Chapter 11
There was no way that was true, it couldn't be. He was not in love with Laura. Rocky thought. Laura was in love with Riker and Riker was in love with her. That is how it is. Sure Rocky liked Laura, she was an amazing friend. And Rocky valued that friendship, what kind of girl will put up with him and his crazy family?
Rocky rolled his eyes. Ashley must of heard wrong. He did say Ashley's name, she must have been tried to think he said Laura's name.
Right?
Rocky isn't going to lie and say that he didn't find Laura attractive. Hell if he was human he would say she was sexy as hell. But that didn't mean he was in love with her.
No that would be crazy. Someone would be insane to think that. They were just friends and roommates. Correct that Laura was his best friend.
And his brothers Girlfriend.
The girlfriend that he is very much attracted to. Did he have fantasies about having Sex with Laura and to be able to feel her underneath him. To hear her call out his name in the throws of passion? There was nothing wrong with those right? Because it is just that fantasy's.
Rocky cursed under his breath.
What was wrong with him? How could this be happening? Didn't he warn Ross that Laura was Riker's?
Rolling his eyes again, Rocky got up from the couch and was going to hit the beach. He needed to clear his head. There was no way this was going to happen. He was not going to allow his feelings or whatever he is feeling is ruin Riker and Laura's relationship. Not to mention his friendship with Laura. He loved living there and he didn't want to move out.
So no this wasn't going to happen. Rocky was just going to have to deal with this privately and he is confident that he would be able to get over this little crush that he may have on Laura. As Rocky made his way down to the water he noticed Ross over to his right talking to a girl.
Just maybe Ross did mean what he said. That he was going to let Riker be happy with Laura.
Just like he was. Okay Rocky time to hit the water, the cold water would do him some good.
After an amazing breakfast Riker and Laura as much as they wanted to stay made their way home. It was time for them to face reality. As they pulled into the parking lot of the apartment building, Riker grabbed Laura's hand.
"Are you ready for this?"
Laura turned and smiled. "Yeah we can do this as long as we are together." Riker leaned and placed a kiss on Laura's lips.
"Let's do this." Riker and Laura got out of the car, and were making their way to their place when they noticed something of a surprise. Ross was on the swing laughing with a girl. They couldn't see her face but it was nice to see Ross being carefree. Maybe he will come to accept them in time. Riker and Laura just looked at each other.
Maybe this will work out.
As if he could feel them Ross turned his head and saw them. "Hey Guys how was your night?" he asked happily.
"It was good, thanks for asking. Listen Ross I think we should start over, let's put last night behind us and start fresh. Today is a new day after all." Laura said.
"That sounds great. Why don't you two come closer .there is someone I would like you to meet Laura."
Both Riker and Laura made their way closer and that was when they saw the girl. Laura looked happy to see Ross with someone that could possibly be a girl that he liked. Riker's face just dropped.
"Hi My name is Laura, nice to meet..."
"The Names Nic, short for Nicole but I prefer to be called Nic."
"Well nice to meet you Nic." Laura smiled.
Nic looked at Laura she seemed to be a nice girl. Pretty too. No wonder why Riker seems to be in love with her.
"Hey Riker. Long time no see."
Laura was taken aback. Riker just looked at Ross before turning back to Nic.
"Hey Nic. How are you?" Riker asked.
"I'm good now that I've seen you." Nic said as she jumped into Riker's arms. Laura just looked there stunned. Ross had a smirk.
"You Guy's know each other?" Laura asked.
"Yeah, Riker and I go way back don't we Rike? He was my first love." Nic said. Laura's blood just went cold. Riker was just too stunned; He hasn't seen Nic since they broke up and she moved away. He went to turn to Laura and grab her hand, but she pulled away.
"So you two dated?" Laura asked.
Nic nodded her head. "Yeah we dated for three years, before I had to move to North Carolina, but I moved back as soon as I could."
Well isn't that nice?
"Well that's nice..." Laura said her voice becoming a bit shaky. Ross just looked at Laura and realized that he really done it now. The look of hurt on Laura's face was too much, he realized that bringing Riker's ex-girlfriend back was a mistake. In the fits of jealousy he did something that couldn't be taken back. As he was about to say something, Riker looked at him.
"Ross can I talk to you?" Riker asked.
"Right now?" Ross replied.
"Yes right now, excuse us Nic, And Laura." Riker said as he went in to place a kiss on Laura's cheek she pulled away. That seemed to piss Riker off even more, and he grabbed Ross pushing him to the apartment. Closing the door Riker just glared at him.
"You did this didn't you?" Riker asked.
"Did what?" Ross replied.
