Author's Notes: Hi! This is the first chapter of what will be a three
chapter fic. I wrote it awhile ago, I'm really sorry for not posting it
right away!
For those of you who don't know me, (aka most of you) I'm Kate, your lovely authoress for this evening! Uh huh. Anyway, yeah. How do you do? ^_^ This is my first O.C. fic, but I've seen all but one of the shows! So I feel I'm a little prepared!
Okay, for you people following The O.C. regularly, this fic comes after 'The Outsider' but before 'The Girlfriend'. There it branches out, and doesn't follow 'Girlfriend' and so on. If you don't watch regularly, ignore what I just said.
I hope you like it! I love drama, so this promises to be an exciting fic! ^_~
Disclaimer: I do not own The O.C.
~*~
Music blared across cresting waves and white sand beaches. The soft smooth sand was marred by clumsy footprints, and a beer can was occasionally strewn around like a bad form of decoration. Voices and laughter broke through the loud music, coming from a beach house on the edge of a large, spacious house, and giving a form of life to the warm August night.
Inside the pool house, the darkness of outside made a huge contrast to the brightly coloured interior. Young men and women were dancing to the music, talking in little groups, clustered around the refreshment table, or kissing on the couches. Alcohol flowed freely, although almost all the occupants of the party were underage.
"She's not coming, is she?"
Summer's glance was quick, but regret and disapproval at her friend was plain in her eyes. Luke shifted his weight from one foot to the other in agitation.
"No, she started ditching these parties soon after Chino got here." Summer said airily, then went back to smiling flirtatiously at the boy next to her.
Luke nodded, and waded through the crowds of dancing teens to sit on the couch. He scowled at passing couples dancing, or walking with their arms around each other. Chino. That's where all his problems started. That stupid kid who came to their side of town and made himself right at home. He had no business to stay around Marissa, none at all. Even if they DID live next to each other, that gave no reason for him to start hanging out with her all the time.
This wasn't Marissa's fault in his mind, she was the damsel in distress, and he had tried his best to be the gallant knight and save her, but that damn Chino kept getting in the way. The way things were going, things were going to be over between him and Marissa, if they weren't already. The way he saw it, they were on a 'break'. That meant he had licence to check out some of these girls, didn't it?
Holly smiled across the room at Luke, and sidled up to him. She was dressed in a bikini top and a low cut jean skirt. Her blonde hair flowed in curls framing her face. She sat next to him on the couch, then leaned in and kissed him.
****
Marissa stepped out of her car onto white high heels. Closing the door behind her, she looked at Holly's pool house with a sigh. After a long heated talk with her mother, Julie had convinced her that her life would be much better off if she stayed with Luke. And to do that she needed to go to this party. And her mother had gotten into it and told her what to wear.
The result was that she looked like the typical Newport Beach rich girl.
O.C. Barbie.
Grabbing the white hand bag, Marissa threw her curled hair over her shoulder, put on her dark sunglasses, checked her lipstick and walked up to the house. She was wearing a tight white halter top, and low-rise white jeans that she could barely move in. Seeing the door was open, she stepped threw and into the party, making sure not to stumble on her heels.
She gazed around for Luke, pushing her sunglasses up onto her forehead. He would be here, he was always at these parties. Suddenly, she noticed half the party was watching her. More and more people stopped what they were doing and stared at her, as if waiting for something to happen.
She saw someone rushing towards her threw the crowd in the pool house. It was Summer. She looked slightly frantic.
"Let's go outside," She said quickly, grabbing Marissa's shoulders and pushing her in the direction of the door.
"Why, I have to find Luke," Marissa said, confused. She was still gazing around for Luke.
"Come-"
She didn't hear the rest of what Summer was saying. Marissa stopped where she was, frozen in place. She was speechless. She had found Luke.
He was lying on the couch next to Holly, with one hand in her hair and the other on her lower back kissing her passionately.
Suddenly, Luke realized that it was deadly quiet other then the music. He lifted his head to see what it was, and saw Marissa staring at him. He immediately sat up, wiping lipstick off his face, and accidentally pushing a disgruntled Holly to the floor.
"Marissa, honey, it's not what it looks like..." Luke started. He stood up and started walking towards her. "Let me explain-" He was cut off as he reached Marissa.
She had slapped him hard across the face.
There were a few whistles and catcalls at this, but other then that, the room was quiet. The music still blared loudly.
"Explain?" Marissa whispered. Her voice rose as she continued. "Explain?!? What is there to explain, Luke? I came here tonight to make things up with you. I couldn't have made a bigger mistake. Why did I ever think you and I could be together? It's over, Luke. Don't call me."
She ran out off the party, and scrambled to put the key in the lock of her car. Finally fitting it in, she unlocked the car and got behind the wheel. Her breath was coming fast, and she felt a sharp burning behind her eyes. A tear escaped from the corner of her eye, and slipped down her cheek.
