Chapter.11

A Very Heartbroken Boy

Dianes POV

It was a pretty day I had just gotten home after accompanying Rick and Erin to band practice this was an interesting practice since they worked on Get Shwifty putting music to it.

I was home alone as my parents went to the store. I was softly humming a song when I heard the doorbell ring. I didn't know I'd have company. I went to open the door. On the other side was my boyfriend hair messy, and red puffy eyes indicating he had been crying and panting.

"Ricky, oh my god, did you run all the way here, look at you, what happened", at that Rick lost composure, sunk to his knees and cried his heart out almost screaming. I quickly helped him inside the house up to my room and sat next to him on my bed, "Ricky, what happened and why isn't Erin here", I said looking Rick in the eyes. The mention of Erins name made the tears fall faster. "He, he's not gonna be here ever again D", Rick sighed trying to keep his voice from shaking. "Ricky, you're scaring me, what do you mean", I asked starting to feel a sinking feeling in my chest. "My dad p-pulled a g-gun on me a-a-and E-Erin stepped between us and got shot in the stomach, hes dead Diane, Erins dead", Rick said and completely broke down. I couldn't move. No Erin can't be dead. This is just a nightmare. "It should have been me", I heard Rick speak, "what", I said lifting his chin to look at me, "I should have been the one to get shot, not Erin", he said. I looked Rick straight in the eyes, "WHAT, NO, Ricky neither of you deserved this treatment from your parents, because of them Erin died and you think you deserve to be dead, did you even think how that would effect me, Allen, Raven, and how much that would hurt Erin if it had been you", I said. "You have people who care and love you, go to the ends of the earth for you, please never say you deserve death, Erin didn't and you don't", I told Rick seeing his eyes soften into orbs of distress although I knew he heard me and listened. I pulled him down so we were laying down. I held onto my heartbroken boyfriend. "Shhh, sleep, you need to rest", I said but I had tears silently falling to. I was scared what this meant for Rick, I noticed he fought to keep his sanity. With the constant abuse, his intelligence he can do so much damage he just doesn't know it yet. Erin helped keep him grounded to earth, now I must do it, I can't let Rick go crazy, I know half of his sanity slipped away today but he's still there.

Morty's POV

I was crying more than I could ever remember. "S-Summer", I said and felt her hug me tightly. "So great uncle Erin died", I said. I felt Summer shudder. "Grandpa Rick, no wonder we never knew", she said. We've seen so much horror. One part of me wants to go home but the other half wants to keep going. "Morty, should we keep going", Summer asked, I sighed, "if you want to, I don't know what I want to do right now", I said. Summer took a deep breath, "let's keep going", she said. It was settled, we're going to see this adventure through.

Rick's POV (Present Time)

" You gotta get shwifty," I mumbled to myself taking another swig of tequila and sobbing on a random alien planet I flew myself to. It's been so long and I still can't get over my best friends death. I reached up to the sky as my voice caught in my throat. Why Erin, why'd you have to save me, I thought. I chugged the rest of the substance in my flask, drink away your problems.

"Erin didn't deserve to die and you don't", I've never thought back to Dianes words even when I've tried to kill myself before. She had a good point but... I still feel like I should have been the one who got shot. I curled into myself trying to dull the sharp pain in my chest.

After what felt like forever I decided to go back home. I got in my ship sighing knowing this would never get easier and flew home.

"Dad", I heard Beths voice as I walked into the kitchen, "where've you been, I was worried after the kids talked to you about mom, you've been acting weird", she said and hugged me. I froze but hugged her back and tried to not burst into tears in front of my daughter.

Dianes POV

Rick stayed over again but due to the events of the previous day, he was still sleeping.

As daylight appeared my mom knocked on my door, "sweetie, time to get ready for school", I blinked away my tiredness and kissed the sleeping boy on the head and gave him a little squeeze. I went down stairs. "Mom", I said, my mother turned to me, "Diane, you need to get ready for school", she said. I sighed, "yeah mom, I know, but listen. Ricky stayed over last night, something really terrible happened, and I was hoping maybe I could stay home to take care of him he's in my room right now, he's still asleep", I told my mom. My mom sighed, "you're very sweet dear, but you need to go to school, I'll make sure he's ok. Can you tell me what this terrible thing is and get ready", mom asked me, I shook my head slowly, "no, Ricky will tell you if he wants to, it destroyed him", I said and went upstairs. I went into my room and saw Rick starting to wake up. "Hey baby, sleep ok", I asked. Rick didn't even look at me. I sat down in front of him and placed my hands on his face, "hey, my mom said I have to go to school, she doesn't have to go to work today, so if you need ANYTHING ask my mom ok", I said, Rick nodded and raised his hand shakily and placed it in one if mine. I kissed his forehead and grabbed some clothes and went to change in the bathroom.

