Chapter 12

Riker POV

I looked at what Rocky was holding. It was a giant rock, with a note rubber banded to it, and I could see it was from Dylan.

"Read it," Riley said, taking my hand.

Rocky took the note off, and slowly read it to us.

"I figured out which room is yours. Make sure you say goodbye to Riley for me. ~ Dylan."

"You just found this in our room?" I asked.

"Well yeah, but the window was broken, so he obviously threw it in the window."

"Do mom and dad know about it yet?"

"No."

"Don't tell them."

"Why?"

"I don't want them to be scared. We have the situation under control. I don't even sleep there anymore. I sleep at Riley's. And since you found that rock, Dylan obviously doesn't know that."

"Yeah, but I sleep in there!"

"Ok, well Ellington currently has his own room since he's just staying with us for a little while. Go move in with him."

"Ok."

Rocky left, and I realized Riley was still holding onto my hand really tight.

"Riley, everything's going to be fine."

"He's threatening you. He's going to hurt you, Riker!"

"No, he's not. Now come on. We should clean up from dinner, and go do something to take your mind off of this."

"Riker, do you know what this means, though?"

"What?"

"He's been around here! He's been around our houses! He's been on our property, and he could be out there right now for all we know!"

"Riley, I need you to calm down. We don't need to start stuff like this again. Just breathe for a minute."

I pulled Riley close to me, and she calmed down.

"Ok, I'll clean up from dinner. You just stay there and relax."

"On the floor?"

"We've been sitting on the floor all day, you know."

"I know…"

I cleaned up from dinner, took Riley's hand, and pulled her back to her room. Riley went to the window, and looked outside for a few minutes. I sat down next to her on the ground while she was still looking out there.

"Riley?"

"Yeah?"

"Why do you always look outside?"

"Because I want to see Dylan."

"Why would you want to see him?"

"Because I don't know where he is, and at least if I saw him, I'd know where he was. Ugh! I should've just gone, that night! Now you're in danger!"

"Riley, no! You shouldn't have gone! I don't care that I'm in danger! I'm with you, and that's all that matters!"

"I wish I believed that…"

"Riley, come on. Stop looking out there. Let's talk about something."

"Like what?"

"Like why you were crying last night."

"Oh… I had a nightmare."

"Why didn't you just tell me?"

"Because it was about you getting killed, and I was upset, and I was mad, and… I just didn't even know what to do!"

"Riley, even if we fight, I'll still comfort you if you have a nightmare."

"Then why didn't you, last night?"

"Because you were acting like you hated me! I wasn't sure if I should, or if that would just make you even madder. But now that we've talked about it, I'll definitely comfort you if this happens again."

"I just hate fighting with you… I love you so much, and I hate being mad at you! I don't know why we keep having so many fights! No, I do know why. You keep making stupid mistakes, and I keep overreacting."

"Ok, so I'll try to be more careful and sensitive, and you try to listen to me when I tell you you're overreacting."

"I guess…"

"Riley, I hate fighting with you too. It breaks my heart. So we need to try not to. Ok?"

"I'll do my best. But you know, I'm kind of stressed out right now with my ex trying to kill both of us!"

"I know. I know it's been really hard on you, and I'm sorry you've had to go through all of this. Your life has been anything but normal."

"And I don't understand why you still want to be my boyfriend after all of this!"

"Riley, I love you. And I wouldn't trade this for anything."

Riley smiled.

"Ok, let's do something. I'm thinking about Dylan again," Riley said.

"How about truth or dare?"

"Ok, but nothing gross, nothing scary, and there's no way I'm going outside now that… well you know what just happened…"

"Alright. Truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"I dare you to… go ask Shane if he has a girlfriend."

"Riker, I'm not doing that!"

"It's your dare! You have to!"

"That's so wrong!"

"Why?"

"Because it just is! It's like asking a teacher if they're married. You just don't do it!"

"Alright, fine. I dare you to… lick the plate Rocky brought over that had my dinner on it."

"I have to lick it?"

"Yeah."

"But you… ate off it."

"So? It's your dare."

"But that's disgusting!"

"I don't care! You have to do this! There's no reason, other than you don't want to, that you shouldn't do it!"

Riley slowly picked up the plate. She kept looking back and forth between me and the plate. Out of nowhere, she licked it, and then threw the plate down at her carpet.

"UGH! That's disgusting!"

I laughed.

"Alright Riker. Truth or dare?"

"Well after that, I think I better pick truth."

Riley rolled her eyes.

"Scaredy cat."

"I am not!"

Riley sighed.

"Alright. Your truth is… if you could turn back time, and change the past, would you change it so you never met me? And you have to be honest."

"Riley, I'd never change the past."

"Why?"

"Because I love you!"

"But what about everything that's happened? I almost died twice, you got stabbed that one night, and now Dylan's practically stalking us!"

"Riley, I don't care. It's all worth it, and I'd do it again if it meant I got to be with you."

I pulled Riley onto my lap, and held her tight in my arms.

"I love you so much, Riley," I whispered.

"I love you too."

"Ok, truth or dare?"

"Truth."

Riley was still holding on around my neck. I figured she just didn't want to move.

"Ooh! I have a good one! You're totally going to hate me after this!"

Riley pulled away, and looked me in the eyes.

"I better not."

"Uh… Ok, so this is your question."

"Riker. Don't be stupid about this."

"I asked this one time, and you wouldn't answer."

"Riker, I'm seriously warning you."

"But now you have to answer it."

"Riker."

"Do you still have feelings for Dylan, yes or no?"