Chapter 23

Riker POV

"What!? Why should I go back tonight!?"

"Because the longer you stay away, the longer you hurt your family, especially Rocky."

"What's one more day going to do?"

"I don't know. I'm just saying maybe you should go back tonight."

"Are you going to make me?"

"I can't make you do anything. But I really think you should."

I didn't know what to say anymore. I didn't want to go back yet, but I didn't want to disappoint Kat either.

"Riker, I'll go with you. Please. Come on."

"Wait, wait, wait!"

"What?"

"Not yet!"

"Riker-"

"I'll go back tonight, just not yet. Ok?"

"Why not now?"

"I'm not mentally prepared for everything that's about to happen."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll see…"

Later…

Kat POV

"Come on Riker. You said you'd go in an hour, and it's been an hour!"

"5 more minutes!"

"Riker-"

"Ok, ok, fine! I'm coming!"

"Don't forget your suitcase!" I called up the stairs.

I walked outside and waited for Riker to make his way down.

"Ok, let's go."

"Wait, where's your suitcase?"

"I want an excuse to come back later."

"Riker-"

"Only if I need to!"

"Fine."

Riker and I slowly walked down the street to his house.

"Wait. We should probably go get my car."

"We can get your car later! Stop stalling and come on."

I grabbed Riker's hand, and we kept walking down the street. Riker stopped when we were in front of his house.

"Well come on," I said, pulling his hand.

"I don't know if I can do this Kat."

"What are you talking about? You're not going back now!"

"Kat-"

"Riker, this is ridiculous. We're here. You're home. Go inside!"

"You knock."

"We don't need to knock! It's your house!"

"Just knock!"

"Fine. Come here!" I said, pulling Riker up his front steps.

I knocked on his door. Riker tried leaving, but I held onto his hand tight.

"What are you doing!?"

"I can't do this!"

"Riker stop!"

"RIKER YOU'RE BACK!"

Rocky almost tackled his brother, giving him a hug.

"Riker I was so scared! Don't ever do that again!" Rocky shouted, only inches away from Riker's ear.

A few seconds later, the rest of the Lynchs came running out, surrounding Riker with hugs.

"Where were you!?" Rydel asked.

"I… I was… uh…"

"Where?"

"I just stayed in my car…"

"Riker, can I talk to you for a minute? Kat, you too?" Riker's father asked.

"Uh yeah," said Riker, not looking at his father.

Everyone went inside, leaving Riker and I alone with Mark Lynch.

"Where were you? Do not lie to me."

"I was…"

"He was at my house."

"I suspected that."

"Why?" Riker asked.

"You know how Rydel was finishing the lyrics to the new song? She found your notebook in your room, left it in the kitchen, and on the inside, it said "Riker and Kat 4ever" on it. I asked Rocky about it, and he said you used to date Kat, but broke up. He also told me about… Never mind… I've see her around a lot, so I figured you guys were still friends. And when I found your car parked down the road, without you in it, well there weren't many places you would be."

I could see Riker's face turn red when his dad said "Riker and Kat 4ever" and I thought that was pretty funny.

"Oh…" Riker said, looking at the ground.

"Riker, I'm sorry for the other night. But I do think you need to follow the rules, otherwise there will be consequences. But for right now, I think you should come back home. At least until we get your eating habits under control."

"Ok," said Riker, still not looking at his father.

"Riker, you made us very worried, leaving like that. We love you so much. We couldn't imagine if anything ever happened to you."

"Sorry…"

"And you should apologize to Kat too for staying at her house like that."

"Sorry Kat," Riker mumbled, still staring at the ground.

"No , you don't understand. It wasn't his fault for staying at my house. The night he left, Rocky called me and told me what happened. I went running down the street looking for him. He was going to sleep in his car. I practically had to beg him to come stay at my house. I just couldn't let him sleep in his car! And believe me, when I ordered a pizza, we almost had a fight because I insisted on paying!"

"Well, I'm glad to hear that. Thank you for having him stay over your house Kat."

"No problem."

Riker still hadn't looked up from the ground. Why?

"Well Riker, you should probably go upstairs and have a talk with Rocky. He's been very worried about you!"

Riker nodded slowly.

"Bye Riker," I said.

I gave Riker a hug before leaving. He put one arm around me, and he just… didn't really seem like himself… He slowly walked inside, and I went home. Glad that's over.

Rocky POV

My door opened, and Riker came walking in. He sat down on his bed, and wouldn't look at me.

"Riker, I'm so sorry I told mom and dad. I was just scared, and… you're my brother, I love you."

Riker still wouldn't look at me. What's his problem!?

"Riker, are you ok?"

Almost as soon as I asked him, he started crying and laid down on his bed.

"Riker, what's wrong?"

"It j-just h-hurts so m-much!

"What?"

"Everything!"

"Riker, calm down. What's going on?"

"I stayed at Kat's when I was gone. Ever since Friday night, I think Kat wants to be my friend again. She told me to stay away from her after we broke up. But after the past few days, and everything she said 5 minutes ago, I feel like that's all she'll ever want to be. I can see how much she cares about me, but I don't think she loves me. I just want her back Rocky!"

"I… don't know what to say… What do you want me to do?"

"There's nothing you can say or do to change anything. It's over!"

"What's over?"

"My entire life!"

"What do you mean?"

"She'll never love me! It's breaking me apart!"

"Riker, she was your first girlfriend. I know heartbreak feels like the end of the world right now, but this is your first time dealing with it. There's other girls out there who would be lucky to date you."

"I don't want anyone else. I want Kat."

"I don't think Kat's an option."

"Thanks Rocky. That makes me feel better!"

Riker stormed out of our room and locked himself in the bathroom. He was just impossible sometimes! Whatever. He can go cry himself dry in the bathroom all night for all I care.

A Few Days Later…

Kat POV

I walked inside my house and up to my room. Cody heard me come home, and knocked on my door.

"What?" I called.

"Can I come in?"

"Fine."

"Where were you?"

"On a date."