Just thought of this story while watching 'The Ties that Bind' Let me know what you think. And to make things clear, in this story, Sandy is going to be from Chino, not the Bronx. The character are relating to the show's characters like this
The OC Character Save Me From Myself Character
Ryan Sandy
Marissa Kirsten
Sandy Jack
Kirsten Jenna
Seth Chris
Summer Alexa
Luke Jimmy
Jimmy Elizabeth [Elizabeth is Kirsten's mom, but her personality and relationship with Kirsten is like Jimmy's with Marissa. Same goes for Julie and Caleb
Julie Caleb
Trey Jake
Holly Michelle
I'll update in later chapters if I add anymore.
Disclaimer: I don't Sandy, Kirsten, or anything else related to the OC. All I own is the Burke family. Some dialogue will be from the original show, and I didn't write that. That is credit to Josh Schwartz and everyone else on the writing staff of that amazing show.
The night was still, or at least, as still as it ever gets in Chino. The sound of yelling and breaking bottles could be heard in the background. The alley was bare, except for two brothers, quietly approaching a car.
Sandy Cohen ran a hand through his messy mop of black hair and looked around, feeling paranoid.
"C'mon little brother," The older one, Jake, said, "It's time to show you the ways of a Cohen" He broke the window and unlocked the door, sliding into the front seat.
"I don't know about this, Jake" Sandy said, staying a few steps to the left of the car.
"Just get in, Sandy!" Jake yelled, obviously still a little drunk from their beers at a local bar.
Sandy took one last look around, opened the door and slid into the front seat, not bothering to buckle his seatbelt.
Just as soon as he got in, he heard the faint sound of police sirens whirring in the background, each passing moment, the sound got louder.
"Shit!" Jake called and pressed on the gas as the cop car began to trail them.
Jake drove fast, too fast. He crashed the car into a telephone pole, and then said blankly
"We're screwed"
Sandy was being lead down a hallway, wearing a navy blue jumpsuit, his head facing the ground. How could this happen? Sure, he had gotten into some shit before, but he had always found himself a way out. And he had never done anything this bad.
He approached a table, where an older man, who looked to be around 40 years old with dark brown hair and blue eyes was sitting, looking through a folder of papers.
"Sandy Cohen?" The man looked up, giving Sandy a warm smile "I'm Jack Burke, your attorney."
Sandy gave the man a nod, and sat down.
"Where's Jake?" He asked, not looking Jack in the eye.
"Jake is over eighteen." Jack said, talking while looking through his papers. "Jake stole a car. Jake had cocaine in his pocket." He looked back up at Sandy, a knowing look in his eyes. "Jake is looking at two to three years."
Sandy couldn't look him in the eye, because he knew it was true. He couldn't believe himself. The boy who wanted to be a lawyer, was breaking the law.
"Your grades are okay. Not great, but acceptable." Jack said, turning his attention back to the papers. "Been suspended twice?" Jack said, phrasing the statement as a question. Sandy just looked down at the table.
"Test scores?" Jack said to himself "97th percentile!" He exclaimed, this time to Sandy. "I knew you weren't stupid"
"Thanks" Sandy said with a raise of a bushy eyebrow, not entirely sure if it was a compliment.
""Look," Jack said "I can get this down to a misdemeanor, but you have got to understand, stealing a car, no matter who told you to do it, whether it be your brother or the president, it's stupid, and it's weak. And it's not going to get you anywhere."
"It's not like I'm going anywhere anyways." Sandy said.
"You can" Jack said "But you got to work for it. I know what you feel like kid, I'm from a rough area on the south side of Chicago, my dad left, my mom might as well have,"
"And look at you now" Sandy said, looking him straight in the eyes.
"I've got a job, I've got a family" Jack said. "But it would of never happened if I hadn't worked in high school, worked in college, and worked at my job." Jack simply stated.
Outside, Sandy was back in his clothes from the night before, waiting for his mom.
His mother's ratty old car drove up, and an angry Sophie Cohen emerged.
"Sanford!" She yelled "What the hell were you thinking? Are you insane? Do you want to end up like your brother? In jail!?"
"Mrs Cohen," Jack began "I'm Jack Burke, Sandy's attorney."
"You should let him rot in there!" Sophie said, and Sandy looked down, ashamed. "Just like his brother's gonna! They both deserve it!"
"Here's my card" Jack said, turning his attention towards Sandy "If you need anything."
Sandy looked down at the card, sure he wasn't going to use it, and stuffed it in his pocket.
"I'll call you when your trial is coming up" Jack said, and then walked out towards his car.
"Get in the damn car Sandy!" Sophie said, her hand shaking with anger.
Sandy reluctantly got in the car, and Sophie sped away.
The hot Californian sun beat down on him as he watched the cars speed by. His mother had kicked him out. His mother, the one woman who was supposed to love him unconditionally, no matter what.
So much for that theory. He had called several friends, begging them for a place to stay. Each of them had flat out refused him.
