Seth woke me once we pulled into the driveway. I was drowsy and my side hurt like hell and I was glad that Seth was staying close to me. He could deflect his parents' questions and I was actually too tired to be able to walk straight. I'd never admit that to the Cohens, though, and Seth seemed to understand. He kept his hand gripped tightly on my forearm as we walked into the house.
Sandy and Kirsten paused in the kitchen.
"Ryan…" Sandy started.
"Dad, he's had a long day, I think he should lie down," Seth said quietly.
"I didn't mean to upset you…" Kirsten whispered. She looked more upset than I felt.
"You didn't upset me, it's nothing. I'm just really, really tired…" I lied. I wanted to lie down but more importantly I wanted to avoid the uncomfortable conversations that were coming up.
"I'm going to take him out to the poolhouse…" Seth said. Anna and Summer joined us in the kitchen. I'd forgotten they were behind us. I had to talk to Anna.
"Maybe you should stay in the guest room in case you need something…" Sandy offered.
"I'll be fine," I said.
"I'll stay with him," Seth offered immediately.
"We'll make sure he gets some rest," Summer said, taking my free arm. She had Anna by her arm as well and we walked past the Cohens in a weird human chain.
"So, Chino. You okay?" Summer asked as we walked. She released my arm.
"Yeah…" I muttered. I was okay. I'd be okay as soon as I sat down.
"What happened in the car? The Cohens are acting all weird," She added.
I shrugged off Seth's arm as we reached the poolhouse. I sat down on the bed. "Nothing." I noticed Seth giving her a warning glare. Anna sat down beside me.
"You think Luke's okay?" She asked quietly.
"If his parents don't kill him, he'll be fine. Are you okay?"
"She was fucking crazy, Ryan," Anna whispered.
"What did she say to you?" I asked. Summer and Seth were silent, listening curiously from the couch nearby. We had no secrets anymore, though.
"She was fucking crazy. She said…the worst things about you and Luke…she said I was fucking him, and you know…"
"I know…" I nodded. I hated that Julie had dragged her into this. Luke dragged me in, I dragged Sandy and then Julie fucking dragged in the whole town. I wasn't sleepy anymore. I just wanted my friends to feel better. I wanted Seth to stop looking at me like I was about to collapse. I wanted Anna to not have those crystal tears in her eyes.
"She said you took her daughter from her and now you were taking Luke, too, like you did it to hurt her…she's…"
"Fucking crazy," I nodded.
"But…"
"Anna, she's out of her head. I mean, Luke tried to do the right thing, he tried to break it off and she just…flipped…" I explained.
"How's Marissa?" Anna asked, turning to Summer.
"She's upset. Her dad's with her. Says she doesn't want to see anyone," Summer replied.
"How are you feeling, man?" Seth asked.
"Better now that I'm sitting…" I answered honestly. We all turned at the quiet knock on the door.
"Hey, guys," Luke said, stepping in.
"Hey, man, how're you feeling?" Seth asked as he stepped in.
I could tell that he was upset. Who wouldn't be? His 'fling' had turned into an all out tragedy. I couldn't imagine what his parents were saying to him.
"How much trouble are you in?" I asked.
"Enough to make me sneak out of the house. What are you guys doing?" Luke asked.
"Ryan looked like he was about to fall over so we're just keeping him company," Seth replied.
"You guys want to get out of here?" Luke asked.
"We really shouldn't, I mean…you guys are both pretty messed up…" Seth said quietly.
"Please? I just…I'm going crazy at my house and I really don't want to be alone…" Luke admitted.
"The Cohens will kill me if I go out…"
"Come on, man. We'll just go down to the beach for a while. An hour, tops…"
I couldn't tell him no, no matter how much pain I was in. He took a bullet, too and he had to deal with the whole community knowing about his mistake. I pulled myself to my feet, ignoring a worried glare from Seth.
"Thank god…" Luke said, relieved.
"This is a bad idea. I'm on record with that, right?" Summer asked.
"Noted," I replied. I pulled Anna by the hand and we stepped out onto the patio. Seth and Summer were close behind and we all piled into Luke's truck after sneaking around the edge of the house. I sat in the back between Summer and Seth. Anna rode up front with Luke. They had things to discuss.
