Okay, here we go. Same disclaimers as always.....
Chapter Nineteen.
Kirsten handed the phone to Ryan, gave him an encouraging smile and left the room. Ryan's hands started to tremble as he spoke into the phone,
" 'lo...."
"Hey Ry...It's good to hear your voice man...How ya doing....?"
" 'kay...."
Ryan was unsure if Trey knew about the accident.
"Your lawyer, Cohen's been keeping me informed...you know, about the 'accident'..."
"He-he t-t-told you....?"
"Yeah.....It was front page news. He called me after it happened and then came to see me."
Ryan was startled. Sandy hadn't told him he'd gone to visit Trey or even that he called him.
"Ry.....you still there?"
Ryan swallowed hard.
"Y---yeah..."What..he......w-what d-d-d-id..."
(Fuck, fuck, FUCK!)
Trey's voice became soft and soothing, not unlike the tone he'd used to comfort his younger brother after he'd been smacked around by one of their mom's boyfriends for studying....speaking.....breathing....
"Look Ryan....It's gonna be okay....Cohen told me about the speech thing and you're getting help for it....It's gonna get better...Listen, my time is up...I'll call you in a couple of days, alright?"
" 'kay....Talk t-t-to you l-later."
Ryan hit the 'end' button and stared at the phone. Why didn't Sandy tell him about seeing Trey? Ryan hadn't seen his brother since Thanksgiving. He had sent his brother a Christmas card and Sandy helped him arrange an account at the prison commissary for Trey to buy smokes and stuff....
That particular thought ended abruptly, interrupted by Seth, Summer and....Luke? He put the phone down and accepted a gentle hug from Summer before she sat on Seth's lap. Ryan looked up at Luke.
"Hey...."
Luke looked carefully at him.
"You look brutal man....You okay?"
Ryan smirked.
"Y-yeah...."
"Don't worry dude...Summer threatened to rip out Luke's lungs if he says anything stupid...." Seth tried to sound serious but failed miserably. "and that's why I love her...."
Summer elbowed him in the ribs.
"Two words Cohen....Rage blackouts...."
Luke flopped down on another couch.
"Are we gonna run a few games or what.....?"
* * * *
Ryan left the family room twenty minutes later. The flashing lights and the loud noises emanating from the video game had given him a headache. Smudges of colour fragmented his vision as he faltered on the stairs. Holding tightly to the handrail and his can he managed to stagger up the remaining steps and into the bedroom. He fumbled with the shade, finally pulling it down. The room darkened considerably. He struggled to maintain his balance as he willed his feet towards the bed. He lay down on his side, closed his eyes, brought his knees up and waited for his head to stop reeling. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He heard the concern in Kirsten's voice.
"Ryan....sweetie....What is it? What's wrong?"
Ryan felt his stomach lurch, the warm vomit rising in his throat. He struggled to sit up.
"S-sick...I...."
Kirsten quickly grabbed the stainless steel wastebasket by the nightstand. She held it in front of Ryan as his stomach exorcised itself of it's contents. Even when there was nothing left in his gut, he was still wracked with dry heaves. As soon as he was sure he was done, Ryan lifted his head out of the wastebasket. Kirsten quickly went into the washroom, filled a glass with water and rinsed a washcloth in cold water.
"Ryan...here....rinse your mouth out....."
He took the glass, rinsed his mouth and spat into the metal garbage can. He repeated the action. Kirsten took the damp wash cloth and gently wiped his face. She left Ryan again and dumped the contents of the wastebasket into the toilet. She filled it with water from the tub, swished it around and dumped that into the toilet as well. Flushing the mess away, she closed the washroom door behind her. The last time Kirsten was this involved in a puke fest was when Seth was twelve. She'd deal with the rest of the stuff later. Ryan was still sitting on the edge of the bed. He wouldn't look at Kirsten when she sat down beside him.
"S-s-s-sorry....."
