CHAPTER 2: Complications
Ryan walked further towards his house, and knocked on the door. He had left
his key at home after the argument. I say left, I mean he just threw it at
his Mom. Now he had regretted such actions. Without his parent, life was,
well, different. He sometimes got homesick, even surrounded by the Newport
scene where everything seemed perfect.
As he knocked again, this time harder, the door creeked open. He pushed it
further, only to find his house completely shaken up. Bowls were smashed,
the telly now had a hole in the centre and the furniture was slashed to
pieces. Ryan was confused. Where was his Mom? Why the hell did this happen?
He walked back outside to see Sandy starting up the engine, and sat on the
doorstep. Sandy was about to drive away when he saw Ryan. He stopped the
engine and opened the door to walk outside.
"They left." Blunt and to the point, just the way Ryan spoke. "The place is
torn apart. I, I..."
"It's OK. I'm sure they are fine."
"That's not the point, man!" Ryan began lashing out in anger, and after
regaining control of his head he sat back down and put his head between his
arms. "I have no idea where she is. How could she do this to me?" A moment
of silence passed, until Sandy couldn't take it anymore.
"Look, you know you are welcome to stay with us for a while?" Ryan didn't
seem tempted by the offer, but what choice did he have? He could start a
new life there, and forget about his past unsucess. Ryan got up, grabbed
his back and bike and shook Sandy's hand.
"Thank you, Mr Cohen."
"You can call me Sandy."
The Range Rover arrived at the Cohen's house, and Ryan slowly jumped out.
He wasn't that excited to be there. He didn't belong in Newport. As Sandy
opened the door, Ryan trailed behind. Sandy walked up to Kirsten to
explain.
"What is he doing..."
"Look? Something... happened." Kirsten thought they had gotten into
trouble, but was somewhat saddened by what Sandy said next. "His house was
ramsacked. Looked like a bomb had hit it. And his Mom wasn't there." After
Kirsten, jaw locked below, heard this, Sandy said he would be staying a few
nights in the poolhouse. Ryan walked into the room.
"I'm sorry for any trouble I'm causing."
"Oh, it's no trouble at all. Please, make yourself at home." Kirsten wasn't
too sure about having a former convict in the house, but after the night
before she had grown a soft spot for him. "You can unpack in the
poolhouse."
The afternoon ended with a bit of a silence. Ryan had escaped the rich area
of Newport in the poolhouse the Cohen's had provided. Seth was in his room,
unaware of Ryan's return, and Sandy and Kirsten were heading to work.
Seth then walked downstairs. He headed out of the back door and into the
poolhouse, only to find a distressed Ryan lying on the bed.
"Du-du-du... Ryan?"
"What were you just humming?"
"Brand New but that's not the point. What are you doing here?" Seth was a
little confused, and still slightly angry that Ryan had left in the first
place.
"Well, I think I'm staying for a while." Another silence flew through the
room.
"Really, that's awesome man. So why the change of heart?" Ryan looked up at
Seth, then passed his eyes to the west of the room where a window was. He
could see the "Thank You for visiting the Orange County - Drive Safely"
sign, and thought of his home.
"Believe me, it wasn't my choice." Seth was clearly not impressed by that
last remark, and gave Ryan a cold stare and shuffled his arms. "My Mom
wasn't there." Seth then realised he was in the wrong.
"Oh, man. I'm sorry. I didn't."
"It's OK. I get it." Ryan just walked out of th epoolhouse and off the
Cohen estate. Seth felt really guilty about what he just did, but didn't
let it bother him too much. He just wanted to wipe the slate clean, and get
on with his life.
Ryan walked into the main area of town. He looked around and saw all the
people. There were groups of girls lying on the beach, boys playing
volleyball, couples cuddling up on the benches and people passing by. Then
there was Ryan, scuffly dressed and no where to go. He just sat down on the
bench outside some restaurant, and started thinking. Inside the eatery was
Marissa and Summer, trying to get away from the sun after sunbathing.
Marissa went to get something to eat, and Summer noticed Ryan. She
considered walking over, but after the fool she made of herself the other
night she thought twice. But this was a chance for him to see the real her,
not the drunk version of her. And of course, by real, that meant lies,
covers and disguises; something Summer did best.
Summer walked over to Ryan, and he looked up at her.
"I don't think you should be here." Ryan was still cautious, as he had a
chance to smooth things over with Seth, and trying to get together with the
only girl he ever loved wasn't a good way to start.
