Disclaimer: Not mine, borrowed & nurtured. A/N: The parallels are strong in this one.
Berkeley Series
iv
He's a lot like you
They were at Seth and Summer's baby shower, in Orange County, California.
It was like Ryan had stepped into a time machine and returned to his old life. At least, most of the guests weren't superficial as he remembered, but there was still a lingering feeling he would never fit in, despite how much he had changed since his first move there.
"He's a lot like you were," Kirsten murmured beside him.
Ryan raised his bourbon and coke to his lips to calm his nerves.
"What, angry and paranoid?"
Kirsten hugged his shoulders, her blond bob of hair framing her rosy cheeks.
"Charming and brave," she reminded him. "I better go, Sophie wanted to give you this."
Ryan took the birthday card and opened it, revealing a colourful rainbow with a surfboard.
'Happy birthday, Ryan, love Sophie Rose Cohen'. His adopted sister had talent, like Seth.
He hugged Sophie and ruffled her brown curls; before finding Taylor loitering by the canapés.
"Have you eaten?" Taylor asked, offering her smorgasbord to him.
He'd snacked on hot dogs, and spring rolls, until he found Taylor's peach torte. He'd eaten it whilst she fearlessly mingled with guests, discussed Asian cinema and baking, and conversed in five different languages, impressing him with her social skills. Taylor always made it look easy.
"Yeah, but I won't say no to another tart."
Taylor nodded at Dylan, surrounded by strangers. "He's doing fine for his debut."
"I was never that confidant," Ryan licked the maple syrup from his fingers.
He was grateful he'd kept his suit from his first party, coincidently Dylan was his same size.
Seth tilted his head into their conversation, whilst Summer offered drinks.
"… said the kid from Chino. You saved my ass, multiple times."
"That was mere luck, on your part," Ryan grinned.
Seth rolled his eyes, fondly remembering the night Ryan stood up for him on the beach.
"Welcome to the OC!" Luke clapped their shoulders, startling them.
Luke had dated Marissa Cooper. It had been six years since Marissa's death.
Ryan didn't talk about it much with anyone, except Taylor.
"Hey Luke," Ryan smiled. "How you been?"
Luke nodded, "Yeah, alright, got engaged. Annie's a graphic designer. What about you and Taylor?"
Summer and Taylor returned with an assortment of beers and cocktails. Ryan was relieved when Summer greeted Luke with a sudden burst of enthusiasm, disrupting their conversation.
"So, boy or a girl?" Luke asked, looking between Seth and Summer.
"Boy," Summer was engulfed by Luke's hug.
Luke grinned, "Wow. Can't believe out of all of us, you're gonna be parents!"
Ryan looked up at Dylan, expecting him to be at the buffet, but he was gone.
"Excuse me," Ryan had an inkling where Dylan might be, judging by the girls he'd seen.
"Ryan," Taylor pulled him to where they could hear a commotion outside.
He trusted her instincts, maybe more than his own.
Seth and Luke pushed the crowd of people aside to reveal a fight, two against one.
"Oi, break it up!" Ryan pulled two teens from a boy cowering in the alleyway.
No doubt the boyfriends of the girls he had met inside the party, he thought.
Seth and Luke escorted them to the nearest cab, alongside their girlfriends.
Dylan looked up with a cut lip and bruised eye socket, "Some party, huh?"
Ryan pulled him to his feet, and hugged the kid, "Could've been worse."
A/N: What was your favourite part?