Thank you to the two of you that reviewed. I expected a much smaller review base with this, as it's not actually about the section it's in, but I was so glad to see two familiar and awesome faces in my inbox. Shout out to you both. You're awesome and make me smile. Elizabeth, I know I still owe you that one shot, and I didn't forget. :)

Anyway, this chapter shows more into what Riker's going through, but the big reveal won't be until the next chapter.

Let me know what you think! Enjoy!

"

At almost eight that night, we were all prepared to go. Riker had convinced his father, and he was going with us. I had everyone pile into my car and we were off in what may have been the most awkward five minute drive in my life. While Laura and Rydel chatted the entire way in the backseat, Riker sat stoically in the front the entire time, never once meeting my gaze. I sighed as we parked, wondering if this was how the entire night was to go.

I watched as my best friend and Rydel ran toward the house, huge and obviously owned by someone who made more in a month than my parents did in a year, leaving me alone with Riker, who still looked like I might have poison ivy, or something else contagious by the way he wouldn't even look at me. Screw this, I thought and turned to him. "So, we're the only two here now without a friend."

"Yeah," he said quietly. "I guess so."

I growled to myself and shrugged. What was with this boy? He glanced at me for a moment, offering the most pathetic smile I've ever seen, and then began to walk toward the house as well. I stood there for a moment and then decided to follow after.

It wasn't like I needed my best friend to survive at a party, because I didn't. But the girl had begged me to come and now had ditched me for some girl she'd just met with obviously a better taste in clothes than I did. And if I was honest, as I stared down at the dress I currently wore and had borrowed, was a lot richer than she came off as. Don't get me wrong… they weren't rich like the owners of the house, but the girl had to come from money.

The music pumped around me while others got drunk and danced on each other. Everyone I had come with had disappeared at this point so I continued to walk until I reached the kitchen, grabbing a can of soda and sipping it. A guy who I recognized from one of my classes came up to me, obviously drunk with bad intentions on his mind. "Hey, Rainy, right?" I scowled, as he tried to near my neck. "You know me. Brad. I sit behind you in Math."

"It's Remy," I said flatly. "And no, I don't know you."

"You look great tonight," he continued, ignoring the comments I had just made. "Looking hot in that dress. Why don't you dress like that at school?"

"Fuck off," I scowled again, pushing him. "I'm not easy and you're wasted. Nice try though."

He rolled his eyes and finally got the hint, leaving me alone to survey the place. Everyone was having a good time, and somewhere to my left there was game of shots going on. I could hear high pitched giggles and howls of laughter. Someone came up to my right. "This is honestly stupid," the familiar voice said. Riker. I had to say, I was glad to see him.

I nodded. "You're telling me. I only agreed because Laura has this thing for some guy."

"And where is she?"

"Good question," I laughed. He was also sipping a soda from a glass. "Don't drink?"

"Nah," he muttered. "No need."

We stood in silence for a moment before I was shocked by a horrid sound that came from Riker's mouth. It was between a cough and a gag, and before I could ask if he was okay, he darted off in a different direction. Alarm pulsed through me. What was wrong with him? Did someone lace his drink with something? I pushed through the crowds of people to the direction he had gone, looking for the blond hair in a sea of sloshed bodies. I saw him go down a hallway a few feet ahead, and ran that way, making it there in time for the bathroom door to slam in my face. But despite this, the painful hacks on the other side could be heard over the loud music. Something was wrong. I banged on the door, afraid to actually say anything. The hacking continued.

"One second," he spat through coughs.

I was shaking as it continued, sounding like he was choking or something possibly worse. Finally, the door opened, and I watched as Riker downed an inhaler, his entire face pale and his body shaking. I blinked in shock and he looked equally surprised to see me.

"Uh… are you okay?" I finally managed to ask.

He seemed to brush it off as it was nothing. "I've had a really bad cold," he laughed awkwardly. "It hasn't gone away and my mom was worried about me coming tonight, and I guess it bit me in the ass. Sorry. I didn't mean to freak you out."

