Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of The OC. They all belong to Josh Schwartz.
A/N: This takes place, early season one, after Kirsten gets Ryan released from juvie and the Cohen's become Ryan's legal guardians. This story is AU, and I've written Dawn as she was portrayed in "The Pilot" episode. I'm also trying my hand at developing some of my own characters. Just minor roles to hopefully help convey my story.
Chapter 8
Kirsten slowly meanders into the kitchen still clad in her robe; her face a picture of despondency, her mood listless and somber. It's Monday morning and she knows she has work to do, but she just can't get Ryan out of her mind. She pours herself a cup of coffee and gazes out the kitchen window at the empty poolhouse. I wish I knew what they talked about, Kirsten thinks to herself, wondering why Dawn needed to speak to Ryan in private Saturday evening after dinner. We should have never left him alone with her... The sudden ring of the doorbell snaps Kirsten out of her reverie.
"Marissa! Hello, please come in," Kirsten says with feigned cheerfulness as she opens the front door to greet her young neighbor.
"Hi, Mrs. Cohen," Marissa says as she takes a step into the foyer. "Is Ryan around?"
"No, I'm sorry... he's not here," Kirsten replies solemnly.
"Oh... well, when you see him, could you give him this?" Marissa asks as she hands a cd over to Kirsten.
"Um... what's this?" Kirsten asks, confused why the girl has a cd for Ryan. She didn't think the boy was all that interested in music. He likes to read, she thinks to herself as she remembers him wanting to borrow some books when he first came to live with them.
"Well, I had made a special cd for Ryan, with songs I thought he would enjoy listening to when he was..." Marissa hesitates as she realizes she's bringing up a touchy subject and doesn't quite know how Kirsten will react. "When Ryan was hiding out in your model home... I mean when he was... I'm sorry Mrs. Cohen..."
"No, Marissa, it's alright," Kirsten assures the young girl, realizing she knows little of what went on during those couple of days when Ryan felt his only choice in life was to run away.
"The cd I made for him got ruined in the fire, so I burned him a new one," Marissa explains, cringing as she suddenly becomes aware of her poor choice of words. "Sorry, what I meant to say is..."
"It's alright, Marissa. I understand," Kirsten says with a reassuring smile. "That's all water under the bridge. The most important thing is that no one got hurt." Kirsten winces as she realizes the inaccuracy of her statement. Ryan got hurt... he could have died, she thinks to herself. And, all I cared about was my father's precious model home. Kirsten looks down at the cd in her hand and sighs. "Marissa... I'm sorry, but Ryan doesn't live here anymore. He's gone back to live with his mother in Chino."
"Oh, I didn't know that... I'm sorry," Marissa says, disappointed.
"But my husband is seeing Ryan tomorrow," Kirsten adds. "I'm sure he'd be more than happy to give this to him."
"Maybe I could give it to him," Seth says as he slowly walks down the stairs after overhearing the women's conversation. "I've got nothing particularly pressing going on today."
"I could come with you," Marissa offers as she was looking forward to giving the cd to Ryan in person.
"Mom? Can we?" Seth implores. "I really feel bad with how I acted yesterday... when Ryan was trying to say 'goodbye'." Seth places his hands in the front pockets of his jeans and stares down at the marble flooring. "I was angry he was choosing his mom over us... I acted like a total jerk and I want to make things right."
Kirsten suddenly feels a pang of guilt as she listens to her son's account of the last time he saw Ryan. She's been so immersed in her own melancholy that she hasn't taken any time to help Seth through this difficult time. "Well, I am planning on working from home today," Kirsten says, knowing she's in no mood to deal with anyone in the office, especially her father. "Alright, you can take my car but you have to promise me..."
"Yeah, I know Mom... drive five under the speed limit, keep the music volume low and no talking on the cell phone," Seth interrupts as he feels a surge of energy as the day just suddenly got a lot brighter.