"Sh-sh-sh-sh" Kirsten soothed. "It's not the first time I've had to catch vomit....It's all part of the job description. More importantly though, how are you feeling? And I don't want to hear 'fine, alright, good or okay...'"
"B-better...." Ryan said in a quiet voice.
"I know you have an appointment tomorrow morning with Dr. Meyers but I'm going to call him now..."
Ryan shook his head.
"No.....w-w-wait.....I-I-I got head...headache from...from w-w- watching....Lights and noise...t-tv make.....made me dizzy...I....I'm feeling o-okay now..."
"Hey dude....Where'd you disappear to...." Seth stuck his head in the door. "You okay...?"
"Yeah....."
Ryan reached for his cane and stood up. The walls no longer moved and his vision was clear.
"D-did you mm-m-miss me?"
Seth rolled his eyes.
"Sure if it makes you feel better....Hey, Marissa's here and your public awaits..."
"J-just sec-second...I have clean....to clean......"
"It's okay Ryan." Kirsten gave his shoulder a quick squeeze. "I've got it...Are you sure you don't want to lie down again?"
"If I do......I w-won't s-sleep tonight..." This time, Ryan's voice was strong and steady.
As they neared the family room Ryan heard Marissa's voice.
"I would love to live in a hotel.....just like Eloise....Hey Ryan...."
Marissa stood up and gave Ryan a hug. There was no room left on the two seater couch so Ryan shuffled over to the chair he formerly occupied. Marissa sat down beside Oliver. Ryan noticed the gleam in his eyes. Oliver smiled darkly.
"How you doing man?"
He looked directly at the boy beside Marissa.
"I'm good.."
(Yes!)
"So what are we talking about now?" Seth stepped over Luke to flop down beside Summer. She made an exaggerated movement as if to get away from him but in reality, she didn't move at all.
"Paris..." Summer said. She wouldn't look at Seth. She knew if she played 'hard to get' just right, he'd start nuzzling her neck and well, he hadn't done that since lunch and it was about time he did it again.
"Oliver lived there for a couple of years, Coop and I like the shopping along the Champs-Elysees, the Place du Tertre and the Moulin Rouge...typical touristy stuff..."
"I don't like it..French chicks don't even shave their armpits.."
Of course that comment came from Luke.
"I lo-o-o-o-ove baguettes" Seth interjected. "and crepes and quiche......"
Before Luke could make a snide comment about Seth's less than manly taste in food, he shot him a look.
"Embrace the egg, dude....."
"Have you ever been to Paris, Ryan....?"
Oliver looked straight at Ryan, the patronizing tone in his voice evident.
"N-no...n-not yet....."
(Take it easy.....focus......you can do this)
"b-but I heard the L-l-louvre's c-cool...."
Oliver's smirk got bigger and brought the disdain in his voice up a notch.
"The Louvre's totally overrated man....The Mona Lisa's the size of a postage stamp. The Musee Rodin or the Musee Picasso....those are worth seeing...."
Ryan felt the embarrassment rise in his cheeks. Paris.....What the hell was he thinking. The furthest he'd ever gone was Tijuana....Ryan lowered his eyes.
"No....uh-uh man.....The Louvre's the first place we're gonna hit, right Ryan?"
Ryan looked up at Seth.
"Weren't you telling me about the glass pyramid in front of the Louvre.....by the fountains? What did you say the architect's name was....Pei?.........Now that's cool.." Seth winked at him and continued. "When was the last time 'you' were in Paris, Oliver? I mean it's been up for at least three years....It's huge....There's no way you could miss it....."
Oliver was unprepared for this little turn of events.
"You know.....I really should go......I've got that world lit paper to finish up.....Can I walk you home Marissa?"
Marissa shook her head.
"I'm going to hang out here for a little while longer. I'll see you at school tomorrow...."
Seeing no way out of the hole he dug for himself, Oliver stood up and said goodbye. He wasn't even half way out of the room when he turned and saw Marissa motioning for Ryan to sit beside her.
