Guys Can Change

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

The next day...

Emma POV

Chase and I weren't doing anything today. Riker and I were going to be home alone pretty much all day because everyone else had things to do. Ryland had football, Mr. and Mrs.Lynch were going to see Ryland's game, Rocky was going to a friend's with Ross, and Rydel had dance. I was positive that today was going to drag by.

I guess you could say I felt like how Riker felt now. I didn't want to have anything to do with him.

By the time it was almost noon, I was starving. I couldn't wait any longer, so I went downstairs, only to see what I feared. Riker. He was sitting at the kitchen table. He looked up when I came in.

I rolled my eyes, and went to the fridge to go see what my options were. Not much... I decided I would just cut up some fruit. I grabbed a knife and a plate, and started cutting. I wasn't really paying attention, and I cut myself! I tried not to make any motions that Riker would notice, but it hurt!

I ran over to the sink and turned on the water, yelping slightly because it burned my cut. All of a sudden, I saw arms come around me. Riker shut off the water, and guided me upstairs to the bathroom where he fixed up my finger. When he finished, I was sitting on the bathroom counter, looking at Riker, who was looking right back at me.

"Thanks," I whispered.

Riker's and my eyes locked for a few seconds. I looked away and down at my finger.

"Emma?" Riker asked softly.

"What?" I asked, still not looking at him.

"I love you."

I closed my eyes and sighed.

"Riker, I'm with Chase, now."

"I know. But I want you to know that I only want the best for you, and I still love you."

I still wouldn't look at Riker. I jumped down from the counter, took Riker's hand, and pulled him into Rydel's room.

"Can we talk for a minute?" I asked, still avoiding eye contact.

"Yeah," Riker said, sitting down on the bed beside me.

"Ok. Well I thought since you made out with other girls and avoided me, that you didn't want anything to do with me anymore. I'm just confused as to why you saved me in the pool."

"Emma, I made a huge mistake. I tried going out with those girls because I thought it would make me feel better. But it didn't. All I could think about was you. And I realized that you're the one I want to be with, and when I saw you fall in the pool, I started freaking out. I didn't even think twice about saving you."

I sighed.

"Emma, it completely breaks my heart when I see you with Chase. I want to be the guy you look at like that. We only have about a month left of summer, and I want to spend it being your boyfriend."

Riker took my hands in his, rubbing them slowly with his thumbs.

I just don't understand," I mumbled.

"What don't you understand?"

"You completely avoided me! And then one day, you just started hanging around again. I don't get it."

"That was when I realized that you were the one I want to be with. Emma, it's so painful to see you every single day, walking around my house, because I know you're not mine. I'd give anything to get you back."