Seth was right about one thing. The week didn't seem like it was going to
be so bad, Ryan thought. Sandy had made him work at the Lighthouse both
Saturday and Sunday, since Ryan had "worked construction" for a couple of
summers. Ryan knew that Sandy just wanted to keep him close, and since
Sandy was at the restaurant for the weekend, so was Ryan. Unfortunately, on
Monday, Ryan had to spend the day at the law firm with Sandy, and he hated
it. It just seemed so incredibly boring. He didn't know how Sandy dealt
with the same crap day in and day out. If he had any thoughts about being
a lawyer, they were quickly forgotten in only one day.
On Tuesday, he went to work with Kirsten at the Newport Group. Despite Caleb being there, and his snide comments about what he'd do with Ryan if Ryan were his son, he really enjoyed it. Kirsten spent a great deal of time explaining to him what she did, and showing him around. It stirred up all his interests in architecture again, so he asked a lot of questions. And Kirsten was willing to answer them all, or find someone who could answer them for her. Ryan got to meet with builders and architects and ask them questions, too. Ryan was disappointed when the workday was done, and it was time to go home. Especially when he realized that it meant he would be spending Wednesday at the law firm.
Over dinner that night, Ryan tried to come up with a reason why he really should go to the Newport Group with Kirsten on Wednesday. He was worried that if they realized how much he had enjoyed himself there and how much he hated the law firm, they'd make him go to the law firm for the rest of the week. Really drive home that you're punished, you're not supposed to be having a good time theme.
Sandy was actually the one, who brought it up first,
"So, Ryan. How was the Newport Group? I hope you were able to stay awake a little longer for Kirsten then you were for me."
"Very funny. I never fell asleep." Ryan answered.
Sandy just joked, "Well, you would have if I let you!"
Before Ryan had a chance to respond, Seth jumped in,
"Come on, Dad, can you blame him. I mean eight straight hours of paper pushing lawyer-isms. Briefs, motions, complaints..." With that Seth put his head back and pretended to snore, "ZZZZZZZZZZ."
Adding her two cents in, Kirsten said, "Huh. Gee, Sandy, Ryan didn't seem at all tired when he was with me today."
Sandy tried to fake being hurt,
"Nice. All of you. Thanks. It's just so nice to know that I'm just such a tremendous bore to my entire family!"
Ryan joked, "Nah, not you. Just your job!"
With that, Sandy clutched his chest and signed,
"Oh, I see my dreams of The Law Offices of Cohen and Sons slowly fading away."
Seth lost it at that point, "That's your dream??!! That's just.. So. Sad.!"
Sandy waded up his napkin and threw it at Seth. He then turned to Ryan and said,
"I take this means you would rather go to work with Kirsten tomorrow?"
Ryan wasn't exactly sure how to answer. He figured saying "hell, yes!" probably wasn't the smartest idea, so he answered,
"Um. I'll go where ever you tell me."
Seth took Sandy's waded up napkin and threw it at Ryan,
"Suck up," he said.
"Yah, suck up." Sandy joked.
Kirsten looked at Sandy and then Seth,
"Both of you behave." She turned to Ryan and said,
"If you'd rather come with me tomorrow, then that's fine Ryan. I really enjoyed having you work with me today. I don't see any reason you can't come with me the rest of the week."
Ryan smiled and said,
"Yah. I'd really like that. I just didn't think I had a choice."
Before Sandy or Seth could answer, Kirsten said,
"Why? Just because we don't want you home alone, doesn't mean you have to be forced to endure the endless mind-numbing hours of Sandy's job.."
Before the joking could continue, however, the phone rang. Seth answered it,
"Hello. Ah, yah, he's here. Who's calling? Who? Yah, hold on a sec."
Seth turned to Sandy and said,
"Dad, it's someone named Theresa. For Ryan. Can he..?" as he pointed the phone towards Ryan.
"She's a friend of mine from Chino." Ryan answered, before Sandy could ask.
Sandy looked at the phone, then looked at Kirsten and then to Ryan,
"Yah, ok."
