*****

"I can tell it's your turn,

I smell the sulfur so clear

And fire's a beautiful sound…"

--Something Corporate

Ryan, Seth, Marissa and Summer are at Luke's. Luke's parents are out of town and due to his new friendship with Ryan, they are actually invited. Marissa and Ryan spend most of the night in the corner making out and drinking from a bottle of whiskey. Summer and Seth are arguing as usual and around midnight, Summer comes to get Marissa for girl time.

Ryan hears raised voices from outside and staggers slightly as he follows the sound. Seth is in the center of a group of circling jocks talking loudly.

"What's going on?" Ryan asks one of them.

"That little fag's about to the shit kicked out of him," Someone says. Ryan makes his way to the middle and pulls Seth from the circle and doesn't stop walking until they are down the beach to safety.

"What are you doing?" Ryan demands, releasing Seth.

"I'm talking shit…" Seth slurs, his eyelids drooping. He falls to the sand on his ass.

"You're about to get your ass kicked," Ryan replies.

"So? What's it to you?"

"Dammit, Seth…" Ryan sighs, frustrated.

"I don't need your help," Seth slurs.

"Then stop getting into trouble," Ryan replies.

Seth staggers to his feet. "Oh shut up…you act like you're so high and mighty…like nothing's ever your fault…everything's your fault…"

Ryan is still as Seth waves his hands.

"All you've done since you got here was fuck things up!" He said loudly.

"Stop it," Ryan says quietly.

"You get into fights like, every day…you never get grounded…why are you so much better than me?" Seth demands.

"I never said I was better than you, Seth," Ryan replies slowly.

"I don't need you to fight my battles for me!" Seth snapped, his brown eyes dark with anger and alcohol. "I don't need you fucking up my life anymore!" Seth shoves Ryan. "You're not my brother and you're not my bodyguard!"

Ryan doesn't react but his eyes are lowered.

"Look at me, Ryan. Look at me, you fucking piece of trash!" Seth orders, shoving him again.

Ryan takes several steps back.

"Why are you walking away? Think I'm going to take a swing at you?"

"I don't want to do this with you," Ryan whispers.

Seth doesn't back down. "Oh, you want to hit me? Is that it? Did I piss you off? Did I finally get a reaction out of you?" He takes a step toward Ryan.

"Stop," Ryan whispers.

"Do it. Hit me. Just take a swing…I bet you've wanted to hit me since you first started staying with me…" Seth taunts.

"What's wrong with you?" Ryan asks quietly, steadily backing away from Seth.

"Do it, Ryan. Come on, brother, just take a swing…don't think I can take it? Don't think I'm man enough to do battle with you?" Seth asks. Ryan doesn't respond.

"You don't have the balls…you don't want to fuck up your sweet little situation with my parents…you don't have the balls to hit me…" Seth says, walking Ryan down. "You can't even look at me…"

Ryan snaps and punches Seth suddenly, knocking him to the sand. "Shut up."

Seth is stunned. He holds his bleeding nose and stares at Ryan. Ryan's whole body is shaking with emotion. His fists are clenched.

"We're done." Ryan holds his hands up and walks away.

"Ryan…" Seth calls, but Ryan doesn't stop walking.

Ryan finds Marissa by the sink with Summer.

"I'm leaving. I'm sorry. I'll call you." Ryan disappears without kissing Marissa goodbye.

"What was that all about?" Summer asks. Marissa shrugs.

"Where's Seth?" Marissa asks.

"He's drunk somewhere. He's acting stupid," Summer says. "I was talking to Ryan today while I was waiting for him to get ready and you'd think we were fucking right in front of him or something."

"Were you?" Marissa asks, playfully.

"Fucking Chino? In his dreams. We were just talking. I mean, god forbid we actually get along, you know?" Summer replies.

Seth staggers inside, holding his nose. "Have you guys seen Ryan?"

'He left. What happened to you?" Marissa asks, slurring her words now.

"He fucking punched me…" Seth says, still shocked. "I'm drunk…I said some things and he…he fucking punched me…"

"Baby…god…what the fuck did you say?" Summer asks, gently holding a paper towel against his bleeding nose.

"I…god, I'm so drunk…I'm going to be sick…" Seth rushes away from them into the bathroom.

*****

Seth woke up the next day on Luke's couch. His cell phone is blinking with missed messages and he has a headache. As he staggers to the bathroom, he remembers why his face hurts. Ryan hit him. He washes his face, vomits and then checks his messages. His parents. Angry in the first message. Worried in the next three. He dials his house.

"Hello?" Kirsten answers.

"Hey, mom."

"Where the hell are you? It's ten am, Seth, you and Ryan should have been home by two…" She starts.

"Ryan's not there?" Seth interrupts.

"No, isn't he with you?" Kirsten asks immediately.

"I just woke up…I thought he would have went home…I'll be home in a few minutes…" Seth mutters. Ryan hit him. The night's events are fuzzy but he can clearly see Ryan's fist connecting with his face. Now he has to decide if he wants to tell his parents the truth or if he wants to lie until he talks to Ryan.

"We're done." Ryan's words echo in his mind. He has to go home.

*****

Sandy is at the office when his phone rings. He answers it absently. "Sandy Cohen."

"Sandy. It's Ryan. I need to talk to you."

"I'm at the office…"

"Since you're not with the public defender's office anymore, are you still my lawyer?"

Sandy looks away from his paperwork, listening now. "Yes, Ryan. I thought I was more than your lawyer…"

"You are. But things change." Ryan pauses. "I need to talk to you. Can I come down?"

"Do you know where the building is?"

"Yeah. I'll be there in an hour."

"I'll meet you out front," Sandy agrees.

*****