* * * *
The rest of the evening was uneventful. Sandy came home with the new Range Rover. It was nearly identical to the previous one. The only difference being the 'new car smell', but this time there was no excitement over the vehicle...just a reminder of the horrible night two weeks prior.
Kirsten was still worried about Ryan. She tried not to fuss over him, but the bout of vertigo that morning and then the headache and nausea that afternoon made it hard not to worry. Even talking to Dr. Meyers didn't allay all her fears. Sandy attempted to step in and rescue Ryan.
"Kirsten.....c'mon, he's seventeen...Give it a rest.....Seth, help me out here.....?"
Seth laughed.
"Are you kidding? It's about time you and Mom left me alone for a while. It took you guys sixteen years to rethink this 'only child' thing. I just want Ryan to feel the love....to share in the love..... 'cause this family is all about the love...."
Kirsten and Sandy both threw their napkins at Seth as laughter ricocheted throughout the kitchen.
* * * *
Seth knocked on Ryan's door before opening it. Ryan didn't look up from his book. He knew who it was. Seth slid into the desk chair and rolled it back and forth, waiting for Ryan to put the book down. He flipped through the CD's on the desk. Their taste in music was polar opposite from each other. He shook his head as he looked.
"Stevie Ray Vaughn, George Thorogood, Lynard Skynard....Dude, these guys are old....."
"Some are d-dead..." Ryan still didn't look up.
"Carmina Burana....You cannot be serious....?"
This time a pillow came flying off the bed, nailing him in the head.
"F-first part....f-first movement from....is fr-from 'Excalibur'....Trey t- t-took me to s-s-s-see it when I was a k-kid..."
"Okay" said Seth, spinning around in the chair. "I'll give you that one..."
Ryan closed his book.
"D-did you know S-sandy went see Trey...?"
Seth eyed Ryan carefully.
"Yeah uh, dad called him after the crash and then went to see him after you woke up...Is that okay?"
Ryan hesitated.
"Y-yeah..I g-guess..."
It was quiet for a minute.
"Thanks for..for...you know, th-this....this afternoon w-w-with Oliver.... 'bout the Louvre...."
"Hey, no problem dude.....We'll get a couple of mondo summer jobs with Grandpa, save the cash and go after senior year....see I.M. Pei's glass pyramid for real..."
Ryan gave Seth an inquisitive look. Seth knew Ryan was dying to find out how he knew about the glass structure. He could see the wheels turning, the gears grinding. Ryan was in awe of his brilliance....!
"You read in b-b-b-book your gr-grandfather gave m-m-me....."
Ryan moved just in time as the pillow came sailing back at him.
* * * *
Sandy and Kirsten sat on the couch enjoying a glass of Australian Shiraz. Sandy peered over his wineglass at his wife.
"You're quiet tonight....Did everything go alright? How was Ryan's speech therapy?"
"Lauren, the therapist, said Ryan was doing well. H sees her again on Thursday. I'm glad he sees Dr. Meyers tomorrow because he was sick this afternoon..."
Sandy became concerned.
"Sick....what do you mean....?"
"He said he had a headache and then he threw up...He said he felt better after, but I don't know Sandy...What if he's getting worse? I called Dr. Meyers.....He didn't seem too worried. He thought it might have been sensory overload. Ryan told me he was watching Seth and Luke play video games when he started to feel sick.....He's been fine ever since, but he didn't eat much at dinner.....he just sort of moved it from one side of the late to the other....."
"Hey, hey....It's probably just what Dr. Meyers said. Ryan looked okay when I saw him. Have you told him about his appointment with Dr. Rodriguez after he sees Dr. Meyers?
Kirsten shook her head.
"I know he agreed to go, but I thought if he had too much time to think about it, he might refuse to see her...I wanted this to be his choice, but...."
Sandy shushed Kirsten with a kiss.
"I think he's had to make way too many adult decisions in his life..we'll take this one off his hands...."