Ryan took the phone from Seth and said, "Lo?" as he walked out of the kitchen and sat on the stairs.
On the other end of the phone he heard a very familiar voice ask,
"Is there any particular reason you need permission to talk on the phone?"
Ryan laughed, "Not usually. But, well, it's a long story."
Theresa was laughing, too,
"Knowing you, Ry, I'd say it's probably a really long story."
"Listen," she continued, "I'm going to be up your way this weekend. I was wondering if you wanted to get together Saturday night. You know, hang out, and catch up. Bring that girlfriend of yours.."
Ryan interrupted, "She's not really my girlfriend anymore."
"Then I take it this means you're free?" Theresa asked.
Since Ryan really wasn't sure when he was allowed out, he just kind of hedged to Theresa,
"I'm going to have to call you back, Theresa. I need to check on something first."
"Check on something? I'm guessing this has something to do with asking permission to talk on the phone, right?" Theresa was never one to let Ryan get away with short answers.
Ryan laughed. He knew it, too.
"I never could put one over on you, Theresa, but yah, I've kinda been in a lot of trouble here, and I gotta check to make sure it's ok."
Suddenly he heard Theresa laughing.
"I can't believe it! You're grounded! That's so funny. So. what do you think? First time they've grounded you or what?"
Ryan admitted,
"Yah, first time, and it sucks!""
Theresa stopped laughing and told him,
"Well, Ry, welcome to the real world! It might suck, but it's better then the beatings you usually got. Look, call me back as soon as you're 'allowed'. I'd love to see you this weekend."
Ryan returned the phone to its base and sat back down at the table. He looked over at Sandy and asked,
"So listen, I was kind of wondering. since Friday is the last day I'm suspended, is it also the last day I'm not allowed out?"
"I take it this has something to do with your friend from Chino?" Sandy asked.
"Yah. She's going to be in the area this Saturday night, and wants to get together. I haven't seen her in a while and I was kind of hoping."
Before Ryan could finish, Kirsten reminded him,
"This Saturday is the Harbor School Valentine's Dance fundraiser."
Ryan just shrugged, "I was figuring on skipping it."
But Kirsten looked at him and told him,
"Ryan, you can't skip it. It's a fundraiser for the athletic department, and you are one of Harbor's athletes. You're expected to attend."
Sandy added, "Maybe you could bring Theresa with you."
What he didn't add was so we can check her out.
Ryan was quick to point out,
"I can't bring Theresa. Marissa will be there. It would probably be better if I just skip the whole dance. I mean, I'm just coming off being suspended, going before the Disciplinary Committee. I just want to skip it."
But Sandy was going to stand his ground. He knew why it was easy to keep Ryan grounded for this week. Ryan didn't want to go anywhere, because Ryan still didn't want to see anyone, namely Marissa.
"Ryan," Sandy explained, "We made a commitment to attend this dance. All of the school's athletes and their families are expected to attend. And that means you. As of 3:00pm Friday afternoon, you will no longer be suspended from Harbor, which means you can attend the dance."
Sandy continued, "Look, we know that you're probably concerned about running into Marissa, but you're going to see her anyway when you return to school on Monday. You can't continue to hide. You need to face her, face what happened, and decide what you want to do next."
Ryan wasn't ready to talk about Marissa yet so he just asked,
"So, no Theresa?"
Sandy looked at Kirsten before he answered,
"We'll make you a deal. You make an appearance at the Valentine's dance, stay a few hours and then meet up with your friend Theresa afterwards. Deal?"
Ryan knew that Sandy's deal was the best he was going to get. If he wanted to see Theresa, he had to go to the dance, so he agreed,
"Yah, I guess. Is it ok if I go call her back?"
"Ok," Sandy responded, "Make it quick."
They all watched Ryan as he took off to the pool house. Kirsten spoke first once she knew Ryan was gone,
"Sandy, are you sure this is such a good idea. You were the one who was saying that Ryan needed to put his past behind him before he could move on.."
