Chapter 16

A Few Days Later…

Riker POV

It was the day before Riley's birthday, and she was acting like she was on pills again. She was going crazy, she couldn't sit still, she was constantly crying, and she was basically just a mess. I was sitting in the living room, watching Riley run from room to room, crying. She'd been doing this for almost 30 minutes now.

I hated seeing Riley like this. But I had no idea how to calm her down. To be honest, I was starting to freak out a little, and Riley definitely wasn't helping that. I got up as Riley walked to her bedroom. When she came walking back out a few seconds later, I grabbed her around her waist, picked her up, and sat her down on my lap on the couch.

She just looked at me, confused.

"Riley, I really need you to stop going crazy. At least sit still. I know you can't really control if you cry or not, but at least sit still! As the time keeps getting closer and closer to tomorrow, I'm starting to freak out a little. If you keep going nuts, I'm going to start crying, and freaking out. And I can't do that because if we're both a mess, then it'll be really hard for both of us to calm down again, and if we can't calm down, we might not get to bed at a reasonable time. And if we don't get enough sleep, we'll be tired, and that could hurt our chances of making it through tomorrow. Please, just try your hardest to calm down, ok?"

I gently wiped off Riley's face as she continued to stare at me.

"Riley?"

"Ok."

It was like a light switch or something. She was somehow calm. I didn't understand. But I didn't care. My girl was calm, and hopefully would stay that way for a while.

"Ok, well now that you're calm and stuff, I have to ask you a few questions."

"What?"

"Did you text Dylan?"

"No."

"Riley the police said you had to."

"I know. But I'm scared."

"Go get your phone."

The first part of the plan was that Riley was going to text Dylan. She was going to tell him how she couldn't take it anymore with him threatening me and stuff. So she was going to pretend like she was giving herself up to him. She would ask him where he wanted to meet, and then tomorrow, she'd go there. But we'd tell the police, and they'd be hiding there. We'd show up and meet Dylan. Riley was going to be wired so the police could record everything that was said. The plan was for us to talk to Dylan and get him to admit to what he said so we had evidence of everything, and then the police would capture him. That was at least what was supposed to happen. Whether it would or wouldn't, we were going to find out tomorrow…

Riley came back with her phone and sat down on my lap. I helped her figure out what exactly it was she was going to say to Dylan, and then we sent the text. We anxiously waited to see if he would text back or not. And finally, he did!

"What'd he say?" I asked.

"He wants to meet tomorrow night at 10:30."

"Where?"

"The woods of Cat Mountain. Like right by the parking lot."

"Ok. Did he want you to text him back or anything? Did he ask you anything?"

"No."

"Ok, then I'm going to call the police and tell them."

"Ok."

Later that night…

Riker POV

I was laying on the ground with Riley right next to me. We'd been laying there in silence for a little while. I knew she was thinking about tomorrow.

"Riley?"

"What?"

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"What time do you turn 18 tomorrow?"

"Not until 11:38 at night."

"Wow. So you might… Never mind…"

"I might not even make it to be 18. That's what you were going to say, right?"

"Uh… Yeah. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. I was already thinking it."

"Yeah… I figured. But I still didn't want to say it."

"Riker?"

"Yeah?"

"Where did you go, earlier?"

"What do you mean?"

"You said you needed to go somewhere after lunch. I watched you and Rocky get in your car and leave. You were gone for almost 3 hours!"

"Riley, it's not important."

"Riker, come on! Tell me!"

"How about, if we both make it tomorrow, I'll tell you after you turn 18."

"That's not fair! If me or you dies, then I'll never know!"

"If I die, Rocky will tell you. And if you die, it won't matter anyway."

"Riker, please tell me."

"I'll tell you tomorrow!"

"Wait. Were you getting me a birthday present? I told you I didn't want anything. Just for us to be safe."

"I'm not saying anything else about this."

"Riker, come on! But it's a birthday present, isn't it?"

"Riley, I'm not telling!"

"Ugh! Fine!"

At least arguing about this kept her mind off of tomorrow for a few minutes…

"Riley, it's getting kind of late. How about we get some sleep, ok?"

Silence… Ugh! We need our sleep!

"Riker?"

"What?"

"I'll go to sleep, but not yet."

"Why not?"

"I want to lay here with you for a little while, and I want you to make me feel safe, and I just want to be able to remember this in case something happens tomorrow."

I sighed. That was a good reason not to go to sleep yet.

"Ok, fine."

I got up and shut off the lights in her room. I laid down next to Riley, wrapped my arms around her, and pulled her close to me. Riley took one of my hands, and held onto it kind of tight.

"I'm so scared, Riker. What if something happens tomorrow?" Riley whispered.

I could tell by her voice, and the fact that she was shaking slightly, that she was crying again.

"Riley, everything is going to be ok."

"You don't know that."

"Riley, I need you to believe me. We'll have better chances if we believe we're going to be ok. We'll be more confident."

"Ok. I believe you. We'll be ok, we'll come back to my house, you'll stay the night, and you'll tell me where you were today."

"Uh… Ok, sure."

Riley sighed, and squeezed my hand even tighter.

"You're going to tell me tomorrow, aren't you?"

"If I'm… Never mind."

"You were going to say if you're still here."

"No, actually. I wasn't."

"What were you going to say?"

I was going to say, if I'm brave enough.

"Nothing. It doesn't matter anymore."

I could sense Riley getting annoyed, but I didn't really care right now. All I could think about was tomorrow. And how we needed to make it.

"Can we go to bed now?" I asked.

"Fine."

Riley and I moved apart a little bit, but she still held onto my hand, and I was glad.

I wouldn't let myself fall asleep until I was sure Riley was asleep. And surprisingly, she fell asleep pretty quickly.

Later that night…

Riker POV

Hopefully this was the last night Riley would have nightmares. I was currently holding Riley in my arms, trying to calm her down. Apparently, she had a nightmare about tomorrow, which was actually today, which is also her birthday!

"Riley?"

"What?"

"Happy birthday!"

Riley pushed me over, and I landed on a pillow.

"What was that for!?"

"Happy birthday? That's what you're thinking about right now?"

"Well it is your birthday!"

I sat back up, and realized Riley wasn't mad. She was actually smiling.

"Riker."

"What?"

"I love you so much."

I hugged Riley.

"I love you too."

Well at least I got her feeling better from her nightmare.

Morning…

Riker POV

Well this was it. Today was the day. Either this ends well, or it doesn't. And if it doesn't… I don't want to think about that…

I was sitting at the kitchen table with Riley eating pancakes her parents had made for us. They knew what we were doing today, and unlike Riley, they had complete faith in the police. And they should. The police totally know what they're doing, and Riley and I should trust them more. It's just hard because we know that there's a slight possibility things could go wrong. But hopefully it won't, we'll be fine, and I can make Riley's 18th birthday amazing.

But Riley was strangely calm. She seemed calmer than me actually. I was freaking out inside, but I was trying not to show it, because I knew I'd just get Riley going again.

After breakfast, Riley pulled me down to the docks. I knew she wanted to talk, but it wasn't about what I thought it was going to be…