Ryan went out with Luke, Brad and Chip that night, and had a good time,
without any trouble, just like he promised Kirsten. Actually, the rest of
the weekend, as well as during the week, Ryan managed not only to stay out
of trouble but to almost enjoy himself. He seemed happier, because he felt
happier.
He told Dr. Colefield that on Tuesday. He told her all about his conversation with Kirsten and Sandy, including what happens to the money that comes in each month. He knew they didn't need the money, but since he couldn't figure out what they wanted from him, his mind went straight to the money. It was one of the very few reasons his own mother wanted him around. But he still wasn't sure what the Cohens wanted or why they wanted him, they just did. And maybe, Dr. Colefield told him, there was no need for anyone to answer that question. Maybe there was no answer. Maybe it was just one of those things that Ryan needed to understand and accept.
After this second visit to Dr. Colefield, Sandy and Kirsten noticed that Ryan seemed even happier and more relaxed. Unfortunately, they knew that it would only be for a short time, at least for now. They knew the investigation was going to start soon, and they knew they'd have to tell Ryan about it. They discussed it with Dr. Colefield during their meeting on Wednesday.
"As you know," Dr. Colefield told them, "I contacted Child Services last week on your behalf. The Social Worker in charge of Ryan's case called me back this morning. Her name is Heidi Dawson. I informed her that I was counseling both the two of you in addition to Ryan. I promised her my report by the beginning of next week. I will forward a copy to your office as well, Mr. Cohen. Mrs. Dawson said she would begin interviewing all parties sometime the middle or end of next week. She'll be sending out notices."
Kirsten and Sandy were both shocked. They knew that the investigation was going to start, but Sandy thought Madeline would have called him.
"I thought your friend was going to call you as soon as she heard anything new." Kirsten said. She was thinking the same thing as Sandy.
'I thought she was, too," Sandy told her, "I've put off calling her because I didn't want to raise any suspicions, but I'll give her a call first thing tomorrow."
Dr. Colefield felt for the Cohens. She could tell they were very worried about everything, but her main concern was for Ryan.
"I take it from talking to Ryan yesterday that he still doesn't know." She said.
It was Kirsten who spoke,
"No, not yet. I guess we have to tell him now, though. It's just. Well. He seems so much better, happier. I hate the idea of what this is all going to do to him."
"He is better," Dr. Colefield explained, "But he still has a long way to go. There are still many unresolved trust and anger issues. You don't want him finding out about this from someone else. You need to be the ones who tell him."
"Do you think it could possibly wait until Saturday?" Sandy asked.
"Why Saturday?" Dr. Colefield wanted to know before she would answer.
Sandy started to explain,
"We've decided to legally adopt Ryan, provided we don't lose custody. My office has been in contact with his biological father, who I am meeting with on Saturday. I'm also hoping by Saturday to have more information on his mother's whereabouts. She has apparently moved since Christmas, without telling us."
"Does Ryan know any of this?" Dr. Colefield asked.
"No." Kirsten explained, "We wanted to tell him about the adoption and the investigation at the same time."
Dr. Colefield really liked the way they were thinking. They really did have a good handle on how to deal with Ryan. She still needed to ask the questions, though, so her records could reflect what she already knew.
"So, why at the same time?" she asked them.
"We figured he'd be pretty upset about the investigation, but if we show him how serious we really are about his place in our family, he wouldn't do anything rash, or um, well, stupid." Sandy said. He hated to use the word stupid when talking about Ryan, but given some of the impulsive stunts Ryan has pulled, he didn't know how else to explain it.
"Rash or stupid? Like what?" Dr. Colefield asked.
But Kirsten understood what Sandy was trying to say,
"Like runaway. Again. Like last time."
Dr. Colefield wanted more information,
"Like last time?"
This time it was Sandy who answered,
"In August, when I first brought Ryan home. He ran off the night before we were to meet with the social worker."
"And hid in a house that he ultimately burned down." Dr. Colefield finished the story.
Now Dr. Colefield remembered what they were talking about. She had originally been worried that maybe Ryan had runaway more then once, but the Cohens were still concerned about something he did before they were his parents.
"Yes," Kirsten said, "but it wasn't his fault."
"What wasn't his fault? Running away or the fire?" Dr. Colefield asked.
"The fire," Kirsten told her, "Running away was his fault, and we're trying to prevent that from happening again."
"So, you're softening the blow about the investigation with the news that you've decided to legally adopt him." Dr. Colefield summarized.
"Well, that's what we were thinking." Sandy explained, "But what do you think?"
"Actually," Dr. Colefield said, "I think it's a very good idea. But I've got to warn you again, you must be the ones to tell him. If Ryan finds out from some where else, the consequences could be devastating."
Both Kirsten and Sandy nodded.
"Saturday," Sandy promised, "When I get home. We'll tell him. Everything."
Having to tell Ryan everything was weighing very heavily on Sandy and Kirsten. It also didn't help that on Thursday Sandy found out that his contact at Child Services had some sort of family emergency and would be out an indefinite amount of time, and on Friday, Rachel told him that they were no closer to finding Dawn Atwood then they were the week before. By Saturday, Sandy was worried that Ryan's biological father would refuse to sign the papers, and they wouldn't have a whole lot of good news to tell Ryan.
Since it wasn't all that uncommon for Sandy and Kirsten to both work the occasional Saturday, neither Ryan nor Seth thought much of it. Caleb wanted Kirsten to come in and work on some ideas for yet another new model home open house. Kirsten knew she could have gotten out of it, but knowing they had to tell Ryan that night made her very uncomfortable, and she saw it as an opportunity to hide until Sandy got home. All Sandy said was that he had an appointment before he left.
After Sandy and Kirsten left, Ryan cleaned up the breakfast dishes while Seth watched.
"So, what do you think? Should we put a little Seth-Ryan time on the books?" Seth asked.
Ryan was slightly surprised,
"Yeah sure," he said, "What, no Summer?" Seth was always with Summer, or at least on the phone with Summer.
"Nope," Seth said, "It's her day of beauty or something like that. I'll catch up with her later. What about your little sports buddies? Don't you guys have a date?"
"Nope." Ryan answered.
He continued to clean up the kitchen while Seth continued to watch. Rosa didn't work Saturdays anymore, and they were both supposed to help out. But it was always Ryan who did the helping, and Seth who did the supervising as he called it.
"So, ok. What should we do? A little play station, perhaps." Seth said.
"Sure, fine." Ryan said as he finished up with the kitchen.
It was amazing the fierce competition that had developed between Seth and Ryan. After seven months of living there, Ryan had gotten really good at the Ninja game, and it drove Seth crazy that he couldn't win every time. After a few hours of competition, Seth finally won, so he was more willing to talk again.