"You look like crap. Do you want me to take you home? I'm sure Laura and Rydel wouldn't mind."

He shrugged. "No, no. It's okay." He wheezed despite what he said, and I raised my eyebrows. "Honestly, I'm fine."

I noticed his soda was long gone. He stood on shaky feet as we made it back through the crowd. "At least let me get you some water, or something."

He nodded. "That would be nice."

We found a more quiet part of the house and Riker sat down, sipping the water every few minutes. He looked wiped and I knew he had to be sicker than he led on, and was only staying because he wanted to watch out for Rydel. "So, how old are you anyway?"

He glanced up. "I just turned seventeen, what about you?"

"Same," I laughed. "Laura is a year younger than me."

"Rydel's sixteen too." He paused, taking another sip. "I guess they're enjoying themselves."

"Probably. I'm sure we'll hear about it soon. If something good doesn't happen tonight with Wes, I honestly think the girl might lose it."

"Who is this Wes guy anyway?"

"Some rich boy who looks like he belongs in a magazine that has absolutely no personality," I muttered. He laughed hard at what I said and I shrugged with a smile. "Laura's in love, according to her."

He smirked as the party continued on. An hour melted into two, and I noticed while Riker stopped shaking, the color never returned to his face, and every once in a while, the coughs would return, just not as bad. "I hope you're not contagious," I teased.

He shook his head. "I've been on medication," he said quietly.

A few minutes later and the girls reappeared both of them smiling widely at each of us, until Rydel saw her brother. Her face immediately fell and she gave him a look. They shared an odd moment that I couldn't understand until Laura shrieked happily, throwing me her phone which was open to a number and a name that said Wes.

"We've got a date for Friday night," she gushed. "Can you work my night next week since I worked yours yesterday?"

I nodded, honestly happy that it had worked out for her after all. Rydel was quietly talking to her brother at this point, so I pretended to listen to my best friend chat while I also tried to hear what the other two were saying. With no luck, I decided it was time for all of us to leave. "Okay, it's getting late," I announced. "I've got work tomorrow, and I'm tired. Are you all ready?"

"Yep," Rydel said suddenly, helping Riker stand.

"Well, then it's time to go," I agreed.

The next day, I woke with a headache like I had drank the night before. Considering I hadn't, I was even more annoyed as I showered and got dressed for work, hating that I lived on the outskirts of a town where so many people were rich and famous and didn't have to work at a store where one shirt cost more than my weekly paycheck. But hating my life wasn't going to get me anywhere, so I got dressed and headed out to the kitchen, where my parents had left me breakfast before heading out for their weekly morning run.

I grabbed a bagel and headed out the door, seeing Stormie outside attempting to plant some flowers. She waved from where she stood, her hands covered in dirt. I waved back and got into my car, driving to work.

You would think rich people wouldn't be at a clothing store at nine in the morning, but apparently there didn't have anything better to do, because the moment I walked in, I was demanded by my boss to help a woman find a suitable outfit for a birthday party that night. I sighed as the woman fawned over more outfits then I probably owned, unsure what color looked best on her, after I told her many times what I thought. Honestly, I think I was just there to pretend I cared, and hold the outfits she wanted.

My mind was on Riker and how odd he was. I thought back to each moment the boy had been around me over the last two days, and all the weird things that had happened. When he wasn't acting strange, he was actually pretty nice. And he had such warm eyes and I loved that. I always thought that eyes could tell you a lot about a person. Maybe he was just nervous. He did just move here.

"What about this one?" the woman asked.

"No," I said flatly. "It looks like you're wearing a balloon."

Apparently, I personally offended her.

An hour later, and my boss apologizing for my words (of truth), I was told to pack out things from the back, and stay away from customers. The day dragged on. I was happy to hear my boss tell me to clock out, and I nearly ran from the place and into my car, eager to get home to finish my book, and maybe even start another.