"Look, let me explain. I'm sorry about last night, I'm not usually like
that. Can we just start over?" Summer stared anxiously at Ryan, who just
simply replied "OK." Summer sat down next to Ryan, and after an awkward
silence she just said "I'm sorry." Ryan started to see a new side to
Summer. He noticed her at the party just arrogantly ignoring everyone, and
just getting drunk, chatting to friends, and getting drunk more. But he
kinda felt sorry for her. She was completely unaware of the love traingle
she was involved in, but then again, so was Seth.
"So... you want anything to eat?" Ryan tried to break the ice, and it
worked.
"Sure. Coop's inside. So, Ryan, where are you from?" Summer had no idea of
his past, and if she did, she wouldn't have thought about his name twice.
As the two walked inside, Ryan stayed quiet, until Summer gave him a nudge
and a stare, asking for an answer.
"Erm... not Newport. It wasn't as fancy, but I've grown to this place."
That was a blatent lie. He had not grown to Newport. If Ryan could choose
Chino or Newport, Chino would be on the top of his list. But he didn't have
to choose. He couldn't, and had to make do. "You from Newport?"
"Yeah. My dad lives here, my mom lives out of town." Ryan could see she
didn't want to talk about it, and as the two reached the restaurant he just
replied "Oh, I'm sorry."
"Don't be, my mom wasn't exactly the best. But it is a major drag
sometimes. I mean, without a mom and all. Sometimes it gets so lonely."
Summer had brought in re-enforcements heading straight for Ryan, and it
worked. He hugged her after she shed a slight tear, and the two met up with
Marissa.
"Hey, Ryan right?"
"Yeah. Marissa?" They knew each other's names, but this way seemed so much
more, secretive. They had introduced themselves before, but no one knew it.
A bit of role play, and Summer got a little mad. She could see the heat
between him and Marissa, and was having none of it.
"So me and Ry here were just getting aquainted."
"Oh really?" Apparently that didn't go well with Marissa. She gave Ryan a
cold stare, who just shrugged his shoulders. "Well, we should hang out
sometime? See a movie or something?"
"Yeah, sure. It was nice meeting you two." Ryan tried to smoothly exit, but
after backing away and tripping over a planter, the two girls smiled at him
and waved goodbye. Ryan didn't know who exactly to stare at. Marissa just
winked at him, and while she was turned Summer quickly blew him a kiss.
Ryan stayed on the ground in shock. What just happened?
"So, what do you want for tea?"
"I'm not bothered, really." Ryan had made it back to the Cohen's house and
the family was ready to have tea. He and Seth had tried to get along
better. They played video games throughout the day, and talked about
general stuff. It seemed the two were getting along well.
"So, where did you go earlier?" Ryan went on the defensive. He couldn't
tell him he was with Marissa and Summer. Seth would then get defensive, and
it would go back to square one.
"I, I went into the town. You know, just walked around." An excuse which
asked too many questions - exactly what Ryan didn't want.
"Really? Meet anyone new?"
"The girl next door. Martha? Marie?" He had Marissa's name running through
his head, and panicked when making "fake" names.
"Marissa? The girl next door? Someone's been busy." Seth's remark made Ryan
start to sweat, but while Seth was turned he wiped it before he could see.
"So, what do you want for tea?" Kirsten said. Kirsten was never the master
cook, and Sandy was out.
"Are you cooking, mom?"
"Not if you don't want me to?"
"Then it's settled, we'll get takeouts." Seth cheered slightly, and Ryan
just stared at him. "I mean, you haven't seen her cook."
After a delivery van arrived, Seth and Ryan retreated to the poolhouse,
where Seth still wanted to know what happened between him and Marissa.
"So what happened earlier? Was it just general hanging out, or, you know,
hanging out?"
"What? Oh, no! No way! Nothing happened like that."
"Right... so, I know this is a bit out of place and all, but, was Summer
there?" Ryan froze, and his eyes shimmyed around the room.
"Summer? Erm... no. She wasn't. Marissa said she was with some friends at
the mall." Seth studied Ryan, and eventaully bought his allaby. Quickly
wanting to take the heat of himself, Ryan decided to do the asking. "So
what did you do when I went?"
"Oh you know, the usual. Played video games, listened to music, watched TV.
Man, daytime TV is really bad." They carried on eating and chatting, but
Ryan was still thinking about earlier. He had been in town for 2 days, and
problems were already arising. Seth liked Summer, but Summer liked Ryan.
However, Marissa liked Ryan also, but Marissa and Summer were best friends.
Seems the Atwood curse isn't fond of Newport, and wants him out quickly.
