Kirsten woke up form a sound sleep the next morning. She had to sleep in
the guest bedroom because Sandy wouldn't let her in. Her father stayed late
the night before, mostly they just reminisced about old times. He spoke of
a funeral and although Kirsten hated to admit it, she would have to have
one. But her father had taken the duty of arranging one. Even though Caleb
Nichol looked strong, he was deeply shaken by the events.
She went downstairs and went to the kitchen. Ryan was there, pouring a cup of coffee. His hand was shaking slightly.
"Hi." She said and took the coffee pot after Ryan was done with it. He looked extremely tired, yet at the same time, extremely awake.
"Hi."
"Get any sleep?"
"No. Wasn't tired."
"Does that have anything to do with coffee?"
"No." He lied.
"How much coffee have you had?"
"Only a couple of cups." She glared at him. "Like 6."
"You shouldn't have had all that coffee."
"I couldn't sleep."
"Because you had all that coffee!"
"Sorry."
"No, I shouldn't have yelled at you like that."
"It's fine. It happened a lot when I was younger." That made Kirsten feel worse. She knew Ryan had had a rough childhood and hated bringing it up, purposely or by accident.
"Well, I should get Sandy."
"Yeh." Ryan began to head outside.
"Where are you going?"
"Since I have all this energy to waste, I thought I would organize everything in the pool house." He lied again.
"Okay. Hey, I didn't get to ask you. Did you tell Summer?"
"Yeah, I did. But I don't think she believed me."
"Oh. Well, Marissa probably knows by now too."
"How so?"
"I told my dad yesterday."
"Great." Then Ryan left. Kirsten sighed and went back upstairs. She headed to her and Sandy's bedroom, which the door was presumably locked. They shouldn't have ever got locks on the bedroom doors. It caused people to alienate themselves.
"Can I come in?" She asked. There was no answer. "Sandy, open up." Still nothing. "What good is secluding yourself? Isn't that what Seth did?" Kirsten began to cry and she sat on the floor. "Sandy, we can get through this. I know you miss him. I do too. And life is never gonna be the same. I know that. But we gotta hang on. Even though I don't want to. Because he was our everything and there's no denying that. And I feel really lost without him. Ryan can't help me and my dad can't either. Only you can. I need you. I feel so alone. I wish that I could turn back time, but I can't. That's the realization. And it's killing me inside. I need you. Please, open up. I love you." Kirsten swallowed and the tears came down harder. She heard movement int eh room and then the door opened. Sandy stood there, a tear running down his face.
"I love you too." she got up and they hugged. She fell into his arms and had thought she had shed enough tears, but there were still so many more.
Marissa walked downstairs to find Caleb and Julie sitting at the breakfast table with solemn faces. It was strange. There was no real evil to Julie Nichol's face.
"What's up?" Marissa asked, looking at them suspiciously.
"Marissa, sit down." Caleb ordered. Marissa did so and prayed Kaitlin would come down. But she didn't.
"Honey, there's something you need to know." Julie started.
"What?"
"Two days ago, Seth Cohen..." She paused to clam herself. "He died."
"You're not serious, are you?"
"I'm sorry honey."
"Excuse me." Marissa left the room and headed back upstairs. She pulled out her phone and dialed Ryan's number. It rang three times, then finally he picked up.
"Hello?"
"Oh God, Ryan. Is it true?"
"Yeah." Ryan immediately knew what Marissa was talking about.
"How? When? Why?"
"He, he, he..." Ryan couldn't say it.
"What? What happened?"
"He shot himself." It took a few seconds for Marissa to comprehend.
"He didn't do it because of what happened with Summer, right?"
"I think he might have."
"Does Summer know?"
"I told her yesterday.
"When did you guys find him?" Marissa could have been mad at Ryan for not telling her, but she understood. It must've been hell telling Summer.
"I saw him do it."
"Oh my God, Ryan. I'm gonna come over."