Seth agreed,
"Yah, Dad, how is letting him hang out with someone from Chino putting Chino behind him?"
Sandy wasn't sure it was a good idea either, but tried to explain his reasons any way,
"If we told Ryan that he couldn't see his friend from Chino, it would make him even more determined to see her. At least this girl is coming here to Newport, and we won't have to worry about Ryan trying to take off to Chino."
When Sandy saw Kirsten and Seth still weren't convinced, he continued,
"Look, we all agree that Ryan has been through a lot. Maybe seeing this girl will help him, or maybe not. I don't know. But I also don't know how much more help we can give Ryan on our own, and he still hasn't agreed to go for therapy."
All Seth knew about Ryan's reaction to therapy was what he saw in the pool house the other night. He wasn't sure if his parents had approached him again, so he asked,
"What has he said about it, though? I mean all he told me was that he wasn't going, and that was it. Have you talked to him again about it?"
Sandy just signed. He knew they should have attempted to bring it up again, but they were enjoying the return of the Ryan they had all gotten to know and love. He was acting a lot like the old Ryan, the one from before Oliver came to town.
He told Seth,
"Your mom and I decided it would be better to let Ryan serve out his suspension and get back to school before we brought it up again. We both know that unless Ryan realizes that therapy is best thing for him, it's possible that we could alienate Ryan even further. We don't want that, but we know Ryan can't continue like this. None of us can."
Before they could continue the discussion, however, Ryan came back into the kitchen. He was noticeably happier. He'd spend the next three days with Kirsten over at the Newport Group, and then it would be Saturday. On Saturday, he would see Theresa, and Theresa would help him figure it out. Ryan knew that as long as he had Theresa, he didn't need therapy, no matter what Sandy and Kirsten thought. They didn't know Theresa. He didn't know why he didn't think of her before, and he couldn't believe the luck that she called.
Back in Chino, Theresa was also noticeably happier. She missed Ryan, but couldn't help but be really happy for him. Just talking to him over the phone and she knew. She knew he finally found a real home and a real family, and she couldn't wait to see it for herself. She was glad she called him after reading about the suicide of that kid in the newspaper. She had been worried. How could some rich kid who had everything handed to him his entire life be so screwed up? It made her really worried how Ryan was handling it. Now she would see for herself on Saturday.
On Tuesday, he went to work with Kirsten at the Newport Group. Despite Caleb being there, and his snide comments about what he'd do with Ryan if Ryan were his son, he really enjoyed it. Kirsten spent a great deal of time explaining to him what she did, and showing him around. It stirred up all his interests in architecture again, so he asked a lot of questions. And Kirsten was willing to answer them all, or find someone who could answer them for her. Ryan got to meet with builders and architects and ask them questions, too. Ryan was disappointed when the workday was done, and it was time to go home. Especially when he realized that it meant he would be spending Wednesday at the law firm.
Over dinner that night, Ryan tried to come up with a reason why he really should go to the Newport Group with Kirsten on Wednesday. He was worried that if they realized how much he had enjoyed himself there and how much he hated the law firm, they'd make him go to the law firm for the rest of the week. Really drive home that you're punished, you're not supposed to be having a good time theme.
Sandy was actually the one, who brought it up first,
"So, Ryan. How was the Newport Group? I hope you were able to stay awake a little longer for Kirsten then you were for me."
"Very funny. I never fell asleep." Ryan answered.
Sandy just joked, "Well, you would have if I let you!"
Before Ryan had a chance to respond, Seth jumped in,
"Come on, Dad, can you blame him. I mean eight straight hours of paper pushing lawyer-isms. Briefs, motions, complaints..." With that Seth put his head back and pretended to snore, "ZZZZZZZZZZ."
Adding her two cents in, Kirsten said, "Huh. Gee, Sandy, Ryan didn't seem at all tired when he was with me today."
Sandy tried to fake being hurt,
"Nice. All of you. Thanks. It's just so nice to know that I'm just such a tremendous bore to my entire family!"
