Enjoy the chapter! Please leave a review. I re-watched the first season and remembered how awkward Summer and Seth were when they did the deed... Also, what do you guys think of Oliver? Yay or Nay?
"Can't sleep either?"
Ryan is startled and looks up from the fridge that he was peering intently into to see Kristen.
"No" He answers honestly with a little smile at Kristen.
Kristen looks into his blue eyes and his tousled blond hair. She never thought about it before but she and Ryan look a lot alike.
"How about I make us some hot cocoa? I know you're a bit old but I always make it for Seth when he has trouble sleeping."
Ryan stifles a laugh.
"I'm sure he won't appreciate me saying that. Don't tell him I did" Kristen winks at Ryan conspiratorially.
"Your secret is safe with me" Ryan assures.
Ryan watches as Kristen potters around the kitchen. A few minutes later they are side by side at the kitchen table drinking their hot chocolate.
"Are you nervous about school tomorrow?" Kristen asks breaking the silence.
"A little" Ryan admits. Not sure why he is being so honest.
"You'll be fine. Great even. This is going to be an amazing fresh start for you" Kristen says.
Ryan says nothing but smiles a little in a way that tells her that he thinks she is just being nice.
"But of course I have to say that. It's what I would tell Seth" She continues quietly "Ryan I want to apologize for what happened with Julie Cooper. We should have stood up for you. That is our job"
"It's okay" Ryan rushes to say looking baffled.
"No it isn't Ryan and I am so sorry. Seth told us what happened when you went back to the hospital. We are so proud of you" Kristen says with feeling. She doesn't add that she and Sandy are also both very worried. Marissa seems determined to self-destruct and
Ryan isn't sure what to say.
"Let's go up to bed. You have a big day tomorrow. And it is going to be great. I have to say that but I mean it, as well" She stands from the kitchen table and pulls Ryan in for a hug. He is stiff at first but he settles into it. Kristen knows not to push it so when he senses he is at his limit she breaks the hug, squeezes his shoulder and heads to bed.
Ryan sits there a while longer. Until, to his surprise, he begins to feel sleepy. Once he is back in the pool house his head hits the pillow and he luxuriates in the sheets. He has no idea what will happen in the morning but he may as well be rested.
"Seth can I grab a calculator? Your Mum said you had a spare" Ryan rushes into Seth's room. He had overslept and was running around in a panic.
"Dude, are you doing yoga?" He asks incredulously standing at Seth's door watching his friend move his body in a series of poses on the floor.
"I know it's minty but Phil has it as part of my therapy and well, you've seen Phil. I wouldn't want to piss him off" Seth says.
"Aren't we going to be late?" Ryan asks.
Seth looks up and catches the pink flush in his friend's cheeks. He is more nervous than Seth has ever seen him before.
"We'll be fine. Look, school is nothing to be worried about" Seth assures him.
"Except that I was in a fight with Luke, my Mum got drunk at casino night and I was in another fight at Cotillion" Ryan deadpans.
"It was Monte Carlo night. But yeah, don't worry about everyone will be talking about Marissa's suicide attempt" Seth jokes.
Ryan shoots him a look. "Too soon" Ryan mumbles.
"It's never too soon for a Cohen. We make jokes almost immediately after tragedy" Seth explains with a grin.
Ryan shakes his head. Seth motions for his friend to help him up.
Kristen rushes into the room and spots them. She looks as flustered as Seth did a second ago.
"What are you guys doing? We're going to be late!"
Ryan and Seth head into school through the ramp entrance. A girl in a motorized wheelchair is talking to some friends at the top of the ramp.
"Hey Lauren! How was your summer?" Seth asks cordially as he wheels up the ramp.
"Bite me Cohen" She retorts in a bored voice.
Ryan wants to ask what that was about but he spots Marissa standing in the hall with Summer.
"Can I walk you to class Summer?" Seth asks.
"I can walk myself" She replies somewhat bitchily.
