Chapter 0011: Cannot get started

Seth tried not to look up as his mother said her goodbyes before leaving to meet Caleb for their LA trip. Sandy kissed her gently and only sighed once they heard the door open and close.

Ryan was not in the kitchen with them.

Despite the way his grandfather had tried to strong arm Ryan (and Kirsten) into going to LA with them, his best friend slash brother (slash uncle) mentioned in passing the day after the dinner that he wasn't going after all. Seth thought it was weird, but his mom had been pretty strangely quiet that morning over breakfast, and Ryan had almost a cloak of annoyance covering him, or something, so Seth decided that maybe it would be best to ignore it and move right along like it was not even a problem.

I mean, it wasn't, right? Someone would tell him if it were.

"Is Ryan okay?" – Anna questioned the moment the solemn teen went to the bathroom. They were all hanging out at the Cohens, watching old movies Ryan had never seen.

"What you mean?"

"Seth, c'mon" – she huffed, looking up and lowering her voice – "I can't be the only one who's noticed he's kind of... You know"

"No, I don't"

"He's being– He's so quiet today"

"That's Ryan, he's always quiet, what're you even talking about?" – she stared at him for a long moment – "What?" – he almost snapped, suddenly feeling irritated.

"Nothing"

"Anna, no, what?"

"I don't want to talk about this anymore, if you're going to be like this"

"I just don't get what you–" – he yelped when she swiftly punched his thigh. A second later, Ryan came back wearing a bemused expression.

"Everything okay?" – he asked, sitting on the other end of the couch.

"Never better" – Anna chirped – "Hey, do you wanna go out and do something?"

"Do something?" – he parroted.

"Yeah. I mean, I think your cinematic education is very important, don't get me wrong" – she grinned – "however you have been here how long? And I'll bet Seth hasn't exactly been showing you around town at all"

"Hey, I have too" – Seth complained, not quite understanding what she was about, but jumping right in.

"The movies and ice cream shop don't count" – Anna retorted easily.

"I... I really don't have to, you know–" – Ryan tried, but Seth could sense more than see Anna's tenacity.

"How do you feel about checking out a museum?" – she proposed.

"That's boring" – Seth pitched in, and the glare Anna gave him sent chills down his spine.

"Or the flea market–"

"We have flea markets?"

"Seth, shut up" – she said almost angrily, and he didn't think Anna could DO angry, but there you have it – "So, what do you think? I'm sure we can find something fun to do" – she happily turned to Ryan, who looked about as confused as Seth felt at her sudden effervescence.

"Sure?" – he replied slowly, and Anna looked very happy with herself.

"So, what made you want to hit the flea market of all places? And I'm still shocked the Newpsies allow flea markets to exist in Newport, I mean" – Anna rolled her eyes.

"We'll talk about this later, so shall we enjoy ourselves now? Hey, Ryan" – she moved over to the blond, who had stayed a couple of steps behind them, shoulders stiff as he looked at the multitude of items on display.

"Yeah?" – he called out.

"My parents are still looking to decorate the house, wanna help me? Something tells me you have better taste than Seth"

"Oh. No, I don't... I don't know anything about..." – he looked around awkwardly.

"Yeah, why do you think I don't know anything about decorating?" – Seth complained.

"C'mon, I'm sure you can help just fine" – Anna spoke to Ryan as if Seth hadn't said a thing.

Oh great, his own girlfriend was ignoring him over his sort–of–brother and best friend. What started as a really nice Saturday became really boring, with Anna dragging Ryan all over the market, pointing at seemingly random pieces of art, vases, rugs and furniture and asking for his opinion, which he gave with increasing confidence, though he kept looking at Seth with wide, confused eyes.

"Ah! This is nice" – Anna exclaimed and went over to circle a coffee table. She motioned the boys over with a simple look, and they obeyed immediately.

"The wood if nice" – Ryan conceded, almost shyly, reaching out and gently touching the surface of the intricately carved table. Even Seth had to admit, if only in his head, that it was very pretty – "I like the angels" – he nearly whispered.

"What angels?" – Anna asked, and followed as his hand moved over to the side of the table, where tiny angels kind of floated about, each a little different from the previous one.

"You have a good eye" – a woman appeared with a smile – "Most people think they're flowers or something" – Ryan cleared his throat and quickly removed his hand from the table – "Do you like it?"

"It's great!" – Anna replied – "How much is it?"

"Two hundred and forty" – she said easily enough.

"That's not too bad, the work is beautiful" – Anna hummed for a moment – "Can I reserve it? We're still looking around, but I don't want to lose this"

"Sure. What name should I put it under?"

"Cohen" – she piped up.

"Wait, what?" – Seth frowned, but the women ignored him thoroughly.

"We'll definitely come back for it" – Anna promised.

