Disclaimer – If I owed anything O.C. related, I wouldn't have to resort to fanfic.
Takes place during The Best Christmukah Ever.
* * *
"Ryan Atwood, you have a visitor. Report to Visitor Room Number 3 immediately."
Ryan stopped midway through his set at the weight bench, sat up, and squinted at the blaring speaker box attached to wall in the outside rec area. It reminded him of being in school in Chino, except that the voice booming out of the box would've belonged to Mrs. Wright, and it would've been directing him to the principal's office.
The only person he could think of visiting him in lock-up would be the Cohens.
Knowing that he couldn't avoid the inevitable, he got up and started walking towards Visitor Room Number 3. On the way inside, he caught his reflection in one of the windows. Wearing a standard issue orange jumpsuit, and already sporting a gash above his right jaw line, he realized that it seemed like no matter what he did, he was going to wind up a loser, just like his dad and brother.
His hunch was correct. As he walked into the room, he saw that Seth and Sandy Cohen were there. Seth stood up and waved Ryan over to a rectangular metal table in the far right corner. His boots felt like lead anchors. He found it harder and harder to walk over and face his new legal family. Shame washed over him, even though, this time, it wasn't his fault.
Sandy must've sensed his apprehension, because he came around the table and approached Ryan with open arms.
"No physical contact!" a guard yelled from across the room. Ryan and Sandy both looked over at the guard simultaneously, saw him touch his baton and nod his head slightly at the two of them.
Looking defeated, Sandy put his arms down. Ryan hurried over to the table, brushing Sandy's arm along the way.
Once they were all sitting, Sandy started. "Look Ryan, we know this is a mistake. Marissa told everyone that she was the one who took the merchandise, and that you're completely innocent," he continued, "The problem is that when the store found out about your rap sheet, they decided to press charges against you both. With your record, they had to put you in lock-up until this all gets figured out."
Seth looked back and forth from his dad to Ryan. "Does anyone else get the irony here? Marissa's the guilty one, and yet she got to go home. Dad, this is so messed up, you've got to do something to get Ryan out."
"I know, Seth. I've already asked to see the store security tapes, and I know that they'll exonerate Ryan."
Ryan had been quiet up until then. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. The Cohens believed him. They didn't think he was going back to his old ways. He wished his mom could be a fly on the wall right now.
"Marissa told everyone that I'm innocent?" he asked.
"Yeah, but unfortunately, part of the reason why you're here is that Julie Cooper freaked out and said that you influenced Marissa into stealing," Sandy said. "But don't worry, I've already filed an ex-parte motion to get us in front of a judge first thing tomorrow morning and we can get you out of here."
"Visiting hours are now over. Inmates must return to their bunks for roll call. Thank you for visiting the Orange County Juvenile Detention Center."
Hearing the grainy recorded announcement on the speaker, everyone got up from the table. Ryan looked at the Cohens and mumbled a quick, "Thanks. For everything," before heading towards the door that lead to the cell block.
*
"So, as you can see, your honor, the security tapes show that my client clearly had no idea that Miss Cooper was shoplifting on the day in question. Furthermore, Miss Cooper has filed a statement with the police department confessing to the crime and clearing Mr. Atwood of any wrongdoing."
It seemed like an eternity for Ryan as he sat at the defendant table and listened to Sandy's heartfelt argument for his client. Despite his innocence, he felt a sinking feeling that the judge was going to take one look at his record and throw him back in lock-up. A violation of his probation, surely this would add at least a year to his sentence.
The judge yawned. There had to be 10 other defendants in this courtroom, each accompanied by their attorney. He was just going through the motions this morning.
"Mr. Atwood, the court does not find enough evidence in this matter to allow the charges pressed against you to stand. You are therefore released into your legal guardian's custody. But be warned, Mr. Atwood, if you continue to show up in the system, we will be more likely to throw your ass back in juvenile hall so fast you won't know what hit you. Next case!"
Mr. Cohen turned to Ryan, "Come on Ryan, let's go home."
*
Standing in the Cohen's kitchen, Kirsten finally broke her silence.
"Ryan, we know that Marissa was the one who did the shoplifting, but did you have anything to do with it?" Kirsten asked.
Sandy and Seth both looked at her surprised. "Kirsten, that isn't fair to Ryan, now is it?" Sandy asked.
Startled, Ryan looked first at Kirsten, and then to Sandy and Seth. "I'm sorry. I didn't know what was going to happen, honest," he mumbled.
Trying to change the subject, Seth interjected, "Now, the next step is deciding what to do about Marissa." Everyone stopped and looked at him at the mention of her name.
Ryan wondered indeed, what he was going to do about Marissa.