Seth drove Ryan to school the next morning.
"I didn't call Anna. Or check my email," Ryan said suddenly, flushed.
"That's not good…what's up with you two?" Seth asked.
"Like she didn't already tell you and Summer…" Ryan snorted.
"Okay, whatever…" Seth laughed.
"Nothing's going on. We…discussed dating…we want to be more than friends…but I messed up."
"What'd you do?" Seth asked.
"I told her that I didn't want her to feel like she had to take care of me…I just wanted her to hang out. I didn't explain it well and…she got upset," Ryan confessed.
"She was helping you before…" Seth said.
"But she stayed all night, Seth. Listening to me have nightmares, hearing me throw up…I want her to be my friend, not my nurse…"
"Oh." Seth started to see his dilemma.
"I didn't mean to…push her away. But I'm so much better now, it's just the mornings and the nights that I'm still sick…I don't want her to see that. I don't like anyone seeing that," Ryan admitted.
"I know, man…"
"But I shouldn't have said anything," Ryan sighed. "I'm better at this when I don't talk."
"Dude…she said she was sorry last night when she called, maybe she thought about it and…"
"Ah, but I didn't call her back. So even if she was sorry about getting upset, I'm the one that has to be sorry now because I forgot to call her," Ryan announced.
"You're putting way too much thought into this," Seth teased.
"I know. You think she'll be at school today?" Ryan asked.
"If not, you damned well better call her," Seth replied.
"Yeah."
"So. You're going to start working out again today, I hear," Seth said.
"Working out? No, dude, I'm going to walk a total of one lap around the field. It's all Dr. Tarleton wants me to do. Next week, I might get to do two laps," He said sarcastically.
"Well, you wouldn't know it to hear it from Luke. I think you're going to be in for a big surprise when you get out there, him and Chip are like little schoolgirls at an NSync concert, they're almost giddy."
"That's weird, man," Ryan laughed. Seth pulled up to the front steps and stopped to let Ryan out.
"I'll be back after I park the car," Seth said as Ryan got out. Ryan sat down on the bottom step to wait.
"Hey," Anna said, approaching.
"Hey. Sorry I didn't call you back last night…"
"Did you get my email?"
"Um, no. I fell asleep. Well, actually, I played games with Seth and then I fell asleep. I'm really sorry," Ryan admitted. She sat down beside him.
"I…"
"Wait, do you have a cold? Because Seth said anyone with a cold has to stand back 20 feet," Summer stepped between them.
"No, Summer," Anna smiled. "I'm not sick."
"Ah. Okay. Continue," Summer sat down a few steps above them. Ryan and Anna stared at her. "What?"
"Summer," Anna sighed. "Privacy?"
"Oh. Sorry," Summer laughed, standing up and walking a safe distance.
"So. I was thinking that…maybe we should slow it down a little more," Ryan said quietly.
"What?" Anna was surprised.
"When you get upset with me, I'd rather you not cut school to avoid me. We should be able to have arguments and discussions like normal teenagers that are going out, you know?" Ryan said slowly.
"Yeah? You think?" Anna was looking at him, amused.
"What?" He asked.
"You think entirely too much…" She said.
He glanced at her again but before he could say anything, she leaned over and kissed him deeply.
"Chino! No action on the front steps!" Chip's voice interrupted them.
Summer snickered from nearby as Chip and Luke appeared with Seth.
"Damn, man, even sick you still pick up all the ladies!" Luke teased.
"Fuck off, Ward," Anna said.
Ryan was red and stunned as Seth pulled him to his feet.
"Time to go in, player," Seth laughed. Summer had Anna cornered at the bottom of the stairs.
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Ryan was talking quietly with the coach. Coach Jenkins wanted him to consider coming to the remaining games.
"The boy's aren't the same without you," The coach smiled. "When you first got here, I thought you were a goner…but I think you brought everyone closer together."