Ryan joked, "Nah, not you. Just your job!"
With that, Sandy clutched his chest and signed,
"Oh, I see my dreams of The Law Offices of Cohen and Sons slowly fading away."
Seth lost it at that point, "That's your dream??!! That's just.. So. Sad.!"
Sandy waded up his napkin and threw it at Seth. He then turned to Ryan and said,
"I take this means you would rather go to work with Kirsten tomorrow?"
Ryan wasn't exactly sure how to answer. He figured saying "hell, yes!" probably wasn't the smartest idea, so he answered,
"Um. I'll go where ever you tell me."
Seth took Sandy's waded up napkin and threw it at Ryan,
"Suck up," he said.
"Yah, suck up." Sandy joked.
Kirsten looked at Sandy and then Seth,
"Both of you behave." She turned to Ryan and said,
"If you'd rather come with me tomorrow, then that's fine Ryan. I really enjoyed having you work with me today. I don't see any reason you can't come with me the rest of the week."
Ryan smiled and said,
"Yah. I'd really like that. I just didn't think I had a choice."
Before Sandy or Seth could answer, Kirsten said,
"Why? Just because we don't want you home alone, doesn't mean you have to be forced to endure the endless mind-numbing hours of Sandy's job.."
Before the joking could continue, however, the phone rang. Seth answered it,
"Hello. Ah, yah, he's here. Who's calling? Who? Yah, hold on a sec."
Seth turned to Sandy and said,
"Dad, it's someone named Theresa. For Ryan. Can he..?" as he pointed the phone towards Ryan.
"She's a friend of mine from Chino." Ryan answered, before Sandy could ask.
Sandy looked at the phone, then looked at Kirsten and then to Ryan,
"Yah, ok."
Ryan took the phone from Seth and said, "Lo?" as he walked out of the kitchen and sat on the stairs.
On the other end of the phone he heard a very familiar voice ask,
"Is there any particular reason you need permission to talk on the phone?"
Ryan laughed, "Not usually. But, well, it's a long story."
Theresa was laughing, too,
"Knowing you, Ry, I'd say it's probably a really long story."
"Listen," she continued, "I'm going to be up your way this weekend. I was wondering if you wanted to get together Saturday night. You know, hang out, and catch up. Bring that girlfriend of yours.."
Ryan interrupted, "She's not really my girlfriend anymore."
"Then I take it this means you're free?" Theresa asked.
Since Ryan really wasn't sure when he was allowed out, he just kind of hedged to Theresa,
"I'm going to have to call you back, Theresa. I need to check on something first."
"Check on something? I'm guessing this has something to do with asking permission to talk on the phone, right?" Theresa was never one to let Ryan get away with short answers.
Ryan laughed. He knew it, too.
"I never could put one over on you, Theresa, but yah, I've kinda been in a lot of trouble here, and I gotta check to make sure it's ok."
Suddenly he heard Theresa laughing.
"I can't believe it! You're grounded! That's so funny. So. what do you think? First time they've grounded you or what?"
Ryan admitted,
"Yah, first time, and it sucks!""
Theresa stopped laughing and told him,
"Well, Ry, welcome to the real world! It might suck, but it's better then the beatings you usually got. Look, call me back as soon as you're 'allowed'. I'd love to see you this weekend."
Ryan returned the phone to its base and sat back down at the table. He looked over at Sandy and asked,
"So listen, I was kind of wondering. since Friday is the last day I'm suspended, is it also the last day I'm not allowed out?"
"I take it this has something to do with your friend from Chino?" Sandy asked.
"Yah. She's going to be in the area this Saturday night, and wants to get together. I haven't seen her in a while and I was kind of hoping."
Before Ryan could finish, Kirsten reminded him,
"This Saturday is the Harbor School Valentine's Dance fundraiser."
Ryan just shrugged, "I was figuring on skipping it."
But Kirsten looked at him and told him,
"Ryan, you can't skip it. It's a fundraiser for the athletic department, and you are one of Harbor's athletes. You're expected to attend."
