Seth didn't quite know why he was in the driver's seat of the Range Rover
on the way to Chino, but then again, he had Ryan right next to him. It took
quite a lot of screaming on Seth's part to finally get his brother to snap
out of the range induced trance he was in. The moment that Ryan started
talking in rational sentences again, he repeated the same one over and over
again. Theresa's in the hospital, I've got to talk to Eddie.
So that's what they were doing now, Ryan would probably run over anything and everything in his way and Seth, being the responsible one, strapped Ryan into the front seat, took the keys and jumped unto the freeway. It was the first time Seth realized just how far Chino was from Newport. And about halfway to Pomona, he realized that he had no idea where he really was. When he finally called Ryan's name loud enough, Ryan gave him all the necessary directions and eventually, they ended up on the porch of Eddie's house. Seth got the creeps from just standing there. This was the house of the same guy that attacked Ryan at his grandfather's party, the same out that gave Theresa a black eye. Why the hell were they there?! But Seth knew the answer, it was all about Theresa. Looking at Ryan's face, a mask of worry and concern, Seth knew. The same that it had always been Summer for Seth, it would always be Theresa for Ryan.
"Eddie?" Ryan called out. "Hey, you've got to tell me what Eva said about Theresa. Please." He's scared, its obvious. Those two men shouldn't be standing around talking about that girl, or women at all. In the back of his mind, Ryan knew that he had done a despicable thing to Eddie: stolen his girl.
"Look, I told you all I know. Some ex-boyfriend that Eva borrowed money from beat her up. She's in a hospital and it doesn't look good. She's going to need knee surgery and there's internal bleeding." Eddie said, looking glum. "Eva called me because she thought we were still... you know." The last sentence hung in the air, refusing to be acknowledged.
"Are you sure? Nothing else?" Ryan's voice begged for more information. He couldn't have come all the way to Chino just to hear the same thing he heard on the phone.
"That's all I know. You can talk to her mom, though." Eddie looked worn out too. It was obvious he still cared for Theresa. Though Ryan swore that he would never let Eddie in the presence of his girl again. His girl. An all too familiar stab of pain presented itself in Ryan's chest.
"Okay. Thanks." Ryan said awkwardly, dragging Seth back into the car.
"To Theresa's old house?" Seth asked helpfully.
"No. Just home." It was the sound of surrender.
XXX
It was almost seven in the morning when Summer finally got off the park bench at Central Park. She had been sitting there for almost three hours, since the time she left Marissa at the hotel room. Never a morning person, Summer took it to find the most comfortable spot in the park to sit on and catch a few extra moments of sleep. But she didn't. She just sat and watched the sky, the grass, the morning runners, the sun creeping its way gently into the sky. Most of all, she thought.
In their freshman year of high school, Marissa and Summer were scared out of their minds. Like all incoming freshmen, they believed the horror stories of seniors using them as slaves, stuffing them in lockers and throwing all their homework in the trash. It was also the same time that Marissa was facing a new fear- becoming serious and exclusive with Luke.
The pair was together as soon as they were old enough not to be afraid of cooties. Luke was the sweet sporty guy and Marissa was his cute smiley girl. They held hands sometimes. They had gone to all the Junior High dances together. He always gave her a huge card on Valentines. But going into high school together? First, Marissa feared that Luke would want the chance to start seeing other girls- cheerleaders, upperclassmen. Then she feared that Luke would want to become serious. Really serious. Intimate.
Summer sat back and applied new coats of Princess Pink to her nails. She reassured her best friend that Luke was a good guy and that the two of them would be able to work things out. Summer told Marissa that if Luke would give Marissa up for the chance at a ditzy blonde in a short skirt with pom poms then Luke didn't deserve her. But the one thing that Summer reiterated over and over and over again was that no matter how many guys they dated, who the guys were, how the guys treated them, what the guys looked like- they would never be alone. Marissa and Summer would share all problems, support each other completely and supply love and comfort whenever. They were friends. Best friends. Life long friends. Nothing would ever change that.
