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Summer was in the bathroom at Ryan's apartment trying to cover up the scratches on her face from Julie's clawing nails. Julie had made a comment in the kitchen and she'd been blinded by her rage and immediately attacked. She had been surprised that Gaby had chosen the same moment to attack.
"Nice work there, today. I've never broken up a funeral before," Gaby muttered, stepping in beside her so they could share the mirror.
"That woman has been giving Ryan hell since the day he moved here," Summer replied. Gaby held out a bottle of concealer.
"I hate that he's upset…"
"He's upset?"
"Well, he's Ryan," Gaby sighed. "He never used to get upset and now all it takes is, like, a Don't Walk sign to set him off. I just wish I had controlled myself a little more. I should have just slipped some kind of truth serum in her drink so she'd be forced to show how much of a bitch she was or something. I shouldn't have rushed her at her daughter's funeral."
Summer saw that Gaby was really apologetic. "Don't worry. Julie Cooper's got a heart of stone. Did she look upset to you? No. She was just using this 'event' to upset Ryan. She's just like Marissa…"
"Ah. You knew Marissa. I'd almost forgotten. I'm sorry, Summer."
"Marissa and I haven't been friends for a long time," Summer replied honestly. "She's the reason I left Newport."
"And now you're back."
"Yeah. Luke and Ryan have been better friends to me lately than the whole 16 years that I was friends with Marissa."
"Summer…I know you care about Ryan, but…"
"But you care about him, too?" Summer asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. I do. But not the way you're thinking. I like my hair, thank you," Gaby smirked. "What I was trying to ask you was, how long are you going to be able to give him space?"
"Excuse me?"
"I was with him in New York when you called. I know this it's killing you not to be close to him…"
"I am close to him. Ryan's always been totally up front with me. He's not ready to be in a relationship…"
"But he loves you. Isn't that a little contradictory?"
"We're talking about Ryan here. Where is he, anyway?"
"Talking to his brother in the kitchen."
"Good. Trey's missed him."
"Is Trey as hot as his little brother?"
"In an ex-con sort of way," Summer smiled.
"And what's Luke's story?"
"Please don't tell me you've got the hots for Luke…"
"Why not? He's cute and nice and Ryan trusts him…"
"Luke's just…he's Luke," Summer shrugged. "And Ryan would kill him if he touched you."
Gaby fluffed her hair a final time. "Well, the two of them fighting over me would be kind of hot."
"Give them a couple of hours and a couple of drinks and they'll fight over a napkin," Summer laughed. "The testosterone between them eventually builds up to critical mass."
"And you just let them fight?"
"You think I'm going to stop them? Seth and I usually just take a couple of steps back and let them go at it. You'll see."
"I'll see?"
"Yeah. We're all going to the club tonight to hear Luke play."
"Does Ryan know that?"
"He will as soon as he talks to Trey," Summer grinned.
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"Dude, that was just…awesome. Julie Cooper has this gaping bald spot and it's over her ear and there's no way she can cover it up, she's just…bald…" Seth was laughing between every word.
"After you guys left, Kaitlyn got in on the act. She picked up a fake nail while she was cleaning the kitchen and told all the Newpsies that it was the closest thing to a real body part that Julie had left after all the plastic surgery she'd had," Luke added.
Luke and Seth were flanking Ryan as they followed Summer and Gaby down the street. Trey was supposed to meet them at the bar. He'd started seeing Sylvia while her husband was out of the country on a religious retreat. Summer and Gaby were both wearing skirts and the men were enjoying the view as they followed a few steps behind.
Ryan smiled but he didn't say anything. He was relaxed enough with his friends and grateful for their support but he couldn't find the energy for celebrating tonight. All he really wanted to do was crawl into bed, pull the covers over his head and lie in the dark for a while. But that wasn't healthy.
"Dude. Stop brooding. Please. I need to have a good show tonight," Luke said quietly.
"Sorry," He gave Luke a sad smile. Luke patted him on the back. He understood.
