World Without End | Sitkolson [C]

TEN

As Angelo covered Ricky's sleeping body with a warm blanket, Chris walked into the room, about to speak up before his eyes landed on Ricky.

"Is everything okay?" He whispered as Angelo walked to the door, closing it behind him.

"Ricky saw Ryan..." Angelo trailed off, taking a deep breath to try and leave his emotions out of it.

Chris frowned, growing concerned for his friend, "Are you sure he didn't imagine it? Maybe-"

"Chris," Angelo shook his head, "Ricky knows what he saw. And... I believe him. He said he was in the water that night and that Ryan pulled him out—saved him. Ricky's broken without Ryan, Chris. If we don't find a way to bring them back together, he might try and go to that cliff again. I don't want to lose him too, Chris. I know you don't either."

Chris knew that Angelo was right. But, he also knew that there was no way to find Ryan. He was quick, none of them would be able to catch him. So, they'd obviously have to go back to searching for him. They just didn't know if that's what Ricky wanted to do.

•|•|•

As Ricky stared out the window, there was a knock on the door, Chris' voice later breaking the silence.

"Ricky... we need to talk."

Ricky kept his gaze on the trees, his lips pressed together.

Chris sighed, walking to where Ricky was sitting and joined him.

He hated to see someone he'd known all of his life end up like this. That was the main reason why Chris wanted nothing more than to snap Ryan's neck the first chance he could. Unfortunately, Ricky would never speak to him again if he did do that.

"I know you miss Ryan," Chris started, "I do. And, if you want... we can go and look for him."

This time, Ricky spoke up, his eyes still on the window whilst his voice was emotionless.

"Ryan left. That was his decision. He wanted to leave again, he can. It's not my job to chase him down when he doesn't want to be chased."

Chris slightly gasped, "Ricky, you-"

"Ryan left. That was his decision. He doesn't want to be found, I won't look."

To say Chris was surprised with Ricky's 'answer' would be a severe understatement. Chris thought that Ricky would be all for finding Ryan. But, he was completely wrong.

After the whole 'beach situation', Ricky discovered that Ryan wanted nothing to do with Ricky. Well, at least that's what he thought.

Because Ricky was raised the way he was, promises were a very big thing. Ryan knew that too. So, you can imagine why Ricky was feeling the way he did.

Still confused, Chris stood up, leaving the room and to the main one.

"He doesn't want to look for him."

"What?" Everyone asked in unison, each equally confused with the information.

"He... He said that if Ryan doesn't want to come back, he doesn't have to."

"He said that?" Angelo asked, slightly hurt at Ricky's reaction.

"Not exactly that, but... yeah." Chris mumbled, looking down.

Angelo got that Ricky was hurt by everything, he did. Angelo and Ryan had a stronger bond than any friends could ever have. They had spent half a millennium together. Saying that they were brothers wouldn't be enough. Angelo saved Ryan's ass when he was in trouble and Ryan did the same. To have Ricky say he didn't want to search for Ryan had only just started to take its toll on Ange. Unfortunately, though, there was nothing he could do about it. Ricky was the one who was mentally affected by the events, but that doesn't mean that everyone else wasn't hurt. They couldn't put Ricky through anything else that could make him even more... unstable.