He had no one. He was used to fending for himself, with his mother off working every moment of the day. He stood up, and stuck his hands in his pockets, where he felt the corner of a business card. He pulled it out of his pocket and sighed.
He only had one choice.
A black Lexus pulled up and Sandy stood up, a small bag holding his possessions in his hand.
Jack smiled, and said "Get in, kid"
Sandy looked at Jack and said "Thanks"
He opened the door and sat down on the leather seats.
They began to drive, and with each passing moment, the surrounding area became less and less familiar. Sandy 's unfamiliarity peaked when they approached a gated community, and they drove past the security guard to reveal dozens of enormous houses, their driveways filled with expensive cars.
"I didn't know public defenders made this kind of money." Sandy stated
"They don't" Jack said, his eyes on the road. "Corporate executives, like my wife. They do."
They pulled into the driveway of one of the large houses and Jack turned off the car.
For a moment, he paused, not entirely sure what to do.
"You stay here" He instructed "I'll be right back" He grabbed his car keys, and silently debated whether or not to leave them in the car.
"It's not much fun when the keys are in the car." Sandy said
Jack smiled, and left the keys on the driver's seat.
Kirsten Nichol walked out of her enormous house, the largest one on the block, and down to the edge of her driveway. Her boyfriend of a year, Jimmy Cooper was on his way to pick her up, and take her over to her friend Michelle's house for a beach party that was sure to have loads of alcohol – her perfect pick me up.
She glanced to the left, and saw a boy standing on the edge of the Burke's driveway. He looked up, and caught her gaze.
"Who are you?" She asked
"Whoever you want me to be" He answered, his eyes never leaving her's.
"Okay" She said, unsure of what to do next. She saw him pull out a pack of cigarettes, and quickly asked
"Can I have one?"
He gave her look, and she knew it meant yes.
Sandy stared at the girl. She was, without a doubt, she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She had blonde hair that hung below her shoulders, tanned skin and bright blues. With her pink polo shirt and pearl choker, she definitely didn't look like a smoker. Don't always judge a book by a cover, Sandy reminded himself.
He offered her a cigarette, and she placed it in between her fingers, using his to light hers.
"Really," Kirsten asked, "Who are you?" She took a long drag on her cigarette, and then slowly blew the smoke out.
"Really really?" Sandy asked, smiling at her coyly. She nodded before taking another drag.
"Really really" She responded
"I stole a car. Technically, my brother did. But I was there. In the car." He said, blowing out smoke. She stood close to him, and Sandy felt something. Not her body, but a connection. A feeling that he knew this girl, when he didn't even know her name. "Now my brother's in jail, and my mom kicked me out. So Mr. Burke took me in."
Kirsten smiled; sure he was making this story up.
"You're their cousin from Chicago, right?"
Sandy smiled again, realizing his story probably did sound pretty unbelievable to a girl who lived this kind of life.
"Right." He nodded.
"Hey, Mr. Burke." Kirsten said, quickly throwing her cigarette on the ground and discretely stamping it out with a pink ballet flat. "I was just meeting your nephew"
"Hello Kirsten" Jack replied, confused by the cousin reference. He shared a quick glance with Sandy, realizing this was his 'cover'
"Right, my favorite nephew. From Miami." He added, for believability.
"Miami?" Kirsten asked, giving Sandy a look.
"Dad's from Miami. Mom's from Chicago." Sandy quickly informed her.
"We're really looking forward to the fashion show fundraiser tomorrow night." Jack said, making conversation.
Kirsten gave him a 'yeah right' look and said, "You are?"
"Nah." Jack said, just as a Mercedes SUV pulled up to the driveway. The window was rolled down, and a boy was inside.
"Let's go, babe" He called to her. "Hey Mr. Burke." He said to Jack.
"Hi Jimmy" Jack said to him.
"You should come tomorrow." Kirsten said to Sandy. "If you're not doing anything."
He smiled, and watched as Kirsten stepped into the car and kissed the boy on the lips. Sandy felt a little part of him become sad, watching her kiss another guy, even though he had seconds ago learned her name.
They drove off, and Jack invited him inside, but not before telling him to put out his cigarette and not to light another one while he was staying here.
They walked out to the pool house, where Jack told Sandy he would be staying.
A blonde, poised woman stood inside of the pool house.
"This is my wife, Jenna." Jack said, motioning to the woman.
"Hello, Sandy" Jenna said awkwardly. "Welcome to our home."
"Hi," Sandy said. After the standard small talk was made, Jack and Jenna left Sandy by himself.
He laid on the bed, the only light being the light coming from the moon through the window.
He couldn't get that girl out of his head. Kirsten. Blonde haired, blue eyed, looked as if she was just a typical California girl on the outside, but Sandy could see she was so much more than that.
He had to see her again.
I know a lot of this was taken from the pilot, but the rest of the story won't be. I just wanted to set it up like this. Please please please tell me what you think!