"No, don't. I'm fine."
"You can't be fine after that. Even if you are from Chino."
"I'm fine Marissa. Please don't come over."
"I don't care. I'm coming over."
"Don't." Marissa wouldn't listen.
"Bye."
"Bye."
"I love you."
"I love you too." Marissa hung up and ran out of the house as fast as she could.
Kirsten opened the door to find Marissa hugging her.
"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Cohen." Marissa said. She felt horrible for what happened.
"Thank you." Kirsten muttered. Marissa let go.
"Where's Ryan?"
"He's in the pool house." Marissa left the main house and headed to the pool house. The shades were drawn and the door was locked. She knocked on the door and waited. Ryan didn't come. So she knocked again. This time she heard shuffling and soon the door was open and a sleep deprived Ryan was at the door. She hugged him, but he didn't hug back. She let go and stared at him.
"How are you doing?"
"I should've stopped him." Ryan answered.
"Ryan, you did all you could."
"I should've done more." They walked inside and Marissa saw everything was on the bed, getting packed up.
"What are you doing, Ryan?"
"I'm gonna go back to Chino." Ryan went back to packing.
"Why?"
"I need to help Theresa."
"What's the real reason?" Ryan looked over to her.
"I can't stay here. I just can't."
"Ryan, you can't go. I need you. The Cohens need you."
"I already caused them too much pain."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"They didn't even want me here in the first place!"
"They learned to love you!" Tears formed in Marissa's eyes.
"Yeah, maybe. But I just hurt them too much."
"How?"
"First I get Theresa pregnant! And then I leave! And then Seth leaves! So that upsets Summer, who breaks up with him! And he fucking kills himself!"
"Ryan, stop."
"For what?"
"You can't leave us now. We need you."
"You don't need me. I've done too much already."
"You saved my life! I would've been dead, and if I was even lucky enough to live, I would be in rehab. And you saved Oliver from killing himself."
"Then why couldn't I save Seth?"
"I don't know! I don't know why people die when they do! But you can't let what you didn't do take over your life!" Ryan stood there speechless for a second, then continued packing. Years fell down Marissa's face and she didn't know what to do.
Ryan finished packing and zipped his bags. He picked them up and began to leave.
"I've gotta go." He said as he grabbed the bar keys still in Marissa's hand. He stalked out and Marissa followed.
"Ryan, stop." She yelled as they went to the driveway. He unlocked the car and got in. Marissa rushed to the passenger side, but Ryan had already relocked it. "Ryan, stop!" She screamed as she pounded on the door. He turned the ignition on and pulled out. "RYAN!" She screamed one last time as she watched him drive away.
Ryan sped to Chino. He knew Marissa would get right to the Cohens and they would soon be on their way. But as much as they wanted, Ryan wasn't going back. He parked in Theresa's driveway, grabbed his bags and rang the doorbell. Theresa opened the door. She was bigger than Ryan remembered.
"Ryan. What are you doing here?" She asked.
"Do you still need help with the baby?"
"Yeah, I do. But I thought you were staying at the Cohens after Seth's coating accident." Ryan remembered that day vividly. The day when Sandy paid them a visit to say Seth was in an accident on his boat. That he was in the hospital. That he had almost drowned. The day Ryan left Theresa alone, just to check on Seth. Who had been okay. Who hadn't died. Too bad he later would.
"Yeah, I was. Um, can I come in?"
"Sure. Yeah." She let Ryan in and the house looked exactly the same when Ryan had left. They sat in the living room, Theresa in an armchair, Ryan on the couch.
"Theresa, Seth's dead." Ryan watched Theresa's expression go from happy to a sad, yet confused one.
"Was it from the boating accident?"
"No. He killed himself." Theresa fell to the back of the chair to take everything in.
"Oh my God. That's horrible. I can't believe it."
"I know."
"That's why you're here. You don't want to be there anymore."
"Right. But can I stay here?"