"I'd like to come, Coach, but…I'm beat from just one lap, half a lap," Ryan said quietly. "I don't know how I'd do on a long bus ride…"
"When you're stronger, kid, you won't be sick forever. But there's a home game on Friday…"
Ryan smiled. "I'll ask the Cohens."
"Good boy," He smiled. "Here comes your brother."
Ryan turned and saw Seth approaching. "You okay?"
"He did very well. We'll try it again tomorrow," Coach Jenkins smiled, getting up and returning his attention to the field where Luke was apparently yelling at the rest of the boys.
"Let's go man, I don't want to see this…" Ryan said, standing up. The coach was running onto the field, yelling, as they walked toward the parking lot.
"You want to go by a burger place?" Seth asked. He had to give up his lunch to drive Ryan home.
"Actually, I sort of need to crash…" Ryan said. "Can I sleep in the car?"
"I'll be quick," Seth promised, starting the car.
"'Kay…" Ryan leaned his head against the window and closed his eyes. "Get me a burger so I can heat it up later…"
"Sure thing," Seth smiled, knowing that slowly but surely, Ryan was getting better.
Seth got his food and drove Ryan home. He waited in the driveway until Ryan went inside before returning to school to work on a project.
Ryan was tired. He'd slept all the way home and was still groggy. He sat down on the bed.
He was trying to get stronger.
But he thought he'd pushed himself too far today. Every muscle in his body ached and his head was pounding. He felt like his legs and arms were made of jelly, he had no strength. Pain seemed to radiate from his bones.
He was getting better.
He might not feel it, but he had to believe it.
He closed his eyes.
Nausea overtook him and he rushed to the bathroom.
He would rest after his stomach forgave him for eating breakfast.
He was glad the house was empty. Sandy and Kirsten were almost working eight hour days again and he could tell a difference. They seemed to be getting back to normal with the distraction of work. Ryan knew that they both loved their jobs.
He'd gotten expert at muffling the sound of his vomiting now. His appetite was returning but he rarely managed to keep a meal down.
He'd told Dr. Tarleton who said that it would pass with time and he had to try and breathe through the nausea. Some patients that went through chemo developed eating disorders that plagued them the rest of their lives. Ryan didn't want to do that but he couldn't breathe through the nausea. The nausea always won.
He tried. But for now, he'd just puke until his stomach was empty and then sleep.
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Seth got home around six, he'd stayed late working with Summer and Chip on a class project.
"Ryan?" He went into Ryan's room and saw him asleep on his bed. "Ryan?"
Ryan stirred slightly.
"Ryan."
"Yeah?"
"You hungry?"
"No…tired…later?" Ryan mumbled.
"Sure thing…I'll be upstairs…" Seth said, satisfied to leave. He went upstairs and started a CD. He was hungry so he returned downstairs and glanced into Ryan's room as he passed, surprised to see Ryan's empty bed. Curious, he stepped in and heard Ryan's quiet cough.
"Dude, you okay?" Seth asked, pushing open the bathroom door.
"Yeah…help me up?" Ryan held out a hand and Seth helped him to his feet and to the bed.
"You…" Seth started.
"It's cool. No reason for that look on your face…"
"Why are you still sick?" Seth blurted out.
"Dr. Tarleton says it's normal. Seriously." Ryan gave him a weak smile.
"Okay. Do you need anything?"
"Actually…do you have permission to give me medicine?"
"I can call Mom…"
"No, I can wait," Ryan said. "She's having dinner with Sandy, I don't want to bother them."
"I can give you what's on the fridge, there's a list, come on…" Seth helped Ryan to the kitchen. Ryan sat down on a stool and Seth started a pot of tea.
"Okay, here's the list," Seth said, sitting down beside him with a sheet of paper listing the instructions for Ryan's medication regiment.
"Are you having pain?" Seth asked, scanning the list.
"Yeah…" Ryan whispered with a nod.
