Facing the Past
Chapter Thirteen
Ryan woke up feeling refreshed, almost lighter. The waves of the ocean could be heard crashing against the beach, the smell of salt water tainted the air.
As always, the California sun beat down on everything that was Newport.
He stumbled to the washroom, smiling at himself in the mirror and reaching up to scratch his chin with his left hand.
The past two weeks had been great. He'd had a long talk with Sandy, Kirsten and Seth, telling them everything about that night.
Kirsten had flipped out about the gun, Seth had looked at him strangely, but Sandy had continued to nod to him supportively.
He knew at that moment they would always be his family, and that they would always have a place for him, just as he would always have a place for them.
Ryan had also spoken with the police, and as Sandy informed him a couple days after, Louis was waiting to be sentenced as were his pals, or the ones they could locate anyways.
He had made up with Marissa, which had taken some doing. Meaning a lot of talking and a few apologies.
Seth was right, as it turned out. Women, or Marissa anyways, had wanted to be chased when she was angry.
What was it she had told him? That when he hadn't come after he, or heard from him in three days, she had figured he stopped caring.
He told her he just thought she needed space. Since that argument lost terribly he'd apologized and told her he did care, that he would always care.
School had gone on the same after detention. Again he was a little behind in his classes, but he had finally caught up by pulling a couple all nighters… not to mention a little help from Seth, Marissa and Summer, who surprisingly seemed to be quite knowledgeable in the field of science.
And yesterday Kirsten had taken him to the doctor's office. To get his cast removed. His arm was finally free from it's annoying chamber. It was a little weak, but he was told in a couple weeks time he wouldn't know the difference.
His stitches were gone, his black eyes were gone.. and he had some nice battle scars to show off to Marissa, another thing Seth had been right about.
For someone so anti-social he sure the hell knew a lot about some things.
Yes. Right now, everything in Ryan Atwood's life was good. He couldn't help but smile in the mirror.
………………………………………
In Chino, Theresa sat back on the old worn couch in her mother's home. The television was on, but Theresa wasn't paying any attention, instead she stared at the wall.
She wondered how Ryan was doing, how he was dealing with his mother's death. She had seen him pulling away with the Cohens, blood smeared across his face again.
She had thought it was maybe AJ, who had waited until Ryan had left the service to get him, but the word was that it was Louis and his pals again.
Apparently Ryan was thinking of narcing on them. Ryan wouldn't do that she mused, not the Ryan she knew.
Eddie, when she had told him this, had laughed it off, "They wouldn't risk being caught if he wasn't thinking about it Theresa… they have their connections, they're reliable.
Everyone in Chino had connections, because everyone in Chino was up to something. Theresa had lost most of hers when Ryan had gone away, and lost the remaining ones when Arturo was taken to jail.
There were no strangers coming to the door any more, asking for either of the boys. It was quiet, and Theresa felt almost detached.
Eddie entered the small crowded living room, juggling a bowl of microwave popcorn and a two litre of no-name soda.
He smiled in greeting, and plopped himself down beside her, putting the bowl between them and the cola on the floor.
"What's wrong?" he asked, studying her face.
"Nothing" she replied, but inside she wondered if Ryan was okay, and who that guy had been who had just called asking for his whereabouts.
He'd given her his name, but she hadn't cared to write it down or remember it.
He had sounded sincere, well meaning, or she wouldn't have given him Ryan's new phone number.
…………………………………
Ryan entered the kitchen in a good mood.
"Hey buddy" Seth called from across the kitchen. He seemed to be searching for a particular type of cereal.
"Heads up" Seth called, tossing him the Captain Crunch. Ryan caught the box and placed it on the counter, reaching for a bowl.
"What are you doing?"
"I am on a noble quest to find the Sugar Crisp I know mom has stashed away in here" he informed Ryan, then turned back to glance at the cupboard again.
"No Sugar Crisp?" Ryan asked him.
"I don't understand" Seth said, climbing down off the counter he'd been kneeling on. "I put it on the list like, every week"
Ryan raised his eyebrows.
"It's good stuff man, you ever try it?"
He shook his head.
"Of course not, because mom never buys it… I think she stopped loving me" Seth stated.
"Of course she did Seth, what doesn't she buy you?"
Seth made a face at his dad who walked in to the kitchen, "My cereal"
"You have lots of cereal" he waved at the open cupboards.
"But not the one I want" Seth whined.
"Maybe you ate it all"
"I didn't, I haven't had it in – mom!" Seth cried, "You went shopping last night, right?"
Kirsten looked surprised at the early morning confrontation, "Yes, why?"
"You forgot my cereal"
"No I didn't, you have lots" Kirsten stated, relaxing now and grabbing the morning paper.
"But not the kind I want!"
"Seth, last week you wanted Count Chocula, the week before that you wanted Frosted Flakes, and the week before that you wanted Captain Crunch" Kirsten sounded exasperated.
"Your point?"
"The boxes are still full, Seth"
"That's not true, the Captain Crunch is almost gone!"
