Sandy dropped Ryan and Seth off at school the next morning. Before leaving,
he told both boys to have a good day, or at least try, he told them after
they both just stared at him. He knew neither one of them would have a good
day. He knew he and Kirsten wouldn't have a good day, either. No one
would have a good day or a good week, not until this whole nightmare was
behind them. Sandy headed to his office to call Dr. Colefield and ask her
what they should do about Ryan. Ryan had even less to say then he did the
day before, especially since Kirsten and Sandy decided not to push him any
further, not without talking to Dr. Colefield.
Sandy knew even before he dialed her number that Dr. Colefield would not be happy about the fact the Cohens were not the ones to tell Ryan about the investigation, and he was right. Dr. Colefield promised to rearrange her schedule so she could meet with Ryan that afternoon. She said she wanted to talk to Ryan first before advising the Cohens about how to best help him. She was very annoyed at them both for not being the ones who told Ryan, but if the extent of his depression was as severe as Mr. Cohen said, she could see why they kept putting off telling him.
Sandy almost called over to the school a couple of times during the day to check on Ryan, but decided not too. He didn't want Ryan to think he was smothering him, or reminding him that they were also really worried. He figured Ryan would appreciate his space, and a chance at the normal routine of school. He'd pick Ryan up at 3:00 o'clock and take him over to Dr. Colefield.
Lucky for Ryan, Sandy didn't call the school, because Ryan wasn't there. After Sandy dropped them off, Seth went off to his classes and Ryan started off to his. Except Ryan never made it to class. He ran into Marissa first.
"Hi, Ryan." Marissa said, very timidly.
"Hey." Ryan answered. It still bothered him to see her, but since he figured he wouldn't be there much longer, he figured he could at least try to be nice.
"How are you?" she asked.
"I'm, you know." Was all he could think of to say.
"Ryan, I'm so sorry," she told him, "I know this is all my fault."
"No, it's not." Ryan said.
But Marissa didn't believe him. She knew it was her fault, and she knew Ryan also believed that.
"But if I hadn't met Oliver or if I had just listened to you from the beginning, none of this would have happened. I am so sorry."
Before Ryan could get a chance to answer her, tell her that he didn't blame her, they heard the school bell ring.
"God," Marissa sighed, "This is the last place I want to be right now."
"Yeah, me too." Ryan agreed. "So why don't we get out of here. Get in your car and take off somewhere."
Marissa smiled. She really wanted to spend time alone with Ryan. She missed him so much. She didn't know if they could ever be a couple again, if he would ever trust her again, but she wanted to at least be his friend.
"Sounds good," she told him, "Why don't we head for the beach, maybe the pier. Just as long as we stay away from the Lighthouse. My dad's been spending all his time there getting it ready."
"So, what are you going to do?" Marissa asked as she pulled out of the school parking lot.
Ryan just shrugged,
"I don't know," he told her, "There's not much I can do. This woman will be asking us all questions and depending on everyone's answers, plus whatever else she digs up she'll decide if I stay or go."
"Ryan," she said, "I promise you, I'll tell her everything was my fault. That you were only trying to protect me, but that I wouldn't listen."
"Marissa," Ryan started, "It's not entirely your fault..."
But she interrupted him,
"Yes, it is."
"No it's not." He told her, "We both made mistakes. I didn't have to break into the file room, and I didn't have to jump him in the student center, and at any time I could have gone to Kirsten or Sandy for help."
"But if I never met Oliver, none of this would be happening." Marissa said.
"Well, hell, if you look at it that way, if I never came to Newport last year, none of this would be happening. But it happened so...." Ryan didn't finish the sentence. He didn't know what else to say to her. He knew Marissa would continue to blame herself, no matter what he said.
"What do you think is going to happen?" She asked him.
Ryan looked out the window when he told her,
"Honestly? I think I'm gone. I mean, I was warned to stay out of trouble. Over and over again I was told any trouble would result in my being sent away so..."
