Second Place
2:30 AM
Disclaimer: Check out chapter one, please – Thanks!
Pairing: Ross/Laura/Riker
Author's Note: "Mine" by Taylor Swift (version by Naya Rivera from Glee)
*Laura's outfit for her Venice beach date with Ross can be found on my profile – check it out!
Last Time:
"Laura?" Worried now. "Babe? Hey, talk to me, babe." A light touch on her shoulders. "What's going on? Laura?"
Then, blessed blackness. Complete darkness engulfed her, embracing her like a blanket. Peace. No pain, just quiet. An almost aching quiet.
"LAURA!"
Present Time:
It was like being underwater and slowly breaking through the surface. Almost like breathing fresh air for the first time.
At least, that's what Laura foggily thought as she reached for consciousness. It was probably one of the hardest things she'd ever had to do, especially when all she wanted to do was sleep. The land of dreams was a peaceful place – no one was able to hurt her… And she wouldn't be able to cause pain either. Who wouldn't want to stay in a place like that?
"...–ura? Laura, are you awake? Hey, stay with me, babe. Stay awake for me…"
Oh. Right, her mind reminded her. Riker. But hadn't she hurt him? Broken his heart? She didn't deserve to be his girlfriend, let alone stay in his presence. She should just go back to sleep. At least in the dream world she could pretend that they were still happy.
But, what about Ross?
Well, wasn't that just the million dollar question?
A gentle tap on her cheek had Laura's eyes reluctantly fluttering open, gaze unfocused as she tried to make out the person who had touched her. Didn't they get that she wanted to sleep? That she didn't wish to be disturbed?
"Laura." The voice was stronger now, more urgent. "Can you hear me?" Louder. All of her senses were turning on again. No. "Sweetheart, come on. If you faint again, I'm gonna be really worried about you. Just tell me you're okay."
Finally, like a bubble bursting, everything snapped into focus with crystal-clear clarity. She was in Riker's bedroom, lying in his bed. The blonde bassist was sitting beside her, holding one of her hands as the other gently ran through her brunette tresses soothingly. He was wearing his glasses – something she didn't see as often as she would like.
And, God, Riker looked like a mess.
His hair, which was normally styled nicely, looked as though he'd run his fingers through it multiple times without a care. There were dark smudges under his eyes, and the glass lenses couldn't hide how his eyes were tired and filled with worry. His clothes were wrinkled, too, like he had picked them up from the floor and put them on. She'd never seen him so unkempt before – it was utterly disturbing.
My fault, my fault, my fault, her mind couldn't help mocking.
Riker gave a small, relieved smile. "Good. You're okay, Laura. How are you feeling?" he softly asked, not wanting to distress her further. It was bad enough she had fainted when he'd hurled those awful accusations at her. He didn't want that to happen again. She'd scared twenty years off of his lifespan when she had suddenly collapsed.
"Oh, Riker," she mumbled, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "I'm so sorry. That article…"
He gently cut her off. "Hey, let's not worry about that anymore. Okay? It's over and done. Those magazines can say whatever they want – I know you would never cheat on me."
"But I lied to you…" And I did cheat, damn it. It just wasn't with Harry. It was with your own brother. Why wouldn't the words leave her mouth? Why couldn't she voice them? Now would be the perfect time to tell Riker everything. Everything.
Using the pad of his thumb, he brushed away her tears. "I don't care about that anymore, either," he reassured, "I know you only lied to protect me, because you know how I feel about Harry being your friend. I just… I overreacted. I let my emotions get in the way when I should have just ignored that stupid article. I'm sorry, Laura."
No, no, no. Stop being so understanding! I'm a horrible girlfriend, a despicable human being. You should hate me! I should be the only one apologizing! Why did he have to be so sweet all the time? Damn it, Marano, TELL HIM!
But she didn't. She wouldn't. She just couldn't break his heart.
SP*SP*SP
A couple of days after Laura's fainting spell, Ross could tell something was wrong. Neo had given the petite brunette time-off to recover and rest, so, of course, Riker wanted to be home with her, which meant R5 also took a break. Ratliff had started sleeping over every night since he found out, worried about his little sister-figure, and Stormie was acting more like a mother hen than usual.
Don't get him wrong. Ross was concerned about Laura's health, too, but he figured he shouldn't crowd her like everyone else. Even Maia was stopping by the Lynch residence to visit, completely ignoring Rocky while she checked in with the smaller brunette. But that wasn't Ross's point.
Something was seriously wrong with Riker and Laura. It was like they were walking on eggshells around each other, seemingly afraid to say the wrong thing to the other. Ross wasn't sure what happened, but he had a feeling that it centered on the gossip magazine and Laura's incident. The two had to be connected.