"Dude. Are you sure you're okay for this?" Seth asked once the truck rolled to a stop.
"Yeah. I mean, Luke's in an assload of trouble with his parents and he needs our support right now…"
"But you've been giving him support for days now, dude…you look awful. Totally awful," Seth whispered over the sound of the waves nearby.
"I'm cool. Don't worry, Seth…"
"You're not indestructible and if you fall the fuck over then…" Seth continued.
"He's stubborn. Let him fall the fuck over if he wants," Summer shoved her boyfriend.
They hopped out of the bed of the truck. Seth turned to see if I needed assistance.
I was fine at first, I put one foot on the sand and as I brought the other one down, I stumbled.
"See? That's what I'm talking about," Seth said as he kept me from falling face first on the sand by steadying me with my shoulders.
"Thanks."
We turned to see Anna and Luke still in the cab of the truck.
"Looks like Luke really just wanted to talk to Anna…" Seth said slowly.
"What's the scoop, Chino? Who's got the hots for who?" Summer asked with a grin. I glanced at Seth, half-expecting jealousy but all I saw was unbridled curiosity.
"You're seriously holding out on me. Luke's fucking Julie Cooper, Anna and Luke are flirting, what else do you know?" Seth teased.
"What are you guys talking about?" Anna asked, walking up.
"I need to talk to you," Luke said before we could respond. He pulled my by the arm away from the truck and onto the beach.
"What's going on?" I asked, wrenching my arm out of his grasp.
"Sorry," He apologized. "My arm's pretty numb…"
"What's up?" I sat down on the beach before we got too far from the truck. I knew I didn't want to get too far away from my exit.
"I think I ruined all my chances with Anna, dude…" He sighed, sitting down beside me. He pulled a pint of vodka out of his pocket and took a generous swig before offering it to me.
Painkillers. Alcohol. I knew it was a bad idea but I took a couple of swallows anyway. I was so tired, the worst it would do was make me sleep harder.
"Why do you say that? I mean, didn't you guys talk it out?" I knew they had talked about something but I didn't know what.
"She says that she really likes me but that…she thinks of me differently now. Being with an older woman apparently gives me too much experience and…"
"She thinks you'll expect something from her if you guys start dating. Like sex, right?"
"Yeah, man, how'd you…"
"Marissa and I, we didn't sleep together. It was a huge thing between us. She knew I'd been with a lot of women and she'd only been with you…she wasn't comfortable with me," I shrugged. "Until we broke up and then she just went nympho…" I muttered. I could feel the alcohol already.
"So what did you do? How'd you get her?"
"You really like Anna, don't you?"
"Yeah. I do." He took another swallow of vodka and passed the bottle to me.
"Drinking? What the hell is wrong with you? You can't drink, neither of you should be drinking!" Anna scolded, startling us both.
"Come on, Anna…" Luke said. I hadn't realized that he was slurring until now. It was mildly hilarious and I started to laugh.
She sat down beside us in the sand. I glanced over to the truck and saw that Summer and Seth were making out in the back.
"Sorry. Got a lot on my mind," Luke said quietly.
"I'm sorry, Luke."
I was intruding on their conversation but Luke glanced at me and I knew that he didn't want me to leave. I didn't anticipate that having his back would involve taking a bullet from his crazy lover or sitting in on his private conversations.
"I really like you, but…"
"It was a mistake. I…I cared about her, Anna…but I care about you more. Me and Julie, it was purely sexual but you and me…we're not like that. I don't want another relationship like that…" Luke was saying.
I'd like a purely sexual relationship right about now. It sounded nice, but I knew that it wasn't what I wanted. I didn't know what I wanted. I could have a no-strings relationship with Teresa but I'd always wonder about Marissa. And Marissa wanted a long term commitment but I couldn't promise that. I was better off on my own. Just look at Luke. He got the woman of his dreams and she ended up shooting him and ruining his chances with the girl he really liked.
"Luke, I don't know…" Anna was saying.
"I'm the same guy, Anna. I mean, I messed up, I made a mistake but I tried to fix it…" Luke slurred.