"Ry! There you are!" Trey gave his brother a strong hug, meeting him outside the bar. "I couldn't believe you got on a plane…"
"Twice, dude, it was awful," Ryan joked. "Trey, this is my friend Gaby from New York," He introduced.
"Wow. Nice to meet you," Trey smiled. He gave Ryan an awestruck glance as Summer and Gaby went inside. "Damn, man, she's…"
"I've got dibs," Luke said, following the girls into the bar.
"He's right. He called it at the airport," Ryan shrugged. "And besides, aren't you and Sylvia…"
"Shh…her husband has friends around here," Trey hushed him as they walked in. Seth stayed close beside Ryan, watching him silently. Trey shook his hand.
"Sorry," Ryan apologized. Before he could continue talking, he was nearly tackled by Sylvia and a couple of the waitresses that had missed him. He was immediately swept away into a group of architects from the Newport Group that Seth and Luke had called to invite. His friends had organized a reunion party for him complete with a welcome back sign stretched across the stage.
He didn't feel like turning down the many drinks that kept being bought for him. Ryan knew he wasn't supposed to drink, he knew that Gaby would be the first to kick his ass, but it was easier than explaining to his acquaintances that he was an alcoholic whose friends threw his welcome back party at a bar. By the time he made his way to his seat for Luke's performance, he was reasonably intoxicated.
"Hey there," Summer grinned, scooting over to give him room to sit down.
"Hey," He smiled, putting his arm around her immediately. Seth was across from them in the booth, his face buried in a blonde woman's neck. Several empty shot glasses were lined up in front of them.
"What's her name?" Ryan whispered.
"He doesn't know, he doesn't want us to bring it up," Summer replied. She gave him a curious look. "Are you drunk?"
"Yeah. I am."
"Oh. Okay."
"Maybe. We'll see," Ryan replied. She touched his chin and he looked at her.
"You're not doing so well today, kid."
"Don't call me kid, I'm older than you," He laughed.
"Sorry. Gaby must be rubbing off on me," She replied.
"Where is Gaby?"
"She's somewhere with Luke. Backstage. Horizontal," Summer rolled her eyes.
Ryan laughed.
"Trey's upstairs with Sylvia, he's a little drunk, too. I guess it's a good day for a relapse all over, right?"
"I'll check on him…" Ryan said. She held his arm before he could get up.
"Don't. He can take care of himself. That's not what I meant."
"But…"
"Ryan. Stay."
He nodded. He lit a cigarette before she could protest. Seth's lady suddenly keeled over, her head bonking against the table. Seth didn't react, he was unconscious, too.
"Tequila. He never could handle tequila," Ryan acknowledged.
"Ryan? Can I get you out of here?"
"But Luke…"
"He's got an audience, Ryan. Come on. You shouldn't be here."
Ryan looked at Summer. "Summer…"
"Please?"
He nodded. She took his arm and pulled him out the back door into the alley. Ryan spun her around and kissed her deeply. She kissed him back, pulling him against her. They stood, pressed against the wall of the club for a few long minutes.
"Ryan…that's not why I took you out of there," She breathed when he released her. "Let's get you home…"
"I don't want to go home," Ryan muttered as they started walking toward his apartment.
"What?"
"Can we go to your place?"
"Of course," She said immediately and they changed directions. They walked in silence but Ryan kept his arm around her waist, keeping her close to him.
"We're going to get into trouble," Ryan said as she let him inside.
"What?"
"For cutting out of the bar without telling anyone," Ryan said quietly.
"They'll understand…" She said as she started past him. He pulled her close for another kiss. "Ryan…" She giggled.
"I really did miss you…"
"I know…"
"Then can we…"
"You're not ready, Chino. And I'm trying to be your friend…"
"You are…" He kissed her again.
"Ryan…"
He released her and she took his hands, leading him into her bedroom.
"You need to rest. I know you're tired of it, I know you're sick of lying around but…" Summer started as he stretched out on the bed. "But you…"
"I'm not arguing, Summer…" Ryan said, quietly accepting her assistance in pulling off his clothes.
"You're being entirely too docile today…"
"It's been a long day," Ryan whispered.
"Let's get some sleep. I'll let everyone know where you are."
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