For the sake of Riker and Laura's relationship, Ross would get to the bottom of it.
SP*SP*SP
Ross knocked on Laura's bedroom door, keeping an eye out for his siblings or mother. Ratliff was also somewhere in the house, but the drummer had the poorest ninja skills next to Rocky, so Ross wasn't too worried about running into him.
When he heard the lock disengage, he turned his attention onto Laura, who peered cautiously at him. The door was only slightly cracked open, a sliver only wide enough for her to see through. No doubt she didn't want anyone babying her, and he smirked in amusement but didn't say anything. He could understand. Sort of.
"Is there something you wanted, Ross?" Laura quietly asked, with a suspicious gleam in her eyes.
He stuffed his hands into his pockets, trying to convey nonchalance and to ease her nerves. "Yeah, I was wondering if you wanted to ditch this place and go somewhere?"
"Like where, exactly?" Hope was beginning to break through. It was obvious she wanted a little bit of freedom from everyone else's crazy antics to take care of her.
"Anywhere you wanna go." Leaning closer, he whispered, "You and I have a date, remember? Besides, I wanted to talk to you about something."
Laura seemed to think about his words before slowly nodding. "Okay," she replied, "How about Venice beach? I miss the sun on my face."
Ross nodded. "Perfect. Go get ready, and I'll make sure the coast is clear. I'll just send mom a quick text while we're on the road so she doesn't worry."
"Good idea." With that, the petite brunette disappeared behind the door, and the blonde played lookout while he waited. It was a few minutes later that he heard her exit her room. "Okay, I'm ready to go."
Turning in her direction, he smiled. "You look beautiful, as always."
Laura wore a long, light pink dress that looked as though it was covering a bathing suit, but he couldn't be sure. She paired a beige colored, short-sleeve cardigan with it, along with studded wedges on her feet. Around her neck, she wore a gold-toned layered chain that she got in New York, with arrow stud earrings, and a double triangle Pyramid ring on her right thumb. Over her left shoulder, she carried a Tory Burch messenger bag that matched perfectly with her outfit. Lastly, her make-up was tastefully and lightly applied to give her features a subtle glow, especially since she'd be out in the sunlight.
Her cheeks darkened slightly with a blush, and she suddenly found the ground interesting. "Thank you," she quietly said. "Can we please just go now? You're embarrassing me."
Chuckling, he didn't bother to comment further, knowing time was slipping by. "Right," he said, lightly grabbing her hand, "Come on. I haven't seen anyone yet, but that doesn't mean they won't come up here to check on you soon."
The two quietly crept through the upstairs, making their way as quietly as possible down to the main floor. They paused several times when the floor would creak under their weight but didn't otherwise get stopped by anyone. When they were close to the living room, Ross held a finger to his lips, silently signaling to Laura that they needed to be extra stealthy.
Finally, he led her to the front door. Once they were safely outside, the door softly closed behind them, they breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh man, that was nerve-wracking," Ross said, sighing again to add emphasis.
Laura nodded in agreement, her free hand placed over her rapidly beating heart. "You can say that again."
"Oh man, that was nerve-wracking."
Shaking her head, she softly laughed. "I didn't mean for you to actually repeat it, but hey – it deserves to be said twice."
"Definitely," he agreed. "Now, let's get the hell out of here before someone spots us."
SP*SP*SP
Sitting in a little café they had been to a few times, Ross carefully watched Laura as she glanced through the menu to see what she wanted. "So, what's up with you and Riker?" he casually asked, figuring that getting straight to the point would be better than drawing it out. Besides, he knew if he didn't ask now there was no guarantee he would later.
Laura froze, the menu's words starting to blur together as her mind processed Ross's question like molasses. Without looking up, she replied, "What?"
"What's up with you and Riker?" he patiently repeated. "You two have been walking on eggshells around each other. I get the feeling that something happened…" He paused as things started clicking within his brain. "Does it have anything to do with your sudden collapse?"
She swallowed hard, but still wouldn't bring her gaze up to meet his. "I don't know what you're talking about, Ross…"
"Don't lie to me."
Laura flinched, biting her bottom lip. There was no point in lying to him, was there? Ross had always been able to read her like a book. "He saw the article about me and Harry. He was upset that I lied to him about being in a meeting with Neo when I was really showing Harry around LA," she quietly said, guilt coloring her tone.
Ross's expression softened with sympathy. He could only imagine how hurt Riker must have felt about Laura lying to him. Hell, Ross was upset too, but he understood. Laura was the type of person to lie in order to save someone else's feelings. A perfect example was her 'relationship' with the younger teen.