Or so they promised.
Now Marissa was snorting coke and Summer was alone in Central Park. Summer felt defeated. She had been trying to help her friend get over Ryan Atwood since he left to take care of his pregnant ex, who apparently was not an ex anymore. But despite all the brunette's offers for bonding trips, spa weekends and parties full of young, hot, desirable men, Marissa continued to wallow in her sea of self pity and grief. When the chance to really spend some quality time together arose, they were in a bigger mess than Summer could have imagined.
XXX
Ryan and Seth had just crossed the threshold to enter their own home once again, when they stumbled over a large suitcase. Both boys took a step back to evaluate what was in front of them. A large black suitcase, Seth knew that it was definitely his mom's, sat nonchalantly in the foyer of the Cohen house. Voices were prominent in the house, but they were far away from where the boy's stood and neither could tell who was speaking.
After what seemed like eons of just standing at the door, Seth finally pushed the suitcase aside and walked into the house. "Mom!" he called out. "HEY MOM!" He stood plainly in the middle of the living room, not bothering to go any further to look for his mother. As an only child, he learned at a very early age that when he made enough noise, his mother would show up. It wasn't being spoiled or insensitive to his mother, that's just the way Seth grew up. He was aware that not everyone was like him, but because he was who he was, he lived his life the way Seth Cohen had learned to- as the only child of Sandy and Kirsten. That included enough comic books, sailing trips, annoying fancy occasions and everything in between that Seth wanted or needed. Except a brother. But that happened anyway.
"Yeah, honey?" Kirsten came into the room in a comfortable pair of jeans and a white shirt that was only buttoned halfway. She quickly finished up the buttons as she came towards Seth.
"What's with the suitcase?" His eyes got wide as he pointed to the intrusive piece of luggage that Ryan stood next to.
"Oh, I've got a little business to take care of on the East Coast-"
"Can I come?" Ryan's voice piped up out of nowhere before Kirsten could even explain where she was going. Mild shock made their way through the expressions of both Seth and Kirsten. It actually took a while for Seth to connect the words "East Coast" to Theresa. But after all, they had just spent the whole morning worrying about the girl in Atlanta.
"You don't even know where I'm going." Kirsten explained, despite the fact that she knew that Ryan was thinking of seeing the same girl she was.
"It doesn't matter, I need to get to Atlanta." Ryan pleaded. "I have enough money saved up to pay for a ticket. I'll just drive with you to the airport now..."
"Hey Mom, where are you going anyway?" Seth asked.
Kirsten explained quietly that she had some business to take care of in Washington D.C. but she had also heard about Theresa's condition, so she decided to head to Atlanta first. Ryan was annoyed at his guardian for considering going to Atlanta without him, especially knowing the condition of Theresa. But he was only upset for a few minutes, Kirsten quickly explained that she intended for Ryan to go with her. It was a lie on Kirsten's behalf, but she knew how much trouble she would be in with Ryan if she denied him the trip.
Allowing the boys to get packed, since after all, Seth insisted on going along, Kirsten quickly called the airline and reserved two more first class tickets to Atlanta. It would be a long flight, stopping over at JFK in New York for over an hour, but it would get all three of them to Atlanta and hopefully to Theresa before nightfall. Anxiety and excitement filled the house.
Sandy was working late. Again.
XXX
Purples and blues and greens patterned themselves around Theresa's cheek, ribs and left leg. Her knee was wrapped securely in a brace to prevent movement and a dark green cast was molded to her right wrist, aiding in the restoration of her fractured joint. The doctors were actually surprised that there initial hypotheses of hemorrhaging and internal bleeding were wrong. Asides from the severe damage to her knee and wrist, along with a whole lot of bruising, Theresa was okay. Dr. Carlton sighed in relief. Bones were easy to mend, but if they had to do surgery on her internal organs, he was afraid that she might not have survived it. He watched her, asleep on her bed as noon sunlight flooded the room, and wondered where her family was.