Sandy added, "Maybe you could bring Theresa with you."
What he didn't add was so we can check her out.
Ryan was quick to point out,
"I can't bring Theresa. Marissa will be there. It would probably be better if I just skip the whole dance. I mean, I'm just coming off being suspended, going before the Disciplinary Committee. I just want to skip it."
But Sandy was going to stand his ground. He knew why it was easy to keep Ryan grounded for this week. Ryan didn't want to go anywhere, because Ryan still didn't want to see anyone, namely Marissa.
"Ryan," Sandy explained, "We made a commitment to attend this dance. All of the school's athletes and their families are expected to attend. And that means you. As of 3:00pm Friday afternoon, you will no longer be suspended from Harbor, which means you can attend the dance."
Sandy continued, "Look, we know that you're probably concerned about running into Marissa, but you're going to see her anyway when you return to school on Monday. You can't continue to hide. You need to face her, face what happened, and decide what you want to do next."
Ryan wasn't ready to talk about Marissa yet so he just asked,
"So, no Theresa?"
Sandy looked at Kirsten before he answered,
"We'll make you a deal. You make an appearance at the Valentine's dance, stay a few hours and then meet up with your friend Theresa afterwards. Deal?"
Ryan knew that Sandy's deal was the best he was going to get. If he wanted to see Theresa, he had to go to the dance, so he agreed,
"Yah, I guess. Is it ok if I go call her back?"
"Ok," Sandy responded, "Make it quick."
They all watched Ryan as he took off to the pool house. Kirsten spoke first once she knew Ryan was gone,
"Sandy, are you sure this is such a good idea. You were the one who was saying that Ryan needed to put his past behind him before he could move on.."
Seth agreed,
"Yah, Dad, how is letting him hang out with someone from Chino putting Chino behind him?"
Sandy wasn't sure it was a good idea either, but tried to explain his reasons any way,
"If we told Ryan that he couldn't see his friend from Chino, it would make him even more determined to see her. At least this girl is coming here to Newport, and we won't have to worry about Ryan trying to take off to Chino."
When Sandy saw Kirsten and Seth still weren't convinced, he continued,
"Look, we all agree that Ryan has been through a lot. Maybe seeing this girl will help him, or maybe not. I don't know. But I also don't know how much more help we can give Ryan on our own, and he still hasn't agreed to go for therapy."
All Seth knew about Ryan's reaction to therapy was what he saw in the pool house the other night. He wasn't sure if his parents had approached him again, so he asked,
"What has he said about it, though? I mean all he told me was that he wasn't going, and that was it. Have you talked to him again about it?"
Sandy just signed. He knew they should have attempted to bring it up again, but they were enjoying the return of the Ryan they had all gotten to know and love. He was acting a lot like the old Ryan, the one from before Oliver came to town.
He told Seth,
"Your mom and I decided it would be better to let Ryan serve out his suspension and get back to school before we brought it up again. We both know that unless Ryan realizes that therapy is best thing for him, it's possible that we could alienate Ryan even further. We don't want that, but we know Ryan can't continue like this. None of us can."
Before they could continue the discussion, however, Ryan came back into the kitchen. He was noticeably happier. He'd spend the next three days with Kirsten over at the Newport Group, and then it would be Saturday. On Saturday, he would see Theresa, and Theresa would help him figure it out. Ryan knew that as long as he had Theresa, he didn't need therapy, no matter what Sandy and Kirsten thought. They didn't know Theresa. He didn't know why he didn't think of her before, and he couldn't believe the luck that she called.
Back in Chino, Theresa was also noticeably happier. She missed Ryan, but couldn't help but be really happy for him. Just talking to him over the phone and she knew. She knew he finally found a real home and a real family, and she couldn't wait to see it for herself. She was glad she called him after reading about the suicide of that kid in the newspaper. She had been worried. How could some rich kid who had everything handed to him his entire life be so screwed up? It made her really worried how Ryan was handling it. Now she would see for herself on Saturday.