Author's note: OK, Chapter three! No smut, but now with 100% more Angry!Seth, finally. That boy's got issues, I tell you, issues!

Standard disclaimer: I wish...but, no.

Simple Geometry, chapter three: Breakfast of Champions

Seth was already seated at the breakfast bar the next morning when Ryan wandered in.

"Hey," the blond said, as he helped himself to some cereal.

"Hey. Um...Summer called earlier." Summer had been their conduit to Marissa for the last two weeks. Julie Cooper was no help at all--her barely veiled contempt for Seth, paired with her absolute refusal to even speak to Ryan pretty much guaranteed that she was not the font of information where her daughter was concerned.

"Yeah, uh, she said that Marissa's parents had stopped fighting long enough to go pick her up. She'll be home around noon."

"Ah. OK"

"Listen, Ryan, I...you should go over there, I think. You know, see how she is and..." Eyes resolutely looking down at the comic book he was reading, so that Ryan couldn't see how hard he was trying to keep his voice level, to keep his eyes from brimming with tears.

"Seth."

"What?" Eyes still downcast.

"Look at me."

"Wh--why?"

"Didn't your mom ever tell you you should look at the person you're talking to? And besides, I want you to see me."

Seth raised his eyes, then, and Ryan gave him a smile that threatened to overwhelm any defenses that Seth had tried to fortify within the last 24 hours. "OK, that's better. I'm not going over there; she has to come to me, or not," Ryan continued, keeping his eyes locked on Seth's.

Seth swallowed with difficulty, but without taking his eyes off Ryan he said, "So, I should make myself scarce at about 12:30, right? Clear the playing field, don't salt your game...I'll just, uh, I'll go sailing. In fact, I'll go now. Good luck." He pushed his chair back and stood up, but was stilled by Ryan's grip on his wrist.

"Don't go yet. We need to talk. Please?"

"Uh, no, dude...I've never had a girlfri--, whatever, but I've watched enough movies to know that 'we need to talk' is code for something that the talk-ee doesn't want to hear the talk-er say. So, we can just stop this conversation now because I'm pretty sure what you're going to say and I'll just go and you can, uh, use your time wisely by thinking of what you're going to say to Marissa and I'll just, um, see you later, OK?"

Ryan released his wrist, then, and said quietly, "You're pretty smart, Seth, but you're not a mind reader. Just do me a favor and listen to me for a minute. Please?"

And with that second repetition of the word please, Seth sat back down, trying his best to keep looking at Ryan. "OK."

"Seth, I like you...I love you, even" and Seth's heart gave a little lurch. Ryan continued, "You're the most honest, most exasperating, most open person I've ever met in my life. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you, if you asked. But I don't...I can't...don't make me hurt you, Seth. I can't do that, not after what you did for me."

"Don't make me hurt you?"

Suddenly Seth was very, very angry. "While I appreciate the sentiment, Ryan, may I point out that that first time, after TJ, was not a pity fuck, and neither were all the other times. You don't owe me anything, I'm not asking for anything, and here's a newsflash, friend, you've already hurt me, so that's that. You're really getting the hang of things around here, aren't you? Say one thing, do another? Position yourself so that you can say 'mistakes were made' without ever having to admit any responsibility? Well, fuck that, and fuck you." With that, Seth slammed out of the kitchen, not even sure where he was going.

The phone rang then, and Ryan picked it up automatically. "Hello?"

"Hey Chino, is that you?" Summer's voice continued, "I already told Cohen this morning about Marissa coming home, but he sounded all weird or something, so I thought I'd just remind you. She's working through a lot of stuff, so if you push her in any way I'll rip out your throat and feed you to my stepmom's chihuaha. And I'm not kidding--just ask Cohen about the rage blackouts," and with that she hung up the phone.

Ryan disconnected, and then lowered his head into his hands.