NOTE: I do not own any of these characters… you can thank FOX. If you have any questions or comment you can e-mail me at liverbrain22@hotmail.com or post a review.
(P.s. thanks for the reviews!)
Chapter Eight
So love me, so I can be myself again
Now hate me, so things seem normal in my head
I'm trying, to break away this ball and chain
Now hate me, so things seem normal in my head
Things seem normal in my head
Drawing Board – Mest
Summer was in the kitchen making toast when Seth walked in with just his boxers and T-shirt on.
"Morning, Cohen." Summer said, as she put two plates down on the kitchen table. "What do you want on your toasts?" She asked.
Seth admired Summer for a long moment. She was wearing a pair of his pajama bottoms, a tank top and his robe. He went and took a seat at the table. "Just butter." He replied, sipping the coffee that Summer put in front of him. "You know what I think, Summer? I think that if you and Ryan got together and made me breakfast one day, I'd die and go to heaven."
Summer laughed. "Chino cooks?
"Have you tasted the eggs he makes?" Seth sighed. "God, they are good!"
Summer plopped two toasts down in front of Seth and sat down. They ate in silence, reading the newspaper. Seth slid his plate full of crust over to Summer, who gladly reached over and ate them.
"So, um, when are we going over to the hospital?" Summer asked, as she finished off the last of the crusts.
"I'll call my dad and find out." Seth walked over to the phone and dialed his dad's cell phone number. "Hey, Dad."
"Hey, how are things at home?" Sandy asked.
Seth smiled to himself, "Things are good…Quiet though, without Ryan here and all."
"Quiet, without Ryan? You must mean you're mother." Sandy laughed. "So you're calling me to ask how Ryan is? And when you can come over?"
"You read my mind, dad."
"Ryan's doing good. He's sleeping right now though, but you can stop by anytime after nine."
"Great, I'll be there soon then, bye." Seth hung up the phone and turned to Summer. "We can go over right now. So lets just get changed and then we can go."
"Wait, there's one problem."
"What?"
"I don't have any clothes to wear. And there's no way I'm wearing this tank top again…Bad enough I wore it to bed last night."
"Well, I offered you a shirt."
"Well, I'm reconsidering the offer right now."
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Ryan woke up in his hospital bed and looked around the room. Sandy and Kirsten were gone. He sighed and let out a big yawn, remembering yesterday's events. His shoulder was in pain. He closed his eyes again and tried to get more sleep.
Sandy opened the door and popped his head in. Ryan flew his eyes open and looked at him.
"Seth and Summer are here. Were you sleeping?" Sandy asked.
"Not anymore." Ryan replied, dryly.
Seth and Summer walked into the room. Ryan noticed that Summer was wearing one of Seth's T-shirts and smirked. "Hey guys."
"Hey Ryan, how you feeling?" Seth asked
"I'm feeling nothing." Ryan replied.
"Oh, I, uh, meant you, not your arm…" Seth handed Ryan a comic book. "I thought you might get bored, so I brought you this."
"Thanks, man." Ryan accepted the comic book and looked at Summer. "Hey, I see you found yourself a new look."
Summer glared at Seth. "Ew, this is not a new look at all. Seth claims that this was his only shirt left. This shade of green is definitely not my color." Summer retorted.
"I see…" Ryan said, shifting his observation over to Seth. Ryan knew something was up. He wasn't sure yet if Seth had asked Summer to be his girlfriend or not. But from the looks of it, they were. And as for Summer's shirt, Ryan had the suppositions that something went on last night that his parents don't know about.
There was an awkward silence in the room.
"I think I'm going to leave you two alone." Summer said, then walked out of the room, leaving Seth and Ryan.
Ryan starred at Seth for a moment. He could tell Seth was dying to tell him something. "Okay, spill it…Start talking."
Seth sat down in the chair next to Ryan's bed. "You wouldn't believe the day I had yesterday! First off, I wake up and you're gone…here. Okay, that's maybe not the best…But anyway, if you hadn't noticed yet, Summer and I…we're now a thing. And last night, we also had a thing going on." Seth gasped for air, but before he could continue Ryan cut him off.
"A thing? You had sex?"
"No, but that's a good idea."
"So what happened then?" Ryan asked.
"Well it starts off…We're at Marissa's house watching a movie with Anna and Luke…Oh and might I add," Seth held up his hand. "Luke and I were in the kitchen and he asked me if I had dumped Anna, implying that he wanted to go out with her or something along the lines of that. But anyway, we're watching the movie and Summer and I are just all over each other on the couch…I think Summer was trying to make Anna jealous, which I tried before, but Summer got mad at me. Anyway, we leave, come here, then leave again and go back to my house…where she sleeps…in my bed."
Ryan cut in, "You slept with her? I thought you said you didn't sleep with her?"
"No, not like that Ryan. Get your head out of the gutter for just one minute will you! We just slept, like cuddled together…with Captain Oats, might I add. It was the best night ever! Then I wake up and she's making me toast and coffee. And," Seth added. "She was wearing my robe…I'm never going to wash that thing again."
