Fresh Existence

Author's Note:

Thanks for all of the wonderful reviews! I love each of your suggestions and will certainly take them into mind. Hope you enjoy this next chapter.

I am really sorry for the delay. I had this major English project due. It was on 'The Lord of the Rings', a wonderful trilogy. Anyway, really sorry, hope you like the new chapter.

Disclaimer:

I still do not own anything to do with the OC except for the few meager posessions mentioned in the last disclaimer.

Chapter 4

The next morning, Kirsten awoke to the greasy aroma of bacon. In her sleep muddled mind, she briefly believed the wonderful smell was the works of her darling husband Sandy. When she turned over however, this belief was proved wrong for Sandy still lay beside her snoring contentedly.

Kirsten rolled over once more and sat up. Placing her feet in the slippers Seth had gotten her last Chrismukka, she slowly wandered out of her room deftly grabbing her robe on the way and tying it about her waist.

On the way down the winding staircase, Kirsten repeatedly asked herself the same question,'who was cooking breakfast?' Rosa never worked on Fridays, Sandy was still snoring like a freight train, Seth hasn't even shown an inkling of wanting to take care of himself yet. Who could it be? Crossing the threshold of the kitchen, Kirsten stopped dead in her tracks for there, in front of her stood Ryan with a spatula in his hand.

Dumbfounded over how someone so young could make eggs while she struggled with the most basic cookie recipe, Kirsten could only manage a strangled," good morning."

Ryan, who appeared to be off in his own world almost dropped the spatula in his hand in surprise. A hand suddenly slithered around Kirstens middle.

"What is going on here?" asked Sandy with a bit of surprise and jest," Ryan, aren't you a little young to be cooking?"

"Well, my mom never cooks breakfast so... I do," explained Ryan simply. Kirsten took this time to survey the kitchen. Ryan had also set the table for three people. Kirsten frowned slightly at this.

"That's really thoughtful of you Ryan, but you didn't have to cook a breakfast," said Kirsten. Ryan blushed slightly. Looking down, he quietly added,

"I know, I just wanted to thank you...for everything," he murmered while blushing still more furiously.

"You can thank us by eating with us," said Sandy sincerely. "After we eat, we are going to have to get on the road though," he added as he sat at his spot at the head of the table.

After they had finished eating and Seth was sent off to school, Sandy placed Ryan's meager belongings in the back seat of the BMW. Climbing in the front seat, he started the ignition as Ryan quickly scrambled into the passenger seat. With all belts buckled, they took off down the road.

Within forty five minutes, Sandy pulled up in front of Ryan's house in Chino. Ryan slowly climbed out of the comfortable leather seat and opened the back door to retrieve his backpack. Sandy joined him on the walkway.

"I can take it from here," said Ryan as he began the longest trek of his life to the front door. Reaching the door, he pulled out his key and turned it in the lock. He opened the door and stepped inside to a completely different atmosphere to which he was used to. Everything was dreadfully quiet... and empty. Everything was gone except trash and a few water jugs, the extent of the Atwood home.

Setting down his bag, Ryan ran from room to room frantically searching his house for his mother. He was secretly hoping it was some hideous joke and she was going to pop out and shout 'Gotcha!' He was about to give up when a napkin on the counter caught his attention. A note from his mom. A note saying she didn't want him anymore.

A hand suddenly landed on Ryan's shoulder making him jump with surprise. Looking up, he saw the sad face of Sandy looking down at him.

"Let's go kid," said Sandy calmly once again steering Ryan away from his home.

Both Sandy and Ryan returned to the Cohen household with a heavy sense of deja'vu.

With her arms folded tightly against her chest, Kirsten greeted Snady at the door with a stern expression on her face.

"Ryan, why don't you go watch TV or something?" suggested Sandy without breaking eye contact with his extremely pissed off wife. Sandy absently gave Ryan a slight nudge in the direction of the family room.

After giving Sandy and Kirsten a suspicious look, Ryan complied with Sandy's unintentional order. He siilently trudged down the hallway; his bag dragging behind him. Once he had entered the family room, he made his way to the lazy boy. Seating himself, he reached down and pulled out Nicholas Nickleby and began to silently read.

