Chapter 3: Broken
Summer Roberts stood at the door to the pool house, smirking at the swaddled lump on the floor beside the bed. "Chino!" she yelled, walking over to the lump and giving it a hard kick with her Jimmy Choo sandal. The lump started to thrash around, a hand appearing, then a foot. The lump began to move across the floor as Ryan struggled to get out. Finally after thrusting both of his feet out of the bottom, Ryan appeared, blinking in the sun, his hair mussed with a bemused look on his face. He blearily looked around until he saw Summer who was staring at him like she had discovered a new and interesting species. "You can't do anything easy can you Ryan? Not even waking up." Ryan extricated himself from the blankets and stood stretching. He glanced at his watch "Its 11am in the morning on a Saturday Summer, don't you have more important things to do? Like painting your nails or playing with Princess Sparkle?" "Sadly my life has degraded to the point that watching you wake up is the highlight of my day. And don't knock Princess Sparkle. I'm sure you had a stuffed animal when you were little" At Ryan's sideways look she quickly amended "Or at least you would have if you had something resembling a normal life." Ryan began to shuffle to the bathroom. Summer followed him "Speaking of normal, why the fuck are you sleeping on the floor when you have a perfectly good bed? Did you have one of your 'fun dreams' again? "Did I ever mention how much I enjoy our morning banter" Ryan asked sarcastically, coming out of the bathroom "It's the highlight of my day" "You still haven't answered my original question Ryan" "Which would be??' Ryan gave a questioning look Summer gave a frustrated sigh "Stop playing dumb. Its very disconcerting when dumb people play dumb" "I see someone's been reading the dictionary," Ryan teased. "Forget it" Summer huffed, flopping down on the couch "Just forget it" Ryan sat down beside her. He motioned toward the Playstation 2 he had set up in the pool house "You ready to get your ass kicked again" Summer sighed theatrically "Ha don't make me laugh. You've obviously forgotten the last game we played. And the game before that. And the game before that. You know for a supposedly straight teenage male, you are ridiculously bad at video games" "You know whenever you spout off your bullshit it just makes me want to stay up all night practicing just so I can see the look on your face when I whup your ass" "Oh so that's why you fell asleep on the floor last night "Summer snickered. Ryan chuckled softly
Since the beginning of the summer from hell, Summer and Ryan had become friends. Well not exactly friends, more like sparring partners, but it was just what Ryan and Summer needed. Summer was devastated when Seth left of course, but had actually more pissed off than angry. She needed someone to talk to, to vent all her anger at Seth on. Marissa was out of the question, she was barely functional nowadays. Summer had tried at the beginning of the summer to help her. She realized early on, however, that Marissa was beyond any help Summer could give her and frankly, Summer was tired of trying to help Marissa. It seemed as if all she did was help Marissa the past year. That left only Ryan to talk to after Ryan returned from his Chino nightmare. Ryan had been quiet at first, speaking barely a word to Summer. Summer found she enjoyed the comfortable silences. It was a bit of a relief to just sit with a person, and, in the words of Vincent Vega of Pulp Fiction just shut the fuck up for awhile. When Ryan did talk, he and Summer would engage in antagonistic banter, which helped them take their minds off the wreckage that had been their summer. When Summer had tried to talk to Ryan about Theresa or the baby, Ryan had not surprisingly shut her out, changing the subject immediately.
