CHAPTER 5: THE REALITY
AT THE NICHOL MANSION
It is lunch time at the Nichol mansion and both Julie and Caleb are not at home.
Marissa is lying on her bed looking at a picture of her and Ryan taken last summer. Oh, how she wishes things could just go back to the way they were. She longed for Ryan to be back by her side.
A smile crosses her face, as she thinks back on happier moments. She remembers how he was there for her when Luke cheater on her in Tijuana; and how he was so supportive of her after the overdose. She remembers him saving her from the hospital when her mom wanted to have her committed; how he didn't judge her when she was caught shoplifting; and how he even forgave her after the whole episode with Oliver. But, she remembers most fondly the moments they just spent starring in to each others' eyes.
Her moment of joy turns to sadness as she then remembers their final dance together at her mom and Caleb's wedding. He looked so handsome in his tuxedo, and his hair combed perfectly in place. It was a moment she'll never forget. It was a moment she never wanted to end. It was ... ... it was their last dance together. It was the day he left.
"Is it true?" Marissa thinks to herself. "Is what Seth said true' that she was the one who drove him away? Her eyes well up with tears. "If I had never met Oliver, would he have left? Would he have even slept with Theresa in the first place?"
She throws the picture to the floor and turns over and covers her head with the pillow as she begins to cry.
Ding-dong!
The door bell rings.
Marissa gets up and walks over to the mirror behind her bedroom door to see what she looks like. She tries to dry the remaining tears with a tissue she pulls out her pocket. She is wearing a pink top and a pair of navy-blue jeans. She's wearing her hair up in a bun, but lets it loose to try and hide the puffiness in her cheeks.
The door bell rings again.
Marissa makes her way down the stairs, still drying the tears, and trying to touch up her make-up.
She opens the door to find a young guy, probably about 17 years old wearing a pair of stone jeans and a navy blue T-shirt, similar to the one Ryan used to wear when he worked at the Crab Shack. He's got thick streaky blonde hair and dashing blue eyes. He's average height – not much taller than Ryan.
"Hi." The guy says, stretching out his hand. "My name's Mark. I'm your new neighbor. We just moved in this morning."
"Hi." Marissa replies and shakes his hand. "Marissa Cooper." She introduces herself.
They stand there in awkward silence for about a minute.
"Uhmm, can I help you?" Marissa prompts.
"Yeh,... oh man,... I'm so sorry." Mark responds uneasily. "I... we, well my mom actually, was hoping we could borrow some supplies. Most of our stuff is only arriving tomorrow."
"Oh... uhmm... sure. Please come in." Marissa replies and opens the door wider for him to come in.
"Wow! You've got a great place!" Mark comments as he walks inside.
"Thanks, but it's really not THAT great." Marissa replies and heads off towards the kitchen. "What is it that you needed?"
"Some milk and sugar." Mark replies as he watches Marissa from behind... more specifically – HER behind! She sees him watching her and blushes a bit.
"Where did you say you were from?" Marissa asks, trying to ease the moment.
"I didn't." Mark replies jokingly. "But we just moved here from Missouri. My dad got a transfer. And you? How long have you been here?"
"About seven or eight months." Marissa replies as she comes back with the supplies and hands it to him.
"Thanks." Mark says. Again they just stand there in an uneasy silence for a minute.
"Shouldn't you be getting that back to your mom?" Marissa breaks the silence.
"Oh... yes... right." Mark says and makes his way to the door. Marissa leads the way and opens the door for him. He leaves, but just before going he turns around...
"So, what you doing later?" Mark asks. He pauses, but not long enough for Marissa to say no. "I hoped we could perhaps go to the pier and you could be my tour-guide. I don't know this area at all."
Marissa looks a little shocked at the sudden request.
"Uhmm. I... I dunno." Marissa replies uneasily. "I kinda have a boyfriend."
"I wasn't asking for a date... just a tour." Mark replies.
"Well, in that case..." Marissa responds.
"Great. Can I come over at five?" Mark replies, a little too eagerly.
"Sure – see you – at five." Marissa says and closes the door as Mark walks away.
