CHAPTER 12: THE VACATION
THE COHEN'S
"Dude, can you maybe add a bit of speed to your movements?" Seth says as he rushes in to the pool house. "We've got to fetch the ladies in twenty minutes and Summer being kept waiting is not a pretty sight."
"Okay, okay, I'm coming." Ryan says as he steps up to the counter above his bed and puts his watch and wristband on.
The group of four, Seth, Summer, Ryan and Marissa were preparing to go away for a couple of days on vacation to Miami. Ryan was a bit apprehensive about this as he was not too sure how things would pan out with him and Marissa. They were not official dating or anything, yet the way they carried on together, you'd swear they were. Seth and Summer were very much an item and Seth made sure everyone knew about it.
Ryan picks up his bags and follows Seth out to the front where the car is idling.
"Dude, this trip is gonna be awesome! You, me, Summer, Marissa and no parents! Just image the stuff we can get up to!" Seth was beside himself with excitement.
Sandy is sitting at the kitchen counter reading the paper and eating a bagel. As Seth and Ryan wiz past him, he puts the paper down and trails behind.
"Now remember what I said..." Sandy begins.
"Yes, yes. Call before we get on the plane, call when we get off the plane, call when we're in the cab, call when we get to the hotel, call when we fall in the lake and call when we get rescued... and if in doubt, just call anyway..." Seth says sarcastically.
"Seth!" Sandy says sternly.
"Father." Seth replies.
"Just be careful." Sandy says reservedly.
Seth piles his luggage in to the back and turns around to Sandy and holds out his palm and waves his figures in an upward motion.
"What?" Sandy asks.
"The credit card, father." Seth replies.
Sandy takes the card out his wallet and hands it to Seth.
Kirsten walks out from inside and stands next to Sandy.
"You sure this is a good idea... letting the kids go off to another state by themselves?" Kirsten asks with concern.
"No." Sandy replies. "But we're got to trust them some day. Why not now?" Kirsten just looks at him anxiously.
"Leave the car at the garages by the airport." Sandy says. "We'll pick it up in the morning."
"Right, all set?" Ryan says as he climbs in the passenger seat.
"All set." Seth says as he climbs behind the wheel.
Suddenly, he remembers something and quickly jumps out and races upstairs to his bedroom. Half a minute later he rushes back down with a plastic horse in one hand, Captain Oates. Ryan just looks at him and shakes his head.
"That's right friend, just zip the lip." Seth responds jokingly before Ryan can say anything. "Captain Oates needs a break too."
They pull out the driveway and wave back to their parents. Sandy waves and then makes a "call me" sign with his hand to his ear.
AT SUMMER'S PLACE
Since Summer's place was en route to the airport, Marissa spent the evening and morning there, so as to save the guys an extra trip in fetching her.
Summer and Marissa were finalizing last-minute packing in Summer's room. Marissa is sitting on Summer's bed, as Summer touches up her eyebrows in the nightstand mirror.
"This trip is gonna be all-time." Summer says excitedly. "Couple-fess 2004 here we come."
"Except Sum, Ryan and I aren't a couple." Marissa corrected her.
"Not yet, but you will be." Summer responded.
"Sum!" Marissa exclaimed.
"Well you just about are. Everyone can like see it." Summer defended herself.
"Yeh, but Ryan's not interested in a relationship yet." Marissa said kind of dejected.
"How do you know, have you asked him?" Summer replied persistently.
"No, but I can tell." Marissa replied.
"Coop, I think if you love him, you must just ask him." Summer said. "Now, on to more important stuff... where's my makeup bag?"
Marissa takes Summer makeup bag off the side table and hands it to her. Just then they here the call pull up the drive-way. Seth honks the horn loudly.
They rush downstairs to the car where the guys are waiting.
"Cohen, a little help please!" Summer barks as she struggles to get the front door open. Seth climbs out and helps Summer with her bags. Ryan does likewise for Marissa.
"God Summer!" Seth exclaims as he tries to understand Summer's 4 bags of belongings. "You don't wanna perhaps pack your BED in here too?" Summer just gives him a death-stare, which Seth has learnt to mean, 'not another word, Cohen'.
Seth lifts Summer's backs and puts them in the back. Ryan has already loaded Marissa's bags, which by the way is just two. As Seth puts Summer's bags down, Marissa, who is standing next to, but slightly behind Seth, notices something sticking out the side of one of the bags. A closer inspection reveals Princess Sparkles. Summer notices Marissa noticing.
"She needs a holiday too you know!" Summer defends herself. Marissa just smiles at her.
Once everything was loaded, the foursome got in and Seth started the car. Seth and Summer sat upfront with Marissa and Ryan taking up the rear.
Marissa and Ryan have not said much to each other. The tension is thick. Neither one quite knows what to say.
