Can he be fixed?

(5)Rickys protection squad

Rickys POV
The next thing I remember was being woken up by my dad yelling for me too come down for dinner. Sighing a run my hand through my hair, and get out of bed as I slowly make my way down stairs. Once I got down stair I was greeted by my dad setting the table, and plating the one food he could actually cook Alfredo. Silently I sat down and scooped a decent portion onto my plate before I started pushing it around, not really having an appetite. After sitting there pushing around the food for a while my dad spoke up. "So Ricky." Not even looking up at him I ignored his attempt too start a conversation as I took a sip of water, continuing too push my food around my plate. But unfortunately he continued "Richard we need too talk about this, so if you just answer my questions and talk too me about it, help me understand, then this talk could end quite quickly." Sighing I nodded as he slowly began asking me questions as he continued too eat. "Why did you continue doing it, after you accidentally cut yourself?" Sighing I began too tell him I was really overwhelmed then, and that little cut helped relieve some of my anxiety, so I started too do it when my anxiety started building too much.

Getting up from his chair he walked over too where I was sitting, and pulled me into a hug before giving me a small smile. Sighing I leaned in as he gave me another hug, slowly running his hands through my hair. After hugging for a while he let go and sat back down, gesturing for me too do the same as he finished his dinner. Sighing I sat down and finished half the food on my plate, not really having much of an appetite after the conversation I just had too sit through. So after eating one last bite I got up, bringing my plate with me I clean off my plate before putting it in the dishwasher and walking up stairs without another word too my dad. Once I got up stairs I took a shower, using it as a way too just escape from everything, which seem too work. After stepping out of the shower a feel of calm came over me while climbing into bed and pulling out my phone. Just as I was about too put some music on a call popped up on my screen, Nini. Sighing I watched as it rang for a second before finally answering the call.

(Bolded is Nini) (Regular is Ricky)

"Hey Ricky I just wanted too check in see how you were doing. I know I kinda left you at a weird time, and we never really talked in rehearsals. I'm fine Nini, and whats too check in on your leaving for Denver and thats that. Well you see thats what I kinda wanted too talk too you about, you see I'm going too be gone till the end of the school year, and I most likely will be there for senior also, and I don't think that will help our relationship any. So I wanted too ask if we could breakup. What do you mean break up? We just got back together. I know Ricky but I don't know if we could handle a long distance relationship, and I will be busy in Denver. I mean this conservatory could change my life, and I'm not sure if I'll have time for a relationship. What you mean is you won't have time for me. Rick- No Nini it's fine I get it, and I can't wait too see what you accomplish in Denver. *Ricky hangs up the phone*

After hanging I hung up the phone a wave of anxiety wash over me, as I itched too get rid of it. Just as I was about too do something I knew I was going too regret, there was a knock on the door. After a couple seconds of not answer the door my dad popped his head saying "hey Ricky, some of your friends are at the door asking if they could hang out. What should I tell them?" Trying too shake off my anxiety I throw a hoodie on, and unconsciously dig my nails into my palm "Yah, uh, can you just tell them they can come up stairs, please?" Nodding his head he stood there for a second watching me before walking away leave the door opened, as he head back down stair too relay the message.

After he left too go relay the message I do a quick check of my room, too see it was halfway decent. Then I sit down on my bed as my friends started walking into my room. As they started entering I noticed that Nini wasn't with them, as I noticed this a slight frown appear upon my face as I watched all of them find a seat around my room. Ashlynn and Big Red sat on a old bean bag I had, Carlos and Seb cuddled up in a pile of blankets that I had thrown on the floor, and Gina and Kourtney sat on the floor. Then there was Ej, unlike the others he came and took a seat on my bed with me, still giving me space. They then all sat there in silence wait for someone too say something first, so finally I spoke up. "So what are you guys doing here? No offense but I didn't really plan a hang out tonight." Thats when Kourtney finally started talking "Nini um, texted me saying what happened saying that she was going too you know.... Denver, and told me what she said so I decided that you probably wouldn't want too be alone tonight, so we all decided too come over and keep you company."

Gina's POV
Once we were all seated around Ricky's room, we started going over some of the big scenes. Everyone was laughing as we tried too do voices for the characters, going back and forth with our lines, until it got too Ricky's first line tonight. As it got too his line he tensed up and said his line almost like how Big Red use too read the stage direction last semester. Hoping I wasn't the only one who noticed this I began looking around the group too see everyone looking at him concerned. But not really wanting too pry we let him continue reading until it was Ashlynn's line.  After finishing the scene we all decided too take a break from the play, so setting down are scripts we all began too look through the moves I had in my room, until Carlos pulled The Greatest Showman from one of the movie cases. As he showed it too the group a chorus of yeses  came back in return.

But as I looked at Ricky I never saw him answer. He just tensed up as the name of the movie was said, and sat there letting everyone else in the group answer. Not really wanting too dwell on it any longer I turned my attention too the screen as well all found a place in his room too sit. Ashlynn, Big Red, Kourtney and I shared the pile of blankets and pillows, Seb and Carlos sat below the foot of Rickys bed under a sofa blanket. While Ricky and Ej laid down on there stomachs, next too each other on the bed with a blanket draped around the two of them. Smiling I turned back too the movie screen too see the last trailer ending, and the music too the movie started. 

*The movie is done*

Once the movie finished everyone looked half asleep expect two, Ricky and EJ. They were passed out, Ricky's head laying on Ej's chest, with Ej's arm protectively wrapped around Ricky and the blanket still draped over the two of them. Smiling I quietly got everyone else's attention before motioning towards the portion the two boys were in, which causes everyone too smile. Then smirking I stood up and walked over too the bed before taking a picture of the two boys cuddling up too one another. After I was satisfied with the photo I sat back down next too Ashlynn as Carlos got my attention "Gina, send me that picture." Nodding and smirking I made a group chat with everyone still awake, and sent the picture. Right as I was about too start packing up too leave Rickys door opened, and in came Rickys dad. Smiling a kind smile he told us that he had texted our parents saying that we were having a sleepover, which we all quietly chorused a thank you, except the two boys on the bed, before we all laid back down. Right as I was about too close my eyes I heard Mr. Bowen say "Please protect and take care of my son Ej, he needs a little light in his life" before he closed the door and I closed my eyes.