"I read the article," he softly admitted, "They didn't exactly paint a nice picture about your friendship with Harry or about you and Riker. I mean, they basically wanted you to cheat on Riker with Harry."
"Well, they did get one thing right: I am cheating on Riker. It's just not with the person they think."
The blonde bit the inside of his cheek. He'd put her in that position, but he couldn't do anything about it now. He loved her, she loved him. There was nothing that could change their feelings, except when Laura broke things off while on vacation. But he was fixing things between them, and he'd have her back in his arms before either knew what happened. It would just take time, which is what she needed most right now, especially since that magazine article came out and caused the first rift in her and Riker's relationship.
I mean, who does that? He wondered, furrowing his brow. At least I don't want to ruin what they have, but that magazine is practically encouraging infidelity.
Of course, he couldn't exactly complain. Sure, he wanted Laura in ways that were anything but friendly, but he had morals. He loved her and he loved his brother. He wanted their relationship to work. He wanted them to stay together forever. Heck, he would do anything to make sure they were happy, especially Laura. A love like that was rare and should be cherished, protected.
In a way, Ross was Laura and Riker's personal cupid. Someone to guard and defend their love in any way he could.
The only thing he wanted in return was to secretly date Laura without anyone prying into their business or openly questioning their relationship.
Now, however, thanks to RumorHasIt, Ross needed to do damage control instead of furthering his romantic tendencies with the petite brunette across from him. It was okay, though. He would win her heart all over again if he had to. He still had a few tricks up his sleeve. Besides, he knew she would never be completely happy until she was back in Riker's arms, and vice versa. The two had been in love for so long Ross wouldn't be surprised if they couldn't function without each other. Not normally, anyway. If Laura was distracted with thoughts of possibly losing Riker, Ross's chances would become even slimmer than it was currently. He definitely didn't want that.
After the waiter came and took their orders, leaving the two alone once more, Ross decided to gently ask, "So, what do you plan on doing now?"
Laura's eyes watered and she bit her bottom lip so hard it was surprising it didn't start bleeding. "I…" She paused, swallowing thickly. "I think… I think I'm going to break up with Riker…"
SP*SP*SP
Riker sat at the dining room table, his gaze locked on his phone's screen as he read the text message Ross had sent him not too long ago.
Hey – I took Laura out for the afternoon, so don't worry if you can't find her (or me). She seemed like she needed some air. We'll be home for dinner!
Needed some air? What was that supposed to mean? Was Ross suggesting that Riker was suffocating his own girlfriend? Riker just wanted to prove that he cared, that's all…
But maybe I was being overbearing? His mind questioned, insecure. Hell, the blonde bassist was insecure about a lot of things lately, not just on how to take care of Laura while she was recovering from her sudden collapse. And, God, didn't that thought give him the chills?
He didn't want to be insecure. He didn't want to be jealous about other guys who hang out with Laura. He didn't want to take out his frustrations on the petite brunette again.
He never wanted to do that again. Never.
Sighing heavily, Riker placed his iPhone down and pinched the bridge of his nose. During Laura's forced vacation (because, really, what else would a person call it?) he could tell things were different between them. It was like walking on eggshells or carefully picking his way through a minefield, not sure when his next step will blow up in his face (literally or figuratively).
He just didn't want to start another argument with her. He didn't want to upset her. He just wanted things to go back to how it was before RumorHasIt printed that article and turned their lives topsy-turvy. Was that too much to ask?
By the way things are now, yeah, maybe, he concluded, a troubled expression appearing on his handsome face. Hell, he wouldn't be surprised if Laura thought their relationship was falling apart right before her eyes. If I was honest, I feel the same way.
God, what if she was planning on breaking up with him? Or what if she thought he was going to break up with her?
Calm down, Riker, his mind rationalized, this is only our first fight. Couples have stayed together through way more arguments than this – and they're usually more serious than a stupid rumor that someone else started.
"Whoa, someone looks like his puppy got kicked or something," Rocky's voice pierced through Riker's thoughts. The blonde snapped his attention onto his younger brother. "Penny for your thoughts, bro?"
Without thinking, Riker blurted out, "What if Laura breaks up with me?" After the words left his mouth, he clamped his lips shut. He hadn't meant for that to come out. He was grateful, however, that his mother and/or Rydel hadn't been around to hear that. They would have asked too many questions, ones he wasn't ready to answer or think about.
Rocky blinked, shocked. "Okay, that was more than a penny's worth," he slowly said. Taking the seat across from the older boy, he added, "Run that by me one more time."