When she arrived home, there were silent tears streaming down her face. She parked at the bottom of the driveway, and climbed out of the car. She slammed the car door closed with all her might, and then felt all her strength had been sapped from her. She collapsed to the ground, her knees buckling under her. She sat, leaning against the wheel of her car, with her hands on the white bag shaking in her lap.
***
Ryan and Seth were hanging out in the Cohen's pool house. Seth was playing excitedly on a gameboy, and Ryan lay with his hands behind his head on his bed.
"YES! I beat my score! Whose the man?!?" Seth yelled suddenly. Ryan laughed from the bed.
"You guessed right, my friend. Seth Cohen. Seth Cohen everybody, remember that name, because it will be coming to a radio and tv set near you very soon!" Seth continued, in his element.
Suddenly, a hard banging sound reached their ears from outside.
"What was that?" Ryan asked, sitting up.
"Well, I don't think anyone was popping champagne....So, I'm out of ideas." Seth shrugged.
"Maybe someone's cars screwed up." Ryan suggested.
Seth laughed. "Are you kidding? A screwed up car in Newport Beach? That wonderful place in the world where if a scratch happens to be on the door, they buy a whole new one?"
"Then what was it?" Ryan got up, and went to the door of the pool house, Seth behind him. He walked around to the driveway, and raised his eyebrows at what he saw. Marissa Cooper leaning against the wheel of her car, dressed obviously for a party.
"I'm going to guess that was what it was." Seth said calmly, pointing to Marissa. Ryan nodded, and jogged down the driveway. Seth sighed, and followed him. "Oh sure, ditch your friend for a girl. Happens every time."
As Ryan reached Marissa, she looked up at him through shimmering eyes. There were streaks of tears running down her face, dark with mascara. Ryan crouched down next to her.
"Are you okay?" He asked gently. She looked up at him, and with an obviously impulsive movement threw her arms around him. His eyes widened slightly, but awkwardly patted her back. She started to sob into his shoulder. He looked up from the ground at Seth, who raised his palms in a 'what's up?' gesture. Ryan shrugged.
Seth leaned against the car. Ryan kept patting Marissa's back, at loss of what to do. Seth made circling motions in the air with his palm. Ryan stared at him in confusion. Seth rolled his eyes. He pretended he was holding someone like Ryan was, and made circular motions on the invisible person's back.
"What the hell?" Ryan mouthed to Seth. Seth sighed, and murmured something inaudible about having to teach him EVERYTHING. Leaning down, he grabbed Ryan's wrist and rubbed Marissa's back in a circular motion.
"Oh." Ryan said with sudden understanding, and Seth nodded and smiled sarcastically and went back to leaning on the car.
After about fifteen minutes, Marissa sniffed, and leaned back. She stared at Ryan. He looked back at her. "Are you okay?" He repeated. She shook her head.
"Luke is being a jerk. Again. Cheated on me with Holly, at one of her parties. I broke up with him." She whispered, watching Ryan.
"Does that mean you want to go out with me tomorrow night?" Ryan said slowly. He smiled weakly at her. She laughed slightly and nodded, bringing her face up and kissing him.
"Er. Right. Imma gunna go, uh." Seth stuttered uncomfortably. He pointed at the house. "Er....yeah. See ya." He jogged backwards a bit, then turned and walked up to the house.
Marissa and Ryan laughed at him, and then smiled at each other.
*****
"So does this mean you're now officially going with the girl next door?" Sandy asked a few nights later at the dinner table. The candles were lit, there were two forks beside every plate, and there were glass dishes in plain use. Just a normal Cohen dinner.
Ryan's head shot up from where he had been staring at his dinner plate. His eyes were wide with shock.
Seth snorted with laughter, but one look from Kirsten silenced him. He pretended to be looking intently at his plate, but couldn't help grinning at the floundering look on Ryan's face.
"Uh...I guess..." Ryan said, going back to his food.
"Define 'I guess'." Sandy turned to Kirsten. "Kids these days. 'I guess' instead of yes or no. Pretty silly, if you ask me."
"Argh!" Seth groaned. "Parents trying to be funny. Oh the horror! The horror!"
Sandy picked up his fork and pantomimed jabbing his son with it. Ryan laughed.
"Ryan," Kirsten said, changing the subject. "I don't know if I've ever heard you speak a complete sentence."
"You know what? I don't think I have either." Sandy agreed.
"I have!" Seth said, raising his hand like he was answering a question in class.
Ryan laughed quietly. "I talk in full sentences!"
Seth gasped, pretending to be taken aback. "Wow, did you hear that Mom? Dad? It talks!"
"Very impressive, Ryan." Sandy said, clapping. "We're all very proud of you."
"Mmm." Kirsten agreed. "Desert, anyone?
This innocent question was met with hearty agreements from the three males in the house.
"I'll take that as a reluctant yes." Kirsten commented, and got up from the table to get it.
After they had all feasted on chocolate cake, they all helped take the plates back into the kitchen.
"Alright. Kirsten, you start filling the dishwasher, and Seth and I will tie Ryan's arms to his sides so he doesn't wash the plates." Sandy ordered.
