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
(Thanks for the Reviews!)
Chapter Thirteen
"'Cause I said knowing that I'll sink where I stand,
Peeling back the pages again,
All in all this chapter's not bad,
It's a book I'm glad I read."
It's Something – The Movielife
Ryan sat at the dinner table alone trying to cut through the chicken breast that lay on his plate. He was getting nowhere. He still couldn't use his arm, although the tingling sensation that he kept on feeling a week ago kept on coming back more and more. He never mentioned it to Chelsea, the girl at physiotherapy, or the Cohen's. Sometimes he could feel the cuff around his wrist, other times he couldn't.
Seth walked into the dinning room and looked at Ryan's process. Ryan noticed Seth's sympathetic look and glared at him. "I thought I told you to not watch me?"
Seth threw his hands in the air. "I know, I know." He said, sitting down next to Ryan. "But I bet you you're starving. And all you want right now is to grab the chicken and clench your teeth into it." Seth said, rolling his eyes in the back of this head.
"Seth," Ryan said, getting his attention. "You're starting to scare me."
"Well, what can I say?" Seth said. "Want some help?" He asked.
"Seth, I can do this." Ryan said, shrugging off Seth.
Seth sat there silently as he watched Ryan fumble with his knife in his right hand. "Are you sure, man? 'Cause, like, I bet you you're really hungry," Seth looked at his watch. "Maybe by midnight, you might actually cut the breast. Or, you can let me help you and eat it now."
Ryan gave up and dropped his utensils on his plate. "Fine." Ryan said and picked up the fork in his left hand. Seth put the knife in Ryan's right hand and with his hands he helped Ryan cut the breast into small pieces. "Okay, that's enough now, Seth."
"What, you don't want me to feed you?" Seth said, laughing.
"I think I can take it from here."
"All right man, but if you need anything, just holler at me." He said, then left the dinning room.
As soon as Seth left the dinning room Ryan gobbled down his food as fast he could. He was starving. The Cohen's had agreed that they would leave him alone when he ate. He told them that he felt awkward with everyone starring at him. So, Sandy said that he could eat after them, as long as he used his right hand. He was glad they understood him now.
Kirsten and Sandy walked into the room as Ryan finished off his last bite of his dinner. They both sat at the table across from him.
"How's the arm?" Sandy asked.
Ryan shrugged, "Fine, Seth had to help me again."
"That's okay." Kirsten replied. "As long as you tried, that's all that counts, Ryan."
Ryan nodded.
"Ryan, I need to ask you something." Sandy said, looking at Ryan.
"What? I didn't do anything, did I?" Ryan asked.
"No, Ryan. After physiotherapy today, I was talking with Chelsea. She told me that by now, usually the patients feel something. If you haven't felt anything yet, Ryan, then that means that the fake nerve didn't work and if so, then you might have to go back into surgery to fix it."
Ryan shook his head at them. "No, guys, I'm fine, really."
"Ryan, you haven't felt anything. It's been a month and we have to start looking into the future for what's best for you and—" Sandy was explaining, when Ryan cut him off.
"No—I've felt it." Ryan said, ashamed at himself for not telling them earlier. He didn't realize how worried they were getting over his arm.
Kirsten and Sandy both exchanged glances at each other. "What?" Kirsten asked.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Sandy questioned.
"Because—Well, because it was nothing." Ryan replied. And it was truth, it was nothing, or at least to him is nothing. Until he felt his arm as a whole, then it would be something. He didn't understand what the big fuss was over. Sure, he could feel his arm sometimes, but he couldn't use it.
"Ryan, it is something." Sandy said. "You were supposed to tell us when you felt something—anything."
"Sorry. I just—I thought it wouldn't come back. I wanted to tell you guys, I even tried to tell Seth but then I changed my mind."
"How long have you felt it?" Kirsten asked.
"Well I haven't felt it as a whole, just a little tingling sensation. And I've felt a tingle for almost two weeks now. But it's nothing, really. It comes and goes. Sometimes it hurts." Ryan admitted. "So, I guess the artificial nerve worked?" He asked.
"Yeah, I guess so." Sandy replied.
Ryan got up from the table and took his plate into the kitchen. He then walked back into the den. "I'm going to go to bed. See you guys in the morning." Kirsten and Sandy both said goodnight to him and continued sitting at the table when Ryan walked off.
"So, I guess that talk turned out better than I thought it would." Sandy commented.
"Yeah, I just wished he told us sooner." Kirsten replied.
Seth then walked into the dinning room. "So, does he know the surgery didn't work?" He asked, sitting down at the table with his parents.
"It did work." Kirsten said.
"Huh, the conversation worked, or the surgery. I'm lost." Seth questioned, throwing his hands up in the air with confusion.
Kirsten and Sandy both laughed at him.
"The surgery worked, Seth." Sandy replied. "He's been feeling a tingling in his arm for almost 2 weeks now and he never told us."