He didn't see any other option, so, with a sigh, Riker repeated his question, "What if Laura breaks up with me? I mean, I can't exactly blame her, especially after what I did…"
The tall brunette held up a hand, halting anymore words from spilling out. "Whoa, whoa," he said, "You can't be serious, Riker. If I know anything about Laura, she'd never blame you for anything." His eyes squinted thoughtfully. "Wait, what did you do?"
"On the night she collapsed… I was throwing these awful accusations at her because of a stupid magazine article. I was upset and overreacted when I shouldn't have. I know Laura would never cheat on me, let alone lie for a bad reason, but I still…"
Rocky leaned back in his seat. "Oh, so that's why she fainted," he muttered. "I just thought it happened because she was pushing herself too much." Leaning forward once more, he locked gazes with Riker. "Hey, you can't blame yourself for that. For all you know, she collapsed because of stress from working a lot. She's been very busy lately, same as you."
"That doesn't make what I did okay, Rocky," the blonde protested, fists clenching on the tabletop.
The younger Lynch sibling sighed, not sure how to help. "Look," he tried, going for a new approach, "Couples fight all the time. This is the first disagreement between you and Laura, so of course things will be different. But this can also make you guys stronger, and you'll handle your next fight better." On the other hand, it could backfire and be the end of Riaura, but it wasn't like Rocky would mention that. For one thing, it was highly unlikely.
Riker rolled his eyes. "Oh God, we're going to end up fighting again?"
Rocky chuckled at the blonde's expression. He playfully shrugged. "Hey, at least the make-up sex will be good," he cheekily said, winking. He should know – He and his ex-girlfriend Hannah were practically experts in that specific field. But that part of his life had been done for a while now, and he was happy with Maia. Extremely happy, actually. There was no point in digging up the past.
Riker rolled his eyes again, but the corners of his lips twitched with amusement. "Don't talk about my sex life," he lightly admonished. "If mom overhears you, I'm dead."
"And if that happens, how will you make up with Laura, right?"
Nodding, he agreed, "Exactly." Hesitating slightly, he brought them back to the main topic. "So, what should I do if Laura wants to break up?"
"Do you wanna break up with her?"
Riker instantly shook his head. "No. Hell no."
Rocky grinned deviously. "Well, you two have been together for years now – I'm sure you know her better than anyone, Riker. You'll know what would win her back."
Thinking over the past few years, their relationship, their current problem, and Rocky's words throughout the conversation, the blonde bassist slowly grinned. His eyes shined with a confidence that had been absent the last few days.
"I have the perfect idea."
SP*SP*SP
After Laura dropped the bomb about her impending break-up with Riker, Ross didn't know what to say for the entire meal. They ate in silence, the only sound coming from the clanking of their utensils and jaws working to chew the suddenly tasteless food. He honestly didn't know what to do to make things right; what to say to change her mind. This was entirely new territory. Laura had never stated her intention to break up with Riker before, and it had Ross worried. Really worried.
After their dishes were taken away and the bill was paid for (by Ross, of course), the two exited the café to walk along Venice beach and its many attractions. It looked mostly tourist-based, but they still liked glancing at the stalls and shops.
Finally remembering how to use his vocal chords, Ross chocked out, "Why?" Too bad it was only a little of what he wanted to express, but it summed up pretty much everything else.
Laura stopped walking to glance at the blonde. "I can't keep cheating on him," she softly explained, eyes sad. "Not after what happened with the article. I felt bad already about practically sleeping with you this past year, but I broke things off. Now…" She hesitated, swallowing thickly. "Now, I have to let Riker go, too. It's only fair."
Suddenly angry, Ross harshly said, "Why? Because it's what he deserves? What we deserve?" That particular part of the text conversation while she was in Canada still burned a hole in his stomach, it made him so angry. Why couldn't Laura see that he just wanted to be with her, no matter the consequences? Ross was positive Riker felt the same way, too. So, why? Why does she continue to be this self-sacrificing person? Why couldn't she be selfish, just this once?
When she opened her mouth to protest, Ross held up a hand. Her lips pressed together, but she held her tongue as she waited to see what else he would say.
"Can you honestly look me in the eye and say you'd be okay with me dating other girls?" he quietly asked, shaggy bangs covering his eyes to hide his expression from her. His heartbreaking tone, however, was enough, and the brunette had to hold herself back from hugging him. "Can you honestly look Riker in the eye and say you don't love him? That he can just date some other girl? Can you, Laura?"
She flinched at the thought of either blonde dating someone that wasn't her. It nearly broke her heart, in fact. But she knew she had to be strong. It was the right thing to do.
"That's just cruel, Ross," she softly said, biting her bottom lip. "How can you say such mean things to me when I'm just trying to show you that you deserve a girl who can love you? One who doesn't have to hide her relationship with you? God, I don't deserve a guy like Riker either, especially when I'm cheating on him with his younger brother."