"Okay, here's Dawn's address and phone number and you have Ryan's cell number," Kirsten says as she starts gathering the information together for the kids. "You are to call me when you arrive, alright?"
"Alright," Seth says with a big smile on his face as he gives his mother a boisterous hug. "Thanks, Mom!"
Ryan groans as he grabs the bed pillow and places it over his head, listening to the garbage truck screech and clamor outside his bedroom window. The pillow smells old and musty; the air reeks of stale smoke. He glances over at the clock and sees it's almost ten. Monday morning, Ryan thinks to himself, wishing he was still in Newport. I wonder what Seth is doing right now.
Ryan slowly gets out of bed and starts coughing uncontrollably. He feels a searing pain in his lungs as he tries to catch his breath. He knows he barely got any sleep due to coughing all night and decides he needs to get to the drugstore for some medicine if he ever wants to get better. He grabs his pants off the floor and stumbles down the hall to the bathroom. Maybe a hot shower will help, he thinks to himself. It certainly won't hurt.
"So, you burned Ryan another cd, huh," Seth says as he merges onto the freeway, curious to find out if Marissa has some ulterior motive besides just wanting Ryan to listen to some new songs. "Is Luke aware of your interest in broadening Ryan's musical horizons?"
"He'll like the music," Marissa explains defensively. "They're really good songs."
"He likes Journey," Seth retorts.
"Who?"
"My point exactly," Seth states emphatically as the song "Don't Stop Believin'" suddenly pops into his head.
Marissa stares out the passenger side window, wondering why she's feeling so sad that Ryan moved back to Chino. I'm dating Luke, she reminds herself. "So, I'm a little surprised Ryan went back to Chino to live with his mom," Marissa says to make conversation but also because she's curious. "The way he described his mother, she doesn't sound too stable."
"Yeah, well... I guess he feels his mom needs him. She's trying to get her life back together and she is all alone. I think he was also feeling a little out of place in Newport, you know... not fitting in," Seth explains. No thanks to Luke, he thinks to himself, completely understanding how Ryan was feeling and kicking himself even more for giving his friend the cold shoulder when he was trying to say "goodbye".
"Maybe we should call Ryan and let him know we're coming," Marissa offers.
"No, it'll be better to surprise him... trust me," Seth states. "After the way I acted yesterday, I wouldn't blame him if he didn't want to see me. Plus, I know he hasn't been feeling well. He might still be asleep."
"Seth, it's almost noon," Marissa points out. "I doubt he'll still be in bed."
"You don't know Ryan," Seth states as he takes the exit towards Chino. "But, you're right... he'll probably be up. He just probably won't want to see me."
Ryan walks down the hallway towards the living room, feeling a little better after a long, hot shower. Realizing he hasn't eaten anything in awhile, he strolls into the kitchen hoping his mother will at least have some cereal in the house.
"Well, it's about time you got up," AJ snarls, greeting Ryan as he enters the kitchen.
"Hey, I see you're having your usual 'breakfast of champions'... a Miller and a Marlboro," Ryan snaps back, not in any mood to deal with AJ.
"Don't sass back at me, kid," AJ warns. "You know what happens when you..."
"Stop it, you two!" Dawn interrupts, rubbing the palms of her hands on the sides of her forehead, trying to cope with a horrific hangover. "Ryan, do ya got any cash on ya?" Dawn asks as she staggers over to the kitchen table and grabs his jacket off the back of the chair.
Ryan winces slightly as he doesn't want to give up what little cash he has. "Mom, I only have ten bucks... I was going to go to the drugstore today and get some cold medicine."
"Well, I need the money more than you do," Dawn says as she searches for Ryan's wallet. A loud "thud" resonates in the room as the cell phone falls out of his coat pocket and onto the floor.
"What the hell is this?" Dawn asks angrily as she picks the phone up off the floor. "Where the hell did you get a cell phone?"
