Chapter 34

Rocky POV

After searching for like 20 minutes, I finally found everything Riker needed to wear for tonight. I don't know how he could find anything in his closet! It was so unorganized!

"Rocky!"

I ran into the hallway. I had no idea who was calling me.

"Yeah!?"

"Where are my clothes?"

It was Riker.

"I'm… still getting them…"

"Rocky I need to put clothes on! Just give me anything!"

"No! Just wait a minute!"

"Rocky-"

"Just wait! I'm almost done!"

I ran back into our room and picked up everything Riker needed, then walked back over to the bathroom door.

"Riker I have your clothes."

"Ok, well give them to me."

Ross POV

"Ok, so you're sure this is going to work?" I asked.

"Positive. It'll be perfect," said Rydel.

"Ok. Great!"

I was in Rydel's room. We had just finished coming up with a plan for tonight. I just hoped it would work.

"Rocky!"

"What!?"

Riker and Rocky were shouting between their room and the bathroom again. This was getting really annoying…

"You forgot to give me something!"

"No I didn't! I made sure you had everything!"

"Everything except underwear!"

Kat POV

"What time did Ross say he was going to pick you up?"

"5:00."

"He's going to be late if he doesn't hurry up."

"Oh stop. He's being really nice by taking me to the dance and out to dinner! If he's a few minutes late, that doesn't really matter."

Ross POV

"Rocky, I have to go! I'm going to be late!"

"You never told me… You know!"

"Ugh! Ok, Rydel's coming with you guys. She's going to dance with Riker in the beginning. I'm going to dance with Kat. We're planning on doing that switch partners thing without them knowing, and then Rydel's going to be with me, and Kat with Riker. She's also going to surprise Cody. I think she likes him."

"Ok, you're going to need to text me. I still have a ton of questions."

"Ok. I have to go. I'll see you tonight!"

"Yup. See you there."

"Oh, and if you have any quick questions, you can try asking Rydel. She might know."

"Ok. Have fun!"

"I will."

"Bye."

I ran out the front door, got in my car, and drove off down the road to Kat's house. I stood nervously at her door, waiting for her to answer it. I was shocked when it was Cody, and not Kat.

"Hey Ross! You look nice."

"Thanks. So do you. Is Kat here?"

"Yeah, come in."

I felt like I was in one of those cute movies. Kat came walking down the stairs in the dress and a black jacket. It was one of those dresses that came to about knee length, and looked like something a girl would wear in a dance number if she was going to get twirled. Her hair, her face, her dress, everything looked amazing. Wait, how long have I been staring at her?

"Ready?" Kat asked.

"Yeah. Let's go."

I opened Kat's car door for her, and before I knew it, we were headed to the restaurant.

"So are you excited for the dance?" I asked.

"Of course I'm excited. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, I don't mean this in a bad way, but you just don't really strike me as a girl who likes to dance."

"I'm not."

"Exactly. And I was just worried because you had wanted to go with Riker."

"Well yeah… I mean, that's what I was planning on doing. I bought this dress because of him. It's his favorite color. Now he won't even get to see me in it. Speaking of him, how's he doing?"

"Uh… You know, he's not really that good right now, but I think he'll be doing better really soon."

"Good. I just wish there was some way to make it up to him, you know? Like I wish I could go back in time or something and undo everything. I've tried talking to him, but… I don't know. I don't think he really likes me anymore."

"Kat, he loves you."

Kat sighed.

"Maybe…"

Riker POV

"Stop touching me!" I shouted.

"I need to fix your tie!"

"It's practically choking me! Why do I have to go to this stupid party anyway?"

"Because you need something to take your mind off… you know…"

"I really don't want to go, Rocky."

"Oh come on! Rydel's going!"

"Why is she going?"

"Because it's a fun event!"

I rolled my eyes at him.

"Riker, you're coming."

"Fine… Stop touching me!"

"Hold on! It's almost fixed. There. Aren't you going to thank me?"

"Thank you oh so very much Rocky, for fixing the stupid tie, you're forcing me to wear, to some stupid party, you're forcing me to go to."

"That's better," Rocky said, smiling.

I rolled my eyes again. Whatever… We walked past Rydel's room, and downstairs to the kitchen to grab something to eat before we left.

"Why isn't Rydel wearing blue?"

"Because… She didn't have anything she liked."

"Didn't she just buy-"

"Oh look! It's starting to rain out!"

"What?"

"It's raining."

"Ok…? So why doesn't she have to wear blue?"

"Enough with the questions! Now eat something. I don't know if there's going to be food at the place tonight."

"I'm not really that hungry."

"Riker."

"What?"

"Eat."

"I said, I'm not hungry."

"We're not leaving until there's food inside of you!"

"Works for me!"

"Riker, come on! I'll tell dad about this."

"No! Don't tell dad!"

"Then eat!"

"Ugh fine!"

Later…

Kat POV

"Ready to head to the dance?" Ross asked.

"Yeah. Let's go."

We arrived at my school. How Ross knew where my school was, I have no idea. Ross took my hand, and we walked inside.

"So, do you have any friends you want to say hi to?"

"No."

"Kat. Go on. It's fine."

"I don't have any friends. That's why I wanted to take Riker, so I wouldn't be alone."

Riker POV

"Wait. This is a school. I thought you said we were going to a party," I said.

"It's a dance."

"Why did you bring me to a dance!?"

"Because you'll have fun!"

"Rocky!"

"Oh shush! Come on, let's go," Rocky said, parking the car.

I followed Rocky and Rydel inside. It was really dark, and kind of loud with all the music and people around. Rydel turned to me suddenly.

"Come here Riker. Let's dance," Rydel said, grabbing my hand, and pulling me away.

"What? Ok…?"

I followed Rydel, not that I really had a choice, and started dancing with her. I knew how to slow dance since I used to dance at a studio called The Rage when we still lived in our other house. We normally didn't dance to slower songs, but they still occasionally gave us classes for it.

I noticed Rydel wasn't really paying much attention to me. She was staring at something behind me, and whatever it was, was moving. She kept turning me so she could keep an eye on whatever it was. She probably knew someone here.

"Rydel? What are you looking at?"

"Nothing."

"Rydel."

"Ok, I'm looking at Ross. He came here too. We're going to swap partners so I can dance with him too, ok?"

"During the song?"

"Yeah. You know, you'll spin me out and spin someone else back in. Remember how to do that?"

"Yeah, yeah. I got it," I said, slightly annoyed.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Riker, you can tell me."

"It just feels like you're ditching me for Ross."

"I'm sorry. I'm not trying to. I just-"

"No. It's fine. Go ahead. Tell me when you want me to spin you out."

"Riker-"

"It's fine Rydel!"

I felt a little bit guilty for blowing up at her like that, but I just felt like nobody cared about me anymore! I didn't even want to be at this place, and now I was being ditched. Great…

"Ok, spin me to the right, and slightly backwards, and Ross's partner will come to you."

"Ok."