Seth hid his surprise. Ryan never admitted that he had pain to Seth before, it was always his parents that took care of his prescriptions. "I can do that. Give me a minute…" Seth went to the cabinet and quickly returned with a bottle and put it in front of Ryan. He turned his attention to making tea, not wanting to make Ryan uncomfortable.
Seth was satisfied with his tea and set a cup in front of Ryan. Ryan was staring at the bottle in his shaking hand.
"What?" Seth asked, sensing Ryan's mood by the dejected look in his eyes.
"I can't open it," Ryan said blankly.
Seth hesitated, confused.
"I can't even open a plastic bottle…" Ryan muttered.
Seth took the bottle from him and opened it, unsure of what to say. He shook out a tablet and put it on the counter. Ryan stared at it.
"Go on, dude," Seth said.
Ryan swallowed the pill and closed his eyes.
"You all right?" Seth asked.
"Yeah. I'm going to lie down," Ryan sighed. He stood up. "Can you bring that tea in? He held out a trembling hand for explanation. "I'll spill it…"
"No problem…" Seth followed him with the cup.
Ryan sat down on his bed with a sigh.
"You going to be up?" Seth asked.
"I think I need to sleep…can you wake me up in a couple of hours? I need to eat something."
"Sure…you want me to stay?" Seth asked.
Ryan glanced at him, surprised. "I'm fine, man…"
"I know. But…you're the only one here, Summer's not coming over 'til later and…"
"Okay, man," Ryan said.
"Cool." Seth paused by the door. "You know I'm going to need CD's…"
"Go nuts, Ryan smiled, lying down.
Seth was sitting on the end of Ryan's bed when his parents got home. Ryan was asleep beside him. Music was playing from the stereo and Seth was playing a video game. Summer was almost hidden, sleeping in a contented ball on the space behind Seth.
"Everything okay?" Kirsten whispered.
"Yeah. The animals are finally resting," Seth replied quietly.
"Stupid Cohen…" Summer muttered from her nap.
"Don't stay up too late. You all have school tomorrow," Sandy said.
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The next two days passed similar to Tuesday. Ryan went to school, exercised with the team and came home exhausted.
Seth took him to therapy on Thursday. Ryan was tired but insisted on going.
Seth was anxious in the waiting room and was clearly relieved when Ryan emerged.
"I'm ready," Ryan said.
Seth was stricken by Ryan's silence on the way home. "Dude, are you all right?"
"Yeah…"
"What happens to you in there? You always come out looking…sprung."
"She gives me a lot to think about," Ryan replied.
"Like what?" Seth asked.
"She makes me talk. Then she tells me everything I say back to me…It's weird. It gives me perspective."
"Oh," Seth nodded.
"She's okay. She wants a family meeting in a couple of weeks."
"That's cool. So…you're cool?"
"Yeah. Anna's coming over tonight," Ryan said. "I'm going to take a nap and then we were going to watch some TV and hang."
"Cool, man. So…you guys…"
"We're talking," Ryan said evenly.
Seth grinned.
"Shut up," Ryan said, annoyed.
"Okay," Seth laughed. Seth parked the car and followed Ryan inside. True to his word, he went straight to his room and stretched out, falling asleep.
Sandy was home. "How's Ryan, Seth?"
"Seems fine," Seth replied honestly. "Tired, but he's getting stronger."
Sandy was visibly relieved. "I believe it when you say it. Thanks for taking such good care of him."
"He does the same for me," Seth shrugged.
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Seth and Summer were pleased to see Anna leaving Ryan's room late that night.
Ryan was also happy the next day to be given his first hint of freedom. Sandy and Kirsten had given him permission to go to the soccer game with Anna.
He had to make it through school first. He worked with Seth on the chemistry project for the first period, chatting with Larry on Seth's cell phone while Larry called from Miami.
Before his class with Anna, Luke and the team had snuck into the room and were talking with Ryan by the window in the front of the classroom. Anna was sitting with him on the windowsill while Chip explained their strategy for the game.