"So... Miami, hey?" Marissa finally spoke up.
"Yeh Coop, the home of the golden girls. Imagine... shopping, soaking up the rays, clubbing..." Summer responded before Ryan had a chance.
"... and tons of bikini-clad women!" Seth pipes in and gets a smack on the arm from Summer, which in turn brings laughter out of everyone else.
"It's gonna be great." Ryan responds. Marissa and Ryan smile at each other, a little more relaxed now.
AT THE AIRPORT
As they arrive at the airport, Seth's phone rings. He takes it out his pocket and recognizes the caller ID. He sighs and answers it.
"Yes, Dad, we're still alive and as yet nothing to report." Seth says as he answers the phone. There's a few seconds of silence. "Yes, will call you when we land." And with that Seth closes the phone again.
An hour later they are all checked in and ready to board. Summer and Marissa have walked off to go do some "window shopping" at the curio shops. Ryan and Seth are sipping down on smoothies at the local restaurant. Ryan is looking anxious and getting more and more nervous as time wears on.
"Ryan, what's up buddy?" Seth asks noticing that Ryan is not looking too good.
Ryan sips one long sip of his smoothie and says, "Is now a good time to tell you I've never been on an airplane before?"
Seth looks at him in disbelief. "You serious?"
"Yeh, never been on a plane." Ryan repeats.
"Don't worry man, it's like a rollercoaster..." Seth says and then stops as Ryan gives him a look. "It'll be fine. If you see any funny-looking people with sharp objects, or if you walk past them and they're ticking, just head straight for the exit... with a life-jacket."
Ryan looks at Seth even more nervous than before. "You're not helping." Ryan responds.
Just then the announcer comes over the radio. "American Airline flight number 8311 boarding at gate 2 now."
Seth pulls his ticket out his pocket and examines it. "That's us," he says and gulps down the rest of his smoothie in record time. Ryan just leaves his there. Seth slaps down a couple of bucks to pay for the drinks and the two of them get up. They look around for the ladies, but don't see them anywhere.
Suddenly, on the far-off side of the airport lounge, Summer and Marissa round the corner and head straight for the guys. Summer is carrying two full bags of stuff.
"Oh my god, Summer, where are you going to put that? We've got to board now!" Seth says exasperated and Ryan and Marissa just laugh at them.
"Ok, can it Cohen and give me your credit card. I'm gonna have to pay for the extra weight." Summer responds.
Seth looks at her with a smirk on his face and a naughty sparkle in his eye. "Summer, there's not an ounce of extra weight on you."
Before Seth can make another comment about the 'extra weight' thing Summer gives him a death stare again. He hands Summer the credit card and she goes to the counter to make arrangements for her parcels to go with.
Half an hour later they have boarded the plane and are stuffing their hand-luggage in the overhead compartments.
Seth insisted on getting the window seat as did Summer and Marissa. Ryan insisted on taking the isle. Eventually they flipped for it. Marissa got the window seat with Ryan next to her and behind them Summer and Seth sat, with Summer at the window. Seth sat there and just sulked.
Seth was still trying to negotiate, but it was not working. "How's about I take the window on the way back?"
Summer just looked annoyingly at him. "I won the toss fair and square."
"How long is this flight anyway?" Ryan asks as he settles in his seat, struggling with the belt.
"I don't know... a couple of hours? Maybe four or five." Marissa replies, clearly enjoying it that Ryan is tense about the whole flying thing.
Ryan eventually gets the buckle done up.
"We're not taking off for another 20 minutes or so." Marissa says.
"Rather safe than sorry." Ryan replies.
"Ladies and Gentlemen... good afternoon. My name is Francis and on behalf of the captain and crew of American Airline flight 8311, I'd like to wish you a safe and enjoyable journey." A beautiful 30-something blonde-haired airhostess announces over the speaker system. "The path ahead to Miami International promises to be a pleasant one with little to no turbulence expected. Please buckle up your seatbelts as we will be taking off within a few moments. If you encounter any problems with your seatbelt, please don't hesitate to call one of the airhostesses nearest you for assistance."
Everyone around begins fiddling with their seatbelts and buckles. About twenty minutes later a male voice blares over the sound system. "Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. I am please to announce we will be taking off within the next few minutes. Please enjoy the trip."
A minute later the plane starts to move.
"Wha... what was that?" Ryan says very nervously.
"THAT was the plane moving." Marissa replied with a laugh.
"Oh, yeah... knew that." Ryan responds forcing a half-smile.
The plane makes a few moves to get in position and then suddenly starts moving faster and faster. By now Ryan is almost a wreck.
"Oh, man... you had to pick a destination that required flying, didn't you?" Ryan said nervously turning his head slightly backward to Seth. He has shut his eyes tightly now, not daring to open them.
