10
CHAPTER 1: THE SCARE
ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE:
"Watch where you're going with that thing, man," Matt yells as Ryan he walks past his foreman nearly bumping him on the side of the head.
"Sorry," Ryan mumbles and carries on his way.
"I just don't know what up with that kid. He hasn't been the same since he's been back," Matt says turning to Vaughn, his colleague. "Anyway, I'm going to lunch."
"Ry, why don't you take the rest of the day off? You look like you could need the break – I've cover for you," Matt says caringly to Ryan.
"Thanks. I'll see you in the morning?" Ryan says.
"Sure." Matt responds. But instead of going home, he decides to take a walk and try getting his thought patterns together. He walks for what seems like miles and hours. It's becoming dark and Ryan decides to take a bus back home.
KIRSTEN'S OFFICE:
Sandy walks in to Kirsten's office; kissing her on the cheek, he says, "Hey gorgeous, wanna go out for lunch? I'll even pay this time."
"Not today, Sandy. My father's called this big meeting this afternoon and it sounds serious." Kirsten replies.
"You mean you are blowing me off for your father?" Sandy says sarcastically.
"Please Sandy; I'm not in the mood right now." Kirsten answers sounding kind of irritated.
"I know. And it's not just right now, you've been out of the mood for the past few months. Are you sure you're not pregnant, 'cause it seems to be going around lately." Sandy says comically.
Kirsten forces a smile and gives Sandy a kiss. "I tell you what, let's do dinner. Just the two of us and I'll cook my specialty... take outs."
"Sounds like a date to me. See you at home." Sandy says as he kisses her once more before leaving her office.
He bumps in to Caleb on the way out.
"Cal! Always good to see you! You're looking good for a poor son of a bitch." Sandy says.
"Can it Sanford, I'm not in the mood." Caleb answers.
"I wouldn't be either if I were you. You know you should get together with Jimmy! I'm sure he'll be more than willing to give you tips on how to live the bachelors' lifestyle again!" Sandy says as he turns and walks down the hall.
Caleb walks in to Kirsten's office.
"Kiki, are those financial statements ready for the meeting this afternoon? I'm going to need them for the meeting." Caleb asks Kirsten.
"Sure, you'll have them within the hour." Kirsten replies.
"Kiki, I want you to know that whatever happens to me, I will always love you and everything I did I did with your best interests in mind." Caleb says in a sobering tone.
"Thanks dad, I'll keep that in mind." Looking a bit confused as her dad leaves the office.
TERESA'S HOUSE BACK IN CHINO:
Ryan gets off the bus four hours later just down the road from Teresa's place. He has walked this road many times before, and it brings back memories for him – some he looks back fondly on; most he wishes he could erase from his memory bank forever. He thinks back on the last two years that have been, how he thought his dreams would never come true – life outside Chino seemed so far away. Impossible, until... ... He pauses... ... Until the Cohen's... Sandy, Kirsten... Seth. Seth... the closest friend he's ever had... his brother.
He enters the front gate.
"Ryan!"
His thoughts are interrupted...
"Ryan, welcome home."
He hears an all-to-familiar voice. Home... is this home?
"Ryan, come inside, Dinner will be ready in about half an hour."
"Thanks, but I'm not really hungry. I think I'll take a bath and get an early night." I'll be there now." He replies to Teresa's mom's invitation.
He walks through the front door as he has done for the past 7 months since he's been back in Chino.
"Teresa's still at work. She just phoned to say she's taking a second shift." Teresa's mom says.
"She really shouldn't do that. The baby is due in 2 months." Ryan responds.
"I know, but you know how stubborn she can be. And besides she really wants to do her best to save as much as possible for the baby." Teresa's mom replies. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, just had a long day, that's all." Ryan responds.
"Ryan, can I ask you a question?" Teresa's mom asks tentatively, and not waiting for a reply, she continues. "Why are you here? I know the whole story of wanting to help Teresa and not wanting the kid to grow up in an abusive environment like yourself, but besides that. Back in Newport, you had everything any of us ever wanted. Why give that up?"
Again, not waiting for a reply, and Ryan taken aback a little by this sudden unexpected conversation, not knowing what to say, Teresa's mom continues...
