Chapter 36
Riker POV
Instead of saying anything, I leaned in and kissed Kat. It felt different than anything else ever had. Maybe because now I knew I was truly in love with her. When we broke apart Kat looked at me.
"Do you really love me?" Kat asked.
"More than anything," I said, realizing I was crying too.
Kat wrapped me up in another hug, and we swayed back and forth again. She was finally mine!
Ross POV
YES! IT WORKED! I was so happy everything turned out how I hoped it would. They're perfect for each other, and seeing them apart was hard on everyone.
"Ross, I'm going to go ask Cody to dance," said my sister.
"Ok."
This night was so perfect. Riker and Kat were dancing together, Rydel and Cody were dancing together. The only thing I was concerned about was Cody. He looked as though he might pass out, he was so shocked Rydel wanted to dance with him. On one of the first days I met him, I found out he liked Rydel. I think Rydel likes him too. Then only thing was, I knew Ellington liked her. Whatever. Nothing was official yet. I honestly didn't know who I wanted her to be with though. If she were with Ellington, she could see him when we had practice, but would it disrupt our practice time? But I knew Ellington. I knew he wouldn't hurt her or anything like that. But then again, I had gotten to know Cody too. He was always nice to Rydel when he was over our house. If only Rydel had a twin. Hmmm…
Later…
Riker POV
I drove Kat home after the dance in Ross's car. We had gotten our picture taken in front of this backdrop, and it looked amazing. Kat's dress was so pretty, and of course Kat herself was gorgeous. She looked beautiful no matter what she was wearing. I was pretty sure we were back together again, but things weren't exactly off to a good start. We weren't really talking all that much. It was kind of that awkward conversation you have with someone at school that you're being forced to work on a project with. You don't really know them, but you want to be nice and just get the work done and over with. Thinking about it now, we had barely even looked at each other. Well that wasn't exactly true. Kat didn't really look me in the eyes, but I always caught myself staring at her.
"Riker?"
"Yeah?"
"Is this right?"
"What do you mean?"
"I thought it felt right getting back together and stuff. But things just seem kind of awkward I guess… I don't know…"
"Well considering what we've both been through, I think we're both doing quite well. Things won't be perfect at first. We just need to get back into the rhythm of things I guess."
"Do you… Want to do this?"
"Go out with you? Of course I do!"
"Ok."
"Why? Are you…"
"No. I just… I don't know. I wanted to make sure you wanted to try this again too."
"Of course I do."
Kat sighed.
"Ok."
I parked in Kat's driveway. Her house was completely dark. Cody was still at the dance, and apparently her parents weren't home either. I walked her up to her door.
"Riker?"
"Yeah?"
"In like 15 or 20 minutes, do you want to watch a movie or something? I just feel like we… I don't know, not get to know each other again, but… kind of, I guess."
"Sure. Whose house did you want to do it at?"
"We can do it at mine. I don't know if your dad will like the idea of us dating again."
"Oh. Good point. So I'll come back over in about 15 minutes?"
"Yeah."
"Ok. See you then."
I got back into Ross's car, and drove up the street to my house. My dad was sitting in the kitchen when I went inside.
"So how was the party?"
"It was a dance."
"Well then how was the dance?"
"Fine."
"Where's everyone else?"
"Still there."
"Why are you home then?"
"It… was time for me to leave…"
"What?"
"Never mind. I have to go."
"Where?"
"Upstairs."
"What's the hurry?"
"I'm going over to a friend's house, but not dressed like this."
"Oh. Who's house?"
"Uh… Curt's…?"
"Have fun."
I ran up the stairs, two at a time, and ran into my bedroom. I grabbed my black and white plaid pajama bottoms, a black T-shirt, and headed to the bathroom to change. Once I was finished, I put my clothes in a pile on my bed, put on a pair of converse, and headed downstairs.
"Bye dad," I called, walking through the door.
"Bye Riker. Have fun."
I walked down the street to Kat's house. All the lights were off in her house, which I thought was odd, but maybe that was because she had them off for the movie. When I got to the front door, I noticed it was slightly cracked open.
"Kat?"
I pushed the door open, walked inside, and closed it behind me. I could hear Kat crying. I walked quickly toward the kitchen in the dark, getting closer to Kat, stepping on something. Something was all over the floor. I flicked the kitchen lights on.
"OH MY GOSH! KAT WHAT HAPPENED!?"