A Bond: Chapter 4

A/N: I know it's taken a while, but here it is, the last chapter, by the way. I might make a sequel for next season. Also, I never really got to explain that this is sort of a collection of one-shot fics after episodes. A lot of media references in this chapter.

Disclaimer: OC isn't mine, nor is anything on the Food Network or Zoolander.

Post-The Proposal

Ryan and I walked into the living room. It was maybe around midnight or 1:00 in the morning, but neither of us was too tired. I turned on the TV, wondering what we could possibly watch together. Ryan doesn't even like The Valley too much. I think he's probably more of a CSI, Without a Trace, Law & Order guy. Ya know, the chung-chung isn't really me, but whatever floats your boat.

"Have fun tonight?" Ryan asked, taking the remote from me in a big-brother way and sitting next to me on the couch.

"You, Ryan Atwood, starting a conversation? Am I hearing right? What's happening?" I joked sarcastically. Maybe I should cut down on the sarcasm.

Ryan gave me that glance that basically says, "You-Know-I-Would-Never-Beat-You-Up-So-I'll-Look-At-You-This-Way-Instead"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. It was fun. You and Marissa reunited. What's with that? I thought you didn't want to be with her anymore," I noted. Why do I always ask questions?

Ryan shrugged nonchalantly. "Time to settle. I can't have Newport and Chino," he explained. I wondered if he expected me to understand that, but oddly enough, I did.

"Why not? You don't always have to please everybody. Look, I'm gonna put my say into this. If you don't want me to…well, that sucks, because I don't think there's really a way to shut me up," I started. Time for a ramble.

Ryan nodded and turned his attention to me. "I know. If there was I would've done it by now," he said, I think sarcastically. You can't really tell if Ryan's being sarcastic, witty, or serious sometimes. I don't really care, though, because when he's funny, he's funny.

"OK, let's be honest. I don't like Marissa. Not for you, at least. Not like I wanna hook-up with you. Don't take it offensively, you're a very attractive male and all, it's just…" I explained, getting a little off-topic.

"Seth," Ryan said sternly.

"And…you don't care about that. All right, Marissa's a cool girl and I think it'd be good for you to be friends. Even if you love her or whatever, I know you love Theresa more, and she probably still loves you. So go for it. You don't have to settle. You don't have to be perfect. You can have Newport and Chino." I explained, feeling sort of guilty for dissing his girlfriend like that.

"Oh," was all he said back. That's all I got? An "Oh"?

"Ryan? What?" I asked, trying to get more out of him.

Ryan sighed. "It's not a question of love or something. I feel like Marissa needs me. And if I'm meant to be with Theresa, then we'll end up together. But right now, I'm with Marissa. I'm happy," he told me. That was possibly the most open and honest he'd been with me in a while.

"So you think fate will just do it's magic like that?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. Ryan was more mature then most guys our age. Maybe it was because of the way he was raised.

"It got me here," he answered and smiled. I liked when he let me in.

Ryan seemed to be satisfied, and as much as I love getting in his business and asking millions of questions, I decided to let this be. I turned my attention to the TV screen.

"Are you kidding me? 30 Minute Meals? Don't tell me you watch Unwrapped and Sarah's Secrets too?" I asked skeptically. Apparently he was more of an Emril-guy and not a CSI-guy.

"What? How do you think I learned to cook?" he asked defensively. I didn't really know he could cook. Eh, whatever.

"I don't know, Chino Cooking? Hey, that could be a Food Network show!" I replied, on a roll with the wisecracks. So what if not all of them were exactly humorous?

"I'll have to answer your question with another question, how did you know the names of all those shows?" Ryan asked. He loved his Zoolander.

"Oh, snap!" I exclaimed.

So we sat there, for maybe an hour or two, just watching TV and talking. That's how it feels to have a friend. That's how it feels to have a brother. I like it.