Ross ran his fingers through his bangs, blowing a breath out forcefully to keep from yelling in frustration. "Do you know how messed up that sounds, Laura? You make it sound like you deserve to be unhappy."
"Maybe I do," she retorted, becoming defensive. "After everything that I've done – Yeah, I do deserve it!"
"No, you don't," he snapped, eyes narrowed angrily on the petite brunette. "Damn it, how can you even think of yourself like that?"
"Well, it's true, isn't it." It came out as more of a statement than a question.
Knowing their raised voices would begin to catch other people's attention, the blonde teen grit his teeth as he grabbed Laura's hand and practically dragged her to somewhere more secluded. He ignored her protests of his treatment, eyes scanning Venice beach to find a good spot to finish their discussion. He didn't know what had gotten into her, but this current Laura wasn't the one he'd fallen in love with. No, his Laura was stronger than this; less likely to back down so easily. He just had to find her and bring her back out.
For the sake of his relationship with her, as well as Riker's, he would do anything to accomplish that. There was no other option.
SP*SP*SP
Laura released a startled squeak as her body made contact with the soft sand. Stunned, wide eyes watched as Ross quickly followed her descent, his more muscled frame caging her against the grainy surface. She fell back completely when he leaned closer, breath ghosting over her lips as her body automatically molded to his warmth.
His name breathed past her lips a second before his mouth crashed against hers, silencing anything else she could have said. She gasped when his tongue instantly slipped inside her moist cavern, licking and teasing every crevice, like a man starved.
Lifting her hands to his chest, she pushed him to get off, but he captured her wrists and pinned them above her head. A whimper escaped, more from protest than actual panic or fear. This was Ross, after all. He'd never do anything to hurt her. Restrain her, yes, but not physically hurt her.
Breaking the kiss, the two panted as they stared into each other's eyes, trying to see what type of mood the other was in. Ross could see that Laura was confused by his actions, bewildered even, but he didn't see anything discouraging. Yes, he had startled her with his little gesture, but she wasn't exactly complaining about it either. If she did, he had no doubt that she'd be screaming bloody-murder at him. She may be small and fragile-looking, but she had an excellent pair of lungs, especially when she got mad enough (and they were in a deserted part of the beach with no witnesses).
As it stood, however, the blonde felt confident that she was turning into the old Laura again, the one who would fight and not give in; the one that would do anything to keep her relationship with Riker intact, no matter what Ross (or anyone else) did or said.
"Tell me to stop kissing you," he whispered, never once breaking eye contact with the petite brunette. "Tell me to stop kissing you… And, I swear, I will never kiss you again, Laura."
Her eyes widened, shocked. "W-What?"
"You broke things off with me while you were in Canada. I understood – I didn't agree – but I understood your reasons. But, damn it, you're talking about breaking up with Riker. I already knew what your vacation could mean for us, but the last thing I want is for you to end things with him over something as stupid as a false rumor."
Tears gathered in her eyes, and Ross's gaze softened. "But they are true, Ross. Maybe not completely, but I've been cheating on Riker for the past year, whether he knew about it or not."
Laying his forehead against hers, he said, "You love him, right?"
"More than anything," she instantly replied.
"And you love me, too, right?"
"Yes," she quietly answered. "More than I thought possible."
Warmth filled his chest at her confession, but he had to stay focused. This conversation was too important – it held the balance between absolute happiness (for two guys and one very special young woman) and great despair.
He placed a kiss at the corner of her mouth. It was an affectionate gesture that twitched his lips upward. "Then trust me. I can make this all work, Laura – for us, for you and Riker."
"How?" she sniffled. "I already know what you did between Rocky and Maia. You got them together so that Rocky wouldn't suspect what we're doing behind Riker's back. That wasn't exactly nice, Ross, considering your motives behind it." It wasn't too difficult to figure out, especially when Rocky and Maia started posting things about their new relationship. The timing had been a little too perfect for Laura's peace of mind, but it wasn't like she stopped Ross from his plans either.
Since Laura was being cooperative about talking things out, Ross sat up and brought her up too. They sat facing each other with Laura's legs tucked underneath her while he sat Indian-style for comfort's sake. He made sure they were close enough that their legs touched, but otherwise didn't have any physical contact.
Sighing, he explained, "I know it looks bad, but it isn't. When I first met Maia, she told me about how she liked R5; in particular, Rocky. But she was dating someone at the time, so it wasn't like she could act on her feelings, you know?"
The petite brunette nodded, listening closely to everything the blonde was saying. Despite the events that occurred in the past, she didn't think he would lie to her, so she believed him. Maybe she was being too trustworthy, but why else would he be telling her all of this now? Besides, she knew Maia. Maia was too sweet-natured to go along with a plan if it meant hurting someone else.