AT THE COHEN'S
Kirsten is sitting by herself in the poolhouse on the two-seater couch next to the bed, thinking back on better times. She is not holding up under the emotional strain of the events of the past summer, and added to that the uncertainty of the Newport Group's future, of which she is now CEO.
Sandy walks in and closes the door behind him.
"Have I ever told you how beautiful you look in the afternoons?" Sandy says as he sits down next to her and pulls her in to a kiss.
"Not recently." Kirsten replies and gives Sandy a knowing smile.
"Well, that's because you haven't been using any of that fancy make-up lately." Sandy says jokingly and pulls Kirsten to lie on his shoulder.
They just sit there for a while and enjoy the moment. Kirsten eventually lifts her head and sits up.
"I'm going to be late for my yogalaties class," she says and stands up. She turns around and asks Sandy, "Have you spoken to Seth today? He was quite upset about the phone call from Ryan last night and I don't think things are going too well with Summer either."
"No, he hasn't been out his room the whole morning," Sandy replies as he gets up.
"I think you should go talk to him, Sandy." Kirsten urges. "He's going to need your support – even if he won't ask for it."
"I'll chat to him." Sandy says. Him and Kirsten leave the poolhouse together, and enter the kitchen through the back door.
Just then the phone rings. Sandy answers it, as Kirsten starts putting the dishes in the washer.
"Hello." Sandy answers.
"Yes, this is Sandy Cohen." Sandy replies to the person on the other end.
There's a pause as the person on the other end talks, to which Sandy replies with a few, "yes's" and "okay's".
"Okay, I'm on my way." Sandy says and puts the phone down. He turns to Kirsten who's looking very inquisitive.
"That was the police station in Chino." Sandy says solemnly. "Ryan's there."
"I'm coming with you." Kirsten says.
"Okay, get the car." Sandy says, "I'll go check on Seth."
Kirsten rushes out the front door and Sandy heads upstairs to Seth's room.
Seth is lying on his bed stroking Captain Oats' head and listen to music through his earphones. He is wearing a red t-shirt and a pair of blue long pants and sneakers.
Sandy knocks on the door.
"It's open!" Seth says loudly and puts Captain Oats down on the table next to him.
Sandy enters as Seth removes the earphones. He gets up and grabs his skateboard.
"Going somewhere?" Sandy asks
"Yeh, see you later." Seth replies and makes a bee-line to the door.
"Your mom and I are going to fetch Ryan," Sandy says quickly. "He's at the police station."
Seth stops in his tracks. "Oh." He replies, seeming keen, but trying to contain his excitement.
"I thought you'd like to come." Sandy says rather surprised that Seth is not a little more excited.
Seth turns back around to face Sandy. "Actually, why don't you go on ahead of me? You know how those places give allergies." Seth says, making excuses.
"Seth!" Sandy exclaims out of disbelief that his son doesn't want to come with.
"Father." Seth says sarcastically.
"Ryan's your friend. You should be there." Sandy encourages.
"Be there hey?" Seth says again in a sarcastic tone and lifts his hand to his chin in a mock look of deep thought. "Oh, Right... You mean like the way he was there for me during the summer... Or when he was there when my girlfriend dumped me... Oh yes... yes... no, uhmm... interesting... seems that I don't recollect any of those moments... ... or could it have been... perhaps he WASN'T there ... Yip... Definitely recall now...." Seth says sarcastically, but clearly angry.
"This is not the time for sarcasm." Sandy says.
"I wasn't being sarcastic." Seth says and Sandy just looks at him with raised eyebrows. "Okay, maybe a little." Seth admits. "But you know what? I don't care. He can stay in Chino. I wasn't the one who ran out." Seth says angrily and turns to leave the room.
"Looks to me like Ryan's not the one running out, now." Sandy says as Seth heads down the hall. Sandy stands in Seth's room for a moment. He sighs, and then heads downstairs to the car where Kirsten is waiting.
"Seth's not coming I take it?" Kirsten says to Sandy as he climbs in to the driver's seat.
"He just needs some time." Sandy says and starts the car.
"Ryan may be coming back, but it's still going to be a long time before everything's back to normal again." Sandy says wisely, as Kirsten just gives him a look of concern. "Not that anything is ever normal around here." Sandy says as he pulls out the driveway. He can sense Kirsten is very apprehensive about what the future holds.