A few seconds later, but seems like hours to Ryan, the plane begins to lift. Ryan is now almost turning green.
Marissa gets an idea. "Maybe you just need something to distract your attention... take your mind off it for a while..."
"What could possibly..." Ryan starts and then suddenly stops, or rather is forced to stop as Marissa reaches over him and kisses him on the lips. Ryan's eyes quickly pop open and then close again as he remembers the Ferris-wheel incident... This feels almost exactly the same. He returns the kiss and for the first time in almost a year the two of them share a romantic, loving moment together.
As they break it off, they hear the airhostess come over the sound system again. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are now stable and you may loosen your seatbelts."
Seth and Summer just looked on in amazement. Eventually Seth broke the silence.
"Well, I'm glad about that. I was getting worried about having to share a room with you, Ryan..."
"It looks like we won't have to worry about that anymore." Summer responded.
Ryan and Marissa had hardly heard a word the airhostess, or their friends had said. They both stared lovingly in to each other's eyes.
AT THE COHEN'S
"So, we're home alone this weekend..." Sandy says as he comes alongside Kirsten and hugs her. She was standing in the kitchen preparing herself a bagel.
"Not exactly," the Nana says as she walks in. Kirsten and Sandy break off their hug. "But don't worry, I won't be around for much longer."
"Oh boy, here we go again..." Sandy says as he rolls his eyes.
"I mean, I'm going back home tomorrow." The Nana corrected him. "Two weeks of California is more than I can handle."
Kirsten and Sandy look at each other slightly shocked and surprised at this announcement. The Nana had made no indication before of her wanting to leave, but of course they did know she was not a fan of the Cali.
"You don't need to look so upset about it." The Nana said sarcastically as she picked up on their expressions. "Anyway, you will still have the house to yourselves tonight... I'm going out."
Kirsten and Sandy now looked ever more shocked. The Nana... on a date?
Again, seeing their blank, shocked faces, she clarifies, "You are not the only rich people I know, you know."
With that the Nana lights up a cigarette and walks out back to smoke. Kirsten and Sandy stand stunned and speechless.
The doorbell rang, snapping them out of their daze. Kirsten goes to answer it. As she opens the door another surprise awaits her. The slender, mid-40 year old figure of a woman with frazzled blonde hair stood in from of Kirsten.
"Dawn Atwood!" Kirsten exclaims and hugs Ryan's mom. "It's been a long, long time. How are you? Please, please come in."
Dawn enters and Kirsten closes the door.
"Yes, it's been long. I'm doing a lot better now than when I left you." Dawn responded. She was only carrying a small bag, which she had slung over her shoulder.
Sandy comes through from the kitchen. "Ah... I thought I heard a familiar voice. How've you been?"
"I'm good, thanks." Dawn replies.
"The boys are away this weekend on holiday, but I can call..." Sandy begins to say.
"No, actually I need to talk to the two of you first." Dawn responded. "I have some good news and possibly some bad news."
"Well there's no rush. You're welcome to stay here the weekend. The guys will only be back Monday." Kirsten offers.
AT MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
A few hours later the foursome land at Miami International, check in and make their way to the conveyor belt to fetch their luggage. Firstly Seth's bag comes off, then Marissa's two and then Summer's load of six bags. They had to get a trolley just for Summer's luggage alone. Another half an hour of waiting, and everyone's luggage has been counted for... everyone that is, except for Ryan. His bag is nowhere to be found.
An hour later and after various enquires at different counters, Ryan's luggage is finally found. The airport attendant apologizes profusely as she informs Ryan of what has happened.
"Mr Atwood, unfortunately your bags somehow got mixed up with a Mr A. Wood, and as a result are now sitting at Heathrow International airport." The attendant informs Ryan.
"Heathrow?" Seth gasps. "That in London!"
"Yes. I am incredibly sorry for the inconvenience this has coursed. We have made contact with our manager at Heathrow, who has ensured us that your luggage will be on the very next plane back to us." The attendant continues.
"And how long will that take?" Ryan asks with just a hit of agitation in his voice.
"It should be here within 24 hours, sir."
Ryan sighs, and then says, "Okay, thanks." He scribbles down his phone number and the name of the hotel they'll be staying at.
"We'll contact you just as soon as we have your luggage in our possession." The attendant says.
The four friends leave the airport area and hail a cab. Three-quarters of an hour later they pull up in front of the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Seth hands the cabbie a few notes to cover the fare and they climb out. Their luggage is picked up by the bellboy.
They stop in front of the hotel doors and look up at a magnificently designed hotel exterior. They stand together in a row, Seth and Summer arm in arm and Ryan and Marissa hand in hand, looking like they've been in love forever.
"Wow, this place is amazing." Marissa says with awe.