"Mr. Cohen gave it to me," Ryan states nervously, hoping his mother won't become too upset with him having a cell phone.
"Mr. Cohen gave this to you?" Dawn asks in disbelief. "He gave you a fuckin' cell phone? Why? Tell me, Ryan!" Dawn wails as she starts pacing franticly around the room. "Has he called you? Have you been in touch with him?"
"No, Mom... it's only for an emergency," Ryan tries to reason.
"An emergency? Does your lawyer think there's gonna be a fuckin' emergency?"
AJ leans back against the breakfast bar and takes a quick swig of his beer, thoroughly enjoying his front row seat to the escalating altercation.
"Mom, he just wants some way to keep in touch..."
"Keep in touch? I'll show him how he can keep in touch!" Dawn screams as she takes the phone and slams it back down onto the floor, shattering it into pieces.
"No!" AJ yells. "Damnit Dawn! I could've used that phone!"
"What happens if Mr. Cohen tries to call me?" Ryan asks as he stares down at the busted phone, worried that Sandy may try calling him before the weekend.
"Well, he ain't gonna call ya now 'cuz ya ain't gotta phone!" Dawn answers in spite as she starts searching for something to drink to relieve her pounding headache.
Ryan bends down and starts picking up the pieces of the shattered phone. As he stands up, he begins to feel dizzy and leans into the kitchen counter for support.
"Ryan, you need to look for a job today," Dawn commands as she takes a swig of AJ's beer in hopes of settling her nerves and relieve her hangover. "We need the money."
"Alright, I can look for a job when I'm feeling better," Ryan replies as he starts to feel slightly nauseous from being lightheaded.
"You heard your mother... you're gonna start looking for a job today!" AJ orders, not agreeing with Ryan's decision to wait.
"Don't tell me what to do!" Ryan yells as he tosses what's left of the cell phone into the garbage.
"What did you say to me?" AJ asks, his voice laced with contempt.
"You heard me! Why don't you get up off your lazy ass and work for a change!" Ryan spits out, not being able to control his anger. "Why don't you get a job instead of freeloading off my mom!"
"Why you ungrateful little piece of shit!" AJ yells as he hurls his right fist hard into Ryan's jaw.
The impact of AJ's punch staggers Ryan back against the kitchen cabinets. His tongue detects a metallic taste as he feels his jaw become numb and blood seep from the corner of his mouth. As he tries to regain his balance, he suddenly feels a crushing blow to his stomach. The searing pain in his lungs returns as Ryan struggles to catch his breath.
"AJ, stop! You're hurting him!" Dawn cries out as she nervously lights up a cigarette and starts pacing around the room. "God, I hate it when you two fight!"
"He should've thought of that before he opened his fuckin' mouth!" AJ shouts as he grabs Ryan's right arm and drags him into the living room.
Ryan struggles to free himself from AJ's grasp, but is no match for the man who is five inches taller and fifty pounds heavier. He frantically kicks AJ in the shin, then swings his left arm around and cracks the enraged man across the side of his face.
AJ screams out in pain but doesn't relinquish his hold. "You wanna fight, boy? I'll give you a fight!" AJ hollers as he throws Ryan down onto the floor and kicks him hard in the chest. Ryan gasps in agony and curls up in a ball as he tries to protect his already bruised ribs.
"AJ, please... Jesus... no," Dawn cries out, feeling the hot sting of tears fill her eyes as she desperately searches the kitchen for something to drink.
Grabbing the front of his t-shirt, AJ lifts Ryan up off the floor and rams the teenager, back first, into the wall. He again thrusts his fist hard into Ryan's stomach, listening as the boy cries out in agony. "I told you not to mouth off to me!" AJ berates as he drags Ryan down the hallway to his bedroom. "You're gonna stay in your room until you learn to keep your goddamn trap shut!" AJ yells as he angrily pushes Ryan down onto the bed, hearing a cracking sound as he watches the boy's head hit the edge of the side table.
