Bound to You

Chapter 12: Home

“We’re home!” Ross called as he stepped through the front door. Darcy quickly stepped inside behind him and kicked her boots off. “I think I need a nap.” She grumbled as she followed him into the kitchen. Rocky was leaning against the fridge talking to Riker, who was sitting at the high-topped counter. “Hey guys.” Ross greeted as he hopped up to sit on the kitchen table. Darcy walked over to lean against the counter Riker was seated at. “You look really tired. Or are you just not wearing makeup today?” Rocky questioned. Darcy gave him a disdainful look. “Gee thanks, Rocky. You sure know how to make a girl feel special.” She replied playfully. She felt a gentle tug at the ends of her hair. She turned around to see a few of her ginger strands slip through Riker’s fingers. He gestured to her straightened locks. “Why did you straighten your hair?” he asked. She reached up and ran her fingers through the impossibly long strands. “Did you not see it this morning? It looked like Merida had stuck a fork into a light socket.” She joked. Riker shrugged. “It wasn’t all that bad. I think curls suit you.” He said hesitantly. Darcy smiled and crossed her arms. “Why Riker. If I didn’t know any better I would think that was a compliment.” She teased. He flushed slightly. “Well it wasn’t not a compliment.” He mumbled. Rocky nodded. “I agree. You should go natural, Darce.” He joked. Ross held up his hand. “Well as the officially unofficial boyfriend in the room, I agree too.” he interjected. Darcy sighed and smiled shyly. “I’ll take it into consideration.” She said playfully. Ross laughed as he gestured for Rocky to toss him a drink from the fridge. “Is that what you’re wearing to the movies tonight, Darcy?” he asked, gesturing to the skirt and top she’d donned for their ‘date’. Darcy gave him a puzzled look. “Movies…?” she asked confusedly. Ross nodded. “Yeah, it was on the schedule. We’re supposed to go to the movies tonight, all of us. Mackenzie and Breanne too. Sean apparently wants everyone to see how close we all are.” Rocky scoffed. “Like they didn’t know already.” He retorted. Darcy sighed. “What time is the movie?” she asked tiredly. Ross looked over at Riker expectantly. Riker looked down at his phone briefly before answering. “6:45. And it’s 6:00 so we need to leave…now.” He looked over at Darcy. She sighed and walked towards the staircase. “I could really use a nap. Don’t be upset if I fall asleep during the movie. And I’m going casual tonight, Ross. Hope you don’t mind.” She called over her shoulder as she made her way up the staircase. She stepped into hers and Rydel’s shared room and slipped out of her skirt and top. She rummaged through her drawers for a few minutes before finally settling on a pair of black shorts and a long-sleeved t-shirt. She braided her hair into the side braid she wore so often and pulled one of her numerous beanies onto her head. () She checked her reflection in the mirror briefly before jogging back down the stairs. Ross, Rocky, and Riker had been joined by Ryland in the kitchen. They were all standing around expectantly, waiting on her return so they could leave. “About time.” Rocky muttered playfully. Darcy swatted his arm before turning to Ross. “Where’s Rydel?” she asked curiously. She followed the four boys out to the car. “She went somewhere with Ellington earlier. They’re meeting us at the theater. So are Bre and Mack.” He replied. Darcy smirked slightly as she hopped into the front seat. Rydel and Ellington were out together…interesting. She’d begun to suspect Rydel had a slight crush on Ell, though she’d never admitted it. Riker climbed into the driver’s seat and cranked the car. “How come Darcy gets to ride shotgun?” Ryland complained from the back. Darcy turned around and smirked at him playfully. “Because I’m a lady, that’s why.” She said, quoting one of her favorite Disney movies. Riker grinned. “Aristocats…one of Disney’s finest.” He commented as he pulled the car out onto the road.