Chapter Nineteen.
Kirsten handed the phone to Ryan, gave him an encouraging smile and left the room. Ryan's hands started to tremble as he spoke into the phone,
" 'lo...."
"Hey Ry...It's good to hear your voice man...How ya doing....?"
" 'kay...."
Ryan was unsure if Trey knew about the accident.
"Your lawyer, Cohen's been keeping me informed...you know, about the 'accident'..."
"He-he t-t-told you....?"
"Yeah.....It was front page news. He called me after it happened and then came to see me."
Ryan was startled. Sandy hadn't told him he'd gone to visit Trey or even that he called him.
"Ry.....you still there?"
Ryan swallowed hard.
"Y---yeah..."What..he......w-what d-d-d-id..."
(Fuck, fuck, FUCK!)
Trey's voice became soft and soothing, not unlike the tone he'd used to comfort his younger brother after he'd been smacked around by one of their mom's boyfriends for studying....speaking.....breathing....
"Look Ryan....It's gonna be okay....Cohen told me about the speech thing and you're getting help for it....It's gonna get better...Listen, my time is up...I'll call you in a couple of days, alright?"
" 'kay....Talk t-t-to you l-later."
Ryan hit the 'end' button and stared at the phone. Why didn't Sandy tell him about seeing Trey? Ryan hadn't seen his brother since Thanksgiving. He had sent his brother a Christmas card and Sandy helped him arrange an account at the prison commissary for Trey to buy smokes and stuff....
That particular thought ended abruptly, interrupted by Seth, Summer and....Luke? He put the phone down and accepted a gentle hug from Summer before she sat on Seth's lap. Ryan looked up at Luke.
"Hey...."
Luke looked carefully at him.
"You look brutal man....You okay?"
Ryan smirked.
"Y-yeah...."
"Don't worry dude...Summer threatened to rip out Luke's lungs if he says anything stupid...." Seth tried to sound serious but failed miserably. "and that's why I love her...."
Summer elbowed him in the ribs.
"Two words Cohen....Rage blackouts...."
Luke flopped down on another couch.
"Are we gonna run a few games or what.....?"
* * * *
Ryan left the family room twenty minutes later. The flashing lights and the loud noises emanating from the video game had given him a headache. Smudges of colour fragmented his vision as he faltered on the stairs. Holding tightly to the handrail and his can he managed to stagger up the remaining steps and into the bedroom. He fumbled with the shade, finally pulling it down. The room darkened considerably. He struggled to maintain his balance as he willed his feet towards the bed. He lay down on his side, closed his eyes, brought his knees up and waited for his head to stop reeling. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He heard the concern in Kirsten's voice.
"Ryan....sweetie....What is it? What's wrong?"
Ryan felt his stomach lurch, the warm vomit rising in his throat. He struggled to sit up.
"S-sick...I...."
Kirsten quickly grabbed the stainless steel wastebasket by the nightstand. She held it in front of Ryan as his stomach exorcised itself of it's contents. Even when there was nothing left in his gut, he was still wracked with dry heaves. As soon as he was sure he was done, Ryan lifted his head out of the wastebasket. Kirsten quickly went into the washroom, filled a glass with water and rinsed a washcloth in cold water.
"Ryan...here....rinse your mouth out....."
He took the glass, rinsed his mouth and spat into the metal garbage can. He repeated the action. Kirsten took the damp wash cloth and gently wiped his face. She left Ryan again and dumped the contents of the wastebasket into the toilet. She filled it with water from the tub, swished it around and dumped that into the toilet as well. Flushing the mess away, she closed the washroom door behind her. The last time Kirsten was this involved in a puke fest was when Seth was twelve. She'd deal with the rest of the stuff later. Ryan was still sitting on the edge of the bed. He wouldn't look at Kirsten when she sat down beside him.
"S-s-s-sorry....."
