Chapter Seven: When You Disapprove All Along

Miley walked up to Rico the next day in school. "We need to talk." she said.

"This can't be good." Rico sighed. "Please, I can change. Don't leave me, baby." he said dramatically.

"What are you talking about?" Miley asked confused.

"Aren't you dumping me?" Rico asked, hiding a grin.

"Dumping you? Rico we aren't even going out!" Miley said.

Rico snickered. "Oh, right. My bad. So what'd you wanna talk about toots?"

"C'mere." Miley took his arm and led him into the cafeteria. Nobody was in there but the two of them.

"Rico…I kinda followed you back home last night, and I…" Miley trailed off.

"You what?" Rico demanded.

"I saw your dad…hitting you." Miley mumbled.

Rico didn't say anything.

"Rico, do you get abused?" Miley asked.

"What?! My-my dad loves me. He wouldn't hit me." Rico insisted.

"But, I saw him-"

"You were probably seeing things." Rico said. He turned to leave, but stopped. "But you wouldn't tell anyone what you think you saw, right?" he asked timidly.

"N-no." Miley said.

Rico sighed, but felt a sharp pain. "Ow!"

"What's wrong?" Miley asked.

"Nothin'. Look, I gotta go." Rico left, ignoring the pain he felt.

-

"I really thinks there's a problem ya'll." Miley whispered to Lilly and Oliver in class.

"Miles, if he said there's nothing going on, then he must be telling the truth." Lilly whispered back.

"Rico, please come to the board." Ms. Kunkle said.

Rico stood up from his seat and started to walk to the front of the class. He felt immense pain and dropped to his knees, his arms wrapped around his side.

"Rico!" Miley cried. She, Ms. Kunkle, and some other students ran to his side. His breathing became strained and he dropped to the ground. His eyes were shut as he laid limp on the classroom floor.

"Miley, get the nurse!" Ms. Kunkle said.

Miley wasted no time and ran out of the classroom.

-

Rico opened his eyes groggily. He was on a stretcher and was being rushed into ER.

"He's waking up." a female doctor said.

Rico moaned in pain again before he blacked out.

-

Rico laid in a hospital bed, his eyes shut. His hospital bracelet read:

Suarez, Ricardo
ID: 85873 295-13-7665
ADM: 04-05 DOB: 06-11-96
Dr. Allison

He had a bandage on his neck and stitches in his side, below his ribcage. He had an IV in his arm and tubes in his nose. The solemn beeps of his heart monitor filled the room.

Suddenly his chest heaved.

"Rico?" a voice said. Rico opened his eyes and lifted his head slightly.

"Rico! He's awake! Everybody, he's awake!" the voice shouted. Rico still couldn't make it out.

People came rushing into his room. They were all blurs to him. He moaned and tried to sit up. His vision became clearer. He saw Miley, Lilly, and Oliver standing on his side. It was probably Miley's voice he heard. He also saw a female doctor. He also saw…

His dad.