Seth told Alex that he needed a break and joined Lindsay and Ryan upstairs at their table. Lindsay was laughing at something Ryan was whispering in her ear and Seth was pleased to see that Ryan was relaxing.
"Hey, Seth. You're done now?" Lindsay asked.
"Nah, I have to work until one but I've got a half hour or so to hang out with you guys," Seth said, setting a couple of cups of soda on the table for them.
"Thanks, Seth. I've got to go to the bathroom, I'll be right back," Ryan said, getting up.
"So, 'auntie', how is he?" Seth asked.
She glared at him but sighed. "He's all right. Better. He was really quiet today…after Teresa left. Your parents really hurt his feelings…but I think she hurt him more. He's known her longer…they must have a pretty deep history…"
"I don't know. Ryan doesn't talk about stuff…pre-Newport."
"I sort of get that. I mean, he never talks about his mom or dad…" Lindsay replied.
"I asked him if he was going to stay…he told me that he doesn't walk away from his family…he considers my parents and me to be his family now…but it's like he sort of has walked away from his other family…from his mom and his brother…" Seth said. "I'm not sure how to take it…"
"You should probably ask him. And it's not like he walked away from them…they walked away from him, didn't they?" Lindsay asked.
"Yeah. That's true…but you think he's okay?" Seth asked.
"Seth. I'm okay. Stop stressing," Ryan said, returning and sitting down beside Lindsay.
"Sorry. I just thought…are you sure that everything's okay? I mean, what did Teresa say, what did she have to say for herself?" Seth asked, unable to keep his curiosity at bay any longer.
"I…she doesn't think the baby's mine. I didn't ask her how long she'd known…she says she was doing what was right for me…" Ryan sighed, his mood darkening immediately. "I told her that I didn't want to see her again until after the baby was born, that she could contact Sandy and arrange a paternity test…"
"I'm sorry, man…"
"I'm going to talk to your parents tomorrow. Not tonight, though…I'm just too tired to make much sense…"
"But you're staying at home tonight?" Seth asked.
"Yeah. I don't know how Lindsay's mom would react to me asking for another sleepover, especially with this hickey on my neck," Ryan replied, putting an arm around Lindsay.
Lindsay rolled her eyes and caught Seth's attention. "You should see where I have hickeys and he's complaining…"
"Hey," Ryan laughed, tickling her. Seth laughed at their easy relationship.
"So, Seth, how's Alex doing?" Lindsay asked.
"We're…not dating anymore. We're strictly coworkers," Seth replied.
"Yeah?" Ryan asked, raising an eyebrow.
Seth shook his head with a grin and lowered his voice. "Nah, that's just what we're supposed to say at work, the owner caught us in the storeroom today…"
"Ouch," Ryan smiled.
"He was pretty cool about it, but told us to keep it quiet and if we're fighting that we should leave it out of the club," Seth shrugged.
"Sounds like a good idea," Lindsay agreed.
"Hey, guys. What's going on? I called your house earlier and your parents sound like somebody died," Marissa walked up with DJ on her arm.
"Nothing, they're just…moody," Seth answered.
"Can we sit?" DJ asked, looking at Ryan for permission.
Ryan shrugged. He was friends with Marissa now so he didn't mind. He was with Lindsay.
"So, is everything okay?" Marissa was looking at Ryan. "My dad asked about you last night…"
"Yeah…I sort of, ran into him," Ryan answered.
"You did?" Seth asked. "Where?"
"I was…out. He was out, too. He must not have called the Cohens…" Ryan said, thoughtfully.
"But everything's okay?" Marissa asked.
"Things are a little…crazy right now. But everything's okay. It will be anyway," Lindsay answered when Ryan didn't. He pulled her closer to him with a grateful smile.
Marissa seemed satisfied. She stood up and reached for DJ. "Let's dance."
"I better get back and make sure everything's under control down there," Seth said, hearing a commotion from the door.
"You okay?" Lindsay asked quietly.
"Yeah. I am," He said, kissing her gently again.
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Ryan closed the front door quietly and walked into the living area where Kirsten and Sandy were watching TV.
"Hey," He said, nervously, leaning against the arm of the couch.
"Hey, Ryan. You're home…early," Sandy said, clearly surprised.
"Yeah. I'm pretty tired. So…I wanted to apologize. For being such an ass earlier…" Ryan started.
"I think we deserved it," Kirsten whispered.
"Yeah, well, I'm still sorry. I shouldn't have talked to you guys like that and I'm sorry…" He sighed.
"We should be apologizing to you, Ryan. This…it was a mistake. We made a mistake…" Sandy began.
"Let's just put it behind us, okay? I'm not planning on going anywhere, if that's what you're worried about…"
"What about Teresa? Did you talk to her?" Sandy asked.
"I mainly listened. I don't really want to talk about it. She's going to call you once the baby is born to arrange a paternity test," Ryan replied evenly.
"You…you agreed to that?" Kirsten asked, surprised.
"She doesn't want me to be a part of her life. I'm not going to fight with her. I'm tired of fighting. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry and I'll see you guys tomorrow," Ryan said, turning to leave.
"Ryan…you…you just said that you don't plan on going anywhere…but what about when you turn eighteen? Have we…have we lost you?" Sandy asked quietly.
Ryan hesitated. "I…I don't know. No?" He seemed surprised. "I mean…you guys are supposed to be my family. You thought you were doing what was right…I mean, at least you tried. Dawn…she never really tried. I…it just hurt a little to know that you'd lie to me…it's the one thing I can't deal with. But…I'm a hypocrite if I don't try and see both sides. I get that you guys were trying to do the right thing."
"Ryan…we are so sorry..." Kirsten said.
"I know. I'll see you guys tomorrow," Ryan said, making his exit.