"How do you expect to look after the kid? You work a 10 hour a day job, you are only 17, haven't yet finished high school and you are now facing the very real probability of being a father. What kind of life do you think the child will have if his father is an uneducated 17 year old who will never be home?"
Their conversation is cut short as the phone rings. Teresa's mom answers.
"Saved by the bell," Ryan thinks, relieved.
"Oh my god, is she okay?" Teresa's mom says, almost yelling...
"I cannot talk over the phone, just come down to the hospital." The call replies and hangs up.
"What's wrong?" Ryan asks, concerned.
"Teresa is in hospital. I've got to go." Teresa's mom replies frantically.
"I'm coming," Ryan says.
"Let's go." Teresa's mom answers, grabbing her keys as she races out the door.
IN MARISSA'S BEDROOM, THE CASTLE
Marissa is lying on her bed, thinking about everything that has happened during the recent summer break. How things were supposed to be just normal. How her and Ryan were going to work things out. After all he had said he wanted to make it work between them. That was before Teresa came on the scene. Teresa. Her name just made Marissa slip in to an even deeper state of depression. How could Ryan have just left like that? Was everything they meant to each other nothing to him? How could he? Her disappointment turns to anger. HOW COULD HE! And to top it all off she now is forced to stay with Caleb and her mom – probably the two people she dislikes the most of all. HOW COULD HE LEAVE HER! She needed him as much as Teresa!
"Coop? You up here?" Summer calls from the hallway leading to Marissa's room. "Coop. you okay?"
"Yeah. Can we just get out here?" Marissa says as she gets up off her bed. "This place depresses me and just makes me think of what could have... should have been."
"Sure Coop." Summer replies.
They head downstairs and make their way to the beach.
WALKING ON THE BEACH...
"So how thing's going with you and Seth?" Marissa asks, trying to get the attention off of herself.
"Cohen? I dunno, me and him... it's just weird lately. He hasn't been the same since Ryan left and since he..., well, took off." Summer replies.
"But at least he came back."
"Yeah, but it's not the same. He's not the same. I'm trying to be supportive and all, but it's difficult. Sympathy is not what I do best."
"I can't believe he just left... no goodbye... not even a phone call...." Marissa says out of anger and kicks the sand.
"Yeah, where did he expect to go in that stupid little boat of his?" Summer adds.
"What?" Marissa responds not having heard what Summer just said. "Ryan... oh... I was talking about Ryan."
"Oh, right... ... ... I knew that." Summer answers. "Coop, I think we should just spend this semester being normal. Go back to how it was... just you and me. No guys, no problems."
"That sounds like a plan, but remember the last time we tried that..." Marissa's comment trails off as she thinks back on how they had tried to be normal last summer and everything just went crazy.
"what's that, Coop?"
"No, nothing. I think that's a great idea."
AT A HOSPITAL IN CHINO
Ryan and Teresa's mom walk up to the information desk. A doctor and a nurse are standing on the other side. The nurse turns her attention to visitors.
"I'm looking for my daughter: Sanchez, Teresa Sanchez. She was brought in here about an hour or so ago." Teresa's mom enquires of the nurse.
"Ah, Mrs Sanchez I presume? I'm the doctor who treated your daughter when she came in earlier." The doctor on the other side of the counter interrupts.
"Is she okay doctor?" Ryan asks.
"... and you are?..." the doctor begins enquiring.
"A close friend." Ryan retorts.
"The father?" The doctor pushes.
"No... maybe..." Ryan answers feeling a bit awkward.
"I see. Well anyway, she gave us all quite a scare. She was apparently complaining about some cramps in her stomach and a bad headache, and then she passed out. We have run some tests on her and we're hoping to get the results back within the hour. I'll be able to let you know more then." The doctor says.
"Thanks doctor. Can we go in to see her?" Teresa's mom says.
"Sure, but she's sleeping now and I think it best that she gets her rest, so only for a few minutes if you don't mind. She's in room 213." the doctor replies.
Ryan and Teresa's mom head off to room 213, but the doctor calls Teresa's mom back.
"Mrs Sanchez, can I have a word with you for a second?" The doctor asks.
"Ryan, you go ahead. I'll be there now." Ryan goes on ahead and enters Teresa's room.
