The Difference Between Brothers – Part 2 – The Party

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"Hey, good morning!" Ryan almost yelled entering the kitchen the next morning.

Seth was the only one up apparently. He was sitting at the kitchen counter, a bowl of soggy cereal infront of him which he had probably forgotten while reading the newspaper. Neither Sandy nor Kirsten had emerged from their bedroom yet and Seth didn't even want to think about what they might still be doing in bed at 9:30 on a Saturday morning.

Seth just groaned in reply and then watched over the top of his newspaper as Ryan sat down next to him, grabbed the box of Captain Crunch and began eating them dry out of the box. 'What an idiot! We do have bowls. And milk.' Seth thought while watching Ryan who seemed oblivious to his looks.

"Morning boys." Kirsten said cheerfully when she and Sandy finally showed up. They gave each other a look understanding what the other was thinking without using words. Seeing their boys sitting next to each other at the kitchen couter looked almost too good to be true. They were happy that their choice to take in Ryan seemed like a good one.

"What do you guys have planned for today?" Sandy asked.

Seth just shot a quick glance at Sandy before continuing to read a completely inept article in the paper. He wasn't even interested in the article, but pretending to read was the best way to avoid stupid questions or unwanted 'brothers'.

"I don't know. What do you guys usually do around her?" Ryan asked Seth excited.

But Seth didn't look up. Sandy who was used to this kind of behavior from his son answered in return, "Maybe you guys could go out on your catamaran, Seth. Your grandfather gave it to you a couple of years ago, but you never use it."

"There might be a reason for that." Seth mumbled.

"You have a boat?" Ryan asked with interest. He had always loved the ocean and was looking forward to living close to the beach. "I'd love to go out on it! Can we do that?"

"I'm sure Seth will be happy to go with you." Sandy said, oblivious to Seth glaring at him. "Right Seth?"

"Sure, dad." He said, but secretly thought 'Maybe if he fell in, I could get rid of him for good.'

After spending some hours on the ocean, to Seth's disappointment Ryan still hadn't managed to fall in, but was instead babbling about everything that came to his mind. Finally Seth couldn't stand it anymore and suggested they go and eat something. After lunch Sandy called Seth's cell phone to remind him about the charity event that night which Kirsten made them all go to and they went home to get changed.

As soon as Seth had spotted Luke at the event, he was gone to hang out with him and left Ryan with his parents. But it didn't take long for Ryan to find them again. They tried to stick to themselves, but Ryan was new, so every newpsie decided to introduce herself to him. Seth and Luke had little interest in everything and wished for it to be over soon.

Later that night Luke drove Seth and Ryan to Holly's party.

"So, when do you have to be back?" Luke asked when they were seated in the car.

Ryan opened his mouth to say midnight, which was the curfew the Cohen's had given them, but Seth was faster. "You should really know better than to ask a stupid question like that, Luke! They'll be asleep when we get home anyways, so no need to worry."

Sandy and Kirsten had seemed a little worried when Ryan had told them that he would be accompanying Seth to Holly's party. But they let them go without asking anymore questions. Ryan was surprised it had been that easy. At the group home he wasn't aloud to stay out later than nine on weekdays or ten at weekends, so this was all really new to him. Besides he didn't have enough friends to get invited to parties in the first place.

When they came to Holly's beach house the party was already in full swing. There were teenagers in bathingsuits everywhere. Almost every one was holding a cup of some liquid, which Ryan guessed was alcohol. The house looked really nice, huge for a beach house, a little bit dirty from empty plastic cups, chips and wrappers that had been deposited on the floor, tables or chairs, but still unbelievably fancy.

Luke led them out through the back door and onto the beach which was less crowded than the house. He than said he would be right back and they should start 'checkin' out some hotties'.

Seth had already started looking for Summer Roberts who he had had a crush on for a couple of years, but who never seemed to notice him. Sure she talked to him, because they were friends and his best friend Luke was almost dating (they had been flirting intensely and spending a lot of time together but weren't officially considered a couple) her best friend Marissa. But apart from that nothing had happened. Seth had had some relationships with other girls, but none ever lasted long because he could only think of her.

Then he spotted her on the porch. Flirting with Dave, a senior and the biggest jock in school. He was one of the most popular people in school. Seth was popular too – for a sophomore that was, but he knew he could never compete with Dave.

"Hey guys, I got you something to drink." Luke said as he handed Seth and Ryan each a plastic cup.

They both accepted it gratefully and took a big swig. But soon after that their faces turned into a frown and Ryan almost spit his drink out again.

"What is this?" He asked.

"Coke." Luke replied flatly.

"Coke and what?"

"Coke and vodka."

"Oh, uhm...I...I don't really drink." Ryan said in almost a whisper.

"Really?" Luke faked surprise at Ryan's comment. "Oh well, one drink won't take the edge off. You'll be fine."

Ryan wasn't sure what to think, but when he realised that both Seth and Luke were staring at him, he took another swig and another. Soon he was used to the taste of vodka and finished off his drink.

"I'm going to get another one." He anounced and went off towards the house as Seth and Luke watched him.

"Hey Luke, what is this?" Seth asked pointing to his drink.

"Coke." Came Luke's flat reply.

"Coke and what?"

"Coke and...Coke."

"What? Why did Ryan get vodka and I don't?" Seth asked pouting before it dawned to him. "That's part of your plan, isn't it?"

"Mmmhhmm."

"So what's your plan exactly?"

"Okay, listen..."

Seth listened intensely to Luke explaining about what he had planned.

Meanwhile Ryan was in the kitchen looking at the huge amount of alcohol on the counter infront of him. Unsure of what or how much to use he picked up different bottles to read the labels.