Ryan held up his arms. "I promise! I promise!"
"It won't last," Seth muttered, and Ryan gave him a shove.
***
A week later, it was very official around the Cohen residence that Ryan and Marissa were indeed a couple. The Coopers didn't know it yet, but the Cohens expected they'd find out in time. Marissa often joined Ryan and Seth in their lazing around the house, which was fine with Sandy and Kirsten. The Coopers just thought their daughter had taken pity on the socially inept boy next door and the poor, misguided youth the Cohens had taken in out of sympathy.
Marissa, Ryan and Seth were hanging out in the pool house when they heard a knock on the door. Looking through the glass, they saw it was Anna. The girl from the debut into society party that had taken a liking to Seth. She was leaning against the doorframe in frayed jeans and a dark green t shirt.
Ryan opened the door, and she charismatically at him.
"Hi, is Seth there? His parents said I could find him here..." She said quickly.
"Yeah, hey, Seth!" Ryan called over his shoulder, and the man in question appeared from behind the door.
"Uh, hey, Anna! Would you like to, uh, come in?" He stuttered. Marissa giggled at him, and Ryan held a hand over her mouth, but smiled also.
"Confidence, remember?" Anna said, flirtatiously patting him on the shoulder.
"Uh, yeah- I mean, Yes." Seth said very quickly. "Yes. Confidence. I have confidence in confidence alone. Yupp."
"Good, but I don't think singing The Sound of Music was required..." Anna said, cocking an eyebrow.
"Oh but it was! The hills are alive, with the sounds of music..." Seth sang.
"Shut up, Seth." Ryan said, rolling his eyes.
"I think we need to work on his people skills," Marissa suggested. Ryan grinned and nodded.
"Uh huh." Anna said. "But what I came here to ask was, would you like to take me to Holly's party tonight? I've never been, but from what I hear I don't want to go alone."
"You mean...Like a date?" Seth asked quickly.
"Yeah, although, really, you should have been the one to ask, but I thought I'd get us started." Anna said.
"Okay. Pick you up at nine." Seth said, smiling.
"Sounds good," Anna said, smiling back. She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "See you later." Before she left her gaze paused on Ryan and Marissa sitting close to each other. "So you too are finally a couple, huh? Good luck with that, your gunna need it." She said, in way of encouragement. With one final smile at Seth, she exited.
"B-bye!" Seth stammered, still standing with his arm raised in a wave five minutes after she had actually left.
Ryan laughed, but Marissa was getting worried. She gave him a little shove. "Fine, fine!" He said. He got up, and walked over to Seth.
"Seth, buddy. She's gone now." Ryan said. Seth blinked, then suddenly grabbed Ryan's shoulders.
"Us? Did you hear that? She said 'us'. As in we were an 'us'." Seth babbled.
"Yes, that usually is what 'us' means. Two or more people." Marissa defined. Seth glared at her, then turned back to Ryan and fell on his knees.
"Man, you gotta help me. Come with me to Holly's party tonight, please!" Seth pleased. Ryan shook his head. "Please? I'm begging you. You're like my brother now, or something Ryan, brothers do things for one another. You and Marissa come with Anna and me and make sure I don't make a complete fool of myself! Besides, you and Marissa can make your 'debut into society' or whatever as a couple."
Ryan looked at Marissa, and she nodded nervously. "Fine, we'll come." He told Seth, who immediately jumped up and hugged him awkwardly.
"Thanks man, I'll never forget this." Seth said ecstatically. Ryan sighed.
"Somehow I don't think I will either."
***
Ryan knocked on Sandy's study door. There was a cheery 'come in!' from the other side, so he pushed the door open and stuck his head through. Sandy was sitting at his desk, which had piles of charts so high it was amazing he could see the man on the other side at all.
"Ryan!" Sandy said, taking off his glasses. "You're the last person I'd expect to see here. Is something wrong?"
Ryan almost said 'no' out of reflex, but caught himself just in time. "Yeah, uh, do you have a minute?"
Sandy gazed at him for a second, then pushed a pile of folders off a seat across from his desk. As Ryan slouched down in it, Sandy looked over at him.
"So. What can I do for you, Ryan?" Sandy asked. "Should I put on my attorney look, my wise parent look, or my comforting father look?"
"Uh..."
"Sorry, that wasn't really a question. What's bothering you?"
Ryan scratched his head. "Well...Here goes nothing.
"Seth was asked tonight by Anna. You know, the girl he debuted with at Cotillion. That's a good thing, but that's where the good points end. She invited him to one of Holly's parties, which I'm sure you know aren't exactly known for their wholesomeness. But the worst part is, Luke will be there. I knew Marissa and I would have to admit to being a couple to everyone outside of this family, but...Luke won't be happy.
"I don't care if anyone else minds, but it's going to be interesting with her ex. I'm not afraid of him, I could take him on any day. But you said I wasn't supposed to get into any more trouble, and last time I checked, fighting at parties counted as that. So basically, I'm going to get the stuffing kicked outta me. Seth could get pulled into it too, or something. But I can't fight back, if he touches me. We can't not go, that would be bad to Seth, who's been looking forward to this all night. But what should I do?"
