Don't Look Back

Gone

Ross’s POV

I called up Sky the next day and asked her if she would come to lunch with me. She said yes and I drove over to her house to pick her up. When she got in the car she said, “I’m sorry I left last night.” She put her crutches in the back seat. I said, “No, it’s okay. We didn’t let you do anything. What’s up with Connor” She said, “Ugh, I have to lock my door and shove my desk in front of it. He’s such a perv.” I said, “Then come back to my house.” She said, “No, Ross, I can take care of myself. Honestly, I’m fine.” She smiled and we drove to our favorite restaurant. I sat across from Sky at the table. We got our food and ate. We were having funny conversations and laughing a lot. Then she said, "I'll be right back I need to go wash my hands." She got up and went to the bathroom. I called the waiter for the check and I paid both of our bills. Then Sky came back and sat down. I said, "So, are you ready to go?" She said, "Wait, we didn't pay yet." I said, "I got it." She said, "Oh, okay." We got in the car and I drove her home. When she got out of the car  I noticed something in the cup holder. I picked it up, a twenty dollar bill. That's more than her meal even was, it would have been better if she had paid for her own meal. Why wouldn't she ever let me pay? The next day I called her and asked her if she wanted to see a movie with me. We bought our tickets and sat down. During the movie I saw that her bag was on the floor in between our feet. I took forty dollars out of my wallet and slipped it into her bag. This time she wouldn't know. After the movie we went and got some frozen yogurt. We talked and then I drove her home, I asked her, "Why won't you ever let me pay for you?" She said, "Because I didn't earn it." I said, "Oh." She said, "But it was sweet that you tried to yesterday." Then she reached into her bag and handed me the forty dollars, "But please don't try to give me money." I said, "Why not? You need it!" She said, "Why do you want to give me money Ross?" I said, "Because, I'm the one who asks you to go with me places so you're spending your money because of me. I have the money to spend. You don't." She said, "But I could say no if I didn't want to spend the money. Its not like youre taking me out on a date." I said, "I know, but I just wanted to help." She said, "Thank you for trying though." She hugged me and then got out of the car. I watched her go inside of her house and then I went home. I walked into Riker's room and flopped face down on his bed. He was sitting at his desk. He didn't turn around, "I just made that bed." He said. I picked up my head, "Sorry. Can I ask you something?" He said, "What is it?" I said, "Do you like Sky?" He said, "Why do you keep asking me that?" I said, "Will you go out with her?" He said, "What?" I said, "She won't let me pay for her because we are just two friends hanging out. If its a date, she will." He said, "So you want me to go out with her?" I said, "I want you to pretend to go out with her." He said, "Do you even know how stupid you sound right now?" I said, "I don't know what to do, I feel bad every time I ask her to go somewhere with me." He said, "Then give Dylan the money, tell him to use it to help pay the rent for the house." I said, "That is so much smarter than my plan. Ha, imagine you dating Sky." I started laughing. He didn't laugh though.

Ross’s POV

The next day I went to Sky’s house, no one answered the door so I used my key and went inside. I saw Sky on her living room floor. Dylan was sitting next to her trying to wake her up. I ran over, “What happened?” He looked up, “He came back, and he hurt her again. I heard a scream, I ran out here and the front door shut. I saw her on the floor, but I had to see who did it so I ran outside, he ran into his car and drove away.” I said, “Who? Who is he?” Dylan said, “Her dad. That time before we went to camp, she was knocked out, that was him. He’s trying to kill her, but I was here this time, so I scared him off. We need to find Charlie.” I said, “How do we find him?” He said, “His number is in Sky’s phone.” I said, “Where’s her phone?” He told me where and I got it. I took Charlie’s phone number and put it into my phone. I said, “Does Sky need a hospital?” He said, “I don’t know what happened, she’s not bleeding, but she has a bump on the back of her head.” We moved her to the couch. I said, “Where’s Connor?” Dylan said, “He left, he said he found a job somewhere.” I nodded, “Oh, okay. I’m gonna ask Charlie to meet with me.” He said, “Can I come too?” I said, “I have some questions for him, I kind of need to do it just me and him.” He said, “That’s cool.” I texted Charlie to meet with me. At first he said, “I don’t know a Ross.” Then I texted him, “I’m Sky’s friend.” I got an immediate text saying where and when.