"Well, what's new?" he asked Ryan, "I feel like we never talk anymore."
Ryan knew Seth was going some where with this, but for the life of him, he wasn't sure where that was,
"Seth, we live in the same house, go to the same school, we see each other all the time."
"Very well, then," Seth continued, "Tell me about Dr. Colefield. How's that going? You're obviously still going since I haven't seen Dad or Mom have a cow lately."
Crap, Ryan thought, it must be driving Seth crazy that no one tells him about Ryan's progress or whatever you wanted to call it. But Ryan wasn't going to be the one to tell him.
"Fine." Was all Ryan would say.
"Fine." Seth mimicked, "That's it? You have nothing else to say?"
Ryan smirked, "No."
Seth just shook his head. He didn't know what it would take to get Ryan to open up and confide in him.
"Damn, man." Seth said, "I hope you talk more with her then you do with me. Otherwise, what a complete waste of money!"
He would bring up the money, Ryan thought. He knew it was costing Sandy and Kirsten a fortune to send him to Dr. Colefield. He didn't need Seth to remind him
"Seth," he explained, "I talk. She asks questions. I answer them. She asks more questions. I answer them, too and so forth. God knows how long I'll have to continue doing that every week. I don't really want to do it when I'm home, too. Tell me about Summer. How goes it?"
It was pretty easy for Ryan to get Seth to change the subject. All he had to do was mention Summer.
Seth smiled. He really was very proud of his relationship with Summer.
"It's going good." Seth told him, "Better then good. It's everything I dreamed it would be. Well, except for one small detail."
"Please don't tell me any more fish sex stories!" Ryan joked.
"No, nothing like that." Seth told him. He wanted to talk serious to Ryan for a moment. He promised Summer he would. He just didn't think it would go real well.
"It's just." Seth started, "Well, Summer wants me to talk to you. About Marissa."
"What about Marissa?" Seth really didn't like the tone in Ryan's voice. Seth recognized that voice as a warning to Seth not to push him too far.
"Well, it's just." Seth started to explain, really quickly, "That she's really upset. I know you guys are broken up, but well, she says you ignore her all the time. She's not asking for a second chance or anything. She just wants to know if you guys can be friends. Maybe hang out sometimes."
Ryan took a deep breath. He had been thinking about Marissa lately. He just wasn't sure what to do.
"I don't know. Maybe." He told Seth, "I just. Every time I see her, I can't help but think about that night she called me pathetic, in front of her house. All I wanted to do was help her see what Oliver was really like. I mean, I blatantly disobeyed Sandy by going there that night, and all she could do was call me pathetic and run out on me. I just have to think about it."
Seth knew Ryan was still hurt, but he also knew Ryan really needed to start letting it go.
"Well, if you're able to forgive Luke, Chip and Brad for treating you like a punching bag this summer, don't you think you could, maybe, consider being friends with Marissa, too. You know, take it one step at a time"
"Yeah, well, I just need to think about it." Was all Ryan really wanted to say about it.
"Hey," he said, changing the subject, "You want some lunch? I think we still have some leftovers from last night."
"Nah," Seth said, "Let's go down to the pier. Grab a bite to eat down there. Maybe a lobster or two from the Crap Shack."
Ryan really wasn't in the mood to head to the pier, and he definitely didn't want to eat at the Crab Shack. He worked there. He knew what they did to the food.
"Well, ok," he told Seth, "But only if you want to walk. Remember, no car." Ryan knew Seth wouldn't want to go if they had to walk.
It worked, as Seth just made a face and told him,
"Yeah, we really need to work on them about getting us some wheels. Leftovers it is."
As they headed for the kitchen, the doorbell rang.
"You get the leftovers. I'll get the door." Ryan told Seth.
Ryan opened the front door to find Julie Cooper standing there with a really smug look on her face.
"Hello, Ryan." She said.
God, Ryan thought, I really don't like this woman.
"Um, hi, Mrs. Cooper," he said, "Sandy and Kirsten aren't home."
"Oh, I wonder where they could be?" she asked as she stepped into the entranceway. "Maybe out trying to find another juvenile delinquent to replace you."
"Replace me?" Ryan asked, not really sure where this conversation was going. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Cooper. I'm not following you."
"Oh, you don't?" Julie pretended to be surprised,
"You mean you don't know yet? Kirsten and Sandy haven't received one of these yet?" She said, as she handed Ryan a copy of a letter.
Ryan looked at the letter addressed to her, which started, "In Re: Ryan Atwood" and was from Child Services.
"I got one. Jimmy got one. Marissa got one." Julie explained, loving that she was the one who got to tell Ryan,
"It's to discuss you. They want to ask me all about you. Now, what do you think I should tell them? I probably should start with what you did this summer and just continue to tell them everything up to and including how you broke my daughter's heart and left her devastated. By the time I'm done, Ryan, you'll be lucky if you only get sent back to juvie. And even if you aren't, I can promise you this, you will be gone. Gone from Newport and gone from my daughter's life. Forever."
If only I had a camera, Julie thought, I'd love a picture of Ryan's face right now.
She smiled as she turned to leave, her work being done,
"Oh, you can keep that copy. I have another one. Have a nice day. One of your last here in Newport."
Ryan just stood in the entranceway, long after Julie Cooper left. He stared blankly at the letter. He should have known, he thought. Man, the Atwood luck strikes again. How was he going to tell Kirsten and Sandy about this? He thought their troubles were finally behind them. Now he was bringing a whole new set of problems into their lives. He could feel the hot tears in his eyes, but he refused to cry. He would never give Julie Cooper that satisfaction, whether she knew it or not.
Seth finally came looking for Ryan,
"Hey, man," he said, "What's up? Why you standing there? Lunch. Food. Eats."
It took Ryan a minute to answer, and when he did, he couldn't bring himself to look at Seth.
"Julie Cooper was here. She gave me this." He said, as he handed Seth the letter.
Ryan continued to explain as Seth read the letter,
"It's from Child Services. They're asking questions about me. About my living here. She said she's going to do whatever she can to get rid of me."
Seth couldn't believe what he was hearing. This can't be happening to us, he thought.
"I can't believe it." Seth said, "Why would they go to Julie Cooper, and not Mom and Dad. It makes no sense. Come on, we need to call them. Dad will know what to do."
Seth stormed off into the kitchen as Ryan slowly followed. Unfortunately, Sandy's cell phone was off. All Seth could do was leave him a message to call home as soon as possible, and then he called Kirsten. Luckily, Kirsten picked up on the second ring.
She heard a very frantic Seth as he said,
"Mom, Mom. Thank God. Here talk to Ryan."