So that's what they were doing now, Ryan would probably run over anything and everything in his way and Seth, being the responsible one, strapped Ryan into the front seat, took the keys and jumped unto the freeway. It was the first time Seth realized just how far Chino was from Newport. And about halfway to Pomona, he realized that he had no idea where he really was. When he finally called Ryan's name loud enough, Ryan gave him all the necessary directions and eventually, they ended up on the porch of Eddie's house. Seth got the creeps from just standing there. This was the house of the same guy that attacked Ryan at his grandfather's party, the same out that gave Theresa a black eye. Why the hell were they there?! But Seth knew the answer, it was all about Theresa. Looking at Ryan's face, a mask of worry and concern, Seth knew. The same that it had always been Summer for Seth, it would always be Theresa for Ryan.
"Eddie?" Ryan called out. "Hey, you've got to tell me what Eva said about Theresa. Please." He's scared, its obvious. Those two men shouldn't be standing around talking about that girl, or women at all. In the back of his mind, Ryan knew that he had done a despicable thing to Eddie: stolen his girl.
"Look, I told you all I know. Some ex-boyfriend that Eva borrowed money from beat her up. She's in a hospital and it doesn't look good. She's going to need knee surgery and there's internal bleeding." Eddie said, looking glum. "Eva called me because she thought we were still... you know." The last sentence hung in the air, refusing to be acknowledged.
"Are you sure? Nothing else?" Ryan's voice begged for more information. He couldn't have come all the way to Chino just to hear the same thing he heard on the phone.
"That's all I know. You can talk to her mom, though." Eddie looked worn out too. It was obvious he still cared for Theresa. Though Ryan swore that he would never let Eddie in the presence of his girl again. His girl. An all too familiar stab of pain presented itself in Ryan's chest.
"Okay. Thanks." Ryan said awkwardly, dragging Seth back into the car.
"To Theresa's old house?" Seth asked helpfully.
"No. Just home." It was the sound of surrender.
XXX
It was almost seven in the morning when Summer finally got off the park bench at Central Park. She had been sitting there for almost three hours, since the time she left Marissa at the hotel room. Never a morning person, Summer took it to find the most comfortable spot in the park to sit on and catch a few extra moments of sleep. But she didn't. She just sat and watched the sky, the grass, the morning runners, the sun creeping its way gently into the sky. Most of all, she thought.
In their freshman year of high school, Marissa and Summer were scared out of their minds. Like all incoming freshmen, they believed the horror stories of seniors using them as slaves, stuffing them in lockers and throwing all their homework in the trash. It was also the same time that Marissa was facing a new fear- becoming serious and exclusive with Luke.
The pair was together as soon as they were old enough not to be afraid of cooties. Luke was the sweet sporty guy and Marissa was his cute smiley girl. They held hands sometimes. They had gone to all the Junior High dances together. He always gave her a huge card on Valentines. But going into high school together? First, Marissa feared that Luke would want the chance to start seeing other girls- cheerleaders, upperclassmen. Then she feared that Luke would want to become serious. Really serious. Intimate.
Summer sat back and applied new coats of Princess Pink to her nails. She reassured her best friend that Luke was a good guy and that the two of them would be able to work things out. Summer told Marissa that if Luke would give Marissa up for the chance at a ditzy blonde in a short skirt with pom poms then Luke didn't deserve her. But the one thing that Summer reiterated over and over and over again was that no matter how many guys they dated, who the guys were, how the guys treated them, what the guys looked like- they would never be alone. Marissa and Summer would share all problems, support each other completely and supply love and comfort whenever. They were friends. Best friends. Life long friends. Nothing would ever change that.
Or so they promised.
