A/N – The lyrics are by The Fray and Patrick Park.
Summary – Even when you are somewhere across the country, there are still things that makes you come back home.
Disclaimer – I don't own anything.
My Sweetest Downfall - Chapter 1
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Ryan looked at his eight-year old, who played happily in the back yard. Chino was known as a violent place, but that didn't seem to bother the boy. He kept on going back and fort between the swing and the sandbox.
Ryan was quite satisfied at the life he had built around himself. He had a beautiful girlfriend, who got looks from other men. They also had a son together, Marcus, who had his father's intelligence and his mother's incerity. Theresa's pregnancy had been a step back for both of them, but those feelings had changed after the baby had been born.
The Cohens were nothing but a missing peace in his life. He missed the warmness, that they created just by their presence. He missed that love they made by their simple words.
But things could have been even worse.
They had a nice, little house, where they lived together as a family. He had a job at constructions, Theresa worker at a near restaurant as a waiter, so they spent their breaks together. Marcus was on second grade in school. He wasn't the most popular kid in his school, but not the most teased one either. He had a chance to live a peaceful childhood, unlike his father.
Summer stepped in to her apartment. She felt relieved, when one day at work was again behind.
She walked to the living room's window, where she saw the view to New York's busy streets. She had lived there already couple of years, but still it amazed her. She didn't miss Newport at all. At least those people, who betrayed and then left her alone.
She had finished high school at Harbor, feeling lonely and being an outsider. There had been times, when she had been depressed, but she kept on fighting. While graduating she had been the best on her class. She was accepted in Brown and she was happy to get out of Newport.
In college Summer concentrated in herself and in her studies. The Old-Summer would just have run after boys and fail all tests. But the New-Summer was more mature and she thought about things before getting into action.
There was still something missing from her life. Friends and family. Love and caring. Secretly Summer hoped for a boyfriend by her side. People, who would hug her while walking past. Someone, that would comfort her while feeling alone.
She missed Ryan, who had turned everyones lifes for the better. Thinking later Summer had realised, that Ryan was propably the most honest boy she had ever met.
She missed Seth, who brought light and humor to an every day life. Seth was a naive person, but maybe that ahd been the most attractive feature.
She missed Marissa, who she had known since a little girl. She had told Marissa her most biggest problems and secrets. But it shouldn't have been surprise, that Marissa left, too. But it hurt her very much.
Now she was alone in a big city, being kicked by the big world.
Marissa Ward stretched the sheets of their bed, thoughtful. She had the presentation of her new cloth-collection ahead and Marissa was trying to learn her speech. Luke had already gone to work, so the house was nicely quiet.
Marissa liked to be alone once in a while, but still she wanted her man beside her. Luke seamed to be like her better half. Usually is was the other way around, but exceptions happens.
Marissa didn't have any complains about her life. Sometimes she thought Luke wasn't like Ryan, but usually she had been scared of her thoughts. She had forgiven Luke and fallen in love again. They wanted to live more freely, so that's why they dropped out of school. Of course, Marissa missed her best friend, but the new lifestyle had sounded more tempting.
Marissa and Luke travelled in their favorite places around the world, stopping by in almost every continent at least once. They didn't have any problems with money, their parents paid all the expenses.
Years later Luke had suggested settling down in Miami. Marissa had thought about it and decided, that it was time. First step was to get married. They decided to do it in a registry office, because that was the easiest way. The thought about a child, too, but they decided to make their careers first.
Marissa chose to become a cloth-designer and she was going to start her studies. Someone of Luke's friends noticed her talents and took her straight to work.
Now she was making her dream come true, as her third collection was ready.
Seth sat on a rock at the beach and stared the ocean. Sometimes chips and boats went past and made a little noise. Birds flew and screamed from the bottom of their lungs.
Sailing classes had ended from the day and Seth was just waiting for Amrk to pick him up.
Mark was Seth's best friend, which probably was because of their differences. Their friendship was just like Seth and Ryan once had. Seth liked to talk and mess around, when Mark was a strong, silent type.
Seth has lived in Portland for almost eight years. Ever since Ryan had gone to Chino with Theresa. He was left alone with his girlfriend, but that wasn't enough.
Seth had decided to leave it all behind.
He had gone sailing to Tahiti, like he had always dreamed of. Somehow he lost curse, and ended up in Portland. He ran into Luke's dad and lived with him about a month. Then he had made enough money to rent his own place. That time he met Mark and took him as his tenant.
Sometimes he thought about his parents and their reactions.
Sometimes he thought about Ryan and his new life.
He also thought about Summer, the love of his life.
He thought they all were better without him and that's why he didn't keep in contact or go back home.
If Seth would have only known how wrong he was.
At the end of the evening they all got the same message in to their e-mails.
This is not easy to tell or even to understand. Sandy died this afternoon... They don't know the whole reason, but I guess it has something to do with his heart. I would like you to come to the funeral, which are on Thursday. Sandy would have wanted you to come, together.
Kirsten
Well life is a dream 'cause we're all walking in our sleep
You could see us stand in lines like we're dead upon our feet
And we build our house of cards and then we wait for it to fall
Always forget how strange it is just to be alive at all