But then she heard Ryan said,
"No, you do it."
So Seth told her,
"Mom, Julie Cooper was just here. She gave Ryan a copy of a letter from Child Services. She said they're investigating Ryan. I can't get Dad. His cell phone is off."
Kirsten felt her heart sink. Ryan knew, and they weren't the ones to tell him. Devastating consequences, Dr. Colefield said.
"Oh, God." She said, "Seth, where is Ryan now?"
"He's right here." Seth said, as he handed the phone over to Ryan.
"Hey." Was all Ryan was able to get out.
"Oh, Ryan, sweetie," Kirsten said, "I'm so sorry Julie did that to you. What did she say?"
"She said that there's an investigation." Ryan started to relive his conversation, "They want to talk to her and Mr. Cooper and Marissa. She said. She said that she's going to tell them whatever she could to get me sent back to juvie."
He hated that he had to tell Kirsten about this. He hated to upset her.
"No. No. Honey." He heard Kirsten say, "She won't do that. I promise, sweetie. We're working on it. Sandy and I aren't going to let that happen."
"You mean you knew about this?" Ryan couldn't believe that they would know and not tell him, but he was shocked to hear Kirsten say,
"Yes."
"When?" Ryan demanded, "How long have you known?"
Kirsten admitted, "About a week. Well, I guess a little more then a week. We didn't want you to worry."
Ryan's voice turned very cold,
"When were you planning on telling me?" he asked, "What, were you just going to pack my bags for me with out bothering to tell me? I'd just come home to another note? Except this time, I would be the one leaving, is that it?"
"Please, Ryan. No." Kirsten was pleading with him, "Stop. Ok? Please just calm down. I'm leaving work right now. I'll be home in a little bit. We'll talk. Ok?"
But Ryan just hung up the phone, without answering Kirsten. She lied. Sandy lied. They both lied to him. They knew. They knew he was leaving. They knew Child Services was coming to take him away, but they lied to him anyway. He wasn't part of their family, and he never would be. Suddenly Ryan needed to get out of the house. It wasn't his house, his home. He didn't need to talk. He needed to get away.
"I gotta go." He told Seth as he put the phone down.
"Ryan, wait. What did she say." Seth was suddenly very afraid. He wasn't sure what was happening, but he knew it wasn't good. Not good at all.
"Nothing. I gotta go." Ryan said, again.
But Seth grabbed his arm,
"Ryan," he started, knowing he had to stop Ryan from leaving. But Ryan pulled his arm away.
"Seth," he said, "I need to get out of here. Do Not try to stop me."
Ryan bolted from the house before Seth could say or do anything else. Meanwhile, Kirsten was in her car trying frantically to get in touch with Sandy. She was almost home when he finally answered his phone.
"Hey, my favorite wife!" He said, "I was just about to call you. I'm just leaving the prison parking lot. Things went really well...."
He didn't get a chance to say much more before Kirsten cut him off. It was her turn to be frantic.
"Sandy. Seth called. Ryan knows. Julie Cooper told him. Sandy, he's so upset. You should have heard him. I'm on my way home now to talk to him. How soon can you get there?" Kirsten could feel the tears in her eyes. They blew it. Devastating consequences, that's all she could think about.
"I'm about two hours from home." Sandy said, "Just try to calm him down. I got the documents signed. Tell him about them. Just tell him I'll be home as fast as I can. I'll try calling home as soon as we hang up and talk to him, too. Damn it."
After Sandy hung up with Kirsten, he tried to phone home. Talk to Ryan over the phone. He knew Ryan was very upset, and he was worried about what he would say or do when Kirsten got home. He knew Ryan would never physically hurt Kirsten or Seth, but he didn't know what Ryan would say. No one answered the phone, though. He hoped that meant Seth and Ryan were together.
But Seth just stood by the phone. He saw it was Sandy on the caller id, but he just didn't want to answer it. By the time Kirsten got home, Seth was going ballistic. He told Kirsten everything he knew, including Ryan running off, and she told him everything she knew. And by the time Sandy got home, both Kirsten and Seth were close to hysterical. It was almost two hours since Ryan took off, and they didn't know where. They kept trying his cell phone, but either he didn't have it on him or he wasn't answering it. Kirsten also tried calling around to the few people Ryan may have gone to – Luke and Marissa, but neither of them heard from him.
The only good news Kirsten did get was from Jimmy. He promised Kirsten that he would not allow Julie to say or do anything to hurt Ryan. He also spoke to Mrs. Dawson over at Child Services. He and Julie would be meeting with her together, as Marissa's parents.
"Well, at least that's one less thing to worry about." Sandy said, "Now we just have to find Ryan. Seth, he didn't say anything?"
"He said he had to get out of here, and he left. I mean, can you blame him? How could you guys let this happen!?" Seth knew he was shouting, but he didn't care. He was mad. At his parents. At Child Services. Even at Ryan.
"We didn't let anything happen." Kirsten told him, "It just happened."
"I'm going to go get Summer and go look for him." Seth said, walking out of the kitchen.
"Call me on my cell if you find him," Sandy shouted after Seth, and then turned to Kirsten,
"Kirsten, you wait here in case he calls or comes back. I'm also going to look for him. Also, call Luke again. Ask him if he would know any place Ryan could be. Give him my cell number. Tell him to call me if he hears from Ryan."
Luke also decided he should go look for Ryan. He didn't know what had happened over at the Cohen house, but he could hear how upset Mrs. Cohen was. He tried all the places he thought Ryan would go. But after a few hours, he was starting to think Ryan wasn't in Newport any more. It was on his third trip past the batting cages that he finally saw Ryan. He parked his truck and called Mr. Cohen.
"Hey, Mr. Cohen," he said, "It's Luke. I found Ryan. He's over at the batting cages at the pier. I don't know how long he's been here. He wasn't here the last time I came by so I'm guessing he hasn't been here that long."
"Thanks, Luke." Sandy told him, "Ill be there in a few minutes. I'm not that far away. Don't let him leave. Sit on him if you have to."
Sandy was actually very grateful that it was Luke who found Ryan. He knew Luke would be able to strong arm Ryan into staying put a whole lot better then Seth.
"You don't want me to bring him home?" Luke asked.
Sandy just sighed. That would be a lot easier, but he seriously doubted Luke could get Ryan to willingly come home.
"You could try," he told Luke, "But I doubt he'll come on his own. Just don't let him leave. I'm almost there."
