Long Lost Brother

Chapter 22 : Feelings

Chapter 22

Later...

Jeff POV

I went downstairs to find Riker still awake, doing nothing in his bed.

"How are you not totally dying of boredom?" I asked.

"I don't know..."

"How are you feeling?"

"Not great..."

I sighed.

"Well we're about to go out to dinner. Mom says you have to come."

"Alright..."

Riker got out of bed, got changed, and then came upstairs with me. We got in the back of the van, and then we went to a restaurant.

The restaurant was kind of tiny, and they didn't have a table big enough to fit all of us.

"Ok, 2 people have to sit at a different table," mom said.

"Riker and I will," I said, immediately.

"Ok."

Riker followed me over to the other table. He sat across from me. We ordered our food and drinks, and then sat there in an awkward silence.

"Jeff?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry for how I've been treating you. I've been kind of mean..."

"It's ok."

"It's not ok. I did horrible things to you."

"Riker, I've had to deal with much worse from my parents. It's fine. Seriously... I had a question though."

"What?"

"You know how you said... they weren't in jail anymore?"

"Yeah?"

"Were you lying?"

"No. They're not in jail anymore. They were initially arrested for child abuse. Not kidnapping. And now that you're not their son anymore, they were let go sooner."

"Oh..."

"I know. It's stupid."

I sighed.

"What?" Riker asked.

"I just hope I never have to see them again."

"Just don't go back to Ohio."

"I know... But I had friends there."

"Oh... But you have us now."

"I know... But... I just miss them."

Riker nodded slowly.

"I get it..."

"Are you feeling any better from this morning?"

"Kind of... Not really..."

"What's wrong with you?"

"I don't know..."

"Did you get any sleep?"

"No... Not for a few days..."

"Why can't you sleep?"

"Don't know..."

"What are you so upset about?"

Riker looked up at me.

"I feel like you're the better twin. Everybody always wants to be around you, and they don't care about me! And we're basically the same person! I just don't get what's so great about you that isn't about me."