Guys Can Change

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Riker POV

Emma's scream from the backseat scared me so much, I almost got into an accident.

"God, Emma! Don't do that!" I shouted, focusing on the road again.

"Riker!?"

"Yeah. It's me."

"What's going on!? Where are we!? How'd I get here!?"

"Calm down."

"Are you going to hurt me because I won't get back together with you?"

"We're back to that!?"

"Riker, take me home! Now!"

"No," I said, calmly.

"Riker Anthony Lynch! Take me home!"

"No," I repeated.

Emma climbed up into the front seat.

"What are you doing!?" I asked.

"Where I we going?"

"It's a secret."

"RIKER LYNCH! I demand you tell me what's going on, or I will jump out of this car."

"Ok, ok! At least put your seatbelt on first."

I heard the seatbelt click, so I started talking.

"I'm taking us both to Lauren's."

"Why!? So you can rub it in my face!?"

"No! Emma, I was planning on taking you tomorrow to Lauren's."

"Why!?"

"Because I wanted to show you that I'm really going there to tell her I can't get back together with her."

"Then why are we in the car tonight!?"

"Emma, I've been breaking inside, and stressing, and I just couldn't take it anymore! I had to go right now, and clear everything up."

"So you kidnap me, and take me to your ex girlfriend's house, who doesn't even know you're coming?"

"Emma, it's the best plan I could think of at 2:00 in the morning."

"You're insane."

I pulled into Lauren's driveway. I had to literally pull Emma out of the car. I ended up carrying her to the door. I knocked, and Lauren's mother answered the door.

"Riker!? What are you doing here!?" Lauren's mom asked.

"I need to talk to Lauren. It's really important."

"Riker, you know it's the middle of the night, right?"

"Yeah, I'm so sorry. I just really need to talk to her."

Lauren's mom sighed.

"Alright. I'll go wake her up. But make sure this is quick!"

"Thank you so much, Mrs.Hudson."

She probably thought I was nuts. I was holding some girl in my arms, and I wanted to talk to her daughter in the middle of the night. That seems pretty nutty to me!

I set Emma down. She stood next to me, and I held onto her hand tight. Lauren came walking out the front door, wearing really short shorts and a tank top. She was definitely not making this any easier.

"Riker, what are you doing here? And who's this?" Lauren asked.

Just seeing Lauren made me want to cry. I still had some feelings for her. But there was no way I was letting that get in the way of me and Emma.

"Lauren, um... This is Emma. Um... I brought her here, so she could hear this straight from me. I know we were supposed to talk tomorrow, but I couldn't wait. Um... I know you want to get back together. First of all... Um... I could never get back together with you after you cheated on me and broke my heart. And second of all, I met Emma. And I love her, now. I'm sorry."

"It's... It's ok... I understand. I knew it was going to be a long shot. But I figured I'd try."

"I'm sorry, Lauren."

"Could you just explain something to me, though?"

"What?"

"What is it about Emma you like? And why did you bring her here to hear this?"

I turned to face Emma.

"Emma, I love you because you're different. I never thought I'd fall for you, but I did! And... And I need you to take me back because I'm miserable without you!"

"You guys aren't together?" Lauren asked.

"No. She read our texts about meeting, and she thought I was cheating on her. She wouldn't talk to me, and I couldn't sleep, and I just overreacted a little, and came here. I was planning on taking her here to hear this tomorrow, but I just couldn't wait. I couldn't sleep, and it's been eating away at me. I was hoping she'd forgive me, even though I didn't do anything wrong, and be my girlfriend again," I said, turning to Emma again.

"That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard," said Lauren.

My smile faded when Emma didn't say anything.

"Well if that's it... Um... I'm going to go back to bed. Um... Thanks for talking to me, Riker," said Lauren.

"Goodnight..."

Lauren turned and went inside. I turned back to face Emma.

"Emma, please. You saw! I wasn't cheating on you! In fact, I was doing this so we could stay together. Because I love you. I love you too much, I can't even put it into words."

Emma stared straight into my eyes, and I stared straight back.

"Emma, please. Say you'll take me back," I whispered, tears already spilling down my hot cheeks.

"Riker..."

"Please, Emma!" I whispered, holding her hands in mine.

Emma looked at the ground, and then back at me.

"No."