Title: Ryan's First Ski Trip

Summary: Ryan and the gang go to a ski resort for the weekend.

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to The O.C..

Chapter 4 - End of Shift

Luke quit his snowboarding and headed back to the lodge a little early. It was a little boring, snowboarding by himself. Plus he wondered what Ryan might have found to do all afternoon. He was probably bored, too. Luke was sure that he and Ryan could find something interesting to do, together, until they were supposed to meet up with everyone for dinner.

Luke arrived back at the lodge and went up to the room he was sharing with Ryan. Ryan wasn't there, which wasn't a surprise. So Luke went out and searched around the lodge. He couldn't find him anywhere. Maybe Ryan went out to do something that didn't involve heights, like cross-country skiing or something. Luke was just about to go to the concierge and ask to have Ryan paged, just in case he was in the lodge somewhere.

Before he did that, Luke checked a few final places, which he didn't expect Ryan to be at, including the restaurant. Luke walked just inside the doorway of the restaurant and looked around. At first he didn't pay any attention to the waiters or busboys, but then he spotted Ryan bussing a table. Luke had to look twice to make sure it wasn't just someone that looked like Ryan. No, it was definitely him. Luke went over to him.

When Luke got near Ryan, he said, quietly, "Ryan."

Ryan turned around. He said, also quietly, "Luke. What are you doing here?"

"Me? What the hell are you doing? You're a busboy now?"

They were interrupted by the manager. "Atwood, get back to work. No fraternizing with the guests."

Ryan said to the manager, "Yes, sir."

He turned back to Luke. "I've got to get back to work. Look, I get off at 5. I'll meet you in the room and explain everything. OK?"

Without waiting for Luke to answer, Ryan quickly finished with the table, and walked away. Damn Ryan thought as he reached the kitchen. He took a quick look back before the door closed and saw Luke still standing there, looking a little dumbfounded.

Ryan looked around the kitchen as he continued to do his work. He'd actually had a pretty good time for the last five hours, even with the hard work. He got along great with the other busboys and busgirls. They reminded him of his friends back home, in Chino. Ryan had even gotten invited to a party tonight, which he was seriously thinking of going to.

Now Ryan was going to have to deal with Luke -- come up with the explanation that he promised him. Ryan had really been hoping that no one would find out about what he was doing. Well, he knew that Luke could keep a secret, so maybe he'll keep this one.

When Ryan finished his shift at 5 O'Clock, he was dead tired. He had forgotten what it was like to be on his feet, working, for hours on end. And this wasn't even a full shift. He gratefully took the money that the manager gave him, went and changed back into his own clothes, and headed up to his room. When Ryan got there, Luke was already there watching TV and waiting for him.

"Hey, man --"

"Ugh, Luke, I need a shower first." And he needed time to think about what to tell Luke.

Ryan picked out some clean clothes to change into and headed into the bathroom. The water felt really good on his muscles that weren't used to working like this, not recently anyway. When Ryan finished his shower, he went and flopped down on his bed and joined Luke in watching TV. He wasn't planning on moving for a while. But he didn't have to wait long before Luke wanted answers.

"So, why were you working as a busboy? Isn't that a little weird? I mean, you're a guest here. Aren't the Cohens paying for it?"

Ryan laughed a little at that. "Yes, of course they are." Ryan sighed. "I don't know. I was looking for something to do, and the restaurant manager thought I was there to work, and I guess I thought why not..."

Ryan shrugged and looked back at the TV. He didn't know what else to say. He couldn't really explain why he did it, not to Luke, anyway. He figured that someone like Luke wouldn't understand that he was more comfortable working at a ski resort than being a guest at one.

Luke looked at Ryan. He didn't get it. Why would someone choose to work when they didn't have to and they could be out having fun instead? But Luke knew Ryan well enough by now to see that Ryan was done talking, so that explanation would have to do.

Ryan and Luke were still vegging out in front of the TV when there was a knock on their door. Luke looked over at Ryan. He wasn't making any move to get up and answer the door, so Luke had to do it. It was Seth.

"Hey, Cohen."

"Hey."

Seth came in and saw Ryan lying on his bed. Seth walked over to him. On the way, he looked to see what they were watching on TV. It was basketball, not something that interested Seth, but he'd seen Ryan watching it before. Seth stopped at the foot of Ryan's bed.

Seth looked between Ryan and Luke, who had followed him back into the room. "So, are you guys ready for dinner?"

Ryan turned his head and looked at the clock. He hadn't realized it was so late. He had been thinking about begging off from dinner with the gang, so that he wouldn't have to go down to the restaurant, in case someone recognized him there. But since Seth was here, Ryan guessed it was too late to pretend to be sick or something. He'd just have to go down there and try to keep from getting himself noticed.

Ryan sat up on the side of the bed. "Yeah. Just give us a few minutes. We'll meet you down there."

"Sure."

Seth paused for a moment. Ryan was acting a little strangely. But then again, Ryan did that sometimes. So Seth went ahead out of the room and met up with Summer, who was waiting in the hallway. They headed downstairs to the restaurant.

After Seth left, Luke turned to Ryan. "What are you going to do? What if someone recognizes you at the restaurant? I assume you didn't tell them that you're a guest..."

Ryan sighed. "There was a shift change when I left, so probably most of the waiters and busboys are new. And even if one of them recognizes me, they'll probably just look at me funny and not say anything. The person I'm worried about is the restaurant manager. I'm not sure what he'd say if he saw me. I'll just have to hope my luck holds out and he doesn't see me."

Luke said, uncertainly, "OK..."

Ryan just shrugged and went ahead and got up and started getting ready for dinner.

To Be Continued