Facing the Past
Chapter Twenty-One
"Seth?" Sandy called in to the house, he'd seen the Rover sitting in the driveway and immediately felt his mind begin to ease.
The boys were home.
He walked hurriedly in to the dining room where Seth sat on the couch reading a comic book. A graphic novel, Sandy corrected himself. If Seth heard him call them comic books the kid just may have a heart attack.
Seth's head emerged from the book and he set it down on his lap, waving his hand in a feeble greeting. "Dad" he said back.
Sandy glanced around the room. "Where is Ryan?" he asked.
"Nice to see you too, pops, and I hate to disappoint you, but Ryan didn't come back with me"
Sandy sighed. He'd been hoping. Hell, he'd even been in denial. Then he fixed his eyes on Seth, his eldest son. "You are in a lot of trouble young man" Sandy warned.
"Hey, it's not like I told him to go" Seth shot back.
"Well you didn't exactly help the situation either, did you?"
"I helped Ryan's situation" Seth replied, standing up and slapping the graphic novel on the table in front of him.
"What's that supposed to mean? Do you know how much trouble Ryan is in right now? He's on probation, he ran away, he beat a kid up Seth – that's not helping his situation" Sandy said, grasping for words.
"At least he's where he wants to be, and not stuck in some group home!"
"Oh, so Ryan sleeping on the streets is better than him sleeping with a roof over his head?"
Seth's eyes flashed, he wasn't sure why his dad was being like this, but he sure the hell wasn't going to put up with it. "If that roof is the roof to a group home, dad, then yes, I believe Ryan's better off where he is now"
Sandy opened his mouth to shout back, then paused, "You still know where he is?"
Seth took a step backwards, "I didn't say that"
"No, you implied it. Seth, where is he?"
"Why does it matter? So you can send him off with Catherine? He doesn't want to go with Catherine, dad, he wants to be here, in Newport. With us. As a family. Or doesn't that mean anything to you?"
"Seth, didn't we… didn't I… The model home, Seth. We've been through this before. The secrecy, the lies… they don't help"
Seth now knew how silence could be deafening.
He stared at his father for a few moment, both of them breathing hard, angry. Seth didn't think he'd ever been so angry with one person before.
Ryan wanted them, he was doing this for them, why couldn't his father see that?
A few more moments of silence.
"Seth, I'm –"
"Save it, dad!" Seth replied, storming past him towards his room.
Sandy sighed, his shoulders slumping. What had he done?
……………………………….
Kirsten entered the kitchen to find her husband with his head in his hands, mumbling to himself.
"I have good news" Kirsten told him. He didn't look up. "I know you wouldn't agree, Sandy, but I had a talk with my dad about this whole Ryan-adoption thing and… are you okay?" she asked.
Sandy still hadn't acknowledged her.
She walked over, rubbing his shoulders, "What's wrong?"
"I messed up" Sandy admitted, dropping his hands to the counter.
"Nothing unusual" Kirsten teased.
"No. I really messed up this time. With Seth."
Kirsten waited for him to continue, still rubbing his shoulders.
"When I got home Seth was here. We had a fight over where Ryan was, and how he was. I don't even know why we fought really" Sandy admitted. "It was stupid"
Kirsten smiled slightly, "It's okay, Sandy. He's protecting Ryan's integrity. The two of them are like brothers now, something which I remind you, is kind of your fault in the first place. They're going to defend each other like that to either of us. I'll call him down, we all have to talk anyways"
……………………………………
"Do you wanna go somewhere?" Summer's bored voice asked from the doorway of the bedroom.
Ryan glanced over from where he lay on the bed, again eyeing the ceiling.
"I'm bored" she put in.
Ryan raised his eyebrows.
"Chill, Chino. I'm not hitting on you or anything, and I wouldn't. I'm just really bored. Seth's not answering his cell, and Marissa can't come over until later. That's…well, pretty much the extent of my social life right now" she shrugged.
"Sure" he finally replied, pulling himself up from the bed.
"Hey, what happened to your hand anyways?"
Ryan looked down at his bandaged palm. "Accident" he told her, thinking of the plate he'd smashed.
"Right. Since you're so talkative maybe I should just go back to watching the Valley and talking with Princess Sp-" Summer slapped a hand over her mouth.
Ryan grinned at her, "Princess who?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"None of your business, Chino" Summer shot back, her face red.
"Is it plastic, and a toy by chance?" Ryan asked deadpan, a smile twitching at the corner of his lips.
Summer shot him a glare and he raised his hands to ward it off, "okay. I get it. You don't want to talk about it. Seth didn't want to talk about Captain Oats to begin with either" he put it, teasing.
…………………………………..