Thank God, he's still in Newport. Sandy thought as he hung up his phone. He was sure that Ryan would have left town by now. It had been a number of hours since he ran out. Hopefully the fact he was still here would make it easier to talk to him. Sandy called Kirsten and Seth. He asked Seth to stay away from home for a couple of hours to allow them the time to talk to Ryan alone. Seth understood. Sandy knew he would. He promised Kirsten that no matter what, he would bring Ryan home, either on his own or kicking and screaming, but either way, Ryan would come home.
Luke got out of his truck and came up behind Ryan. Luckily Ryan wasn't paying too much attention to anything around him. He was just hitting ball after ball. Luke didn't speak until he was standing at the doorway into the batting cage, blocking Ryan's exit.
"Ry, man. Thank God I found you. Your folks are going nuts."
But Ryan just mumbled,
"They're not my folks."
"Believe me, man," Luke continued, "I talked to Mrs. Cohen. She called looking for you. They're going insane wondering where you are. She said you just took off. Come on, I'll give you a ride home."
But Ryan just answered,
"It's not my home."
Luke just stared at Ryan for a minute. Not my folks? Not my home?
"Dude, what the hell are you talking about?" Luke asked.
But Ryan still wouldn't look at Luke. He just kept hitting baseballs as he said,
"They aren't my parents. They never were and they never will be. It's not my home. Never was, and pretty soon, never will be."
"Ah, dude," Luke told him, "You aren't making any sense."
Ryan finally stopped hitting baseballs and told Luke,
"Look, Luke. I don't wanna get into it right now. I'm not going back there, just to have to leave again. I'm just gonna leave now."
"Yeah and go where?" Luke asked, still blocking the exit of the batting cage.
"I don't know," Ryan shrugged, "Back to Chino, maybe."
"And stay with who?" Luke asked, looking around for Mr. Cohen, hoping he would be there soon.
Ryan just shrugged again,
"I don't know. I'm waiting for my friend Teresa to call me back. We'll figure something out."
For a smart kid, he sure was acting pretty dumb, Luke thought.
"Gee, man, sounds like you've really thought this all out." He told Ryan.
"Well, what else do you want me to do?" Ryan shouted, "Just sit back and wait for them to send me to some group home, or worse, back to juvie?"
"Who the hell is doing that? Not the Cohens." Luke was confused. He knew the Cohens loved Ryan, like their own son. Before Ryan could answer, Sandy came up and answered for him,
"No one is sending Ryan any where." He said.
"Yeah, and how do you know that?" Ryan shot back at him.
"Ryan," Sandy said, trying to keep his voice soft, but still forceful enough that Ryan would know he meant business.
"No one is taking you any where. Not without a fight. Come on. I want you to come home now so we can talk about this."
"I have nothing to say." Ryan replied, his voice cold as ice.
"Well, I do." Sandy said. He knew Ryan had every right to be angry, but he would not allow Ryan to talk to him in that tone or in that manner.
"Wait," Luke said. "Why would you go back to juvie?"
Sandy almost forgot Luke was still there.
"He's not." Sandy answered for Ryan, "There's an investigation by Child Services over the whole Oliver incident that has Ryan upset."
Ryan looked from Luke to Sandy. Even though they were both blocking the exit, he told Sandy,
"If you're going to talk about me like I'm not even here, then I'll just leave now."
Sandy was starting to get angry.
"I told you, the only place you are going is home." He told Ryan.
"Yeah, and exactly where would that be?" Ryan shot back at him.
"Ryan..." Sandy warned.
"And there is a chance I could go back to juvie. Just ask Julie Cooper." Ryan continued.
"What about Julie?" Luke asked. "What does she have to do with this?"
Ryan finally looked at Luke,
"They're interviewing her because she's Marissa's mother, and she's promised to tell them what ever it takes to get me sent back."
Luke knew she hated Ryan, but he couldn't believe she would be such a bitch.
"Well, what did you say to her?' he asked Ryan.
"Nothing." Ryan answered.
Luke was surprised.
"You didn't tell her you know?" Ryan was the only one who knew about Luke and Julie hooking up.
"No." was Ryan's one word answer.
"Why not?" Luke couldn't believe Ryan wouldn't say anything to Julie.
"I promised." Ryan told him. He promised, and he wouldn't break his promise no matter what. It was a shock to Luke. Ryan would rather go back to juvie then break a promise to him. He was more of a friend then Luke would have ever guessed.
"Look, Ry, forget that. If you won't say anything, then I'll talk to her. I'll tell her that either she keep her mouth shut, or I'll tell everyone."
"Tell everyone what?" Sandy finally asked. He was quietly trying to figure out what he and Luke were talking about.
"Nothing." Ryan snapped at him.
"Ok. Fine. Just as long as you believe someone that you don't have to worry about Julie Cooper, I won't ask." Sandy told him, "Now, I want you to come home, Ryan."
But Ryan refused to budge.
"Now, Ryan!" Sandy yelled, but Ryan just turned his back on Sandy and was about to start hitting another round of baseballs. Sandy wasn't sure but he thought he heard Ryan mumble "Fuck off" as he turned away.
"Excuse me!" Sandy said, "I don't think I heard that. What did you say to me?"
"Nothing." Ryan again snapped at Sandy.
"Ryan..." Sandy started again. He knew he was shouting. It was becoming a real stand off between him and Ryan.
"I said NO." Ryan shouted back. "I'm not going with you. You lied to me. You and Kirsten both. You lied. You promised me that I had a home, a family, and it was all a lie. And you knew it. That's it. I'm done. I'm not going back with you."
"Ryan," Sandy lowered his voice, "I know you're upset, but if you would just come home with me, we can talk. I can explain."
"NO!" Ryan shouted again.
The whole scene was really starting to get to Luke. He could see it was quickly turning ugly between Ryan and Mr. Cohen, and he wasn't sure how to stop it. His own relationship with his father was still really shaky, and he hated to see it happen to a friend.
"Ry, man," Luke pleaded, "Listen to him. Hear what he has to say. Come on, he's your father."
Ryan didn't look at Luke, but at Sandy when he said,
"No, he's not. My father's in jail. He's just my lawyer."
That was it. That was all Ryan had to say. Sandy was now really angry. He wasn't going to continue this conversation at the pier. Ryan was coming home with him, and he was coming now.
"No. You're wrong. Rachel is your lawyer, and I am your father, and you are coming home with me. NOW."
When Ryan still didn't move, Sandy continued,
"Alright, Ryan. I'll give you a choice. Either you come with me, now. OR I call the police and report you as a runaway, and have them bring you home. Either way, you are coming home. The choice is yours. Which is it? Me or the police?"
Ryan stared at Sandy for a minute. He knew he had gone too far with the lawyer comment, but he couldn't believe Sandy would actually call the cops on him. The look on Sandy's face, however, said otherwise.
Ryan slammed his bat to the ground and said,
"Fine. Whatever."