Ryan said all this very quickly. Sandy just watched him. After he finished, Sandy was quiet, then answered him.
"Ryan, I think you just said more then you have altogether since you got here. But as for that party, I don't know what you should do. Try to stay out of Luke's way. Get Seth, Marissa, and Anna to go outside as soon as it starts. But if worse does come to worse, get out of there. Fast. Do NOT fight back. Even in self-defence, with your record.
"Don't worry about looking chicken; anyone else at those parties would do the same if Luke had it in for them. How's this sound: I'll give you my pager number, and if things get 'interesting', call it from Seth or Marissa's cell phones, and I'll get my butt over there fast. Okay? I'm sorry, but that's the best advice I can give. I defiantly don't envy you." Sandy said slowly,
Ryan nodded, and stood up. He took the piece of paper with the number scrawled on it. "Thanks, Mr. Cohen."
***********
"Tell me again why we're doing this." Ryan asked uncomfortably. "Luke's gunna be pissed."
"We're doing this because Seth needs help with Anna. And Luke was going to find out anyway, this way it's us telling him and not someone else." Marissa said, but she herself looked scared.
They were sitting on the front steps waiting for Seth, he was taking forever to get dressed because couldn't decide what to wear. In the end, Marissa and Ryan and handed him a black t-shirt and beige cargo pants, and pushed him in his room to change.
"Well, guys, how do I look?" Seth said from behind them. They turned to see him posing.
"Aw, look at our little boy all grown up! On his first date, too. It seemed like just yesterday he was a cynical sixteen year old, and look at him now! Do you think we should get the video recorder?" Sandy said from behind Seth. Seth whirled around.
"Well, get going. Ryan told me you were going to a party. Be careful. How about this time you come back with the land cruiser intact?" Sandy asked.
Seth scowled at him. "Yeah, sure Dad. See ya."
Seth got behind the wheel, and Ryan and Marissa got in the back seats. Marissa directed Seth on where Anna lived, and soon they pulled up in front of the newly built house. Anna was standing there waiting for them in blue jeans and a bright yellow shirt. She smiled when the car arrived, and pulled herself into the front seat next to Seth with a smile and hello to those in the back seats.
"So how are these parties, anyway?" Anna asked as they drove away from the house.
"Bad." Ryan said.
"Very bad." Seth agreed, his eyes on the road.
"Sounds fun!" Anna grinned.
Ryan leaned his face against the glass, the cool glass feeling good on his sweaty forehead. He was worried, he'd never admit it, but he was. He knew that Luke would be there. He knew he'd get in trouble. He knew he wasn't allowed to fight back. He knew he wouldn't be able to run away and call Mr. Cohen. Maybe he could give the number to Seth, or Marissa.
Yeah, sure. That would go over well. 'If I get beaten senseless by your ex-boyfriend, call that number and my snazzy new legal guardian, who is also my lawyer, will show up by himself at a party full of drunk and high teens, and see my unconscious body. Oh, and by the way, did I mention I'm going to be beat up by a kid I could knock out with one measly punch?' Right.
"Earth to Ryan. I repeat, Earth to Ryan." Seth's voice broke through Ryan's thoughts.
"What?" Ryan asked, blinking.
"Dude, we're here."
"Oh." Ryan felt his face flush as Anna and Marissa laughed softly at him. He climbed out of the car, put his arm around Marissa's waist, and started walking towards Holly's pool house.
Ryan couldn't have known it, but everyone else in the car had been thinking similar thoughts.
Seth regretted accepting Anna's offer, because at the time he had forgotten Luke would, of course, be there. There was no going back now, though. Besides, Ryan had looked determined. Of course, now he looked a bit sick, but Seth knew that wasn't because he was afraid of Luke. It was because Ryan knew he couldn't fight back.
Anna was impressed at Ryan's guts. Of course, he had already stolen a car and burned down a house, so obviously he wasn't a wussie. But she knew enough about Luke to know that if she was in a similar situation as Ryan, she would stay the hell away from this party.
Marissa wanted to stop. She wanted to grab Ryan's arm and convince him to take her home. She could plead, beg, insist she was sick for heaven's sake. But they couldn't go to this party. She knew they had to make their relationship public sometime, but not now. Anytime but now. They had finally become comfortable with each other, Ryan was getting close to finally accepting his new lifestyle, and they were late for the party. Luke would already be drunk. Which really wasn't a good thing. Marissa dreaded seeing her ex-boyfriend. She knew that Ryan couldn't fight back, Seth had told her about that. She had seen with her own eyes Luke punch Ryan in the stomach and him not react. She wouldn't be able to watch Ryan get hurt, she couldn't. She knew he could take care of himself, but not with the threat from Social Services to be kicked out of the Cohen's hanging over his head.
But she could do nothing. So she just smiled at Ryan as they walked towards the pool house.