As they drive down the road, Sandy puts his right hand on her knee and says, "We'll be okay though. We always are." He looks at her reassuringly and she forces a smile.
DOWN AT THE PIER
Mark had met Marissa at her place and the two of them went in Marissa's car to the pier. She had shown him the Balboa Lighthouse that her dad and Sandy bought, but never got off the ground. They grabbed a quick bite to eat there before making their way along the walkway to the end of the pier.
"I used to love coming down here." Marissa says thinking back on the 'good old days'.
"Used to?" Mark enquires. "What happened?"
"Things just got a little messed up I suppose." Marissa says vaguely. This leads in to a slightly awkward silence.
"So, tell me about your boyfriend... Ryan is it?" Mark asks, trying to break the tension.
"Yeh. He lives in Chino." Marissa replies.
"Long distance relationship, huh?" Marks says. "What, does he come through over the weekends or something?"
"Actually, I haven't seen him in about seven months." Marissa says indifferently.
Mark looks quizzically at her. "And he's your boyfriend? Doesn't seem like a very good one." Mark comments.
Marissa just looks at him and then down at her feet as she ponders on his words.
"I'm... I'm so sorry." Mark says, realizing what he had just said. "It's not my place to..."
"It's okay." Marissa cuts in. "I suppose in the real sense of the word, he's not my boyfriend." She looks back down at the ground again and kicks a stone away.
"Look, if you don't want to talk about it..." Mark suggests.
"No, it fine. I should probably get it off my chest." Marissa says. "I did kind of mess things up with him."
"Well, if you ask me, I think he's the one who's lost out." Mark encourages Marissa and gives her a smile that brings one out of here.
"Oh!" Mark exclaims in jest. "You have a beautiful smile."
"We should get going..." Marissa breaks says. "It's the start of registration week tomorrow."
"Yeh, same here." Mark replies, and they head off towards the car.
Half an hour later they arrive back at Marissa's place. Mark walks her to the door.
"Well, thanks for this evening. You are a very good tour-guide." Mark compliments.
"You make it sound so formal. It doesn't have to end here you know." Marissa says and gestures him to come inside.
"Okay, but only if it's not going to be an inconvenience." Mark responds and they both enter the house.
Julie and Caleb are inside having supper.
"Mariss." Julie says and gets up and gives her daughter a kiss on the cheek, to which Marissa does not reciprocate.
"How was your day, honey?" Julie asks.
"Fine." Marissa replies rather unresponsively.
"Who's you're new friend?" Caleb asks, but doesn't get up from the table.
"Oh, this is Mark." Marissa replies. "They moved in next door."
"Please to meet you Mr Nichol... Mrs. Nichol." Mark says politely.
Mark and Marissa head off towards the kitchen as Marissa prepares them both some coffee and they sit down in the lounge and talk well in to the night.
AT THE POLICE STATION, CHINO
Sandy and Kirsten are waiting at the front desk of the Chino Police Department. Sandy fills in some paper work and signs, as Kirsten stands by watching another offender being booked in at the desk next to theirs.
"Right. Thank you Mr Cohen." The detective says. "Please wait here; I'll fetch your son."
Sandy and Kirsten sit down on the two chairs available for visitors.
"I'm glad they're letting us take him home." Kirsten turns to Sandy and says. "This is no place for him to spend the night." Kirsten looks around with disgust at the surroundings. "He's a good kid."
"We just need to hope that the hospital don't want to press charges." Sandy replies. "They still have 24 hours to fill out a case."
Ten minutes later the detective brings Ryan through still with cuffs on. Kirsten stands and rushes over and hugs him. This is the first time she or Sandy have seen him in seven months. "It's so good to have you back!" She says almost crying, but this time tears of joy.
The detective unlocks the cuffs and takes them off. Ryan rubs his wrists.
"Mr Atwood, you do know that you can still be charged, provided the hospital decides to press charges." The detective says. "The good news for you is that normally if a complainant has not filed a case by this time, they usually won't bother."
"Well if they do, you'll have your attorney by your side." Sandy says as he also now gives Ryan a man-like side-on hug. "Good to have you back, kid."
Ryan smiles at Kirsten and Sandy as the three of the walk arm-on-shoulder side-by-side out the police station.