"Look," Ryan changed the subject, "let's talk about something else, or do something else. Come on, we cut school, let's have some fun."
And for the rest of the day, they did. They walked along the beach, splashed each other in the water, stopped for ice cream, and went out to lunch. They actually had a lot of fun. For a while, it was almost like the whole Oliver nightmare didn't even happen.
At around 2:00 o'clock, Marissa's cell phone rang. It was Jimmy, checking to make sure Marissa was alright since Dr. Kim called to see why Marissa wasn't in school. Lucky for Marissa, Dr. Kim called Jimmy and not Julie. Jimmy was very understanding when Marissa explained to him that she was with Ryan. He knew they had a lot to discuss and work out.
"Ryan," Marissa said, after she hung up with Jimmy, "If she called my dad, you know she called Sandy, too."
"Yeah," Ryan agreed, "I kind of figured that, too. We better go. Somehow I doubt Sandy will be as understanding as your dad. I've already been enough trouble lately. Let's get back to school so I can meet up with Seth."
When Ryan and Marissa got back to the school, they hung out in the parking lot, waiting for Seth. Ryan knew he was in for another lecture from Sandy when he got home, but he hoped Seth would help deflect some of the parenting attention he was sure to get.
Seth came storming up to Ryan when he saw him sitting on Marissa's car,
"Where the hell did you go?" He demanded, "I said see ya later right here in this very parking lot just this morning, and next thing I know Dr. Kim is tracking me down, asking me if I had any idea why you weren't in school."
"You?" Ryan asked, "Why did she ask you, and what did you say?"
"Well," Seth said, "I'm thinking she's still afraid of Mom and Dad, so she asked me. And I told her you were a little under the weather, so they let you stay home and sleep. And dude, you better start carrying your cell phone, because you pretty much gave me a heart attack. I swear if you weren't home when I got there, I was calling Dad and telling him."
Ryan knew Seth was mad at him, and he felt kind of bad about that, but he was relieved that Seth came through and had his back this time.
"So they don't know." Ryan said.
"No, I don't think so," Seth said, "But what were you thinking?" But before Ryan could answer, Seth noticed Sandy's black BMW pull into the parking lot,
"Um, never mind. Dad's here. So I'm guessing that he does know, in which case, Marissa, can you drive me home?"
Crap, Ryan thought. For a minute, he actually thought he got away with something.
"Hell, no." He told Seth, "You're coming with me." But when Seth just looked at him and shook his head, Ryan continued,
"Come on, man, you're supposed to have my back, remember?"
"Fine," Seth mumbled as he walked over to Sandy's car, and jumped into the back seat.
"Um, hi. What's up?" Ryan asked as he climbed into the front seat.
"Well, Dr. Colefield had an opening for this afternoon, so I changed your appointment." Sandy said, hoping Ryan wouldn't ask why.
"So, how was school?" He asked, changing the subject.
Since Seth knew the confines of the BMW were not the place to start a Sandy lecture, especially with Seth stuck in the back seat, he started to ramble,
"School was school. You know how it is. Teachers, books, dead frogs, water polo playing jocks peeing in shoes. What can I say, nothing compares to the adventures of a private school education."
Ryan didn't answer. He waited. He figured it was a set up. Sandy was waiting for Ryan to lie, say school was good, or waiting for Ryan to admit he cut so he could start the lecture. So Ryan said nothing. He and Seth just exchanged looks. For some reason, though, Sandy didn't say anything, but just headed for Dr. Colefield's office.
Seth and Sandy sat in the waiting room while Ryan went in to see Dr. Colefield.
Dr. Colefield smiled and pointed to Ryan's usual seat,
"Hello, Ryan, how are you?" she asked.
Ryan just snidely told her,
"Wonderful. And you?" He was so tired of people asking him that question. He wasn't fine, and everyone knew it, so he wished they would stop asking, and leave him alone.
"So, I see you're very angry." Dr. Colefield told him.