"This is gonna be such an awesome weekend." Seth responds excitedly.
"Yeah, except I don't have any clothes." Ryan says still annoyed at the situation.
"Well, you could always borrow one or two of my blouses. It's not a wife beater, but I'm sure it will do." Marissa says jokingly.
"Yeh, Chino, you'll look... quite beautiful." Summer responds joining in on the banter.
"Yes, Ryan... you'll look... quite pretty, especially with those big muscles of yours in a woman's shirt!" Seth says and then realizes what he just was saying... "Well, not that I've pictured your muscles in woman's shirts or anything..." His recovery is not good and everyone laughs and looks slightly screwy at Seth.
"Cohen! Are you being all homo again?" Summer says questioning Seth's manhood. Seth decides this time its best not to respond.
The doorman opens the door and the four of them walk inside and admire the amazing surroundings of the foyer.
Seth walks to the reception desk on his left.
"Reservation for 'Cohen'." He announces.
The receptionist looks up the reservation on the computer. She confirms the credit card details and hands Seth four sets of keys, 2 per room.
"Enjoy your stay with us, Mr Cohen." The receptionist greets warmly.
"I am sure I will." Seth replies smiling from ear to ear and takes the keys from her.
Seth returns to the others and they take the elevator to their rooms. They find that they have got two rooms next to each other on the tenth floor. The bellboy carries their luggage up.
Ryan and Marissa take the room on the right and Seth and Summer the one on the left. As they enter their rooms, they are left breathless by its exquisite beauty. It's an 800 sq ft suite, with floor to ceiling windows, a balcony with a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean and South Beach. The bedroom has 1 king sized bed in it.
"Oh wow... this is awesome!" Seth says as he opens the sliding door on to the balcony. As he does he is hit by the crisp, refreshing night air off the ocean. Summer joins him and the two stand there arm around shoulder admiring the view.
In the room next door, Ryan and Marissa are just as awed by their room. It is identically spectacular. They admire the view as they stand staring out the windows. They walk in to the bedroom to check it out. It has a massive, king sized bed. Ryan flops down back on it, feeling totally exhausted. Marissa climbs on the bed and on top of Ryan.
"You know what we haven't done for a while?" Marissa says as she smiles at Ryan. He smiles back at her as she starts kissing him.
Seth comes charging in to their room. "This place is amazing!"
As he does Marissa quickly gets off Ryan, who throws his arms back and sighs.
"Oh... Sorry... you really don't waist time do you?" Seth responded. Summer comes up behind Seth and pushes him to the side slightly to get in.
"So, we're gonna go hit the night life here." Summer announces.
"Sum... its 11:30pm... I'm tired..." Marissa responded.
"Yeh, it's been a long flight... bit of jet lag." Ryan added.
"Dude, it's a 5 hour flight... you don't get jet lag." Seth said.
"I do." Ryan replied adamantly.
"Well, based on the record you two have, there ain't gonna be much sleeping going on in this room." Summer said sarcastically smiling.
"I dunno Summer... maybe some R&R, a bit of sleeping may not be such a bad idea... maybe some making out..." Seth said with a twinkle in his eye as he put his arm around Summer and kisses her on the forehead.
Summer thinks for a second. "Okay, let's go." She grabs his hand and pulls him out the room.
"Niiight..." Seth sounds out as he follows Summer.
Marissa and Ryan just smile at each other and start kissing again.
AT THE RITZ CARLTON HOTEL
The following morning finds Seth and Summer in the dining hall enjoying breakfast. Seth as usual is reading the comics section of the paper and Summer is reading the fashion section. They both turn their respective pages simultaneously. Seth picks up a piece of French toast and Summer sips some coffee. Both are engulfed in what they are reading and funnily enough seem to not notice the other one nearby. The situation is very similar to their trip to Tijuana.
"I wonder what Ryan and Marissa are doing?" Summer says as she puts her cup of coffee down.
Seth lowers his paper and looks over the top at Summer. "I don't think you need to wonder too much about that one."
"Well it's nearly 10am... they need to get up." Summer responds coolly.
"What are you suggesting, my love?" Seth says as he raises his eyebrows.
"Just come with me." Summer replies.
The put their papers down, Seth grabs the last piece of French Toast and they head back to their room. As they get to Ryan and Marissa's room, Summer stops, turns and bangs loudly on the door, completely ignoring the "Please Don't Disturb" sign hanging on the door handle.
"Room Service!" Seth says, faking a British accent.
"We didn't order any room service." Comes the puzzled reply from Ryan.
"Okay, then, Housekeeping!" Seth responds this time with an Australian accent.
Summer sighs annoyingly and decides the straight approach is best. "God, Coop! Open up, it's like almost lunch time!"
