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Chapter 7 – Losing a Brother, Gaining a Son

A small restaurant stood out like a beacon of light in a dark neighborhood. The rundown place was a gathering point for the families who could not afford anything else. To Ryan it was the only place he had ever eaten out at as a child. In the small confines of the restaurant Ryan was safe. It was crowded most of the time and if anyone made a scene the whole neighborhood would know. To Ryan it was a place where there were no beatings; a safe haven, time out, a place to be a kid.

Ryan walked through the glass door of the small diner. The place hadn't changed much since he left it, the old cracked wood tables and chairs and of course the checkered floors. Ryan smiled as he walked past an old man who happily smiled and said hello.

"Ryan Atwood, right?" Ryan heard a voice yelling across the diner.

"That's me," Ryan responded.

"The names Rex and I'll be your new boss."

Rex stood a good foot taller then Ryan. He was young, only a little older than Ryan, big boned, but with no fat, just muscle.

You needed to look like a bouncer to work in this place, because of all the characters you got in here. Ryan remembered that one day a robber had come in while they were eating. He'd had a gun and Ryan had nightmares for weeks, of course he was young and that was expected.

"So Kate recommended you for a job as a server. What kind of experience do you have?"

"I worked at the Crab Shack over the summer," Ryan winced, remembering the good times.

"Well that's good enough for me," Rex laughed. "You can start tomorrow."

Ryan smiled, "Thanks."

"What am I supposed to say?" Kirsten whispered into Sandy's ear, her hand covering the mouthpiece of the telephone.

"I don't know, tell him the truth."

Kirsten lifted her hand from the phone. "Seth's not here."

"Oh," Ryan said, disappointed. "Can you have him call me back when he gets home?"

"He won't be back for a while, Ryan." Kirsten looked at Sandy for reassurance.

There was silence over the phone, both sides afraid to speak. Ryan stood frozen in Theresa's kitchen, thinking of what might have happened, what if Seth had run away because of him? They didn't leave on a high note, and if anything happened to Seth he would blame himself.

"Where is he?" Ryan forced the words out of his mouth.

"He's sailing," she said almost breaking out into tears.

Ryan exited the restaurant with a smile on his face. He had a job, just no friends, the smile quickly faded.

"Ryan you there?" Kirsten softly asked into the phone.

There was no answer for a second until Ryan again forced the words from his mouth. "I'm still here."

"I know it's only been a week, but how about you and Theresa come over for supper tomorrow? I'll order take out, I won't cook."

Ryan pulled a chair from the round white table. "I have a job interview tomorrow, but after that I think we can come."

"It will be nice to see you Ryan," Kristen said to the boy who had become her son.

"See you tomorrow Mom." Ryan hung up the phone before realizing what he had just called Kirsten.

"Kirsten, what's wrong?" Sandy said.

Kirsten stood frozen, listening to the hum of the dial tone. Ryan had just called her Mom! She set the cordless phone on the counter and walked over to Sandy. She wrapped her arms around Sandy and in his ear whispered, " I truly have a second son, I miss him, I miss them both."

Thanks, I was looking for it," Marissa said, taking the cell phone. She continued walking into her room and closed the door behind her. "But I found something better!"

Opening her cell phone she dialed Theresa's number.

"Hello?" answered a female voice.

"Is Ryan there?"

"One second."

"Hello." Ryan's voice calmed Marissa.

"I miss you."

"I miss you too."

"How are things with your dad?" Ryan asked.

"They're good," Marissa said, wondering why it felt so weird to talk to Ryan.

"How's the baby?"

"Fine, I think," Ryan responded.

Marissa walked to her bed and sat down, "You wouldn't believe what I just found out!"

Sparkling water shot up the side of the Summer Breeze. The water shot into the air, creating a hazy mist along the deck where Sarah lay.

"Wow Seth, she handles well on the water," she called to Seth, who was positioned at the bow of the boat, securing a rope. "Do you need help Seth?"

"Ya," Seth yelled to her, the waves hitting and shaking the boat roughly. "Have you ever been on one of these before?"

"On my…boyfriend's boat," she yelled to Seth, the waves growing increasingly loud and turbulent.

Seth froze, what the hell was he doing? He already had a girlfriend and he loved her. He just was…lonely. Seth missed Summer so much that he was trying to replace her. This was wrong! He had to let Sarah down easy, and now more then ever he knew he loved Summer. Otherwise he couldn't be the………….

With Seth's attention dwindling only for a moment, a large wave hit the boat knocking him off into the rough ocean water.

Ryan grew excited as he walked back to Theresa's. He would be able to see Sandy and Kirsten, but there would be no Seth. He missed Seth's ramblings, his smile, his friendship, and most of all, his brother.

If it weren't for him they would probably be in the pool house playing video games, or swimming in the pool or partying. But no, he was walking in his neighborhood filled with gangs and drugs, he had gotten Theresa pregnant…maybe, and he had just gotten a job at an old cheap restaurant. When he left this place last time and the Cohens had taken him in, he had promised himself a better life…a life worth living.

Ryan walked onto Theresa's driveway. He walked to the door, hearing the annoying squeaking sound that it always made, and he cringed. Inside, Theresa lay on the couch.

"Ready to go?" Ryan asked.

"Yeah, I'll get my keys."

"Everything needs to be perfect Sandy," Kirsten said, setting the table.

"It is, and will be," Sandy reassured her.

"The food should be here soon," Kirsten said, smiling, calming down slightly.

From the table Kirsten walked over to Sandy. "If there was only a better way Sandy. We could invite them to stay here."

"Ryan's handling it, it's out of our hands."

Falling off the side of the boat Seth took a deep breath before another wave crashed into the submerged boy, his life jacket holding him up.

"Seth!" Sarah called.

"Sarah get the…" Another wave hit Seth, drowning out his words.

"The what?" she yelled anxiously.

"Rope, Sarah…throw the…rope!"

Sarah walked a few steps, stumbling and almost falling in herself. She untied a rope and threw it to Seth. The rope unraveled in the air as it flung towards Seth. The rope pulled taut, just meters from him. He reached out to grab the rope, the waves pulling him further and further away from it.

Adrenaline surging through Seth, he frantically began to swim towards the boat. Yet even with the constant stroke of his arms it seemed to Seth that the boat and rope grew farther and farther away…

"Seth," Sarah called loudly, her words all but lost in the rush of the ocean… "SETH!!!"

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Look for chapter 8 soon… Once again…Cliffhanger! Ouch!