"Maia and her boyfriend broke up a while ago, and it wasn't like Rocky was dating anyone either. I knew if I didn't act now, I would miss the opportunity to set up two people who were practically meant for each other, like you and Riker. I knew Maia would eventually approach Rocky – I just decided to speed things up since you went to Canada, and I didn't want Rocky snooping around when you got back." Releasing a sigh, he concluded, "That's it, Laura. I swear."
Laura took a few moments to process everything he'd just told her, her mind whirling with thoughts and feelings that almost made her dizzy. Worst case scenario, she thought Ross had mindlessly thrown Maia and Rocky together, hoping something would happen, thus the latter would be distracted. But it turned out that the Australian actress had a 'celebrity crush' on the tall brunette before she had even met him. Needless to say, processing this new information and everything that had happened since the Canada trip was a bit overwhelming.
"So," she slowly said, catching Ross's attention, "You didn't just throw them together and hope for the best?"
Ross scoffed, "Geez, you make me sound so heartless. Of course I didn't do that!"
"Well, I just want to be sure," she retorted, pouting. "You can't blame me for that."
Running a hand through his hair, he relented, "Yeah, okay. It did look pretty bad from your perspective." Straightening his shoulders, he gave his companion a narrowed-eye look. "But, are you still gonna break up with Riker?" And where, exactly, did he stand with her? It seemed a little risky to ask her that, however, so he held the words back. Right now, he had to save the older blonde's relationship.
Slim fingers playing with her dress's cotton material, her gaze darted down to stare at her lap. "I don't want to," she whispered, "I don't want to break up with either of you."
"Then don't," he replied simply, like it was the easiest thing in the world. To him, it was.
"But it's not that easy…"
Ross shrugged. "Of course it is." As if to prove his words, he leaned forward, hands on either side of her body, and pressed his lips against hers in a sweet kiss. Just as Laura started to kiss him back, he pulled away. Smirking, he teased, "See? You're just over thinking things. You should stop that, and just do what you want to do. Don't worry about anyone or anything – I'll take care of it."
By the expression on her face, he knew she was going to protest some more, so, when she opened her mouth, he silenced her again with a kiss. This one, however, was slow and sensual; meant to seduce and singe her senses. Hell, it heated his blood enough that smoke should have been pouring out of his ears by the time he pulled away.
"My proposition still stands, Laura," he quietly breathed against her swollen lips, eyes connected with her dazed, half-lidded ones, "Tell me to stop kissing you – and I will. I'll never kiss you again if you say it."
Laura licked her lips, torn with indecision. Never kiss Ross again? She should be agreeing to his offer, yet she hesitated. Never kiss Ross again? The thought seemed to echo in her mind, refusing to leave until she understood the whole meaning behind them.
In the few seconds it took her to make her decision, her thoughts traveled to the past year with the blonde teen. All those nights spent doing their 'sessions', his hands and mouth all over her. The reluctant pleasure he could draw from her body, how it left her sated but guilt-ridden. Yes, it wasn't conventional and yes, she should be running in the opposite direction from him, but she couldn't discount how gentle he'd been during those times, too. Even though he would tie her up sometimes, she never left his room with marks on her wrists. The only marks he gave her were the light hickies, and those had stopped a while ago.
Ross had always kept his word, too. He never lied to her and, while he had put her into stressful situations, like the time Riker almost caught them in Vegas, he never did it out of cruelty. If anything, she would silently acknowledge that it had hyped her up, made her burn hotter for him.
Then, there were the times when she finally admitted (although only to herself) about her growing feelings for Ross. Those couldn't be ignored, especially when one considers the 'relationship' she had with him. They were best friends, too, and best friends tended to fall for each other, like the stereotype dictates. Of course, the same could be applied to Riker, but that wasn't the point.
Finally, her vacation to Canada had been a rather major turning point for her. She had thought that Ross had set up Rocky and Maia for his own reasons, but he'd proven her wrong by explaining the situation. While her guilt over cheating on Riker had been the main reason to break up with Ross, she had to think about the magazine article that surfaced soon after her trip. What she was doing had fully hit her right then, especially when Riker confronted her about it. She could still see his expression when he thought she was cheating on him with Harry – What would his expression be if or when he found out she was seeing Ross, his own brother, behind his back?
God, she couldn't imagine the type of pain he would feel if he ever found out.
But Ross said he would take care of it; he would never allow anyone to find out about him and Laura. She could go on living her fairy tale romance with Riker, and still keep Ross with her, too. Isn't that what he did with Rocky, though the motive was more like killing two birds with one stone?
