Chapter 22
Sunday Night…
Kat POV
Today has been exhausting for both Riker and I. I can tell he's super nervous about tomorrow night. If I were him, I know I would be too. I just hope he sticks to what he said.
"What do you want for dinner?" I asked Riker.
"I don't need anything."
"Riker, you have to eat something! I thought we went over this!"
"Didn't we already have dinner?"
"No, that was lunch."
"Lunch at 3:30?"
"Yes! Now what do you want for dinner?"
"I don't care…"
I rolled my eyes before heading down the stairs to go find something. My dad and Cody had left to go visit my mom at the hospital, so Riker and I could do whatever we wanted until they came back. So, I decided to order a pizza. I went back upstairs and sat on my bed, waiting for it to arrive.
"What are you doing?" Riker asked.
"What do you mean? I'm just sitting here."
"Exactly."
"I called a pizza guy."
"Kat! You didn't have to do that!"
"I wanted to."
"Why?"
"Because I felt like having pizza for dinner!"
The doorbell rang, so I went downstairs, Riker following.
"Here," said Riker, handing me money.
"No. Keep it."
"Kat, you're not going to pay for me!"
"Yes I am!"
"Kat-"
"Stop! I'm paying!"
I slipped out the front door, and held the doorknob still once I was outside. Riker kept trying to turn it, but I wasn't going to let him.
"Thank you," I said, handing the pizza guy money, and taking the pizza.
I went back inside to find Riker sitting on the couch, looking really annoyed.
"Kat, you didn't have to do that."
"Well I wanted to. Can't you let me do things I want to do?"
"Here," said Riker, holding the money out to me again.
"I'm not taking it! Keep it. Now come on, let's go upstairs and eat."
I walked upstairs, and after waiting a few minutes, I went back downstairs to get Riker.
"Stop being stubborn and get up!" I shouted, pulling his hand.
"I'm not being stubborn!"
"Well prove it, and come upstairs!"
I pulled on Riker's hand really hard, and made him get up from the couch. I walked up the stairs with him, still holding onto his hand. I opened the pizza box and handed him a slice. Thank goodness he took it, and wasn't difficult!
Rocky POV
I heard a knock on my door. I pulled the blankets over my head, hoping whoever it was, would go away. No luck.
"Rocky?"
I could tell it was Ross.
"Rocky, do you think Riker's going to come back?'
"I don't know. Please just go away. I don't want to talk about this."
"Rocky, I need answers. Why are you so upset?"
"Because Riker's gone! Why else?"
"I know. But I can tell it's more than that!"
"It's all my fault Ross! I made him not want to come back! I told mom and dad he was starving himself, and I said I wouldn't!"
"Rocky, I'm sure he won't blame you for doing that. You were just worried. He knows you love him."
"I don't know. I just wish he would come back! Where could he have gone?"
"I think he might be living in his car...?"
"Why?"
"Well dad found his car parked at the dead end, but he wasn't in it, so dad left a note saying he wanted Riker to come back home, and he wasn't getting kicked out. But then later, his car was gone, and it hasn't come back since."
"Why would he do this to us!?"
"He's just upset Rocky."
"How are you ok with all this!?"
"I'm not ok. But I'm thinking about it logically. Wait a minute…"
"What?"
"I think I know where Riker is."
Kat POV
"Shhh! My dad and Cody are back. Take the pizza and get in my closet. I have a feeling my dad might want to talk to me."
Riker took the pizza box and went to my closet. I could hear my dad unlocking the door downstairs. A few minutes later, he came upstairs and knocked on my door.
"Kat?" My dad called.
"What?" I called back.
"I just wanted to let you know that mom's doing better."
"Ok."
I could hear him walk away. Good. I walked over to the closet and let Riker come back out. We were just about to put on a movie when someone knocked on my door again.
"What?" I called through the door.
"Kat? Someone's here to see you," my dad called back.
"Who?"
"Uh, I forgot to get his name. He's downstairs."
"Ok."
I turned back to Riker, and he had a worried expression on his face.
"Relax," I whispered.
"What if it's-"
"Shhh. I'll handle it. Lock the door after I leave," I said, slipping out the door.
I walked down the stairs, and sure enough, Ross was standing near the door. I took a deep breath. Ok, here we go…
"Hey Ross. What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Uh, I wanted to talk to you."
"About?"
"Riker."
"Did you find him!?"
"Uh, no. I actually wanted to talk to you about that."
"Is he ok!?"
"Uh, I don't know. I was actually going to ask you if he was here, but apparently not…"
"Why would he be here?"
"I don't know. I just thought maybe he would come here...?"
"Why?"
"Well I don't know anywhere else he would go."
"Oh… Well how's Rocky doing?"
"He's… really scared… and upset…"
"Awww."
"He thinks Riker won't come back because he hates him for telling on him."
"Oh come on. Riker wouldn't hate him for that. He was just worried."
"Well I know that, and you know that, but Rocky doesn't think that."
"Well I just hope he comes back soon."
"Me too. Uh, I was wondering if you wanted to come over later."
"Why?"
"I don't know. Maybe you could talk some sense into Rocky."
"I don't know. This week was spring break, and I haven't finished a project for chemistry yet," I lied.
"Well, if you have some free time, I know it would really help if you talked to Rocky."
"Ok. I'll keep that in mind."
"Thanks. So I guess maybe I'll see you later then…?"
"Yeah, maybe."
"Ok. Bye Kat."
"Bye Ross."
I walked back upstairs. My door was locked, so I tapped quietly. The last thing I needed was for my dad or Cody to walk by and ask me why I was knocking on my own door. I heard my bed squeak, and a few seconds later, Riker was at the door.
"Kat? Is that you?" Riker whispered through the door.
"Yes."
Riker unlocked the door and let me in.
"So who was it?" Riker asked.
"Ross. He thought you were here."
"What did you say?"
"I said you weren't, and I hope you come back soon. I'm not sure, but I think he bought it."
"Ok good."
"But he told me about Rocky. He's falling apart. He thinks you won't come back because of him. He thinks you hate him…"
"I could never hate him. He's my brother. Sometimes he's annoying, but I love him."
I sighed.
"What?" Riker asked.
"Maybe you should go home tonight."