Baby of the Family

Chapter 2 : Messing around

Chapter 2

The next day...  

Ryland POV

"Guys, wake up. Breakfast is ready," Rocky said, shaking me and Riker.

I sat up, still feeling super tired from being out so late last night.

"Riker, mom wants help setting the table," Rocky said.

"Ok," Riker said, getting up and leaving.

"Why did he sleep in your bed last night?" Rocky asked.

"Well you and Ross woke him up. You were being really loud. So he asked me about the party. And he was getting really tired, so he just sort of fell asleep."

"Ry, we need to be teaching him how to be more mature. He's the youngest. He can't just sleep in our beds because he's tired or scared or whatever."

"Well how are we supposed to teach him?"

"Just make sure he's acting his age, ok? He's probably going to complain more about how he couldn't go to the party. So we'll just tell him that he can come next time if he starts acting more mature."

"Ok."

Later...

Riker POV

"Riker, can you please clear the table for me?" Mom asked, leaving the kitchen.

"Sure, mom," I said, getting up.

Everyone had already left the table except me and Rocky.

I cleared the table and put the dishes in the dishwasher except Rocky's plate.

I went back to take it, but Rocky wouldn't let me have it.

"Rocky, let go. I need to put it away," I said.

"Maybe I'm not done eating yet. I might want seconds."

"You already had seconds."

I started pulling really hard on the plate, but Rocky was stronger. Until he just let go and I went flying backwards. I landed hard on my back and the plate shattered next to me.

"Boys!? What's going on?" Mom called.

I felt tears stinging in my eyes. My back hurts kind of bad and I just broke a plate.

"Riker, what happened?" Mom asked, walking into the kitchen.

"I'm sorry!" I said, crying.

"Honey, what happened?"

She knelt down on the floor beside me and helped me sit up.

"Riker was messing around and trying to take my plate even though I told him not to," Rocky said.

"Riker, is this true?" Mom asked.

"Yes, but-"

"Please clean it up."

I sighed and mom left. I looked up at Rocky, who was staring down at me.

"Don't be such a crybaby, Riker. Just clean up the plate. It's not a big deal," Rocky said, getting up and leaving.

I wiped my tears, but more tears just went down my cheeks anyway. I cleaned up the plate and then went upstairs. I nearly crashed into Ross in the hallway though.

"Whoa. You ok? What's wrong?" Ross asked, stopping me before I could go into my room.

"Nothing," I said, trying to move past him.

"Riker-"

"Stop! You'd probably just call me a crybaby too!" I yelled.

I got past him and flopped down on my bed, feeling super upset.

"Riker, what happened?" Ross asked, walking in.

I sighed, not wanting to talk about it.

"Hey," Ross said, sitting next to me.

I felt myself crying more.

"Tell me what happened, Riker."

He put his hand gently on my back.

"I'm not going to call you a crybaby. Can you please tell me what happened?"

"I broke a plate."

"That's it? Riker, it's just a plate. It's not a big deal. I've broken stuff before."

"Rocky made me break it."

"What do you mean?"

"He wouldn't give it to me. And when he let go of it, I fell and dropped it. He did it on purpose. I don't know why."

Ross started rubbing my back gently.

"He was probably just messing around."

I sat up and Ross pulled me into a hug. I clung onto him and cried into his shoulder for a few minutes.

"Hey, I'm sorry you couldn't come with us to the party last night."

"It's ok," I mumbled into his shoulder.

"Well do you want to hang out today? Get your mind off of this morning?"

"Ok."

"Why don't you get dressed and we can go for a walk, ok?"

I pulled away from him and grabbed some clothes. I got changed and then followed Ross out the front door.

"Have you been ok lately? I feel like you've been keeping to yourself a lot," Ross said.

"No... I've been really lonely. You guys just leave me out of a lot of stuff."

"It's just because you're young-"

"Ryland is young too! He's only a year older than me, but you still let him hang out!"

"I'm sorry. I'll make sure you can hang out with us, ok?"

"Promise?"

"I promise, Riker."

We went to the park and sat down on a bench next to each other.

"I wish we had more time to hang out together. You're gone for Austin and Ally so much," I said.

Ross put his arm around me and pulled me closer to him.

"I know. I'm sorry. It's a lot of work. Maybe we could do some stuff together soon."

"Like just the two of us?"

"Yeah."

"Really?"

"Yeah, why not?"

"Usually nobody wants to spend time with just me."

"Well we definitely should."

"Thanks," I said, leaning my head on his shoulder.

Ross's phone buzzed.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Mom. She says we need to get back home. I need to pick up my next Austin and Ally script."

"Oh... Ok."

We got up and started walking back home.