"Angry?" Ryan shrugged, "Nah, not angry. Why should I be angry? I'm fine. What can I say? I blew it. I was warned not to blow it, not to get in any trouble, and I did, so that's it."
Dr. Colefield asked him, "So, you're convinced that you're gone?"
"Yip." Was Ryan's one word answer.
"Well, why?" Dr. Colefield asked.
"You know, I don't really want to talk about this again." Ryan told her, "I spent way too much time talking to Sandy and Kirsten about all of this. I spent this afternoon talking to Marissa about it. And when this Social Worker person shows up, I'm going to have to talk about it again. So, if you don't mind, I don't want to talk about it right now."
"Ok," Dr. Colefield said, "Then what about Sandy and Kirsten? How do you feel about them?"
Ryan shrugged, "I don't know."
"Why not?" Dr. Colefield asked.
"Cause I don't,' Ryan snapped, "What do you want me to say?"
"Are you still mad?" She asked him.
"Mad, no." Ryan said, "I'm definitely not thrilled, but well, I guess they were doing what they thought was right. It just didn't work out that way. But you knew that already. The three of you had already decided what was best for me."
"Yes, we did." Dr. Colefield told him, "They wanted to do what was best for you. They still want the best for you, and they will always want what's best for you. They're your parents...."
"And you're rolling your eyes at me for what reason?" she asked him when she noticed the look Ryan was giving her.
"If this isn't my last week in Newport, then next week is. So you can stop with the parent talks. Ok? It's not true, not now, not ever." Ryan told her.
"So then why are you here today?" Dr. Colefield asked him.
"Huh? Um, because." Ryan didn't know how to answer the question, because he wasn't expecting it.
"Because why?" Dr. Colefield asked.
Ryan thought about it for a moment before answering,
"Because Sandy brought me here."
"But why do what Sandy says?" Dr. Colefield asked him, "I mean, if you're leaving Newport this week or next, then why bother?"
"I don't know." Ryan shrugged.
"Yes, you do." Dr. Colefield told him, "You came here today because why?" She stared at him, waiting to answer. Hoping he'd answer the way she thought he would.
"Christ, what?" Ryan spat, "Yeah, I came here today because Sandy wanted me to come here. Yeah, I listened to him, and yesterday, I listened to Kirsten and did what she wanted. And tomorrow if they asked me to do something, then yeah, I'll probably do it. And yeah, I know – you want to know why. Why, because, yeah, I love them, ok? And yeah, I'd like to be part of their family, have them as parents. Yeah, that's what I want. But is it going to happen – no. It's not. That woman is going to come, she's going to investigate and she's going to take me away."
"Ryan," Dr. Colefield decided to stop the questions, and talk to the boy, hope he would listen, "Sandy and Kirsten love you. That's obvious to everyone. And I'm very happy to see that you feel the same way about them. When Mrs. Dawson from Child Services comes to talk, you need to tell her, everything. How you feel. About the Cohens, about your life here in Newport. You need to be honest, and open up. I know that is easier said then done, especially for you. But it's what you have to do. Mrs. Dawson is not coming to destroy your life. She's coming to make sure you have a good life, a good home, that you're safe and that you're happy. You will need to talk about what happened, and explain why it happened. And what you're doing to make sure it doesn't happen again. I believe your future here in Newport will depend on you, how much you're willing to trust yourself, Sandy and Kirsten, and even Mrs. Dawson. Do you understand?"
"I guess so." Ryan said. He wasn't used to Dr. Colefield talking. She usually only asks questions, and he has to talk.
"No, Ryan, listen to me," She stressed, "Do you understand?"
Ryan thought about it for a while. He understood. He knew. If he wanted to stay in Newport, stay with the Cohens, be a part of their family, then he would have to make sure Mrs. Dawson knew that, too. He needed to get her to understand that his being with the Cohens was the best thing that could have ever happened to him. He needed the Cohens, all of them, Sandy, Kristen and Seth more then he had ever admitted to anyone, especially himself.