Teresa's mom turns back towards the doctor.
"Ma'am, if you don't mind me asking, how old is your daughter?" The doctor asks.
"17, why is there a problem?" Teresa's mom answers, just a little surprise by the doctors line of questioning.
"I'm not going to beat around the bush. Teresa has quite a big scare this afternoon. I believe it was stress and anxiety that brought on the cramps and headaches. A teenager is barely equipped physically, let alone emotionally and mentally to endure what Teresa is going through."
"What are you suggesting?" Teresa's mom asks, skeptically.
"I have seen many cases like this where a teenage girl falls pregnant and although she'll convince herself things will be okay, they very often aren't. All I'm trying to say is that Teresa shouldn't rule out the possibility of putting her baby up for adoption. As her parent and legal guardian, you also have a responsibly toward your daughter and I think that Teresa keeping this baby will do a lot more harm than good for both her, the baby and yourself. The problem will be accentuated by the absence of the father too."
"Well, thank you for your comments and I appreciate your concern. I'll talk to her, but I really don't think she'll like the idea." Teresa's mom replies.
"I can get a consultant from Planned Parenting to come and chat to Teresa if you think it will help." The doctor suggests.
"Thanks that may work." Teresa's mom answers, and makes her way toward Teresa's room.
In side the room, Ryan is sitting on the chair next to a sleeping Teresa. Teresa's mom enters.
"She's still sleeping," Ryan says as Teresa's mom enters.
"I think we should just leave her to rest. We can wait for the results to come in and then go. The doctor wants to keep her here over night for observation." Teresa's mom replies.
"I'll probably stay with her tonight then," Ryan answers.
Just then a nurse enters the room.
"The tests have all come back fine. Her blood pressure is a bit high, which also confirms our concerns about her stress levels. She needs to slow down. She'll be full-term in about 6 weeks and if she keeps this up the babies could be born prematurely..."
"Babies? You meant to say, baby, right?" Ryan asks as he stands up.
"No, I mean babies." The nurse confirms as he looks over his papers again. "You did know she was pregnant with twins didn't you?"
"Twins?" Ryan says almost flabbergasted.
"Yes, you are your girlfriend..." the nurse starts
"She not my girlfriend! We are just friends." Ryan replies, slightly irritated now. In the last 5 minutes he has experienced every possible emotion he could.
Teresa's eyes were still closed, but a tear ran down her cheek. She'd only pretended to be asleep. She had heard everything.
SETH DAYDREAMING... MEMORIES FROM EARLIER IN THE SUMMER...
SOMEWHERE IN CATALINA
"Seth, you have got to get in this water! It is just perfect!" Deborah yells as she pops back up through the water's surface after a clean, crisp dive in.
"Will be there now, just finishing off this last chapter."
Seth is busy writing a comic of his own. It's not a comic about superheroes and villains, or talking cats and dogs. It's the story of two friends who could not be more different, yet more alike at the same time, and how they had overcome all adversity to become the best friends ever. This is what he's been doing for the past few months. It's the only way he knows how to deal with everything that has happened in his life recently. It's not that he had run away, he simply needed some time to himself. To find himself. He had given all his contact details to his parents and Summer in letters address to them just before he left. His only dilemma now was how to end this final chapter.
"Seth, you know you are going to have to go back at some stage right?" His thoughts are invaded as his new found friend, Tracey, speaks.
Tracey had been the one who had helped Seth out when he docked at Catalina and she had offered him a place to stay when he arrived. She had been there for him and he had grown to like her... a lot. But he didn't dare allow himself to fall for her as at the back of his mind Summer was the one for him, even if she wasn't there right now. He had always loved her and wasn't willing to let anything get in the way of that.
"You know, I was actually thinking of taking a semester off to finish this comic." Seth replies.
"Now I know you are out of your mind! Seth, you are only in high school. Who in their right mind would take time off school no less to write a comic no less again!! Come on man!" Tracey retorts.
"Well, thanks for that brutally honest reply. You know how I feel about going back there. I explained to you what it was like before Ryan and..." Seth is cut short.
