One decision, One chance, One life

Chapter 6 : I need you to choose, me or them?

Chapter 6

Riker POV

"I need you," I said.

"Riker... I'm trying to think of a solution. I can't promise anything though."

"Skylar..."

"What?"

"I don't think... we should be together then..."

"What do you mean?"

"If you really cared, and you really liked me, you'd side with me. End of story. And obviously, you don't. So just... go home..."

I watched Skylar walk out for the second time today. But I was kind of mad. If she really did care, she'd side with me. Not them. I just don't get it...

My door opened, and Skylar came back in.

"Riker, I can't leave yet. I do like you. I promise, I do! I don't want to break up with you, please!"

Skylar was crying. I motioned for her to come over. She sat on my bed, and I hugged her.

"Skylar, I need you to make a decision. If you really like me, the answer should be obvious. Otherwise, go hang out with your old friends, and go find yourself a new tutor."

Skylar pulled away from our hug.

"Riker, you can't make me pick! Not yet! Please!"

"Go get a new tutor, Skylar. I don't want to be with someone who doesn't know if they want to be with me."

"Riker, please, no! You're the only one who gets me to understand the math! Everyone else gets annoyed with me, and I don't understand it! And I do want to be with you! But maybe I can't be yet."

"Skylar, make a decision or get out. I seriously can't deal with this!"

I'd never been brave enough to actually stick up for my feelings, but now I did. And I have no idea where that bravery came from.

Skylar slowly pulled up my shirt, revealing where my mom had wrapped up my middle for my rib pain. She gently traced her fingers over it, and then let my shirt fall back down. More tears fell down her cheeks as she reached up to my face. She traced her fingers over the bandaids on my face, and then ran her fingers over the cuts and bruises on my arms.

"Skylar, just-"

Before I could finish, her lips were on mine. I closed my eyes, wishing this moment could last forever.

When she finally pulled away, she was staring into my eyes.

"I choose you."

I smiled, wrapping my arms around her.

"I knew you wouldn't leave me," I whispered.

"How'd you know?"

"Because I know you like me. A lot... Enough to search for me for hours, drag me out of that bathroom, drive me to the hospital, and stay there all night with me, even after you broke up with me."

"I really like you, Riker. And you didn't deserve any of this..."

"What are you going to do on Monday?"

"Well if you'd given me more time to think, I could've come up with something. What I would prefer to do is hide our relationship from them. But I know you don't want that. You don't care, and you want me to feel the same way, and not be bothered by them. But they could hurt me! I mean, look at what they did to you!"

"You think they'd hurt you?"

"Yeah! Why wouldn't they!?"

"You're a girl. Guys can't hit girls. That's like... against some unofficial rule, but everyone follows it."