Ryan saw Summer staring off into space and amused, snapped his fingers in front of her face. "Earth to Summer, Earth to Summer" he called. With a visible shake of her head, Summer's focus snapped back to Ryan. He was watching her with an amused look on his face. "I always thought you lived on another planet." "You know, I think I liked you better without your 'sense of humour' Summer replied, making air quotes around the words 'sense of humour' "Come on I need some coffee," she said, straightening up "And then I can kick your ass" She paused by the door, glancing back at Ryan with interest when she realized he wasn't coming with her. She noticed a sudden wary look in his eye "Come on Chino, I know for a fact you need at least like, three cups of coffee in the morning" "Ah not today" Ryan said quickly. "Suit yourself' Summer shrugged and moved to leave. "Ah Summer, can you get me a cup?" Ryan asked with a hopeful look on his face. Summer emitted a barking laugh "You gotta be fucking kidding me. The only guy I ever waited on is in some piece of shit boat somewhere in the Pacific. Get your own fucking coffee" "That's funny, I always though he waited on you' Ryan muttered as he left with Summer for the house. As he approached the house, he could see Kirsten drinking a cup of tea at the bar. Ryan was annoyed to see that his hands were shaking and his heart was ricocheting off his ribs. He tried to steady his hands as he entered the kitchen "Hey Mrs. Cohen" Summer said as she made a beeline for the coffee machine. Kirsten visibly jumped "Oh hey Summer, I ah had no idea you were here... Morning Ryan" she stuttered, cursing herself for her voice which to her horror was somewhat squeaky. Ryan followed Summer to the coffee machine, doing his best not to look at Kirsten. "Morning Kirsten" he replied in a tight voice. Summer leaned on the counter "So Kirsten I was hoping you could help me convince Ryan that instead of wrapping himself like a tortilla on the floor he should actually sleep in his own bed" "He, uh, he doesn't sleep in his bed?" Kirsten asked in a tremulous voice. She willed herself to look at him, silently cursing the wife-beater company that Ryan seemed to keep in business by himself. Ryan avoided her piercing blue eyes and concentrated on the wood grain of the counter "No, it uh, brings back too many memories" he lifted his glance to focus on Kirsten when he said this. She visibly recoiled, her face whitening. "Of course" she managed to get out. Summer gave Ryan a curious glance and decided not to pursue the matter any more "Morning Sandy" Kirsten said loudly as Sandy walked through the door. "Morning" he replied, moving toward the coffee machine "Summer" he nodded, shooting a glance over to Ryan "Ryan: he said in a clipped voice. "Morning Mr. Cohen "Ryan mumbled, not meeting his glance. After filling up his cup with steaming hot coffee he drifted to the study, dropping an absent-minded kiss on Kirsten's forehead. Shooting an anguished glance at Ryan, Kirsten trailed after him. Wishing he were back in the relatively angst-free Chino, Ryan left the kitchen, followed by Summer. Once they were in the pool house, Summer ventured, "God, Mr. Cohen looks awful. Those bags under his eyes. He really needs a good facial revitalizer." Despite himself, Ryan snickered "He's under a lot of pressure with work" Ryan stated in a monotone, all traces of laughter gone from his voice. "He still blames you for Seth leaving doesn't he?" Summer asked softly. Ryan nodded once jerkily. Summer shook her head in sympathy "Don't blame yourself, blame that selfish asshole formerly known as Seth Cohen" Ryan shot a questioning look at Summer "Formerly, when he comes back and after I get through with him, he's gonna wish he had never came back" Ryan flashed a quick grin "Seriously, Mr, Cohen will get over it. So will Kirsten. She really loves you, you know" Ryan began coughing violently on his coffee. You have no idea he thought, trying to regain his breath.
After several rounds of Playstation, Ryan and Summer decided to spend the rest of the day down at the pier. As Ryan walked back to the pool house he overheard angry voices coming from the kitchen "What the hell do you expect me to do, Kirsten? Sit at home and twiddle my fucking thumbs until Seth comes back?" Sandy demanded in a frustrated voice. "I want you to stop killing yourself Sandy! You stay in the office until midnight every night now. I miss you; I miss the way we used to be. I don't even feel like I even have a husband anymore!" Kirsten screamed at him, in a shaking voice. "You want me to take a sabbatical?" Sandy asked in a deceptively calm voice "Yes" Kirsten said, "At least until Seth comes back" "Oh you would just fucking love that wouldn't you" Sandy screamed back " You can go back to being the sole provider, holding it over my head that you make more money than me!" Ryan stood in shock, his cigarette stuck forgotten at the corner of his mouth, burning down to the filter. He had never heard Sandy like this. Ryan grew cold as he remembered the other men in his life that had