Baby of the Family

Chapter 20 : Car ride

Chapter 20

The next day...   

Riker POV

Ross helped me pack for the cabin and then me, Rocky, Ry, and Rydel left. Rocky was driving. Rydel was sitting up front with him. So me and Ryland were in the back together.

I wasn't too anxious yet. I haven't had a panic attack or anything. I was mostly just tired.

However, I was starting to get a bit anxious about stopping for a bathroom break. I asked Rocky to find somewhere about 20 minutes ago and we haven't stopped anywhere yet.

"Rocky," I whined.

"What?" Rocky asked.

"I need to go to the bathroom."

"Stop complaining. I'm looking. Of course it would be you to make us stop already."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, quietly.

"It means you're the youngest and sometimes you're annoying," Rocky said.

I sighed. I just stared out the window, waiting. And then finally Rocky stopped at a gas station.

Someone was in the bathroom, so we formed a line outside. Rocky was in front of me.

"Can I go first?" I asked.

Rocky rolled his eyes at me.

"Rocky, Riker can't even stand still. He needs to go. Let him go first," Rydel said, motioning for me to get in front of the line.

Finally the bathroom was free and I could go. I was getting anxious about these next few days though. Rocky's annoyed with me.

I got back in the car and everyone else joined me after using the bathroom. And everyone was silent.

Rocky seemed even more annoyed than he was before. And Rydel seemed annoyed too, which I didn't understand because she was the one who told me to cut in front of Rocky. I don't want her to be mad at me too.

Ryland didn't seem mad though.

I don't have my phone because dad took it before we left. He doesn't want me on social media. It doesn't matter though because we don't have internet at the cabin anyway.

But I saw Ryland on his phone and I reached for it. So he handed it to me.

I opened up his notes app because I wanted to ask him why Rydel and Rocky seemed really mad now. And I handed his phone back to him.

They're mad because Rydel yelled at Rocky to be nice to you or else she would tell dad. So they're mad at each other.

Well at least they're not mad at me...

I leaned my head on Ry's shoulder, watching him play games on his phone. I'm really bored. There's nothing to do and I don't have my phone. And we're still hours away from our cabin.

Later...

Rydel POV

When we stopped for dinner, it was really late. Everyone was starving and kind of grumpy.

We got a table and Riker sat next to me. He's been quiet for pretty much the whole drive. I don't really have a lot of experience helping him with his anxiety so I don't know if that's what it is or maybe he's just tired.

"How much further is the cabin?" Ryland asked.

"Like 4 hours," Rocky said.

"What's everyone getting to eat?" I asked.

"Probably a burger and fries," Rocky said.

"Yeah, same," Ryland said.

"Riker, what about you?" I asked.

"I'm not really hungry..." He said, staring down at his menu.

"Ry, can you order me and Riker both a burger and fries too? I just want to talk to him for a second outside," I said, grabbing Riker's hand.

I dragged him out of the restaurant.

"Since Ross isn't here, you need to tell me if you're anxious or not and what I should be doing," I said.

"Why do you think I'm anxious?" He asked, not looking at me.

"Because we've been driving for hours."

"Rocky's annoyed with me," he said, quietly.

"Ok, well I yelled at him for it. So don't worry about it."

"I'm just scared he's going to do things to me or yell at me or something."

"He's not. And if he does, I'll tell dad. Don't worry about him, ok?"

Riker sighed.

"Rik, what does Ross do to make you feel better when you're anxious?"

"I don't know... It depends..."

"How? Tell me."

"If it's at night, he lets me sleep in his bed. Or if it's a panic attack, he just stays with me until I feel better."

"Ok, well what can I do so you feel better?"

"I don't know. I just wish we were at the cabin already so I could go to bed."

"Are you tired?"

"Yeah. And I'm bored. I've had nothing to do in the car this whole time because dad took my phone. I know he didn't take it as a punishment, but I'm just bored. I'm tired of being stuck in a car with Rocky. I just want space."

"I understand. It's been a long drive. How about we go back inside and you try to eat some dinner? I think it'll make you feel a little better. And I'll make sure Rocky doesn't do or say anything mean, ok? Right now, I just want you to focus on trying to eat. Can you do that for me?"

He nodded. I pulled him into a hug and he hugged me really tight.

"Ready to go back in?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"Ok. Let's go."