Disclaimer: I do not own The O.C. or any of its characters. All of that belongs to FOX.

A/N: First The O.C. fanfic. I am still currently watching it (near the end of season one). This is set early season one right after Ryan moves in with the Cohens. Please leave me a review.

Ryan's POV

I sat in class across from Luke as the teacher gave a lecture. I could barely keep my eyes open. My head was pounding. I couldn't tell if it was from the bright lights or just the fact that I didn't want to hear a lecture on The French Revolution, but either way, it hurts like hell.

I put my jacket on as I felt shivers go up and down my spine. I felt so cold.

"Dude, how are you not baking?" Luke asks me and I shrug, not even attempting to give him an actual reply. I didn't want to talk.

"Hey." Marissa gets my attention; she was sitting across from me, next to Luke. "Are you okay?"

I nodded.

"You sure?" She asks.

I nodded again.

"I'm fine." I spoke.

After first period ended, I went back to the pool house. I couldn't stand having to listen to another lecture. I could bare to stand up or try to stay awake any longer. I needed to lay down. Sandy and Kirsten were at work, so they wouldn't know.

I could get some sleep and then maybe I'll be able to put on a fine façade; I didn't need them worry about me.

It wasn't their job to worry about me. They had done enough with taking me in.

Seth's POV

I hadn't seen Ryan all day since breakfast—well this morning right before Marissa came to give him a ride to school—since he didn't eat any breakfast—which was kind of strange for Ryan. I didn't see him in halls or at lunch.

"Hey Marissa, have you seen Ryan?" I asked as I walked by her and Summer in the hallway.

"No, not since first period." Marissa told me.

"Well do you know where is?"

"No."

"Maybe he left." Summer suggested.

"Yeah, well I guess it's safe to assume that since he's not here." I replied in remark.

"He didn't look so good this morning." Marissa added. "Maybe he's sick."

I shook my head. I didn't believe that—well I am sure it's possible to get sick—everyone gets sick—but this is Ryan. I doubt he'd let a little cold or something make him ditch school—especially since Dr. Kim, when she finds out, she is going to kill him.

During Lunch, I went back to the house and found Ryan asleep in the pool house. I pulled up the chair and stared for a moment—mostly because I couldn't believe it. Ryan Atwood, asleep in his natural habitat and during school hours. I do not see how catching up on beauty rest qualifies for a good reason for ditching school—and later having to deal with Dr. Kim and my parents.

"Ryan." I said and he didn't wake him—I don't know why I thought saying his name in normal tone would wake him up; it would take more for me to be woken up.

I repeated his name again—louder and multiple times until something came out of him in a mumble.

"Dude, I get that sleep is awesome but I don't think it's worth having to deal with Dr. Kim when she founds out you ditched today and it's only what? You're second week?" I pointed out and then some sort of moan—or groan—came out of Ryan, in response.

"Dude, what's wrong with you? You sound like you're dead—well dying because you know, dead people don't make sounds, or more even—or maybe you sound like the living dead—"

"Seth." Ryan spoke, cutting me off. "Do me a favor."

"What?" I ask.

"Shut up."

"Noted." I nodded awkwardly as he began to cough.

"You sound awful."

"Thanks." Ryan replied, sarcastically. "Are you going to comment on my looks too?"

"Well, you look terrible—but maybe even worse than how you sound, which like I said is pretty awful—" I cut myself off at seeing the glare from Ryan. "Right. Okay. I'll shut up now."

"But seriously—you look—are you sick?" I ask.

"I'm not sick." Ryan says, his voice sounding hoarse before he coughed a couple times into his sleeve.

"Yeah, here's the thing, based on how you look, sound, and that cough, I am inclined to disagree with you. Now it isn't a problem, my parents—"

"No, you're not telling your parents." Ryan said.

"I should. Trust me, you'll thank me later—"

"No, Seth, I'll be fine. Just—let me be." Ryan insisted and though I disagreed with his choices and I knew that somehow they would figure it out, I nodded. I wouldn't say a word. If Ryan wanted to suffer on his own I was fine with it.

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