"Why? Why would he not tell us?" Seth questioned.
"He thought it was nothing." Kirsten said, getting up from the table. "Well, I'm going to bed. Care to join me, Sandy?"
Sandy got up from the table. "Of course." He said, following his wife upstairs.
"Okay, guys! Please, don't ever do that again!" Seth yelled up at them from the table. "Sick." He mumbled to himself then made his way upstairs to his bedroom where he phoned Summer to tell her the good news.
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"Hey." Seth said, as soon as Ryan walked into the kitchen. "Are you almost ready? Summer's picking us up in like five minutes."
Ryan restlessly took a seat next to Seth on a stool at the counter. "I'm already ready." Ryan said, grabbing a box of cereal in front of him and eating from it.
"You look like crap." Seth told Ryan.
"Gee, thanks, Seth." Ryan replied with a grin on his face. "I just didn't sleep very well last night." Seth gave him a concerned look. "I'm fine, Seth."
"So, why didn't you tell me you felt your arm?" He asked.
"Because it didn't really matter." Ryan replied, shoving more cereal into his mouth.
"No way, man. It does matter and I know that you've already talked to my parents about it. So, I'm not going to lecture you about the importance of it and that kind of shit. But that's awesome, man, that you feel your arm."
"Thanks." Ryan said, then smiled. "So, how are you and Summer doing?"
"Great. Things couldn't be better."
"That's cool."
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"Ryan!" Marissa yelled out and ran through the hallway's trying to catch up to him. She finally caught up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, how are you?"
Ryan turned around. "Oh, hey. I'm fine."
"I heard the news." Marissa said.
"News? What news?" Ryan questioned.
"The news about your arm. Summer told me about it. I wish you could have told me. I'm happy for you." She said, taking her left hand into his right hand.
Ryan eyed her. "So, I guess news travels fast around here." He commented. "You know, I can't feel your hand."
"I know." Marissa said, then smiled at him. Marissa walked Ryan to his first class and then kissed him on the cheek. "I'll see you at lunch."
"Hey, Ryan." Luke said, as soon as he walked into class. "I heard the news."
"Okay, you guys need something better to talk about than me…Cause it's getting too freaky."
Luke laughed at him. "Well, we were all waiting for you to feel something. And we were getting worried that you weren't going to feeling anything. But I'm happy that you are now."
Ryan forced a smile. "Yeah, so does everyone else." He mumbled and took his seat.
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After school, Ryan hitched a ride with Seth and Summer. He sat in the back seat of the car, while Seth and Summer bickered at each other.
"Seth, no way! I'm not going with you to some stupid IMAX movie." She then switched the subject over to Ryan. "Don't you have physiotherapy, Ryan?" Summer asked, keeping her eye on the road. Seth glared at her.
"No, it's Tuesday."
"Oh, right." Summer said, she knew he didn't have it today but she definitely didn't want to go to some stupid IMAX movie with Seth. "So, what are your plans for tonight then?"
"IMAX movie, right Ryan?" Seth asked, turning in his seat.
"Uh, no. You two go. I wouldn't want to intrude on your 'date'." Ryan replied.
"You can always bring Marissa." Seth said.
Ryan shook his head, "Nah, I've got a lot of homework to catch up on."
Seth turned towards Summer. "Summer, will you please go to the IMAX movie with me tonight?"
"Uh, Cohen!" Summer shrieked. "Fine, I will. What is the movie about anyway?" She asked, pulling up into the Cohen's driveway.
"It's this killer shark movie. I missed it the first time and there's no way I'm missing it the second time. So does that mean you're coming with me?" Seth asked.
Ryan got out of the car and left to the poolhouse.
"Fine…." Summer said and got out of the car. Seth followed her into his home and up to his bedroom.
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Ryan laid on his back on the bed in the poolhouse. He had just finished one-handedly typing out his notes from his classes on the laptop. Seth and Summer had already left for the IMAX movie and he was now contemplating on what he was going to do tonight. It was only eight o'clock at night, so he decided to go inside the Cohen's house to watch some Television.
"Hey, Ryan." Sandy said, looking up from the news on the T.V. Ryan nodded his head and sat down next to Sandy on the couch. "Why didn't you go to the movies with Seth?" Sandy questioned.
"He went with Summer and I didn't want to be the third wheel." Ryan admitted, slouching back into the cushions and listening to the news.
"Oh, right. So how are you and Marissa doing?" Sandy asked.
Ryan looked at Sandy. All he wanted to do was watch T.V, not discuss his issues. "We're fine."
"Well, that's good." Sandy commented. "How's your arm?" There it was, Ryan thought to himself. Make a little small talk, then go in for the kill. Like he has nothing better to do?
"It's fine, Sandy." Ryan said and then stood up to leave the living room. He then winced in pain.
Sandy startled by Ryan got up. "Are you okay, Ryan?"