Luke started to argue with Chip over a small point but Ryan's attention drifted to the set of brothers that were having a stare down behind the team leaders. The twins, Todd and Lou were known for their short tempers, the sibling rivalry was fierce between them and Ryan was used to mediating them with Luke's assistance.
"Chino?" Luke called, seeing his distracted gaze.
"They're at it again," Ryan nodded.
Luke turned and immediately stepped between them as Lou lunged.
Chip joined in but Anna held Ryan's arm tightly, shaking her head at him.
"You'll bruise, don't get in that," Anna said quietly.
Ryan nodded, settling back to sit.
Lou broke out of Luke's grip and picked up a beaker leftover from Mr. Anderson's lesson and hurled it at his brother, struggling in Chip's grasp.
Ryan instinctively protected Anna, curling his arms around her.
Lou continued to throw things, bottles, pens, books and anything else he could find until Luke and several other boys tackled him.
"Fuck, Lou! You're such an ass!" Chip yelled, releasing Todd and cursing as he picked several small shards of glass out of his arms.
"You all right?" Ryan asked Anna. She sat up and examined herself.
"Yeah…but there's blood…" She said.
Several kids were bleeding, Luke even had a cut down his cheek.
Ryan's arm was sliced from his outer wrist to his elbow and the blood had already coated his arm when he pulled out the embedded shard of glass.
"Oh god…you're bleeding a lot…" Anna realized.
Ryan quickly glanced around for something and finally walked to his desk, grabbing his sweatshirt off his desk and using it to try and put pressure on his wound.
"Chino?" Luke called.
"You need to call somebody, Luke…" Anna said. She gently pushed Ryan to sit down. "What's wrong?"
"My blood's thin…I'm going to bleed…" Ryan told her quietly.
"Oh…God…" Anna said, her phone already in her hand. She called Seth first and they heard his phone ring as Luke shoved him into the room.
"What the hell, Luke? Oh, man…" Seth gasped.
The sweatshirt was soaking through with blood. "Seth. Don't panic. Get the nurse and let me see your phone," Ryan said calmly.
"I'll get the nurse," Luke said, hurrying from the room.
"Who do you need to call?" Seth asked, pale.
"Page the doctor. Then let me talk to him," Ryan said.
"Fuck, man, I'm sorry…" Lou came over and clamped his hands around the sweatshirt and helped raise it above Ryan's head to slow the bleeding.
Seth had Dr. Tarleton's pager number in his phone book and after a long few minutes, it rang and Ryan reached for it.
Ryan spoke quietly to the doctor as Dr. Kim and several other teachers arrived.
"Okay, Doctor…" Ryan closed the phone and glanced at Seth.
"Dr. Kim, I have to take him to the hospital, it'll be faster and the ambulance will take him to the ER and it's not safe and…" Seth started, reading Ryan's face.
"Okay, Seth, let the nurse bandage him quickly…" Dr. Kim said, putting her hand on Seth's shoulder to calm him.
"I'll get the car…" Luke said. Seth gave him the keys, not wanting to leave Ryan.
"You okay?" Anna asked.
"I'm okay…" Ryan said, but he was feeling weak and if the nurse hadn't been holding his arm, he wouldn't have been able to lift it. "Dr. Tarleton says it's fine, as long as I let him look at it…"
"You're going to need stitches…what happened?" The nurse asked.
"Stupid Lou," Todd snapped.
"You guys both need to shut it," Ryan said suddenly. "You guys are brothers, work it the fuck out…"
"Cohen! Luke's honking for you!" Summer called from the doorway.
"Come on, Ryan…" Seth said, taking Ryan's good arm and helping him to his feet. Ryan cradled his bleeding arm against him.
"I'm out, too," Anna told Dr. Kim, picking up her bag before getting Luke, Ryan and Seth's bags, too and following them out.
"Call me as soon as you get there," Summer said, following them to the car.