Baby of the Family

Chapter 21 : Cabin

Chapter 21

Later...   

Rydel POV

After I got Riker to eat a little of his dinner, we got back on the road. Except this time, I had Ryland sit up front with Rocky so I could sit in the back with Riker. I kind of feel like he's my responsibility. 

And Rocky clearly isn't helping. So he can just focus on driving.

I got a blanket out before we got back on the road and gave it to Riker. He ended up laying down in the backseat with his head in my lap. And he slept practically the whole way there.

When we got there, everyone was exhausted. We all got settled in the loft. Riker wanted my bed closer to his, so I pushed it closer. And then Rocky shut off the lights.

"No! Turn it back on!" Riker yelled.

Rocky turned the lights back on and crossed his arms.

"Riker, you need to learn how to sleep in the dark," Rocky said, annoyed.

"Well I can't," Riker whined.

"Well now is the perfect time to practice."

Rocky shut the lights back off.

"Rydel," Riker whined.

I turned on my phone flashlight and took Riker's hand. And I started dragging him back down the stairs.

"Get your shoes on," I said.

"What are you doing?" Rocky asked.

"He can't sleep in the dark! The whole point of us being here is for Riker," I said, annoyed.

I grabbed my keys, took Riker's hand, and dragged him outside.

"Get in the car," I said.

"What are we doing? Am I in trouble?"

"No. We're going to go see if anything is open that might sell nightlights."

Riker sighed and got in the car. I know he's tired. I'm tired too. But I also know he's not going to get any sleep if he's in the dark.

I started driving and after a little while, I found a drug store that was open 24 hours.

Riker followed me in. I wasn't sure where the nightlights would be or if they would even have them. 

"Can I get candy?" Riker asked.

"Sure."

Riker wandered off. I eventually found the nightlights and decided to get 2 so that we could put one in the loft and one in the bathroom. Riker came back and found me and he had a pack of M&M's in his hand. 

"Ready?" I asked.

He nodded. So we went to the counter and I paid for everything. And then we left.

"I can pay you back for the candy," Riker said.

"Riker, you don't have to. Don't worry about it. I can just take it out of the emergency money mom gave me."

"Did she give any to Rocky?"

"Nope. Just me."

We got back in the car but before I could start driving, my phone started ringing. 

It's dad.

"Hello?"

"Rydel, Rocky said you took Riker and left the cabin," dad said.

"I did."

"Well what's going on?"

"Rocky wouldn't let Riker keep the lights on. And Riker can't sleep in the dark. I've been arguing with Rocky literally all day because he's being hard on Riker and I didn't feel like fighting with him again. We're all exhausted. So I took Riker to go try to find nightlights. We just got some and we're heading back now."

"Ok. You can tell Rocky I want to speak to him about this in the morning. What has he been doing to Riker?"

"Just being difficult and making him feel bad for things that he shouldn't. He's just being annoying."

"The whole point of this vacation is for Riker."

"I know. That's what I told him."

"Ok. I'll check in with you guys tomorrow."

"Ok. Night, dad."

"Goodnight."

I hung up. Riker was looking at me, worried.

"What happened? Are we in trouble?" Riker asked.

"No. But Rocky's going to be."

I started driving back to the cabin. 

"Are you stressed?" I asked.

"Not anymore. Because you bought me nightlights. And you're sticking up for me."

We drove the rest of the way back in silence. Riker fell asleep.

"Rik, wake up. We're back."

He opened his eyes but he looked so tired.

"Come on."

He slowly got out of the car and followed me inside. The lights were on and Rocky was waiting for us in the loft with his arms crossed. Ryland was asleep.

"Why did you guys just leave like that?" Rocky asked, annoyed.

"Riker can't sleep in the dark. You should know that already. And I don't care if you don't like the lights on. We're not here for you. We're here for Riker. Clearly Ry could fall asleep with the lights on," I said, annoyed.

Riker got into his bed and laid down. I went and plugged in the nightlights for him.

"Did dad yell at you?" Rocky asked.

"No, but he's going to yell at you tomorrow," I said, still annoyed.

I got in my bed and laid down. I'm slightly worried how these next few days are going to go if Rocky is just going to act like this.