Can he be fixed?

(16)The lady in the pants suit

(* This isn't part of the story but I just wanted too say that I'm going too be in my first varsity NJROTC competition tomorrow so wish me luck) But for now enjoy the next chapter

Ricky's POV

As we pulled up too the front of my house I slumped down, wishing I could melt into the seat. But grabbing my hand, Ej starts too rub gentle circles on it, slowly calming me down. After sitting there for a couple minutes Ej climbed out of the car before walking around too my door and opening it. Sighing I got out of the car throwing my bag over my shoulder, and squeezing Ej's hand making sure that he was actually there. Smiling down at me, he pulls me towards the house not giving me much room too protest, as he pulled me through the front door my face went blank. Standing there already was my dad, who looked surprised too see us, which didn't really help how I was currently feeling. As Ej went too start off the conversation my dad stopped him by saying "guys I just heard from the lawyer, there was a date opening and your mom took it. The custody case is in four days." Freezing in place I look at him wide eyed, as he begins too explain what all was going too happen.

He began too tell me how they had already checked too see if moms house was a good living environment, and how they were doing a home study later on today. Then he began too tell me how I will have too be in the court room during, but I will have too do as the judge says. Nodding my head I ask my dad how we were supposed too get ready for the home study. Too that he just shrugged and told me he already cleaned up the house, before sitting down on the couch, laying his head in his hands. After watching his sit there for a second I look over at Ej with pleading eyes silently asking if my 'problem' could wait till later. Slowly nodding his head yes I thank him by kissing his cheek before pulling him up stairs. Once we got into my room I began too hastily make sure everything was clean enough for the social worker. Would the social worker try and take me away from my dad if my room was too messy? Honestly I didn't know, and I didn't want too take the chance of that happening.

By the time I had finished thoroughly cleaning my room, and putting on clothes that didn't look like I slept in them, I walked down stairs with Ej in toe. After taking the trash out and putting all the dishes away, while my dad made dinner, I sat down on the couch trying too process it all. But just as Ej went too grab my hand I heard the doorbell ring. Hastily getting up I walk too the door and open it, coming face too face with who I was guess too be the social worker. She was wearing a black pants suit, carrying a bag that I could already see was full of papers. Trying too make a good first impression I invite her in, watching as she walks in looking around the entrance of the house as she walks. After a couple of seconds I see my dad round the corner, whipping his hand on his pants before shaking the ladies hand. After a quick greeting we all walk into the living room while Ej starts too go towards the door, but I stop him by grabbing his hand, and giving his a pleading look. Looking over too my dad I say "dad can Ej stay for this, please?" Looking towards the social worker he waits for her too answer, too which she just nods her head.  Sighing in relief I drag Ej over too sit next too me, not allowing him too even attempt too let go of my hand, but as we sat down the questions began.

*Talking (Social worker) Sw  (Ricky) R (Mr. Bowen) B (Ej) E* Italics for when no one is talking