sounded as angry as Sandy did right now. Before they lashed out with their fists "Sandy" Kirsten's trembling voice was a plea "Forget it, just forget it" Sandy said roughly, stalking out of the room. Ryan ducked his head instinctively as he heard the sound of glass crashing from the kitchen. He could hear Kirsten wracking sobs echoing in the empty kitchen. As he came around the back door, he saw Kirsten kneeling on the floor, her shaking hands covering her face. Ryan was overtaken by a sudden wave of empathy that his knees almost shook. Making a split-second decision, he opened the door, and walked over to the prostate figure on the floor. "Kirsten" he said softly She looked up at him, her eyes glistening, her face etched with grief. Ryan placed his strong arms around her and lifted her up. "What?" Kirsten asked in a hoarse voice. Ryan quickly carried her to the pool house and gently laid her on the bed. Kirsten gave him a tremulous smile and hugged him tightly. Ryan laid down beside her, fighting the alarms that were going off in his brain, his entire being needing to comfort this broken woman beside him. He gently brushed her hair off her tear-streaked face and wiped her eyes. She burrowed into him and whispered "Thank you" "No problem' Ryan whispered back
Summer Roberts stood at the door to the pool house, smirking at the swaddled lump on the floor beside the bed. "Chino!" she yelled, walking over to the lump and giving it a hard kick with her Jimmy Choo sandal. The lump started to thrash around, a hand appearing, then a foot. The lump began to move across the floor as Ryan struggled to get out. Finally after thrusting both of his feet out of the bottom, Ryan appeared, blinking in the sun, his hair mussed with a bemused look on his face. He blearily looked around until he saw Summer who was staring at him like she had discovered a new and interesting species. "You can't do anything easy can you Ryan? Not even waking up." Ryan extricated himself from the blankets and stood stretching. He glanced at his watch "Its 11am in the morning on a Saturday Summer, don't you have more important things to do? Like painting your nails or playing with Princess Sparkle?" "Sadly my life has degraded to the point that watching you wake up is the highlight of my day. And don't knock Princess Sparkle. I'm sure you had a stuffed animal when you were little" At Ryan's sideways look she quickly amended "Or at least you would have if you had something resembling a normal life." Ryan began to shuffle to the bathroom. Summer followed him "Speaking of normal, why the fuck are you sleeping on the floor when you have a perfectly good bed? Did you have one of your 'fun dreams' again? "Did I ever mention how much I enjoy our morning banter" Ryan asked sarcastically, coming out of the bathroom "It's the highlight of my day" "You still haven't answered my original question Ryan" "Which would be??' Ryan gave a questioning look Summer gave a frustrated sigh "Stop playing dumb. Its very disconcerting when dumb people play dumb" "I see someone's been reading the dictionary," Ryan teased. "Forget it" Summer huffed, flopping down on the couch "Just forget it" Ryan sat down beside her. He motioned toward the Playstation 2 he had set up in the pool house "You ready to get your ass kicked again" Summer sighed theatrically "Ha don't make me laugh. You've obviously forgotten the last game we played. And the game before that. And the game before that. You know for a supposedly straight teenage male, you are ridiculously bad at video games" "You know whenever you spout off your bullshit it just makes me want to stay up all night practicing just so I can see the look on your face when I whup your ass" "Oh so that's why you fell asleep on the floor last night "Summer snickered. Ryan chuckled softly
Since the beginning of the summer from hell, Summer and Ryan had become friends. Well not exactly friends, more like sparring partners, but it was just what Ryan and Summer needed. Summer was devastated when Seth left of course, but had actually more pissed off than angry. She needed someone to talk to, to vent all her anger at Seth on. Marissa was out of the question, she was barely functional nowadays. Summer had tried at the beginning of the summer to help her. She realized early on, however, that Marissa was beyond any help Summer could give her and frankly, Summer was tired of trying to help Marissa. It seemed as if all she did was help Marissa the past year. That left only Ryan to talk to after Ryan returned from his Chino nightmare. Ryan had been quiet at first, speaking barely a word to Summer. Summer found she enjoyed the comfortable silences. It was a bit of a relief to just sit with a person, and, in the words of Vincent Vega of Pulp Fiction just shut the fuck up for awhile. When Ryan did talk, he and Summer would engage in antagonistic banter, which helped them take their minds off the wreckage that had been their summer. When Summer had tried to talk to Ryan about Theresa or the baby, Ryan had not surprisingly shut her out, changing the subject immediately.