"Because you keep force feeding Ryan with it" Sandy put in.
"Exactly!" Kirsten exclaimed, "Eat what's in the cupboard, then I'll buy you your Sugar Crisp"
Kirsten had finally put her foot down and Seth was not liking it.
Ryan was. He thought the whole thing was incredibly funny, considering back in Chino, and even Fresno when he was a little kid, the Atwoods were lucky to have one box of cereal in the house, and it wasn't sugar coated stuff either.
Rice Crispies and Cornflakes, because they both came in the no-name brand and were both available in bulk.
And cheap, of course.
The entertaining moment was ruined, however, when the phone, sitting next to Sandy, rang.
He reached over and picked it up, "Hello" he said in to the mouth piece, sipping a cup of coffee he'd just made for himself.
"Yea, he's right here, just a sec" Sandy said holding the phone out to Ryan.
Ryan grabbed it, "Hey Marissa-" he spoke, then his face fell.
The Cohens noticed this. Summer and Marissa didn't usually call here, they just randomly showed up.
"Hi Mr. Symington.." Ryan faltered, leaving the kitchen to go out in to the back yard.
"Ryan, I'm sorry to bother you, glad I finally got a hold of you.."
"No problem" Ryan replied, "What.. what's wrong?" he asked, thinking about Josh, and then wondering if Phillip was calling to rag him out on something.
"I just wanted to say that… I'm sorry"
"About what?" Ryan asked, surprised.
"The way I acted before, towards you… I was an idiot, I just.. I was so mad at everyone and everything I couldn't see that you were trying to-"
"It's okay" Ryan interrupted, "I get it. How's Josh?" he asked
"Josh is good.. he's uh.. he's happy and talking, thanks to you… he's back in his old class too, but he still reads and studies at home, tells me it's so he doesn't get stupid" he chuckled.
"That's.. good"
There was an awkward silence for a moment. "Well, I don't want to keep you, I'm sure you have plans… I just… I had to say thanks"
"It wasn't me, it was all Josh" Ryan affirmed. That little kid had somehow relieved the pressure on Ryan's shoulders. And his plan had worked, he had helped the Symingtons.
Yes, Ryan thought as he hung up, things were good.
………………………
When Ryan re-entered the kitchen Kirsten, Sandy and Seth all seemed to freeze, looking at him suddenly. Expectant.
Ryan placed the phone on the counter and looked up at everyone, they were still watching him. "It wasn't Trey" Ryan told them, remembering the last time he'd really gotten a call from nowhere.
The mood changed instantly, the chatter began again and soon Seth was continuing to persevere for his Sugar Crisp cereal.
"So what do you guys have planned for this week end?" Kirsten asked Seth and Ryan.
They looked at each other, Ryan shrugged and Seth turned to his mom.
"Orgies, booze and t.v. dinners, you?"
She smiled sarcastically at him, then turned to Ryan, "If you're not doing anything tomorrow Ryan, we're having a walk through of one of the developments at the company. The contractors will be there, and the architects of course, you interested?"
"Gee mom, we'd love to, but Summer and Marissa promised us they would shave our chests for us Sunday"
"I wasn't asking you" she shot back, then looked at Ryan, waiting for an answer.
"I am broken hearted, mother, that you will not include me in your mother-son plans with Ryan… just…" he pretended to stifle a sob.
Sandy laughed and Ryan nodded to Kirsten, "Cool, what time?" he asked, thinking about what an opportunity it would be.
"We're meeting there around ten, we should be back by lunch"
"Cool"
"Oh, and Ryan" Sandy looked up, "You have no cast, you could come surfing in the morning… it'll be a whole bonding experience for the three of us"
Ryan was beginning to feel a little strange, almost like they were trying too hard.
"Excuse me. The three of us? What about me? Mom, dad, over here!" Seth exclaimed, waving his arms.
"You don't like developments Seth" Kirsten told him.
"Or surfing" Sandy shrugged.
"But if you'd like to come along.." Kirsten continued
"Same here" Sandy agreed.
Seth pursed his lips, nodding his head, "I see… thank you for the offer, but I have to say no to the purple wetsuit and no to your boring house building crap"
Ryan grinned, he knew that with Seth's joking banter he was taking this new 'bonding time' thing very light heartedly.
"Seth, why don't we head down to the pier later, maybe pick up Summer an Marissa, and just chill" Ryan suggested.
Seth pointed to him, "Thank you, Ryan, for inviting me to something that won't be so outlandishly boring"
"Well, it will be if we let you choose a movie to see" Ryan mused
"There's nothing wrong with Shark movies Ryan" Seth pointed out.
"Isn't that how the Rover got demolished?" Kirsten asked eyebrows raised.
"I have to-"
"Me too" Ryan said, standing up.
Once they were gone Sandy turned to Kirsten, putting an arm around her shoulders, "You are sneaky" he whispered.
"I knew it would make them scatter" Kirsten smiled, leaning in to kiss her husband.
………………………………
"So, how goes things on Ryan's end?" Seth asked.