Sandy and Kirsten remained in the foyer playing some kind of staring contest until Ryan was out of sight. They then moved into the kitchen, each getting a mug of coffee on their route to the table.

"I thought you were taking him home!" exclaimed Kirsten immediately.

"I was," assured Sandy," but there was no home for hime to go to. His mom left Kirsten, just left. She literally packed up and left. What was I supposed to do?! Leave him there and wish him a good life?! I don't think so!" finished Sandy hotly.

"My God," whispered Kirsten deflated," you know he can't stay here." Sandy nodded sadly.

"I know, I'll call Children's services first thing Monday morning," offered Sandy clearly dejected at the idea of letting another kid down. He didn't want to put the poor kid in a foster home. There was just something special about this kid, he just wished Kirsten could see it too.

"I guess I won't unpack then," came a small voice from the doorway. Sandy and Kirsten turned around at the unexpected voice; guilt expressed in every move and expression they made. Ryan stared back at them with a hurt expression on his face.

"Ryan, I really wish I could do more but..." began Sandy sincerely but was cut off by Ryan.

"No, It's okay, I never expected more," he said. Turning around, he left with his head bowed in defeat. Nobody wanted him. Sandy and Kirsten watched him leave mentally kicking themselves; or at least Sandy was.

When Seth got home from school, he and Ryan decided to go swimming. Since Ryan didn't have any swimming trunks, he had to borrow a pair of Seths'.

Kirsten headed outside to supervise the boys. She carried some paperwork and a mug of coffee to occupy herself. She settled herself down at the patio table and surveyed what the boys were doing. Ryan had not gotten into the water yet and was still wearing his t-shirt. Seth had already done a cannon ball into the pool which would explain why Kirsten had to dry off the table before she could place her work down.

"Ryan why don't you tske off your shirt? You will swim more freely," called Kirsten. Ryan looked around uncomfortably then began to hesitantly approach the table at which Kirsten sat.

Ryan slowly removed his shirt. Kirsten gasped inaudibly when his shirt was completely removed. A nasty looking bruise circled around his left bicep; it looked suspiciously like a hand print though not very distinct. Kirsten slowly reached forward and gently took hold of his arm.

"That bruise looks pretty painful," said Kirsten in the hopes of getting the truth behind the injury.

"Ya, roughhousing," said Ryan as a way of explanation.

"Would you like me to put a lotion on it, it will help it feel better," offered Kirsten while letting go of his arm.

"No thanks, it's fine," said Ryan.

As Ryan walked back to the pool, he looked over to the house below the Cohens'. It was less exquisite but still better looking then any house he had ever seen before. As he looked, a girl who appeared to be about his age stepped out onto the front step. Pausing mid-step, he watched her progress from the front door down to the end of the driveway where a boy on a blue bicycle was waiting. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Her brown hair blew in the wind as she smiled at the boy at the end of the driveway. Ryan suddenly wished he could make her smile like that at him. He was so busy watching the girl he never noticed Seth walking up behind him.

"That's Marissa," explained Seth casually," she's pretty isn't she?" Ryan looked over at Seth slightly startled.

"Ya," responded Ryan as he turned his attention back to the girl who was now climbing onto the back seat of the boys bicycle.

"That's Luke, he's an ass," said Seth.

"Seth! Language!" exclaimed Kirsten sternly. Seth bowed his head in shame.

"Well, he is," defended Seth as he moved back toward the pool. Ryan watched Luke and Marissa ride off down the street before he turned his attention back to the pool. Climbing in, he waded over to where Seth was. Suddenly an all out splash war began and they were off.

"Boys! Time for supper," shouted Kirsten from the patio door after another hour of splashing. Seth gave a drowned okay as Ryan shoved his head underwater.

Fifteen minutes later, Seth and Ryan were walking down the hallway towards the kitchen.

"Entering the kitchen, they found Kirsten dishing out Chinese food for supper. As she was turning around to place more dumplings in a bowl, she nearly bumped into Ryan who was making his way to the cutlery drawer.

"Oh Ryan, I'm sorry," said Kirsten as she held her hand to her chest," did you have a good swim?"