"You guys are getting too heavy. Anna, do you like Luke?" I asked.
"Of course…" She said entirely too quickly.
"Then why don't you see where it goes? It's just a date, it's not marriage, it's not hot fiery sex…" I continued.
"Fiery? Where's that word coming from?" Luke laughed.
I glared at him. "It's just a date. It won't hurt anything. But this…thing that you're doing, it's going to ruin your friendship. And I like having new friends. Good friends that get along…"
"You're drunk. You just said, like, three sentences in a row," Anna teased.
"Drunk? They're drinking? Okay, guys, we have to go, like, now. This is not cool," Seth approached.
"Can't either of you read? Those painkillers are not supposed to be mixed with alcohol!" Summer scolded. "We are out of here. Now. Get up."
I accepted Seth's offered hand but I was too lightheaded to get up on the first try. I vaguely heard Luke laughing at me as I fell back to the sand on my ass, sending a wave of pain through my body. When I tried again, I succeeded and Summer and Seth steadied me by taking an arm each.
Luke got to his feet and as I turned to check on him, I saw Anna stand up on her tiptoes and kiss Luke on the lips.
"Whoa…" Summer said, surprised. "I guess we'll be over here," She laughed, leading me toward the truck.
I didn't feel good all of a sudden. The vodka seemed to be bubbling in my empty stomach. I hadn't eaten today, between the hospital and the interrogation on the ride home, I hadn't felt like eating but putting the alcohol on top of all the drugs in my system was obviously not a good idea.
"Chino? Are you okay?" Summer asked. I felt like I was turning green.
"He's stupid, that's what he is…drinking…Dad's going to kill you…" Seth was muttering.
"I think I really need to lie down now…" I felt my cell phone buzzing. "Shit…"
"Busted," Summer said. "You better answer it."
I put it to my ear. "Hello?"
"Ryan?"
Marissa.
"Hey. How are you?" I staggered away from Summer and Seth and leaned against Luke's truck unsteadily. I slowly lowered myself to the ground so I could lean on the oversized tire.
"I can't believe you didn't tell me…"
"I'm sorry…"
"I thought you cared about me, didn't you think I'd want to know if my ex-boyfriend was fucking my mom?"
"Marissa…"
"No. Don't. I've been stressing out, trying to think of ways to get you to forgive me…and you've been hiding this the whole time…I can't believe it…"
"Listen…"
"Fuck you, fuck Luke and fuck my mother. She should've had better aim when she took her shot…"
I listened to the dial tone for a long moment before flipping it closed.
"Ryan?" Seth called.
"Yeah?"
"You okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine." She had a right to be angry. I'd hurt her. It was only natural for her to try and hurt me back. I deserved her anger. At least it was an emotion that I could deal with.
"Ryan? You don't look so good…" Summer said.
"I said I'm fine. Stop asking me…" I didn't mean to snap at her but she didn't seem upset since she replied almost immediately.
"Well, you're sitting on the dirt and you're about to fall over. I think you should get home."
My phone buzzed again.
"Don't answer that, dude, if she's going to yell at you…" Seth warned but I had already hit the button.
"Where are you? Ryan?"
"Hey. Sorry…"
"No apologies. I want you home now. Is Luke with you? Is Seth in on this?"
"Sandy…"
"Now, Ryan. I want all of you home, now. Where are you, should I come get you?"
"No…"
"Luke's parents are worried sick…"
"Sandy…"
"Ten minutes. If you're not here in ten minutes, we're calling the police. I'm serious, Ryan. This is serious. Come home."
I didn't know what I was supposed to say and I was too loopy at this point to even try to think of a valid response. I listened in silence as Kirsten's voice took over.
"Ryan. Please. Bring Luke and the kids with you. You shouldn't be out in your condition. Are you okay?"
"Yes. I'm fine…"
"You don't sound fine, honey…"
"I swear, I'm fine…"
"Come home so we can see for ourselves. Okay?"
"Okay."
I flipped the phone closed. Seth, Anna, Summer and Luke were all standing around me.
"We have to go," I said. Face the music yet again.
