Thanks to Ally R. Swan for reviewing.
I have been playing and pausing at moments when you can see the driveway of the Cohen's. On one side it's just grass and a couple of small bushes. But on the other side it's more bushes and trees and things- much enough to hide behind.
"Guys?" I had been searching all over the house for Ryan before I went back to the living room. "Have any of you seen Ryan`"
"No." Seth paused the game he and Clark were playing. "Now you mention it. I guess he's in the pool house or somewhere. Remember that night he got lost and he was actually in the pool house bathroom?"
"Yeah." I had to smile to myself remembering one of the first few nights Ryan was here and the way I had panicked. "I guess I'll go ch…"
Something reminded me of when I had showed Ryan the small notebook and pen in the kitchen drawer and just as I was on my way outside I glanced over and saw the note Ryan had left on the kitchen counter. I hurried to read it- Ryan wasn't sick again was he?
I guess I just didn't expect what he wrote and I felt my heart sinking.
Hey Cohen's.
My dad sent me a message and wants me to come live with him.
Frank? Frank coming back into Ryan's life after everything that had happened? And after everything he had done since?
He's picking me up at noon. I'm sorry I'm just leaving without telling you about it.
"No." I whispered to myself, or to Ryan maybe and laid a hand towards my forehead. "Oh Ryan."
Thank you for everything you've given me.
"You wouldn't have to." I whispered, almost as quietly so I couldn't hear it myself.
What did Frank have to do with everything around why Ryan thought he would actually have anything to thank us for?
I hope I can pay you give back everything someday. Just not right now, most clothes and everything is back in the pool house. Unless Seth can wear it, you should give it to charity or somewhere.
From what I heard from my dad he sold his phone the other day to be able to buy… well. You know what!
I knew what, I knew what way too well.
So I guess this is it.
How could the last few months just have passed by….
It couldn't be this simple. It just couldn't be…
Sincerely
Ryan F. Atwood
And then, just like that and that simply it ended
Ryan was just a kid. Everything could really be so simple to him to just leave this place and never come back.
I looked to my clock. And I could hardly believe that it was almost one PM- why had it even taken so long before we realized Ryan was missing.
"What's that?" Kirsten was suddenly by my side and I showed her the letter. "Oh… And none of the boys have seen him?" I shook my head. "Should we try and ca… oh."
I didn't get what she paused for, then she went over to the counter and picked up the phone that had lied there. One that I recognized.
"COME ON. COME ON."
The rest of the boys sounded far away ´where they sat and still worrying about nothing worse than video games.
I looked out the window, I wasn't so sure what I wanted to see but I should have known the driveway was all empty.
"COME ON."
"Let's not tell Seth about this yet." I mumbled to Kirsten so the boys wouldn't hear. "It wouldn't surprise me if both of the Atwood's will be going somewhere else then home for us not to come…" Kirsten just looked at me agreeing. "Look! If we haven't heard anything from them tonight, I will go to Chino first thing in the morning." She nodded slightly. "I just wish I didn't have a feeling in my gut that something is ought to happen before then."
That gut feeling that kept telling me I should be going to Chino the same minute as I had found the letter. But it was just that- I really believed that Frank might be doing his best and drive around and around for me not to find them until we had given up.
I could at least go the first time by tonight.
I decided to go tonight and check. But I never really got that far.
Tom had been the last to leave of the boys, and I and Kirsten were just about to tell Seth what Ryan had done when my phone suddenly called.
"Cohen?"
"Mr. Cohen? It's Tom."
"Yeah. Hi. What's on your mind? Did you forget anything back here?"
"No…" He made a pause. "I don't know why. But Ryan never really left…"
I didn't notice, but I stopped breathing.
Whatever could have happened to him?
"He told us not to tell you, because he was leaving soon. But I just spoke to Hector and Hector left last and…" He made another pause. "We decided to call you instead of Seth"
"Good choice."
"We thought so. Anyway, unless he's left since. Ryan's still on the driveway by your house. So… Well, I guess you should go talk to him."
"I should. I'm just taking my shoes on now." I ripped the door open aand hurried down the driveway. "Thank you Tom."
Without waiting for an answer I came to the bottom of the driveway, to where Ryan could have been hiding behind some bushes.
And where he still was.
Hours had passed since the time Frank had said he'd be here to pick his son up. But he hadn't been and the kid only looked up at me.
He looked so broken where he sat. And the way he looked into my eyes for just a second could have broken my heart.
Now, what should I say?
I guess there would only be one thing to say.
"Come on." I nodded to the side towards the house. "Let's go."
Random fact
Sandy would probably go right away and everything. But I jjst saw in front of me how Ryan was waiting on the driveway like that. A bit of aa version of the ending of the first episode. And it actually wouldn't surprise me if Frank would drive around and around for the Cohen's not to find them.
