Baby of the Family

Chapter 9 : Room swap

Chapter 9

Later...  

Riker POV

I don't know why I was so nervous for Ross to ask if we could switch who our roommates are. But I just felt jittery. Ross seemed to sense that and he sat next to me at dinner.

"So I have a question," Ross said, getting everyone's attention.

"What is it?" Mom asked.

"Would it be possible to switch rooms?"

"What do you mean?" Dad asked.

"Riker and I want to room together," Ross said.

"Why?" Dad asked.

"Because of how Rocky and Ry are treating him. They're making Riker really upset."

"How is it our fault that he wanted to watch a scary movie with us and then was scared afterwards?" Rocky asked.

"It's not that. It's the picking on him, and the teasing him, and the scaring him on purpose. You're making him anxious to just be around you."

"You and Riker both want to room together?" Dad asked.

"Yes," I said.

"Then I think that's fine," dad said.

I was so happy. I already felt a lot better about the whole situation. I'm just hoping that Rocky and Ryland aren't obnoxious about moving rooms when we do it.

Ross and I finished our dinner and then went up to my room.

"So whose room do you want to be in? Yours or mine?" Ross asked.

"Can we be in mine?" I asked.

"Sure. I'm going to ask Ry if I can start moving my stuff in here and see if he wants to move his stuff out."

"Ok."

Ross left and I sat down on my bed. Maybe things will finally be better now.

Later...

Ross POV

Ryland and I swapped our rooms. Riker seemed extremely happy to be rooming with me now. And a lot more relaxed.

In fact, he was already asleep in his bed. I think he was really tired from these past few days.

"Why did we have to switch rooms?" Ryland asked, appearing in the doorway.

"Shhh! Riker's sleeping," I said, getting up.

I went out into the hall with him.

"I just don't get it. He was fine with me," Ryland said.

"Ok, well he might've been fine with you. But he's happier with me."

"Why are you all of a sudden so close with him?"

"Because nobody else is. And he needs someone right now."

"Why?"

"Because he feels like he's alone. And then he just found out from dad the other day that he wasn't really planned and now he feels bad about that. And you and Rocky have been teasing him a lot lately."

"Everyone teases everyone."

"Ok, well Riker's the youngest, and you need to not go so hard on him. He's sensitive."

"Ok. Whatever."

"Seriously, Ry. He's becoming really anxious."

"About what?"

"About just existing here. It's really getting to him. So please tell Rocky not to go so hard on him either, ok?"

"Ok. I just feel like maybe you're overreacting."

"I'm not."

"Why?"

"Just tell Rocky to be nicer. I'm handling the Riker situation."

"What does that even mean?"

"Nothing. Goodnight."

I went back into my room. Riker was still sleeping peacefully and I was glad.

I got back in my bed and laid down. I hope things start going better around here for Riker. I'm becoming paranoid about him because of his cutting. But I'm hoping I caught it early enough that he'll never do it again.