What Hurts the Most

Chapter one

Laura's POV:
It's been four and a half years since I left California. I moved to Little Rock, Arkansas and moved into a two bedroom apartment. I'm now working as a waitress at a upscale restaurant in the middle of downtown while Theo goes to daycare close to the apartments. "Mama!" Theo yells as I pick him up from daycare. He has brown hair, brown eyes and loves to dance to the music when I have it playing. Everyday he reminds me of Riker. My phone rings bringing me back to the present "Hello?" I say as I answer it "Laura, R5 is coming to town." Emma says and I suddenly feel sick "What?" I say as I buckle Theo into his car seat and get in the driver's seat "I just heard on the radio that R5 is coming to town and that you could win tickets to see them." She says. Emma is the one who helped me find a job and a home for me and was there when I had Theo. She's one of my best friend. We met at the church I've been going to. "Hello? Are you there?" She says pulling me out of my thoughts "Yeah. I'm here. What radio station was that?" I ask "I don't remember. Why do you want to know? Are you going to enter it?" She says and I can hear the curious sound of her voice making me chuckle "I don't know. I'm torn because I kinda want to see them but then if they see Theo they'll know why I left. Plus Theo looks like Riker. If they see me or if anyone else sees me it will be all over the news. Everybody will come looking for me and eventually find out I got pregnant before marriage. Do you know how my parents would react? After three and a half years they find me and as if that's not enough of a shock, they find out that I have a child." I say "That's true. But what would they think if they found out that you knew that they were here and you didn't go see them?" She says "That is true. I would be mad if they did that to me." I say absently "But what if they don't want to see me? What if they're still mad that I left? I didn't even give them an explanation as to why." I say and I hear her sigh "You just gotta face your fears. I know that sounds harsh but sooner or later you'll have to talk to him. When Theo gets older, he'll want to know who his father is." She says and I nod "I know. I just don't want Theo to get hurt if Riker rejects him. Like, what if he doesn't want anything to do with us? What if he forgot about me? He might not even want to be a father." I say and I feel tears in my eyes "Listen, stop off at Starbucks and get us a frappé and I'll meet you at your place." She says and hangs up. I put my phone in the seat beside me and start the car "Where are we going, mom?" Theo asks and I smile "We're going to get a drink and then head home. Aunt Emma is going to stop over." I say and he grins "Yay! Aunt Emma!" He yells and I laugh.  Ten minutes later, I'm pulling into the Starbucks parking lot and seeing how long the line is for the drive-thru I decide to go in. I get Theo out and hold him against my hip as I walk in "Mommy, I have to go potty." He says and I hurry over to the bathroom. We get done and walk over to the line "Can I have a drink?" He says as he holds my hand while he stands next to me "Sure. I'll get you a drink." I say. A couple minutes later I feel people walk up behind me in line "Guys, be quieter." I hear a woman say. That's Rydel. She's standing behind me with the boys. "Rydel, we're just messing around." I hear Ryland say and then I hear one of the boys whispering. I pick up Theo and hold him against my left hip and he looks at me intently "Can I have a cookie too? I've been a good boy." He says and grins and I smile and nod. If I say something they will most likely recognize me and I can't do that. Not yet.

Riker's POV:
We're in Little Rock, Arkansas for a couple days to do a concert. Today we'll be walking around to explore the city. Rydel wanted to get a Starbucks coffee so now we're standing in line. Rocky says something that makes the rest of the boys laugh and Rydel sighs "Guys, be quieter." She says and Ryland chuckles "Rydel, we're just messing around." Ryland says. A couple minutes later, I feel Rocky nudge me "What's wrong? You've been really quiet lately. Although you normally are more quiet these days." He says quietly and I sigh "I'm just thinking." I say. I look up to see a little boy watching me as his mom holds him on her hip. I smile at him and he grins "Hi, what's your name?" I say "My name is Theo. What's your name?" He says and I chuckle "My name is Riker. It's nice to meet you, Theo." I say and he reaches his hand out making me chuckle as I shake his little hand. His mother hasn't turned around yet. Weird. It's like she's purposefully ignoring us. Theo taps her on the shoulder "Mommy, meet my new friend. His name is Riker." He says and I chuckle. She turns her head towards him a little bit so I can see her profile and she smiles "That's nice, honey, but let's leave him alone. He's probably busy." She says and I freeze. That sounds exactly like Laura's voice. It can't be. Laura left California four and a half years ago. Nobody knows where she is. It can't be her. The line moves up and I watch as she tells the cashier her order. After she's done she stands on the side to wait "Mommy, did you get me a cookie?" I hear Theo ask and she nods "Yes, sweetie." She says with a smile. Rydel orders all of our drinks and we wait over on the side "Why do you keep staring at that women? You're probably making her feel uncomfortable." I hear Rydel say from beside me and I look over to see her watching me. I debate on whether or not to tell them and finally decide not to. They'll think I'm crazy. "Nothing. She was just pretty is all. Her little boy started talking to me first. He's really cute." I say and he looks over and smiles "Yeah. He is cute. Kinda reminds me of you." He says