"Oh, so that's why she was wearing your shirt." Ryan asked.
"Yeah, she didn't have anything else to wear."
Seth stopped talking about himself and asked, "Are you and Marissa…Okay?"
"What did she say?"
"She said that you were mad at her. Are you?" Ryan didn't respond. "It's okay, you don't have to answer me. I understand…It's been a little crazy for you. Maybe I should go."
"No, wait." Ryan said, stopping Seth and asked, "Should I be mad at her?"
"I can't answer that for you." Seth replied and Ryan looked away from Seth. "I should tell you this…She knows about the tape recorder. Summer kind of blurted it out by accident."
Ryan glared at Seth. "I told you that we should forget about it, Seth."
"What's the big deal, Ryan. Prove to her that she was wrong about Oliver…Make her understand."
"No—It's not that, Seth."
"Well then what it is?"
"Oliver…He said some stuff before he…you know, killed himself."
Seth looked at Ryan with surprise. "What did he say?"
"It doesn't matter anymore, Seth. That's what I'm trying to tell you."
Just then Summer walked back into the room. "Hey, Marissa's here." Summer said, Marissa was standing behind her. Ryan gave Seth a glare. "Come on Seth, let's leave them alone." Summer grabbed Seth's arm and dragged him out of the room.
Marissa walked in the room and sat uncomfortably in the chair next to Ryan's bed. "Hey." She said, her voice was low.
"Hey, how are you?" Ryan asked.
"I'm fine." Marissa looked at Ryan's arm. "How's the arm?"
"It's fine." Ryan replied then hesitated. "Seth just told me that you think I'm mad at you."
"Are you?"
"I think I have a right to be." Ryan said, then looked away. "I didn't mean for Oliver to kill himself and I'm sorry that he did."
"It's not your fault, Ryan. He had some issues that nobody understood but me. I can't change the past, but I want to change the future…Our future."
"Our future?" Ryan questioned. "What does that mean?"
"What I mean is that I'm sorry…And I want to be with you again." Marissa said, Ryan didn't say anything. "Summer told me about the tape recorder."
"She wasn't supposed to." Ryan shot back.
"Well, don't you think I have a right to know about it…I mean, that's why you went there, right? You wanted to prove to me that he was crazy, which he wasn't. He just had some issues."
"Yeah, well now look where he is."
Marissa shook her head nervously. "No Ryan, look where you are. You didn't have to prove anything to me." She stood up. "But that doesn't matter anymore, he's gone."
"And now I know your safe…So I'll stop bothering you then."
"Whatever, Ryan. I can't do this right now." Marissa said, brushing her hair away from her face. "I'm sorry I came by…" She said, then walked out.
"Me too." Ryan mumbled to himself.
Ryan sat up in his bed cautiously and walked over to the bathroom, locking the door behind him. He stood in the mirror, facing himself, starring into his own eyes. He saw his mother in his eyes. He missed her a lot but wasn't sure if he wanted to see her right now. Sandy asked him earlier if he wanted to contact his mom. He told Sandy that he didn't know if he wanted to see her. His life was already falling apart in front of him without his mother's help. Ryan had dug his own hole this time. He felt nauseous all of a sudden and knelt down next to the toilet. His shoulder was in pain and even though he couldn't feel his arm, it probably hurt like hell too.
There was a knock at the door. "Ryan, you okay in there?" Sandy asked, through the door.
Ryan didn't say anything. He got up, glanced at himself in the mirror, and unlocked the door. "I'm fine."
Sandy backed away from the door, letting Ryan pass him to get into bed. Dr. Shorans then appeared at the door to the room.
"Morning, Ryan. How are you today?" The doctor asked, pulling out the clipboard attached to his bed.
"Fine."
"Okay, I'm just going to take a look at your shoulder." The doctor took the bandage off Ryan's shoulder and got a nurse to clean the wound. Ryan tried hard not to show any pain to neither Sandy nor the doctor. The nurse then bandaged his shoulder back up. "It looks good, Ryan." Dr. Shorans commented. "How's the pain?"
"I'm fine." Ryan replied. Sandy shot him a look. "When can I go?"
"Not for a couple of days, Ryan." Dr. Shorans said, writing a few notes down on the chart. "Have you eaten anything today?"
"No, I'm not hungry."
"Don't worry, Ryan. The food here isn't all that bad." Dr. Shorans said. "I'll have a nurse get you something to eat. And after you eat, you better get some rest."
Dr. Shorans left the room and Sandy walked up to Ryan. "You look pale, Ryan."
"I'm fine, Sandy…Really…Where's Kirsten?" Ryan asked. He hadn't seen Kirsten all morning.
"She had to go into work for awhile." Sandy replied, picking up the comic book Seth had brought him. "I don't know how you guys can read these." He laughed to himself and threw it back on the table next to Ryan's bed. "So, have you decided if you wanted to tell your mom about all of this? It's okay to say no, Ryan. I understand that."
