Can't Ricky be allowed to make a mistake?

I rather he learn his lesson himself, not be told what to do. I apperciate that I've tried to make the char sympathetic and as grey lined as possible, but he has made a mistake and should suffer consiquence for them... Not be shielded, even if he is a likeable geek. This is actually why I rushed with the uploading even though it felt unnatural. I wanted him to start small showing the pictures in school and gain popularity but it seemed like Lucas would not have let him make it through the week end.