Regardless of how someone put it, Ross had kept his word. He had taken care of a situation Laura, herself, hadn't been aware of, and in a way that everyone won. Rocky was happy with Maia, and all Laura had to do was reach out and keep the two blondes who had captured her heart by not saying anything to Riker and accepting Ross's proposition.
So, in the few seconds it took her to make her decision, she already knew the answer.
"Kiss me," she whispered.
With a tender smile, he replied, "With pleasure." Then, he leaned in and captured her lips once more, their bodies falling back until they made contact with the soft sand.
SP*SP*SP
After spending the afternoon with Ross and having talked about her current situation, Laura felt she had jumped the gun, so to speak, concerning her relationship with Riker. I mean, I thought breaking up with him would be a good thing. What was I thinking? Easy – She hadn't been thinking, so it was a good thing that Ross had snapped her out of it. Maybe he could have done it differently, but it worked, so she couldn't complain about that, now, could she?
Besides, thanks to Ross, her relationship with Riker had been saved. She could go on being happy with him, and she could secretly date Ross on the side. It was far from ethical, not to mention conventional, but she couldn't help how she felt. She'd just take things one day at a time, and not worry about what tomorrow would bring until it actually happened.
Who knows? Maybe her 'new' outlook on life would be beneficial. It certainly couldn't hurt. At least, she hoped so.
Dinner was uneventful, though Laura raised a questioning brow when she noticed that Riker wasn't sitting at the table with everyone else. When she asked about his whereabouts, Rocky had given her a vague answer about how he was working on something important. He wouldn't specify what the 'something' was, but she figured it involved Glee, so left it at that.
After dinner, Ratliff decided to return home, seeing as how Laura was doing better and didn't need everyone babysitting her anymore. Rocky announced his intention of grabbing some dessert with Maia, who was working late at ABC studios, which left the remaining Lynch siblings fighting over what to watch on TV.
Laura, on the other hand, snuck into the basement with her personal keyboard and journal. The past few days had been more than eventful. Music and writing out everything always soothed her. Besides, Neo would be thrilled about her having a new song to offer her record label (when he allowed her back to work, anyway), so she didn't see the harm on working on a new song.
Setting up her keyboard was easy and familiar, like riding a bike. She hadn't used the instrument in a long time, but it still played like a dream and sounded as melodious as ever. Smiling, her fingers began to play a melody she could only hear in her head.
"…Do you remember, we were sitting there by the water? … You put your arm around me for the first time…" she hummed, a small smile appearing on her face. "You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter… You are the best thing that's ever been mine."
Her fingers paused over the keys. Her smile grew a little bigger, then she reached for her journal to write down the notes and lyrics she could practically see forming in her mind. This would be one of her greatest songs to-date.
SP*SP*SP
Riker hadn't known it had gotten so late. He'd been too busy preparing his little surprise for Laura to glance at a clock, but now he sort of wished he had. But it was too late for that (in more ways than one), and he was too eager to show her what he had done. Besides, he was hyped enough that coffee would be jealous. He wouldn't be able to sleep even if someone shot him with a sleeping dart.
After a slight panic attack when he couldn't find her in her room, the blonde bassist knew the petite brunette could only be in one place, especially after he noticed her missing keyboard. The basement. The sound-proof room was the perfect hiding spot for someone to work on music, considering how late it was.
Quietly walking through the house, Riker made his way down the stairs that led to the lowest level. The door was closed, but it wasn't like it had a lock, so he didn't worry about being denied access. With a simple twist of his wrist, he silently closed the door behind him and continued downward. By the sounds he was picking up, Laura was, indeed, working on a song. And it sounded amazing, if he was a judge of good music.
Mine:
"Uh, oh, oh
Uh, oh, oh
You were in college working part time waiting tables
Left a small town, never looked back
I was a flight risk with a fear of fallin'
Wondering why we bother with love if it never lasts"
Riker stopped on the last step, chocolate eyes glued to the form of his girlfriend as she played the keyboard like a classic piano. Her eyes were closed, so she had yet to notice his presence. It was okay, though. He loved watching her perform, whether it was in front of a crowd or not.
"I say "Can you believe it?
As we're lying on the couch?"
The moment I can see it.
Yes, yes, I can see it now.
Do you remember, we were sitting there by the water?
You put your arm around me for the first time.
You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter.
You are the best thing that's ever been mine."
Laura concentrated on the lyrics she had spent the last few hours writing and perfecting. It spoke mostly about a break-up song, but she was just happy her own relationship was still intact. Her heart always swelled with love when she thought about Riker (and now Ross). She didn't know what she would do without him.
