A Broken Bond

A/N: I thought it was over too. But I decided to really make this complete, even if it has an unhappy ending. It isn't chapter 5 of A Bond because it wasn't like the other chapters and I felt like it didn't fit. When I say "Post-The Ties That Bind" I mean right after, as Seth sails and Ryan's in the car. For some reason, I've always wondered how the "OC" kids feel about rap, so I figured since we've never found out about Theresa's music taste I'd take this opportunity to make her like Kanye West. Her listening to "Jesus Walks" was inspired by Heath07's awesome fic, Sagrado Corazón de Jesús. I was going to make Seth have a part in here too, but I couldn't think of what to write for him. I was also going to make a big fluffy scene between Ryan and Theresa, but I thought this ending was much more appropriate.

Post-The Ties That Bind

I squinted and looked out of the car window at the water. The water had an orange tint to it. I could see a few boats sailing on the water. One of them looked a lot like Seth's boat, but it couldn't be. While I was in the car with Theresa, my mind was still in Newport. With Marissa, Seth, and Summer on a beach, or with Kirsten, Sandy, and Seth at the kitchen table. Maybe even with Anna and Luke in some Newport-fantasy world I've created in my head.

I didn't want to be in this car. I wanted to have Theresa turn around and go home. Newport. The Cohen House.

Theresa turned to me and turned down her Kanye West CD.

"You don't have to do this," she said quietly, shifting her eyes on the road. I could tell she was nervous. What did she think I'd do, punch her? Eh, I have been known to do that.

"Theresa, don't," I sighed. This was inevitable.

"No. All year you've built up this life and now I'm taking it away and...I'm so selfish," she said, even quieter then before, "I...I'm sorry,"

I shook my head. She was wrong. Didn't I choose this? She didn't make me do anything. Not intentionally, at least.

"I chose this. I chose this just like I chose to steal that car with Trey and break into the school...I chose it all," I realized.

Theresa pulled over the car to the side of the road. I looked over at her, her eyes were glossy. She looked down at her stomach and put her hand on it.

"I chose this, too," She said in a barely audible whisper.

The only noise was "Jesus Walks" in the background and our breathing.

I decided to the silence. Something about her about to cry and being in this car made me think. "I think I...Theresa, I think I love you," I confessed.

Theresa shook her head. "No, you don't. You love Marissa," she stated clearly.

I took a deep breath in. "I don't know how I feel about Marissa," I replied truthfully.

"You don't have to make some fucking Brady Bunch family story, Ryan. We're not going to get married so stop with all that shit," she growled. I couldnt't tell if that was really how she felt or how she told herself to feel.

"Theresa, please," I implored sadly.

Theresa started the car up again. I looked out the window again. I wanted so badly to go back. I wanted to be with the Cohens again. I missed Seth, my brother, my friend. I wondered if he really would visit. Probably not. There wasn't much of a friendship between us anymore. Just a broken bond.