Seth stood leaning against the kitchen wall, arms crossed. He eyed his parents warily.
"How's Ryan?" Kirsten asked, breaking the silence.
"He's fine where he is" Seth replied easily.
Kirsten's face fell, "Seth, your father said sorry"
"Yeah. But it's a little too late, isn't it?" Seth asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, in those brief few moments that dad was so kindly sharing his feelings with me, he basically said he wanted Ryan in a group home"
"As opposed to on the streets, where he's not safe" Sandy intervened.
"Well he is safe, dad. You just didn't bother asking that."
Sandy sighed, "Look, Seth. I'm only trying to look out for you guys. It's not like I turned him in to Catherine or anything-"
"No. You just let it get that far in the first place!" Seth shot back, immediately feeling remorse. He saw his father's face, "Look. I'm sorry, it's just that… I finally have someone I can hang out with, someone who has my back. Ryan is like… he's like my first and my only real friend dad…. More than that, he's my brother"
Kirsten discreetly wiped a hand across her cheeks and embraced her son. One of her sons. "Seth, we know." She told him, then eyed Sandy. "You want to tell him?" she asked.
"Tell me what?" Seth demanded, pulling away from his mother's overbearing presence and staring at his father.
Seth's cell phone rang from the other room. Again. It was probably just an impatient and persistent Summer wanting to yell at him for sticking Ryan with her. He'd call her later.
"Your mother called Phillip today, the guy from –"
"I know who he is dad, so what's going on? I mean, was it approved or.."
Sandy smiled widely, "Yea. It was approved. We just have to get Ryan and his social worker to sign it."
"You really think she will?" Seth asked in a whispered tone.
"We won't give her a choice" Sandy replied, smiling and picking up the phone.
"What are you doing, Sandy?"
"Calling Catherine. I want these things signed right now"
…………………………………………...
"So" Summer interrupted the long standing silence between herself and Ryan. They had been walking along the boardwalk for the past fifteen minutes or so, listening to the waves crash against the sand.
The night air was cool, but not cold by any standard. It seemed it was going to be a mild winter in California, it hadn't even rained much. The light seemed to be fading quickly, an orange glow settling over everything.
It was low tide but a high surf, Ryan noticed, thinking back to Sandy's surfing lessons.
He jumped at Summer's interruption. "So what?" he asked, immediately.
Summer let out a long sigh, "How do you like it here now anyways? I mean, after things have… settled down"
Ryan shrugged, "It's not Chino" he told her honestly.
"Was it really that bad?" Summer asked, "In a place where everyone knew everyone else… and people were… well real."
Ryan studied her for a moment, "Chino isn't like Newport. Just because you know everyone through someone else, didn't mean they had your back. Small talk in Chino was about who was going to jump who, not who was doing who"
She snorted, "But the people were real, weren't they? No one had to like, fake who they were just to fit in"
Ryan thought about his bruises. And his explanations for the bruises. He thought about the screaming of his mother and her monthly boyfriend. He thought about the neighbours eyeing him warily when he waved hello to their kids.
"All that shit… it was still there Summer. It's just that most people were too busy trying to provide for their family or get a decent education to focus on talking about it. "
"Yea well… sometimes I wonder if maybe I would be… if my family would be just another typical family in Chino. With my mom and… my dad never around. Maybe I'd just fit right in"
"You don't belong in Chino, Summer" Ryan laughed quietly.
Summer reached over and smacked him in the chest, "Don't laugh. I just get so tired of this crap sometimes" she waved her hands around, "Don't you?"
" You know what. I don't think I'll ever get tired of living near the ocean. I don't think I'll ever get tired of not living in a shack. I don't think I'll ever get tired of having a family. But that's because… I know what else is out there… I can respect, and see, this place for what it is, not what everyone thinks it is."
"Oh yea? And what is it?" she asked
Ryan was ready to reply when a shrill catcall rang through the dark, he whipped his head around to focus on someone walking up the beach carrying a surf board.
Summer stopped and turned, placing her hands on her hips, "Ew. Aren't you from, like, the public school?" she demanded.
The guy's smile disappeared, "Better than what you've got" he smirked, nodding his head towards Ryan.
"Sum, let's go" Ryan said, tugging at her arm. She stumbled sideways a bit, but regained her balance.
"Him?" she nodded her head sideways. "Lemme tell you, he ain't mine, but he is a better option than you" she put on a false smile.
"Summer" Ryan warned, a ball of tension growing in the pit of his stomach.
She finally snapped out of it and began to follow Ryan, their steps were hurried.
"Where ya going, doll?"
"Leave her alone" Ryan finally shot back, continuing to urge her along. Summer seemed to be realising they might be in a bit of trouble. She clutched her purse in front of her, digging through it for her cell phone.
