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
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Chapter Twenty Eight
"You're better off without me
At least that's what I'll say
Cause it depends on the life if I'm suicidal tonight
On the outside looking in
My self-destructive criticism is my only fight
Cause I don't play to win"
Complex – Steven's Team
Seth and Summer sat in front of the TV in the den, playing a vicious game of Tony Hawk Pro Skater Four. Believe it or not, Seth was losing terribly. He wasn't sure if it was the lack of his thumb use, or the fact that he wasn't really paying much attention to the game. He had other things on his mind.
"Oh!" Summer shouted, throwing the controller down on the ground. "Look who's kicking your ass now. Finally, I get a little taste of Tony Hawk victory!"
"Yeah, that's great, Summer." Seth replied, dryly.
Summer sat back in the couch and stared at him. "Quit your worrying, Cohen. You worry way too much about Ryan."
"Summer, it's been like three hours since he ran off on me from the Lighthouse!" Seth defended. "He better come home before my parents get in," he stated, getting up and going into the kitchen. "Where do you think he went?" He asked.
Summer followed him into the kitchen and sat down on one of the stools at the kitchen island. "Who knows…It's Ryan we're talking about here. He could be next door, in Chino or in Canada." Summer joked, trying to brighten up the moment.
"Well, he better show up soon. We're already both in trouble from this morning and he doesn't need this on him." Seth replied.
"Well, he does have a reason to be pissed off, Cohen." Summer said.
"What? The tape recorder?" Seth asked.
"No, Cohen. The restaurant job." Summer rolled her eyes at him. "Of course I'm talking about the tape recorder! Poor guy." She shook her head in pity. "I mean, what would you do if that happened to you?" She asked.
"Well, I'd at least talk about it. I wouldn't run off." Seth replied.
"Cohen, it's Ryan we're talking about here. He doesn't talk."
"I haven't noticed." Seth joked. "So, what else was said on the tape recorder? All you told me was that Oliver said Ryan was a charity case and leftovers. Was that all that was said?" Seth asked.
Summer shrugged. "That's all that Coop told me." Seth walked away from her and went outside, over to the poolhouse. Summer followed him. "What are you doing?" She asked.
"I'm trying to find the tape recorder." Seth replied, looking around the poolhouse.
"Good idea." Summer said and then she began looking around as well.
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Ryan wasn't sure how long he had been walking for. He walked in no particular direction. All he knew was that he couldn't go back to the Cohen's house – at least not yet. And of all the nights in Newport, it had decided to rain. The rain poured down on him in sheets as he tried to find himself shelter. Most of the stores were closed around him. It was after nine o'clock. He found a 7/11 that was opened, so he went in there.
He checked his wallet to see how much money he had on him. He was craving for a cigarette right now and the only pack that he had was in the poolhouse. He pulled out a twenty and bought himself a package of cigarettes from the clerk.
"It sure is raining cats and dogs out there." The clerk commented, handing him back his change.
"Yeah." Ryan smiled at the young clerk and took his change. He went back outside and leaned against the store. He lit up a cigarette and inhaled. Damn, that felt good, he thought to himself. Once he was done his first cigarette he took out another one and quickly smoked it down.
With his third cigarette in his hand, Ryan walked over towards the payphone and went in. He called the only person he knew would come and get him and not ask so many damn questions. He put in his twenty-five cents and dialed the number.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Luke. It's Ryan." Ryan answered.
"Hey, what's up? Where are you? Seth told me you ran off on him at the Lighthouse. That true?" Luke asked.
Ryan inhaled his cigarette. "Yeah."
"Where are you?" Luke asked again.
"I'm at the 7/11 off Sherwood." Ryan replied.
"I'll come get you, okay?"
"Sure." Ryan said, shivering. He hung up the phone and took out another cigarette.
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Seth and Summer sat on Ryan's bed in the poolhouse, Seth's hand clutching onto the tape recorder. They had just listened to it and the room fell silent.
"What an asshole!" Summer commented, referring to Oliver. "Ryan was right about him all along. I can't believe no one believed him." Seth nodded his head in agreement. "So, what are we going to do?" She asked.
"Nothing. What can we do? He ran off on me and when my parents get home, we'll both be in shit." Seth replied, covering his hands over his face.
"Cohen!" Summer pulled his hands away from his face and looked at him. "We have to find him! He's hurting inside and we need to help him. If Marissa can't talk to him, than I can. He needs to know he belongs here. He's one of my friends too, you know." Summer said.
Seth kissed Summer, exploring the insides of her mouth. He pulled away from her and said, "Of all people, Summer Roberts, you just said like three nice things about Ryan in one sentence. I'm surprised."
"It wasn't all in one sentence, Cohen. But it'll do." She replied.
"So, what do I tell my parents?" Seth asked.