He walked out of Dr. Colefield's office to find not only Seth and Sandy waiting for him but Kirsten too. First Kirsten gave him a hug, then she gave him the keys to her car, and told him to head on home and work on his homework. She, Seth and Sandy would be home a little later. It was their turn to talk to Dr. Colefield. Together, she promised, they would get through this.
Sandy knew even before he dialed her number that Dr. Colefield would not be happy about the fact the Cohens were not the ones to tell Ryan about the investigation, and he was right. Dr. Colefield promised to rearrange her schedule so she could meet with Ryan that afternoon. She said she wanted to talk to Ryan first before advising the Cohens about how to best help him. She was very annoyed at them both for not being the ones who told Ryan, but if the extent of his depression was as severe as Mr. Cohen said, she could see why they kept putting off telling him.
Sandy almost called over to the school a couple of times during the day to check on Ryan, but decided not too. He didn't want Ryan to think he was smothering him, or reminding him that they were also really worried. He figured Ryan would appreciate his space, and a chance at the normal routine of school. He'd pick Ryan up at 3:00 o'clock and take him over to Dr. Colefield.
Lucky for Ryan, Sandy didn't call the school, because Ryan wasn't there. After Sandy dropped them off, Seth went off to his classes and Ryan started off to his. Except Ryan never made it to class. He ran into Marissa first.
"Hi, Ryan." Marissa said, very timidly.
"Hey." Ryan answered. It still bothered him to see her, but since he figured he wouldn't be there much longer, he figured he could at least try to be nice.
"How are you?" she asked.
"I'm, you know." Was all he could think of to say.
"Ryan, I'm so sorry," she told him, "I know this is all my fault."
"No, it's not." Ryan said.
But Marissa didn't believe him. She knew it was her fault, and she knew Ryan also believed that.
"But if I hadn't met Oliver or if I had just listened to you from the beginning, none of this would have happened. I am so sorry."
Before Ryan could get a chance to answer her, tell her that he didn't blame her, they heard the school bell ring.
"God," Marissa sighed, "This is the last place I want to be right now."
"Yeah, me too." Ryan agreed. "So why don't we get out of here. Get in your car and take off somewhere."
Marissa smiled. She really wanted to spend time alone with Ryan. She missed him so much. She didn't know if they could ever be a couple again, if he would ever trust her again, but she wanted to at least be his friend.
"Sounds good," she told him, "Why don't we head for the beach, maybe the pier. Just as long as we stay away from the Lighthouse. My dad's been spending all his time there getting it ready."
"So, what are you going to do?" Marissa asked as she pulled out of the school parking lot.
Ryan just shrugged,
"I don't know," he told her, "There's not much I can do. This woman will be asking us all questions and depending on everyone's answers, plus whatever else she digs up she'll decide if I stay or go."
"Ryan," she said, "I promise you, I'll tell her everything was my fault. That you were only trying to protect me, but that I wouldn't listen."
"Marissa," Ryan started, "It's not entirely your fault..."
But she interrupted him,
"Yes, it is."
"No it's not." He told her, "We both made mistakes. I didn't have to break into the file room, and I didn't have to jump him in the student center, and at any time I could have gone to Kirsten or Sandy for help."
"But if I never met Oliver, none of this would be happening." Marissa said.
"Well, hell, if you look at it that way, if I never came to Newport last year, none of this would be happening. But it happened so...." Ryan didn't finish the sentence. He didn't know what else to say to her. He knew Marissa would continue to blame herself, no matter what he said.
"What do you think is going to happen?" She asked him.
Ryan looked out the window when he told her,
"Honestly? I think I'm gone. I mean, I was warned to stay out of trouble. Over and over again I was told any trouble would result in my being sent away so..."
"Look," Ryan changed the subject, "let's talk about something else, or do something else. Come on, we cut school, let's have some fun."
And for the rest of the day, they did. They walked along the beach, splashed each other in the water, stopped for ice cream, and went out to lunch. They actually had a lot of fun. For a while, it was almost like the whole Oliver nightmare didn't even happen.