That'll teach ya, AJ thinks to himself as he stomps back into the living room. You're livin' with me now. You do what I say or else...
"Get me a beer, Dawn!" AJ orders as he sits down in his favorite chair and turns on the television. "I need a goddamn beer... NOW!"
Dawn scurries out of the kitchen with a cold beer and hands it to AJ. "You didn't have to beat him," she says, knowing if he's still angry, she could be next.
"What did you say to me?" AJ asks in an ominous tone of voice.
"Nothin'... It's just that I didn't get Ryan to come home with me just so you could beat on him. I need him to find a job, baby... I need him to work," Dawn explains, glancing over at the growing stack of unpaid bills as she picks up Ryan's jacket and searches for his wallet. "I... we need the money, AJ."
"He'll find a job," AJ says as he takes a swig of his beer to calm himself down. "He always does."
Ryan slowly opens his eyes but quickly closes them again, shutting out the blurring, spinning room as nausea begins to engulf him. As a sea of blackness slowly takes over his mind, Ryan immerses himself in the peace and tranquility of the state of unconsciousness as all of his pain begins to subside... welcoming the blissful state of hearing and feeling absolutely nothing.
"I'm gonna make a liquor run," Dawn announces as she finds Ryan's wallet and takes his ten dollars. "Do ya need anything?"
"Nah, I'm good," AJ replies as he listens as Dawn leaves the house. Damn kid's a fuckin' thorn in my side, he thinks to himself as he rubs the side of his cheek where Ryan hit him. AJ sinks back in his easy chair and takes a few gulps of his beer as he watches the first pitch of the ballgame. "Ah, this is more like it," AJ sighs as he starts to feel himself relax. "As long as there are no more interruptions, this day won't be a total loss."
"I think it's the next block," Marissa says as she looks at the GPS. "You want to turn left."
Seth slowly makes a left turn and starts looking at the addresses. "What's the number?" he asks as he slowly drives down the street searching for house numbers.
"It'll be on the right," Marissa replies. "Here, this is it," she states, pointing to a small, unkempt home in the middle of the block.
Seth pulls up along the curb and turns off the engine. "Okay, we're here," he announces, suddenly becoming nervous. Maybe we should've called first, Seth thinks to himself as he and Marissa get out of the Rover and start walking towards the tiny home.
Seth looks around the area but doesn't see Dawn's car. She's probably at work, he thinks to himself as he notices the patchy lawn is more dirt than grass, the paint on the siding and trim is old and peeling, the window screens torn and full of holes.
Marissa places her hands alongside her face to block the sunlight as she peers into the window next to the front door. "Looks like someone's home... I can see the TV is on."
Seth takes a deep breath, looks over at Marissa then rings the doorbell. He quickly takes a couple of more deep breaths as he hears someone approach the front door.
"Whatever you're selling, I'm not interested."
Seth and Marissa become speechless as they both gaze down upon the tiny, elderly woman standing before them.
"Um... no, we're not selling anything," Seth replies, confused by the little old lady in the doorway. "We're here to see Ryan. Is he home?"
"Who? I don't know any Ryan," the elderly woman replies, softening the tone of her voice as she realizes the two teenagers on her front porch aren't solicitors.
Seth looks down at the piece of paper with the address and phone number Dawn wrote down. "This is the right address," Seth says to Marissa, who looks as confused as he feels.
"Um, ma'am," Seth states politely, "maybe we just have the wrong house. We're looking for Ryan Atwood. He's about my height... a tad shorter without shoes... dark blond hair, blue eyes... girls really seem to like him."
"No, I'm sorry dear, I haven't seen a boy like that around here."
"He lives with his mother," Marissa adds. "Her name is Dawn Atwood."
"Hmmm... no, sorry."