We rode back in virtual silence. I'd already decided to take the blame, tell the Cohens the truth that Seth, Summer and Anna had only come along to make sure we were okay. I couldn't really cover for Luke since he had driven us to the beach. Anna was driving back.
Kirsten and Sandy were waiting on the front porch.
"What the hell were you thinking? You were shot today and you decided that you needed a night out?" Sandy took my arm and helped me out of the truck. I was surprised when he pulled me into a hug. "You scared the hell out of me…"
"I'm sorry…"
Sandy pulled away and looked at me in surprise. "Drinking, Ryan?"
Damn. "I don't have an excuse, Sandy. I'm sorry. It's been a long day."
Sandy's face was drawn with worry and confusion.
"Mr. and Mrs. Cohen, I'm going to drive Luke home," Anna said quietly.
"Thank you, Anna," Kirsten said.
"Thanks for coming out with me, guys. It was all my idea," Luke added.
"Get some rest, Luke," Sandy replied.
I didn't think I could stand up much longer. I was dizzy. I felt like I was about to pass out where I stood.
"Ryan? Ryan, honey, come inside." Kirsten took my arm and led me inside. "Sit down."
I obeyed her, sitting down on the couch. She sat down beside me.
"Honey, why did you run off?"
"Luke needed to get out. He's pretty upset…"
"He's a big boy. And you were drinking…have you even eaten today?"
I didn't answer. She was right. It was a stupid idea. Luke could take care of himself.
"You have to rest. And you're grounded."
I nodded.
"You're sleeping in the house tonight. You've been drinking and you're heavily medicated. I want to make sure you're okay."
I nodded again. "I'm sorry."
"I know you are. I want you to eat something, okay?"
I wasn't hungry but I didn't argue. She got up and I leaned back on the couch. I closed my eyes to try and stop the spinning.
-----
I heard voices. Sandy and Kirsten
"You can't be serious, Sandy."
"I am. She'll be out by next week. And there's no way we can protect the kids."
"You can't think she'll try again."
"She's obsessed with Luke. And according to Anna, she blames Ryan for losing him. I'm getting a restraining order against her for the kids."
I opened my eyes and focused on their quiet voices. I was still on the couch. Damn. My side hurt. I was cold. It was freezing in here.
"Morning, kid," Sandy smiled.
"Hey."
"You fell asleep and we didn't want to wake you. I'll get you some breakfast," Kirsten said.
"Sandy…"
"You're a teenager, Ryan," Sandy sighed. "I know that you're going to drink but…"
"It was stupid."
"It was dangerous. Now, you've got a lot on your mind but we're worried about you, we're worried about your health. We need to know if you're even thinking about going anywhere…"
"Kirsten grounded me."
"Oh. Okay. That's great." He glanced at me, startled. "I mean, not for you, but…"
I smiled despite my anxiety. He was upset at me but he was still planning on giving me my freedom. "Thanks, Sandy. And Seth, he only went last night to watch me, he was against the whole thing…"
"He still should have stopped you."
"Luke and I are bigger than him."
"I'm glad that you guys look out for each other. But you both have to start looking out for yourselves. How do you feel today?"
"I'm okay."
"Honestly?"
"My side hurts like a bitch and I'm probably going to throw up whatever Kirsten gives me for breakfast," I said quietly. That was honest. I was sweating but it was too cold for me to mention that.
"You shouldn't take your pain pills on an empty stomach. Is it your hangover?"
"I'm not hungover." It was true. I just wasn't hungry. Julie Cooper was going to go free. Marissa wished I was dead. I'd disappointed the Cohens yet again. I wasn't hungry. My mind was just too full.
Sandy was watching me. He was trying to read me. For the first time in years, I'd found someone who could see through my walls, someone that could read me. I was trying to find ways around it.
"Marissa called for you last night," He said quietly.
"I talked to her."
"I guess she was upset."
"Yeah."
"Want to talk about it?"
"Not really."
"Well, I wish I could tell you that she'd get over it but I don't know if she can. It shouldn't have happened."
I nodded. He was right.
"Soup. For breakfast. Since its noon." Kirsten returned with a tray.
"Where's Seth?"
"School. Anna and Summer picked him up."