What had they gotten themselves into?
~*~
Author's Notes: Please review!
-Eh, Man
For those of you who don't know me, (aka most of you) I'm Kate, your lovely authoress for this evening! Uh huh. Anyway, yeah. How do you do? ^_^ This is my first O.C. fic, but I've seen all but one of the shows! So I feel I'm a little prepared!
Okay, for you people following The O.C. regularly, this fic comes after 'The Outsider' but before 'The Girlfriend'. There it branches out, and doesn't follow 'Girlfriend' and so on. If you don't watch regularly, ignore what I just said.
I hope you like it! I love drama, so this promises to be an exciting fic! ^_~
Disclaimer: I do not own The O.C.
~*~
Music blared across cresting waves and white sand beaches. The soft smooth sand was marred by clumsy footprints, and a beer can was occasionally strewn around like a bad form of decoration. Voices and laughter broke through the loud music, coming from a beach house on the edge of a large, spacious house, and giving a form of life to the warm August night.
Inside the pool house, the darkness of outside made a huge contrast to the brightly coloured interior. Young men and women were dancing to the music, talking in little groups, clustered around the refreshment table, or kissing on the couches. Alcohol flowed freely, although almost all the occupants of the party were underage.
"She's not coming, is she?"
Summer's glance was quick, but regret and disapproval at her friend was plain in her eyes. Luke shifted his weight from one foot to the other in agitation.
"No, she started ditching these parties soon after Chino got here." Summer said airily, then went back to smiling flirtatiously at the boy next to her.
Luke nodded, and waded through the crowds of dancing teens to sit on the couch. He scowled at passing couples dancing, or walking with their arms around each other. Chino. That's where all his problems started. That stupid kid who came to their side of town and made himself right at home. He had no business to stay around Marissa, none at all. Even if they DID live next to each other, that gave no reason for him to start hanging out with her all the time.
This wasn't Marissa's fault in his mind, she was the damsel in distress, and he had tried his best to be the gallant knight and save her, but that damn Chino kept getting in the way. The way things were going, things were going to be over between him and Marissa, if they weren't already. The way he saw it, they were on a 'break'. That meant he had licence to check out some of these girls, didn't it?
Holly smiled across the room at Luke, and sidled up to him. She was dressed in a bikini top and a low cut jean skirt. Her blonde hair flowed in curls framing her face. She sat next to him on the couch, then leaned in and kissed him.
****
Marissa stepped out of her car onto white high heels. Closing the door behind her, she looked at Holly's pool house with a sigh. After a long heated talk with her mother, Julie had convinced her that her life would be much better off if she stayed with Luke. And to do that she needed to go to this party. And her mother had gotten into it and told her what to wear.
The result was that she looked like the typical Newport Beach rich girl.
O.C. Barbie.
Grabbing the white hand bag, Marissa threw her curled hair over her shoulder, put on her dark sunglasses, checked her lipstick and walked up to the house. She was wearing a tight white halter top, and low-rise white jeans that she could barely move in. Seeing the door was open, she stepped threw and into the party, making sure not to stumble on her heels.
She gazed around for Luke, pushing her sunglasses up onto her forehead. He would be here, he was always at these parties. Suddenly, she noticed half the party was watching her. More and more people stopped what they were doing and stared at her, as if waiting for something to happen.
She saw someone rushing towards her threw the crowd in the pool house. It was Summer. She looked slightly frantic.
"Let's go outside," She said quickly, grabbing Marissa's shoulders and pushing her in the direction of the door.
"Why, I have to find Luke," Marissa said, confused. She was still gazing around for Luke.
"Come-"
She didn't hear the rest of what Summer was saying. Marissa stopped where she was, frozen in place. She was speechless. She had found Luke.
He was lying on the couch next to Holly, with one hand in her hair and the other on her lower back kissing her passionately.
Suddenly, Luke realized that it was deadly quiet other then the music. He lifted his head to see what it was, and saw Marissa staring at him. He immediately sat up, wiping lipstick off his face, and accidentally pushing a disgruntled Holly to the floor.
"Marissa, honey, it's not what it looks like..." Luke started. He stood up and started walking towards her. "Let me explain-" He was cut off as he reached Marissa.
She had slapped him hard across the face.
There were a few whistles and catcalls at this, but other then that, the room was quiet. The music still blared loudly.
"Explain?" Marissa whispered. Her voice rose as she continued. "Explain?!? What is there to explain, Luke? I came here tonight to make things up with you. I couldn't have made a bigger mistake. Why did I ever think you and I could be together? It's over, Luke. Don't call me."
She ran out off the party, and scrambled to put the key in the lock of her car. Finally fitting it in, she unlocked the car and got behind the wheel. Her breath was coming fast, and she felt a sharp burning behind her eyes. A tear escaped from the corner of her eye, and slipped down her cheek.
When she arrived home, there were silent tears streaming down her face. She parked at the bottom of the driveway, and climbed out of the car. She slammed the car door closed with all her might, and then felt all her strength had been sapped from her. She collapsed to the ground, her knees buckling under her. She sat, leaning against the wheel of her car, with her hands on the white bag shaking in her lap.