"Hey." He heard a female voice behind him say.

"Hey." He answered.

As he turned around he came face to face with the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She was tall and skinny and her short mini skirt emphasized her long legs. She had long brown hair falling in curls over her shoulders.

"Wanna fix me a drink?" She asked smiling smugly.

"A drink? Uh...yeah, sure. What do you want?"

"How about a screwdriver?"

"Um...a screwdriver...yes, okay." Ryan answered hesitant and totally confused, while thinking, 'What does she need a tool for now? Didn't she want a drink?'

The girl was watching him watching the bottles without lifting a finger.

"Why don't you start by taking the vodka and I tell you how much to put into a cup?" She finally suggested, when she was sure that he didn't have a clue about how to make a screwdriver.

"Yeah, good idea!" He agreed. "So...where's the vodka?"

"Why don't you use that bottle?" The girl asked smiling and pointed to a bottle right in front of Ryan. "The one with 'vodka' on the lable?"

Ryan blushed as he picked up the bottle.

"I knew that!" He said and the girl giggled.

"Good. And now orange juice." She said handing Ryan the container when he had filled about one third of the cup with vodka.

He added the juice and then handed her the drink. She took a small sip, testing it. Then a bigger one. Finally she put the cup down and said, "It's pretty good. You want me to fix you one now?"

Ryan agreed and she mixed him another Coke and vodka.

"So, who are you?" She asked after he had tasted his drink.

"Whoever you want me to be." He replied. He had heard people using that line in many movies before and he had always wanted to say it. She gave him a weird look, but didn't give up.

"How come I don't know you? You don't go to Harbor, do you?"

"Not yet. But I will next year. I just moved here. Yesterday actually."

"Really?" She asked. "And why are you at this party? Do you know anyone here?"

"Yeah. I'm living with the Cohen's. Maybe you know their son Seth?"

"Seth Cohen? Yeah, of course I know him. Who doesn't? I'm actually good friends with him and his best friend Luke. We hang out together a lot."

"I'm Marissa by the way."

"Ryan."

Time went by and Seth and Luke had been outside talking to Holly and a couple of different other girls for a while. They hadn't seen Ryan for at least an hour, when he was headed for the kitchen to get another drink. Surrounded by a group of half-naked, dancing girls a pretty drunk Luke was really enjoying himself. But Seth who wasn't allowed to drink, had nothing to take his mind off and started to worry about Ryan after a while.

He decided to go looking for him. It didn't take long until he saw him. Ryan was in the middle of the living room, dancing with a strangely familiar looking girl. They were very close to each other, groping different parts of each other's bodies.

As Seth came closer to the couple he finally recognized the girl: Marissa. His 'supposed to be brother' was making out with his best friend's 'almost girlfriend'. Seth knew immediatly that this could only mean trouble. He had to get Ryan away from Marissa before Luke found out, because he really didn't feel like explaining to his mother how Ryan got a black eye.

"Ryan? Ryan? What are you doing?" Seth asked.

"I'm jus' having fun." A heavily buzzed Ryan slurred.

"Come on, we're going home."

Seth grabbed Ryan's arm and pulled him away from Marissa, just to realize that Ryan was too drunk to stand on his own anymore, when he immediatly fell down.

"Don' touch me!" Ryan complained.

He pushed Seth's helping hand away and tried to get up on his own. He swayed, but finally managed to stand up holding onto the wall.

"Ryan, we have to get you home."

Luke who had heard the noise inside came up to Seth and Ryan, luckily Marissa had disappeared a second before. Ryan continued arguing, but finally Seth and Luke managed to get him to agree to going home. They each held onto one of his arms and guided him to Luke's car.

"Do you need help with him?" Luke asked when they arrived at the Cohen's house and got Ryan out of the car.

"No, I think we'll manage." Seth told his friend and then put his arm around Ryan's waist to better support his weight.

"Okay. So, I'll see ya around." Seth nodded and Luke drove off.

"Hey? A little help here?" Seth asked with a strained voice. Ryan was heavily leaning on his shoulder unable to hold his bodyweight on his own. So Seth had to do his best to get him to the house.

"Seth? Ryan? Is that you?" It was Kirsten's voice that could be heard through the house as Seth and Ryan came in through the front door.

"Uh-oh."

As soon as Kirsten saw the boys and the way Seth was mostly carrying Ryan now, her mother's insticts took over and she rushed to his side.

"Seth? What happened? Is he alright?"

She lifted up his chin to take a look at his face, and upon seeing his eyes she got a pretty good idea about what had happed at the party.

"Are you drunk?" She asked incredulously and got the answer immediatly when Ryan put on a stupid, almost proud grin.

"Seth! I can't believe you! How could you get him drunk?"

"What? Mom? How is this supposed to be my fault?"

Kirsten glanced at him as if saying 'I know you.' which would be enough of a reason for her.

"Okay, I know my record doesn't exactly speak for me, but I'm trying. You told me that Ryan is different and that I should be careful with him, so I didn't drink anything tonight. And it wasn't my idea to get him drunk!" Kirsten searched his eyes for any sign of a lie but didn't seem to find one. And if you really thought about it, what he had said wasn't even a lie. All of it had been Luke's idea although Ryan helped with the plan too – unwittingly.

"I didn't even know that he had been drinking this much until it was too late and then we got him home immediatly." Seth continued trying to convince his mother of his innocence, while they guided Ryan to his room and put him down on his bed. He was asleep as soon as he hit the covers.

"Go to bed Seth. We'll talk about this tomorrow."

Seth shuffled over to his own room and got changed for bed while Kirsten took of Ryan's shoes and tucked him in.

"Good night sweetie." She said and turned to leave.

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TBC

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