"Ryan, you should be with the Cohens."
"No. No, I don't belong there."
"Fine."
"So, how far are you with your pregnancy?" Ryan diverted the conversation.
"About 4 months. Only 5 more months of this pain." She smiled and looked to Ryan. He wasn't paying attention. "Ryan, if you wanna talk about it..."
"Why couldn't I have stopped him?"
"I don't know. But you can get through this. You're Ryan Atwood. The strongest person I know."
"What if I can't get through this? I thought Seth could get through a breakup, but he shot himself over it! So what if this guilt keeps racking up and I jump off a bridge or something?" Ryan was lost. Theresa could tell. She had never seen him act like he was now.
"Ryan, stop. It was his choice."
"But I was there and I didn't stop him!"
"You at least tried."
"But I could've stopped him."
"You did all you could. Everyone wishes they could do more, but they can't. What's done is done and there's no changing that."
"I know. I just wish I could wake up from this nightmare and he was alive."
"Yeah, I know. But we can't go back. And that's why this world sucks."
"Yeah. It does, doesn't it?" Ryan laughed.
"I see I made you laugh."
"Yeah, you did. Thanks."
"No problem. But think about going back to the Cohens, okay?"
"Fine." Theresa smiled at him and hoped they would get through everything.
Marissa stood in the driveway for a while. The world she once knew was now crumbling around her. Nothing was the same anymore. She was lost.
"Marissa?" Sandy's voice came from behind her. She turned around, tears still in her eyes.
"Oh hi, Mr. Cohen. I'm so sorry for what happened."
"Thanks. What's wrong, Marissa?"
"Um, can you drive me to Chino?"
"Why?"
"Ryan stole my car."
"He left?"
"Uh-huh."
"Get in the car, I'll be right back." Sandy disappeared into the house as Marissa got in his car. He quickly reappeared and they were off. They said nothing the way there. Marissa was still shaken up. Less than an hour ago, she learned her old neighbor committed suicide. It was too much.
They reached Theresa's house, and Marissa saw her car in the driveway. She got out and accompanied Sandy at the door. He knocked at it, letting his fist slam the door with much force. Theresa was first at the door, then Ryan.
"Hi Mr. Cohen. Marissa." Theresa said, a bit confused.
"Hi Theresa. Can we come in?"
"Uh..."
"No, they can't." Ryan answered for Theresa.
"Why can't we come in?" Sandy interrogated.
"Because there's nothing to discuss inside. Marissa, here's you keys. Thanks for letting my borrow your car." Ryan handed Marissa her keys.
"Ryan, I am your guardian and I am ordering you to let me in." Sandy barked.
"Ryan, just let them in." Theresa said. With that, Ryan opened the door fully and Sandy and Marissa went in. They all sat in the living room.
"So...." Ryan started.
"Ryan, I want you to come home." Sandy ordered.
"Chino is my home."
"No, it's not. My house is."
"No. I don't belong there. I don't belong in Newport. I belong here, with Theresa."
"No. You belong with me and Kirsten and..."
"Who? Seth? He doesn't live there anymore! He doesn't even live!"
"Ryan, I know this is hard. But we'll get through it. As a family."
" I'm not a part of your family. I'm not a part of my own family. I'm not even a part of a family!"
"Yes, you are. You're a part of my family." Sandy had silenced Ryan. Ryan couldn't put the right words together. Marissa wanted to leave. She didn't like this situation. She wanted to run as far as she could, and get away from Ryan, Sandy, Theresa, her mother, and everyone else. She wanted to get away form Newport, Chino, California ultimately. She wanted to start a new life, somewhere far, far away. Where no one knew her and she could spin a whole new web of lies around herself. No one knew the real Marissa. Everyone just thought she was pretty, perfect, with a hint of alcoholism. No one knew the fear inside her, that was eating away at her insides. No one really knew what was going on inside Marissa. She was alone in the world. She had no real friends, as much as she thought she did. She only had Ryan. And he barely felt like a friend to her.