Now Marissa was snorting coke and Summer was alone in Central Park. Summer felt defeated. She had been trying to help her friend get over Ryan Atwood since he left to take care of his pregnant ex, who apparently was not an ex anymore. But despite all the brunette's offers for bonding trips, spa weekends and parties full of young, hot, desirable men, Marissa continued to wallow in her sea of self pity and grief. When the chance to really spend some quality time together arose, they were in a bigger mess than Summer could have imagined.
XXX
Ryan and Seth had just crossed the threshold to enter their own home once again, when they stumbled over a large suitcase. Both boys took a step back to evaluate what was in front of them. A large black suitcase, Seth knew that it was definitely his mom's, sat nonchalantly in the foyer of the Cohen house. Voices were prominent in the house, but they were far away from where the boy's stood and neither could tell who was speaking.
After what seemed like eons of just standing at the door, Seth finally pushed the suitcase aside and walked into the house. "Mom!" he called out. "HEY MOM!" He stood plainly in the middle of the living room, not bothering to go any further to look for his mother. As an only child, he learned at a very early age that when he made enough noise, his mother would show up. It wasn't being spoiled or insensitive to his mother, that's just the way Seth grew up. He was aware that not everyone was like him, but because he was who he was, he lived his life the way Seth Cohen had learned to- as the only child of Sandy and Kirsten. That included enough comic books, sailing trips, annoying fancy occasions and everything in between that Seth wanted or needed. Except a brother. But that happened anyway.
"Yeah, honey?" Kirsten came into the room in a comfortable pair of jeans and a white shirt that was only buttoned halfway. She quickly finished up the buttons as she came towards Seth.
"What's with the suitcase?" His eyes got wide as he pointed to the intrusive piece of luggage that Ryan stood next to.
"Oh, I've got a little business to take care of on the East Coast-"
"Can I come?" Ryan's voice piped up out of nowhere before Kirsten could even explain where she was going. Mild shock made their way through the expressions of both Seth and Kirsten. It actually took a while for Seth to connect the words "East Coast" to Theresa. But after all, they had just spent the whole morning worrying about the girl in Atlanta.
"You don't even know where I'm going." Kirsten explained, despite the fact that she knew that Ryan was thinking of seeing the same girl she was.
"It doesn't matter, I need to get to Atlanta." Ryan pleaded. "I have enough money saved up to pay for a ticket. I'll just drive with you to the airport now..."
"Hey Mom, where are you going anyway?" Seth asked.
Kirsten explained quietly that she had some business to take care of in Washington D.C. but she had also heard about Theresa's condition, so she decided to head to Atlanta first. Ryan was annoyed at his guardian for considering going to Atlanta without him, especially knowing the condition of Theresa. But he was only upset for a few minutes, Kirsten quickly explained that she intended for Ryan to go with her. It was a lie on Kirsten's behalf, but she knew how much trouble she would be in with Ryan if she denied him the trip.
Allowing the boys to get packed, since after all, Seth insisted on going along, Kirsten quickly called the airline and reserved two more first class tickets to Atlanta. It would be a long flight, stopping over at JFK in New York for over an hour, but it would get all three of them to Atlanta and hopefully to Theresa before nightfall. Anxiety and excitement filled the house.
Sandy was working late. Again.
XXX
Purples and blues and greens patterned themselves around Theresa's cheek, ribs and left leg. Her knee was wrapped securely in a brace to prevent movement and a dark green cast was molded to her right wrist, aiding in the restoration of her fractured joint. The doctors were actually surprised that there initial hypotheses of hemorrhaging and internal bleeding were wrong. Asides from the severe damage to her knee and wrist, along with a whole lot of bruising, Theresa was okay. Dr. Carlton sighed in relief. Bones were easy to mend, but if they had to do surgery on her internal organs, he was afraid that she might not have survived it. He watched her, asleep on her bed as noon sunlight flooded the room, and wondered where her family was.