"(Sw) So as you both should know, I am here because Richards.. (R) Sorry, can you please call me Ricky." Nodding her head she smiled at me before continuing. "(Sw) Ricky's mom is trying too take custody, now I do not pick sides, that is what a lawyer is for. What I do is look and see what I think is in the best intrust of the minor. (R) Go ahead ask your questions. (Sw) So first off Ricky how long have you been living with only your dad? (R) I would say about almost a year, but my mom would come back on occasion. She said she was away from home so much because of her work, but then they got divorced." Turning towards my dad she asked him how long they had been divorced. To which he answered, that its been final for about 2 months now. Nodding her head she wrote something down on the paper in front of her before continuing. "(Sw) And Ricky have you ever ask too go see your mom in Chicago? (R) No. (Sw) Have you ever wanted too go see your mom? (R) No I've been way too busy too really think about going on trips. (Sw) And why is that? (R) Well you see this year I decided too try and join theater and we just finished our first musical right before the winter break. (Sw) Wow thats amazing, who came too see you on opening night? (R) My dad was there, and so was my mom. About halfway through the show my moms new boyfriend showed up also. (Sw) Prior too the show, had you ever met your moms boyfriend? (R) No, and I didn't really meet him after the show either." Nodding her head she turned towards my dad asking "(Sw) Had you know about the boyfriend, or him coming too the show? (B) I found out about the boyfriend after my son told me about him on thanksgiving, after I told him too call his mom in Chicago so she would get too talk too her. But instead of Ricky's mom picking the phone it was Todd, my his moms boyfriend. After he came home from his friends house that day he told me who had picked up before I told him too try one more time. (Sw) Was she the one who picked up the second time? (R) Yes. (Sw) Okay, how are your grades at school? (R) There good,  I'm relatively good in all of my classes, I mean math is math, but I get through them. (Sw) And while your at home what are your chores? (R) My dad and I switch every other day doing the dishes, I clean  my room and my bathroom, I take out the trash. Then when we get around too it I help my dad out in the backyard, making sure it doesn't look like a complete disaster. (Sw) If anything were too happen too Ricky and they couldn't get in contact with you, who would they call? (B) Ricky and I have know some neighbor that live about a block away since he was in kindergarten, who have a kid that is the same age as Ricky. So we are the secondary legal guardians if anything were too happen too one another.

As this continued I zoned out, while she started basing more of the questions towards my dad. But then she looked at Ej "(Sw) So who are you too the family?" Looking over at me he waited for my approval, and as I nodded he said "(E) I'm Ricky's boyfriend, I also go too school with him at East High, and were in theater together. Looking over at my dad I see his smirk at me as he looks between the two of us. Which I couldn't help but turn red at. (Sw) And how long have you two know each other? (E) We have know each other since the beginning of the school year. (Sw) How would you say Ricky has been since you have met him? (E) He is a very happy guy, but he is very too himself when he is in classes and around the school. But whenever I see him at home or in the theater room it's like he completely opens up. (Sw) And you were there on opening night, yes? Were you in the play with him? (E) I was in the play with him opening night, we played Troy and Chad, and I helped him out when he got surprised that Todd came too the performance."

As Ej talked about us I could help but lean onto his shoulder as I listened too his soothing voice talk about what happened on opening night. Eventually the lady stopped asking us questions, and followed dad as she gave her a tour around the house. As they left the living room I laid my head in Ej's lap as he began running his hand through my hair, not saying anything. After sitting there for a couple minutes I finally spoke "Thank you for answering her questions, and being here with me." Smiling down at me he just nodded his head before leaning down and kissing my forehead, causing me too blush. As he continued too run his hand through my hair my eye started too drift close until I heard my dad and the social worker coming down the stairs. So I quickly sat up, sitting back in my spot from before, as I watched them come down the stairs.  After they exchanged a few words quietly she turned too me and said "Well I will see you both in a couple days, bye." Nodding my head in acknowledgement I watched as my dad walked her out then came back into the living room.

As he walked back into the living I grabbed Ej's hand and tried too drag him upstairs "Okay dad well we'll see you later." But just as I got too the stairs Ej pulled back not allowing me too go any further "Ricky don't you have something too tell your dad?" Glaring at his I quickly say "no" before trying too pull upstairs again. "Ricky.." Ej warned as he pulled me back downstairs was a scolding look. Finally I say "Dad I have something I need too tell you." Confused he looked at me and told me too continue so I did. "Today I wasn't having a great day and I um... relapsed. Ej got me cleaned up after but yah." Frowning me walks over and motions that he was going too grab my arm, nodding my head I pull up my sleeve too show him my arm that was already wrapped. Sighing he says "Ricky thank you for telling me, next time text me when you feel like this I can pick you up, and Ej thank you for being there for him and helping him tell me." We both nodded our heads before walking upstairs without another word.