"She's about my height, lots of wild, curly blond hair... wears too much makeup..." Seth explains, figuring Dawn would be hard to forget once a person meets her. "She's a little rough around the edges."
"No, there are no Atwood's living on this block," the woman explains to the disappointed teenagers. "I know everyone... I've lived here for almost fifty years. No one even comes close to fitting the descriptions of that boy and his mother. I'm so sorry. I do hope you find your friend."
Seth and Marissa slowly walk back to the car, both speechless as they ponder what to do next.
"I'll call him," Seth says as he takes out his cell phone and hits the speed dial for Ryan's cell number.
"What... what's wrong?" Marissa asks as she observes Seth's expression go from hopeful to confused.
"The phone's dead. I can't even leave a voicemail," Seth states as he begins to enter the phone number Dawn had given them.
The number you have reached has been disconnected...
"Oh no..."
"What?" Marissa asks, trying desperately to remain calm.
"This number Dawn gave my parents... it's been disconnected," Seth states, suddenly feeling panic as he realizes he has no idea where his friend is. "She lied... she gave us a false address..."
"But, why?" Marissa asks, not understanding why Ryan's mother would be so deceitful.
"I don't know why," Seth replies. "I have to call my mom. Something's wrong... I can feel it," Seth frets as he quickly calls home and waits impatiently for his mother to answer the phone.
"Hey! You made it!" Kirsten answers happily as she sees Seth's number on the caller ID. "Have you seen Ryan? How is he doing? Is his cold any better?"
"Mom!" Seth laments, trying to keep his voice from shaking. "He's not here!"
"Honey, slow down," Kirsten says as she tries not to worry. "He's probably just out somewhere. If you didn't call him ahead of time, he had no idea you were coming."
"No, Mom... you don't understand. The address is wrong. They don't live here," Seth explains as he continues to become overwrought.
"Well, maybe it's just the wrong house. Have you tried..."
"It's not the wrong house!" Seth interrupts as he begins pacing back and forth alongside the Rover. "We spoke with the old lady who lives here. She's lived in the house like... forever! She knows everyone in the neighborhood and has never even heard of a 'Dawn Atwood'. She hasn't seen anyone fitting Dawn or Ryan's description."
"Sweetheart, settle down," Kirsten says gently as she struggles to remain calm. "There must be a logical explanation. I'll try calling him."
"I already did, Mom. His cell phone is dead... I can't even leave a message. And, the home number Dawn gave us? That's been disconnected," Seth explains, consumed with worry. "Mom... he's not here!"
Kirsten listens to her son's voice on the other end of the line. A feeling of intense dread begins to overtake her as she repeats his words over again in her mind. Address is wrong... cell phone is dead... number disconnected... "Seth, you and Marissa need to come home now. I'll call your father. He'll know what to do," Kirsten says, trying to reassure her distraught son. "We'll find Ryan."
"We have to find him, Mom. I know something's wrong... I can feel it," Seth says, his voice full of anguish. "I think he's in trouble."
"Just come home, Seth," Kirsten says. "I'll call your father. We'll find him... I promise."
"Okay, we're on our way," Seth replies as he and Marissa climb back into the Rover.
"I'm sure he's okay, Seth," Marissa says, touched by how worried Seth and his family seem to be over someone they've known only a few weeks.
"No, Marissa... he's not okay. This whole thing reeks of him not being 'okay'," Seth points out as he vigorously rubs his temples to allay his anxiety. "This is all my dad's fault."
"Your dad's fault. Why?" Marissa asks.
"Because he let Ryan go." Seth glances over at Marissa and notices the confused look on her face. "My parents became Ryan's legal guardians to keep him out of a group home and foster care. They wanted to keep Ryan safe... protect him... keep him from getting lost in the system," Seth explains. "Then poof! Dawn shows up out of the blue, miraculously a brand new person. Next day, Ryan wants to leave and live with his mother and my dad just lets him go. It's his fault!"
He should've never let him go.