She suddenly knew how Seth had felt. The emptiness inside him, the pain he felt. Marissa and Seth weren't as different as Marissa had thought they were. She wished she could have stopped him, but she wasn't even near him when it happened. But Ryan was there, and now Marissa understood the pain and guilt he had to deal with. She wished she could help Ryan, but how? His problems were inside, were only he could fix them.
"Um, Ryan? Can we talk for a minute in the kitchen?" Theresa asked after a while.
"Sure." Theresa and Ryan got up and left Sandy and Marissa in the living room.
"What are you doing?" Theresa questioned.
"What do you mean?"
"Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?!"
"Fighting them, Ryan! You need to be with the Cohens."
"No I don't."
"Yes, you do. They need you. You've become a part of their family. And they are going through the worst time of their life and you're just gonna abandon them?"
"What do I do?"
"Be there for them. Help them." Theresa looked back at Sandy. "Be a son to them." Ryan looked as well, and he knew he couldn't run forever. Sure, he had went back at first, but when he had to tell Summer, that killed him.
"I can't do it."
"Yes, you can. You are the strongest person I know. You can get through this."
"It's different now."
"It'll always be different. But you know where you need to be." And he did know. He had to go back with the Cohens. He inhaled deeply and went back in the living room. Both Marissa and Sandy looked at him. He exhaled.
"Will you come?" Sandy asked, after Ryan couldn't say anything.
"Yeh." Sandy got up and hugged Ryan . At first, he didn't know how to react, but he finally settled on hugging Sandy back. Theresa smiled from in the kitchen, and Marissa connected eyes with her, and Marissa smiled back. Ryan grabbed his two bags and went outside to put them in Sandy's car. They were about to leave when Ryan went back to Theresa. He hugged her as hard as he could without hurting the baby. "Thank you." He softly whispered in her ear.
"Anytime." She whispered back. Ryan kissed her on the cheek and went back to Sandy's car. Sandy pulled out first, then Marissa. Theresa waved goodbye and went back in the house. She climbed the stairs and got ready for work.
She went downstairs and went to the kitchen. Ryan was there, pouring a cup of coffee. His hand was shaking slightly.
"Hi." She said and took the coffee pot after Ryan was done with it. He looked extremely tired, yet at the same time, extremely awake.
"Hi."
"Get any sleep?"
"No. Wasn't tired."
"Does that have anything to do with coffee?"
"No." He lied.
"How much coffee have you had?"
"Only a couple of cups." She glared at him. "Like 6."
"You shouldn't have had all that coffee."
"I couldn't sleep."
"Because you had all that coffee!"
"Sorry."
"No, I shouldn't have yelled at you like that."
"It's fine. It happened a lot when I was younger." That made Kirsten feel worse. She knew Ryan had had a rough childhood and hated bringing it up, purposely or by accident.
"Well, I should get Sandy."
"Yeh." Ryan began to head outside.
"Where are you going?"
"Since I have all this energy to waste, I thought I would organize everything in the pool house." He lied again.
"Okay. Hey, I didn't get to ask you. Did you tell Summer?"
"Yeah, I did. But I don't think she believed me."
"Oh. Well, Marissa probably knows by now too."
"How so?"
"I told my dad yesterday."
"Great." Then Ryan left. Kirsten sighed and went back upstairs. She headed to her and Sandy's bedroom, which the door was presumably locked. They shouldn't have ever got locks on the bedroom doors. It caused people to alienate themselves.
