Never Be Like You | Cricky

Chapter 3

Ricky woke up to the sound of talking and let out a deep breath as he stretched across the hospital bed, his hair falling into his face as he shifted onto his side. He had managed to burrow deep into the thin blankets to try and shield himself from the cold air. 

"Ricky.." It was Devin's soft voice and that made Ricky remember what had happened and it wasn't hard to take a guess about how Devin could have been feeling. His bluish gray eyes opened and he pulled the covers down slightly so he could look at Devin and he could see the worry and self loath in Devin's eyes.

"C'mere man" Ricky laughed softly and sat up to the best of his ability and hugged Devin who hurriedly returned the friendly affection. Running his hand through Devin's hair he shook his head and pressed a friendly kiss to the other's cheek. "Stop thinking that it's your fault, it wasn't. I made that dumbass decision."

He heard the other sniffle and sighed softly and ruffled his hair as a means to comfort him, Devin wasn't one to cry all that much so Ricky knew the other was really hurting. 

Ricky's eyes landed on Chris and he managed a wry smile, even though the lanky male was still out and snoring it was still cute to him. "How are you guys?" 

His eyes trailed over to the others and he couldn't help but feel slightly awkward but luckily enough Balz was the first one to crack. The male flinging himself onto the bed narrowly missing the male's hurt wrist. Accepting the hug without fighting back, a strangled chuckle left the shorter at how tight Balz held him. 

"Ah..big babies.." Devin had calmed down and was content with just leaning against Ricky while Balz head rested in Ricky's lap. Down playing situation seemed to be the best way for him to cope for the moment. Now there was just one more person left. Vinny.

Ricky's eyes trailed over to the other who stood there with his head down. He knew that Vinny couldn't look him in the eyes since he knew that what he did was wrong. The older shook his head and focused back on Balz who was already sleeping, he probably couldn't sleep well on the floor so he didn't mind that he was using him as a pillow. "Aren't you guys supposed to be in class?"

Devin shook his head and looked at Ricky. "Skipping. What are they gonna do? Call our parents?" The throw back at the past made the both of them smile, Ricky's shoulders feeling lighter as Devin seemed to be settling back down himself. "No skipping, go to school."

Ricky laughed softly as Devin shook his head and went back to resting, his attention was pulled away when he heard Vinny sniffle. He was a sucker for tears and that made him sigh softly. "Vinny. It's fine, it was just shitty of you not to tell me that Ryan was coming even though you knew."

"I-I didn't want to mess up your mood and make you mad.." Vinny was one to make stupid decisions like that and it tends to blow up in his face but he wasn't someone you could stay mad at for long. 

"Come on, you're probably tired." Ricky scooted over to let Vinny slip in so he was laying on his other side, being very careful of Ricky's fractured wrist. The door opened to reveal Angelo, none of them were really close to Angelo but he came around sometimes. They had seen him a lot more in their younger years, but now in adult hood he would pop in at random parties. 

"Uh hey, I came to check in on you. Chris told me what happened." Angelo smiled some and waved at Ricky who returned it. "Oh thanks man, I'm good now..? Sounds real fuckin' weird to say, but yeah.." Chris finally woke up and sat up with a groan, turning Ricky's and Angelo's attention to him. "Hey Chris." Angelo smiled and walked over to sit beside him.

Ricky's eyebrows rose as he watched the two of them interact with each other. Of course there was that small tinge of jealousy, but have they always been so close? Toiling that question over in his mind, he reclined back in his bed doing his best to make  it not obvious that he was staring at them. His ears stressing to catch every word that was said between the duo.

Soon the nurse came in and the others had to move off the bed as she checked over Ricky. "It seems like you're doing better, we're going to keep you here for a few more hours but your mom dropped off clothes for you to change into."

"Oh thanks, don't think I could handle sitting here with my ass out for much longer." he took the clothes and looked it over to make sure it was something that he wanted to wear and he agreed with it before turning to Devin as the nurse unhooked him. "Help me?" Devin nodded and Ricky groaned as he moved off the bed and braced himself to get off the bed. "Damn I'm sore."

Devin hurried around and held onto Ricky before carefully walking him to the bathroom and helping him with changing into his clothes which was just black skinny jeans and a loose fitting black long sleeve. He laughed at the fact that his mom had given him blue socks, that was her way of making him put a splash of color in his outfits. "Still getting dressed by your mother?" Ricky scoffed at his friend's joke, aiming a sharp elbow into his side to make him shut up. "What can I say? I'm a mama's boy at heart." 

They exited the bathroom and Ricky was able to walk on his own, he ran his fingers through his hair to straighten it out. A soft laugh left him when Devin whispered something in his ear and he shook his head. Devin took his place beside Vinny and they instantly held hands. "Ugh Balz." 

He knew it would happen since Balz was good at that. If you left a place to sit or lay down Balz was going to take it if he needed it. They all laughed as Ricky had to sit on the edge of the bed. "Dick." He was only met with the sound of Balz snoring and shifting around to get comfortable.

"I'm hungry.." "Me and Ghost can go get food?" Vinny was the first to pipe up and Ricky laughed softly and nodded his head. "Alright..anything except pizza. I'm feeling McDonald's today and I just want the usual." After everyone said what they wanted and Chris provided his card for it Devin and Vinny left out. 

Now only Balz who was sleeping, Chris who was just resting, Angelo who was basically trying to manifest himself so far up Chris' ass was left with Ricky. Managing to squeeze himself in beside his friend, he pulled the covers over his legs before picking up the remote. Resting his arm across his middle, he flipped through channels that played the most mind numbing commercials possible, save for a few soaps. 

"Rick." Snapped from his trance he turned to look at Chris to see what he needed. "What's up?" The taller shifted closer to the bed and reached over to feel Ricky's forehead and cheeks. "I didn't know I had a nurse change." Lips curling up into a smile, he couldn't help but feel some satisfaction as he made Chris laugh. 

"How are you feeling?" Tilting his head from side to side, Ricky opted out of using the dark joke that wanted so badly to slip its way out. "I'd be way better if Balz wasn't in the fucking way. I'm a lot more tired than I thought, but he probably is too." Turning his head he glanced down at his friends, guilt seeping into his veins as his head aimed to mull over how much trouble he had caused them. 

The taller's eyes drifted over to Balz and he hummed softly. "You can sleep on me if you want." The words left Chris' mouth before he could think about how Ricky would react to him saying something like that. Ricky tilted his head to the side and looked at Chris as if he was appraising him and gauging how comfortable he would be. 

"Sounds good to me."