"Good. Then you can walk me too" He replies with a smile. Summer cannot help herself; she smiles back and they head off.
"Hey" Ryan greets Marissa.
"Hey" she smiles at him. It nearly floors him how beautiful she is. How powerful that smile is, even after everything.
"How's your first day of school going?" She asks tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
He throws her a look. She laughs.
"I feel exactly the same way" She confesses sounding relieved.
"Why don't we meet up after? Commiserate?" Ryan suggests.
"Yeah. I'd like that. Something to look forward too" She smiles again. He loves that smile.
"Something to look forward to" He repeats as he smiles back.
The bell rings and Marissa shows him where his first class and as he leans back in his chair he is feeling almost optimistic.
Ryan is sitting at a table staring at a wall at lunch. Seth wheels up and places his tray on the table.
"Ryan, you there?" He asks waving his hand in front of Ryan's face.
"Huh?" Ryan sounds dazed and surprised to see Seth there.
"What's going on buddy?" Seth asks.
"I'm behind" Ryan admits.
"On the first day?" Seth asks.
Summer approaches the table and stands nervously over them.
"Are you going to sit?" Seth asks her.
"I'm thinking about it. Don't rush me Cohen!" She stands for a few more seconds before panicking and leaving.
Seth laughs and holds out his hand to Ryan. In it is his adapted cutlery. Ryan quickly straps it on for him and Seth digs into his food with relish.
"What's going on with you and Summer?" Ryan asks conversationally resisting the urge to reach out and wipe Seth's face.
"She's…..getting used to the idea" Seth explains with a chuckle to himself.
Ryan doesn't really understand how that is funny but he leaves it alone. He halfheartedly turns back to his lunch tray,
"Are you sure you're going to be okay after school? Phil likes you" Seth says. He feels a bit guilty about leaving Ryan on his own to go to physio.
"I can't exactly miss gym for your physiotherapy session, can I?" Ryan reasons miserably.
"Crap. I forgot about that" Seth says sheepishly.
"I'll be fine. I'm meeting with Marissa so…"
"That's something to look forward to" Seth notes. He looks confused when his friend bursts out laughing.
"Seth!" Seth twists around in his chair surprised to see Summer hiding in the bushes. He was on the curb outside of school waiting for his Mum to take him to physio. He had the genius idea of scheduling his time with Phil during the week after his classmates had decided it would be fun to hurl basketballs at him and watch him tip over during gym class. They called it 'crip bowling'. After the second time he found himself face down on the gym's hardwood floors he had decided to seek an alternative. Luckily, Phil had his back and insisted to his parents that a week day appointment would be easier for him. Phil had been his physio since he was seven years old and because of his hard work and patience Seth was able to do a lot of things that doctors had predicted would be impossible for him when he was a baby.
"Summer?" He replies questioningly "Why are you in the bushes?"
She clambers out of the bushes. Seth thinks she manages it gracefully considering how high her wedged heels are and how short her skirt is.
"I know you have a physio appointment today. I thought I could give you a workout instead" She says seductively.
Seth has to shift in his chair to hide his instantaneous reaction to her offer. He almost blurts out yes before he really thinks about it. Summer has probably had tonnes of experience. Seth had his first kiss a few weeks ago. He wants to. Badly. But he is scared.
"Seth?" She is tapping her foot impatiently "We need to go. We would need to use the guest room and my Stepmum is going to be back from yogalates soon and I do not want her catching us"
"I can't miss physio. My Mum is coming to pick me up and Phil would kill me" He explains, relieved by how plausible it sounds. If he wasn't such a coward he would have blown off anything, he would have crawled over broken glass all the way to Summer's house if that was what it took. Summer looks disappointed but has to leave after him Mum arrives. As he waits for the ramp on the van to descend he cannot help but feel disgusted with himself. Way to go Seth Cohen he thinks ruefully.
"Seth" Phil says impatiently for the third time as he stands over the sullen teen.
Seth turns to him and looks almost surprised to see him standing there.