He followed Sandy to the car. Once again, there would be a talk when they got home, and once again, Ryan didn't look forward to it.
He told Dr. Colefield that on Tuesday. He told her all about his conversation with Kirsten and Sandy, including what happens to the money that comes in each month. He knew they didn't need the money, but since he couldn't figure out what they wanted from him, his mind went straight to the money. It was one of the very few reasons his own mother wanted him around. But he still wasn't sure what the Cohens wanted or why they wanted him, they just did. And maybe, Dr. Colefield told him, there was no need for anyone to answer that question. Maybe there was no answer. Maybe it was just one of those things that Ryan needed to understand and accept.
After this second visit to Dr. Colefield, Sandy and Kirsten noticed that Ryan seemed even happier and more relaxed. Unfortunately, they knew that it would only be for a short time, at least for now. They knew the investigation was going to start soon, and they knew they'd have to tell Ryan about it. They discussed it with Dr. Colefield during their meeting on Wednesday.
"As you know," Dr. Colefield told them, "I contacted Child Services last week on your behalf. The Social Worker in charge of Ryan's case called me back this morning. Her name is Heidi Dawson. I informed her that I was counseling both the two of you in addition to Ryan. I promised her my report by the beginning of next week. I will forward a copy to your office as well, Mr. Cohen. Mrs. Dawson said she would begin interviewing all parties sometime the middle or end of next week. She'll be sending out notices."
Kirsten and Sandy were both shocked. They knew that the investigation was going to start, but Sandy thought Madeline would have called him.
"I thought your friend was going to call you as soon as she heard anything new." Kirsten said. She was thinking the same thing as Sandy.
'I thought she was, too," Sandy told her, "I've put off calling her because I didn't want to raise any suspicions, but I'll give her a call first thing tomorrow."
Dr. Colefield felt for the Cohens. She could tell they were very worried about everything, but her main concern was for Ryan.
"I take it from talking to Ryan yesterday that he still doesn't know." She said.
It was Kirsten who spoke,
"No, not yet. I guess we have to tell him now, though. It's just. Well. He seems so much better, happier. I hate the idea of what this is all going to do to him."
"He is better," Dr. Colefield explained, "But he still has a long way to go. There are still many unresolved trust and anger issues. You don't want him finding out about this from someone else. You need to be the ones who tell him."
"Do you think it could possibly wait until Saturday?" Sandy asked.
"Why Saturday?" Dr. Colefield wanted to know before she would answer.
Sandy started to explain,
"We've decided to legally adopt Ryan, provided we don't lose custody. My office has been in contact with his biological father, who I am meeting with on Saturday. I'm also hoping by Saturday to have more information on his mother's whereabouts. She has apparently moved since Christmas, without telling us."
"Does Ryan know any of this?" Dr. Colefield asked.
"No." Kirsten explained, "We wanted to tell him about the adoption and the investigation at the same time."
Dr. Colefield really liked the way they were thinking. They really did have a good handle on how to deal with Ryan. She still needed to ask the questions, though, so her records could reflect what she already knew.
"So, why at the same time?" she asked them.
"We figured he'd be pretty upset about the investigation, but if we show him how serious we really are about his place in our family, he wouldn't do anything rash, or um, well, stupid." Sandy said. He hated to use the word stupid when talking about Ryan, but given some of the impulsive stunts Ryan has pulled, he didn't know how else to explain it.
"Rash or stupid? Like what?" Dr. Colefield asked.
But Kirsten understood what Sandy was trying to say,
"Like runaway. Again. Like last time."
Dr. Colefield wanted more information,
"Like last time?"
This time it was Sandy who answered,
"In August, when I first brought Ryan home. He ran off the night before we were to meet with the social worker."
"And hid in a house that he ultimately burned down." Dr. Colefield finished the story.
Now Dr. Colefield remembered what they were talking about. She had originally been worried that maybe Ryan had runaway more then once, but the Cohens were still concerned about something he did before they were his parents.
"Yes," Kirsten said, "but it wasn't his fault."
"What wasn't his fault? Running away or the fire?" Dr. Colefield asked.
"The fire," Kirsten told her, "Running away was his fault, and we're trying to prevent that from happening again."
"So, you're softening the blow about the investigation with the news that you've decided to legally adopt him." Dr. Colefield summarized.
"Well, that's what we were thinking." Sandy explained, "But what do you think?"
"Actually," Dr. Colefield said, "I think it's a very good idea. But I've got to warn you again, you must be the ones to tell him. If Ryan finds out from some where else, the consequences could be devastating."
Both Kirsten and Sandy nodded.
"Saturday," Sandy promised, "When I get home. We'll tell him. Everything."
Having to tell Ryan everything was weighing very heavily on Sandy and Kirsten. It also didn't help that on Thursday Sandy found out that his contact at Child Services had some sort of family emergency and would be out an indefinite amount of time, and on Friday, Rachel told him that they were no closer to finding Dawn Atwood then they were the week before. By Saturday, Sandy was worried that Ryan's biological father would refuse to sign the papers, and they wouldn't have a whole lot of good news to tell Ryan.
Since it wasn't all that uncommon for Sandy and Kirsten to both work the occasional Saturday, neither Ryan nor Seth thought much of it. Caleb wanted Kirsten to come in and work on some ideas for yet another new model home open house. Kirsten knew she could have gotten out of it, but knowing they had to tell Ryan that night made her very uncomfortable, and she saw it as an opportunity to hide until Sandy got home. All Sandy said was that he had an appointment before he left.
After Sandy and Kirsten left, Ryan cleaned up the breakfast dishes while Seth watched.
"So, what do you think? Should we put a little Seth-Ryan time on the books?" Seth asked.
Ryan was slightly surprised,
"Yeah sure," he said, "What, no Summer?" Seth was always with Summer, or at least on the phone with Summer.
"Nope," Seth said, "It's her day of beauty or something like that. I'll catch up with her later. What about your little sports buddies? Don't you guys have a date?"
"Nope." Ryan answered.
He continued to clean up the kitchen while Seth continued to watch. Rosa didn't work Saturdays anymore, and they were both supposed to help out. But it was always Ryan who did the helping, and Seth who did the supervising as he called it.
"So, ok. What should we do? A little play station, perhaps." Seth said.
"Sure, fine." Ryan said as he finished up with the kitchen.
It was amazing the fierce competition that had developed between Seth and Ryan. After seven months of living there, Ryan had gotten really good at the Ninja game, and it drove Seth crazy that he couldn't win every time. After a few hours of competition, Seth finally won, so he was more willing to talk again.
"Well, what's new?" he asked Ryan, "I feel like we never talk anymore."