"So how's Theresa? You a dad yet?" Sandy asks, "Because if you are the master of parenthood is right here." Sandy says in jest. Kirsten just gives him a sarcastic grin.
They all get in the car and drive back to Newport. Ryan fills them in on all the details about his time back in Chino, about Theresa and the baby that died, and how she has decided to give the other kid up for adoption. He tells them about the baby being Eddie's.
In turn, Kirsten fills Ryan in on all the happenings in Newport; about Seth going to Catalina, about Marissa and Summer and about the Newport Group's financial crisis. Ryan is shocked about how much has happened since he left, and that it could have all happened in such a short space of time too!
They arrive back at the house and are still talking about it around the kitchen counter, when Seth walks in.
"Seth!" Kirsten calls. "Guess who is back?"
Seth walks up the stairs to his room pretending like he doesn't hear them. He walks straight to his room, throws the skateboard down and flops down on his bed looking up at the ceiling.
Back in the kitchen, the atmosphere is tense as Sandy and Kirsten look at each other in concern over Seth's reaction. Ryan's feeling a little uncomfortable too.
"I'll go get him." Sandy says, a little enraged at Seth, and starts making his way toward the stairs.
"No, it's fine." Ryan stops him. "It's fine. I'll go chat to him." Ryan heads upstairs toward Seth's room.
He knocks on the door.
"I'm not hungry, mom!" Seth replies thinking it is Kirsten who's followed him up the stairs.
Ryan enters. "Hey." He says.
"Oh, it's you." Seth replies, but doesn't look at him.
"What's up?" Ryan asks.
"Nothing." Seth responds.
"How's things?" Ryan probes further
"Cool." Seth replies coldly.
"Great." Ryan says a little uneasy.
There's an awkward silence for a while.
"You mind..." Ryan asks as he gestures to sit on the corner of the bed.
Seth doesn't respond, but Ryan sits down anyway.
"So, I'm sorry I had to take off." Ryan says trying to break the ice.
"Uh-hu." Seth says.
"It wasn't an easy choice." Ryan says.
Seth just lies there for a moment and then looks up at Ryan. "Funny. ... You seemed to have made the decision rather easily." Seth says and then puts his head back down on the pillow.
"It wasn't as though..." Ryan tries to explain
"You know, Ryan – Don't." Seth says and sits up. "Maybe you made the right decision for yourself and Theresa, but it wasn't the right one for me. I'm sorry if that sounds a bit selfish, but did you even consider what effect your actions would have on me. And Marissa. What about her? She's been totally destroyed and you didn't even call her – not once." Seth lies back down again. "I just need time, okay man. It's not going to be able to just go back to the way it was."
Ryan sits there thinking about what Seth has said. There is a lot of truth in his words. He hadn't called. Not because he didn't want to but, because it was just too difficult, and he didn't want to make things any more uneasy. Ryan gets up to leave.
STILL AT THE COHEN'S HOUSE
Ryan heads downstairs to find Kirsten and Sandy sitting kissing at the kitchen counter.
"Oh, uhmm..." Ryan starts.
Sandy and Kirsten quickly break it off. "Uhmm... I'm just gonna go make sure there's clean sheets and towels in the poolhouse." Kirsten says uneasily and gets up.
"Yeh, I've got to go check on... ... the thing..." Sandy says also uneasily.
"Right." Ryan responds with a smirk on his face. "Can I borrow the car... there's someone I need to go see." Ryan decides this is actually the perfect time to push his luck.
"Don't you want to stay for supper?" Sandy asks.
"No, it seems like you guys have your hands full. I can grab something to eat when I get back." Ryan says smugly. Sandy steps forward and playfully flat-hands Ryan's on the back of the head.
"Ok, then, by all means." Sandy says and hands him the keys. "And take this too... in case." He hands Ryan his mobile phone.
"Thanks." He takes the keys and puts the phone in his pocket.
Ryan gets in the car and heads down to the Nichol mansion. On the way he thinks a lot about what Seth said. Marissa may not be all too receptive of him. After all, he had been away for seven months and didn't call.