A minute later the door opens and Seth and Summer talk in. They find Marissa still in her night gown and Ryan in a pair of boxers and a wife beater.
"You wanna cover up, Chino?" Summer says bluntly.
"In what?" Ryan replies back.
"So dude, it's like 10:15am... what have you two been doing all morning?" Seth questions.
"You really wanna know?" Ryan says squinting his eyes.
"Actually, GP, no." Seth responds.
"So, Ryan, what are you going to wear today?" Marissa says with a smile on her face. "I have a floral pink or a peach colour blouse."
"Peach is a fruit." Seth tries to correct her but just gets looks from Summer and Marissa. "Go with the peach."
Ryan just looks at them impassively.
"Dude, you can borrow some of my stuff... It's not gonna be a tank-top or anything, but it may work." Seth offers.
"Uhmmm... no. Summer and I will go out and get something you." Marissa responds. "Just wait here."
Summer and Marissa giggle and Ryan looks pleadingly at Seth.
"Hey, I'd like to come with... help you pick out something." Seth says trying to save his friend.
"Cohen! What do you know about fashion?" Summer challenges. "No, me and Coop have this covered. You two just stay here and... do whatever it is you do."
Half an hour later, Marissa has changed and her and Summer head out to the stores. Ryan and Seth sit in the lounge watching Cartoon Network. Firstly it's a re-run of Pinky And The Brain, and then Lilo and Stitch.
Almost two hours later the ladies arrive back with bags full of stuff. They throw a small bag at Ryan. "Chino, that's your stuff." Summer says. Her and Marissa separate the remaining bags of clothes between the two of them.
"I just dunno man..." Seth says shaking his head. "Women, shops and credit cards... a recipe for disaster I think."
Ryan just laughs as he gets up and goes to the room to take a shower and change in to his clothes.
Half an hour passes, Seth is sitting on the couch still watching the Cartoon Network with Marissa and Summer occasionally interrupting his viewing with a little impromptu fashion parade inspired by the new clothes they've just bought. Ryan exits the room wearing a pair of jeans, a black pair of Sketches and a t-shirt that says, 'I Love South Beach' on it.
"A little minty, but it'll do." Seth responds to Ryan's attire.
By this time it's almost 1pm and the foursome are starving. Well, Ryan and Marissa are anyway, since they hadn't had any breakfast.
"Ok, I don't know about you, but I'm getting thin." Seth gets up off the couch. "What we doing for lunch?"
After a brief discussion they decide to go to South Beach, grab a bite to eat and check out the scenes.
AT THE COHEN'S RESIDENCE
Kirsten and Dawn just walked in from a morning shopping spree, where they raided every fashion store in Newport Beach.
"Oh, wow... I have not shopped like that in... well ever, I think." Dawn says exasperated, yet satisfied.
"Ah, ladies!" Sandy exclaims as he walks in with a stainless steel bowl full of meat he has just finished cooking on the BBQ. "I see you made a generous donation to Armani and Gucci again."
Kirsten gives him a sarcastic look. "We're just going to go freshen up." She says and the two ladies walk upstairs with their bags full of supplies.
"Lunch will be ready in 10 minutes." Sandy announces behind them.
Moments later the three of them sit down at the Cohen dining room table which is topped with delicious stake, rolls and various salads.
"I didn't make it, so you can enjoy." Kirsten says to Dawn jokingly.
"Thank heavens for that!" Sandy responds in jest.
They each dish up what they want and eat and make small talk.
"So, Dawn, what's been happening on the home front?" Sandy enquires.
"Things are definitely looking up. I have moved to Reno; got a nice small apartment there close to the White-Water Park." Dawn responds.
"Ah, that's great." Sandy says with enthusiasm.
"Yeah. Job-wise I have secured an income as a teller..., it's not much, but it pays the bills." Dawn continues.
"And how's Trey been doing?" Kirsten asks.
"Good, he's good. He's being released on parole in a few weeks." Dawn answers. She then gets a solemn look on her face and puts her fork down. "That is actually partly why I am here. Part of the conditions is that Trey does not leave the states for the duration of the parole. However, I've been talking to him, and I'd like him to move to Reno with me." Dawn says. She looks up at Sandy. "I was hoping... we were hoping, maybe..."
"Oh, yeah, say no more... I'll see if I can pull some strings for you." Sandy responds. "I cannot promise anything, but I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks, I couldn't ask for anything more..." Dawn says with gratitude. She looks sombre again at Kirsten and then at Sandy. "Actually there is one more thing..."
Sandy and Kirsten look at each other and then at her. Dawn proceeds to explain.
DOWN AT SOUTH BEACH
The four friends walk along the boardwalk contemplating where to eat lunch. Eventually they settle on Joe's Crab Shack.
They are shown to a four-seater table by a waiter named Dylan. As they sit down he takes their orders. "So, what I can get you?"