Ryan knew Seth was going some where with this, but for the life of him, he wasn't sure where that was,
"Seth, we live in the same house, go to the same school, we see each other all the time."
"Very well, then," Seth continued, "Tell me about Dr. Colefield. How's that going? You're obviously still going since I haven't seen Dad or Mom have a cow lately."
Crap, Ryan thought, it must be driving Seth crazy that no one tells him about Ryan's progress or whatever you wanted to call it. But Ryan wasn't going to be the one to tell him.
"Fine." Was all Ryan would say.
"Fine." Seth mimicked, "That's it? You have nothing else to say?"
Ryan smirked, "No."
Seth just shook his head. He didn't know what it would take to get Ryan to open up and confide in him.
"Damn, man." Seth said, "I hope you talk more with her then you do with me. Otherwise, what a complete waste of money!"
He would bring up the money, Ryan thought. He knew it was costing Sandy and Kirsten a fortune to send him to Dr. Colefield. He didn't need Seth to remind him
"Seth," he explained, "I talk. She asks questions. I answer them. She asks more questions. I answer them, too and so forth. God knows how long I'll have to continue doing that every week. I don't really want to do it when I'm home, too. Tell me about Summer. How goes it?"
It was pretty easy for Ryan to get Seth to change the subject. All he had to do was mention Summer.
Seth smiled. He really was very proud of his relationship with Summer.
"It's going good." Seth told him, "Better then good. It's everything I dreamed it would be. Well, except for one small detail."
"Please don't tell me any more fish sex stories!" Ryan joked.
"No, nothing like that." Seth told him. He wanted to talk serious to Ryan for a moment. He promised Summer he would. He just didn't think it would go real well.
"It's just." Seth started, "Well, Summer wants me to talk to you. About Marissa."
"What about Marissa?" Seth really didn't like the tone in Ryan's voice. Seth recognized that voice as a warning to Seth not to push him too far.
"Well, it's just." Seth started to explain, really quickly, "That she's really upset. I know you guys are broken up, but well, she says you ignore her all the time. She's not asking for a second chance or anything. She just wants to know if you guys can be friends. Maybe hang out sometimes."
Ryan took a deep breath. He had been thinking about Marissa lately. He just wasn't sure what to do.
"I don't know. Maybe." He told Seth, "I just. Every time I see her, I can't help but think about that night she called me pathetic, in front of her house. All I wanted to do was help her see what Oliver was really like. I mean, I blatantly disobeyed Sandy by going there that night, and all she could do was call me pathetic and run out on me. I just have to think about it."
Seth knew Ryan was still hurt, but he also knew Ryan really needed to start letting it go.
"Well, if you're able to forgive Luke, Chip and Brad for treating you like a punching bag this summer, don't you think you could, maybe, consider being friends with Marissa, too. You know, take it one step at a time"
"Yeah, well, I just need to think about it." Was all Ryan really wanted to say about it.
"Hey," he said, changing the subject, "You want some lunch? I think we still have some leftovers from last night."
"Nah," Seth said, "Let's go down to the pier. Grab a bite to eat down there. Maybe a lobster or two from the Crap Shack."
Ryan really wasn't in the mood to head to the pier, and he definitely didn't want to eat at the Crab Shack. He worked there. He knew what they did to the food.
"Well, ok," he told Seth, "But only if you want to walk. Remember, no car." Ryan knew Seth wouldn't want to go if they had to walk.
It worked, as Seth just made a face and told him,
"Yeah, we really need to work on them about getting us some wheels. Leftovers it is."
As they headed for the kitchen, the doorbell rang.
"You get the leftovers. I'll get the door." Ryan told Seth.
Ryan opened the front door to find Julie Cooper standing there with a really smug look on her face.
"Hello, Ryan." She said.
God, Ryan thought, I really don't like this woman.
"Um, hi, Mrs. Cooper," he said, "Sandy and Kirsten aren't home."
"Oh, I wonder where they could be?" she asked as she stepped into the entranceway. "Maybe out trying to find another juvenile delinquent to replace you."
"Replace me?" Ryan asked, not really sure where this conversation was going. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Cooper. I'm not following you."
"Oh, you don't?" Julie pretended to be surprised,
"You mean you don't know yet? Kirsten and Sandy haven't received one of these yet?" She said, as she handed Ryan a copy of a letter.
Ryan looked at the letter addressed to her, which started, "In Re: Ryan Atwood" and was from Child Services.
"I got one. Jimmy got one. Marissa got one." Julie explained, loving that she was the one who got to tell Ryan,
"It's to discuss you. They want to ask me all about you. Now, what do you think I should tell them? I probably should start with what you did this summer and just continue to tell them everything up to and including how you broke my daughter's heart and left her devastated. By the time I'm done, Ryan, you'll be lucky if you only get sent back to juvie. And even if you aren't, I can promise you this, you will be gone. Gone from Newport and gone from my daughter's life. Forever."
If only I had a camera, Julie thought, I'd love a picture of Ryan's face right now.
She smiled as she turned to leave, her work being done,
"Oh, you can keep that copy. I have another one. Have a nice day. One of your last here in Newport."
Ryan just stood in the entranceway, long after Julie Cooper left. He stared blankly at the letter. He should have known, he thought. Man, the Atwood luck strikes again. How was he going to tell Kirsten and Sandy about this? He thought their troubles were finally behind them. Now he was bringing a whole new set of problems into their lives. He could feel the hot tears in his eyes, but he refused to cry. He would never give Julie Cooper that satisfaction, whether she knew it or not.
Seth finally came looking for Ryan,
"Hey, man," he said, "What's up? Why you standing there? Lunch. Food. Eats."
It took Ryan a minute to answer, and when he did, he couldn't bring himself to look at Seth.
"Julie Cooper was here. She gave me this." He said, as he handed Seth the letter.
Ryan continued to explain as Seth read the letter,
"It's from Child Services. They're asking questions about me. About my living here. She said she's going to do whatever she can to get rid of me."
Seth couldn't believe what he was hearing. This can't be happening to us, he thought.
"I can't believe it." Seth said, "Why would they go to Julie Cooper, and not Mom and Dad. It makes no sense. Come on, we need to call them. Dad will know what to do."
Seth stormed off into the kitchen as Ryan slowly followed. Unfortunately, Sandy's cell phone was off. All Seth could do was leave him a message to call home as soon as possible, and then he called Kirsten. Luckily, Kirsten picked up on the second ring.
She heard a very frantic Seth as he said,
"Mom, Mom. Thank God. Here talk to Ryan."
But then she heard Ryan said,
"No, you do it."