As I walked out Rick hadn't moved an inch. "Are you hungry, I can make some soup before I leave if you want", I offered. Rick finally spoke, "i-if you real rea- really want t-to", he stuttered. I ran my fingers through his hair and softly laughed, "I don't mind, I'll be right back", I said and softly closed my door. I hopped down stairs and saw my mom putting dishes up. "Mom, Ricky woke up, before I leave I'm gonna make some soup quickly", I said grabbing tomato soup from the pantry and a bowl. I put it in the microwave when I saw the time. "Oh my god, I have to go", I said I sprinted up stairs to go say bye to my boyfriend who I saw fell asleep again, I smiled and kissed him again, "bye sweetheart, I'll be back after school", I whispered. As I picked up my back pack I asked my mom if she could give my boyfriend the soup when he wakes up, she agreed and I went running to school.

I got to school, that's when it hit me. What am I gonna tell Allen and Raven. Rick would want me to tell them right? "Diane", I heard Ravens voice and was engulfed in a hug. Raven and I have become good friends since day one.

"Hey Raven, Allen", I said seeing him walk up, "hey girlie", he said patting my head. "Guys, come with me, I uh need to tell you something", I said leading them outside to the school lawn. "So, guys, Ricky stayed at my house last night. Something really awful happened, I want him to tell you, but he's not gonna come today he's trying to recover and grieve, he's at my house but anyway. Raven, Allen, Erin died yesterday, their dad pulled a gun on Ricky and Erin threw himself in between them and got shot", I said starting to feel tears finally fill my eyes. Raven covered her mouth and Allen balled his fists and looked down. "Wait, Diane hows Ricky doing", Allen asked his eyes widening. "He's pretty distraught, he barely registered me this morning", I said trying to wipe my tears away. "Can-n we-we g-go see hi-him a-after school ", Raven said her voice slightly shaking. "I'll text him at lunch to see if he's up for it". I said and we went to class.

Ricks POV

I woke up with a small headache. I looked around not knowing where I was until I saw the pink bed spread. This is Dianes room. That's when everything from yesterday came back full force. "Erin", I whispered and let out the most heart wrenching sob I'd ever heard myself create.

"Ricky", I heard the door open and saw Allison, Dianes mom. "Sweetie are you alright", she asked coming over and giving me a very much needed mom hug. As strange as this sounds my mother has never hugged me, not once. "S-Sorry. I d-don't wan-want to be-e a bother All-Allison", I stuttered. "What, no dear, you are always welcome here, Dennis and I consider you family Ricky", she said and rubbed my back. "Oh, one second dear", she said and went downstairs. I heard a ding and in a few minutes Allison was back upstairs with a tray in her hands. "Can you sit up for me", she asked, I did as was asked and she set the tray on my lap, it had little table legs on it so it would fall over. The tray held a bowl of what I assumed was tomato soup, orange juice, toast with peanut butter, and a little cup of peach yogurt. "Diane asked me to give you the soup when you woke up. I hope you don't mind, I thought I'd give you breakfast too", Allison said placing a napkin on the tray and a straw in the glass of orange juice. I shakily tried to grab the glass but dropped it due to my shaking. "S-Sorry, I made made a m-mess", I stuttered seeing the catastrophe. "It's ok, now let's get you some pajamas to rest in", Allison said, she placed the tray in the floor to remove the soaked blanket and folded it and was taking it to where I assumed the laundry room was and she came back with blue pajama pants and a white long sleeve shirt. "These are some clothes Dennis doesn't wear anymore", she placed them at my feet. "I'll leave you to get changed", I was left alone again.

I ran my fingers along the soft fabric of the pants once I was dressed. That was a hard task on shaky legs. I went to the door trying keep myself up right. "Ricky, you should be laying down", I saw Allison come back down the hall. "The the b-bed is a l-l-little w-wet", I said. "Oh, right", Allison said and helped me walk to the guest room that I was used to. I was in a sitting position and was given the tray again and another glass with a straw. I stared at the small meal unsure if I should attempt making another mess. "Here, let me help", Allison sat down and started feeding me the soup. I felt like a baby but not like I could do much about it.

After I was given all the food and most of the juice I laid back down and just stared at the ceiling when I felt Allison's hand wipe at my cheek. Was I crying again? "Diane said something bad happened. She didn't tell me, she said you need to be the one to do it, I don't expect you...", I cut her off by speaking, "Erin got shot yesterday", I said, "he died", I added and rolled away from her. "Oh god. Ricky, oh my god. I'm so sorry sweetie", she said rubbing my shoulder. "D didn't tell you about my parents. My mom is an alcoholic and my dads drinks, does drugs, and abuses me, he tried to shoot me but Erin got in the way", I said. "I know you will probably want to call the cops but please don't. I'm handling it on my own", I said. "But Ricky", Allison tried to argue, "no, just don't ok", I growled. "Ok", she agreed. "I'll be downstairs if you need me", she said. I kept quiet as she left.

I felt dazed when I felt my phone go off on the side table. Diane it read I opened the text

Hey babe, I hope you don't mind I told Allen and Raven what happened. They wanted to know if it'd be ok to come see you

I didn't understand what happened to me at that moment but I responded with a flat

I guess so