Drone and Drabble

Sandy knew. Kirsten knew. Caleb, albeit reluctantly, knew. Their on-again-off-again girlfriends couldn't deny it, and Zack… well, Zack knows more than anyone. So why can't the two lovebirds see what's right in front of them? Seth/Ryan
Zack

"Cohen, the next time you mention the name Ryan, I am going to wring your fragile neck."

Supportive, I know. But really, can't the guy get a clue about what's going on? Everybody knows that they have that whole 'undeniable' thing going for them. So for the millionth time I ask myself… What's stopping them?

"Come on, Zack, I know. I ramble. You should be used to it by now. Comes with the whole Cohen package…"

I put my head in my hands and groan. We are once again sitting in his room, him blankly staring at the ceiling, sitting upright against the wall. His legs are stretched out in front of him with forgotten comic pages lying strewn among the likes of Cokes, chips, and Captain Oats. I, for one, am sitting on the foot of his bed, trying to steer his attention back to the comic b—sorry, no, GRAPHIC NOVEL, at hand.

Let's just say I try, and fail miserably.

"… Dude, the thing is, that I CAN'T stop thinking about him. Which, in turn, means that I can't stop talking about him. See, I have this problem with separating thoughts from actual speech—"

"Really?" I ask sarcastically, shaking my head.

"Yes!…" he exclaims, either not noticing or completely ignoring the mocking tone of my voice "…And that becomes an issue when I'm around him, because it takes all my willpower, very low might I add, to stop myself from reiterating my thoughts into the endless drabble that is Seth Cohen… I have to resort to talking about Summer, which seems to be starting to really bug him. Don't know why… It's probably because the chances of Seth-Summer are next to nil, and he wants me to like, move onto greener pastures or something, I don't know."

That makes me laugh. For what reason is unknown to me, but… Cohen does that. I guess it's the rapid hand movements that go along with that 'endless drabble.' He mock-glares at me and I once again shake my head, realizing that he's done and wants me to say something to help him.

"Look, have you ever thought that maybe, just maybe, in some kind of miracle, Ryan ACTUALLY thinks of you just as much? Pines like you do? Relentlessly drones about how you're so witty and fun and, don't get me wrong, adorable?"

He looks at me like I just said that Lysander was really after Demetrius.

"I don't know. Perhaps it's because nobody ever thinks of Seth Cohen that way? In my seventeen years of life, I've dated two people, at the same time at one point if it counts for anything. Look where that got me…emotionally, and even more so physically, scarred… Not to mention alone."

He picked up Captain Oats and started mumbling something incoherent that I have a feeling was about my inability to understand his mindset on the issue.

I looked at the clock and realized I had to meet the topic of Seth's rants at the pier in half an hour. I took a wary glance at Cohen, who had gone back to staring aimlessly upward.

"Dude I have to go. Captain Oats is here for any further support."

"Yes… always Captain Oats…"

I sigh and go out the door, leaving Seth to some alone time with the best listener in the universe.

As soon as I walk up the ramp, I spot Ryan sitting on the deck, staring out into the water, his eyes following a boat that bears a strong resemblance to Seth's.

Why do I get the feeling that's what he's thinking?

He glances back at me when he hears my footsteps and smiles briefly.

"Hey man." He says simply, his eyes wandering back to the craft. I stay in silence for a few moments before talking.

"What are you thinking about now?" I ask, disturbed by the silence so soon after having none in Cohen's world.

"Just thinking about when Seth sailed away last summer. I know I wasn't here to see him or even try to stop him…" He trailed off and started watching again, not bothering to finish, not that he really needed to.

"Well… he's back now." I say simply, not really knowing how to respond otherwise. He smiles and nods slowly.

"Yeah… and things are finally back how they should be. The Fantastic Four…" he glances up at me and cocks his head, "Correction, five, are at it with a forcefulness that last year would have been blown away with. Completely unbreakable, how it should be."

I chuckle and sit down beside him, "Do you have any idea how much you just emulated Cohen? I feel like he's here now." I glance behind my back. "He's not is he?"

Ryan shrugs his shoulders and leans back on his his elbows.

"Probably not. Knowing him, he's plotting a suspenseful and thrilling way to weave his way back into Summer's love life." Ryan's chipper-as-Ryan-can-get vibe was immediately cast aside, replaced with the brooding that is usually in place when Summer is mentioned outside of everyday group dynamic.

"Dude, I can honestly tell you that he is not even thinking about Summer right now." I give him a half smile and stand up, turning to make my way home. "Trust me, man."

All Ryan can do is watch Zack's retreating back, wondering how the hell the guy can be so sure of himself when it comes to others' problems.

Well, that's the first chapter. I liked Zack when he was all sweet and stuff, so I'm totally disregarding anything in the season I felt 'bleh' about. This is meant to be a fun story and it will be.

Just one review will keep me going (since I'm actually interested in the fic!)