Chapter 2: When Pushed
"You two. Get over here and sit down"
"Dad, before you-"
"Shut. Up."
Seth gave his father placating smile "Come on-"
"Seth, I'm only going to tell you one more time. Shut your mouth and sit your ass on that couch now"
Ryan quickly sat on the nearest cushion, tying to keep his arm steady and his breathing even as he pulled Seth down with him. Seth glared at his brother and immediately scooted over to the other side of the couch closest to his father.
Sandy started pacing back and forth in front of the boys, his steps getting faster and faster with each turn before stopping in front of Seth and letting loose.
"WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?"
"Wh- What?"
"Just who do you think you are, Seth? Huh?"
"We're sorry" Ryan tried to keep his voice from shaking, but Sandy never shouted at them like this. Hell, he rarely ever shouted at all. The empty cans of beer and the open bottle of vodka lying on the table were doing nothing to calm his nerves.
"I'm not talking to you" Sandy snapped. He turned back to his other son.
"You'd better answer me"
"Well," Seth replied leaning foward, unfazed by his father's appearance
" I think you already answered that question for me-"
"Cut the crap, Seth" Sandy roared walking towards his son but stopping a few feet away from where he sat on the couch.
Ryan sank deeper into his seat, but Seth held his place.
"You didn't think I'd worry? That'd your mother would be worried about where you were all night until almost 3:00 in the morning? A trip you didn't ask permission to take, by the way. And did you remember me telling you that you're grounded, or did you just hit the 'mute button' while I was talking"
"Honestly, you work so much I didn't think you'd even notice." Seth retorted
Seth hadn't meant to sound so cold, but he was getting sick and tired of his Dad and his 'hard ass routine'.
"Seth" Ryan whispered through his teeth, not taking his eyes off Sandy. His foster father turned towards him
"I said quiet. Not another word out of you, kid"
He turned his frustration back towards Seth "NO. That's not it. You saw an opening. An opportunity to just do what you wanted and you took it, didn't you?. No regard for anybody but yourself. Though" Sandy gave a harsh chuckle " I should be expecting this now. You were a selfish, spoiled brat when you ran off to Portland and you are one now."
It was Seth's turn to yell. He stood and took a step forward challenging his father with both words and actions.
"Yeah, Dad. That was exactly what that was all about. You caught me."
Sandy gave Seth a hard push and he fell back into his place on the couch. "If you think I'm gonna let you wreak havoc on this family, on my marriage, again, you got another thing coming" his voice had become eerily calm, and his words scared Seth more than yelling ever could.
With his mouth open wide, he finally leaned back into the couch. He glanced at his brother, who's eyes had taken a cloudy, glazed look but had yet to break contact with the towering figure.
"Stand up" His head snapped back towards his father. He didn't move. He didn't want to move.
"I said Stand Up" Sandy yanked the boy up, pulling him so close their noses almost touched. He shook his son by the arm "You think this house, this family revolves around you?".
"G- Get off me"
Seth tried to push his Dad away, but Sandy's grip held firm. He raised his other hand.
Ryan stood up taking a step towards the pair, palms faced outward "Please, Sandy"
"Did I say you could get up? Sit down now! You don't get to tell me how to raise my kid.".
Ryan stayed rooted to his spot.
Sandy lowered his hand but gave Seth another ruff shake "You're going to answer me dammit!"
"No. I don't. Please" the last word was quiet, almost inaudible.
Sandy released Seth and he stumbled backwards, but did not fall. Ryan came alive again, inching over to Seth and placing his hand on his shoulder. Seth could feel Ryan's whole body trembling through the fabric of his sweatshirt.
"You kids have screwed up this summer . I won't have you screwing up the rest of this year too. I've tried to reason with you, but if you two are that stupid and selfish and you need a hard ass to keep you in line?, you're going to get one."
Ryan dropped his gaze from his foster father and directed it towards the floor.
"I want both of you in bed, now. Don't make me have to come back out here and check"
Without another word, Sandy stalked out of the room.
The two boys stood in their spots a few moments later, unable to look at one another, but not breaking contact.
Eventually, Seth took the first step, shaking Ryan's hand off his shoulder and stepping in the direction of his room.
"Well, um goodnight"
"Good night"
Ryan returned the bottle to it's cabinet and dropped the empty cans in the recycling before retreating to his own room.
Sandy was also shaking as he walked into his bedroom and lay down next to Kirsten. But when is wife draped her arm over his chest and snuggled into his side, he felt warmer than he had in months.
That's Chapter 2 - for those of you a little confused by Seth and Ryan's reactions to this little scene, you'll get them in chapter 3 along with Sandy's. This is only the beginning.
Oh and sorry about the Grammer. I'm still not sure what the past tense of 'lie' is