"Flash forward and we're taking on the world together,
And there's a drawer of my things at your place.
You learn my secrets and you figure out why I'm guarded,
You say we'll never make my parents' mistakes.
But we got bills to pay,
We got nothing figured out,
When it was hard to take,
Yes, yes, this is what I thought about.
Do you remember, we were sitting there by the water?
You put your arm around me for the first time
You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine."
Riker leaned against the nearest wall as he continued to watch her sing and play. Her voice sounded amazing, like an angel. He wished he could listen to her all the time.
However, he frowned softly as he listened to the lyrics. If he didn't know better, he'd swear this was a break-up song or at least something close to it.
It made him uneasy, but it wasn't like he was letting Laura go without a fight. Hell no. They had too much history between them to simply throw it away because of a little argument and a stupid rumor. He liked to think they were made of tougher stuff than that.
"Do you remember all the city lights on the water?
You saw me start to believe for the first time
You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine.
Oh, oh, oh, oh
And I remember that fight
Two-thirty AM
As everything was slipping right out of our hands
I ran out crying and you followed me out into the street
Braced myself for the "Goodbye."
'Cause that's all I've ever known
Then you took me by surprise
You said, "I'll never leave you alone."
You said, "I remember how we felt sitting by the water.
And every time I look at you, it's like the first time.
I fell in love with a careless man's careful daughter.
She is the best thing that's ever been mine."
Hold on, make it last
Hold on, never turn back"
She started to slow the beat down, making it sound more soulful and less Pop-ish. Her voice even changed its tone, becoming stronger and more concentrated on her own emotions. It was truly a sight to see, and Riker had a front row seat to all of it. It took his breath away.
"You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine.
Do you believe it?
We're gonna make it now.
And I can see it,
I can see it now."
The song came to an end, and Laura trailed off the melody with a small smile on her beautiful features. Opening her eyes, she gazed affectionately at the keys before pressing the Record button, the little red light instantly turning dark. Neo would be happy once she showed him her newest piece.
Suddenly, someone clapping had her attention snapping upward, surprised. She hadn't noticed anyone sneak into the basement. Her focus had been entirely on her performance.
"Riker…" she breathed out, laying a slender hand over her fast-pumping heart. "Gosh, you scared me. I didn't hear you come down."
He sheepishly rubbed the nape of his neck. "Sorry about that," he apologized. Then, walking closer to her, he inquired, "New song?" He wouldn't ask about the meaning behind the lyrics. He may be ready to fight for their relationship (if it came to that), but there were some things a guy just didn't want to hear from their girlfriend.
Laura beamed. His shoulders relaxed, taking that as a good sign. "Yup," she chirped. "As bad as it sounds, I was inspired by what we were going through." She hesitated for a second but continued. "You know, with RumorHasIt and all that? It made me think about losing you, and well…" She weakly waved a hand at her keyboard. "That's what came out."
"Well, I'm happy you got something out of this experience," he sincerely said, smiling warmly. Grabbing her hand, he gently pulled until she got the hint and walked around her keyboard to stand in front of him. "I want to show you something, Laura. You're not the only one who was inspired by this."
She blinked. "Really? What do you wanna show me?"
"It's a surprise."
As he lead her up to the main floor, hands still clasped, the petite brunette couldn't help but notice how dark the house was. Had she been down there that long?
"Geez, what time is it, Riker?" She made sure her voice was soft, not wishing to disturb the other occupants. She would feel incredibly guilty if she woke up anyone, especially since everyone had taken such good care of her during her forced vacation.
Which reminds me, she thought, frowning softly, I need to talk to Neo about that. Everyone was treating me like I hadn't just gone on vacation to Canada. Seriously, I could have still worked! But that was neither here nor there. Right now, she really wanted to find out where Riker was taking her.
Said blonde bassist pulled out his iPhone to check the time. He chuckled quietly. "It's two-thirty AM," he answered, clearly amused.
"Oh," she murmured, holding back a giggle. How ironic.
Riker continued to lead her, knowing exactly where to step even though it was practically pitch-black in the house. Coming up to the glass door that would lead outside, to the pool, he opened it quietly and led her outside. From there, he led her further down the path that would take them to the beach. It was a little trickier to maneuver, but he made sure she didn't fall or stumble.
"Seriously, Riker, where are you taking me?" she asked, thoroughly confused.
He didn't respond for several minutes, their bare feet sinking into the sand as they walked, the sound of waves crashing in the background, but he finally stopped in front of a cabana that was mostly set up for tourists.
"We're here."
Until*Next*Time
Did I worry anyone about Laura breaking up with Riker? What about Ross?
Thank you for reading! Please leave a review at the bottom (:
~babydoll92