"You got a problem?" the guy's voice persisted.
Ryan didn't answer, but was suddenly thrown off balance by something, someone, hitting him from behind. He toppled to the cement, feeling holes rip in his jeans, and small pebbles lodge in to his palms.
Damn pebbles always hurt the most
He heard Summer let out a small scream as the guy one his back grabbed his head and smashed his chin in to the paved path, knocking Ryan's teeth together.
There was a sharp pain in his lip, and Ryan realised he had just bit through it. He flung his left arm backwards, managing to throw the guy off him, he rolled over on to his back and get to his feet.
They both held the position for a moment, circling eachother, fists clutched and raised, waiting.
The other guy made the first move, coming at him with his left, Ryan blocked, and felt the guy's right fist connect with his stomach. He gasped, but managed to clock his attacker in the nose.
The guy was swinging wildly now, his eyes were watering so he couldn't focus, Ryan used the opportunity to throw another punch with his injured hand which connected with his opponent's gut, sending pain signals to Ryan's brain at the same time.
Oddly enough, it didn't seem to affect his opponent. Instead the guy grabbed Ryan's outstretched arm and pulled, Ryan, instead of fighting it, forced himself in to it trying to throw the guy off balance, which it did.
They both went ploughing in to the cement barricade that separated the boardwalk from the beach, then over it, Ryan slamming his cheek against it on the way down.
He lay in the sand for a second, breathing hard and gathering his strength, he jumped up, shoving the attacker towards the waist high wall. He toppled across it, managing not to go flying, when Ryan got behind him, grabbing his arms in a lock behind his back and holding them there.
Ryan leaned down to the guy's ear, "When I let you go, you're going to run far away. And if I ever, see you around again –"
The guy shot his head backwards, meeting with Ryan's nose, automatically Ryan let go of the guy's arms, reaching up to his face. He felt him grab his shirt, swinging him around and pressing him up against the wall in much the same fashion Ryan had just done to him only Ryan was facing the beach.
His opponent smiled.
"You're too kind" the guy chided softly, "I'm not even going to let you walk away" he said, before swinging his fist around to connect with Ryan's stomach again.
Ryan slid down the wall, his arms wrapping around his stomach.
"I'm on the phone with the police" Summer's voice screamed.
Ryan managed to open his eyes just in time for the guy to send a kick to his chest, and sand in his face. He set his head back against the cool cement barrier, trying to catch his breath.
His attacker's running foot steps echoed against the old buildings lining the path.
"Are you okay?" Summer asked, crouching down in front of him.
Ryan cracked his eyes open and nodded, "Just..needaminute" he gasped.
"I'm calling Cohen" Summer said decisively.
"Cops?" Ryan asked.
"You want me to –"
"No. No cops" Ryan stated, closing his eyes again. Cops were bad.
Summer was frantically punching in numbers on her cell phone.
"No answer" she finally said, hanging up. "He probably doesn't even have it on him… god he's so stupid." She eyed Ryan, "You want me to call Kirsten or Sandy?" she asked.
Ryan shook his head. "No" he said, slowly, "M'okay. Just need… band-aids" he tried to shoot her a reassuring smile.
Summer snorted, "You're gonna need a lot more than some band-aids" she told him. "Hold on and let me call Marissa, see if she can pick us up and give us a lift"
"Can walk"
Summer's free hand shot to her hip, "You're not walking anywhere like this! If Cohen found out about this… god he'd like, kill me for letting you walk. He'll kill me for not calling an ambulance!" she exclaimed. She seemed like she was going to continue, but cut herself off.
"Coop?" she asked, in to the small silver flip phone.
"Great, could you come pick me and Chino up? We're down at the beach, like, five minutes from the pier" a pause then "… Chino got his ass kicked again" Summer informed her.
She hung up, looking down at the guy sitting in front of her, covered in sand and blood, "Coop's on her way… I think. She sort of hung up in a hurry so.."
Ryan didn't reply, but stared out at the ocean. The sky was nearly a velvet blue now, just a small slice of colour could be seen around the horizon.
"So, I thought you were like, supposed to be tough" Summer chatted easily from where she was leaning on the wall, waiting for Marissa.
Ryan glared.
"Not like that. I mean, I'm not trying to insult your masculinity or whatever, but you're from Chino, right? But how many times have you had your ass kicked recently?"
"I never said I was tough"
"But Seth said you were a fighter, like out of fight club or somethin'. Not to mention you go around starting half the fights you're in…"
Ryan snorted, "Just because I can fight, and I willingly jump in to a fight, doesn't mean I always win"
"But you win sometimes, right?"
Ryan eyed her, "Why?"
