Baby of the Family

Chapter 5 : Running away

Chapter 5

The next day...   

Riker POV

Ross had to leave after dinner to go film for Austin and Ally. They were filming something for a scene at night, so he had a late night shoot so the sun would be down.

I didn't like that he wasn't here. And Rydel wasn't here either. Something about a dress rehearsal at the Rage for some performance coming up soon.

So I was stuck with just Rocky and Ry for the evening. They had been nice to me all day. But Ross was hanging out with me today, so maybe that was why. I don't know if I trust them yet that they're really being nice to me now.

I got ready for bed and flopped down, burying my face in my pillow. I'm kind of tired even though it's not really time for bed yet.

"Riker!" Ry called from downstairs.

I got up and made my way downstairs.

"Do you want to watch a movie with us?" Rocky asked.

"Sure!" I said, smiling.

Ryland went to go make popcorn and get drinks. Rocky picked the movie. I got to sit in between both of them and have the bowl of popcorn on my lap.

But Rocky picked a horror movie. And I was not thrilled.

Someone in the movie screamed and popcorn flew everywhere because I jumped.

"Riker!" Rocky said, annoyed.

Ryland paused the movie and turned the lights on so I could clean up the popcorn.

"Riker, you don't have to watch this if it's too scary for you," Rocky teased.

"I'm going to bed," I mumbled, handing him the bowl of popcorn.

I went upstairs again, annoyed.

I heard Ross get home, and I was hoping he'd come up here to check on me. And sure enough, he did after a little while.

"Hey, Rik," he said, walking in.

"Rocky picked a scary movie and I didn't like it so I left," I said, sitting up.

"I know. He told me," Ross said, sitting down next to me.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Am I really a scaredy cat or am I just young?"

"Um... I think a little bit of both. But in general, the younger you are, the more things that scare you. So I think that's normal."

"Am I too scared?"

"Riker, it's a horror movie. You're definitely a bit young for it."

I sighed.

"What is it?" Ross asked.

"Just another thing I'm too young for."

"Maybe you just need to practice watching scary movies."

"Practice?"

"Yeah, what if we eased you into them?"

"How?"

"We could watch them during the day, with the lights on."

"Really?"

"Why not? There's no rules for watching horror movies."

"Well then yeah. Maybe I could try that."

"Come on. How about we go watch a non-scary movie?"

"Ok," I said, smiling.