Don't Look Back

Conversations

Ross’s POV

So, that’s it. He won. No, he didn’t win; this wasn’t a game to begin with. She just picked him. Would our friendship be the same? I spilled my feelings to her, how could we go back to that? I was sitting on the couch in my apartment, thinking. I stood up, and got in the shower. About five minutes later, I heard the door open and footsteps. Someone was in the bathroom with me. I poked my head out, it was Sky. She put the toilet lid down and sat on the top. She looked really nice; she was probably going to go on a date. She gave me a hopeful look. I said, “What are you doing here?” She said, “I don’t want to make this weird.” I said, “You’re in my bathroom it’s already gotten weird.” She said, “No, I mean the relationship thing.” I said, “Oh that.” I continued my shower. I said, “So, you’re going out with Riker?” She said, “No, I’m not. I said no.” I said, “What? But you kissed.” She said, “I kissed you too.” I said, “Please explain.” She said, “Ross, my cancer.” I knew what she meant. I said, “Sky, do you remember the day of the fire?” She said, “Which one, the one when we were kidnapped or the one in the studio?” I said, “The studio fire.” She said, “How could I forget?” I said, “Remember how you saved Riker?” She said, “Yeah?” I said, “You got him out first, then me.” She said, “I was in my dressing room, I got everyone out of theirs first. I didn’t see you until I got to the set. Honestly, if you and Riker were both in trouble at the same time, I would have saved you first, no second thought, no hesitation. I just want you to know that.”  I said, “That day you and Rydel were both taken at school. I wanted to choose you, but I knew that they didn’t want Rydel and they would kill her.” She didn’t answer. I peeked out again, she was gone. She probably left after she said what she needed to. It was probably better that she didn’t know I wanted to choose her over my sister, gosh, I probably sounded like an asshole if she heard that. I got out and walked into my bedroom and pulled on some boxers and basketball shorts, then I slipped on a hoodie. I was just gonna stay at the apartment. I was kind of depressed, but okay. I heard footsteps, more like the click of high heels. Sky. I walked out of the bedroom and into the living room. I saw her sitting at the kitchen counter. I sat down too. I said, “Why are you still here?” She said, “Do you want me to leave?” I said, “No, you just, look like you’re about to go somewhere.” She said, “I was supposed to, but I decided not to.” I said, “Where?” She said, “Riker asked me to go to lunch with him at some fancy restaurant with him. Like a date. I came here instead.” I said, “So, this is how you’re saying no?” She had tears in her eyes, “I don’t want to hurt anyone anymore.” I said, “Then call him. Don’t leave him stranded. You don’t have to go to lunch, you can just hang out with me. But let him know.” She nodded, “Thank you.” I wiped the tear that was about to fall off her chin and smiled.

Riker’s POV

I was on my way to meet up with Sky. Then I heard my ringtone going off. I answered it, it was Sky. “Hello?” She said, “Riker, I can’t go to lunch with you.” I said, “Oh, that’s okay, we can do dinner instead.” She said, “No, I mean, I can’t do this with you. You were really sweet when we talked earlier, but I know that, if I start something with you, it won’t be okay with Ross.” I said, “Oh, okay. As long as we can still be friends, I’m fine with that.” She said, “For sure. Thank you for understanding.” I said, “Okay, I’ll see you later.” I turned around and went back to the apartment.

Ross’s POV

Sky walked back into the room. I said, “Everything okay?” She nodded, “Yeah, it’s all better. You guys are like my brothers; I wouldn’t want to ruin that.” I walked into my room and grabbed a t-shirt out of my closet, and handed it to her. I said, “We can stay home and watch a movie, sound good?” She smiled and took it from me. She went into my room and changed, and then she came out, “Do you have any socks?” I said, “What’s wrong? I thought everything was fine?” She said, “Yeah, it is. I just wanted to borrow some socks.” I said, “Yeah, but you only wear my socks when you’re sad. Believe me, I know. I’ve noticed the pattern since I lost six pairs of socks.” I laughed. She said, “Oh, I can give you those back.” I said, “No, keep ‘em, they’re backup. My socks are in the top drawer of my night stand.” She smiled, and left. Then she came back and sat down on the couch with me. We both sat near the middle. She pulled my socks on her feet.