"Well, it would just be stupid to fight if you didn't win" she shrugged, "pointless broken noses or ribs or whatever, both of which I think you may have."
"I'm fine –"
"I volunteered at the hospital Ryan, remember? You're weezing and gasping whenever you take a breath. That means broken or bruised ribs"
"Fights aren't necessarily about winning or losing" he changed the subject.
"Then what are they about?"
He was silent for a moment, "I think it's different for everyone"
"So what, when you fight, we all like, see someone or something we hate?"
"No. I mean, I fight to… I dunno… help someone"
Summer snorted, "Like a hit man?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.
Ryan shook his head, "Protection. Like tonight. Didn't want to see you get hurt so I fought… In Chino I didn't want to see mom hurt so I…"
"So you what?"
Ryan shrugged, "If her boyfriend was focussed on me, he didn't go after her"
Summer was speechless for a moment, then "What about Luke?"
Ryan let out a laugh, then winced, "Jus' didn't like him after he started on Seth that night… after what he did to Marissa all that time"
"You knew he was cheating on her?" Summer asked.
"Yea"
"Why didn't you tell her?"
"Cause everyone believes the car thief from Chino" he stated, sarcastically.
"Hmm, good point" Summer nodded.
………………………………………………..
"Where are we going?" Ryan asked from the passenger seat. Marissa was driving, Summer was in the back.
Marissa glanced over at him quickly, but didn't answer.
"Summer's house is the other way" he told her.
"I… I know" Marissa replied unsteadily.
"You passed the hospital" he continued.
"I.. I know that too"
"I can't… go home" Ryan reminded her.
She bit her lip, " But you should have Sandy or Kirsten take you to the hospital or something… you look pretty –"
"If I go to the hospital, I end up back at Child Services. Is that what you want?" he demanded.
She looked ready to cry, "I want you to be safe. I want you to get checked out Ryan. I-"
"I'll be okay, It's not like this is the worst I've been" he shot at her angrily
"I'm sorry" she whispered as they pulled up in to the Cohen's driveway.
Ryan didn't offer a response, but instead sat in the car leaning his head back against the cool leather seat.
"Are… you okay?" Marissa asked.
He turned to glare at her, "Yea, great, see you when I'm eighteen. Maybe" he replied shortly, opening the door and climbing out slowly. He slammed it behind him, expecting Marissa and Summer to peel out of the driveway.
Instead the car turned off, and Ryan turned around as both girls emerged from the car. There were tears streaks down Marissa's face, and suddenly Ryan felt extremely bad for what he'd said.
She had his best interest at heart, right. She'd done what she'd thought was right, bring him home to his family…
She approached and saw the look in his eye, embracing him without warning, "I'm sorry" she whispered, "We can still talk, I can drive where ever they put you… I promise I will"
Ryan's façade fell apart then as well, and he felt the tears stream down his cheeks, mixing with his blood and stinging his split chin. "It's okay" he told her, "We'll work something out"
"You lovebirds coming?" Summer demanded, already at the front door. She reached out and depressed the bell firmly.
"Why are you ringing?" Ryan asked.
"I don't live here" she rolled her eyes.
Ryan shook his head and just as they joined Summer on the porch, the door swung inward.
"Oh my… what happened to you guys? Are you okay Ryan? Girls, what happened?" Kirsten demanded, her eyes searching the three teens'.
"Uh, someone jumped us… him" Summer told her.
"You two?" Kirsten asked, her eyes narrowing, she shot a glance at Marissa.
"No. It was nothing like that!" Summer corrected, "We were just –"
"Hey girls! What are you… Ryan?" Seth's voice asked from behind his mother.
Ryan raised a hand in hello.
"I thought… did someone find you at Summer's?" Seth asked, confused now.
"No, we were out walking and this totally gross guy, like, started trying to hit on me and follow me around, so Ryan kicked his ass" Summer informed.
"You kicked his ass?" Kirsten demanded.
"He jumped on Ryan's back, Mrs. Cohen" Summer added.
Kirsten was shaking her head, "Maybe you guys should all come in and sit down… get cleaned up… Ryan, follow me to the washroom" she commanded firmly.
"I can do it myself" Ryan said meekly under her wrath.
She shook her head firmly, holding the door open for them, "Washroom, no detours" Kirsten ordered, then glanced at the girls, "You can…wait with Seth in the kitchen for now"
Kirsten turned on her heel, biting her lip. Not good timing. Not at all. She knew, as well as Seth did, that Catherine was due any moment now, and if she saw Ryan like this…
She pushed the thoughts from her head as she briskly walked through the kitchen, passing by her husband who looked up at her. She could tell form his eyes that he recognized this could not go well at all.