Speak

Chapter 5 : Kayla's problem

Chapter 5

A few days later...

Riker POV

Kayla had been kind of quiet these past few days. I mean, yeah, she's always quiet. She doesn't talk. But that's not what I mean. She smiled more, and seemed comfortable with me on Monday and Tuesday. She was all smiley, and pushed me over in gym class. But she hasn't been smiling much since Wednesday. She barely looks at me, and sometimes she doesn't text me back. We'd finished our project last night, and it was due this morning. She just didn't seem like herself...

After class, I'd pulled her aside in the hallway.

"Kayla, do you think we could talk for a few minutes? I'll walk you home. We can talk on the way. Or you can text. You know what I mean."

Kayla nodded.

It was really cold and windy today.

"So... Um... You haven't really seemed like yourself since Wednesday... Um... Did I do something?"

Kayla shook her head no.

"Well... Then why aren't you acting how you used to? You seem upset."

Kayla took out her phone, and started typing.

"Do you know why I don't speak, Riker?"

"No, why?" I asked.

"Because my parents were abusive."

"Your mom seemed so nice though!"

"That's not my mom. That's the lady who adopted me."

"Oh..."

"And I found out that my original parents are trying to get custody of me again. In fact, I found out they live next door to you now."

"Oh... Wow... Kayla, I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

"It's fine. I'll see you on Monday."

Kayla ran inside her house without even looking back. I felt like the life was sucked out of me. Everything was starting to be pieced together in my head now. She didn't talk because she was abused. I knew that could happen to some people... And so many other things made sense, like how things seemed kind of weird between her and her foster mom, and how she didn't have many belongings...

I slowly walked home, only thinking about Kayla.

Later...

Riker POV

"Riker, you've been awfully quiet. Do you have any plans tonight?" My dad asked.

I looked up from my plate.

"Um... No..."

"It's Friday night. You must be doing something," Rocky said.

Well I used to hang out with some of the guys at my lunch table, but ever since the other day... And Kayla was going through stuff, so...

"No... Probably just sitting in bed..."

"Is something wrong, Riker?" My mom asked.

"No... I don't really feel well. Can I please be excused?"

"Yes."

I got up from the kitchen table, leaving my dinner, and walking upstairs. I barely ate anything. I felt sick to my stomach with the whole thing about Kayla. I couldn't even imagine what she must have been through...

I grabbed my phone, and texted Kayla.

"Are you doing ok?" I texted.

I didn't get a response, so I fell down onto my pillow. I was frustrated. I wanted to do something, but I couldn't. I shouldn't even be thinking about this. I shouldn't be interfering...

I pulled myself out of bed, and grabbed some pajamas. I went to the bathroom, turned on the shower, and stripped down to nothing. I got in, feeling the hot water run down my body. I began washing my hair, and started thinking about Kayla again.

By the time I broke out of my thoughts, I realized the water was freezing cold, and I had no idea how long I'd been standing in the shower.

I quickly turned off the water, wrapped a towel around my waist, and stepped out. I got dressed, combed my hair, brushed my teeth, and walked back to my bedroom.

"Did you get dressed in the dark or something?" Rocky asked from his bed.

"What are you talking about?"

"Your shirt's on backwards."

I looked down.

"Oh... Oops..."

I quickly fixed my shirt, and got in bed. I checked my phone, but Kayla hadn't texted me back yet.

"So how are you feeling?" Rocky asked.

"Fine? Why?"

"You didn't eat dinner."

"Oh... I'm fine..."

My phone buzzed, and I grabbed it. I had a new text! I quickly opened it. But it wasn't from Kayla. It was from this guy named Chris. He was a football player, who I used to sit with at lunch.

"I'd be careful on Monday if I were you."

I sighed, and turned my phone off. And so here come the threats...

I laid down in bed, not intending to fall asleep, but I did anyway...

Morning...

Riker POV

I grabbed my phone as soon as I woke up. I had a bunch of texts, mainly from the people I used to sit with at lunch. They were all threats. I wasn't too fazed by them though. I knew if I was around teachers and stuff, not much could happen.

And I found a text from Kayla!

"I'll find out at midnight whether they get custody of me again or not. Wish me luck."

I sighed.

I dragged myself out of bed, and got dressed. I put in my contacts, and fixed my hair. I went downstairs, but decided to skip breakfast. I sat in the living room, and covered myself with a blanket. I turned on a random show, and decided to lay down instead.

A little later, my mom came downstairs, and noticed me on the couch. She came over to me, and brushed my bangs out of my face.

"Are you feeling ok, Riker?"

"No..."

"What's wrong?"

"I just feel sick."

"Did you eat anything today?"

"No..."

"Go eat something."

"I don't want to..."

My mom sighed, and left me on the couch. I needed to know what was going on with Kayla. Midnight couldn't come soon enough...

Later...

Riker POV

As it got later, I started feeling all fidgety. I couldn't think straight, and I was freaking out. It wasn't that I was scared for Kayla to have to live with her actual parents again, it was that I didn't know what was going to happen. And the suspense was killing me.