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Thanks also to Elzed, Mel39,60schic and Raggerga for their enthusiasm
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The Fourth Wheel
Chapter 4
Every emotion had gone through Seth's head since he heard Lindsay's plea to Ryan. He had stood rooted to the spot and had missed Ryan's reply. He could see Lindsay waving her arms and Ryan's bowed head that was enough for Seth to know that they were still discussing it, whatever 'it' was.
Seth was putting two and two together and was coming up with a whole bunch of stuff.
He had observed Ryan leave the pool house the next three nights. Sat with him the next days at breakfast, Shit, he was looking like a train wreck. Still Ryan wasn't letting anything go to when Seth questioned him.
He was on the verge of telling his parents… But this was Ryan. He didn't want to land him in it. Also what with everything else going on at the moment he didn't think his parents needed any added stress?
So he had come to a decision. The next afternoon after school he was going to confront Ryan with what he suspected.
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They both say in the pool house doing homework, when Seth just blurted it out.
" Are you doing drugs?"
"What?"
"You heard me Ry, Are you doing drugs?"
" Where the Fuck did that come from Seth?" Ryan laughed
"This isn't funny man" Seth was mad now, he'd been worrying for too long.
"You look like crap Ryan, you've been lying to everyone, sneaking out all night. You're like a zombie all day. Just answer the damn question. Are you doing drugs?"
He was on a roll now
" Mom and dad are this close to sending you to therapy, they think you can't handle the whole baby thing, they think you are cracking up, you won't talk to anyone"
Seth shouting now.
"You just do the whole 'Oh I'm Ryan I'm just gonna bottle everything up' thing you do so well. I've smelt a weird chemical smell on you a few times, are you sniffing something…What Ryan…What the hell is going on with you?"
" Woahh there Seth… back up a bit." Ryan sighed
" Jesus, No… No I'm not doing drugs? Do you honestly think I'd do drugs knowing what they have done to my family?"
"You've got to give me more than that Buddy, Cause from where I'm sitting it all fits, the sneaking around, falling asleep during the day. Being so damn secretive and you look like shit, I heard Lindsay say you need help…What am I supposed to think?"
Ryan rubbed his hand over his face " Shit, are your parents really freaking out over this?'
"Yeah, they don't know that you've been sneaking out at night, But they are as concerned as me over your appearance and your general lack of communication these past few weeks." Seth admitted
" Shit, I thought that had all died down when they grounded me, Shit " Ryan looked worried now. " The last thing I wanted to do was stress your parents out, Especially Kirsten"
Ryan had got up now and was pacing.
"I guess I've been so tired recently I haven't been picking up the signals"
"What have you been doing? Ryan… Who have you been meeting? Who was in that van that picked you up that day?" Seth questioned
"Look Seth.. Do you trust me when I say I'm not doing drugs?"
Ryan had stopped pacing and was now looking Seth straight in the eyes.
"I just can't tell you what's been going on … not yet. Just give me a few more days and then I'll tell you. O.K"
"I can't understand why you just can't tell me now Ry?" Seth was still worried.
" Please Seth. Just a few more days then I'll tell you" Ryan begged
Seth sighed "O.K, if you can tell me you're not in any trouble, Trey hasn't asked you to do anything , has he?"
Ryan sighed again "I'm not in any trouble Seth, I'm…"
"…Fine?' Seth finished his sentence for him "You know Ryan, they are gonna put that on your gravestone"
Seth looked at Ryan " I'm going to trust you on this one, Just don't mess up O.K"
Ryan sat down
" Seth, could you do me a favour, Could you try and take me off Sandy and Kirsten's radar for now…I really don't need them worrying about this… and I promise in a few days I'll have it sorted "
tbc