Chapter 31

Riker POV

"What?"

"Maybe that needs to change."

"What do you mean?"

"If me going out with you will keep you safe, then that's what needs to happen."

"Kat, I don't want you to do that."

"Why not? Isn't this whole thing about you being upset because I broke up with you?"

"Well yeah, but if you're going out with me just to go out with me, that'll just hurt even more."

"But Riker-"

"Kat, we need a break."

"But-"

"No. Give us both at least a week. We both need some time. We both need to think some things over. Then, if you still want to go out with me, and it's for the right reasons, maybe we can make that work."

It killed me inside saying every last one of those words. But I needed to. It was the right thing to do.

"Riker…"

"Kat, we have to."

"I don't understand. You finally get the chance to get what you want, and you just throw it away."

"It's not like that!"

"What is it then!?"

"I don't think… you're in love with me… I think you're just hurt and upset. I mean, maybe, if I'm lucky, you're actually in love with me. But we won't know until we let some time pass."

Kat shook her head.

"Fine…"

Kat got up from my lap and opened her door.

"Bye Riker."

"I'll… Whatever… I'm sorry Kat…"

I quickly left Kat's house and walked back to my own. Rocky, Ross, and my dad were standing on our front steps with their arms crossed. Oh boy…

"Riker. Why did you leave?" My dad asked.

"I was talking to Kat."

"I don't want you seeing her."

"I don't think that'll be a problem anymore."

I pushed past my dad, and went up to my room. I felt completely numb to the world around me. Nothing really mattered anymore. Rocky came upstairs.

"So… What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing!? You were there for 20 minutes!"

"Rocky, look. I just… can't right now…"

"I know. Sorry. But when you want to talk about it, I'll be here. And I'm sorry about everything I said earlier."

"It's ok."

Later…

Ross POV

I nervously stood on Kat's front steps, and knocked on her door.

"Ross?"

"Hey Cody. Is Kat here?"

"Uh… Yeah… But I'm not sure you want to go up there…"

"Why?"

"She's… a mess…"

I ran up the stairs to Kat's room.

"Kat?"

I opened her door, and found her hiding under the blankets on her bed. I sat down next to her, and pulled the covers off her face.

"Kat? Riker told me everything. Are you… in love with him?"

"I don't know! I'm so confused!"

"Is that why you're upset?"

"No! Well yes! Well… I don't know! I just feel like… He doesn't care about me anymore. I know he says he loves me, but if he did, he wouldn't have left me like that!"

"Kat, he loves you! So much! These last few days have been exhausting for him though! When I left to come here, he was asleep on the couch."

"Why did you come here?"

"After what Riker told me, I thought you would need someone to talk to."

"I'm fine Ross. But thanks for coming over."

"You're not fine. There's something else you're not telling me. What is it?"

"I… Ok… Well this Saturday… It's our end of the year school dance. I bought a dress and… I was going to ask Riker…"

"So wait. You do like him?"

"I… I don't know. I just didn't want to go alone."

"Well why don't you ask him? I know he doesn't want to talk until next week, but I'm sure he would understand that you-"

"No. Please… Don't tell him. I shouldn't have even told you."

"Kat?"

"What?"

"Would you let me take you?"

"Why would you want to take me?"

"Because I care about you, and I want to take you."

"Really? I don't want you to do this if you don't want to."

"I want to! Really, I do!"

"Well… Ok… And thank you."

"I love you Kat."

"You what!?"

"No! I mean, like a sister."

"Oh. Ok."

Later…

Riker POV

"Riker wake up! Riker wake up!"

Ross was shaking me. I looked around the room for a second. Why was I in the living room?

"Why am I…?"

"You fell asleep. Come on. It's time for dinner. I didn't think you wanted to miss it," Ross said pulling me off the couch.

I groaned, but followed him slowly. For a second I felt really dizzy. I guess I stood up too fast.

"Riker? You ok?"

"Yeah, just a little dizzy. I'm fine."

Ross pulled my chair out for me, I sat down, and everyone seemed to be staring at me. I couldn't see all that well though because I didn't have my contacts in or my glasses.

"You're not leaving the table until you finish what's on this plate," my mom said, handing me a plate full of food.

"What if I have to go to the bathroom?" I asked, sarcastically.

"Well, too bad!" Said my dad, also sarcastically.

He seemed to be in a better mood from earlier, and I was glad. I didn't need him adding to my stress.

"So Riker, what are you doing this weekend?" Ross asked.

"I don't know… I don't really have plans…"

"Well, now you do! You can't stay in bed forever."

"Uh… Ok…"