Title : Shiny Happy People

Author : Helen C.

Rating : G

Summary : Some glimpses into the Cohens+1 lives after (or during, depending on how you want to look at it) the finale.

Disclaimer : The characters and the universe were created and are owned by Josh Schwartz. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

AN. Many thanks to joey51 for beta'ing this and to fredsmith518, who totally inspired me to write this fic.


Shiny Happy People

Helen C.

2007

"So, kid, how is it going so far?" Sandy asked, taking a seat across Ryan, the food already laid out on the table. Hamburgers, fries and soda; fat and calories all at once—Kirsten would probably have a lot to say about what they were eating, but damn it, they were guys and they needed the energy. That was Ryan's story, and he was sticking to it.

Ryan picked up a French fry and waved it at Sandy, smiling. "So, that's why you wanted to see me? To grill me?"

"I never need an excuse to see you," Sandy retorted. "But yes, Kirsten and I thought it was time for a check... She's tackling Seth later today."

Ryan took a sip from his soda to hide a smirk. "Did you draw straws?"

Seth had called him three times already, and Ryan had barely been able to get a word edgewise given how fast Seth had prattled on, and on, and on. So far, a week on the East Coast hadn't changed Seth an iota. Ryan wondered whether another four years were going to make a difference.

It couldn't be easy for his friend. Seth had never dealt well with being alone, and for all his thirst for independence, this was his first real try to make a life for himself, far from his parents.

"We did, actually," Sandy replied. He was dressed casually, in what he called his "professor attire"—shirt and jeans, no tie. He kept saying that being away from all that Newport Armani was a relief, and Ryan could empathize. He didn't miss the designer jeans crowd either.

Sandy seemed to be breathing again since he had settled back in Berkeley; Ryan couldn't remember ever seeing him so relaxed and laid back. Or maybe it was fatherhood, giving him a second youth? Whatever the reason, Sandy and Kirsten looked and behaved like newlyweds all over again.

Ryan had refrained from saying so to Seth. He knew what his friend's reaction would be—a hearty "ew!", probably followed by some variation of the scarred-for-life speech. Ryan would have agreed on the general principle (he didn't want to know anything about Sandy and Kirsten's private life, ever), but seeing them so happy made him feel even more glad he had followed his impulse and tried to buy back their old house. And of course, there was the added benefit of having them close; at eighteen, he probably should have strived for independence like Seth did, but frankly, he didn't think he was ready for a long-distance relationship with the Cohens just yet.

Sandy was watching him, waiting for his reaction, so Ryan asked, "Who lost?"

Sandy chuckled easily. "Take a guess."

Ryan smiled but didn't reply, knowing full well that the drawing straws thing was pure invention—just a way to get the conversation rolling before Sandy got to what he really wanted to ask.

"And don't think I didn't notice how you managed to avoid replying to my question," Sandy added.

Ryan rolled his eyes elaborately, wondering how he could possibly explain what it was like to be here. He felt alarmingly out of his depth, but at the same time, he had never felt more at ease anywhere. Maybe it was because no one here knew anything about him or his past. No one was judging him on what they thought they knew about him; no one was expecting him to screw up (well, no one but himself, and less so these days). He was enjoying his classes so far, and the few people he had interacted with had been interesting and about as awe-struck as he was.

He had thought he would feel weird and out of place, being the first Atwood to attend college, but at least three other people in his chemistry class had blue collar parents, and he had seen several others look around with wide eyes and incredulous smiles.

By the time midterms came, Ryan was sure that the feeling of contentment would fade and be replaced by frustration and weariness, but for now, he was determined to enjoy himself.

"I haven't gotten lost today, yet," he said. It was a running joke that all the freshmen needed a map of the campus for the first few weeks, and he knew that Sandy would be able to read between the lines.

"Ah, yes." Sandy took a bite off his hamburger, looking around affectionately. "I remember when I first got here. I was terrified."

So was I, Ryan thought, but that wasn't true. Terrified had been on the side of that road, with Marissa dying in his arms. Terrified had been going home in Chino and finding his mother gone. Here... He was worried of failing, of having to start over again in a foreign town, he was worried that people would think he wasn't entitled to this.

It wasn't being terrified, though.

"And then," Sandy went on, "I met all these people who came from different backgrounds—some wealthy, some even poorer than I was, and I realized that this was a chance to see the world without travelling."

Ryan nodded, thinking about his roommate, born and raised in Alabama, and the guy across the hallway, who came from Chicago, and the German student who was here on a scholarship.

"In some ways, these were the best days of my life," Sandy added.

Ryan smiled at the unspoken, "I hope you'll enjoy yourself as much as I do."

Then, because they were guys and heavy discussions weren't something Ryan was totally comfortable with, he asked, "So, how is Sophie doing?" confident that it would keep them occupied until well after they were done eating.


TBC