Baby of the Family

Chapter 19 : Trip

Chapter 19

Later...  

Riker POV

Ross came upstairs to our room after he got back from filming.

"How was your day?" He asked, flopping down on his bed.

"I'm just frustrated," I said.

"Why?"

"Because I went to hockey and I got anxious."

"What happened?"

"I don't even know! I just got anxious! And I just sat on the bleachers for a while and eventually dad just took me home because I wasn't feeling any better."

"Did you have a panic attack?"

"No. I just got anxious."

Ross wrote it down in the notebook.

"That's weird that you got anxious at hockey. You love hockey."

"I know! It's just frustrating. I don't know why things I love are making me feel like this!"

"How are you feeling now?"

"I'm worried for tonight."

"Why? What's happening tonight?"

"I have to be in here alone while you take a shower. And practice being alone in here in the dark."

"Riker, you'll be fine. Look, if you get panicky, just call for someone. Dad said that's totally fine."

I sighed.

"Riker, it'll be fine. You don't have to sit in here and have a panic attack alone."

"Ok. I just hate feeling panicky though. And then when I'm not panicky anymore, I'm exhausted."

Ross got up and gave me a hug.

"Are you ok if I take a shower now?" He asked.

"Yeah..."

"You'll be fine, Riker. I promise. Try not to worry."

Ross got a change of clothes.

"Ready?" He asked.

I nodded. He shut off the lights and left.

I got under my covers. My heart was starting to race a little but it wasn't a panic attack. But I started hearing things and I couldn't tell if my mind was playing tricks on me or if there was something under my bed. Or in the closet.

"HELP!" I yelled.

I heard footsteps and then Rocky turned on the light.

"Riker, what's wrong?"

I pointed to under my bed. Rocky bent down and looked.

"Riker, there's nothing under there except 2 of your basses."

"W-what about the closet?"

Rocky opened the closet door. Nothing was in there except mine and Ross's clothes.

Rocky turned to look back at me again, confused.

"I-I just t-thought..."

"Dad, Riker's having a panic attack!" Rocky called.

Rocky came and sat down next to me on my bed and put his arm around me.

"Try to calm down, Riker."

I started crying. I'm just so frustrated.

Dad came in and sat down on my bed too.

"What triggered it?" Dad asked.

"Ross is in the shower, so probably being in here, alone," Rocky said.