Smoke
Disclaimer: Surprise, surprise, I don't own The O.C. Aw, that's the last time I'll say that for this story...I'm so sad!
A/N: Funny, I named this "Smoke" but that whole topic is almost never mentioned in this chapter. Sadly, it's not as much a love-fest as the last chapter was. Warning: If you don't like slash, which is same-sex couples, then I should tell you there's a quick mention of a male/male couple. Nothing graphic, I don't do that, plus, I'm underaged (see, muchtvs? I'm a good girl!)
Four Months Later...
Anna begins her Christmas, or Chrismukkah, shopping early this year, on the second Saturday of December. She and her best friend and his boyfriend, Chris and Ben, all go out shopping together. The mall's a sort of dull place for Anna, but being with fun people brightens it up for her.
As the three browse stores together, searching for gifts for relatives and friends, Anna can't help but think of Ryan every time she sees Ben and Chris flirt, tease playfully, or steal quick kisses when they think nobody's watching. The afternoon starts to turn into night and the mall is making Anna naseous, with all the bright Christmas lights and the smell of pretzels and cheap Chinese food. She says goodbye to her friends and goes home.
Her aunt greets her by yelling from the kitchen, saying something about her uncle making broiled chicken for dinner when Anna comes in. Their relationship has improved since Anna really has stopped smoking. Anna shouts back and goes to her room, eager to get online. He hasn't written to her in a week. The e-mails usually come once evey other day.
She lets out a sigh of relief when she sees that there's a letter from him.
Hey Anna!
How's it going? I'm sorry it's been a while. I told you I wasn't good at this whole "staying-in-touch" thing. Theresa's getting big. Bigger then before. I mean, she's wearing clothes that are made only for pregnant women now. I'm afraid she'll go into labor any moment now, even though our doctor has said that the baby will probably be late. I know that'll drive Theresa crazy, she wants to (and this is a direct quote) "get the kid out right now".
Kirsten, Sandy, and Seth dropped by the other day. Kirsten brought little light green booties, and I became completely freaked out. I'm having a kid. Well, I'm not, but Theresa's going to have a baby. There's no way I'm ready for that. It was one of those days when I wish that I had never came. I know, it's awful of me to think that. Eva (Theresa's mom, if you forgot) has been really good to me, even though she gives the occasional "A baby! And you two aren't getting married?" tirade. I know, in the back of my mind, the kid has a pretty big chance of not being mine. Which leads me to my next topic.
Eddie, the guy who Theresa was dating and hit her, came here the a few days ago, Theresa was the only one here because I was grocery shopping with Eva. He said he wants a paternity test now. He said he'll be a father to the baby, and I think Theresa's still too afraid to tell him no. So, she took it the other day. You know that I'll stay even if the baby is Eddie's. The results come back in about a week, around the time when you come.
I'm trying to ignore all of the hard hours of work and school and everything going on and just focus on your visit. December twentieth, December twentieth. I'm spending Christmas Eve with Theresa and Eva, and Christmas day with the Cohens.
I better go. I miss you so much. Oh yeah, I read the comics you sent me. Thanks for starting me off easy with "The Archies". Psst, I think you're like Betty!
-Ryan
Anna smiles. She suddenly has a craving to eat breakfast at dinnertime. Waffles and strawberries, to be exact.
The next week and three days go by so slowly, and Anna goes through school anxiously. She finally finds herself on a plane to Newport again. She's chewing furiously on her gum. It's not nicotine anymore, she doesn't need it.
She gets off the plane and there are her parents, Seth, Summer, Marissa, and a tall boy Anna doesn't know. She knows that Ryan wouldn't be coming and she understands. She runs to hug them all. Marissa flashes her a smile and gives her a light hug. Marissa's still a little upset that Anna and Ryan are sort of together, but she's not holding her grudges aganist the two of them any more. Anna spots Marissa snuggled up to the boy while Anna talks to everyone, and she gives her a nod. Anna's happy to see that Marissa's not dwelling in the past.
When she gets home, she calls Ryan and is happy that she doesn't have to call long-distance to talk to him anymore. She says she got his e-mail, and that she can't wait to see him. They talk until Ryan has to go, Theresa needs his help. Anna decides it's time for bed.
Over the next few days, she goes shopping with Summer because, unlike Anna, Summer's waited two days before Christmas to buy her gifts. Summer tells Anna about how she gave Seth a small present during the first night of Hannukah, but she wants to give him a second one for Christmas.
The pair invite Marissa to join them, but she's busy with her new boyfriend, who is name Tyler. Summer explains to Anna that all Marissa talks about now is Tyler, and that she knows he's just a way for her to get over Ryan. Anna feels guilty.
On Christmas Eve, Anna feels excited. She puts the gifts for her parents under her tree and she and Ryan share a quick and sweet talk on the phone before he has to go eat dinner. Anna notices he has a lot of duties in the house.
It's Christmas Day and Anna and her parents exchange gifts. They smile and don't ask her too many questions. She's happy to be back with her mom and dad, she doesn't realize how much she misses them until she's with them. Anna tells her parents she'll be back later and uses her father's car to drive over to the Cohen home.
She pulls up to the driveway and a wave of excited goes through her body. She knows he's finally here. She knocks on the door and he opens it. Ryan pulls Anna into a long hug and a kiss. Anna notes to herself that he tastes like mints, probably from candy canes. She tries to make the kiss last as long as she can, because she knows she wants to remember it.
Anna says hello to Seth's parents, and they look surprised that Seth's old girlfriend is sort of dating Ryan.
Anna and Ryan hang out with a bored Seth for a little while, Summer isn't coming for a while. He realizes he should leave them alone and makes up an excuse about eggnog and decorations. Anna and Ryan go to the pool house, which now looks barren to the both of them. They sit on the ground and talk, basking in each other's company. In the middle of a conversation where Anna's talking about Chris, Ryan's cell phone rings.
She sits patiently as she watches Ryan talk, a look of concern is on his face. She doesn't want to question him once he gets off the phone. She's figured Ryan out, that if he wants you to know he'll tell you.
He tells her that it was Theresa, and Eddie is the father. The two of them have made a plan, though, not to tell Eddie, and just to say that Ryan is the father. Anna smiles slightly and says she thinks it's heroic, in a way, that he's doing this.
When Ryan leans in to kiss her, she remembers what she has to do, and pulls back. He looks hurt and she simply states that she can't do this. He doesn't need to speak, his eyes are asking her all the questions. She explains that he is going to have a family, even if he and Theresa don't get back together, and that he doesn't have enough time to have a relationship, especially a long-distace one. They both know what she says is true, and they both hate that.
They go back to the house together, somewhat apart. Anna hugs everyone goodbye, and when she hugs Ryan, he eyes become a little blurry and she tries to get into the car as fast as she can.
She gets home to Pittsburgh the next day, and as she drives past a CVS, she sees a poster for cigarettes. She almost stops the car, but then thinks about it. He wouldn't have wanted her to, and she doesn't want to. She wants to really say goodbye to him now. She doesn't want to be addicted. She's finally quit.
A/N 2: Wow, my first fic I finished (not abandoned, finished!) that wasn't a standalone. Basically, this fic was a challenge for me, because of the no-dialogue and that I made it an unhappy ending, which I hate. (Why can't we all just smile when it ends, people?) I hope you've enjoyed it, and thank you to everyone who reviewed! Told ya I'd finish it before I left!