"I can take it from here," Ryan said looking at Sandy.
Sandy stood back as Ryan walked towards his mother's house. Ryan went to the door and unlocked it with his key. Opening the door to find the place empty. Ryan drew a sharp intake of breath. Oh God, he thought. Walking over to the counter he saw a note. Picking it up he couldn't believe what he was reading. Sandy walked in and realizing what had happened, spoke.
"Come on lets go."
Ryan's eyes awoke quickly as his dream or nightmare ended. He found himself in a small, jail sized room. The room was dark and the only light that penetrated it was the light of the dimly lit moon outside his windows. Looking over at the clock he saw it was 2:00am. Just ten short hours ago he had left home to come home, left a friend to live a new life. He would call Seth in the morning, see if they could talk. It would be hard but he didn't want to lose his first real friend. Ryan's eyes closed, blocking out the light of moon, as he slowly drifted back into the only place he could be happy right now.
Marissa slowly walked from he bedroom down two flights of stairs to a table lit by candlelight. As she looked down the hall she could see he mother and Caleb eating quietly and making small talk. Taking another step, trying to go unnoticed, to no avail for the castle house echoed at any slight footstep.
"Hello," Julie said pleasantly, as if nothing had ever happened.
"Hi mom," Marissa smiling back, "You guys seem to be enjoying yourself."
Julie darted a stare at her new husband. Caleb, clearing his throat, opened his mouth to speak.
"Yes, well your mother has informed me of a little argument that occurred this morning."
Julie's gaze shifted from Caleb to Marissa. "Yes, where you made up a very stupid lie," putting on a half smile as Julie spoke. "I know you were angry, this year hasn't been easy for you, and that explains why you would make up such a bold lie about Caleb forcing you to come live with us."
Marissa smirked, "I wasn't li..." A loud ring came from down the hallway. Julie stood and almost had to start to jog to get the phone.
Caleb stared at Marissa. "We had a deal and in the business I'm in, breaking your deals is as good as killing someone. You know that check hasn't cleared yet. You might want to rethink your actions. And please note that if this ever comes back to bite me in the ass, I can make your life heaven or hell!"
Julie returned to the table after being entranced in her phone conversation. "So what were you two talking about?"
Standing up from the table Marissa said, "Dad was just informing me that I am going to go to hell." Marissa put on a dangerous smile as she walked away from the table. When Marissa was out of sight Julie turned to Caleb.
"Isn't that sweet she called you dad!"
Seth looked at his map only an hour till his first supply stop. He had borrowed some money from the family safe, his parents had no idea that he knew the combination, of course he would pay the money back. Sure he would have to pick up a lot of sailing lesson shifts when he returned, but he needed to get away. He missed the solitude. Nearing the point on the map Seth untied a rope, putting it in his mouth for safekeeping he crawled under the sail, too lazy to go around. He pulled the rope, which shifted the sails.
"Good now we're headed to port." Seth stood pointing at his destination. Seth lay back down on the ship. He looked across the water, then at the birds and then his eyes met the sky...
Ryan's eyes slowly opened and met the blue sky outside the small window. He smiled, not knowing why, he just had a feeling like he should be smiling. Theresa knocked on the door softly.
"Ryan, you up?"
"Yep," Ryan responded. Theresa opened the door and walked in.
"Hey, how'd you sleep?"
Ryan sat up from his laying position. "Good." He couldn't tell her about the constant dreams about his life, old life with his first real family. At one time he could tell Theresa. At one time he could tell her anything. She was his best friend. His first love, which was really more like his first partner. Marissa was his first love. It's only been one day, pull yourself together. It will get easier with time, Ryan thought.
"If I remember," Theresa said sitting on Ryan's bed, "You're a pretty good breakfast cook."
Ryan smiled, "Right, toast."
Theresa inched closer to Ryan. Ryan and Theresa's faces slowly began to move closer. Ryan's warm breathe on her face. Their lips touched softly. Ryan moved closer and began to take over the kiss.
"Theresa honey," her mom yelled. "Come have some breakfast."
Their lips separated from each other. Ryan opened his eyes and was almost surprised to see Theresa because through the kiss he had been thinking of another girl... Marissa.
After dinner Julie came into her daughter's room. "Summer's on the phone for you sweetie," she passed the phone to Marissa.
"Summer, hi."
"Cohen's gone."
"Seth went where, Summer?"
"To Tahiti!"
Kirsten looked at her husband in total disbelief.
"Summer, Seth's where?" Kirsten said.
Sandy walked over to the dresser and picked up the note.
Dear Dad,
You know that before Ryan came I was planning that trip we talked about? Well, now that Ryan's gone... I borrowed some money from the safe, I promise I'll pay it back. I'll call you in about two days at my first stop at port. Please make sure Summer gets my letter.
Love Seth
Summer stood crying reading her letter. She walked past Sandy and Kirsten and out the front door.
"Well there's nothing we can do Kirsten."
"Yes there is," Kirsten said yelling. "We can call the police or get a search party to go looking for him."
Sandy grabbed his wife in a warm embrace. "You forget that we gave Seth permission last year, before Ryan came along, to go on this trip."
There was a long pause.
"Well Sandy, do we tell him?"
"Who, Ryan?" Sandy said. "No not yet, his life is already complicated enough."
"Summer why would he go to Tahiti?" Marissa said into the phone.
"Because sailing is the only thing that takes away the pain."
"Summer how'd you know that?"
"It was in his note."
Marissa sat down in one of the many chairs in her room. "When's he coming back?"
Summer started to cry as she spoke the words, "I don't know, but in the note...it says...he.. Loves me."
It's that time again. Tell me what you think. Please Review this Chapter Now. Thanks again for reading.