"Riley." I hear. "Riley." I hear again. I open my eyes and see Daniel. I sit up and smile. "Hi." I said. "Are you and corbyn dating again?" He asked in a serious voice. A wake up a little more. "What do you mean?" I asked. "Corbyn said you guys are." He said. I look at corbyn. He's awake. All the other boys are sleeping. They would've told him the truth if they weren't. "Daniel, we're not dating." I said. "Tell that to corbyn." He said as he walks out of the room. I thought he was sick. He probably feels better. I stand up and walk to corbyns room. "Corbyn." I said. He looks at me. "We're not da-" I said before he cut me off with a kiss. We start making out. I try to stop him but I can't. I try to push him off but my arms don't do it. I don't know why. I grab his face and start kissing him back. We lay down on the bed. I'm on top of him. We're not having sex, we're just...laying down. Then, I hear someone walk in. I don't think anything of it. "I FUCKING KNEW IT!" I hear someone scream. I stop kissing corbyn and turn around to see Daniel. I get off of corbyn and stand on the floor. All the boys wake up, confused. "Daniel, it's not what it looks like." I said trying to stay calm even though my heart is about to burst out of my chest. "IT LOOKS LIKE YOU AND CORBYN ARE BACK TOGETHER, RILEY!" Daniel yells. Everyone in the whole hospital can hear. I just look at him, not knowing what to say. He sighs and walks out of the room. "DANIEL! DANIEL WAIT!" I yell. He doesn't even look back. He just walks out again. All the boys look at me, confused as to what just happened. I look at corbyn. He just looks at me. I just walk out. Not to find Daniel, to find Keri. I haven't seen her since yesterday. As I walk out of the hospital, I dial her number. I get in the car and drive away. "Hello?" I hear. "Keri, I need you." I said about to cry. "Why? What's the matter, sweetie?" She asked. I try not to cry but it's so hard. But I manage to hold it in. "There's a situation involving corbyn and Daniel and....me." I said. "Okay. Tell me about it." She said. "Where are you?" I asked. "I'm....it doesn't mater." She said. Um... okay? "Can we meet up then?" I asked. "Um...sure. Where?" She asked weirdly. Is she okay? "Maybe at the diner. I haven't eaten in 24 hours." I said. "Okay." She said. "Alright. I'll see you in 10. I love you." I said. "I love you too, babe. See you soon." She said. I hang up the phone and continue driving. The diner is 10 minutes away. I try to choke back tears as I listen to Why Don't We's song Words I Didn't Say. It's been one of my favorites ever since it came out. I would always listen to it when my dad came home drunk and I didn't want to listen to him and my mom arguing about something.
When I get to the diner, I sit down at the table and look out the window to see if Keri is here yet. I don't see her. "Can I get you something to eat or drink?" A waiter asked as he walked up to my table. I look at him. "Um, yes. I'll have a chocolate milkshake." I said. "Is that all?" He asked. I nod. "Okay." He said as he walks away. I continue to look out the window incase she comes.
An hour passes and she's still not here. I finished my milkshake half an hour ago. "Can I get you anything else." The waiter said. I get tear to my eyes. I just wanna say 'you can get me a non alcoholic mom. You can get me a dad who doesn't want to kill me. You can get me a boyfriend who doesn't think I'm cheating. You can get Keri to show up on time. YOU CAN GET ME A LIFE THAT DOESNT FUCKING SUCK!' but I didn't. "I'm good." I said. He smiles and walks away. A tear falls down my face and I put my head down so my face is pressed up against the table. I just wanna talk about this situation with someone who understands and can give me good advice. I just want to get it off my chest. I close my eyes. I might as well wait here for her for a little longer. I really need to talk.