"Where is your head today?" Phil asks kindly.
"Girl trouble," Seth admits.
"Summer still not talking to you?"
"Actually, we have been talking. I need your advice about pleasing the ladies.." Seth trails off.
"Just be yourself, man" Phil explains good naturedly.
"Sexually" Seth finishes pleadingly.
"Oh. Remember we talked about this? Everything should work fine. And you should use protection."Phil said awkwardly. He wasn't a qualified sex specialist but he knows it took Seth a lot to ask.
"I can't believe I am saying this but I am going to need….specifics" Seth mumbles.
"That I cannot do. Sorry man"
"You taught me how to pour a bowl of cereal, shift into my chair, walk. Dude, I need help!" Seth pleads.
"I can't give you tips on this Seth. I've known you since you insisted on bringing Captain Oats to every single session. Look it is going to be kind of different with you. Not worse. Just different. So you should be open with your partner about your needs and pick someone you feel comfortable with because you guys are going to have to um play around to figure out what works for both of you" Phil finishes then as if he suddenly remembered he was talking to a teenage boy adds "Don't be in a rush. Use protection. Always."
"My parents actually covered that bit" Seth smiles remembering how he rolled his eyes at the time and assured his Dad that he would probably die a virgin.
"Good. You should read these" Phil rushes to the table to pick up some pamphlets on disability and sexuality. Seth cringes at the cheesy titles but stuffs them into his backpack.
"Is it Summer?" Phil asks after an awkward pause. Seth nods, trying not to look too proud of himself. He fails miserably, especially when Phil offers him a silent high five.
Phil is filling in Seth's progress from today's session when he suddenly remembers that Seth is having a Baclofen pump installed over the weekend. He sighs and heads to the art therapy room where Seth is kicking himself for not remembering that before he told Seth that everything would be okay. He really was not qualified for this.
Marissa is walking down the hall. It takes her a while to hear her name. She turns to see the headmistress waving her over. Sighing and shifting her book bag on her shoulder she approaches the older woman.
"Good afternoon Marissa" the headmistress greets her cheerily.
"Headmistress Gupta" Marissa replies warily.
"I hope to see you at the meeting this afternoon?" It doesn't sound like a request.
"I was thinking of resigning from social chair. To focus on school work" Marissa bites her lip nervously.
"Marissa I heard about your troubles this summer" She presses on "the worst thing you could do is to disappear. Harbor is your school. I was really excited to see what you guys came up with for the kick off carnival" She finishes, squeezing Marissa's shoulder encouragingly before turning back down the corridor.
The rest of the day passes in a blur for Ryan. He cannot believe how engaged the teachers at Harbour are. He cannot get by with a smart comment or a smirk. He has been pressed for answers and to elaborate and to explain why he thinks that. He sighs tiredly with relief when the bell rings.
He is waiting at Marissa's car when he spots her heading out. He cannot help but smile when he spots her. Ever since Marissa got out of the hospital and settled in with her Dad he has been imagining that she might be over the worst of it. He shakes the thought out of his head. Today is a good day. They haven't even been on their first date. He is getting ahead of himself. Seth is rubbing off on him. The thought makes him smile.
"Why are you so happy?" Marissa asks him teasingly when she gets to him.
"Excited to hang out" He rises from the hood of the car to give her a kiss. It is a possessive and certain kiss. Like they are in a relationship.
Marissa is surprised but pleased.
"Ugh. I have this social chair thing I have to do.." She begins.
"Social chair?" Ryan interrupts wondering just how many prep school words he is going to have to learn.
"I plan the parties. We have a kick off carnival at the end of the week. I want to ferris wheel but someone has planted the idea of a carousel in everyone's mind. We need to duke that out as well as finalize the budget and the vendors in today's meeting. It is going to be a bloodbath." She sighs in mock exasperation.
"Sounds fun" He cannot hide his disappointment.
"I'm sorry. I would much rather hang out with you but I made a commitment. Raincheck?" She is apologetic but clearly hopeful.