They place their orders and drinks and Dylan goes off.
A few minutes later their food arrives and they chow down.
Seth eyes a nice sized French fry on Summer's plate, which he decides to try and acquire. He makes small talk with her to distract her.
"So Summer... how's the dancing lessons going?" Seth says nonchalantly.
"Cohen?" Summer says confused. "Are you doing the weed again? I'm not on dancing lessons!"
"Oh, I just thought that... HEY! LOOK OVER THERE! IT'S BEN AFFLECK!" Seth says, and points behind Summer. As she turns around he quickly plunges his fork on to Summer's plate and successfully skewers the fry.
"Bull's eye!" Seth says in delight.
Ryan and Marissa are now in hysterics as they realize what's just happened.
Summer turns around and realizes that she has just been the object of a Cohen prank. She looks at Seth through slit eyes and decides she's going to get her French fry back. She reaches over the table and tries to grab for the fry, but in the process spills her drink all over another couple next to them.
Ten minutes later the four friends exit the restaurant, walking past a very angry looking manager.
"Well, there's another outlet we've alienated ourselves from!" Marissa observes.
As they leave, Dylan, their waiter, hands Ryan a small piece of paper, and smiles at him.
Ryan turns it over and reads: YOU ARE INVITED TO THE HOUSE PARTY OF THE CENTURY. 10PM. DECEMBER 11. And it also gave the address.
Seth takes it from Ryan and reads it too. "Hey, that's awesome! It's tonight!"
"So...?" Ryan asks.
"Sooo! So, we're so going!" Seth responds excitedly. Ryan looks at him with an 'oh really' kind of look.
"Ryan, come on man! Think about... South Beach... house party... the women here are..." Seth stops as Summer flat-hands him in the stomach. He rubs, and finishes his sentence. "... not as beautiful at Newport babes." Ryan and Marissa laugh at them.
"Maybe it won't be such a bad idea. I mean we are on vacation... we should go and just enjoy ourselves." Marissa says, mostly at Ryan.
"Yeah... no clothes, remember!" Ryan points out.
"Well, if the airport has called by then, you can go like that..." Marissa points out. "Just throw one of Seth's shirts over the T and you'll be fine... besides you do look kinda cute in Skechers." She says and side-hugs him smiling.
They walk along the beach and eventually head back to the hotel.
AT THE SOUTH BEACH OPEN HOUSE PARTY
The four friends arrive at the house where the party is happening at around 10:30pm. The house is located on the beach, and the back door leads right out on to the sea sand. The music is blaring from a mile off.
Ryan's clothes did not arrive in time and as a result he still has the same attire on, only with a button shirt over the T shirt.
They enter the house. It takes a few minutes for their eyes to become accustomed to the dimly light room... in fact, the only light is coming from a strobe at the very far end of the room. It is a large open-plan kitchen/lounge room. On the right side of the room is a make-shift stage area with a bar away to the left of it. At the centre of the stage is a pole and a stripper dancing seductively around the pole.
"This party is awesome!" Seth yells above the thumping music.
However, as their eyes become accustomed to the light and the surroundings, they realize something is strange about this party.
Summer is the first to notice it and make a comment. She turns to Marissa. "Coop, does something seem funny to you?"
Marissa looks around and responds. "Yeah. There are only two girls at this party... us."
"Except for them." Summer says with shock on her face and points over to a group of drag queens standing in the right hand corner of the room.
On the table, dancing around the pole, the stripper is shirtless, wearing a pair of fireman overall pants and black boots.
Seth turns to Ryan. "Uhmm... dude, that stripper is..."
"Muscular." Summer says with delight.
"Masculine." Seth says at the same time, but with repulsion.
Just then the stripper pulls his pants off, revealing only a red pair of briefs.
"Coop! This party is amazing!" Summer says with a huge smile on her face as she turns to Marissa.
"This party is over!" Ryan says firmly and turns with the others to leave.
Just then Dylan, the waiter from the restaurant earlier that day, approaches the group. He walks up directly to Ryan and stands a little too close for comfort.
"Hey doll, I was getting worried you weren't going to make it." Dylan says. "This is my boyfriend, Tyrone." He introduces a queen standing next to him. Ryan just kind forces a polite smile, but very nervously.
"Oooh, Dyl, you are right..." Tyrone says as he hangs on to Dylan's shoulder and pervs over Ryan. "... He is a cutie... his hair is sooo wild and those gorgeous blue eyes are to die for!"
By this stage Seth cannot hold it in any longer. He virtually packs up laughing, which takes Marissa and Summer down too. Dylan and Tyrone look on unimpressed.
"Mind sharing the joke, honey?" Tyrone says with a blasé look on his face and places his hands on his hips.