"Can I come in?" She asked. There was no answer. "Sandy, open up." Still nothing. "What good is secluding yourself? Isn't that what Seth did?" Kirsten began to cry and she sat on the floor. "Sandy, we can get through this. I know you miss him. I do too. And life is never gonna be the same. I know that. But we gotta hang on. Even though I don't want to. Because he was our everything and there's no denying that. And I feel really lost without him. Ryan can't help me and my dad can't either. Only you can. I need you. I feel so alone. I wish that I could turn back time, but I can't. That's the realization. And it's killing me inside. I need you. Please, open up. I love you." Kirsten swallowed and the tears came down harder. She heard movement int eh room and then the door opened. Sandy stood there, a tear running down his face.
"I love you too." she got up and they hugged. She fell into his arms and had thought she had shed enough tears, but there were still so many more.
Marissa walked downstairs to find Caleb and Julie sitting at the breakfast table with solemn faces. It was strange. There was no real evil to Julie Nichol's face.
"What's up?" Marissa asked, looking at them suspiciously.
"Marissa, sit down." Caleb ordered. Marissa did so and prayed Kaitlin would come down. But she didn't.
"Honey, there's something you need to know." Julie started.
"What?"
"Two days ago, Seth Cohen..." She paused to clam herself. "He died."
"You're not serious, are you?"
"I'm sorry honey."
"Excuse me." Marissa left the room and headed back upstairs. She pulled out her phone and dialed Ryan's number. It rang three times, then finally he picked up.
"Hello?"
"Oh God, Ryan. Is it true?"
"Yeah." Ryan immediately knew what Marissa was talking about.
"How? When? Why?"
"He, he, he..." Ryan couldn't say it.
"What? What happened?"
"He shot himself." It took a few seconds for Marissa to comprehend.
"He didn't do it because of what happened with Summer, right?"
"I think he might have."
"Does Summer know?"
"I told her yesterday.
"When did you guys find him?" Marissa could have been mad at Ryan for not telling her, but she understood. It must've been hell telling Summer.
"I saw him do it."
"Oh my God, Ryan. I'm gonna come over."
"No, don't. I'm fine."
"You can't be fine after that. Even if you are from Chino."
"I'm fine Marissa. Please don't come over."
"I don't care. I'm coming over."
"Don't." Marissa wouldn't listen.
"Bye."
"Bye."
"I love you."
"I love you too." Marissa hung up and ran out of the house as fast as she could.
Kirsten opened the door to find Marissa hugging her.
"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Cohen." Marissa said. She felt horrible for what happened.
"Thank you." Kirsten muttered. Marissa let go.
"Where's Ryan?"
"He's in the pool house." Marissa left the main house and headed to the pool house. The shades were drawn and the door was locked. She knocked on the door and waited. Ryan didn't come. So she knocked again. This time she heard shuffling and soon the door was open and a sleep deprived Ryan was at the door. She hugged him, but he didn't hug back. She let go and stared at him.
"How are you doing?"
"I should've stopped him." Ryan answered.
"Ryan, you did all you could."
"I should've done more." They walked inside and Marissa saw everything was on the bed, getting packed up.
"What are you doing, Ryan?"
"I'm gonna go back to Chino." Ryan went back to packing.
"Why?"
"I need to help Theresa."
"What's the real reason?" Ryan looked over to her.
"I can't stay here. I just can't."
"Ryan, you can't go. I need you. The Cohens need you."
"I already caused them too much pain."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"They didn't even want me here in the first place!"
"They learned to love you!" Tears formed in Marissa's eyes.
"Yeah, maybe. But I just hurt them too much."
"How?"
"First I get Theresa pregnant! And then I leave! And then Seth leaves! So that upsets Summer, who breaks up with him! And he fucking kills himself!"
"Ryan, stop."
"For what?"
"You can't leave us now. We need you."
"You don't need me. I've done too much already."
"You saved my life! I would've been dead, and if I was even lucky enough to live, I would be in rehab. And you saved Oliver from killing himself."
"Then why couldn't I save Seth?"
"I don't know! I don't know why people die when they do! But you can't let what you didn't do take over your life!" Ryan stood there speechless for a second, then continued packing. Years fell down Marissa's face and she didn't know what to do.