"Sure. As long as you promise no carousel" He deadpans.
She shoots him a quizzical look.
"The painted horse faces freak me out" He explains. She laughs.
"I'll see what I can do" Marissa kisses him on the cheek and heads inside. And saying goodbye to her like that is so easy and normal. She seemed so together when she was talking about social chair. Sadly, that left him with a lot of homework and no way to get home.
He sighs and pulls out his cell phone.
Sandy comes home to find Ryan and Seth sitting at the kitchen table. Seth is bent over a drawing pad his face intently focused on whatever he was drawing. Ryan looks genuinely distressed.
"What's up kid?" Sandy asks.
"Nothing. Just behind" Ryan groans comically.
"On the first day?" Sandy asks good naturedly.
"What Ryan needs is an after school activity to help him fit in. Hanging around me cannot be helping his social capital" Seth suggests looking up from his drawing.
"An after school activity is actually a great idea. Drama society?" Sandy suggests.
"No Dad. Look at Ryan. We aren't constrained by your Jewishness or my brain damage.."
"Seth!" His father exclaims and it is half warning, half reproach.
"Seriously Dad" Seth turns to Ryan "You can play sport right?"
"I like soccer" Ryan admits.
"Soccer it is" Seth smirks with satisfaction before turning back to his drawing.
"You're drawing again?" Sandy observes.
"Yup. They gave me this giant clown pencil to keep my fine motor skills sharp until I get the baclofen pump" Seth says holding up his ridiculously large pencil. It is strapped on to his hand.
His Dad and Ryan turned to his drawing. He turned it so they could see.
"That is actually good" Ryan says not even trying to keep the surprise out of his voice.
It is the cover page of a comic book about Captain Oats and Princess Sparkles. The lines are shaky and labored but it is clear that Seth has real talent.
"It's alright. It'll be better once I can control my hands a bit better" He says.
"Your Mum told me she scheduled your procedure for the weekend" Sandy says.
"Summer is officially my girlfriend. School has started. So the Saturday after kick off carnival I am all yours. Cut me up!" Seth declares with mock enthusiasm.
"Seth.." His Dad begins.
"Look Dad, I get that I have to do it but I will never be happy about how much time I have to spend in the hospital. I finally have something resembling a life and can't be all Pollyanna about it being put on hold" Seth angrily bites off his strap to free up his hand and heads out of the kitchen.
Sandy looks stunned by his son's behavior.
"I'll go talk to him" Ryan offers heading out of the kitchen
Seth hasn't locked the door. Death cab for cutie is blaring from his computer.
"What was that about?" Ryan asks.
"I don't want to talk about it" Seth groans. His voice is muffled since he is lying on his stomach with his face smooshed into his pillow.
"Really?" Ryan asks skeptically.
"Okay, fine, I do want to talk about it" Seth repositions himself so he is lying on his back. It takes a while but Ryan is waiting patiently when his friend is done.
"I read something about baclofen" Seth starts "And sex"
"You should talk to your Dad about it" Ryan says instantly.
"Have you.." Seth lowers his voice dramatically "Done it before?"
Ryan sighs. He cannot believe that they are having this conversation. He mumbles a reply.
"So when you lost your virginity I was still playing magic the gathering?" Seth asks incredulously.
"You still play magic the gathering" Ryan observes.
"Not as much" Seth replies defensively, then after a pause, "Summer wants to have sex and there is a small chance that after the operation I won't be able to."
"How small?" Ryan asks pragmatically.
"0.5 percent."
"That's a really small chance"
"About the same as the chances of me being born with CP so…I don't feel great about it" Seth says.
"So just do it before the operation. That way, no matter what happens after, you won't be a virgin" Ryan reasons.
"There's a reason I keep you around, Atwood" Seth says after mulling the idea around.
"Goodnight. I'm going to pretend this conversation never happened" Ryan jokes as he exists Seth's bedroom.