A/N: First, I always forget to make my disclaimers. I don't own these characters (except for Mike and Jeff, but someone has to give Ryan friends). They are owned by Josh, and McG, and bunch of other people who aren't me.

Second, I can't believe I forgot to say this two chapters ago, and one chapter ago. But I'm saying it now. A huge, huge thank you goes to storymom. She's not just a beta. She's a hand holder, an ego stroker, a jelly bean smuggler. This story was a huge pile of crap when I first sent it to her. She has helped make it less so.

PART THREE: ANGER

Ryan found Luke with Mike and Jeff. They were arguing over whether they could have made it to State Championships if Luke had played with them this year.

"I'm just saying, we went State this year and you guys didn't. The difference? Me, of course."

Mike laughed. "You went State in, like, Oregon. You've got what? Like, four high schools in all of Oregon? Anyone could go State there."

"Very funny. Oregon has a lot of good soccer teams. It was really competitive."

"Well, then how do you explain that we came last in the division last year when you did play for us?"

Jeff tried to jump in and help Luke. "Luke didn't play the last couple of games last year though. Remember? Everyone found out his dad was gay and he quit the team after everyone gave him a hard time."

Mike shook his head at Jeff. "Could you be any stupider?"

Jeff was genuinely confused. "What?"

Luke noticed Ryan then. "Hey man," he said with a big grin on his face. "When did you start wearing lip gloss?"

Ryan ran the back of his hand across his mouth. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Come on. Who was it?" Mike put his arm around Ryan's shoulders. "You can tell us. We're all friends here."

Ryan shrugged Mike's arm away. "It was no one. None of your business."

"But Ryan," Jeff said. "You've had such a dry spell since Marissa. Share."

"Will you ever learn to shut up?" Mike pushed Jeff good-naturedly, who tripped and bumped into Ryan.

"Watch it." Ryan shook the spilled drink off his hand.

"Sorry, man." Jeff and Mike laughed.

"Nitwits."

Luke put his arm around Ryan's shoulders. "Chill, man. They're just having fun."

He shrugged the arm away. "Stop touching me. And don't tell me to chill. Those idiots spilled my drink all over me."

"Aw, poor baby." Jeff laughed. "Why don't you run home to your Mommy? She can help you clean up."

Ryan dropped his drink and squared off to Jeff. "You think that's funny?"

Jeff was still laughing. "Relax, man. What'd I say?"

"Just shut your mouth, for once, if you're not going to think before you talk." Mike reached to pull Jeff away.

Luke was trying to talk Ryan down. "He doesn't mean it. You know that. Come on." He grabbed Ryan's arm. "Let's get you another drink."

He shook Luke's arm away, glared at Jeff, and turned to walk away.

"Geez, Atwood. Didn't you learn to take a joke in Chino?"

Mike couldn't believe it. But before he could say anything, Ryan had turned quickly, ducked his head, and plowed his shoulder into Jeff's midsection, knocking them both to the ground. He heard Luke's "Aw, shit, Ryan" as he tried to pull him off of Jeff.

Once Luke got Ryan away from him, Jeff stood up, wiping the blood off his lip where Ryan connected. He looked over at where Luke was sitting on Ryan, pinning his arms down. "What's your problem, Atwood?"

Mike pulled Jeff in the opposite direction. "Just let it go, Jeff."

Luke looked down at Ryan, who was still struggling. "He's gone now. Are you gonna settle down?"

Ryan just glared at Luke but stopped struggling. Luke got off Ryan slowly, and they both stood up.

"What was that? He was just goofing around."

"I didn't think it was funny."

"Obviously. It usually takes more than that to set you off."

"So you think you know me now?"

Luke could see Ryan's arms tensing as he faced him. He recognized the tightening of his jaw and the narrowing of his eyes. "What? You want to fight me now, too?" Luke opened his arms wide. "Come on then. I always loved kicking your ass."

Seth came running up. "What going on here? Ryan? Luke?"

"Stay out of this, Seth." Luke spoke to him without taking his eyes off Ryan. "I've got it under control."

"Got what under control? Jeff's over there complaining to everyone how Ryan just flipped out and attacked him.

"He hit me first."

"What's going on with you? You're drunk, you were making out with Emily, you're fighting with Jeff and Luke. I thought today was a good day."

"Yeah, Seth, it was a great day. I graduated with honours, I gave a speech thanking your parents for saving me, I told my mother to get out of my life after she called me ungrateful…"

Seth walked toward him. "Look, man. I'm sorry about your mom…"

"Stop it! You know nothing about my mom." He pushed Seth away, who lost his footing and fell down on the sand. "Just leave me alone!"

Ryan took off down the beach into the dark.

TBC