Baby of the Family

Chapter 3 : Hurt

Chapter 3

Later...    

Riker POV

I tried asking if I could play video games with Rocky and Ry, but Rocky said it was only 2 players, so I couldn't. And Rydel was at the Rage, so I didn't have anyone to hang out with. 

I went upstairs to my room and just laid on my bed, bored. 

And then I heard footsteps. I was hoping it was Ross, but it was Ryland.

"Why are you moping around up here?" Ryland asked.

"I'm not moping," I mumbled.

"Ok, but seriously, why were you crying about a broken plate earlier?"

"Because I didn't mean to do it, and Rocky was being difficult on purpose, and it hurt when I fell. And I didn't want to get in trouble."

"Ok, well a broken plate isn't worth crying over. Maybe Rocky was right."

"Right about what?"

"He said you were a crybaby."

"The whole thing was his fault! I don't know why he's picking on me!"

"Ok, well why couldn't you just let him keep his plate if he wasn't done?"

"He was done."

"He said he wasn't."

"Ok, well he was lying!"

"Riker, I really think you just need to grow up."

"What does this even have to do with that!?"

"You shouldn't be getting so upset and crying over stupid things like this."

I got up and left. I don't want to talk anymore.

I went downstairs and went outside. I sat down on our porch and sighed. It's like nobody understands! Or at least, the people who do understand aren't here right now.

I pulled my knees to my chest and rested my chin on my knees, waiting for mom and Ross to get back. It took a while, but finally they were back.

"Why are you sitting outside, honey?" Mom asked.

"Rocky and Ryland are being mean to me," I mumbled.

"What are they doing?" Ross asked, sitting down next to me on the porch.

"Calling me names... Telling me I need to grow up..."

"Riker, you're perfect the way you are," mom said, going inside.

Ross put his arm around me.

"What are they calling you?" Ross asked.

"A crybaby... Because of this morning... It wasn't even my fault! It was Rocky's fault, and it hurt really bad when I fell!"

"What hurts?"

"My back."

Ross gently pulled the bottom of my shirt up over my head.

"Riker, you have a huge bruise on your back."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Come on. Let's go inside."

Ross put his arm around me and led me inside. 

"Mom?" Ross called.

"In the kitchen!" She called back.

Ross led me into the kitchen.

"Can you please talk to Rocky and Ry? They're being mean to Riker for no reason and he got hurt this morning."

"He got hurt?"

Ross gently turned me around so my back was to mom.

"Tell me what happened," she said.

"Riker said that Rocky was being annoying on purpose and it's his fault the plate broke and that Riker fell. Riker wasn't the one messing around."

"Put some ice on your back and just take it easy for the rest of the day, ok?" Mom asked.

I nodded.

Ross grabbed an ice pack for me and led me upstairs to his and Rocky's room. 

"Here, get in," he said, lifting his blankets.

I got under the covers and Ross got in beside me.

"Now lay down so I can put the ice pack on your back," he said.

I laid down on my stomach and gently rested my head on Ross's chest. He put the ice pack on my back.

"How about we have a sleepover tonight? We can watch a movie and just relax. You can rest and hopefully your back will feel better."

I sighed. Today has sucked so much.

"Just relax, Riker. You're ok."

"I just wish they would stop treating me like that!" I said, starting to cry again.

"I'll talk to them, ok? Is it just Rocky and Ry? Or is Rydel doing it too?"

"No, Rydel's not really doing it."

"I'll talk to them, ok Riker?"

"Thank you..."

I closed my eyes. Why did I have to be the youngest? I wish they'd all just stop picking on me.

I ended up falling asleep with my head on Ross's chest.