Better Off

Senior Year brings along a lot of changes in the Cohen House, Ryan gets a little too comfortable with the "in" crowd and again Seth has no crowd, while Lorraine Cohen, beings her freshman year at Harbour has no problem with fitting in with the opposite sex.

Light beamed through the many windows of the Cohen family mansion. It was an unusually hot late August morning. Sandy Cohen was out before dawn to get in his morning surf that cleared his head; living with three teenagers wasn't the easiest and his father in laws mischief with the law didn't help much. The house was always chaotic these days, they just finished renovating and with Kirstin being "unofficially" in charge of the Newport Group, it seemed they never sat down for a meal together anymore. Sandy walked into a quiet house. It was almost 7:00, Ryan was probably in the pool house bathroom taking a shower and just like his wife, Seth and Lorraine were the hardest to wake up in the morning.

By 7:45 every Cohen was in the kitchen grabbing a quick breakfast.

"Ryan, how many times do I have to tell you?" Kirstin asked obviously annoyed "We have bowls for a reason." She continued after she caught him eating cereal out of the box again.

Ryan just gave Kirstin an apologetic look and jumped off the bar stool to grab a bowl.

"So honey, are you ready for your first day at Harbor High School?" Sandy asked, as he dropped a kiss on his 14 year old daughter's forehead.

"Dad, I have gone to Harbor all my life, it is all the same people, every year is the same." Lorraine said while eating her low fat granola bar.

"Hey, this year could be different." Sandy said optimistically.

"I hope not, last year I was voted most popular and I can't let that bitch Olivia beat me out of it this year." Lorraine said seriously while filing her short, bitten off finger nails.

"Hey, watch your mouth, young lady." Sandy said as he got up from the table and brought his coffee cup over to the sink.

"Yes, watch your mouth, young lady." Seth said trying to imitate his father.

"Seth, that new car of yours and Ryan's can be all Ryan's." Sandy said sternly.

"Yes, Seth, that new car of yours can be all mine." Ryan said trying to mock Seth who imitated their father.

This past summer, the Cohen's finally adopted Ryan after his 17th birthday and he was now officially a Cohen. He changed his last name to Cohen, so that he could try to get over his past and focus on his future; senior year, college applications, everything but Chino. He finally got what he wanted and so did Seth; a new car. It was Ryan and Seth's present. Sandy and Kirstin thought it was time for them to have a car of their own, since every other senior at Harbour had gone through at least two or three cars by now.

"Ryan don't forget, right home after school, your grounded." Sandy reminded his son in a harsh tone.

"I have soccer tryouts." Ryan said, daring him to say he couldn't go.

"Fine, I will pick you up at 5:00" Sandy replied.

"Thanks, but I am sure Luke or Andrew or someone can give me a ride home." Ryan said trying to get the point across that he did not want Sandy picking him up.

"Or I can pick you up." Sandy said in don't argue with me voice.

"Right, because I'm ten years old," Ryan mumbled loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Ya know Ryan, I can pick you up at 2:30 instead, if you would prefer?" Sandy said getting aggravated with his new son.

"Let's go Seth, don't want to be late." Ryan said getting up and putting his bowl in the sink. "Oh, I can drive to school with Seth, right Sandy?" Ryan asked sarcastically.

The sarcastic mark didn't go over well with Sandy though "Maybe a week wasn't long enough."

Ryan choose to ignore the comment, knowing that would just get himself into more trouble if he continued with his smart remarks that just kept on coming. He headed toward the month old black Hummer, that he could call his own.

"Lorraine, are you coming with us?" Seth asked getting up and grabbing his messenger bag.

"Well, of course she is, how else would she get to school?" Kirstin asked.

"Actually John is picking me up. So no, I do not need a ride and besides I would never be seen with you at school. Its bad enough we have the same last name." Lorraine said rolling her eyes.

"I love you too." He said smiling to her as he walked out of the kitchen headed for the front door.

Lorraine just blew him a kiss as he walked by, and then rolled her eyes.

"Now, who is John again?" Sandy said obviously confused.

"A friend, I am allowed to have friends right?" Lorraine asked with attitude. She hated when her father did this, just because he was a boy, and he was near her daddy's precious little girl.

"Of course you are." Sandy said as he got the look from Kirstin saying, stop it, he is just a friend. "What grade is the "friend" in? He can drive?" Sandy asked becoming curious of who this new "friend" was.

"Yes he can drive, he is a senior." Lorraine said getting annoyed.

"A senior huh?" Sandy replied giving his wife the look of uh-oh. "Do your brothers know him?"

"I know Ryan does, why dad, what is the big deal, we are friends, ok?" Lorraine said trying to end this conversion.

Luckily the doorbell rang and she ran out of the kitchen as fast as she could, not even hearing her dad yell,

"Bye, sweetie, I love you, BE CAREFUL"

Lorraine was your typical Newport spoiled little brat. She got everything she wanted, whenever she wanted it. Although she didn't look like your normal Harbour High School poster girl, with her dark chestnut hair that was usually thrown back in a pony tail and her daily attire of mostly tee-shirts and jeans or occasionally, a cute jean skirt. She always looked cute though. She must being looking good, if all the guys chase her as much as they do. The fact that she is the star of her soccer team, surfs almost every day and knows more about sports than Seth, is just an added bonus.