Baby of the Family

Chapter 12 : Exhausted

Chapter 12

Riker POV   

It felt like everyone was staring at me when we got back to the dressing room. Rocky and Ryland were packing up mine and Ross's instruments for us.

Rydel came over to me and Ross.

"What happened?" Rydel asked.

"Riker had a panic attack," Ross said, quietly.

"Why?" She asked.

"We don't know," Ross said.

Rydel pulled me into a hug.

"If it happens again, tell someone, Riker. You don't have to just run off and deal with it on your own," she said.

"I know. I just didn't know what was happening to me," I said, quietly.

"It's ok. I'm just glad you're ok again," she said.

We all went out to our van and dad got our instruments packed in the back. I got in the backseat with Ross and Rydel. Ryland and Rocky sat in the middle row.

"Still feeling ok?" Ross asked.

I nodded and leaned my head on his shoulder. I was sitting in the middle of them and I was glad because it made me feel better. But I was really tired from today.

"So what happened to Riker right before we went on?" Rocky asked.

"He had a panic attack," dad said, getting in.

"Why?" Ryland asked.

"I don't know. But it wouldn't hurt for both of you to be nicer to your brother. He's clearly really stressed out right now. Don't add to it," dad said, sounding kind of annoyed with them.

Honestly, I was glad he told them what happened and I was glad he sort of yelled at them for the way they've been treating me. Maybe they'll take him seriously this time.

I ended up falling asleep with my head on Ross's shoulder because I was so tired.

Later...

Ross POV

Riker's been in our room since we got home, so I decided to go up and check on him. I'm getting more and more worried about him. I mean, first he was super stressed with Rocky and Ryland provoking him. And he even ran away because of it. And then the cutting. Now the panic attack. I don't know what's next, but I'm scared to find out.

When I went upstairs to our room, Riker was sitting on his bed with his knees pulled to his chest, doing nothing.

"What are you up to? You ok?" I asked, walking in.

"I'm just thinking..." He mumbled.

I sat down beside him on his bed and put my arm around him.

"About what?" I asked.

"What if it happens again?" He asked, sounding close to tears again.

"Then you'll get through it, Riker."

He leaned his head on my shoulder.

"You'll be ok. Dad's clearly annoyed with how Rocky and Ry have been treating you, so if they do anything else, you know dad will be on your side, ok?"

He sighed, leaning even more on me.

"How about you come downstairs and have some dinner? You missed it earlier. You need to eat before bed. I'll stay with you, ok? Just please come downstairs and have something to eat."

Riker took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I was worried he was going to try to argue with me and try to stay up here. But he didn't.

"Fine. But after I eat, I just want to take a shower, and then go to bed. I'm exhausted, ok? It's been a really long day, and ever since my panic attack, I've been more exhausted than I've ever felt in my whole life."

"That's fine. I'm just glad you're going to eat something."

I kept my arm around him and we went downstairs. I reheated some food for him in the microwave as he sat down at the kitchen table to eat.

And then dad walked in.

"Riker, how are you feeling?" Dad asked, putting his hand on Riker's shoulder.

"Exhausted," Riker mumbled.

"Let me know if Rocky or Ryland do anything else, ok?" He asked.

Riker nodded and I put his plate of food down in front of him.

"Ross, you let me know too," dad said.

"I will, dad," I said, sitting down across from Riker.