***
Ryan and Seth were hanging out in the Cohen's pool house. Seth was playing excitedly on a gameboy, and Ryan lay with his hands behind his head on his bed.
"YES! I beat my score! Whose the man?!?" Seth yelled suddenly. Ryan laughed from the bed.
"You guessed right, my friend. Seth Cohen. Seth Cohen everybody, remember that name, because it will be coming to a radio and tv set near you very soon!" Seth continued, in his element.
Suddenly, a hard banging sound reached their ears from outside.
"What was that?" Ryan asked, sitting up.
"Well, I don't think anyone was popping champagne....So, I'm out of ideas." Seth shrugged.
"Maybe someone's cars screwed up." Ryan suggested.
Seth laughed. "Are you kidding? A screwed up car in Newport Beach? That wonderful place in the world where if a scratch happens to be on the door, they buy a whole new one?"
"Then what was it?" Ryan got up, and went to the door of the pool house, Seth behind him. He walked around to the driveway, and raised his eyebrows at what he saw. Marissa Cooper leaning against the wheel of her car, dressed obviously for a party.
"I'm going to guess that was what it was." Seth said calmly, pointing to Marissa. Ryan nodded, and jogged down the driveway. Seth sighed, and followed him. "Oh sure, ditch your friend for a girl. Happens every time."
As Ryan reached Marissa, she looked up at him through shimmering eyes. There were streaks of tears running down her face, dark with mascara. Ryan crouched down next to her.
"Are you okay?" He asked gently. She looked up at him, and with an obviously impulsive movement threw her arms around him. His eyes widened slightly, but awkwardly patted her back. She started to sob into his shoulder. He looked up from the ground at Seth, who raised his palms in a 'what's up?' gesture. Ryan shrugged.
Seth leaned against the car. Ryan kept patting Marissa's back, at loss of what to do. Seth made circling motions in the air with his palm. Ryan stared at him in confusion. Seth rolled his eyes. He pretended he was holding someone like Ryan was, and made circular motions on the invisible person's back.
"What the hell?" Ryan mouthed to Seth. Seth sighed, and murmured something inaudible about having to teach him EVERYTHING. Leaning down, he grabbed Ryan's wrist and rubbed Marissa's back in a circular motion.
"Oh." Ryan said with sudden understanding, and Seth nodded and smiled sarcastically and went back to leaning on the car.
After about fifteen minutes, Marissa sniffed, and leaned back. She stared at Ryan. He looked back at her. "Are you okay?" He repeated. She shook her head.
"Luke is being a jerk. Again. Cheated on me with Holly, at one of her parties. I broke up with him." She whispered, watching Ryan.
"Does that mean you want to go out with me tomorrow night?" Ryan said slowly. He smiled weakly at her. She laughed slightly and nodded, bringing her face up and kissing him.
"Er. Right. Imma gunna go, uh." Seth stuttered uncomfortably. He pointed at the house. "Er....yeah. See ya." He jogged backwards a bit, then turned and walked up to the house.
Marissa and Ryan laughed at him, and then smiled at each other.
*****
"So does this mean you're now officially going with the girl next door?" Sandy asked a few nights later at the dinner table. The candles were lit, there were two forks beside every plate, and there were glass dishes in plain use. Just a normal Cohen dinner.
Ryan's head shot up from where he had been staring at his dinner plate. His eyes were wide with shock.
Seth snorted with laughter, but one look from Kirsten silenced him. He pretended to be looking intently at his plate, but couldn't help grinning at the floundering look on Ryan's face.
"Uh...I guess..." Ryan said, going back to his food.
"Define 'I guess'." Sandy turned to Kirsten. "Kids these days. 'I guess' instead of yes or no. Pretty silly, if you ask me."
"Argh!" Seth groaned. "Parents trying to be funny. Oh the horror! The horror!"
Sandy picked up his fork and pantomimed jabbing his son with it. Ryan laughed.
"Ryan," Kirsten said, changing the subject. "I don't know if I've ever heard you speak a complete sentence."
"You know what? I don't think I have either." Sandy agreed.
"I have!" Seth said, raising his hand like he was answering a question in class.
Ryan laughed quietly. "I talk in full sentences!"
Seth gasped, pretending to be taken aback. "Wow, did you hear that Mom? Dad? It talks!"
"Very impressive, Ryan." Sandy said, clapping. "We're all very proud of you."
"Mmm." Kirsten agreed. "Desert, anyone?
This innocent question was met with hearty agreements from the three males in the house.
"I'll take that as a reluctant yes." Kirsten commented, and got up from the table to get it.
After they had all feasted on chocolate cake, they all helped take the plates back into the kitchen.
"Alright. Kirsten, you start filling the dishwasher, and Seth and I will tie Ryan's arms to his sides so he doesn't wash the plates." Sandy ordered.
Ryan held up his arms. "I promise! I promise!"