"Wait, wait" – the woman grabbed a few leaflets and thrust them upon the teens – "I give carving lessons, in case you're interested" – she looked at Ryan a little more, and the blond started some.

"Thank you, that's good to know" – Anna said, and the trio continued walking.

"So, that was kinda weird, right?" – Seth mumbled to Ryan as his girlfriend walked ahead of them, towards some colorful posters.

"What was?"

"That lady" – he looked down as Ryan carefully folded the leaflet and shoved it in his pocket – "Are you–?"

"Look, Anna's calling us" – Ryan rushed over to her before Seth could really think about what in the world was going on.

Eventually, they stopped for lunch, with Anna smiling widely and asking (ordering) Ryan to go and get them hot dogs and drinks. The blond did so mechanically, and Seth frowned bemusedly at Anna.

"Okay, now you'll tell me what's the deal with all of this?"

"All of what?"

"You made us leave and come walk all over this mysteriously still standing flea market to look for stuff for your house? I've been there, it's all furnished! Didn't it COME furnished? I think you said something like that, so–"

"Look, Seth, if you don't want to come along, you are welcomed to sit wherever and then wait for Ryan and I, but you are not going to ruin this"

"I don't understand what's happening! You wanna spend time with Ryan and not me? I'm your boyfriend!"

"Yes, and you're Ryan's– Nephew and brother and best friend and you can't see what's happening?"

"What you mean?"

"Dear God, Seth. He's not well!"

"He's not what?"

"I know you know he's not dealing well with this whole situation–"

"Obviously"

"–but did you even ask why he didn't go with your mom and granddad to LA?"

"Well. No..."

"He's upset, Seth, so I wanted to get him out of the house! That's what a good friend does"

"Oh"

"And he's my friend, you know, in case you didn't realize it"

"I know" – except he'd never really considered it, that Anna really thought Ryan was her friend, despite her relationship with Seth.

"You're an idiot"

"Thank you, thank you for that"

"Look, I know you love comic books and video games, and that's fine, I love 'em too, but that's not Ryan!"

"But he–"

"He goes along with everything you propose because it's Ryan! He's nice!"

"Hey, I'm nice too!"

"Of course you are, dummy, but Ryan–" – she sighed – "I know you see what's happening"

"Yeah" – he said, a little quietly, and glanced at Ryan, standing in line.

"I want to buy that table for him"

"What?"

"Didn't you see the way he–? He really liked it"

"I guess..."

"I think you should encourage him to get a hobby, if not carving, then something that has nothing to do with school. Or you, or your parents"

"But he actually likes going to the Newport Group. More than me, anyway"

"Sure, but c'mon, it's not like he's going to start working there right now"

"No, of course not"

"So?" – he sighed.

"I suppose I could try and talk to him, tell him the parentals wouldn't mind it if he got a hobby that wasn't making pancakes or surfing or sailing or looking at blueprints" – she shook her head and kissed his cheek.

Ryan found them snuggling, and he grinned uncomfortably as he handed them the hot dogs and put the drinks down on the table.

"So, uncle Ryan" – Seth began – "How do you feel about carving?"

"I'm sorry?"

"I mean, it's not something I would ever be interested in, obviously, I mean, manual labor? No thank you. But you, my dear uncle–"

"Stop calling me that"

"–I think you are made for rough hands, you know, for a man's work" – Anna stifled a giggle and started coughing – "Laugh it up, that's what I'm here for"

"You know it" – she managed.

"So you want me to start taking carving lessons?" – Ryan raised an eyebrow.

"Or something. I mean, I know mom would love her some hand carved furniture"

"I–"

"Plus, dad hides it well, but I'm pretty sure he'd be all for it, maybe he could even get into it too. Dad's pretty handsy too" – he paused as Anna downright started chuckling – "Handy. Handy, he's good with his hands. Ew, I'm gonna stop talking now"

Ryan looked bewilderedly and amusedly at him and finally started eating.

Seth wondered what his family would think about Ryan taking up carving, or any other kind of manual hobby like it. In particular, he wondered what his soft handed grandfather would think about it, since he could clearly recall him making snide comments on people who made a living from hobbies better left to one's very dull retirement, as he put it.

He could just imagine Caleb's face when it came to him that his son was not only from Chino, not only happy to be a bench warmer, but also a manual laborer.

Someone... Sorry, I should keep track of these things but it was a while back... Anyway, I was advised that Ryan should have hobbies, so now boy's got two! Plus the soccer thing which, ergh. Whatever.

This chapter could also be, Anna is a bro. I tried to balance Seth being self-centered with still being able to be sensible when pushed about it. I think he cares for Ryan, but even in canon he was never able to show this without making it about himself.

Happy Friday everyone =D A very nice one, 17-02-17 ('cause I'm Day Month Year all the way).