Ryan walked further towards his house, and knocked on the door. He had left
his key at home after the argument. I say left, I mean he just threw it at
his Mom. Now he had regretted such actions. Without his parent, life was,
well, different. He sometimes got homesick, even surrounded by the Newport
scene where everything seemed perfect.
As he knocked again, this time harder, the door creeked open. He pushed it
further, only to find his house completely shaken up. Bowls were smashed,
the telly now had a hole in the centre and the furniture was slashed to
pieces. Ryan was confused. Where was his Mom? Why the hell did this happen?
He walked back outside to see Sandy starting up the engine, and sat on the
doorstep. Sandy was about to drive away when he saw Ryan. He stopped the
engine and opened the door to walk outside.
"They left." Blunt and to the point, just the way Ryan spoke. "The place is
torn apart. I, I..."
"It's OK. I'm sure they are fine."
"That's not the point, man!" Ryan began lashing out in anger, and after
regaining control of his head he sat back down and put his head between his
arms. "I have no idea where she is. How could she do this to me?" A moment
of silence passed, until Sandy couldn't take it anymore.
"Look, you know you are welcome to stay with us for a while?" Ryan didn't
seem tempted by the offer, but what choice did he have? He could start a
new life there, and forget about his past unsucess. Ryan got up, grabbed
his back and bike and shook Sandy's hand.
"Thank you, Mr Cohen."
"You can call me Sandy."
The Range Rover arrived at the Cohen's house, and Ryan slowly jumped out.
He wasn't that excited to be there. He didn't belong in Newport. As Sandy
opened the door, Ryan trailed behind. Sandy walked up to Kirsten to
explain.
"What is he doing..."
"Look? Something... happened." Kirsten thought they had gotten into
trouble, but was somewhat saddened by what Sandy said next. "His house was
ramsacked. Looked like a bomb had hit it. And his Mom wasn't there." After
Kirsten, jaw locked below, heard this, Sandy said he would be staying a few
nights in the poolhouse. Ryan walked into the room.
"I'm sorry for any trouble I'm causing."
"Oh, it's no trouble at all. Please, make yourself at home." Kirsten wasn't
too sure about having a former convict in the house, but after the night
before she had grown a soft spot for him. "You can unpack in the
poolhouse."
The afternoon ended with a bit of a silence. Ryan had escaped the rich area
of Newport in the poolhouse the Cohen's had provided. Seth was in his room,
unaware of Ryan's return, and Sandy and Kirsten were heading to work.
Seth then walked downstairs. He headed out of the back door and into the
poolhouse, only to find a distressed Ryan lying on the bed.
"Du-du-du... Ryan?"
"What were you just humming?"
"Brand New but that's not the point. What are you doing here?" Seth was a
little confused, and still slightly angry that Ryan had left in the first
place.
"Well, I think I'm staying for a while." Another silence flew through the
room.
"Really, that's awesome man. So why the change of heart?" Ryan looked up at
Seth, then passed his eyes to the west of the room where a window was. He
could see the "Thank You for visiting the Orange County - Drive Safely"
sign, and thought of his home.
"Believe me, it wasn't my choice." Seth was clearly not impressed by that
last remark, and gave Ryan a cold stare and shuffled his arms. "My Mom
wasn't there." Seth then realised he was in the wrong.
"Oh, man. I'm sorry. I didn't."
"It's OK. I get it." Ryan just walked out of th epoolhouse and off the
Cohen estate. Seth felt really guilty about what he just did, but didn't
let it bother him too much. He just wanted to wipe the slate clean, and get
on with his life.
Ryan walked into the main area of town. He looked around and saw all the
people. There were groups of girls lying on the beach, boys playing
volleyball, couples cuddling up on the benches and people passing by. Then
there was Ryan, scuffly dressed and no where to go. He just sat down on the
bench outside some restaurant, and started thinking. Inside the eatery was
Marissa and Summer, trying to get away from the sun after sunbathing.
Marissa went to get something to eat, and Summer noticed Ryan. She
considered walking over, but after the fool she made of herself the other
night she thought twice. But this was a chance for him to see the real her,
not the drunk version of her. And of course, by real, that meant lies,
covers and disguises; something Summer did best.
Summer walked over to Ryan, and he looked up at her.
"I don't think you should be here." Ryan was still cautious, as he had a
chance to smooth things over with Seth, and trying to get together with the
only girl he ever loved wasn't a good way to start.