Anna and Summer have bonded and I realized that Luke was probably having a good day, too, after the kiss from Anna the night before.
"Try and eat. Then we can change your bandages and we'll leave you alone."
"You both stayed home today?"
"Kirsten's working from home and my case is on a 3 day recess. So, yes," Sandy said.
"Eat," Kirsten said.
I glanced at her for an instant and got a vision of her spoon feeding me. I started to eat the soup. It was steaming but it did nothing for my chills. I was exhausted suddenly. The soup was good but my stomach rumbled its disapproval.
"You grounded him?"
"Yeah. I thought we agreed…"
"Yes, but…"
It was surreal. I had two parents now that actually gave a damn about me. I had cost them hundreds of dollars yesterday plus violated their rules. And neither of them had touched me in punishment. Dawn and my father wouldn't have been angry about the drinking but would have been angry about the money for the ER and the police attention. The standards were so different here but I'd still managed to mess up.
"Ryan, the soup…" Kirsten grabbed for the tray but it fell to the floor. I was dizzy and didn't seem to have control of my limbs for the moment.
"Ryan, are you all right? You just sort of went limp there for a second…" Sandy had my shoulders.
"Tired," I managed. I think my teeth chattered.
"Ryan, look at me…god…you're burning up…Kirsten…" Sandy had his hands on my cheeks.
"It's cold in here, Sandy, I'm not hot…"
"Ryan, you have a fever…" Kirsten was beside me now, too.
Damn.
"I'll call the doctor," Sandy said.
"You need to drink liquids, honey." She handed me a bottle of juice. "You're cold?"
I didn't answer but she draped a blanket around my shoulders. I was grateful and pulled it tight, trying to stay warm.
"Can I check your bandage?"
I leaned up and lowered the blanket. I pulled up my shirt and winced at my own touch. It was damned sore.
"I don't want to hurt you but I need to see…" She gently lifted the tape and pulled the gauze up. I looked away. It hurt and I didn't want her to see the tears in my eyes. Damn…
"Ryan, I'm finished," She said quietly. She gently sat down beside me and brushed my hair out of my eyes. All the gentle touches had thrown me at first but now I was used to them. "I think you know what's going to happen."
"Please, not the hospital…"
"Hospital," Sandy said, returning.
"I took the antibiotics, I took the painkillers…I swear that I'll be fine…" I didn't want to go back to the hospital. It would cost more money and they'd poke and prod me more, and Seth would be really upset if I wasn't there when he got home.
"Ryan. You're running a fever. I think you pulled some stitches out. Did you fall down at all last night?" Kirsten was being extra gentle.
"I don't think so…"
"The doctor says that if you have a fever that you need to get checked out, Ryan. Okay?" Sandy asked. "Ryan?"
"Whatever you think."
"Do you want to get washed up?" Kirsten asked quietly. I nodded. I tried to get up on my own but I had no strength and ended up sitting back down immediately. Damn, I was really tired.
"Okay. Let's get you into the car…" Sandy said.
----
I fell asleep as soon as the ER put me into a bed. I was tired and instead of being frozen, I felt like I was on fire. I was still hot when I woke up and I could tell that something had happened while I was asleep. Kirsten was sitting beside me. Close. She was holding my hand.
"Kirsten?"
"Hey, honey. How do you feel?" She smiled at me, relieved.
"Hot…what's wrong? You look upset…" My throat was sore. I really felt sick now.
"You scared us. You're fever still hasn't broken and you've been a little out of it," She admitted.
"Out of it?"
"You didn't recognize me. Or Sandy. But it's okay…"
"Sorry…"
"You're apologizing for something that's out of your control, Ryan. You're sick, but you're going to be fine…"
My side hurt and I glanced down but she wouldn't release my hand.
"They had to fix your side again…"
"What happened? I don't remember…"
"You somehow got sand in your wound, Ryan. That little trip to the beach last night was definitely not good for you. But you're going to be fine…let me get another cold cloth for your head…"
"No, it's okay…" But she was already on her feet. She put a cold cloth across my forehead and I had to admit, it felt better. Cool.
"They've got you hooked up to saline, trying to keep you hydrated. Are you all right?"
