Ryan stops crying after several minutes. They talk quietly for a few hours about mutual friends in Chino. Ryan gets up later to go wash his face. When he returns, Theresa is walking around the poolhouse looking at his things.
"Ma took all my things when she ditched me. The Cohens gave me all this," Ryan explains. He sits down on his bed and she sits down beside him and drapes an arm around him.
"You look good, Ryan. You really do. The Cohens really seem to care about you," She says.
"They do, I think. I don't know why…" Ryan starts but she kisses him. He pulls away. "Theresa…"
"I know you're with Marissa. She's cool. But you look like you need some comfort. Remember when you'd crawl through my window?"
"Yeah, Theresa, but…" Ryan begins.
"But nothing. Let me be there for you, Ryan. Let me comfort you again."
He accepts her kiss. She tastes familiar. Like home. She knows him.
*****
"Where's Ryan?" Sandy asks when he steps into the quiet house at lunch.
"He's in the poolhouse with Theresa," Kirsten replies, glancing up from her paperwork as he comes over to kiss her hello.
"Theresa. Do we know her?" Sandy asks, confused.
"She's an old friend of his, apparently. She knew about Trey and took a bus here to check on him. She seemed genuinely worried about him. She called his mom for the address," Kirsten explains.
"How'd he react?" Sandy asks.
"She gave him a hug and he hugged her back. They've been in there for a few hours," Kirsten replies. "I thought it'd be better if I gave them some time alone."
"Well, I better go check on them," Sandy says. "See if they're hungry."
"I'll join you," Kirsten offers. They walk to the poolhouse. Sandy stops her outside the poolhouse. "What?" She asks.
"Is that what you call hugging her back?" Sandy asks slowly. Kirsten glances through the window. Theresa is lying on top of Ryan, her long black hair covering Ryan's face. Ryan's hands are on the back of her head, holding her lips against his. His shirt is lying on the floor beside them in a heap.
"Oh god…I didn't think…" Kirsten gasps, surprised. Sandy knocks loudly on the poolhouse door as Kirsten turns and puts her back to the door.
"Shit…" Ryan murmurs from inside, flushed. When Sandy and Kirsten step in a moment later, Theresa is red with embarrassment and is sitting beside Ryan. Her legs are still lying across Ryan but they are as separate as they could get at such short notice. Ryan is pulling on his shirt.
"Feeling better?" Sandy asks.
"Yeah. Sandy, this is Theresa. We grew up together," Ryan introduces.
She shakes Sandy's hand when he offers it to her. "Nice to meet you. You have a beautiful home," Theresa says politely.
"Are you guys hungry?" Kirsten asks, recovered now.
Theresa looks at Ryan for a long beat. "Is he eating?" She asks Kirsten.
"Guys…" Ryan starts.
"Shut up. You don't eat when you're upset, I thought we'd been through this," Theresa says, pulling him to his feet. "He'll eat. I'll make him."
"I like her," Sandy tells Kirsten as Theresa pulls Ryan out of the poolhouse.
"What about Marissa? Don't you think he's got a lot on his mind?" Kirsten whispers in response.
"I think he's got way too much on his mind, but she seems to have gotten through to him where we couldn't in a matter of hours…if she can get him to eat then I don't care what they're doing…" Sandy shrugs.
"Sandy…"
"I'll talk to him, Kirsten," Sandy promises.
Ryan steps out of the kitchen before they can walk inside the main house. "Guys…Theresa and I are just friends…"
"Luke's your friend, too, but I've never seen you kiss him like that," Kirsten remarks.
Ryan flushes. "It wasn't what it looked like, I swear…"
"Where is Theresa?" Sandy asks.
"She's in the bathroom, I just thought I owed you an explanation," Ryan says.
"You owe Marissa an explanation, but not us," Kirsten responds.
"I'm sorry…" Ryan mutters.
"You'll work it out. Let's get some food in you," Sandy says, patting Ryan on the back, reassuringly.
Ryan follows them inside. Theresa returns and puts her hand on Ryan's arm as he sits down at the counter.
"Will you try and eat something, Ry?" Theresa asks.
"Yeah. I'll try," Ryan responds quietly.
"What would you like, Theresa?" Kirsten asks.
"You don't have to feed me, I'm fine…" Theresa responds.
"If I eat, you eat. You've lost weight since I left," Ryan says to Theresa.
Theresa hesitates but Kirsten motions her to the refrigerator. Theresa goes to stand beside her.
"Rosa made some soup for you, Ryan, in case you think it'll help you keep it down easier," Kirsten says. "And you're welcome to soup, Theresa, or you can have anything that you see here," She adds.
Sandy is looking at Ryan. Ryan glances up and catches his gaze.
"You okay?" Sandy asks him.
"Yeah. I think so," Ryan replies quietly.
"Okay," Sandy replies.
Theresa takes the bowl of soup and gets two bowls from the dishwasher. "Come on, Ry. I'll spoon feed him if I have to," She says to Kirsten.
"Good luck," Sandy says as they return to the poolhouse.
"I didn't know that they were…" Kirsten says to Sandy.
"Well, from what I've heard from Seth, he used to be quite the ladies man," Sandy replies. "He'll be okay. I think its good that she came."
"He does seem better, Sandy," Kirsten agrees.