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Ryan opened the door expecting Kirsten or Sandy to be outside wanting to talk more. He wasn't expecting Jimmy Cooper.
"Mr. Cooper…are you looking for…"
"I'm looking for you. Can we talk?" Jimmy asked.
"Um…okay. Come in," Ryan said, confused. "If this is about the other night…"
"No, it's not. Well, not completely. I wanted to apologize. I don't expect you to lie for me, I don't know what history you have with Julie…but I remember how you knew about Caleb blackmailing Marissa and I would never want to burden you with my secrets," Jimmy said.
"Oh…okay," Ryan said, even more confused as to why he was here.
"I've been thinking a lot about things. About…how my life has ended up where it has. How my decisions have affected my life…and I wanted to talk to you. About Marissa. And Teresa…"
"Teresa? Jimmy, what…"
Jimmy was clearly hesitant. "Julie and I…well, I guess you realize that we're…seeing each other. She said something the other day that struck me. She said that I married her because she was pregnant and that she married me because she loved me…"
Ryan was clearly surprised.
"And it's partially true. Don't get me wrong, I loved her, but…I didn't love her the same way she loved me. I married her for the baby, for Marissa. I wanted her to have a father around…and we had a pretty good run of it, but…it was never a marriage. And our children suffered because of it…"
"Mr. Cooper…"
"So, I guess I just wanted to see how you were doing…because I know that losing that baby was really hard on you…" Jimmy admitted finally.
"I…I don't really know what to say…" Ryan said uncomfortably. Finally, he decided to tell him the truth. "Um…first off? Teresa lied about losing the baby. She lied about the baby being mine. She wanted me to come to Chino with her and help her with the baby. When it didn't work out, she told me that she lost it so I would leave. So no matter how I feel or felt about losing the baby, I don't really think it matters now."
"It does matter. Ryan, I respect you. You have had some crappy luck, but you're a good kid. A good man. I don't think you hear that enough. You've done so much for Marissa, and this family…I'd hate to have you second-guessing yourself," Jimmy said, clearly surprised by Ryan's confession.
"Thanks," Ryan said, startled.
"Teresa lied? God, man, that's…that's just awful," Jimmy said.
"Yeah. She said she did it because she loved me. But…lies don't help anything, Jimmy. They only make things worse…more complicated."
Jimmy nodded. "You think I should tell Marissa about me and Julie?"
"I think you owe her that much. But…but I can't tell you what to do," Ryan said. "She's a big girl. She can handle it."
Jimmy was studying Ryan carefully. "What do you know about Julie, Ryan?"
Ryan hesitated.
"You just told me that lies only make things more complicated," Jimmy said.
"Will it change the way you feel about her? I mean…after all this shit that's happened, Kirsten and Sandy keeping Teresa's secret from me and Teresa lying about everything…it's changed the way I feel about them, about everything. So…I don't think you really want to know," Ryan replied honestly.
"I do. I need to know. If I'm seriously going to walk this road with Julie…you think I should know, I can see it on your face," Jimmy said.
"She slept with Luke. For a few weeks, at least. He loved her, he was on his way to see her when he had his accident. He left because he couldn't stand to be around her," Ryan stated flatly.
"Luke? Marissa's…" Jimmy was pale.
"Marissa knows. It's one of the reasons she hates her mother so much," Ryan said.
Jimmy nodded. "Does…does anyone else know?"
"Seth and Summer know. The Cohens don't know. Neither does Caleb."
"I…thank you for telling me, Ryan."
"So. Does it change the way you feel?" Ryan asked.
"Not the way I feel. I love her," Jimmy said. "Nothing's ever going to change that. But I…I realize that we'll never be able to be together. I won't…I won't tell her that you told me. I'm not going to even mention it…but I'm glad you told me."
Ryan nodded.
"Kirsten and Sandy love you, Ryan. I hope that you'll forgive them," Jimmy said.
"I do. I will…I just need some time to process everything."
"Good luck, kid," Jimmy said, patting him on the back.
"Yeah. You, too."
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"So. How're things today?" Seth asked, walking into the kitchen the next morning and joining his parents by the sink.
"Morning, Seth," Kirsten sighed.
"I take it that Ryan hasn't talked to you guys, yet," Seth replied.
"He talked to us last night. But I think it's going to be a while before he's really over it," Sandy said honestly.
"He'll get over it. He loves you guys. He…he just doesn't like lies. At all," Seth explained.
"We shouldn't have lied…" Kirsten said.
"But he knows that people make mistakes, too. Give him some time," Seth said.
Ryan walked in, yawning. "Coffee?"
"Of course," Sandy replied, moving from in front of the coffeemaker.
"Thanks," Ryan replied, grabbing a cup and pouring the coffee.
"So, buddy, what's on the agenda for today?" Seth asked.
"I need to finish up my shopping. Can we borrow the car?" Ryan turned to Kirsten.
"I have some appointments this morning, but I'll be done around noon," Kirsten answered quietly.
"Noon? We have to wait until noon?" Seth whined.
"That's fine for me," Ryan said, smirking at Seth's complaint. "Dude, we can walk to the comic book store. What else do you have to shop for?"
Seth was thoughtful. "Well…"
"See?" Ryan smirked. "Thanks, Kirsten."
"I guess we can wait until noon," Seth sighed dramatically. He walked around the counter and patted Ryan on the back. "Want to run some games until then?"
"Sure. Go plug up the PS2 and I'll be in after I eat something," Ryan nodded.
"Did you sleep well?" Kirsten asked, clearly nervous about Ryan's mood.
"Okay," Ryan shrugged.
"Well…if you ever want to talk to us again…we're here," she said quietly.
He smiled at her. "I know. Thanks."
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