"I'm okay. What time is it?"
"It's a little after four…"
I closed my eyes.
"Get some rest, Ryan."
"Thanks…"
----
"It's just a fever, you guys…" Anna was saying.
"This is all Luke's fault, he dragged Ryan out last night and now he's on his deathbed…" Seth responded.
"He's not dying, he's just sleeping…" Summer said.
"He's been here all day and his fever hasn't broken, Mom and Dad are freaking out…"
"Kirsten said I was going to be fine," I opened my blurry eyes and regarded him.
"Ryan…yeah, you're going to be fine, Seth's just overreacting like always," Summer said gently.
"How are you feeling?" Anna moved beside my bed.
"I'm okay. Sick. Seth says I'm dying so I kind of wish I'd stayed asleep," I glared at him. I wasn't mad, I just wanted to tease him.
"You're not dying, but you're really sick. They're going to make you stay overnight…" Seth began.
"Seth, it's already, like, eight…" Summer muttered.
"It's eight? Damn…" I had no idea I'd slept that long.
"Guys, chill," Anna said quietly.
I looked at her. She was worried, too. It was weird, having these people that were strangers to me only a few months ago, actually worrying about me. Anna and Luke had come through for me as real friends and Seth had turned out to be a better brother than my real one. I had so many things to be thankful for now. Sandy and Kirsten were taking care of me, even though I had let them down. I had taken a bullet for my once arch-enemy and lost the girl that I thought I loved. Things were changing so fast, it seemed each week brought a different drama for us to deal with.
"Dude? You're spacing out," Seth's voice brought me back to reality.
"Overnight, huh?" I sighed. I was still damned tired.
"Just relax, Ryan. Sandy and Kirsten are meeting with the doctor now, maybe it won't be so bad," Anna said gently.
"It's not bad…I'm just tired…and hot…or cold…I don't even know anymore," I muttered. I was glad they were there but I wished we were anywhere but here.
"They don't know we're here, well, all of us at once, anyway," Summer started. "But after all the drama of yesterday, we had to make sure you were okay."
"I think I'm okay."
"Your side is infected…does it hurt?" Anna asked.
She had to know the answer to that. "No. It's cool. Thanks for coming, you guys…"
"I'm not leaving. But you girls better get out of here before Mom gets back," Seth said suddenly.
"Kirsten's on the warpath. We'll see you tomorrow, okay?" Anna smiled. Summer was kissing Seth goodbye.
"Hey, Anna. How's Luke?" I called as they walked away.
She smiled at me. "He's grounded. But he's fine. We're fine."
"Good to hear."
"Dude. Now that the ladies are gone, how are you really doing?"
"I'm okay, Seth. Seriously. Your mom says it's nothing so I have to believe her…"
"Is there anything I can do?"
"Relax." He was seriously worrying me. He couldn't keep his hands still and his brown eyes were bright with anxiety.
"Ryan…"
"Dude, I'm cool. I'm sorry about last night…"
"That was Luke's fault…" Seth started.
"I didn't have to go with him."
Seth was quiet. "It's hard, Ryan."
"What?" I'm confused.
"Luke came last night, asking you to do something totally stupid and you went. But…it's hard for me to accept that Luke's your best friend now…"
"What are you talking about?"
"I guess, I'm jealous, man. Like, not in a boyfriend kind of way but…I fucked up. Last night, if I had asked you to stay, not to go out to the beach…you would have still gone. Because I didn't believe you about Oliver…"
"Seth, it's not like that." I didn't think it was like that.
"Are you sure? I mean, I don't blame you but..."
"Luke's a friend, Seth. I'm trying to be his friend. You're…you're family…it's different. Damn, man, the way shit goes around here, I'll probably be kicking his ass again next week. Seth?" If he started to cry, I was calling the nurse.
"But last night…I told you it was a bad idea…"
"Dude, when have you ever listened to me when I told you something was a bad idea? Tijuana? Donnie's party? Man, I just wanted to help Luke out. I'd have done the same for you…"
Seth sighed.
Sandy and Kirsten stepped in. I was glad that the conversation was over. I couldn't convince Seth of anything, he'd have to come around on his own.