-1A/N I don't really know what to think about this chapter. The next chapter is where Ryan and Marissa first see each other. Read and Review, thanks!
Chino
Ryan Atwood sat in his room, staring at the ceiling. Some call it brooding, he calls it thinking. Thinking about life and how hard it is. Thinking of a way out.
He hears the screams coming from his mother and Jack's bedroom. They're going at it again, arguing. The whole neighborhood could probably hear them. It happens every night. When he gets up for his run in the morning, he gets disapproving looks from the neighbors. He just nods and keeps on running, hoping to get away.
He's in his room right now though, ignoring the screams coming from the other room. Instead, he thinks about tomorrow, and how try outs will go. Will he do good? Will he do bad? Will they be impressed, or just send him home and say that's not what they're looking for. So many possibilities, what would really happen though?
He stops staring at the ceiling and gets up. He walks to the door, catching sight of himself in the mirror on the way. There's a bruise forming on his jaw. It's nothing new to him, but it will be to Jimmy Cooper and Sandy Cohen. What if they think he got into a fight or something? What if they think he's a bad kid?
He continues walking. He walks to the kitchen and grabs a bottle of water from the fridge. He walks towards the front door and goes outside. It's already dark, so he sits down on the porch. There are so many memories here, in Chino. Some good, mostly bad.
He feels chills but doesn't know if it's just the cool California air, or the thought of some of the things he's been through.
He stares off at the houses. He remembers when he was younger, he would play with the other kids in the neighborhood. It was him, Theresa, Tommy, and Kevin. They would all play tag, or hide and go seek. Then Tommy got sick and died, Kevin got arrested for attempting to steal a car, and Theresa moved away. They all left him alone to deal with Chino.
So now here he is, alone on his porch. Thinking of what used to be, and what could have been. Thinking of his future, wondering if he'll ever find somewhere for him in this world.
Newport
Sandy Cohen looked out at the Newport scenery in front of him. There were huge houses, infinity pools, and the ocean. Everything a spoiled brat would want. Everything he always thought he wanted. He didn't realize what he really wanted though, not until now.
He wanted a wife, and a family. He wanted a descent job, to bring home a pay check. He wanted to come home everyday and feel like he's accomplished something. That's why he was a coach now, if you win, you feel like you've done something right.
He walks into the house and sighs. Tomorrow would be the try outs of Ryan Atwood. Jimmy said he's a really good player, something like thirty points a game. He also said he's won two MPV's, both at championship games that he won. He sounded perfect, but was he really?
If there wasn't something wrong with him, why wasn't he going to college? Why didn't another team try to pick him? Was there something else going on? Something that couldn't be written down on paper?
He laughed slightly to himself, Sandy Cohen, worried about people again. Kirsten always thought it was cute, he thought it was annoying. Why try to think about other people, when there were problems going on in his own family?
Seth was the problem. He refused to leave the house, saying what's the point, there's no one out there to go to. He refuses to talk to anybody except for that plastic horse, and like that's going to talk back.
Ryan Atwood is the same age as Seth though, right? That means that if he does get picked, that Seth will have someone. If Ryan gets picked, maybe Seth will come out of his room. If Ryan gets picked, maybe he'll have a normal family again.
Chino
Ryan Atwood makes his way inside to his room. The yelling has stopped, which means they are doing something else. Something he didn't want to walk in on them doing.
This just means that he has time to think without his mom yelling at him, or Jack hitting him. What if Jimmy Cooper is actually really mean? What if Sandy Cohen is actually mean, or better yet, what if someone else is mean?
There are so many bad scenarios. Why he thinks the worst, it's instinct. You don't think about the best in things, you think the worst. That way, when something really bad happens, you can't be disappointed. You'll only say, I knew it.
After all, he lived in Chino. Like Trey always said, "Having a dream doesn't make you smart. Knowing it won't come true, that does." So Ryan went to sleep, convinced that he would mess something up and be stuck in Chino forever.
Newport
Jimmy Cooper sat in his office, trying to find other players. There just wasn't anyone as good as Ryan Atwood though. So far he had two players, Seth Cohen and Jim Harrison(looks like Hayden Christensen). He'd have three when he gets a hold of Ryan Atwood.
He walks to his bedroom that he shares with Julie, his wife. Along the way, he sees Marissa's door open. He walks inside and sees her asleep. He smiles and goes to her. He kisses her forehead, "Goodnight Marissa."
He walks out of the room and closes the door behind him. Marissa has really had a hard time lately. She was caught shoplifting, and Jimmy was sure that he'd smelt alcohol on her breath one day. He just didn't understand why. She had everything she could ever want, right?
He doesn't have time to think about this right now though. Ryan Atwood would try out tomorrow. Everything would be okay. Marissa would stop drinking, Sandy would stop being so worried about his family, Seth would finally have a friend, and Jimmy Cooper, well he'd have a basketball team.
Chino
Beep! Beep! Beep!
"Uhh." Ryan Atwood was never a morning person. Then he remembered what today was, and immediately jumped up. It was time to get ready.
He grabbed a wife beater and a button up shirt. He went and took a quick shower, still dirty from his work out yesterday. He applied some cologne, grabbed his stuff, and headed out. In the kitchen, there was a note and some car keys.
Ryan,
Today's the day! Hope you the best! Love ya!
Mom
P.S. Take the car, I don't need it today anyways.
Ryan smiled. It was times like these that he knew his mom really did love him. Times that she showed that she was proud of him. Sometimes she was too drunk to admit it, or was afraid to because of Jack. Now though, she loved him, and for that he was thankful.
He got into the car and started the engine. He started driving towards Newport and smiled. Today was the day. Today was the day that maybe, just maybe, his world would change.
Newport
Jimmy Cooper was waiting at the practicing gym for Ryan. Sandy would be here any minute now. So would Ryan. Today, everything was going to change.
Sandy Cohen was driving towards the gym. Today was the day he would meet the legendary Ryan Atwood as Jimmy called him. Today was the day Seth would hopefully get a friend. Today was the day his life would be set in balance.
