Sebastian Hernandez's Point of View:

"So it's settled then, this is what we're doing," I spoke up giving persons a chance to object if need be.

Everyone nodded in agreement with the plan. Ria had yet to come back and I was starting to get even more worried about her. I fiddled with my hair for a second listening to Rex rambling. I swear he never stops talking. Just then there was a soft knock on the door and Ria walked in.

Her eyes were red and puffy which were telltale signs that she was crying. She headed straight towards me and wrapped her arms around me. Seeing the state that his sister was in Michael quietly ushered everybody out, closing the door softly behind him.

"I'm so so sorry"

My heart broke for her. It wasn't her fault that I was in the hospital but she didn't seem to grasp that. Her insecurities are messing with her ability to not feel guilty about what happened. It doesn't matter how much I tell her that it wasn't her fault it'll make no difference unless she feels that way herself. Despite knowing this I will keep saying it until she believes it's true and that's exactly what I did.

"It's not your fault baby"

Her hands gripped me tighter as she sobbed into my chest, soaking the material of the hospital gown, but I didn't mind. I'd comfort her in any way I could even if that meant getting my clothes wet from her tears.

"Where'd you go?"

"I just took walk in the halls"

"What did you guys talk about while I was gone?"

"We were actually deciding what to do about Jeremy?"

Her body grew tense and she leaned away from me so I could see her face properly, "oh really?"

"Yes really"

"And what did you guys come up with?"

I couldn't tell if she was mad or not that we talked about it without her but she seemed genuinely interested, "we decided that we need to find out if he knew what you were trying to do"

"I don't care if he knows," she pouted.

I caressed the side of her face with my hand, "if he knew what you were up to he might retaliate and he's clearly not averse to hitting women"

Her eyes widened, "I didn't think of that"

"Am I allowed to have an input in what happens?" she ducked her head down in what I assumed was embarrassment.

I gently used my pointer finger to lift her chin so her eyes met mine, "of course, you can have a say in what happens"

"Why did you think you wouldn't?"

She puffed out a breath, "because I'm an emotional wreck and I clearly can't make sound decisions"

I laughed loudly causing her to swat at my leg embarrassed by my reaction. Just then there was a buzzing, I watched Ria as she patted herself and pulled out a phone from her pocket.

"I forgot to give Michael his phone," she groaned "and now someone's calling him"

"Check who it is," I urged her.

"Fine," she clicked on the power button and the screen lit up showing the incoming call which was coming from their mother.

"Oh shit," she mumbled as she stared at the phone she didn't look like she was going to answer it.

"Aren't you going to answer it?" I put the question to her.

"Are you kidding me it's my mom?" she shook her head frantically "my very pregnant mom at that"

"Wouldn't be worse for you if she somehow found out that you ignored her call?" I asked unsurely.

She closed her eyes briefly and sighed, "you're right she'd be pissed especially with all the pregnancy hormones"

I observed her as she swiped to accept the call. She had a smile plastered on her face but I could tell that she was nervous to talk to her mom about everything that's going on. From the time I've spent around her family, her mom would do anything for Ria including her father and brother but Ria was a daddy's girl and just didn't see it.

"H-hey mom," she cringed at how hoarse her voice sounded from her crying.

"H-hey honey," she chirped before coming into the screen and looking at Ria "what the hell were you crying sweetheart?"

"What?" Mr. Rodriguez shouted as he ran into the room. Like I said she's a definite daddy's girl.

"Why are you crying?" he demanded to know "it was that boy wasn't it?"

"Calm down babe," Ria's mom tried to soothe her husband.

"What no-" Ria tried to defend me but her dad was having none of it.

"Put him on the phone now," he instructed her.

She lowered the phone and looked at me with a raised brow at the lack of panic on my face while she was on the verge of hyperventilating. I guess I was on a suicide mission by being so nonchalant about her father demanding to see me but I hadn't done anything wrong so there was nothing for me to be worried about. I nodded to her signaling that I was okay with talking to her dad. There's nothing I wouldn't do for her.

"Hey Mr. Rodriguez," I waved when Ria held the phone up so we were both in view.

"Don't hey me," he snapped "why is my daughter crying?"

"I didn't do anything if that's what you're talking about?"

"Then why the hell was she crying and don't you dare lie to me?"

"I'm so sorry about my husband Sebastian," Mrs. Rodriguez glared at her husband "just be truthful and tell us what happened"

I looked at Ria who was silently watching the interaction. She looked at me with a soft look on her face as she told me with her eyes what she was about to do. Her father said not to lie to him and by the look on her face, she was about to be the most transparent with her parents than she's ever been. I wasn't sure how this would play out but if this is what she wanted to do who am I to stop her?

"I was crying because it's my fault that Seb's in the hospital"

"I told you it wasn't your fault love," she just rolled her eyes at me as usual.

Mr. Rodriguez remained calm and stoic while Mrs. Rodriguez was frantic, "what do you mean by that? Michael said he tripped and fell down the stairs, which I'm so sorry about"

"He didn't tell you why he fell though," Ria responded cryptically.

"Now I'm concerned just tell us what happened," her mom rubbed her stomach in circles.

Ria took a deep breath, "I invited Jeremy to the party so that I could get revenge on him, I was going to get pictures of him in bed with a guy..."

"I didn't know Jeremy was gay," her mom gasped.

"He isn't," Ria smirked.

"That's my girl," Mr. Rodriguez smirked earning him a slap from his wife.

"Anyways when Seb found out what I had planned he warned me that things could go terribly wrong but I ignored his warnings and things did turn bad. Jerk face tried to attack me but Seb stepped in and took the hit for me but he lost his balance and fell"

"And that's how we ended up at the hospital"

Ria and I watched them as they were silently contemplating what Ria just revealed to them. I could practically see the wheels turning in Mrs. Rodriguez's head but Mr. Rodriguez was a mystery as always.

"Sebastian"

"Yes Sir," I mentally cursed my reflexes for having me straighten my back at his voice. The father of my girlfriend was intimidating.

"From now on you can call us Olivia and Carlos"

I paused, "thank you but why Sir?"

He looked at his wife who nodded, "you've earned our respect"

Well, it only took a life-threatening experience but I'll take it.