"Sh-sh-sh-sh" Kirsten soothed. "It's not the first time I've had to catch vomit....It's all part of the job description. More importantly though, how are you feeling? And I don't want to hear 'fine, alright, good or okay...'"
"B-better...." Ryan said in a quiet voice.
"I know you have an appointment tomorrow morning with Dr. Meyers but I'm going to call him now..."
Ryan shook his head.
"No.....w-w-wait.....I-I-I got head...headache from...from w-w- watching....Lights and noise...t-tv make.....made me dizzy...I....I'm feeling o-okay now..."
"Hey dude....Where'd you disappear to...." Seth stuck his head in the door. "You okay...?"
"Yeah....."
Ryan reached for his cane and stood up. The walls no longer moved and his vision was clear.
"D-did you mm-m-miss me?"
Seth rolled his eyes.
"Sure if it makes you feel better....Hey, Marissa's here and your public awaits..."
"J-just sec-second...I have clean....to clean......"
"It's okay Ryan." Kirsten gave his shoulder a quick squeeze. "I've got it...Are you sure you don't want to lie down again?"
"If I do......I w-won't s-sleep tonight..." This time, Ryan's voice was strong and steady.
As they neared the family room Ryan heard Marissa's voice.
"I would love to live in a hotel.....just like Eloise....Hey Ryan...."
Marissa stood up and gave Ryan a hug. There was no room left on the two seater couch so Ryan shuffled over to the chair he formerly occupied. Marissa sat down beside Oliver. Ryan noticed the gleam in his eyes. Oliver smiled darkly.
"How you doing man?"
He looked directly at the boy beside Marissa.
"I'm good.."
(Yes!)
"So what are we talking about now?" Seth stepped over Luke to flop down beside Summer. She made an exaggerated movement as if to get away from him but in reality, she didn't move at all.
"Paris..." Summer said. She wouldn't look at Seth. She knew if she played 'hard to get' just right, he'd start nuzzling her neck and well, he hadn't done that since lunch and it was about time he did it again.
"Oliver lived there for a couple of years, Coop and I like the shopping along the Champs-Elysees, the Place du Tertre and the Moulin Rouge...typical touristy stuff..."
"I don't like it..French chicks don't even shave their armpits.."
Of course that comment came from Luke.
"I lo-o-o-o-ove baguettes" Seth interjected. "and crepes and quiche......"
Before Luke could make a snide comment about Seth's less than manly taste in food, he shot him a look.
"Embrace the egg, dude....."
"Have you ever been to Paris, Ryan....?"
Oliver looked straight at Ryan, the patronizing tone in his voice evident.
"N-no...n-not yet....."
(Take it easy.....focus......you can do this)
"b-but I heard the L-l-louvre's c-cool...."
Oliver's smirk got bigger and brought the disdain in his voice up a notch.
"The Louvre's totally overrated man....The Mona Lisa's the size of a postage stamp. The Musee Rodin or the Musee Picasso....those are worth seeing...."
Ryan felt the embarrassment rise in his cheeks. Paris.....What the hell was he thinking. The furthest he'd ever gone was Tijuana....Ryan lowered his eyes.
"No....uh-uh man.....The Louvre's the first place we're gonna hit, right Ryan?"
Ryan looked up at Seth.
"Weren't you telling me about the glass pyramid in front of the Louvre.....by the fountains? What did you say the architect's name was....Pei?.........Now that's cool.." Seth winked at him and continued. "When was the last time 'you' were in Paris, Oliver? I mean it's been up for at least three years....It's huge....There's no way you could miss it....."
Oliver was unprepared for this little turn of events.
"You know.....I really should go......I've got that world lit paper to finish up.....Can I walk you home Marissa?"
Marissa shook her head.
"I'm going to hang out here for a little while longer. I'll see you at school tomorrow...."
Seeing no way out of the hole he dug for himself, Oliver stood up and said goodbye. He wasn't even half way out of the room when he turned and saw Marissa motioning for Ryan to sit beside her.