At around 2:00 o'clock, Marissa's cell phone rang. It was Jimmy, checking to make sure Marissa was alright since Dr. Kim called to see why Marissa wasn't in school. Lucky for Marissa, Dr. Kim called Jimmy and not Julie. Jimmy was very understanding when Marissa explained to him that she was with Ryan. He knew they had a lot to discuss and work out.
"Ryan," Marissa said, after she hung up with Jimmy, "If she called my dad, you know she called Sandy, too."
"Yeah," Ryan agreed, "I kind of figured that, too. We better go. Somehow I doubt Sandy will be as understanding as your dad. I've already been enough trouble lately. Let's get back to school so I can meet up with Seth."
When Ryan and Marissa got back to the school, they hung out in the parking lot, waiting for Seth. Ryan knew he was in for another lecture from Sandy when he got home, but he hoped Seth would help deflect some of the parenting attention he was sure to get.
Seth came storming up to Ryan when he saw him sitting on Marissa's car,
"Where the hell did you go?" He demanded, "I said see ya later right here in this very parking lot just this morning, and next thing I know Dr. Kim is tracking me down, asking me if I had any idea why you weren't in school."
"You?" Ryan asked, "Why did she ask you, and what did you say?"
"Well," Seth said, "I'm thinking she's still afraid of Mom and Dad, so she asked me. And I told her you were a little under the weather, so they let you stay home and sleep. And dude, you better start carrying your cell phone, because you pretty much gave me a heart attack. I swear if you weren't home when I got there, I was calling Dad and telling him."
Ryan knew Seth was mad at him, and he felt kind of bad about that, but he was relieved that Seth came through and had his back this time.
"So they don't know." Ryan said.
"No, I don't think so," Seth said, "But what were you thinking?" But before Ryan could answer, Seth noticed Sandy's black BMW pull into the parking lot,
"Um, never mind. Dad's here. So I'm guessing that he does know, in which case, Marissa, can you drive me home?"
Crap, Ryan thought. For a minute, he actually thought he got away with something.
"Hell, no." He told Seth, "You're coming with me." But when Seth just looked at him and shook his head, Ryan continued,
"Come on, man, you're supposed to have my back, remember?"
"Fine," Seth mumbled as he walked over to Sandy's car, and jumped into the back seat.
"Um, hi. What's up?" Ryan asked as he climbed into the front seat.
"Well, Dr. Colefield had an opening for this afternoon, so I changed your appointment." Sandy said, hoping Ryan wouldn't ask why.
"So, how was school?" He asked, changing the subject.
Since Seth knew the confines of the BMW were not the place to start a Sandy lecture, especially with Seth stuck in the back seat, he started to ramble,
"School was school. You know how it is. Teachers, books, dead frogs, water polo playing jocks peeing in shoes. What can I say, nothing compares to the adventures of a private school education."
Ryan didn't answer. He waited. He figured it was a set up. Sandy was waiting for Ryan to lie, say school was good, or waiting for Ryan to admit he cut so he could start the lecture. So Ryan said nothing. He and Seth just exchanged looks. For some reason, though, Sandy didn't say anything, but just headed for Dr. Colefield's office.
Seth and Sandy sat in the waiting room while Ryan went in to see Dr. Colefield.
Dr. Colefield smiled and pointed to Ryan's usual seat,
"Hello, Ryan, how are you?" she asked.
Ryan just snidely told her,
"Wonderful. And you?" He was so tired of people asking him that question. He wasn't fine, and everyone knew it, so he wished they would stop asking, and leave him alone.
"So, I see you're very angry." Dr. Colefield told him.
"Angry?" Ryan shrugged, "Nah, not angry. Why should I be angry? I'm fine. What can I say? I blew it. I was warned not to blow it, not to get in any trouble, and I did, so that's it."
Dr. Colefield asked him, "So, you're convinced that you're gone?"
"Yip." Was Ryan's one word answer.
"Well, why?" Dr. Colefield asked.
