Quiet vs. Loud

Puppies and Pool Time (part 2)

Rayne's POV

Rydel dragged me into her room and shut the door.  I sat down on her bed, trying to catch my breath.  Finally, I asked "What was so important that you had to almost rip my arm off dragging me up here?  I thought you were going to rip my arm off."

"I'm sorry" Rydel said "but I had to get you up here before Riker saw you.  I need to tell you something important."

"So, what do you have to tell me?" I asked.

"Well" Rydel started "you know we had an interview today.  One of the quesitons we always get asked is 'Who in the band is single', and we all usually raise our hands, even Ratliff and I, even though we are dating.  We just don't want the fans to know yet.  We are planning to tell them soon.  Well, getting back to the interview, when the question was asked, we all raised our hands, except for Riker.  We all kinda looked shocked and we could see Ryland off camera trying to get Riker's attention so he could tell him to raise his hand.  But by then, it was too late.  The interviewer saw it, and of course she said something.  At first, Riker tried to act like he just hadn't heard the question, but finally he just blushed and said 'Well, I don't exactly have a girlfriend yet, but there is a girl that I really like and I'm hoping she will say yes when I do ask her to be my girlfriend.  But I don't want to rush things, so I am waiting to ask her.  I hope the fans can accept that."

I just sat there and looked at Rydel.  I didn't know what to say. I mean, I did want to be Riker's girlfriend, but I didn't want either of us to rush into anything.  Finally, I said "So, what was the response to what he said?"

"Of course, the fans went crazy." Rydel answered.  "They started yelling, asking you name, where you two met, how long you have known each other and stuff like that.  But Riker refused to say anything else about you.  He just said that he wanted to keep the relationship private for right now, and he wasn't going to give out any information about you until he had talked to you about it first."

That response made me fall for Riker even more than I already had.  It just showed me that he really cared about me, which made me feel good.  But then, a question came to my mind.  "So, since he wants to keep me a secret for now, how will we be able to manage having our date without being seen?"

"Don't worry about that.  We talked about it on the way home, and that has been taken care of.  So just be ready for him to ask you, which he is planning to do soon.  Now, since we have the important stuff out of the way, let's go get in the pool.  The guys are waiting, and it is probably driving Riker crazy knowing that you are here but not outside yet."  So we both grabbed towels and headed out to the pool.

When we got outside, the guys were already in the pool.  Rydel and I put our towels on two lounge chairs, and took off our bathing suit cover-ups.  Immediately, Riker and Ratliff got out of the pool and came over to us.  I smiled when I saw that Rydel and Ratliff matched, and Riker and I did too.  Rydel was wearing a bikini with dark green bottom and the top was white with dark green zig-zags, while Ratliff was wearing drk green swim trunks.  Riker was wearing dark blue swim trunks, and I had on a dark blue bikini with silver swirls on it.  I smiled at the guys, then gave Riker a hug.  He hugged back, then pulled away and looked at me with a look of surprise.  "Not that I mind, but what was that for?" he asked.  I just smiled and said "That was for what you said at the interview.  By saying what you did, you showed me that you really do care about me."  He looked releived.  " I do care about you, and I promise to keep us a secret for as long as you want me to.  I want to respect your privacy."

We joined everyone in the pool, and we had a good time just swimming and goofing off.  Then Rydel suggested that the guys have a diving contest, and she and I would be the judges.  The guys agreed, but they all said that they wanted to wait until they had rested a bit so they would all be at their best.  I asked Riker if Jackson could come over and join the dive contest, and he said that was fine.  So I grabbed my cell phone out of my cover up, and sent a text to Jackson telling him to come join us for a diving contest.  Almost immediately, he texted back that he would be over in a few minutes.  I put my phone down and told Riker that Jackson was on his way.  So then we all just sat around and talked about random stuff until Jackson showed up.  I couldn't wait for the diving contest.  I wanted to see what the guys would do, but I also wanted to see Jackson diving again.  He had taken dive classes when we were younger, but he hadn't done any diving since his accident, and I wanted him to try again.  I knew that if he could just get over what had happened, he would be fine.  But he needed to find his confidence again, and I knew that the Lynchs and Ratliff would be great at helping him.

***Author's Note*****

I know this chapter isn't the greatest, but the diving is coming up in the next chapter.  I just want to work a few more things out before I post it.  Also, you will learn why Jackson quit diving and Riker and Rayne go on their first date.  Again, thanks for all the reads, comments and followers and let me know if you have any suggestions about what should happen.  Until next time - happy reading!!!!!!!