"The truth. Show them the tape recorder. They need to know what is wrong with Ryan and that's what's wrong. And if it means –." Summer was cut off by the knock on the poolhouse door.
Without waiting for an answer, Sandy walked into the poolhouse and looked back and forth between Seth and Summer. "What are you two doing in here? Where's Ryan?" Sandy questioned.
"Uh, Ryan's not here." Seth replied. "He never came back with me to the Lighthouse. He ran off on me."
"Why would he do that?" Sandy demanded. "He knows he's already in a lot of trouble and Seth, why didn't you stop him?"
"Dad, I did. Well, I tried to stop him."
"Mr. Cohen." Summer spoke up. "Ryan ran off because of this." She took the tape recorder out of Seth's grip and gave it to Sandy. "There's a conversation on it with Ryan and Oliver, right before Oliver shot himself. Obviously it's the cause to all of his problems."
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Ryan was on his seventh cigarette when he spotted Luke's truck. He ran from the phone booth over to Luke's truck and got in.
"Thanks." Ryan said, running his fingers through his wet hair.
"So, do you want me to take you back to your place?" Luke asked.
Ryan shook his head. "No. Can we just go back to your place?" He asked.
Luke didn't question him. "Sure." They drove back to Luke's house in silence. When they got to his house, Ryan got out of the truck and followed Luke inside.
"Ryan, there you are!" Mrs. Ward said, as soon as she saw him. "Sandy just called here looking for you and he would like you to call him back."
"Uh…Okay." Ryan replied. "Thanks." He took off his shoes and followed Luke up to his room. He flopped down on Luke's bed and sighed.
Luke threw him a towel and asked, "What happened?"
Ryan wiped his face with the towel. "Do you have anything to drink?" Ryan asked, ignoring Luke's question.
"Ryan, dude, you don't need alcohol in your system right now." Luke replied. "Maybe I should phone Sandy and Kirsten and tell them that you're here." He said, taking his phone out.
"No – Wait." Ryan stopped him. "I don't feel like talking to them right now, okay?"
Luke put down his phone and went over to his dresser. He took out a T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. "Here." He handed them over to Ryan. "You might as well get changed into fresh clothes and get out of that soaking wet suit."
Ryan accepted the clothes and went into Luke's bathroom. He quickly changed out of his suit, welcoming the warmth of fresh clothes. He then walked out of the bathroom and into Luke's room. "Thanks." He said.
"No problem. So, you want to tell me what's up?" Luke asked.
Ryan sat on the end of his bed and looked down at the floor. "I don't know if I can go back there." He admitted.
"Why? Did the Cohen's do something?" Luke asked, concern clear in his voice.
"No, the Cohen's didn't do anything wrong. Shit." Ryan sighed. "I just don't…I don't understand why they would want me. I'm just some thug off the streets of Chino. I'm their charity case. Oliver was right, you know. I'm nothing but leftover's and ever since I came to Newport, everyone's lives have been turned upside down."
Luke didn't know where all of this was coming from. "That's not true, man. If anything, Ryan, you came here and saved Marissa's life. I mean, if it weren't for you, I'd still be dating her and cheating on her. And Oliver would probably still be alive and obsessing over Marissa. Don't tell me you are leftover's, 'cause you're not. And the Cohen's didn't take you in 'cause they felt sorry for you. Where are you getting all of this from?" Luke asked.
Ryan shrugged, still looking down at the ground.
They both jumped when the phone rang. Luke quickly answered it before his mother got a chance to.
"Hello?" Luke asked, keeping an eye on Ryan.
"Luke, it's Sandy Cohen."
"Oh, hey Mr. Cohen." Luke said. Ryan looked up at his and shook his head.
"I'm not here." Ryan whispered, still shaking his head.
"What's up?" Luke asked.
"Luke, have you seen Ryan tonight?" Sandy asked.
Luke could hear the concern in Mr. Cohen's voice. He wanted to tell him that Ryan was here and that he was not thinking straight, but he knew that Ryan was his friend and he needed to protect him. "Uh, no…I haven't seen or talked to him." Luke replied.
Sandy could tell that Luke was lying. "Are you sure?" Sandy asked.
"Yeah, I'm sure." Luke replied.
"Is he sitting right there with you?" Sandy asked.
Luke closed his eyes, ignoring Ryan glare. He had to tell Sandy. He was worried and Luke was worried himself. "Yeah."
"Is he okay?" Sandy asked.
"Yeah."
"Okay, I'll come by and pick him up. Don't let him go anywhere, okay?" Sandy asked.
"Okay, sorry I couldn't help you out, Mr. Cohen. Bye." Luke hung up the phone and opened his eyes.
"Thanks." Ryan said.
Luke smiled at him. "No, problem."
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Okay guys, there's only one more chapter left of this story. So stay tuned and find out what happens.