"It won't last," Seth muttered, and Ryan gave him a shove.
***
A week later, it was very official around the Cohen residence that Ryan and Marissa were indeed a couple. The Coopers didn't know it yet, but the Cohens expected they'd find out in time. Marissa often joined Ryan and Seth in their lazing around the house, which was fine with Sandy and Kirsten. The Coopers just thought their daughter had taken pity on the socially inept boy next door and the poor, misguided youth the Cohens had taken in out of sympathy.
Marissa, Ryan and Seth were hanging out in the pool house when they heard a knock on the door. Looking through the glass, they saw it was Anna. The girl from the debut into society party that had taken a liking to Seth. She was leaning against the doorframe in frayed jeans and a dark green t shirt.
Ryan opened the door, and she charismatically at him.
"Hi, is Seth there? His parents said I could find him here..." She said quickly.
"Yeah, hey, Seth!" Ryan called over his shoulder, and the man in question appeared from behind the door.
"Uh, hey, Anna! Would you like to, uh, come in?" He stuttered. Marissa giggled at him, and Ryan held a hand over her mouth, but smiled also.
"Confidence, remember?" Anna said, flirtatiously patting him on the shoulder.
"Uh, yeah- I mean, Yes." Seth said very quickly. "Yes. Confidence. I have confidence in confidence alone. Yupp."
"Good, but I don't think singing The Sound of Music was required..." Anna said, cocking an eyebrow.
"Oh but it was! The hills are alive, with the sounds of music..." Seth sang.
"Shut up, Seth." Ryan said, rolling his eyes.
"I think we need to work on his people skills," Marissa suggested. Ryan grinned and nodded.
"Uh huh." Anna said. "But what I came here to ask was, would you like to take me to Holly's party tonight? I've never been, but from what I hear I don't want to go alone."
"You mean...Like a date?" Seth asked quickly.
"Yeah, although, really, you should have been the one to ask, but I thought I'd get us started." Anna said.
"Okay. Pick you up at nine." Seth said, smiling.
"Sounds good," Anna said, smiling back. She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "See you later." Before she left her gaze paused on Ryan and Marissa sitting close to each other. "So you too are finally a couple, huh? Good luck with that, your gunna need it." She said, in way of encouragement. With one final smile at Seth, she exited.
"B-bye!" Seth stammered, still standing with his arm raised in a wave five minutes after she had actually left.
Ryan laughed, but Marissa was getting worried. She gave him a little shove. "Fine, fine!" He said. He got up, and walked over to Seth.
"Seth, buddy. She's gone now." Ryan said. Seth blinked, then suddenly grabbed Ryan's shoulders.
"Us? Did you hear that? She said 'us'. As in we were an 'us'." Seth babbled.
"Yes, that usually is what 'us' means. Two or more people." Marissa defined. Seth glared at her, then turned back to Ryan and fell on his knees.
"Man, you gotta help me. Come with me to Holly's party tonight, please!" Seth pleased. Ryan shook his head. "Please? I'm begging you. You're like my brother now, or something Ryan, brothers do things for one another. You and Marissa come with Anna and me and make sure I don't make a complete fool of myself! Besides, you and Marissa can make your 'debut into society' or whatever as a couple."
Ryan looked at Marissa, and she nodded nervously. "Fine, we'll come." He told Seth, who immediately jumped up and hugged him awkwardly.
"Thanks man, I'll never forget this." Seth said ecstatically. Ryan sighed.
"Somehow I don't think I will either."
***
Ryan knocked on Sandy's study door. There was a cheery 'come in!' from the other side, so he pushed the door open and stuck his head through. Sandy was sitting at his desk, which had piles of charts so high it was amazing he could see the man on the other side at all.
"Ryan!" Sandy said, taking off his glasses. "You're the last person I'd expect to see here. Is something wrong?"
Ryan almost said 'no' out of reflex, but caught himself just in time. "Yeah, uh, do you have a minute?"
Sandy gazed at him for a second, then pushed a pile of folders off a seat across from his desk. As Ryan slouched down in it, Sandy looked over at him.
"So. What can I do for you, Ryan?" Sandy asked. "Should I put on my attorney look, my wise parent look, or my comforting father look?"
"Uh..."
"Sorry, that wasn't really a question. What's bothering you?"
Ryan scratched his head. "Well...Here goes nothing.
"Seth was asked tonight by Anna. You know, the girl he debuted with at Cotillion. That's a good thing, but that's where the good points end. She invited him to one of Holly's parties, which I'm sure you know aren't exactly known for their wholesomeness. But the worst part is, Luke will be there. I knew Marissa and I would have to admit to being a couple to everyone outside of this family, but...Luke won't be happy.
"I don't care if anyone else minds, but it's going to be interesting with her ex. I'm not afraid of him, I could take him on any day. But you said I wasn't supposed to get into any more trouble, and last time I checked, fighting at parties counted as that. So basically, I'm going to get the stuffing kicked outta me. Seth could get pulled into it too, or something. But I can't fight back, if he touches me. We can't not go, that would be bad to Seth, who's been looking forward to this all night. But what should I do?"