As he pulls in to the driveway he spots Marissa's car as well as another vehicle he doesn't recognize. He parks his car behind the newish-looking slick black sedan and walks up to the door, and rings the bell. "Hope Julie doesn't answer." He thinks to himself. A few minutes later the door opens.
"Oh my god, Ryan!" Marissa says ecstatically and practically falls in to his arms. He was not quite prepared for THIS reception, but it'll work, he thinks to himself and a little grin appears across his face.
"Hi." He says ever so coolly.
(Mark is still there. They had just got back from their outing to the pier and were sipping on coffee when Ryan rocked up.)
Marissa gestures Ryan to come in and as he does, he sees Mark sitting on the couch in the lounge sipping on coffee. For a brief moment it seems Marissa forgot Mark even existed. Mark puts his cup down on a side table and stands next to, but slightly behind Marissa.
"Oh, Ryan. This is Mark." She introduces them. "He moved in next door." They shake hands, but Ryan feels a little threatened. Firstly, he hadn't been around for seven months, so he couldn't have expected Marissa to just wait for him, but this Mark guy has just happily moved in on his territory.
"Still dating the guy next door." Ryan says sort of in jest, but then realizes what he just said. Marissa looks a little less than impressed. "I didn't..."
"No, worries." Marissa cuts him off, but definitely looking not so impressed.
"So, how are things going? You here for good or just until the next girl arrives that you can get pregnant?" Marissa asks very spitefully.
"Uhmm... maybe I should go." Mark says as he senses the tension in the air. He gets up and walks towards the door. "I can see you guys have a lot to chat about."
"No, Mark. Stay!" He quickly sits down as Marissa barks her order. "You were here first." She says and looks at Ryan.
"Actually, I think I was." Ryan says as he leans in towards Marissa trying not to make a scene. He was obviously referring to the bigger picture, but Marissa was not seeing it.
"Well, you walked out didn't you. Did you expect me to just hang around and wait for you? You didn't even call. I forgot what you looked like AND what you sounded like." Marissa says, now getting angry.
"I suppose I'll just leave then." Ryan says. "I just wanted to say hi."
"Well, Hi..." Marissa says. "And bye." She walks to the door and opens it.
"I guess I'll just see you at school then." Ryan says annoyed and a bit embarrassed, as he walks out the door.
"Maybe, maybe not." Marissa says and closes the door on him.
Ryan stands there for a few moments and wonders what just happened. Marissa seemed so happy to see him and within minutes her attitude took a complete about-turn. Ryan breathes a deep sigh and walks towards his car. He looks at the new vehicle, which he assumes is Mark's. How appropriate that he had parked behind it. Ryan gets in his car and drives off back towards the Cohen's.
On the other side of the door, Marissa is still holding the handle, but she's now broken down in tears.
Mark comes alongside her. "You want some alone time?" Mark asks.
Marissa looks up at him and dries her tears with her hand. "No, that's the last thing I need." Marissa replies.
Mark pulls her in to a hug and the two of them stand there for a while just holding each other.
MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE COHEN'S
Kirsten is sorting out the poolhouse for Ryan. She is so much happier now that they have got their son back and it seems like things can actually go back to the way they were.
Sandy enters the poolhouse and gives Kirsten an adoring kiss on the cheek. "So, where were we?" He says and gives her another kiss, and then another.
"Sandy..." Kirsten tries to stop him. "I need to get this room sorted out."
"You are passing me up for laundry?" Sandy says in mock pain.
Kirsten looks in his eyes and then gives in to him as she drops the sheets. They both fall back on the bed and begin to make out.
Just then the door bell rings. Seth comes down the stairs mumbling something about what's the point in having a housekeeper if she's never there at the most important times like opening doors.
Seth opens the door to find Jimmy standing there.
"Hey Seth. Is your mom around?" Jimmy asks.
"Haven't seen her. You can come in and check... perhaps the poolhouse. They're spending a lot of time there lately." Seth says and opens the door wider so Jimmy can come in.
He walks through the kitchen and out to the poolhouse. He opens the door and...
"Oh... I'm so sorry... I should've knocked." Jimmy says as he sees them on the bed.
"No, it's okay. Happening a lot lately." Sandy says and he and Kirsten quickly get up and smooth down their clothes.
"I can come back later." Jimmy says and sort of points out the door.