Seth quickly attempts to contain his laughter, but is failing miserably. "OH LOOK! BRAD PITT!" Seth says and points behind the two gays.
"Oh my god! Where! Where! Is he here too!" Dylan exclaims and turns around.
"That's our cue!" Seth says quickly to Ryan and the four of them turn around and head for the door. However, they are stopped by Dylan and Tyrone.
"Going so soon? The party's only getting started!" Dylan says as he and Tyrone take Seth and Ryan by the arm respectively. They pull them in the centre of the room. Both Seth and Ryan look back behind them with pleading looks at their girlfriends, who are laughing hysterically at this stage.
"So, what's your name anyway, sweetie?" Dylan says as he puts his arm around Seth.
Seth looks at him feeling very sick. "Sloan... Sloan Wilson."
"That's such a cute name!" Tyrone comments. "Let us buy you beauties some drinks."
"No, it's fine." Ryan responds uneasily. "Actually, we're got to go... we're..."
"We're... Rabbis.... You know Jewish... fasting... all that, so..." Seth picks up.
"We don't judge dear... everyone's welcomed here, and anything goes in South Beach." Dylan responds. He turns to Ryan. "I must say, this afternoon at Joe's, I was admiring those shoes and the T-shirt... it is so becoming on you!"
Ryan looks at him and nervously smiles.
"But of course I'm more interested in what's UNDER the T-shirt." Tyrone says and tries to put his hand on Ryan's chest. Ryan quickly moves so as to avoid him.
Meanwhile, Summer and Marissa are thoroughly enjoying themselves hanging around a group of guys just outside the front door. "Coop, who'd have thought we could have so much fun with a bunch of guys and not worry about like relationships and heartache?" Summer observes.
Marissa just laughs as she takes a sip of her drink.
Back inside, the boys are not having a very good time of things. Dylan and Tyrone insisted on buying drinks.
Ryan turns to Seth and whispers closely in his ear. "Ok, we need some serious kind of diversion."
Seth looks back at Ryan very uncomfortable. "I'm drawing a blank... besides, I tried earlier at the door, it's your turn."
Ryan takes charge. "Just follow my lead." He climbs up on to the stage and takes the only microphone there. "Everyone! Everyone! Can I have your attention please?" It takes a few seconds for the music to soften and everyone turns to look at Ryan. "I'm proud to announce that our good friends, Dylan and Tyrone have decided to make it official... They are going to tie the knot and have said all drinks are on them!"
With that everyone begins to clap. Ryan puts the microphone down, climbs off the stage and grabs Seth. "Okay, we're out of here." They quickly make a bee-line for the door.
As they exit, they pull Summer and Marissa with them and climb in to the rented car they hired. Summer and Marissa were laughing uncontrollably.
They get back to the hotel and take the elevator up to their rooms. Marissa, still laughing a lot, play-pinches Ryan's cheek and mockingly repeats Tyrone's words from earlier. "Oooh... you are right, he is a cutie!"
Ryan and Seth stand next to each other feeling very sick. Marissa and Summer are still laughing.
"I think I need an aspirin." Ryan says.
"I think I need a shower..." Seth responds and rubs himself down all over.
As they get to their rooms, Marissa unlocks their room and Summer theirs.
"Come cutie... it's past your bedtime." Marissa says and pulls Ryan inside.
"Yeah night." Summer says. "SLOAN and I are turning in too!"
STILL IN MIAMI
Sunday the four friends went down to the airport to get Ryan's bag which had been recovered after airport personnel phoned to confirm his belongings had arrived.
"Just think, Ryan, your clothes have travelled further than you have!" Seth observed and got a smile out of Ryan.
The rest of the day they spent hitting all the tourist attractions, malls, beaches and just about anything and everything they could find time to do.
Also, after the Saturday excursion at the gay house party, the four of them decided not to try out any more parties or nightclubs.
BACK IN NEWPORT
Sunday came and went in a flash, and Monday morning found Ryan, Marissa, Seth and Summer flying back home to Newport. They had had an incredible time and were somewhat disappointed about having to go back home.
Jimmy had offered to fetch them from the airport, as he had the day off work. Ryan and Seth were dropped off first. After they kissed their girlfriends good bye and thanked Jimmy for the lift, they walked up to the Cohen front door, as Jimmy pulled away. They were still joking and laughing about the events of the weekend as they entered the house.
"Ah, good afternoon boys." Sandy greeted getting up as he heard the door open. "How was the trip?"
"Good... it was good." Ryan responded. "Just a little tired."
"Well that's to be expected; you've just travelled across four time zones!" Sandy responded.
On the couch in the living room in front of them, sat Kirsten and another woman Ryan or Seth couldn't quite make out, as she had here back to them. However, as Ryan started speaking, she got up and turned around.