Ryan cradled his right arm in his left. "It's starting to hurt a little." Ryan admitted. "I'm fine, though. It just hurts for a spit second and then it goes away." While he was talking Ryan tried to wiggle his fingers. His pinky finger flinched on him and caught him by surprised. "Shit, did you see that?" Ryan asked.
Sandy looked confused. "What?"
"My pinky finger, it moved, Sandy. It moved." Ryan tried his hardest to do it again but failed. Sandy starred at his arm looking for any movement, but there was none. "It's gone…."
Sandy patted Ryan on the back. "It'll come back, don't worry. Did you need some aspirin for the pain?" Sandy asked.
"No, the pain isn't long, Sandy. Just a split second."
"Right, okay."
"Well, I've got more homework to do, I'll see you in the morning." Ryan said, walking away from the den and leaving Sandy.
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Summer wrapped her arm into Seth's arm and burrowed her face into his shoulder.
"Summer, it's just a shark." Seth whispered into her ear.
"A very big, gross, and disgusting shark!" She shot back adding, "I hate sharks! Why did I ever let you bring me here?"
"Because you want to me make me happy. You like it when I'm happy." Seth whispered into her ear, kissing her.
"Oh, Cohen, you're such a boy!" Summer said, kissing him back on the lips.
"COHEN!" Luke shouted out from the seat above him.
Seth and Summer lips unlocked and they both looked up and saw Luke and Anna sitting just above them.
"Hey, Luke, Anna…..What a surprise." Seth said.
Everyone around them shushed them.
"This is a sweet movie, Cohen. Anna was dying to see it." Luke said, shoving popcorn in his mouth. Anna smiled at Summer and took Luke's hand in hers.
Both Summer and Seth then turned around and locked lips again. They made out until the movie ended. Seth was a little upset that he didn't get to see ending of the movie, but it really didn't matter in the end because had exchanged perfect saliva with the perfect girl of his dreams.
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Seth walked over to the poolhouse and prayed for Ryan to still be up. It was only eleven o'clock. He knock softly on the poolhouse door and walked in. Ryan saw already in bed but he wasn't sleeping.
"Hey, how was the IMAX?" Ryan asked, sitting up in his bed.
"It was awesome, dude. Summer and I made out, like, the whole time."
"Glad I didn't go then." Ryan replied.
Seth laughed. "Me too. But guess who we saw there?!" Seth questioned.
Ryan shrugged, "Who?"
"Luke and Anna, together. Don't you think that's weird. I mean they have been going out for like, almost two weeks now. But that's just sick if you think about."
Ryan knew that they had been going out for awhile, ever since he got out of the hospital. Luke and him had talked several times about Anna. "Yeah, it is, but he likes her a lot." Ryan commented. "Why are you jealous of her?" He asked.
"No, why would I be jealous?" Seth shouted out, he was startled at Ryan's comment.
"Chill, Seth."
"Well, whatever, I'm not into her anymore. I'm with Summer, the girl of my dreams. She's like the best girlfriend ever!"
Ryan laughed at Seth. "Well you don't really have a lot to compare her with."
"True, my friend…" Seth started to leave the poolhouse. "I'm off to bed, see you in the morning."
Ryan waved at him and Seth left the poolhouse.
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Ryan woke up in the morning with someone sitting next to him. He wasn't sure who it was and when he finally cleared his head from his thoughts, he was starring up at Marissa.
"Marissa, what are you doing here?" Ryan asked.
"I thought I'd drive you to school."
"Oh, uh, thanks." Ryan replied and Marissa kissed him on the cheek. Ryan flinched a bit but let her. In a way, he wanted her.
"So, I was thinking maybe after school today we could go down to the pier, hang out and then maybe grab some food."
"I can't."
Marissa cringed at Ryan's words.
"No, it's not that I don't want to, Marissa, I do. But I have physiotherapy, remember?" Ryan questioned.
"Right, I could go with you if you want?"
"Uh, sure, I guess." Ryan said, getting up and going to the bathroom. When he got out Marissa was still sitting on his bed.
"Well, I guess I'll leave and let you get ready for school. I'll be in the kitchen." Marissa said, leaving the poolhouse.
Maybe this isn't going to be so bad after all, Ryan thought to himself. He then got back into the bathroom and took a quick shower. When he got out of the bathroom his right arm was throbbing with pain. He then clenched his right fist and was in shock when it responded and clenched. He then lost total feeling of his arm. He looked at his right hand, still clenched and walked into the kitchen.
Seth looked up from his morning newspaper and coffee. He could tell something was wrong with Ryan. "You okay, Ryan?" Seth asked. He looked at Ryan and then at his arm.
Ryan looked lowered his head and looked at his clenched fist. "My arm…." He started to stay but Marissa cut him off.
"Did you feel it?" She asked.
"I clenched my fist and it worked." He replied. Seth and Marissa starred at his fist, which was still clenched. Ryan didn't want to let it go. He was too afraid it would never come back.
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