"Look, let me explain. I'm sorry about last night, I'm not usually like
that. Can we just start over?" Summer stared anxiously at Ryan, who just
simply replied "OK." Summer sat down next to Ryan, and after an awkward
silence she just said "I'm sorry." Ryan started to see a new side to
Summer. He noticed her at the party just arrogantly ignoring everyone, and
just getting drunk, chatting to friends, and getting drunk more. But he
kinda felt sorry for her. She was completely unaware of the love traingle
she was involved in, but then again, so was Seth.
"So... you want anything to eat?" Ryan tried to break the ice, and it
worked.
"Sure. Coop's inside. So, Ryan, where are you from?" Summer had no idea of
his past, and if she did, she wouldn't have thought about his name twice.
As the two walked inside, Ryan stayed quiet, until Summer gave him a nudge
and a stare, asking for an answer.
"Erm... not Newport. It wasn't as fancy, but I've grown to this place."
That was a blatent lie. He had not grown to Newport. If Ryan could choose
Chino or Newport, Chino would be on the top of his list. But he didn't have
to choose. He couldn't, and had to make do. "You from Newport?"
"Yeah. My dad lives here, my mom lives out of town." Ryan could see she
didn't want to talk about it, and as the two reached the restaurant he just
replied "Oh, I'm sorry."
"Don't be, my mom wasn't exactly the best. But it is a major drag
sometimes. I mean, without a mom and all. Sometimes it gets so lonely."
Summer had brought in re-enforcements heading straight for Ryan, and it
worked. He hugged her after she shed a slight tear, and the two met up with
Marissa.
"Hey, Ryan right?"
"Yeah. Marissa?" They knew each other's names, but this way seemed so much
more, secretive. They had introduced themselves before, but no one knew it.
A bit of role play, and Summer got a little mad. She could see the heat
between him and Marissa, and was having none of it.
"So me and Ry here were just getting aquainted."
"Oh really?" Apparently that didn't go well with Marissa. She gave Ryan a
cold stare, who just shrugged his shoulders. "Well, we should hang out
sometime? See a movie or something?"
"Yeah, sure. It was nice meeting you two." Ryan tried to smoothly exit, but
after backing away and tripping over a planter, the two girls smiled at him
and waved goodbye. Ryan didn't know who exactly to stare at. Marissa just
winked at him, and while she was turned Summer quickly blew him a kiss.
Ryan stayed on the ground in shock. What just happened?
"So, what do you want for tea?"
"I'm not bothered, really." Ryan had made it back to the Cohen's house and
the family was ready to have tea. He and Seth had tried to get along
better. They played video games throughout the day, and talked about
general stuff. It seemed the two were getting along well.
"So, where did you go earlier?" Ryan went on the defensive. He couldn't
tell him he was with Marissa and Summer. Seth would then get defensive, and
it would go back to square one.
"I, I went into the town. You know, just walked around." An excuse which
asked too many questions - exactly what Ryan didn't want.
"Really? Meet anyone new?"
"The girl next door. Martha? Marie?" He had Marissa's name running through
his head, and panicked when making "fake" names.
"Marissa? The girl next door? Someone's been busy." Seth's remark made Ryan
start to sweat, but while Seth was turned he wiped it before he could see.
"So, what do you want for tea?" Kirsten said. Kirsten was never the master
cook, and Sandy was out.
"Are you cooking, mom?"
"Not if you don't want me to?"
"Then it's settled, we'll get takeouts." Seth cheered slightly, and Ryan
just stared at him. "I mean, you haven't seen her cook."
After a delivery van arrived, Seth and Ryan retreated to the poolhouse,
where Seth still wanted to know what happened between him and Marissa.
"So what happened earlier? Was it just general hanging out, or, you know,
hanging out?"
"What? Oh, no! No way! Nothing happened like that."
"Right... so, I know this is a bit out of place and all, but, was Summer
there?" Ryan froze, and his eyes shimmyed around the room.
"Summer? Erm... no. She wasn't. Marissa said she was with some friends at
the mall." Seth studied Ryan, and eventaully bought his allaby. Quickly
wanting to take the heat of himself, Ryan decided to do the asking. "So
what did you do when I went?"
"Oh you know, the usual. Played video games, listened to music, watched TV.
Man, daytime TV is really bad." They carried on eating and chatting, but
Ryan was still thinking about earlier. He had been in town for 2 days, and
problems were already arising. Seth liked Summer, but Summer liked Ryan.
However, Marissa liked Ryan also, but Marissa and Summer were best friends.
Seems the Atwood curse isn't fond of Newport, and wants him out quickly.