"Mom." Ryan says in shock. "Hey."
"Hey kid." Dawn said and walked up to Ryan and hugged him. He returned the hug, but there was clearly no connection made. She stood back and held him by the shoulders at arm's length. "Let me take a look at you... you are looking more handsome by the day!"
"Funny, that's almost what the guys said at that party..." Seth said amusingly, but quickly shut up as he got a look from Ryan. "I'm... just gonna go... this way." Seth went upstairs to his room.
"So, mom... what you're doing here?" Ryan enquired slightly confused.
"What? Can't a mother come visit her son once in a while?" Dawn responded.
"Dawn was telling us about her move to Reno and having Trey go with her." Kirsten stated.
"Yeah, I've heard. That's great." Ryan responded.
"Come sit down for a while... you must be exhausted from your trip." Dawn invited Ryan to sit with them on the couch.
"We'll just leave you two to do some catching up." Kirsten said as she and Sandy went in to the kitchen.
When they were in the other room, and out of ear-shot, Kirsten looked at Sandy and said with concern, "Maybe we should be there with him... it's not going to be an easy decision."
"No, it's not, but it is one he will have to make on his own. There is not much we can do." Sandy responded and hugged his wife.
Kirsten looked tearful in to Sandy's eyes. "I could not stand to loose him again."
They just stood there and hugged for a while.
They spent the next while catching up on events of the last year. Ryan told her about Theresa, and how things had turned out with the baby. Dawn told her son how she had moved to Reno to try and make a better life for herself and how things were really beginning to look up for her.
"And Trey is coming out of jail soon." Dawn said as she ended her fifteen-minute long story.
"Yeah, that's really great. I'm glad for him, you know...." Ryan responded sincerely.
"Yeah, it is. He has a second chance now to make something of himself." Dawn said. She looked up at Ryan. "... just like you have done." They smiled at each other.
"Do you know what he plans on doing?" Ryan asked.
"Well, we've discussed it, and he's decided he'd like to come back with me... try and recover something of our family again." Dawn responded. "There are a few complications with the parole, but Mr Cohen... Sandy... has offered to take a look at the case. If it works out, then he'll get a mechanic job in Reno or something."
There's a moment of silence in the room for a while.
Back in the kitchen, Sandy and Kirsten are sitting at the counter sipping coffee. Kirsten decides to make two extra cups and takes them to the living room for Ryan and Dawn. They graciously thank her and she returns to the kitchen.
Sandy and Seth have started playing PS2 games together and are very intensely involved in the game. Kirsten on the other hand in more interested on the goings on in the living room. She sits in anticipation sipping on her coffee.
Back in the living room, Dawn eventually breaks the silence.
"Ryan." Dawn says her son's name solemnly. Ryan looks up at her. "There is something important we need to discuss... something I need to ask you to consider very seriously."
Ryan doesn't say anything. He just looks at her with apprehension.
"Trey and I have talked and with him coming back home, we've thought it would be nice to try and have a go at being a family again." Dawn says and then stops as she sips her coffee. Ryan takes a sip of his too as he can almost hear her next request before she speaks.
"Ryan... I'd like you to come back with me to Reno." Dawn's words hit Ryan hard. He had anticipated it after the phone conversation with her on Thanksgiving Day, but still, it took him by surprise. He sat back on the couch, no saying a word.
"Uhmm..." Ryan was struggling to get any kind of response out. All he could think about was Marissa... they had just got back together, and his life in Newport was almost on track again.
"I thought you may be a little more excited." Dawn says slightly stunned at her son's reaction. She honestly thought he'd be more happy about the prospects of them being a family again. "I know I haven't been the best mom, but I have changed. We can start over." Dawn smiles at Ryan.
"Yeah, I mean, it's a lot to process all at once." Ryan responds. "I mean, there's a lot to consider. I can't just get up and leave tomorrow."
Dawn could see it he was not talking this too well. "You don't have to make a decision right away. I mean, I'll be leaving in the morning for Reno again, and Trey comes out only in two weeks time. You can use that time to make your decision and any necessary arrangements."
They finish their conversation and Ryan gets up and walks through the kitchen giving Kirsten a half-greeting as he walks past her. He walks out the back door and in to the poolhouse.
Dawn comes through to the kitchen where Kirsten is still sitting with her now empty cup of coffee.
"So, how did he take it?" Kirsten asked concerned.
"I don't know. He didn't say a word." Dawn responded.
"Do you really think it's such a good idea? I mean, he's virtually got his whole life here... school, his friends..." Kirsten says trying once more to convince Dawn that this would not be a good idea.
"I know, but you have the perfect family. I have the opportunity to have something of that now too." Dawn says with love and determination in her eyes. "But it's all up to Ryan now."
Kirsten sympathetically gives Dawn a hug.