I'm Only Me When I'm With You (Raura) *EXTREME EDITING*

Chapter 23

Rydel P.O.V.

"You've got to be kidding, we already packed sweetheart," Mom said looking at Riker confused. "No, I've changed my mind." I couldn't believe the way he was acting. "THE FANS ARE COUNTING ON YOU! STOP BEING SO SELFISH AND JUST DO IT FOR THEM," I screamed at Riker just before running out and letting a few tears fall down my face. "Rydel, come back here," Riker called after me. I felt a hand on my shoulder, I quickly turned. Riker.

"Leave me alone!" I screamed running to my room and attempting to slam the door, but someone's foot was in the way. "I REALLY DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK OF ME RIGHT NOW! WE NEED TO TALK!" I threw my pillow at him. "I DON'T WANNA TALK TO A SELFISH JERK WHO DOESN'T EVEN CARE ABOUT HIS FANS!" Riker slammed the door. "I DO CARE ABOUT MY FANS! I LOVE THEM!"

"YOU LOVE THEM? THEN WHY CAN'T YOU DO THIS ONE THING FOR THEM? THEY COUNT DOWN THE DAYS UNTIL THEY SEE US LIVE, THEY PICK OUT THEIR OUTFITS MONTHS BEFORE, AND THEY BUY EXPENSIVE MEET AND GREET TICKETS TO SEE US EVERY DAY! YOU'RE SUCH AN ARROGANT JERK, DON'T EVEN TALK TO ME! YOU'RE AN ASSHOLE!" Riker's angry face turned to a look of sympathy and sadness. I was afraid I had really upset him. I was going to apologize, but I was too mad to even say a sentence without exploding.

Rocky P.O.V.

"LAURA! OPEN THE DOOR PLEASE! I AM WORRIED, PLEASE OPEN THE DOOR!" There was silence on the other end and nothing was working. The door was locked and I couldn't figure out what was wrong. I heard whispering inside the room. "Here put this on, you'll look more like her." I banged on the door one more time. "Yes," Someone answered. "Laura?" She opened the door slightly, "Rocky, I'll be out in a minute." I nodded and waited for her. "Help me, she isn't that light," I heard someone whisper.

"Laura? Are you sure you're okay?" Seconds later, she walked out of the bathroom perfectly fine. "I'm fine, are you alright?" I nodded. "Do you need help with your bag, Laur?" She shook her head. I can get it or Ross can help me." I went into my room and grabbed my bag, starting to head down the stairs when I saw a car pull out of next door's driveway. "The neighbors aren't home, they're on vacation."

"ROCKY! HURRY UP WITH THE BAGS! WE'LL BE LEAVING SOON," Dad yelled from outside. Riker ran down the steps, he seemed angry but I couldn't tell.

Ross P.O.V.

"LAURA!" I ran inside, looking for her. "I'm right here, Ross," She called bringing down her bags. "Let me help you, baby." Laura smiled, "You're such a gentleman." She kissed me on the cheek quickly and I carried the bags out the door.

"Who are we missing?" Dad looked inside the bus and counted everyone. "We have Ratliff and Rocky on the bus. Go find everyone else." I nodded running back inside the house. "Babe? It's time to get on the bus." Laura smiled and walked outside to the bus. "Riker, we're leaving." Riker wasn't even paying attention. "Leave without me."

"What's wrong?" Riker started to explain about Ratliff and Del, then he talked about what happened with him and Del. "This is what she said, "YOU LOVE THEM? THEN WHY CAN'T YOU DO THIS ONE THING FOR THEM? THEY COUNT DOWN THE DAYS UNTIL THEY SEE US LIVE, THEY PICK OUT THEIR OUTFITS MONTHS BEFORE, AND THEY BUY EXPENSIVE MEET AND GREET TICKETS TO SEE US EVERY DAY! YOU'RE SUCH AN ARROGANT JERK, DON'T EVEN TALK TO ME! YOU'RE AN ASSHOLE!"

"Go apologize, she likes E-RAT, let her be with E-RAT. If you don't, she'll just get mad at you and you will be fighting like you are now." Riker nodded and walked upstairs. Now I just gotta get mom. "Mom, it's time to leave." Mom started to cry, "Everything is going wrong, Rydel and Riker are fighting, Laura isn't feeling well, Ratliff and Riker are fighting." I opened my arms for a hug. "Listen, Riker just went upstairs to talk to Rydel, Laura feels fine and Riker doesn't hate Ratliff." Mom smiled, "Thank you."

I ran upstairs to see how it was going between Riker and Rydel. When I got to the bottom of the stairs, I heard yelling and then a scream. "RIKER, LISTEN TO ME! I DON'T CARE IF YOU DON'T WANT ME DATING ELLINGTON! I WILL DATE WHOEVER I WANNA DATE AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME! STOP BEING SUCH A CONTROL FREAK AND STOP BOSSING EVERYONE AROUND! YOU ARE NOT IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING! CAN'T YOU JUST GO BACK TO BEING ONE THING? MY BIG BROTHER! I MISS YOU!"

"I'M RIGHT HERE, RYDEL! I NEVER LEFT." Riker and Rydel were screaming back and forth. "I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE ANYMORE! YOU'VE CHANGED AND I DON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE YOU ANYMORE! I DON'T WANT THIS RIKER IN MY LIFE! I DON'T WANT THIS RIKER TO BE MY BIG BROTHER! I WANT THE OLD RIKER BACK! I WANT MY BIG BROTHER BACK!"

"WHAT IS GOING ON IN HERE," I yelled opening the door and seeing Rydel's eye make-up running and smudged all over her face. She let a small tear fall down her cheek, "Nothing, absolutely nothing." Riker turned to me, "What did I do wrong?" I pulled him outside. "You're trying to control Rydel's life, she doesn't want that. All Rydel needs is a big brother to look out for her."

"That's all I was trying to do. I was just trying to protect her from heartbreak. I love her and I don't want her heart to get broken by someone she loves." I thought of something thoughtful to say. "Rydel already got her heart broken by someone she loves, you. I've never seen her this upset, this angry, this sad. Rydel's heart is broken and she's falling apart. Go pick up the pieces and sing her this," I said handing Riker the song he wrote for Rydel. Riker smiled, "You're the best!" I ran to my room and got a guitar. "I'll play, ready?" Riker nodded and we knocked on Rydel's door. "It's me, it's important," Riker said. Rydel opened the door and then sat on her bed again.

I started to play and then Riker started to sing....