Chapter.14

The Break Up

Ricks POV

It had been three days since we buried Erin. I was still sad but coping well. Today I had band practice. I had written a new song, it's dark but I think it turned out well.

"Let's hear this new song buddy, with our new female vocalist", Allen said happily. I nodded to Diane who grabbed the mic and started while I played the guitar as Allen and Raven listened.

I have a heart that gets on everybody's nerves

They don't want the truth, they just want the words

Blah blah blah blah and I can sing until I'm dead

And none of you'll remember a single thing I said

What's the point in being a voice when everyone's already sick of the noise?

Everyone's already sick of the noise, everyone's already sick of the noise

What's the point in trying to change when everyone's already stuck in their ways

Everyone's happy with more of the same, more of the same, more of the same

We were born kicking and screaming

Until we learned to turn it down

Took our dreams and got in line

Held our breath and hoped to die

Fade on

And all along, we got it wrong

Live a slow and painful life

Put our heart on hold inside

Fade on

Allen seemed into it but Raven seemed sad by it. I felt a little uneasy in my stomach seeing two different reactions. "Well, I like it", Allen said tapping his sticks on his drums lightly. "It's a good song but why so dark", Raven asked, tapping in her turned off keyboard. "Well, I told you both I write with my feelings and these words came out", I said. Raven then sighed, "ok lazies let's do this", she said and turned her keyboard on and Allen smiled and laughed ready to go. Diane and I laughed to and started up the song. I was happy today but I hadn't prepared myself for what was going to happen in the next few days.

The next day was a blur, we performed with Diane for the first time and it went great. I took her home and said hi to her parents. Two great days til the early sunlight of the third day.

I woke up to a loud slam of the front door and footsteps on the stairs. I hid under my covers I knew it wouldn't do any good but I tried. I heard footsteps coming up the squeaky floorboards and glass shattering. I knew what that meant, my dad was drunk and tossed a beer bottle against the wall. As the doorknob turned my heart sank, the door slowly opened and I heard my father ask, "did you miss me asshole", he walked over to me a tore the covers off , grabbed me by the shirt and lifted me up. " Come now, did you really think you could hide like that", he asked as he threw me on the floor laughing. I could tell this was going to be bad. I was lifted from the floor and slammed onto the wall my wrists pinned. This wasn't good. I can't defend myself with just my legs. I noticed something in my dads coat pocket, he seemed to notice, "remember this", he slurred and pulled out the gun that shot Erin, "this WAS meant for you", he pressed the barrel to my neck and my eyes widened feeling the cold metal press to my skin my pulse picking up speed in fear. Next thing I know I'm hit in the head with the gun, not hard enough to knock me unconscious but enough to cause blood to come from my head. I fell to the floor again and held my pounding head. "You're more fun than your worthless brother was", my dad slurred out, what he said triggered pain to erupt in my chest. "Don't talk about him like that", I yelled. "Doesn't matter does it boy, he's dead, it's your fault", what he said felt like getting hit with one thousand pounds of cinderblock. My dad grabbed me by the hair and I didn't even whine, I felt dead, I wanted to die. It's my fault it's my fault. If it weren't for me Erin would still be alive. I thought I was accepting it, why am I feeling this much agony from it. I was waiting for any pain inflicted by my dad but was interrupted by the doorbell. "Ricky", I heard being called from the door. "Diane no", I tried to call but was stopped by my fathers hand over my mouth. He placed his other hand around my throat and squeezed. I felt my lungs start to burn for air and my eyes start to water. My dad finally let go and said he'd finish this later and stumbled into my doorframe and moved to his room. I slowly got up my hand grasping at my chest for air. I heard my name get called again and remembered Diane was here. I wasn't happy or proud what I was about to do but it had to be done.

I opened the door and saw her standing there. "What happened to your head, oh god", Diane said she tried placing her hands in my face but I grabbed her wrists and pushed them down. "Ricky", she questioned, "leave Diane", I said barely looking at her. "What", she asked getting closer to me, "I said LEAVE", I yelled at her. "I'm done with you, I don't need you here or in my life, leave me alone", I added. I saw Diane back away, "fine, then don't text when you need someone", she screamed and ran away. As she disappeared from my view I sunk to my knees and silently cried.

Summers POV

Morty and I watched our grandpa cry. "Why would he do that", I said when the fight unfolded. "Summer, I-I think he's t-trying to protect her", Morty stuttered out. His dad triggered him and he acted upon the fear. "He doesn't want grandma Diane to end up like great uncle Erin", I said and Morty nodded. "Should we fallow D-Diane or stay here w-with Rick", Morty asked. "Maybe one of us goes after grandma and the other stays here", I suggested, "I I don't know S-Summer, that might b-be a bad idea", Morty answered looking around nervously and continued to say " I don't th-think we shouldn't m-mess with anything or we c-could alter the timeline," Morty finished," Wow, that's some science stuff, I don't get it," I responded and added "we just don't talk to anyone and stay out of view for grandpa Rick and grandma Diane," I said. Morty looked unsure but gave in, "ahhh, oh geez, ok. I- I'll stay with R-Rick you go after D-Diane", he said. I wanted to fallow grandma I wasn't ready for anymore torture.