So Seth told her,
"Mom, Julie Cooper was just here. She gave Ryan a copy of a letter from Child Services. She said they're investigating Ryan. I can't get Dad. His cell phone is off."
Kirsten felt her heart sink. Ryan knew, and they weren't the ones to tell him. Devastating consequences, Dr. Colefield said.
"Oh, God." She said, "Seth, where is Ryan now?"
"He's right here." Seth said, as he handed the phone over to Ryan.
"Hey." Was all Ryan was able to get out.
"Oh, Ryan, sweetie," Kirsten said, "I'm so sorry Julie did that to you. What did she say?"
"She said that there's an investigation." Ryan started to relive his conversation, "They want to talk to her and Mr. Cooper and Marissa. She said. She said that she's going to tell them whatever she could to get me sent back to juvie."
He hated that he had to tell Kirsten about this. He hated to upset her.
"No. No. Honey." He heard Kirsten say, "She won't do that. I promise, sweetie. We're working on it. Sandy and I aren't going to let that happen."
"You mean you knew about this?" Ryan couldn't believe that they would know and not tell him, but he was shocked to hear Kirsten say,
"Yes."
"When?" Ryan demanded, "How long have you known?"
Kirsten admitted, "About a week. Well, I guess a little more then a week. We didn't want you to worry."
Ryan's voice turned very cold,
"When were you planning on telling me?" he asked, "What, were you just going to pack my bags for me with out bothering to tell me? I'd just come home to another note? Except this time, I would be the one leaving, is that it?"
"Please, Ryan. No." Kirsten was pleading with him, "Stop. Ok? Please just calm down. I'm leaving work right now. I'll be home in a little bit. We'll talk. Ok?"
But Ryan just hung up the phone, without answering Kirsten. She lied. Sandy lied. They both lied to him. They knew. They knew he was leaving. They knew Child Services was coming to take him away, but they lied to him anyway. He wasn't part of their family, and he never would be. Suddenly Ryan needed to get out of the house. It wasn't his house, his home. He didn't need to talk. He needed to get away.
"I gotta go." He told Seth as he put the phone down.
"Ryan, wait. What did she say." Seth was suddenly very afraid. He wasn't sure what was happening, but he knew it wasn't good. Not good at all.
"Nothing. I gotta go." Ryan said, again.
But Seth grabbed his arm,
"Ryan," he started, knowing he had to stop Ryan from leaving. But Ryan pulled his arm away.
"Seth," he said, "I need to get out of here. Do Not try to stop me."
Ryan bolted from the house before Seth could say or do anything else. Meanwhile, Kirsten was in her car trying frantically to get in touch with Sandy. She was almost home when he finally answered his phone.
"Hey, my favorite wife!" He said, "I was just about to call you. I'm just leaving the prison parking lot. Things went really well...."
He didn't get a chance to say much more before Kirsten cut him off. It was her turn to be frantic.
"Sandy. Seth called. Ryan knows. Julie Cooper told him. Sandy, he's so upset. You should have heard him. I'm on my way home now to talk to him. How soon can you get there?" Kirsten could feel the tears in her eyes. They blew it. Devastating consequences, that's all she could think about.
"I'm about two hours from home." Sandy said, "Just try to calm him down. I got the documents signed. Tell him about them. Just tell him I'll be home as fast as I can. I'll try calling home as soon as we hang up and talk to him, too. Damn it."
After Sandy hung up with Kirsten, he tried to phone home. Talk to Ryan over the phone. He knew Ryan was very upset, and he was worried about what he would say or do when Kirsten got home. He knew Ryan would never physically hurt Kirsten or Seth, but he didn't know what Ryan would say. No one answered the phone, though. He hoped that meant Seth and Ryan were together.
But Seth just stood by the phone. He saw it was Sandy on the caller id, but he just didn't want to answer it. By the time Kirsten got home, Seth was going ballistic. He told Kirsten everything he knew, including Ryan running off, and she told him everything she knew. And by the time Sandy got home, both Kirsten and Seth were close to hysterical. It was almost two hours since Ryan took off, and they didn't know where. They kept trying his cell phone, but either he didn't have it on him or he wasn't answering it. Kirsten also tried calling around to the few people Ryan may have gone to – Luke and Marissa, but neither of them heard from him.
The only good news Kirsten did get was from Jimmy. He promised Kirsten that he would not allow Julie to say or do anything to hurt Ryan. He also spoke to Mrs. Dawson over at Child Services. He and Julie would be meeting with her together, as Marissa's parents.
"Well, at least that's one less thing to worry about." Sandy said, "Now we just have to find Ryan. Seth, he didn't say anything?"
"He said he had to get out of here, and he left. I mean, can you blame him? How could you guys let this happen!?" Seth knew he was shouting, but he didn't care. He was mad. At his parents. At Child Services. Even at Ryan.
"We didn't let anything happen." Kirsten told him, "It just happened."
"I'm going to go get Summer and go look for him." Seth said, walking out of the kitchen.
"Call me on my cell if you find him," Sandy shouted after Seth, and then turned to Kirsten,
"Kirsten, you wait here in case he calls or comes back. I'm also going to look for him. Also, call Luke again. Ask him if he would know any place Ryan could be. Give him my cell number. Tell him to call me if he hears from Ryan."
Luke also decided he should go look for Ryan. He didn't know what had happened over at the Cohen house, but he could hear how upset Mrs. Cohen was. He tried all the places he thought Ryan would go. But after a few hours, he was starting to think Ryan wasn't in Newport any more. It was on his third trip past the batting cages that he finally saw Ryan. He parked his truck and called Mr. Cohen.
"Hey, Mr. Cohen," he said, "It's Luke. I found Ryan. He's over at the batting cages at the pier. I don't know how long he's been here. He wasn't here the last time I came by so I'm guessing he hasn't been here that long."
"Thanks, Luke." Sandy told him, "Ill be there in a few minutes. I'm not that far away. Don't let him leave. Sit on him if you have to."
Sandy was actually very grateful that it was Luke who found Ryan. He knew Luke would be able to strong arm Ryan into staying put a whole lot better then Seth.
"You don't want me to bring him home?" Luke asked.
Sandy just sighed. That would be a lot easier, but he seriously doubted Luke could get Ryan to willingly come home.
"You could try," he told Luke, "But I doubt he'll come on his own. Just don't let him leave. I'm almost there."
Thank God, he's still in Newport. Sandy thought as he hung up his phone. He was sure that Ryan would have left town by now. It had been a number of hours since he ran out. Hopefully the fact he was still here would make it easier to talk to him. Sandy called Kirsten and Seth. He asked Seth to stay away from home for a couple of hours to allow them the time to talk to Ryan alone. Seth understood. Sandy knew he would. He promised Kirsten that no matter what, he would bring Ryan home, either on his own or kicking and screaming, but either way, Ryan would come home.