Ryan saw Summer staring off into space and amused, snapped his fingers in front of her face. "Earth to Summer, Earth to Summer" he called. With a visible shake of her head, Summer's focus snapped back to Ryan. He was watching her with an amused look on his face. "I always thought you lived on another planet." "You know, I think I liked you better without your 'sense of humour' Summer replied, making air quotes around the words 'sense of humour' "Come on I need some coffee," she said, straightening up "And then I can kick your ass" She paused by the door, glancing back at Ryan with interest when she realized he wasn't coming with her. She noticed a sudden wary look in his eye "Come on Chino, I know for a fact you need at least like, three cups of coffee in the morning" "Ah not today" Ryan said quickly. "Suit yourself' Summer shrugged and moved to leave. "Ah Summer, can you get me a cup?" Ryan asked with a hopeful look on his face. Summer emitted a barking laugh "You gotta be fucking kidding me. The only guy I ever waited on is in some piece of shit boat somewhere in the Pacific. Get your own fucking coffee" "That's funny, I always though he waited on you' Ryan muttered as he left with Summer for the house. As he approached the house, he could see Kirsten drinking a cup of tea at the bar. Ryan was annoyed to see that his hands were shaking and his heart was ricocheting off his ribs. He tried to steady his hands as he entered the kitchen "Hey Mrs. Cohen" Summer said as she made a beeline for the coffee machine. Kirsten visibly jumped "Oh hey Summer, I ah had no idea you were here... Morning Ryan" she stuttered, cursing herself for her voice which to her horror was somewhat squeaky. Ryan followed Summer to the coffee machine, doing his best not to look at Kirsten. "Morning Kirsten" he replied in a tight voice. Summer leaned on the counter "So Kirsten I was hoping you could help me convince Ryan that instead of wrapping himself like a tortilla on the floor he should actually sleep in his own bed" "He, uh, he doesn't sleep in his bed?" Kirsten asked in a tremulous voice. She willed herself to look at him, silently cursing the wife-beater company that Ryan seemed to keep in business by himself. Ryan avoided her piercing blue eyes and concentrated on the wood grain of the counter "No, it uh, brings back too many memories" he lifted his glance to focus on Kirsten when he said this. She visibly recoiled, her face whitening. "Of course" she managed to get out. Summer gave Ryan a curious glance and decided not to pursue the matter any more "Morning Sandy" Kirsten said loudly as Sandy walked through the door. "Morning" he replied, moving toward the coffee machine "Summer" he nodded, shooting a glance over to Ryan "Ryan: he said in a clipped voice. "Morning Mr. Cohen "Ryan mumbled, not meeting his glance. After filling up his cup with steaming hot coffee he drifted to the study, dropping an absent-minded kiss on Kirsten's forehead. Shooting an anguished glance at Ryan, Kirsten trailed after him. Wishing he were back in the relatively angst-free Chino, Ryan left the kitchen, followed by Summer. Once they were in the pool house, Summer ventured, "God, Mr. Cohen looks awful. Those bags under his eyes. He really needs a good facial revitalizer." Despite himself, Ryan snickered "He's under a lot of pressure with work" Ryan stated in a monotone, all traces of laughter gone from his voice. "He still blames you for Seth leaving doesn't he?" Summer asked softly. Ryan nodded once jerkily. Summer shook her head in sympathy "Don't blame yourself, blame that selfish asshole formerly known as Seth Cohen" Ryan shot a questioning look at Summer "Formerly, when he comes back and after I get through with him, he's gonna wish he had never came back" Ryan flashed a quick grin "Seriously, Mr, Cohen will get over it. So will Kirsten. She really loves you, you know" Ryan began coughing violently on his coffee. You have no idea he thought, trying to regain his breath.
After several rounds of Playstation, Ryan and Summer decided to spend the rest of the day down at the pier. As Ryan walked back to the pool house he overheard angry voices coming from the kitchen "What the hell do you expect me to do, Kirsten? Sit at home and twiddle my fucking thumbs until Seth comes back?" Sandy demanded in a frustrated voice. "I want you to stop killing yourself Sandy! You stay in the office until midnight every night now. I miss you; I miss the way we used to be. I don't even feel like I even have a husband anymore!" Kirsten screamed at him, in a shaking voice. "You want me to take a sabbatical?" Sandy asked in a deceptively calm voice "Yes" Kirsten said, "At least until Seth comes back" "Oh you would just fucking love that wouldn't you" Sandy screamed back " You can go back to being the sole provider, holding it over my head that you make more money than me!" Ryan stood in shock, his cigarette stuck forgotten at the corner of his mouth, burning down to the filter. He had never heard Sandy like this. Ryan grew cold as he remembered the other men in his life that had sounded as angry as Sandy did right now. Before they lashed out with their fists "Sandy" Kirsten's trembling voice was a plea "Forget it, just forget it" Sandy said roughly, stalking out of the room. Ryan ducked his head instinctively as he heard the sound of glass crashing from the kitchen. He could hear Kirsten wracking sobs echoing in the empty kitchen. As he came around the back door, he saw Kirsten kneeling on the floor, her shaking hands covering her face. Ryan was overtaken by a sudden wave of empathy that his knees almost shook. Making a split-second decision, he opened the door, and walked over to the prostate figure on the floor. "Kirsten" he said softly She looked up at him, her eyes glistening, her face etched with grief. Ryan placed his strong arms around her and lifted her up. "What?" Kirsten asked in a hoarse voice. Ryan quickly carried her to the pool house and gently laid her on the bed. Kirsten gave him a tremulous smile and hugged him tightly. Ryan laid down beside her, fighting the alarms that were going off in his brain, his entire being needing to comfort this broken woman beside him. He gently brushed her hair off her tear-streaked face and wiped her eyes. She burrowed into him and whispered "Thank you" "No problem' Ryan whispered back