"You know, I don't really want to talk about this again." Ryan told her, "I spent way too much time talking to Sandy and Kirsten about all of this. I spent this afternoon talking to Marissa about it. And when this Social Worker person shows up, I'm going to have to talk about it again. So, if you don't mind, I don't want to talk about it right now."
"Ok," Dr. Colefield said, "Then what about Sandy and Kirsten? How do you feel about them?"
Ryan shrugged, "I don't know."
"Why not?" Dr. Colefield asked.
"Cause I don't,' Ryan snapped, "What do you want me to say?"
"Are you still mad?" She asked him.
"Mad, no." Ryan said, "I'm definitely not thrilled, but well, I guess they were doing what they thought was right. It just didn't work out that way. But you knew that already. The three of you had already decided what was best for me."
"Yes, we did." Dr. Colefield told him, "They wanted to do what was best for you. They still want the best for you, and they will always want what's best for you. They're your parents...."
"And you're rolling your eyes at me for what reason?" she asked him when she noticed the look Ryan was giving her.
"If this isn't my last week in Newport, then next week is. So you can stop with the parent talks. Ok? It's not true, not now, not ever." Ryan told her.
"So then why are you here today?" Dr. Colefield asked him.
"Huh? Um, because." Ryan didn't know how to answer the question, because he wasn't expecting it.
"Because why?" Dr. Colefield asked.
Ryan thought about it for a moment before answering,
"Because Sandy brought me here."
"But why do what Sandy says?" Dr. Colefield asked him, "I mean, if you're leaving Newport this week or next, then why bother?"
"I don't know." Ryan shrugged.
"Yes, you do." Dr. Colefield told him, "You came here today because why?" She stared at him, waiting to answer. Hoping he'd answer the way she thought he would.
"Christ, what?" Ryan spat, "Yeah, I came here today because Sandy wanted me to come here. Yeah, I listened to him, and yesterday, I listened to Kirsten and did what she wanted. And tomorrow if they asked me to do something, then yeah, I'll probably do it. And yeah, I know – you want to know why. Why, because, yeah, I love them, ok? And yeah, I'd like to be part of their family, have them as parents. Yeah, that's what I want. But is it going to happen – no. It's not. That woman is going to come, she's going to investigate and she's going to take me away."
"Ryan," Dr. Colefield decided to stop the questions, and talk to the boy, hope he would listen, "Sandy and Kirsten love you. That's obvious to everyone. And I'm very happy to see that you feel the same way about them. When Mrs. Dawson from Child Services comes to talk, you need to tell her, everything. How you feel. About the Cohens, about your life here in Newport. You need to be honest, and open up. I know that is easier said then done, especially for you. But it's what you have to do. Mrs. Dawson is not coming to destroy your life. She's coming to make sure you have a good life, a good home, that you're safe and that you're happy. You will need to talk about what happened, and explain why it happened. And what you're doing to make sure it doesn't happen again. I believe your future here in Newport will depend on you, how much you're willing to trust yourself, Sandy and Kirsten, and even Mrs. Dawson. Do you understand?"
"I guess so." Ryan said. He wasn't used to Dr. Colefield talking. She usually only asks questions, and he has to talk.
"No, Ryan, listen to me," She stressed, "Do you understand?"
Ryan thought about it for a while. He understood. He knew. If he wanted to stay in Newport, stay with the Cohens, be a part of their family, then he would have to make sure Mrs. Dawson knew that, too. He needed to get her to understand that his being with the Cohens was the best thing that could have ever happened to him. He needed the Cohens, all of them, Sandy, Kristen and Seth more then he had ever admitted to anyone, especially himself.
He walked out of Dr. Colefield's office to find not only Seth and Sandy waiting for him but Kirsten too. First Kirsten gave him a hug, then she gave him the keys to her car, and told him to head on home and work on his homework. She, Seth and Sandy would be home a little later. It was their turn to talk to Dr. Colefield. Together, she promised, they would get through this.