Ryan thought for a moment. His mom had already ditched him twice. He didn't feel like going for a third one this time, because he knew there would be no homerun involved in this game. "No…I don't think I want to see her." Ryan said.
"Okay, but if you change your mind, just let me know. Okay?"
"Okay." Just then the nurse came in with his food. Ryan sighed and closed his eyes.
"I don't think so…" The nurse went on. Sandy left the room before it got bad.
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"What did Ryan say to you?" Summer asked. They were at the Crab Shack eating lunch. Summer tried to drag Marissa along but she was too caught up in her emotions. Summer wasn't sure what Ryan had told her, but whatever it was, it was bad.
"Nothing, just guys stuff…You know how it is."
"Cohen, don't lie to me…I can read your mind."
Seth nodded. "So, not only do you suffer from rage blackouts, you also read people's minds?" Seth continued, "What am I thinking right now, then?"
Summer frowned at him. "You're thinking that…um, the crab here is great?"
"Not true, my friend. I was thinking about mamybelline queen's and plastic faces."
"Maybelline queen's and plastic faces? Okay, your just…weird, Cohen."
"But you like that." Seth added.
Summer smiled at Seth. "Unfortunately." Summer got up from her seat and grabbed her purse. "I'm going to go see Coop. I have a feeling she needs to talk."
"Okay…I'll just…" Seth looked around. "I'll just hang out here…Eat crab, be a crab…you know."
Summer laughed and gave him a kiss on the lips. "I'll call you later, Crabby."
Seth nodded and watched her walk off. He was mad that she was leaving him at the Crab Shack, but that kiss made up for it. Seth was still starring off into nowhere when his cell phone rang. "Hello?"
"Hey, what's up, Cohen."
"Hey…Luke." Seth was still getting used to his odd friendship with Luke. "I'm, uh, just hanging…You know playing a little chess in the park with old men and feeding the birds."
"Cool," Luke responded, ignoring Seth's sarcasm. "Well, I was wondering if you wanted to go see Ryan today."
"I just saw him this morning, but yeah, that's cool…I'll go with you."
"Where are you? I'll pick you up."
"I told you I was at the park…But no worries, I have my parents SUV." Seth paused for a moment. "I'll, uh, pick you up."
"Okay, I'll be waiting." Luke hung up the phone.
Seth sat at the table alone for a few minutes looking at Summer's crab that she didn't eat. "What a waste." He mumbled to himself, picking up the crab and eating it. Once he was done Summer's crab, he paid for the lunch and headed off to get Luke.
Luke was standing outside his house when Seth pulled up into the driveway. He was wearing his lovely sweater vest, the same one that Seth had commented on not too long ago. Ah, the good ol' times. Seth thought to himself. Luke got in and Seth drove off. They talked about nothing particular to whole ride to the hospital.
When they got to the hospital Seth and Luke raced into the hospital. There was only five minutes left for visitors.
+
"Hey-Whoa," Seth said, catching his breath. "What hell is that?" He pointed to the food Ryan was eating. "It looks like mom's cooking."
"Actually, it's jello…I think, or at least that's what they told me." Ryan said, with a smile on his face. He then ate the last of the jello and the nurse left the room. "So, what's up? Two visits in a span of what…Three hours, Seth?"
"Luke wanted to come and see you and," Seth added. "Whatever you told Marissa, thanks. Thanks a lot man, 'cause now she hanging out with my girlfriend."
"Well I told her what she wanted to hear." Ryan replied.
"Dude, it doesn't sound like it."
"Dude, you know I could kick your ass." Ryan commented. "But, good thing for you I can't right now."
Luke couldn't resist a little chuckle. "I can kick his ass for you." He looked at Seth. "Wouldn't be the first time either."
"I love the bond we've got going here…" Seth said sarcastically and turned to Ryan. "Once you're out of here your showing me some Chino moves, okay?"
Ryan nodded. "Sure, Seth…In about year or two, after my arm fully heals."
"Dude, don't say that. It'll heal a lot faster...Just you wait and see!" Seth said, grabbing the clipboard that was attached to his bed.
"Thanks Dr. Seth, I'll keep that in mind."
"I think I liked you a lot better before you tried to be funny." Seth looked at his watch it was past visiting hours. "When are those nurses going to hull my ass out of here."
Luke laughed. "I was thinking the exact same thing, Cohen. Those nurses are hot. You're so lucky Ryan."
Ryan nodded in agreement. He was getting really tired all of a sudden. The pain medication was making him really sleepy.
Luke took the cue. "Well we better go."
"Yes, we better…Because I have such an interesting life I must attend to." Seth said.
"What interesting life?" Luke pointed out.
Seth rolled his eyes. "Exactly my point."
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Not the best chapter I know…kind of a filler, I know…
I hope this story isn't going to slow…I will try and speed it up a little…get some more action going too. Okay well…Stay tuned! And also, I wrote a poem awhile ago called, Room 27. It sort of follows this fic a bit. So check it out and tell me what you think of it. Criticize me too if you want to.
