Chapter 8

Riker POV

I had just finished telling Riley's parents everything that happened. I also told them I wanted to pay for Riley's bodyguard, and they finally agreed. For the rest of the night, Riley's parents were online looking for a bodyguard for Riley. Riley and I just hung out in her room.

"What's going to happen now?" Riley asked.

"Now, your parents are picking out a bodyguard. He'll probably wait outside your door at night. He'll protect you no matter what."

"But what about you!? Dylan said that if I didn't come, he'd hurt you!"

I sighed.

"I don't know, Riley."

Riley crawled onto my lap, and hugged me.

"I could never live without you, Riker. We need to make sure the bodyguard protects both of us, ok?"

"We'll have to be together all the time, then."

"Isn't it perfect!?"

"Yeah…"

"What's wrong?"

"Riley, am I still your boyfriend or not? I know I didn't talk to you until I got home, and I dragged you to the party, and the whole thing with the article, but I love you more than anything! If I'm here 24/7 because of the whole bodyguard thing, it's going to kill me inside if I'm not your boyfriend."

Riley looked into my eyes.

"Riker Lynch, you will always be my boyfriend."

I squeezed Riley super tight. I loved her more than anything in the whole world. Tomorrow was going to be exciting. We were getting a bodyguard, and going against Dylan's wishes. I was honestly really scared.

"Sleepover?"

"Sure."

Riley and I put on another movie, and fell asleep to it.

Morning…

Riker POV

I went back to my house so I could shower and get dressed. I also packed some things in a bag since I would be staying with Riley until things were under control with Dylan.

I walked over to Riley's. She was standing in the kitchen when I got there. I walked over and kissed her. But not for very long. Before I knew what was even happening, I was on the ground with someone on top of me.

"Get off! That's Riker! You're protecting him too!" Riley shouted.

Our new bodyguard got off of me. I got up and stood behind Riley.

"Riker, this is Shane, our bodyguard."

"Nice to meet you Shane…"

"Why'd you bring a bag?"

"Because I'm staying with you."

"I know but your house is right there."

"Well I'm not taking any chances, just like when you were hiding in the closet."

"Ok."

Riley pulled me into her room. Shane followed us, and stood against her door after we went inside. This was going to be a weird next couple of days.

"So what do you want to do today?" Riley asked.

"I don't know. It's kind of hot out."

"Ok, we'll go swimming."

"Wait. I have a question. How is Shane going to stay up all day and all night every single day?"

"He's not. Shane's here during the day, and then his brother Rick's here at night."

"Ok, that makes sense."

"Come on, let's get changed so we can go swimming."

"Actually, I forgot my swimsuit at home."

"Ok, I'll change, and then we'll go over to your house."

"Alright."

Riley changed, and then she, I, and Shane went over to my house.

"Who's this?" Rocky asked.

"Rocky, this is our bodyguard, Shane. Shane, these are my siblings. Don't kill them please."

I ran upstairs to change. Shane stood halfway up the stairs, watching both me and Riley. This whole bodyguard thing was starting to be a little annoying, but we were safe, so that's all that really mattered.

Riley and I, and Shane, walked down to the beach.

"Riker?"

"Yeah?"

"You know how Dylan said to meet him tonight in the woods? And you told the police about that?"

"Yeah?"

"Well are they going to try to get him tonight in the woods?"

"Of course they are!"

"Ok."

Riley and I swam out to the raft. Shane stayed on the beach, so at least now Riley and I had some privacy to talk.

"So what do you think of Shane?" Riley asked.

"He's… Well he's good at protecting."

"Do you think he's annoying too?"

"Honestly, yeah…"

"Whatever… At least we're safe. I can deal with him following us around if it means that you're still here."

Riley kissed me. And I could feel my face getting hot.

"Riker…"

"What?"

"Why do you always turn red when I kiss you?"

"I don't know."

"I think you do know."

I looked over at Riley. She was staring straight at me.

"Do I have to answer that?" I asked.

"Well I'll tell you the same thing you told me. You don't have to do anything, but I would really appreciate it if you told me."

"I'll have to think about it…"

"You jerk! I told you when you said that!"

Riley pushed me off the raft.

"Should I be concerned about you two?" Shane called out to us.

"No, Shane! We're boyfriend and girlfriend! We mess around a lot!" Riley called back.

"Ok, just checking!" Shane yelled.

I pulled myself back up on the raft. Riley backed up to one of the corners.

"You pushed me in!"

I walked closer to Riley. She had her hands up in front of her. I went to push her backwards, off the raft, but she ducked, and I went flying into the water instead. I came up to the surface, coughing.

"Riley!"

"What?"

"I don't remember you being this sneaky when I first met you!"

"There's a lot of things you still don't know about me!"

Riley held out her hand to me, and helped me back up. I laid down on my back, trying to catch my breath from everything that just happened. Riley laid down next to me, and took my hand in hers.

"What don't I know about you yet?" I asked.

"I'm not telling until you answer that question!"

"What was the question again?"

"Why do you always turn red when I kiss you!? That's weird!"

I sighed.

"Riley, it's because I love you. I love you so much, and I don't know what I'd ever do without you. You make me feel amazing. I just love you."

Riley leaned in and kissed me.

"I love you too… I need to go to those woods tonight."

"Riley! I'm not letting you go!"

"But if I go, you'll be safe!"

"Riley, we have Shane. He'll keep us safe! You're not going!"

Riley just looked at me. She was thinking about something, and I didn't like it!

"Riley, would you do anything for me?"

"Yeah."

"Ok, well I don't want you to go tonight, ok?"

Riley didn't seem convinced.

"Riley, I don't want you to go, more than anything in the world. If you go, then I'm losing you forever."

I could tell Riley was still thinking about it. I was getting super annoyed. How could she even think of doing that!?

"Do you want to swim in, and go get lunch?" Riley asked.

"Sure…"

"What?"

"I don't want you going there tonight!"

"Ok, I won't."

I stared at Riley, trying to tell if she meant it or not.

"Riker, I won't go."

I sighed, and looked away. Riley took that opportunity to push me off the raft again. When I came back to the surface, Riley was already way ahead of me, swimming back to the shore.

We went back to her house, Shane following, and had some lunch.

Later that night…

Riker POV

It got later, and later. Riley kept looking at the clock. I knew she was still thinking about going, whether she was actually going to go or not. But I needed to make sure she wasn't.

We decided to go to bed around 10:30, but I had a suspicion that she wanted me to go to sleep so she could just sneak out and get herself killed. But I played along. I laid there in bed, pretending to be sleeping. I couldn't let myself fall asleep no matter what. But the room was dark, I was under soft blankets next to Riley, and I was so tired! I just closed my eyes for a second…

Later…

Riker POV

I woke up, and the first thing I thought of was Riley. I looked next to me, and she was gone! I looked at the clock, and it was almost 2:00. I got up, and opened her bedroom door. No Shane or Rick, whoever it was that was here at night. Oh no… She didn't…