Ryan finished packing and zipped his bags. He picked them up and began to leave.
"I've gotta go." He said as he grabbed the bar keys still in Marissa's hand. He stalked out and Marissa followed.
"Ryan, stop." She yelled as they went to the driveway. He unlocked the car and got in. Marissa rushed to the passenger side, but Ryan had already relocked it. "Ryan, stop!" She screamed as she pounded on the door. He turned the ignition on and pulled out. "RYAN!" She screamed one last time as she watched him drive away.
Ryan sped to Chino. He knew Marissa would get right to the Cohens and they would soon be on their way. But as much as they wanted, Ryan wasn't going back. He parked in Theresa's driveway, grabbed his bags and rang the doorbell. Theresa opened the door. She was bigger than Ryan remembered.
"Ryan. What are you doing here?" She asked.
"Do you still need help with the baby?"
"Yeah, I do. But I thought you were staying at the Cohens after Seth's coating accident." Ryan remembered that day vividly. The day when Sandy paid them a visit to say Seth was in an accident on his boat. That he was in the hospital. That he had almost drowned. The day Ryan left Theresa alone, just to check on Seth. Who had been okay. Who hadn't died. Too bad he later would.
"Yeah, I was. Um, can I come in?"
"Sure. Yeah." She let Ryan in and the house looked exactly the same when Ryan had left. They sat in the living room, Theresa in an armchair, Ryan on the couch.
"Theresa, Seth's dead." Ryan watched Theresa's expression go from happy to a sad, yet confused one.
"Was it from the boating accident?"
"No. He killed himself." Theresa fell to the back of the chair to take everything in.
"Oh my God. That's horrible. I can't believe it."
"I know."
"That's why you're here. You don't want to be there anymore."
"Right. But can I stay here?"
"Ryan, you should be with the Cohens."
"No. No, I don't belong there."
"Fine."
"So, how far are you with your pregnancy?" Ryan diverted the conversation.
"About 4 months. Only 5 more months of this pain." She smiled and looked to Ryan. He wasn't paying attention. "Ryan, if you wanna talk about it..."
"Why couldn't I have stopped him?"
"I don't know. But you can get through this. You're Ryan Atwood. The strongest person I know."
"What if I can't get through this? I thought Seth could get through a breakup, but he shot himself over it! So what if this guilt keeps racking up and I jump off a bridge or something?" Ryan was lost. Theresa could tell. She had never seen him act like he was now.
"Ryan, stop. It was his choice."
"But I was there and I didn't stop him!"
"You at least tried."
"But I could've stopped him."
"You did all you could. Everyone wishes they could do more, but they can't. What's done is done and there's no changing that."
"I know. I just wish I could wake up from this nightmare and he was alive."
"Yeah, I know. But we can't go back. And that's why this world sucks."
"Yeah. It does, doesn't it?" Ryan laughed.
"I see I made you laugh."
"Yeah, you did. Thanks."
"No problem. But think about going back to the Cohens, okay?"
"Fine." Theresa smiled at him and hoped they would get through everything.
Marissa stood in the driveway for a while. The world she once knew was now crumbling around her. Nothing was the same anymore. She was lost.
"Marissa?" Sandy's voice came from behind her. She turned around, tears still in her eyes.
"Oh hi, Mr. Cohen. I'm so sorry for what happened."
"Thanks. What's wrong, Marissa?"
"Um, can you drive me to Chino?"
"Why?"
"Ryan stole my car."
"He left?"
"Uh-huh."
"Get in the car, I'll be right back." Sandy disappeared into the house as Marissa got in his car. He quickly reappeared and they were off. They said nothing the way there. Marissa was still shaken up. Less than an hour ago, she learned her old neighbor committed suicide. It was too much.
They reached Theresa's house, and Marissa saw her car in the driveway. She got out and accompanied Sandy at the door. He knocked at it, letting his fist slam the door with much force. Theresa was first at the door, then Ryan.