Riker laughed. "Don't play stupid with me Ross! You brought Nic here right? I mean after all this time I find my ex-girlfriend on the front porch of my place the one I share with my current girlfriend who is the love of my life by the way, and my ex is sitting with my brother?"
Ross laughed. "Don't be silly Riker I didn't…" Ross was cut off when Riker grabbed him by the shirt and threw him down on the couch.
"Riker don't..." Ross cried out.
"Tell me the truth! You only have once chance to make things right you understand me? One chance to try and save any kind of relationship we have. Now TELL ME!" Riker roared.
"Okay I did, but as soon as I saw Laura's face I knew I screwed up. I was jealous okay? I was blinded with jealousy of you and Laura and I couldn't think straight. I know what I did was wrong, and I will make Nic leave okay."
Riker just shook his head. He couldn't believe this. Yes Ross could be selfish and childish at times but this? He purposely got a hold of Riker's ex girl friend to cause problems for him and Laura?"
"So what did you think was going to happen? I was just going fall back in love with Nic? That I would hurt Laura so bad that you would be able to come to her rescue."
Ross was silenced.
Riker just laughed. " You know baby brother just last night Laura, the woman you just hurt by bringing Nic here, actually defended your ass, saying we should give you another chance. That you would have no were to go if we kicked you out. She defended you after you hurt her last night and when she forgives that, you pull this crap."
Ross still remained silent. He knew what he did was bad. He didn't want to hurt Laura he really didn't but that is all that he seemed to be doing lately.
"Answer me Ross!"
"I don't know what else to say is I am sorry Riker! I am so sorry I don't know why I pulled this crap. Except that I am jealous! And how could you not know how I felt about Laura? Huh? She is my costar and my best friend, were you too blind to see how I looked at her? How I felt about her? You betrayed me!"
Riker laughed.
"I didn't do shit to you. Nothing I did nothing to you. I asked you time and time again if you had feelings for Laura and you told me to my face that you didn't. You denied any kind of feelings you had for her."
"So that gives you the right to go after her?" Ross asked.
'I didn't go after her Ross! We were friends and we fell in love, I am not going to apologize for that. You had your chance with Laura but you blew it when you weren't man enough to admit that you liked her. "
Ross laughed bitterly. "Of course you did, that was the real reason why you didn't come to Puerto Rico wasn't it? You wanted to tap Laura's ass wasn't it?"
He didn't see that punch coming. Ross flew back and fell on the floor clenching his right eye. That was going to leave a shiner.
"You listen you selfish son of a bitch, if you ever call Laura something like that or talk about her in any way that is derogatory then I will kill you." Riker sneered. As far as he was concerned he and Ross were no longer brothers.
"I want you to go out there, apologize to both Nic and Laura. I want you to take Nic back home and tell her in no certain terms that i am getting back with her. That I am only in love with Laura and there is no chance for her and me. Then you are going to apologize toy Laura for being a king sized douchebag. And you are going to tell her that you are going to leave."
Ross looked up. "What I have no place to stay! You know dad kicked me out."
"And what was the reason for Ross? Oh wait that's right, you got a girl pregnant! Which by the way makes it more screwed up that you care more about my relationship with Laura then you do about the mother of your unborn child. Don't you care you screwed up an innocent girl's career? Or that so far you seem to be leaving her with the bag of the baby. Dad is right you need to learn how to be an adult. But you aren't going to be doing it here. I want you to pack your crap and get the hell out of here. You and me, we are done. As far as I am concerned we are no longer brothers. And the only time I want you around Laura is when you guys are doing the show."
"Oh so what are you going to control who she sees and who she can't see?"
Riker shook his head. "No Laura is old enough to choose who she wants to have in her circle, but as the man that is in love with, I have a right to do whatever I seem fit to protect her from that would cause her pain."
"Riker Listen I am sorry, Please give me another chance. I won't do any more stunts like this please." Ross cried.
As Riker was about to answer, Laura and Nic came in.
"What's going on? We could hear fighting going on." Laura said. How could everything fall apart so fast? She and Riker just got home. Only to find Ross on the porch with Riker's ex. Now Laura wasn't stupid. She knew Ross had something to do with it. It just broke her heart to see her friend lash out like that. And honestly while they boys were out here, she got to know Nic, not a lot but a little and so far what she seen Nic was a nice girl. Laura definitely saw how Riker could love her.
"Ross and I were having a chat." Riker said.
Laura rolled her eyes. "Oh you mean about how Ross brought Nic out here to see about causing trouble for us."
Riker and Ross just looked at her. "How did you find out?" Riker whispered softly.
"It wasn't that hard to figure out, and when Nic here mentioned that Ross got a hold of her, I put two and two together."