"No, nonsense." Kirsten says. "How you Jimmy?"
"I'm not too great. I need to chat to you ... Kirsten." Jimmy says. "You mind, Sandy?"
"No, not at all. Go ahead." Sandy says supportively, but a little annoyed at the same time.
"Well, let's go inside. Have you had supper yet? We were just about to eat." Kirsten leads the way. "Sandy, can you organize with Rosa to sort out the bed. Gonna need clean sheets again." She says to him and winks. Sandy stands there slightly annoyed, but quickly gets over it.
Sandy heads upstairs to Seth's room to announce that supper will be ready in a few minutes. This time he finds the door open, so he just walks right in. Seth is sitting at his computer searching the net.
"Supper's gonna be ready in a little while." Sandy announces.
"Not hungry." Seth says.
"You can't spend your whole life up here." Sandy says
"I can." Seth replies, and swivels around in his chair.
"I have a bathroom for all my manly needs..." He points towards the bathroom, "the internet for e-learning so I don't have to go to school... E-BAY for all those important supplies..." he points at his computer, "and a telephone for delivery." He picks up his cell phone that's lying next to the computer. "I am a victim of technology. America-On-Line has made it possible for social misfits such as myself to never have to face the real world again."
"Seth!" Sandy says firmly now. "You need to swallow your pride, forgive Ryan and get on with life. If you think life is difficult now... it doesn't get much easier, and you are going to need your friends... and Ryan is your friend...." Sandy says. He now gets a bit more fatherly, and puts his hand on Seth's shoulder. "And this thing you have now with Summer... you'll work it out. Love has to be worked at. There is no quick-fix to a broken heart.... Now, please, come down to supper." And with that Sandy leaves the room. Seth sits back in his chair and ponders on what Sandy has just said.
Back in the living room, Kirsten and Jimmy are finishing off their conversation.
"I'll see what I can do for you, Jimmy." Kirsten says as Jimmy gets up to leave. "The Newport Group, as you know, is struggling at the moment, but I'll check with Sandy too... I'm sure he can make a plan."
"Thanks. You guys have been so good to me. One day I'll make it up to you... I promise." Jimmy says.
"No need. What are friends for?" Kirsten replies, and smiles politely at Jimmy. "Are you not going to stay for supper?"
"No, I have a potential buyer for the yacht coming around tonight." Jimmy replies.
"I'll give you a call tomorrow evening." Kirsten says and leads Jimmy to the door.
"Yes. And thanks again." Jimmy says as he leaves.
"Don't mention it." Kirsten says as she closes the door behind him.
Just then Sandy comes back down the stairs. "Coop not staying for supper? Did you tell him you were cooking?" Sandy in jest.
"Very funny. No, he's got other plans." Kirsten says and fills Sandy in on their conversation.
Half an hour later Sandy, Kirsten and Seth are sitting down to a delicious meal of roast lamb and hot vegetable bake. Ryan arrives back and Kirsten quickly scurries to prepare a placemat and a plate of food for him. He takes his place next to Seth. The four of them sit down to a meal as family for the first time in seven months. Kirsten is very happy, and Ryan, for the first time in a long while feels right at home.
"How's Marissa?" Sandy asks.
"As complicated as ever." Ryan replies between bits of food.
"Yip... Welcome back to Newport buddy, where everything only APPEARS normal." Seth replies. "I think after supper, you and me... we need to catch up on a little Seth/Ryan time."
Ryan smiles broadly. "Sounds good, man."
"Ryan, are you gonna need a lift to work tomorrow?" Kirsten asks.
"I think I'll call Matt in the morning..." Ryan replies. "Tell him I need to register for school, and ask him for some vacation." Ryan says with half-smiling.
Half an hour later they finish supper and Ryan and Seth head out to the poolhouse.
"So Summer broke up with you?" Ryan asks as he sits on the bed and Seth on the couch.
"Now why would you just assume Summer broke up with ME?" Seth asks.
Ryan just gives him his look that conveys everything.
"Ok, point taken." Seth says in response. He tells Ryan everything that happened.
They talk well in to the night about their experiences during the summer. Ryan fills Seth in on all the details about Chino, his job, the babies and Theresa giving the baby up for adoption.