"Hi Mr. Cohen. Marissa." Theresa said, a bit confused.
"Hi Theresa. Can we come in?"
"Uh..."
"No, they can't." Ryan answered for Theresa.
"Why can't we come in?" Sandy interrogated.
"Because there's nothing to discuss inside. Marissa, here's you keys. Thanks for letting my borrow your car." Ryan handed Marissa her keys.
"Ryan, I am your guardian and I am ordering you to let me in." Sandy barked.
"Ryan, just let them in." Theresa said. With that, Ryan opened the door fully and Sandy and Marissa went in. They all sat in the living room.
"So...." Ryan started.
"Ryan, I want you to come home." Sandy ordered.
"Chino is my home."
"No, it's not. My house is."
"No. I don't belong there. I don't belong in Newport. I belong here, with Theresa."
"No. You belong with me and Kirsten and..."
"Who? Seth? He doesn't live there anymore! He doesn't even live!"
"Ryan, I know this is hard. But we'll get through it. As a family."
" I'm not a part of your family. I'm not a part of my own family. I'm not even a part of a family!"
"Yes, you are. You're a part of my family." Sandy had silenced Ryan. Ryan couldn't put the right words together. Marissa wanted to leave. She didn't like this situation. She wanted to run as far as she could, and get away from Ryan, Sandy, Theresa, her mother, and everyone else. She wanted to get away form Newport, Chino, California ultimately. She wanted to start a new life, somewhere far, far away. Where no one knew her and she could spin a whole new web of lies around herself. No one knew the real Marissa. Everyone just thought she was pretty, perfect, with a hint of alcoholism. No one knew the fear inside her, that was eating away at her insides. No one really knew what was going on inside Marissa. She was alone in the world. She had no real friends, as much as she thought she did. She only had Ryan. And he barely felt like a friend to her.
She suddenly knew how Seth had felt. The emptiness inside him, the pain he felt. Marissa and Seth weren't as different as Marissa had thought they were. She wished she could have stopped him, but she wasn't even near him when it happened. But Ryan was there, and now Marissa understood the pain and guilt he had to deal with. She wished she could help Ryan, but how? His problems were inside, were only he could fix them.
"Um, Ryan? Can we talk for a minute in the kitchen?" Theresa asked after a while.
"Sure." Theresa and Ryan got up and left Sandy and Marissa in the living room.
"What are you doing?" Theresa questioned.
"What do you mean?"
"Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?!"
"Fighting them, Ryan! You need to be with the Cohens."
"No I don't."
"Yes, you do. They need you. You've become a part of their family. And they are going through the worst time of their life and you're just gonna abandon them?"
"What do I do?"
"Be there for them. Help them." Theresa looked back at Sandy. "Be a son to them." Ryan looked as well, and he knew he couldn't run forever. Sure, he had went back at first, but when he had to tell Summer, that killed him.
"I can't do it."
"Yes, you can. You are the strongest person I know. You can get through this."
"It's different now."
"It'll always be different. But you know where you need to be." And he did know. He had to go back with the Cohens. He inhaled deeply and went back in the living room. Both Marissa and Sandy looked at him. He exhaled.
"Will you come?" Sandy asked, after Ryan couldn't say anything.
"Yeh." Sandy got up and hugged Ryan . At first, he didn't know how to react, but he finally settled on hugging Sandy back. Theresa smiled from in the kitchen, and Marissa connected eyes with her, and Marissa smiled back. Ryan grabbed his two bags and went outside to put them in Sandy's car. They were about to leave when Ryan went back to Theresa. He hugged her as hard as he could without hurting the baby. "Thank you." He softly whispered in her ear.
"Anytime." She whispered back. Ryan kissed her on the cheek and went back to Sandy's car. Sandy pulled out first, then Marissa. Theresa waved goodbye and went back in the house. She climbed the stairs and got ready for work.