"Listen Laura, I was about to tell Riker..." Ross said before Laura cut him off with a smack. Ross heard turned back from the force of the slap, Ross just looked at her. Laura spoke.
"That was for trying to ruin my relationship with Riker. You know Ross I know you are hurting a lot and I am sorry that you have to be hurting like that. But that doesn't excuse you for trying to ruin the best thing that has ever happened to me. I should have let you know right away that I was having feelings for your brother. And for that I am sorry. But I am not going to apologize for loving him. If you had any kind of feelings for me, why didn't you say something sooner? And Ross I love you like a brother, but I don't feel that way about you. I care about you as a Best friend but that is all."
Ross stared at Laura. He knew he was getting what he deserved. How did he manage to screw up so many times in such a short amount of time? This wasn't him, he was happy and carefree. He didn't try and hurt people even when he was hurt. He has no one but himself to blame for this mess.
"Laura I totally deserve this slap. And more I really am sorry, I know I said that last night but it is true. And Nic I am sorry for bringing you out here. God I don't even know what I am doing anymore. This is not me; you know that all of you do. I just can't believe I screwed everything up. I mean god I am not even eighteen and I am going to be a father? I lost our record deal, I costed a girl her career and I got kicked out. Laura I liked you a lot, and honestly I still do. But I know you love Riker, and I promise you I will start respecting that. But please don't kick me out. I have nowhere to go. I know I messed up, but I swear, I swear that I won't ever do anything like this again. I just am so messed up now. Please you guys have to forgive me."
Riker looked at Laura and then at Nic. Riker walked over to Nic
"Nic I am sorry that Ross brought you out here under false pretenses. I care about you, you were my first girlfriend and I will always care about your happiness. But I am crazy madly in love with Laura, and she is the one for me."
Nic smiled. "Riker there is no need to apologize, and I understand about your relationship with Laura. I am happy for you two. You deserve to be happy. I am going to call a taxi to pick me up and take me back home. Laura it was nice meeting you, you have a terrific guy here. There really is nothing like being loved by Riker Lynch. Ross you need to do some growing up before you are with anybody. I don't hate you, but right now I don't like you. Well I am going to get going. I will call from outside."
"You don't have to do that; you can stay here and call." Laura said.
"Laura you're really sweet, but I want to kind of leave and get back home. And before I go I would like to chill at the beach. You guys take care." Nic said as she made her way out of the door. Leaving Laura, Riker and Ross alone. Riker took a look at Ross.
"See what you did! Now pack your crap and get out of here now!" Riker growled. Ross just looked sad and as he made his way to his brief bedroom, Laura stopped him.
"Ross stops. You can stay but this is your last chance, and the only reason why I am giving you this chance is because we are friends. But after this no more, we will be done. Do you hear me?"
Ross nodded.
"Now leave me and Riker alone."
Ross nodded again, this time heading out the front door. Riker just turned and looked at Laura like is she grew three heads.
"Why the hell did you do that? How many more times will he have to hurt us before you cut him lose?"
Laura sighed.
"You want to know why I did it? I did it for you and your family. As upset as you are with Ross he is still your brother and I did it for your mother too. This isn't the Ross we know. He is lost and confused. And I bet he is only holding on to this fantasy of feelings he thinks he has for me because he is drowning. We can't turn our back on him and you know that."
"The hell I do."
"Riker, baby I love you, I hate to see you upset. Tell me you please can try and understand this."
Riker sighed. As much as he loved Laura he honestly couldn't promise that. Ross was his brother, he knows he is hurting, but when is that going to stop being his excuse to start hurting people.
"I can't Laura; I mean when is it going to be enough for you to start to accept that Ross is the way he is because he wants you? I know you love me, but I can't just keep rolling over and letting Ross hurt you and do nothing."
"Riker..."
"Look I need some space right now. To clear my thoughts. As much as I wanted to sleep in our own bed tonight, I am going to get a hotel. Just for the night. I need to get away from this."
The tears were already slowly coming down Laura's face. This couldn't be happening.
"You need to get away from me." Her voice croaked with unshed tears.
Riker sighed. " No not from you, I just have to think and I honestly think the best thing right now is time away so I can stop being angry. Please tell me you understand that?"
Laura said nothing. Riker went over and kissed the top of her head. Her throat felt like it was on fire, closing so tight that it was hard to breath. Wasn't it just a few hours ago that they were lost in each other, their passion consuming them And now Riker was leaving for the night to get away from her?
"No I don't understand, but I guess I am going to have to huh? Have fun at your hotel." Laura said as she ran past him and slammed the door to their bedroom.
Riker's head fell to his chest.
What just happened?