The two boys were sitting on the floating chairs in the middle of the infinity pool.
"Good" Ryan replied honestly, "You"
"Ditto" Seth shrugged.. "It's so weird.." he began.
"What?"
"Didn't you notice? That everything just seems too… perfect around here lately? No fist fights with Luke… no drunk Marissa… I have Summer…"
"You jinxed it now" Ryan warned.
"Don't say that… it's only jinxed when you point out that it's jinxed!" Seth hissed.
"Ryan" Kirsten's voice called from the kitchen door.
Both boys looked over.
"Someone's here for you"
The boys shared a glance then hopped out of the pool, "Just be a sec" Ryan told her, both of them heading to the pool house to change.
"Do you think this is our jinx?" Seth asked once he emerged from the bathroom.
Ryan shot him a dirty look, "Yea, who said it now!"
"You started it"
"Maybe it's just Marissa and Summer" Ryan suggested.
"May be" Seth nodded, "But mom usually sends them out back to laugh an goggle first. Are you expecting any other visitors?"
Mr. Symington, Ryan thought of the call this morning. No, no it wouldn't be. He'd called and said his piece, there was no reason to drive nearly an hour out of his way to talk with Ryan again.
Considering they hadn't said much to each other prior.
"No" he replied, opening the back door to let Seth in first.
Seth wasn't three steps in before he froze in his place.
"What's your problem, Seth?" Ryan asked, stepping around him.
Then Ryan froze.
No. This wasn't happening. His life was good. It was all good. Everything. But this. Him, in his home? Where Seth and Kirsten and Sandy were? Invading..well, his life?
"Everything okay?" Kirsten asked. She was standing at the kitchen counter, unaware of who was sitting in her living room.
"Nice place, Atwood" Louis commented, rubbing his hand along the chair arm.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Ryan demanded angrily.
Louis shrugged, "My guys paid bail with some excess cash, what, I can't come say hi to an old pal?" he asked, standing up.
"We're not friends, get out" Ryan told him, noticing that Seth had moved closer to Kirsten in the kitchen.
"Yea, you got a really nice place here, Atwood. Nice things… nice family… I wouldn't want anything to… happen to them" he smiled.
Ryan was pissed, he could hear his knuckles pop. "Get out" he said, again.
"I'm leaving. Just wanted to stop in and say hello…" his eyes danced with excitement. He was, of course, enjoying this. "Wanted to meet your family and see your new place" Louis shrugged.
He knew he shouldn't. He knew it would just cause more trouble. But he did it anyways.
Ryan launched himself across the living room, tackling Louis to the floor. They rolled over each other, each attempting to be on top when finally Ryan, out of pure rage, won.
Grabbing Louis' head with both hands he slammed it in to the hard wood flooring several times before a fist caught his eye.
Ryan didn't feel it. Couldn't feel it. He was focused on one thing.
Repeatedly Ryan pummelled this guy where ever he could. Stomach. Ribs. Face. Shoulder.
He deserved it, Ryan told himself. This was the way Chino guys handled their problems. Ryan was finally handling his.
Justice had failed. They had let this jackass back out on the streets. Where he could have hurt anyone again.
Two strong arms grasped Ryan in an arm lock, pulling him backwards off of Louis' unconscious form. There was blood everywhere.
"You leave them alone!" Ryan screamed at the form laying in the Cohens' living room. "I'll kill you! I'll kill you myself if you ever go near them again!" he made one last attempt to leap forward but the strong arms pulled him backwards.
Ryan's breathing began to slow, his heart rate reduced and his vision began to clear. The events of the past couple minutes swam in to his memory, processing what he had just done.
He had just beat a person unconscious.
Without meaning to.
Something was wrong.
Nothing is wrong you did exactly what you meant to. He hurt Seth. He hurt you. He hurt how many other countless victims. You gave him what he deserved. Everyone should be celebrating…..
But Ryan didn't feel like that. He didn't even know why he was thinking like that. It sounded like he used to think.
As if it were his responsibility to take on the injustices of the world.
Slowly Ryan sank to the floor, the strong arms from behind releasing him.
It was Sandy. He hadn't even seen Sandy come in to the room.
Kirsten was crying, a hand over her face.
Seth looked like he'd been slapped. Surprised. Stunned. Disgusted.
Louis looked almost… dead. If it weren't for the air bubbles forming in the blood from his nose, Ryan would have mistaken the fact.
He stared at the floor.
"Did you call them?" Ryan asked to no one in particular.
"Yes" Kirsten's voice answered as she stifled a sob.
Ryan folded his knees to his chest and rested his arms on them, burying his head and staring in to the darkness.
It was all over.
Kirsten had called the cops.
They were on their way. They would take him back to juvie. There would be an inquiry. He might even be taken away from the Cohens.
Not that they'd want him around after this.
He had seen the unmasked fear in their eyes. The insecurity they felt just being in the room with him now.
Ryan buried his head deeper, not wanting them to hear his quiet sobs.