Dianes POV:

I ran down the sidewalk tears streaming down my cheeks. " Why would he just throw it all away like that, I thought we loved each other. " I picked up my phone and called Raven. Raven answered the phone with, "hey Diane, what's up girl", she asked, I responded quickly and with broken breathing, "Raven I need to come over I - I - I Ricky just broke up with me and I just can't right now,"I could barely speak gasping for air every few words and almost drowning on tears. Raven responded, "oh my god Diane, are you okay, do you need me to come get you, where are you", Raven sounded frantic. I was headed in her direction I didn't need her to pick me up,"no, no I can manage I'm almost there it's okay," I responded. "Ok, I'll wait outside for you", Raven said. I hung up and tried to pick up my speed to get there faster. There has to have been a reason for what Rick did. I ended up at Ravens house rather quick.

"Diane, come on, let's go inside and tell me what happened", Raven said leading me to her kitchen table. "Raven, I don't know, he just said he didn't need me anymore or want me in his life", I cried. Raven looked like she was in deep thought. "Wait, you went to his house", she asked, "yeah, he had blood coming from his head", I said, Ravens eyes widened, "something bad must've happened, I know Ricky he wouldn't break up with you just like that", she suggested. I thought about it but why was he so mean about it? "Hey, let's talk to Allen at school tomorrow he'll probably say the same thing but he's been friends with Ricky the longest, he might understand it in a way we can't", Raven said. That sounded like a good idea I thought. I checked my phone for the time, I didn't realize so much time passed, "hey Raven can I ask for a ride home it's getting kinda late," I asked. "Yea of course, I got you come on let's go," she said grabbing her keys.

Ricks POV

I closed the door before I got the urge to chase after Diane. I shed a tear and opened my eyes. " Awe isn't that cute, Rick has a little girlfriend, or had one," my father said laughing hysterically and continued with a punch to my stomach. I fell to the floor desperately trying to breath I looked up for a second just to see a boot coming at me before it all went dark.

I felt myself being dragged by the hood of my hoodie. As I blinked everything around back into focus I started to panic, I wanted to move but found my arms and legs to feel frozen. I didn't know where I was being taken in the house or what was going to be done to me. "W-where are you taking me", I said emotionlessly. "Shut up", was all that was said. "There's a special place for you", my dad said back. I didn't know what he meant, there's a hallow place behind the wall but he's not taking me up stairs we passed the stairs.

I heard a door open and judging by my surroundings of my house he was taking me to the basement. My feet hit every step as we descended into the cold area. My dad tossed me down onto the floor, and I saw him go towards the old dresser and pushed it to the side. What I saw surprised me, there was a hatch leading under the house, who the hell lived here before us? My ears picked up the sound of creaking when my dad opened the hatch, no no no, is he putting me in there? I tried to get to my feet but my legs wouldn't move, next thing I know I was thrown down a couple of stairs into the area under the house. My head aches again. "I don't want to hear anything from you", my dad said I could tell he was starting to come back to his normal state of mind which wasn't any better than usual. The hatch was slammed shut and locked, the underground was cold, very small space, and dark. I took out my phone and put the flashlight on, unfortunately I didn't find anything I could use as a light except my phone which won't last two days. I hugged myself and tried not to think about what happened before this. Diane wouldn't come back not after what I said. Of course I never wanted to do that to her but I don't want her to get hurt or killed. I lost Erin to my dad and I got Allen hurt years ago by my dad. I can't let Diane get caught like that. I sat there starting to shiver was it from the cold or heartache I carried? I don't care anymore I knew I was gonna die down here. No food, no water and nothing to keep me warm. I closed my eyes and just waited.

Allen's POV

Raven had texted me telling her and Diane had something important to tell me.

"Allen, over here", I heard Diane call when I got to school. "Hey what's up", I said walking up to her seeing Raven standing next to the blonde girl. Diane looked sad and I started to get worried, "Diane, what's wrong, where's Ricky shouldn't he be with you or something", I asked. "Allen, we broke up", Diane said, I was shocked but the thing that kept me worried was Ricky doesn't skip school, he likes school not on a fun level but it's the only way to get away from his dad. "She told me she went to his house and when he answered door he had blood coming from his head and he yelled at her saying he didn't need her there or want her", Raven said. That didn't sound right, "no, that's not Ricky I know him better than that, he did that for a reason. Diane he likes you a lot he tells me all the time, you make him extremely happy. In fact I've never seen him so happy. You told Raven he had blood coming from his head", I asked, Diane nodded, "I'm sure his dad did that and said something that upset him, probably something about one of us or Erin. I bet you anything he broke up with you to protect you, I would know", I said moving my fingers to the back of my head feeling a small scar under my hair from a bottle shard.

Dianes POV

"Protect me", I whispered. That made sense and Allen probably knows exactly what he's talking about. "Yes, I think we should go check on him tomorrow. I want to give him space, knowing him, he won't speak to us for a little bit", Allen said. Raven put her arm around me, "see girl, I told you he's the Ricky expert", she laughed. I laughed too, there's was something in the back of my mind that said we shouldn't wait till tomorrow to check on Rick, I don't know what it was but I felt fear creep into my mind.

The rest do my classes went my slow and boring without Rick next to me. Allen, Raven, and I met after school and went home. I couldn't sleep that night thinking about Rick. I hope he's ok.

The next day after school Allen, Raven, and I ran to Ricks house hoping to be there to find everything alright.