Ryan said all this very quickly. Sandy just watched him. After he finished, Sandy was quiet, then answered him.
"Ryan, I think you just said more then you have altogether since you got here. But as for that party, I don't know what you should do. Try to stay out of Luke's way. Get Seth, Marissa, and Anna to go outside as soon as it starts. But if worse does come to worse, get out of there. Fast. Do NOT fight back. Even in self-defence, with your record.
"Don't worry about looking chicken; anyone else at those parties would do the same if Luke had it in for them. How's this sound: I'll give you my pager number, and if things get 'interesting', call it from Seth or Marissa's cell phones, and I'll get my butt over there fast. Okay? I'm sorry, but that's the best advice I can give. I defiantly don't envy you." Sandy said slowly,
Ryan nodded, and stood up. He took the piece of paper with the number scrawled on it. "Thanks, Mr. Cohen."
***********
"Tell me again why we're doing this." Ryan asked uncomfortably. "Luke's gunna be pissed."
"We're doing this because Seth needs help with Anna. And Luke was going to find out anyway, this way it's us telling him and not someone else." Marissa said, but she herself looked scared.
They were sitting on the front steps waiting for Seth, he was taking forever to get dressed because couldn't decide what to wear. In the end, Marissa and Ryan and handed him a black t-shirt and beige cargo pants, and pushed him in his room to change.
"Well, guys, how do I look?" Seth said from behind them. They turned to see him posing.
"Aw, look at our little boy all grown up! On his first date, too. It seemed like just yesterday he was a cynical sixteen year old, and look at him now! Do you think we should get the video recorder?" Sandy said from behind Seth. Seth whirled around.
"Well, get going. Ryan told me you were going to a party. Be careful. How about this time you come back with the land cruiser intact?" Sandy asked.
Seth scowled at him. "Yeah, sure Dad. See ya."
Seth got behind the wheel, and Ryan and Marissa got in the back seats. Marissa directed Seth on where Anna lived, and soon they pulled up in front of the newly built house. Anna was standing there waiting for them in blue jeans and a bright yellow shirt. She smiled when the car arrived, and pulled herself into the front seat next to Seth with a smile and hello to those in the back seats.
"So how are these parties, anyway?" Anna asked as they drove away from the house.
"Bad." Ryan said.
"Very bad." Seth agreed, his eyes on the road.
"Sounds fun!" Anna grinned.
Ryan leaned his face against the glass, the cool glass feeling good on his sweaty forehead. He was worried, he'd never admit it, but he was. He knew that Luke would be there. He knew he'd get in trouble. He knew he wasn't allowed to fight back. He knew he wouldn't be able to run away and call Mr. Cohen. Maybe he could give the number to Seth, or Marissa.
Yeah, sure. That would go over well. 'If I get beaten senseless by your ex-boyfriend, call that number and my snazzy new legal guardian, who is also my lawyer, will show up by himself at a party full of drunk and high teens, and see my unconscious body. Oh, and by the way, did I mention I'm going to be beat up by a kid I could knock out with one measly punch?' Right.
"Earth to Ryan. I repeat, Earth to Ryan." Seth's voice broke through Ryan's thoughts.
"What?" Ryan asked, blinking.
"Dude, we're here."
"Oh." Ryan felt his face flush as Anna and Marissa laughed softly at him. He climbed out of the car, put his arm around Marissa's waist, and started walking towards Holly's pool house.
Ryan couldn't have known it, but everyone else in the car had been thinking similar thoughts.
Seth regretted accepting Anna's offer, because at the time he had forgotten Luke would, of course, be there. There was no going back now, though. Besides, Ryan had looked determined. Of course, now he looked a bit sick, but Seth knew that wasn't because he was afraid of Luke. It was because Ryan knew he couldn't fight back.
Anna was impressed at Ryan's guts. Of course, he had already stolen a car and burned down a house, so obviously he wasn't a wussie. But she knew enough about Luke to know that if she was in a similar situation as Ryan, she would stay the hell away from this party.
Marissa wanted to stop. She wanted to grab Ryan's arm and convince him to take her home. She could plead, beg, insist she was sick for heaven's sake. But they couldn't go to this party. She knew they had to make their relationship public sometime, but not now. Anytime but now. They had finally become comfortable with each other, Ryan was getting close to finally accepting his new lifestyle, and they were late for the party. Luke would already be drunk. Which really wasn't a good thing. Marissa dreaded seeing her ex-boyfriend. She knew that Ryan couldn't fight back, Seth had told her about that. She had seen with her own eyes Luke punch Ryan in the stomach and him not react. She wouldn't be able to watch Ryan get hurt, she couldn't. She knew he could take care of himself, but not with the threat from Social Services to be kicked out of the Cohen's hanging over his head.
But she could do nothing. So she just smiled at Ryan as they walked towards the pool house.
What had they gotten themselves into?
~*~
Author's Notes: Please review!
-Eh, Man