Can he be fixed?

(20)Overnight Workshop pt2

TW: SELF HARM (Recap) "So for this workshop everyone will be split up into group, and you will be with though groups for the entirety of the workshop until tomorrow when we finish off the workshop. So everyone write your name on a piece of paper. Then we will draw names from the bowl, and that will decide what group your in. As I write down my name I couldn't help but be nerves, I wanted Ricky too be in my group, but now it was luck of the draw. "Groups will be...."

Still Ej's POV

"Groups will be, okay so first group Quinn, Carson, Antonie, Thalia, Marcus, Tom, Gabby, and Natalie. Group 2 will be Ricky, Ej, Gina, Ashlynn, Big Red, Lily, Kourtney, Carlos, and Seb. Group 3 will be Frankie, Josephine, Taylor, Kat, Julia, Mark, Beth, and Nicole......" By the time she had finished everyone was already getting into there assignment groups, carrying there bags with them. As she called all of my friends names I couldn't help bur smile, especially when she said my name right after Ricky's. So grabbing both our bags I pull Ricky over with the rest of our group. After setting up all of our sleeping bags in one of practice rooms we all grab the cards for the first exercise before going back too the room.

Once we all started sitting down I notice something, or more someone, Lily. When we were all sitting down I saw Lily sit on the other side of Ricky, now this usually wouldn't have been a big deal. But when she moves too were there shoulders are touching I couldn't help but tense up a bit. Getting a bit over protective I grab Ricky's hand making sure that I had him there with me, and that he was mine. Looking over at me he smiles before focusing back on the game, which I eventually also started paying attention too. After doing the game for a while Ms. Jenn called everyone out too the main theater room where we all ate and talked with each other. By 10 p.m. everyone had broken off into there own groups again, as we all decided too sleep in the practice rooms so it was more of a sleepover style. So once Ricky and I got into our groups practice room we quickly grabbed our pajamas before heading off towards the closets school bathroom.

Once we got into the bathroom I noticed that we we're the only ones that were changing right now, so I took the chance too check on him. So after we both changed in separate stalls and went too finish up our bathroom night routines I decided too ask him now. Slowly I walked up behind him I gently wrapped my arms around his waist before laying my head on his shoulder and saying " Bubs hey a question." Looking in the mirror I saw his eyes shift too were he was looking at me, so I continued "I know you don't want too talk about it, but I know that you have been. under a lot of stress lately. So I wanted too check in and see it you are okay mentally, and .... physically." As I say this I feel his shoulders tense up causing me too become concerned, so picking my head up off his shoulder I spin him around so he was facing me, and gently go too grab his wrist. At first he starts too pull his arm away but once he meets my eyes he stops moving his arm, and looks away as I roll up his sleeve. As I expected I found almost a dozen cuts lining his left arm, some looking fresh. Sighing I pull him too my chest, not saying anything, as I rub gentle circles on his back just letting him know I'm there.

After I helped him clean the cuts I made sure his sleeve was down before walking out of the bathroom hand in hand, heading back too the theater room. Once we got back too the practice room our group was sharing we found our friends laughing and hitting each other with pillow, so smile I walked into the room, dragging Ricky along with me. After pushing through the group we made it over too the corner we were both sleeping in. After sitting down Ricky laid his head in my lap as I began running a hand through his hair while making his curls into small braid down the nape of his neck. Thats when Carlos said something "Okay who's up for truth or dare?" After a minute we all agreed before he started the game.

L=Lilly R=Ricky E=Ej A=Ashlyn S=Seb G=Gina C=Carlos Br= Big Red K=Kourtney

"(C) Okay Lily truth or dare? (L) Dare. (C) Okay I dare you too lick the bottom or Gina's shoe. (Licks the bottom of Gina's shoes) (L) Okay Big Red truth or dare? (Br) Truth. (L) How long have you liked Ashlyn? (Br) Since homecoming. Okay Ricky truth or dare? (R) I dare you too move away from Ej for the rest of the game. (Frowning he squeezes my hand before moving next too Ashyln ****SKIP TIME**** (C) Lily truth or dare. (L) Dare. (C) Okay so theres this person who um... used too be part of our group. I'm going too give you her number and you are going too caller her because your the only one who's number she doesn't have.

(L= Lilly N=Nini) Nodding her head Lilly listens too Carlos give her Nini's number, but before she pressed call Carlos stopped her and turned too Ricky "Are you okay with this?" After Ricky nodded his head Carlos pressed call on Lilly's for for her before pressing speakerphone. After It rang for a couple seconds, she picked up. (N) Hi this is Nina, who is this? (L) Hi this is...um... Mary calling, I was asked too talk too you about a job opportunity, are you free too talk at this time? (N) Actually I'm with my boyfriend right now, can this wait? (L) Oh course if you don't want the job I can call someone else. (N) No I want the job... um .... I can call right now. (L) Okay good so before we start how long have you and your boyfriend been together, you know I'm curious. (N) Oh um we've been together since a little before New Years when I first got too see the performing arts school I'm at, why? (L) Oh just curious. Well um my boss is calling me, let me call you back, okay? (N) Okay." Then she ended the call.

Ricky's POV

After the call ended I felt like I couldn't breath. My head was buzzing, my chest was tight, and I wanted it all too go away. So standing up without a word I grabbed my bag and ran out of the room, trying too escape it all. As I ran out of the theatre room Ms. Jenn tried too ask me what was wrong but I just ignored her and kept running. How could she? How could she cheat on me with someone who went too her fancy new boarding school, right after we got together? I should have noticed when she had come back from the tour all happy, at first I thought that it was because of the school, but now I know the real reason. Did our relationship mean nothing too her, or even our friendship? This goes deeper then our relationship, this was about trust, and because she broke that trust, I don't think we will ever be the same. With my mind so lost it thought I didn't even notice that I walking into the bathroom, or that I was scratching at my wrist, trying too replace all this mental pain with physical pain.

By the time I pulled myself out of the my mind, my wrist was cover. From my wrist too my elbow, all I could see was red. But thats when I heard someone calling my name, so poking my head out of the stallI saw Ej. Scared of him finding out I hide by arm in my sleeve before walking out of the stall. Going and washing my hands I act normally as I dry my hands off and walk past Ej without a word, trying my best too avoid any physical touch. Finally we made it back too the theatre room, and I instantly went too our groups practice room. Once I got in there I quickly sit back in my spot pull my knees too my chest, trying too calm myself down. Just as I see Ej go too sit next too me I remember the dare and quickly say "you can't sit next too me or touch me, remember the dare." Frowning he sits back where he was before as we all begin too talk about the musical and all the performances we are excited to do. But eventually I start too fall into my emotions and thoughts, completely blocking out everyone.

I don't know how long I wasn't focused, but it was long enough for everyone too be staring at me worried by the time I actually started paying attention. After assuring everyone that I was okay we all decided too call it a night. So laying down on our sleeping bags we all say goodnight before going too sleep, or at least most of us. Even though I was tired I couldn't go too sleep, you see since Ej and I made Franklin I have slept with him in my arms every night, so tonight was going too be hard. Just as I was about too give up on trying too fall sleep I hear a zipper, then a couple seconds later I feel a soft bear laying in my arms. Looking up at Ej I smile at him before kissing him gently on the lips, then we both laid down. Hugging Franklin too my chest I curl up next too Ej as I feel him gently wrap his arms around me. At first I flinch remember my arm, but closing my eyes I fall into a peaceful sleep, too tired too worry about it.