"Ya, it was uh great," replied Ryan. Looking around for some further way to help, his eyes landed on a sort of mini-home that was sitting on the end of the counter. "What's that?" asked Ryan curiously while pointing to the object he had spied.

"That's a model home," answered Kirsten as she wiped off her hands on a towel.

"Are you an architect?" asked Ryan with sudden child-like wonder; he had always secretly wanted to be an architect.

"Well, not exactly," responded Kirsten as she chose her words carefully," I sort of hire the architects and the contractors who build the houses...the big ones. It's really quite hard to explain."

"Oh mom, you're not trying to explain your job again are you?" whined Seth playfully while he took his seat at the table. Sandy then entered and took his seat at the table.

"Seth fell asleep when I tried to explain it to him," whispered Kirsten conspiratorially to Ryan with a smirk.

"Could you biuld me one? Well, a real one?" asked Ryan jokingly," sorry bad joke." Ryan went to his seat at the table with Kirsten quickly following suit.

"So, the last supper huh?" joked Sandy," sorry, bad joke."

"It's just a laugh riot around here," murmured Kirsten incredulously as she started dishing out the food among her family.

Later that night, when everyone was in bed and hopefully asleep, Ryan crept out of the guest bedroom with his backpack slung over his shoulder. He had taken one step toward the staircase when a curly head suddenly filled his vision.

"Where are you going?" asked Seth quietly," I was hoping we could get in a quick game of Nintendo."

"I can't, I'm leaving," whispered Ryan back. He began moving again, but Seth proved insistent and followed him to the staircase. "Where do you think you're going?" asked Ryan conveying his annoyance easily through his looks.

"I 'm going with you," answered Seth shortly.

"No, you're not," responded Ryan just as shortly. "Shouldn't you be in bed by the way?"

"What do you plan to do? Where do you plan to go?" asked Seth ignoring Ryans question.

"I don't know, I'll figure it out," replied Ryan as he continued his trek down the stairs. "Now unless you have a plan..."

"Actually, I do," said Seth stopping mid-step.

Ryan was waiting at the end of the driveway for Seth when he heard a sound from the driveway over. Suddenly, the girl from next door Marissa popped into view.

"Don't these kids go to bed," grumbled Ryan to himself. It was at that moment that Marissa looked his way.

"Who are you?" asked Marissa trying to hide her surprise.

"Whoever you want me to be," replied Ryan using some old pick-up line he had heard his brother use many times over.

"Right," giggled Marissa, "I'm Marissa."

"Ryan."

"Nice to meet you."

"Sure. You too."

"Ryan!" came a fervent whisper from the bushes behind the two. Ryan spun around. Seth came creeping out of the bush with a black turtle neck on and a black bag placed on his shoulder. Ryan eyed the outfit with a rasied eyebrow. Seth noticed Marissa behind Ryan and quickly straightened up. "Hey... Marissa," he greeted casually.

"Hey," she greeted back with slight hostility in her voice. "What are you guys doing?"

"Did you tell her," asked Seth urgently to Ryan who was stood close to Marissa.

"No!" denied Ryan shaking his head.

"What are you guys up to?" asked Marissa, her curiousity peaked by the conversation before her.

"Nothing," replied Ryan. Turning away from the brunette beauty, he motioned for Seth to follow him although he had no clue as to where they were really heading. "See ya."

"Wait!" called Marissa running up to them. "Can I come?"

"What?! Why?" asked Seth incredulously. Marissa had never even said hi to him before even though his mother and her father had nearly gotten married, her sudden interest was confusing to say the least.

"I don't know, something to do," said Marissa hesitantly. She didn't really want to hang out with Seth, but she would manage if it meant she could get to know Ryan better. He was just so cute.

"I don't see why not," said Ryan looking to Seth for some answers. Seth merely shrugged glumly and waved Marissa over.

"Come on," he grumbled.

"Okay, where are we going anyway?"asked Marissa once they were past the gates and on their way to some destination.

"Ya, where are we going Seth?" questioned Ryan. He was dying of curiousity and really needed to get his plan in order.

"You'll see," responded Seth hoping onto his skateboard. Ryan hopped onto the bike Seth letting him borrow with Marissa climbing onto the metal bars on the rear wheel.

Together they took off with Seth in the lead to God only knows where.