"... and you need to now face up to it. You are not the same person you were before. Hiding is not going to solve anything. Be real with yourself man. Sure Ryan is gone and he may not come back, but if you are going to let this thing affect you so badly, maybe you were better off having never met Ryan." Tracey said
"How can you say that? You have no idea how terrible it was... it is... to be a nothing. Ryan was always there for me and now with him gone..." Seth is cut off again.
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened. Take it as a life experience Seth, learn from it and move on." Tracey says as she puts a reassuring hand on his leg. "You are going to be alright man. You've got Summer and by the sounds of things she's an amazing person."
"That she is... and so are you." Seth smiles at her.
"Are you two coming in, or do I have to come over there and get you?" Deborah yells as she climbs out the pool.
Seth and Tracey both look at each other. Knowing what the other is thinking, they jump up and run towards Deborah; grabbing her on either side the three of them jump in to the pool together. Summer break is almost over...
"Seth! Seth! SETH!!!" His is awoken from his day dream by the sound of his father's voice as he enters his bedroom.
"Yes, father, you summoned?" Seth says sarcastically as he sits up.
"Your mom and I are going out for a little romantic dinner tonight... some candle light... and maybe some dessert." Sandy informs Seth.
"Ok, over-share." Seth retorts.
"Will you be ok here on your own?" Sandy proceeds, ignoring Seth's sarcasm.
"Yes, yes, I think I can hold the fort down for a while. I mean I've been alone the whole summer, what difference is one more night going to make, right?" Seth replies.
Sandy can see his son is still hurting over Ryan leaving and he knows it will probably still take quite some time to get through the whole thing.
"Seth I want you to know that your mom and I will always be here for you. Please, don't hesitate to ask." Sandy reassures his son.
Just then Kirsten comes down the stairs looking as radiant as ever.
"Seth, you're going to be okay?" Kirsten asks her son as Sandy puts his arm over her shoulders.
"Yes, mom, I'll be fine. Go and enjoy yourselves." Seth again reassures them.
Sandy and Kirsten walk out the front door.
Seth lies back down in bed. Tears welling up in his eyes as he pulls out the map Ryan handed to him before he left...
"It's going to be a long year ahead," He thinks to himself.
FOLLOWING MORNING IN THE COHEN'S KITCHEN
It's Saturday morning and Sandy and Kirsten walk in to the kitchen together, where Seth is sitting at the counter munching on some dry cereal and reading the newspaper – comic section to be more precise.
"Morning son," Kirsten greets Seth.
"Morning," Seth replies.
"Got any plans for today?" Sandy asks, trying to make conversation.
"I'm starting that weekend job at the Crab Shack this morning, and then maybe go sailing later..." Seth begins
Kirsten looks over at Sandy with a worried glance. Seth, sensing their fear, continues, "Don't worry; I'm not intending to sail off the edge of the world this time," he finishes sarcastically.
"Good to hear it," Sandy says, "Now, I'm going out for a surf."
BACK AT THE HOSPITAL
Ryan wakes up the following morning on the sofa in the hospital's waiting area. He had stayed the night with Theresa; Theresa's mom had gone home. He gets up and walks over to the coffee vending machine, puts in a few coins and gets out a nice strong cup of coffee. He talks a few sips and makes his way over to Theresa's room.
He walks in to find her eyes closed. She's asleep. Twins. Had he been dreaming, or is it true that he could be the father of two children. This is not how he thought his life would be just before his eighteenth birthday.
Just then Theresa turns in her bed and awakes.
"Morning," Ryan says softly to Theresa.
"What? Where am ... ... Oh." Theresa suddenly remembers where she is.
"How'd you sleep?" Ryan quizzes her.
"Fine." She says.
There's an awkward silence.
"you want some..." Ryan begins to offer her some thing to drink.
"I didn't know," Theresa begins.
"I know. We'll work this thing through. You just need to relax and not get worked up about it." Ryan responds.
"You should go. Get to work." Theresa says.
"Are you going to be okay?" Ryan asks
"I'm in hospital. Who's ever okay when they're in hospital?" Theresa says with a half smile, trying to console Ryan and put his mind at ease. "I'll be fine. Just going to wait for the doctor's verdict on whether I can go home today or not."
"Ok, I'll come see you later after my shift," Ryan says. He gives her a kiss and leaves.