Luke got out of his truck and came up behind Ryan. Luckily Ryan wasn't paying too much attention to anything around him. He was just hitting ball after ball. Luke didn't speak until he was standing at the doorway into the batting cage, blocking Ryan's exit.
"Ry, man. Thank God I found you. Your folks are going nuts."
But Ryan just mumbled,
"They're not my folks."
"Believe me, man," Luke continued, "I talked to Mrs. Cohen. She called looking for you. They're going insane wondering where you are. She said you just took off. Come on, I'll give you a ride home."
But Ryan just answered,
"It's not my home."
Luke just stared at Ryan for a minute. Not my folks? Not my home?
"Dude, what the hell are you talking about?" Luke asked.
But Ryan still wouldn't look at Luke. He just kept hitting baseballs as he said,
"They aren't my parents. They never were and they never will be. It's not my home. Never was, and pretty soon, never will be."
"Ah, dude," Luke told him, "You aren't making any sense."
Ryan finally stopped hitting baseballs and told Luke,
"Look, Luke. I don't wanna get into it right now. I'm not going back there, just to have to leave again. I'm just gonna leave now."
"Yeah and go where?" Luke asked, still blocking the exit of the batting cage.
"I don't know," Ryan shrugged, "Back to Chino, maybe."
"And stay with who?" Luke asked, looking around for Mr. Cohen, hoping he would be there soon.
Ryan just shrugged again,
"I don't know. I'm waiting for my friend Teresa to call me back. We'll figure something out."
For a smart kid, he sure was acting pretty dumb, Luke thought.
"Gee, man, sounds like you've really thought this all out." He told Ryan.
"Well, what else do you want me to do?" Ryan shouted, "Just sit back and wait for them to send me to some group home, or worse, back to juvie?"
"Who the hell is doing that? Not the Cohens." Luke was confused. He knew the Cohens loved Ryan, like their own son. Before Ryan could answer, Sandy came up and answered for him,
"No one is sending Ryan any where." He said.
"Yeah, and how do you know that?" Ryan shot back at him.
"Ryan," Sandy said, trying to keep his voice soft, but still forceful enough that Ryan would know he meant business.
"No one is taking you any where. Not without a fight. Come on. I want you to come home now so we can talk about this."
"I have nothing to say." Ryan replied, his voice cold as ice.
"Well, I do." Sandy said. He knew Ryan had every right to be angry, but he would not allow Ryan to talk to him in that tone or in that manner.
"Wait," Luke said. "Why would you go back to juvie?"
Sandy almost forgot Luke was still there.
"He's not." Sandy answered for Ryan, "There's an investigation by Child Services over the whole Oliver incident that has Ryan upset."
Ryan looked from Luke to Sandy. Even though they were both blocking the exit, he told Sandy,
"If you're going to talk about me like I'm not even here, then I'll just leave now."
Sandy was starting to get angry.
"I told you, the only place you are going is home." He told Ryan.
"Yeah, and exactly where would that be?" Ryan shot back at him.
"Ryan..." Sandy warned.
"And there is a chance I could go back to juvie. Just ask Julie Cooper." Ryan continued.
"What about Julie?" Luke asked. "What does she have to do with this?"
Ryan finally looked at Luke,
"They're interviewing her because she's Marissa's mother, and she's promised to tell them what ever it takes to get me sent back."
Luke knew she hated Ryan, but he couldn't believe she would be such a bitch.
"Well, what did you say to her?' he asked Ryan.
"Nothing." Ryan answered.
Luke was surprised.
"You didn't tell her you know?" Ryan was the only one who knew about Luke and Julie hooking up.
"No." was Ryan's one word answer.
"Why not?" Luke couldn't believe Ryan wouldn't say anything to Julie.
"I promised." Ryan told him. He promised, and he wouldn't break his promise no matter what. It was a shock to Luke. Ryan would rather go back to juvie then break a promise to him. He was more of a friend then Luke would have ever guessed.
"Look, Ry, forget that. If you won't say anything, then I'll talk to her. I'll tell her that either she keep her mouth shut, or I'll tell everyone."
"Tell everyone what?" Sandy finally asked. He was quietly trying to figure out what he and Luke were talking about.
"Nothing." Ryan snapped at him.
"Ok. Fine. Just as long as you believe someone that you don't have to worry about Julie Cooper, I won't ask." Sandy told him, "Now, I want you to come home, Ryan."
But Ryan refused to budge.
"Now, Ryan!" Sandy yelled, but Ryan just turned his back on Sandy and was about to start hitting another round of baseballs. Sandy wasn't sure but he thought he heard Ryan mumble "Fuck off" as he turned away.
"Excuse me!" Sandy said, "I don't think I heard that. What did you say to me?"
"Nothing." Ryan again snapped at Sandy.
"Ryan..." Sandy started again. He knew he was shouting. It was becoming a real stand off between him and Ryan.
"I said NO." Ryan shouted back. "I'm not going with you. You lied to me. You and Kirsten both. You lied. You promised me that I had a home, a family, and it was all a lie. And you knew it. That's it. I'm done. I'm not going back with you."
"Ryan," Sandy lowered his voice, "I know you're upset, but if you would just come home with me, we can talk. I can explain."
"NO!" Ryan shouted again.
The whole scene was really starting to get to Luke. He could see it was quickly turning ugly between Ryan and Mr. Cohen, and he wasn't sure how to stop it. His own relationship with his father was still really shaky, and he hated to see it happen to a friend.
"Ry, man," Luke pleaded, "Listen to him. Hear what he has to say. Come on, he's your father."
Ryan didn't look at Luke, but at Sandy when he said,
"No, he's not. My father's in jail. He's just my lawyer."
That was it. That was all Ryan had to say. Sandy was now really angry. He wasn't going to continue this conversation at the pier. Ryan was coming home with him, and he was coming now.
"No. You're wrong. Rachel is your lawyer, and I am your father, and you are coming home with me. NOW."
When Ryan still didn't move, Sandy continued,
"Alright, Ryan. I'll give you a choice. Either you come with me, now. OR I call the police and report you as a runaway, and have them bring you home. Either way, you are coming home. The choice is yours. Which is it? Me or the police?"
Ryan stared at Sandy for a minute. He knew he had gone too far with the lawyer comment, but he couldn't believe Sandy would actually call the cops on him. The look on Sandy's face, however, said otherwise.
Ryan slammed his bat to the ground and said,
"Fine. Whatever."
He followed Sandy to the car. Once again, there would be a talk when they got home, and once again, Ryan didn't look forward to it.