* * * *
The rest of the evening was uneventful. Sandy came home with the new Range Rover. It was nearly identical to the previous one. The only difference being the 'new car smell', but this time there was no excitement over the vehicle...just a reminder of the horrible night two weeks prior.
Kirsten was still worried about Ryan. She tried not to fuss over him, but the bout of vertigo that morning and then the headache and nausea that afternoon made it hard not to worry. Even talking to Dr. Meyers didn't allay all her fears. Sandy attempted to step in and rescue Ryan.
"Kirsten.....c'mon, he's seventeen...Give it a rest.....Seth, help me out here.....?"
Seth laughed.
"Are you kidding? It's about time you and Mom left me alone for a while. It took you guys sixteen years to rethink this 'only child' thing. I just want Ryan to feel the love....to share in the love..... 'cause this family is all about the love...."
Kirsten and Sandy both threw their napkins at Seth as laughter ricocheted throughout the kitchen.
* * * *
Seth knocked on Ryan's door before opening it. Ryan didn't look up from his book. He knew who it was. Seth slid into the desk chair and rolled it back and forth, waiting for Ryan to put the book down. He flipped through the CD's on the desk. Their taste in music was polar opposite from each other. He shook his head as he looked.
"Stevie Ray Vaughn, George Thorogood, Lynard Skynard....Dude, these guys are old....."
"Some are d-dead..." Ryan still didn't look up.
"Carmina Burana....You cannot be serious....?"
This time a pillow came flying off the bed, nailing him in the head.
"F-first part....f-first movement from....is fr-from 'Excalibur'....Trey t- t-took me to s-s-s-see it when I was a k-kid..."
"Okay" said Seth, spinning around in the chair. "I'll give you that one..."
Ryan closed his book.
"D-did you know S-sandy went see Trey...?"
Seth eyed Ryan carefully.
"Yeah uh, dad called him after the crash and then went to see him after you woke up...Is that okay?"
Ryan hesitated.
"Y-yeah..I g-guess..."
It was quiet for a minute.
"Thanks for..for...you know, th-this....this afternoon w-w-with Oliver.... 'bout the Louvre...."
"Hey, no problem dude.....We'll get a couple of mondo summer jobs with Grandpa, save the cash and go after senior year....see I.M. Pei's glass pyramid for real..."
Ryan gave Seth an inquisitive look. Seth knew Ryan was dying to find out how he knew about the glass structure. He could see the wheels turning, the gears grinding. Ryan was in awe of his brilliance....!
"You read in b-b-b-book your gr-grandfather gave m-m-me....."
Ryan moved just in time as the pillow came sailing back at him.
* * * *
Sandy and Kirsten sat on the couch enjoying a glass of Australian Shiraz. Sandy peered over his wineglass at his wife.
"You're quiet tonight....Did everything go alright? How was Ryan's speech therapy?"
"Lauren, the therapist, said Ryan was doing well. H sees her again on Thursday. I'm glad he sees Dr. Meyers tomorrow because he was sick this afternoon..."
Sandy became concerned.
"Sick....what do you mean....?"
"He said he had a headache and then he threw up...He said he felt better after, but I don't know Sandy...What if he's getting worse? I called Dr. Meyers.....He didn't seem too worried. He thought it might have been sensory overload. Ryan told me he was watching Seth and Luke play video games when he started to feel sick.....He's been fine ever since, but he didn't eat much at dinner.....he just sort of moved it from one side of the late to the other....."
"Hey, hey....It's probably just what Dr. Meyers said. Ryan looked okay when I saw him. Have you told him about his appointment with Dr. Rodriguez after he sees Dr. Meyers?
Kirsten shook her head.
"I know he agreed to go, but I thought if he had too much time to think about it, he might refuse to see her...I wanted this to be his choice, but...."
Sandy shushed Kirsten with a kiss.
"I think he's had to make way too many adult decisions in his life..we'll take this one off his hands...."