it long:) Oh I also saw R5 in Aurora and it was amazing!:3

I apologize Lizzie!D:

To everyone else I will update on Friday:)

Lots of love!

-Lora and Lizzie