**

“Two for Paranormal Activity 5.” Riker said, pushing a twenty underneath the slot towards the ticket lady. “I can’t believe you guys are making us watch another scary movie.” Rydel grumbled as Riker handed her her ticket. He smiled wickedly. “It’s fun to watch you guys scream. And Ryland.” He joked. Ryland crossed his arms. “That was one time!” he complained. Mackenzie giggled as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “But it was the cutest scream I’ve ever heard.” She teased, stretching up on her toes to kiss his cheek. Darcy looked up at Ross. “I would have given anything to see that.” She commented. He grinned and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I think he wet his pants a little bit too.” he said quietly. “I did not!” Ryland called. Ross laughed as he quickly pecked Darcy’s lips and took her by the hand. “We’d better get inside. I want good seats.” He said, gesturing for the rest of the group to follow. Once they were inside the theater, everyone took their usual seats. Ryland sat with Mackenzie, who always sat next to Breanne. Rocky took the seat next to Breanne. Rydel sat next to Rocky, and Ellington sat next to Rydel. Riker, Ross, and Darcy took three seats in the row directly below them, to keep the group from being too spread-out. Darcy quickly settled into the seat next to Ross. She glanced around the room. They were the only ones in the theater, surprisingly. Riker took the seat on her other side. Darcy rested her head on Ross’s shoulder. “Wake me up when the movie’s over.” She said quietly, stifling a yawn.

Twenty minutes into the movie, Darcy was wide awake. She gripped the armrests of the seat nervously. “I hate you all.” She muttered under her breath. She winced when a door when flying open, only to reveal the little boy smiling mischievously behind it. She breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank God.” She commented quietly. Moments later, a face appeared in the window behind the boy. “OH MY GOD.” She cried. She immediately jerked to the left and buried her face in Riker’s shoulder. She heard Ross laugh from beside her. “Did I mention I hate you guys?” she mumbled into his shirt. It took her a few minutes before she realized that it was Riker she was clinging to, not Ross. She was a bit puzzled. Out of all the Lynch’s, she’d obviously been spending most of her time with Ross since she’d arrived in January. He had been the one she’d automatically turned to anytime she needed someone, not including Rydel. She’d only been actually speaking with Riker for what, 24 hours now? So why had she instinctively turned to him whenever she’d been afraid? She had begun to notice something about her budding friendship with Riker. Something different about how she felt with him compared to how she felt with the other Lynch’s. But whatever that ‘something’ was, she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

**

“I’m never talking to you guys again.” Darcy said playfully as she stepped into the house later that evening. Ross smirked. “Of course you won’t.” he joked. Rocky yawned loudly as he made his way over to the staircase. “Well I’m out. See you all in the morning. Don’t let the ghosts get you.” He teased ominously as his footsteps thumped up the stairs. Darcy flinched when the front door slammed shut. Riker stepped inside and hanged his keys on the hook. “That movie wasn’t even that bad. You should have seen the first one. THAT was scary.” He commented. Darcy crossed her arms. “I did see the first one. And I didn’t sleep for a week after.” She pouted. Ross gestured to the staircase. He was already beginning to follow Ryland and Rocky up. “You going to bed? You’ve been complaining about being tired all night.” He reminded her. She scowled. “Yeah well thanks to y’alls choice of movie, I’m now wide awake.” She grumbled. Riker nodded towards the living room. “I’m not tired either. You can stay up with me if you want.” He offered. She nodded gratefully and followed him into the room. “I think it’s the least you can do after trying to scare the crap out of me.” She joked. She flopped down onto the cozy leather sofa as he flipped aimlessly through the many DVDs on the shelf. “How does ‘She’s the Man’ sound?” he asked over his shoulder. She nodded. “Anything is fine with me, as long as you aren’t trying to give me heart failure again.” She heard him laugh lightly as he slid the disc into the player. He flipped off the lights and came to sit next to her on the couch. She felt her eyelids growing heavy about five minutes into the movie. She rested her head on the armrest at the opposite end of the couch. Riker glanced amusedly down at her. “Don’t fall asleep, Darcy. The ghosts might come and get you.” He whispered spookily. She yawned; she was too tired to care. “Hey, if they fall asleep at least you’ll be here to put a blanket over them.” She teased quietly. She peaked out at him quickly. She could see that he was blushing slightly, thanks to the light coming from the TV. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He mumbled, keeping his eyes on the screen. She smiled to herself as she began drifting off to sleep. She knew what it was. That feeling, that ‘something’ that she couldn’t identify earlier…she knew what it was. As close as she was to Rydel, Ross, and even Rocky…it was something that she’d never truly felt around them. Something about being around Riker made her feel safe, secure. At home. For the first time since she’d moved to Los Angeles, she felt as though she were finally at home.