Missing A Twin

Chapter 6 : Scared at school

Chapter 6
  
The next day...

Riker POV

I literally spent the whole day in the guidance office yesterday. I talked to the counselor, and we talked about what I felt on Friday, and emotions, and a ton of stuff that made me feel sort of uncomfortable. I just don't like opening up to people, especially someone I don't know.

So I was back in class now. I felt so nervous though. All the noises scared me. Every time there was a loud noise, my stomach would drop, and I'd feel so sick inside.

I was scared.

Jeff POV

"Are you ok?"

"Nicky. Stop asking me that."

"Well you've been so quiet this week. We only seem to talk about school. You don't really talk about anything else, and half the time, you're in bed doing nothing."

"I guess I'm just missing Riker a lot..."

"You should see if he can visit."

"Yeah... I'll ask him later. He's probably in class right now."

"Have you talked to him lately?"

"I texted him a little bit last night. They have counselors at his school now for people who are freaked out about the shooting. And Rydel made him go talk to one. He said it didn't really make him feel better because he didn't feel comfortable talking about it. But that's just how he is. He likes to pretend he's got his life all put together. He bottles up his feelings and stuff, and then he just breaks."

"Well maybe you can make him feel better if he comes to visit."

"Yeah..."

Later...

Rydel POV

Riker wouldn't walk home alone anymore. He took the bus with us in the afternoon, and he made me sit with him. He didn't talk at all today. We just sat in silence. I could tell he was still freaked out, but something more seemed to be wrong.

When we got home, I brought him up to my bedroom to talk to him.

"Rik, can we talk? And can you be completely honest with me?"

"Why? About what?"

"Tell me what's bothering you."

Riker sighed, and wouldn't meet my eyes. I could see him tensing up.

"Here. Lay down on my bed. Relax. Take a minute to calm down, and then tell me."

Riker laid down on my bed on his side. I rubbed his back a little bit. And I noticed he was beginning to cry a little.

"Rik, come on. Please tell me. I can try to help."

"I'm so scared there, Rydel... My stomach hurts the whole time I'm there. And some of the kids are making fun of me, and making loud noises on purpose to scare me."

"What do they do?"

"They knock their textbooks on the ground, and it makes a loud bang. And... in lunch, they'll pop their snack bag things, and it scares me so much, Rydel!"

"Does it give you panic attacks like Jeff gets?"

"No... It just scares me really bad. My heart races, and I just get super nervous."

"So people do it on purpose?"

"Yeah, and then they laugh at me because I jump and get scared."

I sighed.

"Please don't cry, Riker."

"I can't help it! I hate it there! It's too scary! And people are making fun of me!"

I made Riker sit up, and then I hugged him. He was shaking in my arms.

"Riker, maybe we should tell mom about this."

"No! Please don't!"

"Why not?"

"It's too embarrassing!"

"Riker, maybe mom can help. It's worth a shot, isn't it?"

"No!"

I sighed.

"Riker, I'm going to tell mom."

"No! Please don't, Rydel! Please don't!"

I got up, and walked towards the door. Riker ran after me, and grabbed my arm.

"Rydel, please!"

"Rik, I can't stand seeing you terrified. We have to do something about this."

I took his hand, and brought him downstairs. He was still crying, and mom seemed really concerned. I made Riker sit down in a kitchen chair, and I put my hands on his shoulders.

"Mom, we need to do something to help him. He's too scared to go to school. The kids there are teasing him, and they're making loud noises on purpose just to scare him."

Mom sat down in the chair opposite Riker.

"I think we just need to give this some time. You talked to the counselor yesterday, right Riker?" Mom asked.

Riker nodded.

"Did that help?" Mom asked.

He shook his head no.

"Well let's see how the rest of the week goes, ok? This was like your real first day back. First days are always hard. Give it a few more days."

Riker was crying more now. There wasn't really much I could do though.

"Do you still miss Jeff?" Mom asked.

He nodded.

"Well maybe you can go visit Jeff this weekend."

"Can I really?" Riker asked.

"Yes. Only on one condition. You have to go to school tomorrow and Friday."

"Fine..."

Riker got up. I followed him into the living room. He curled up on the couch. I sat down beside him.

"It's going to be ok, Riker."

There was a loud door slam, and Riker jumped.

"It's ok. Dad's just home from work," I said, quietly.

I could see Riker shaking a bit.

"Just 2 days. Then you can see Jeff. You can do this."

A/N : Sorry for the lack of updates... I'd give you a reason if I had one, but I honestly don't even know what's going on right now. It's been a rough couple of days for me.