Again, I hope you like it.

And again, I don't own the OC.

LN

FRIDAY

Ryan walked the stairs up to Seth's room. They had seen each other, like, all day, but this was the first opportunity Ryan had had to talk to him in private. And he wanted to apologize for snapping at him. He knocked on the open door. Seth looked up from his computer and smiled at him.

"Hang on a sec, just got to finish.. that!"

With this, Seth turned towards him and shot him a questioning but still friendly look. Ryan was relieved Seth didn't seem mad. He'd acted like they were okay all day, but Ryan had thought maybe he'd only wanted to keep it from the others.

"Look man, I wanted to apologize."

"It's cool." Seth said, immediately.

"No, really. I shouldn't have gone off like that. I was-"

"Ryan, it's okay. Okay? I'm not mad."

Ryan glanced at him. "You sure?"

"Yep." Seth rose from his chair. "You up for some PlayStation?"

Ryan hesitated. "Well, I actually wanted to.. talk."

"Really? My God, that's a first." Seth sat down on the bed with a smile. "Ryan Atwood, you resisted long enough, but I knew we'd win you over. You are hereby dubbed a Cohen, not only by some signed papers but, like, for real."

Ryan couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, so anyways. About.. yesterday."

Seth was immediately serious. "Yes. About yesterday."

"I.. I'm sorry. For what.. happened."

"What did happen?"

"I'm not sure. I guess I spaced out a bit." He didn't know how to explain, and truthfully, he didn't know exactly what had happened.

"It was scary, man."

"Yeah, it was. Sorry."

Seth studied his brother. He had questions, but he wasn't sure how Ryan would react. He had the feeling that Ryan's sudden urge to talk wasn't so much a need of hisas a favor to Seth. Still, he had said he'd talk.

"Where were you?" Seth asked, finally. "Because, you know, you weren't there."

Ryan shifted uneasily. "I don't know." he said. "But wherever it was, it wasn't nice. I'm glad you pulled me out of it."

"Me too." Seth hesitated, but finally suggested "Maybe you should talk to the parents about this? I mean, if you're worried."

Ryan shook his head. "No, I'm not worried. But they will be if I tell them." Seth looked at him, unconvinced, and Ryan continued. "If it happens again, I'll talk to them okay? I was probably just tired or something."

Seth nodded, and gradually the hesitant look on his face faded, and was replaced by a grin. "So, that was cool." he said.

"What?" Ryan asked, puzzled.

"Talking to you, on your initiative. I never thought you capable of this, Ryan."

"Yeah, 'thepupil becomes the master' and all that." Ryan mumbled wryly.

"You're not even close, Ryan, not even close. But keep practicing, I'll gladly teach you a trick or two."

"Okay, whatever. I could do with some PlayStation now?"

"Great, another opportunity for me to patronize you! Do you want me to tell you how to jump again?"

The boys disappeared down the stairs.