"Riley." I hear. I open my eyes and see Keri. FINALLY! "Where the hell have you been." I said tiredly and madly. "I'm sorry. I got caught up in-" she said before I cut her off. "I've been sitting here for...2 hours!" I said as I look at my watch. "I know. I'm sorry. What do you wanna talk about." She asked. I sigh and stand up. "It's nothing." I said. I start walking away. "Riley!" Keri said behind me. I turn and look at her. "Whatever it is...figure it out. I don't like the way you're talking to me right now." She said. I sigh and walk back to the table and sit down. "I'm sorry." I said. She puts her hand on mine. "Now tell me what's going on." She said. Oh no. Here come the tears. One falls down my face as I'm about to explain. "Corbyn only remembers when me and him were 'dating' so he kissed me three times and Daniel saw and he's mad at me." I said starting to cry. "Why'd he kiss you three times? Didn't you stop him?" Keri asked. "Well, I tried but he kept kissing me so I didn't know what to do." I said. "Do you still like him?" She asked. I hesitate for a second. "N-no." I said stuttering a little as I think about it. I don't...do I? "....okay. Then you and Daniel should make up. I know my son and the only thing he wants is an apology and an explanation and you'll be fine." She said. "Okay." I said as I sob. People look at me as they walk past but I'm not embarrassed. I don't care how many people stare at me. I needed to get this out. "Thank you." I said wiping the tears away. "Your welcome." She said. I give her a hug and walk out of the diner. I get in the car and drive to the hospital. When I get there, I see Daniel and all the boys in there. It almost time for corbyn to get out of the hospital. It's 8:00. I walk in and they all look at me. "Daniel, can I talk to you for a second." I said in a quiet tone of voice. He hesitates for a second. "Please." I said. He looks at the boys but they don't say anything. He looks back at me. "You have 1 minute." He said. I nod my head and we walk into the hallway. "Talk." He said as I'm just staring at him. "You know me and corbyn aren't dating. I told you that." I said. "Then how come you two were kissing." He asked. "He still thinks we're dating!" I said getting a little anxious to make up already. "I know but you could've pushed him off." He said. "I did. Three times." I said. "THREE TIMES?! YOU GUYS KISSED THREE TIMES?!" He said surprised and mad. "Um...I guess." I said. "WHAT?! How could you." He said. "I'm sorry. I tried to push him off but-" I said before he cut me off. "But nothing. You could've pushed him off." Daniel said. He starts to walk away but I grab his arm. "Stop." I said. He turns around and looks at me. "Am I not good enough?" He asked me. "Of coarse you're good enough." I said trying to convince him. "Then why would you kiss him? Do you not want to be with me?" He asked. "Daniel, of coarse I wanna be with you. I kissed him because he kissed me first. I pushed him off, Daniel." I said. He looks down at the floor. "I just feel like you wanna be with him more than me." He said getting quiet. "I'd rather spend one day with you than the rest of my life with someone else because I can't stop loving you, Daniel." I said. He looks up at me. "I'm never going to stop loving you. But you don't see that." I said. He just looks at me in silence. "I'm in love with you." I said. He's silent. I get silent too and look down at the floor. I'm so embarrassed. I know he's doesn't love me too. Why am I so stupid? "I'm so in love with you." He said. I look up at him. "I've been in love with you ever since you moved in. You mean the world to me. I love you." He said. A tear falls down my face. I'm crying tears of joy. He grabs my face and and smiles. He pulls me in and kisses me. "Let's never fight again." I said when we stop kissing. He grins. "Okay." He said. I smile as he puts his arm around me. We walk back into the room and all the boys stare at us. "What?" I asked. "That was beautiful." Jonah said. They all laugh. I push him a little and then sit next to him. "Shut up." I said. He laughs as I lay my head back against the wall. I'm not sleepy, I'm just tired of fighting and now that it's finally over, I'm as happy as ever. I look at Daniel. He looks at me and smiles. I lay my head on his shoulder. He lays his head on mine. Corbyn looks a little sad but I ignore him. I don't wanna fight with Daniel again.
A few hours later, the clock hits 12:00. "Why are we still here? Wasn't I supposed to leave today?" Corbyn asked me. All the other boys are sleeping. "Your temperature went up a little so you have to stay another night. They said you can leave in a few hours. Just get some sleep." I said. He looks at me and Daniel and closes his eyes. "Corbyn, I'm sorry." I said walking over to his bed. "I'm fine." He said. I put my hand on his. "You're not fine. What's the matter?" I asked. "I don't know." He said. I rub the back of his hand with my thumb. "You're my best friend. I do love you but not like that....anymore." I said. He sighs. "I know. I'm sorry for kissing you." He said. "It's okay." I said stroking his hair as his eyelids get heavier. "Get some sleep, okay? I need you to get better." I said. He smiles. "Okay." He said. I smile at him as his eyes close. I give him a kiss on the forehead and walk back over to the chair I was sitting in. Daniel wakes up. "Everything okay?" He asked me. I smile. "Everything's great." I said. He smiles and puts his arm around me. I close my eyes. I'm happy everything's cleared up.
I hear a door slam and I jump awake. Daniel squeezes me tighter as I lift my head. "You okay?" He asked. "Yeah. I just got scared." I said. I look around. It's very dark in here but I can see that all the boys and corbyn are awake. I look at the time. It's 3:00. "We're all going home now." Zach said to me. I smile. "Yay. Finally." I said. "I know right." Jack said. We all stand up and walk out of the hospital. We get in the car and drive home. We walk in the house and take off our shoes. As the boys were about to go to bed, I stop them. "What's wrong?" Jonah asked. I just walk over to him and give him a hug. "What's this for?" He asked. I walk over to jack and hug him. Then Zach, then corbyn, then Daniel. "Thank you guys for everything. You really helped me turn my life around. I'm happy. I've never been happy throughout my life. I love you guys." I said. "Aww we love you too." Jonah said putting his arm around me. I smile. "Okay. You guys can go to bed. I just had to tell you that." I said. They smile. "Goodnight, Riley." Zach said. "Goodnight." I said. They all smile as they walk to their room. Me and corbyn walk into his room that we usually share. "Are you sure you wanna share a bed with me?" He asked. I smile. "Of coarse I do. You're my best friend and I love you." I said. He smiles and gives me a big hug. I close my eyes as he hugs me. I missed him so much. Daniel walks in as we stop hugging. "Can I sleep in here with you guys?" He asked. "Of coarse." I said with a smile. We all get into bed. As I lay in between them, I close my eyes. Daniel wraps his arms around me and kisses me on the cheek. "I love you." He said. "I love you too." I said. Even though this has been one of the worst months of my life, Its also been one of the best because I met my idols which turned out to be my best friends. I love my life now and I wouldn't have it any other way.
