Chapter eight: New arrival/family business

Ryan woke up the next morning on the couch. He stretched, yawned, then jumped up and ate a bagel. He made a bagel for everyone else in the house, then sat down and read more of Kavalier and Klay. He heard the door open, then stood up and saw Marissa. "Hey" he said smiling at her

"Hey" she replied with a sweet smile. "how'd you sleep?"

"Ok, I'm used to sleeping on couches... most people from Chino are." he said playfully. "How's the poolhouse bed?"

"Fine" she replied biting a hunk out of her bagel. " Sorry about last night, it was kinda intense. I was just really stressed out with everything."

"It's fine...I know how it feels to be blown off by a parent" He said in a comforting tone, but Marissa looked at him sadly. She had forgotten how terrible his life had been. She walked over to him, and put her hand on his shoulder. They both lean close, and are about to kiss when someone knocks on the door.

"Is it just me, or does this always happen to us?" He asked her with a smile. He then quickly ran to the door and opened it. He was shocked by who he saw.

"Little brother, long time no see!" said the man at the door

"Trey, oh my god" Ryan replied with a smile as he hugged his brother. Ryan then noticed the woman walking up to Trey.

"Who's she man?" Ryan said nodding in the direction of the woman

"That's Ashley, my wife." Trey said with a proud smile

"Trey you're married? You didn't invite me to the wedding man." Ryan said with a dissapointed look on his face.

"I didn't know how to reach you. You never called, or visited, you just kinda took off."

"Sorry Trey...Hello Ashley"

"Hello Ryan, Trey talks about you all the time" The attractive woman said to him.

"Well, please come in! I'm not sure how many rooms we have left, but we can fit you in somewhere... maybe the guestroom is open. I'll wait until Kirsten wakes up to get things situated, but you guys are welcome to stay." Ryan said.

"Thanks Ry...hey Marissa, how are you?"

"I'm fine Trey...you?"

"Great."

Seth soon walked down the steps rubbing his eyes and yawning. He looked around then saw Trey. "God, this house is big, but not a boarding house. he said with a smile. "What's up Trey." Seth said as he shook his hand. After a long akward silence, Seth blurted out " Well, Atwood family reunion huh? Maybe we should give your Mom a call!"

"I would, but she already used her five minutes...Mom's in jail. Assault actually, A.J came back, and tried to hit her, but she fought back, and broke 4 bones in his face...the police didn't have enough proof to convict him, so she's in prison..."

A cold silence filled the room, Ryan tried to fight back tears. He wasn't sure if they were tears of sadness, or anger. He wiped away the few tears that were able to stray from his eyes, then went and sat down at the dinner table across the room. Seth's face was filled with worry.

"Hey, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come here and make things worse. I know how bad things are." Trey said with what seemed to be actual compassion, something Seth, nor Marissa had ever heard from him before.

"It's ok, Ryan just needs some time...these last few days have been really tough on everyone" Marissa said trying to comfort Trey.

"Come on, I'll get you guys set up in the guest room" Seth said eager to get out of the akward anger, and sadness in the room. He took Ashley's bag then lead them to the other room.

"Hey, you ok?" She asked as she walked over to him. He just sat there, no real tears fell, but he often sniffled to fight back ones that were coming.

"Yeah great. It's official, every member of the Atwood family has been in prison now...I should be getting the congratulatory plaque any day now huh?" He said sarcastically in anger. The tone in his voice shocked her. His tone was not directed at her, but he had to get it out of his system. " Sorry, I didn't mean to take it out on you...this is my problem, not yours" he said sincerely.

"I understand. It's tough, I know." She said while pushing some of the dark blonde hair from his eyes. She smiled for him, she knew it wouldn't help, but she still cared for him very much, and wanted to ease his pain. "Sandy, now your mom. I know you feel like everything is falling apart, but I'm here for you Ryan, so is kirsten, and Seth, and summer. We just all need to be strong for each other right now" She said in a sweet, quiet tone.

"Yeah...Thanks Marissa" He kissed her cheek, then turned around when Trey came out of the guest room.

" Can I please talk to Ryan for a little bit?" Trey said politely to Marissa

"Of course" she replied. Before getting up, she held Ryan's hand for a moment, and gave him a smile. Trey walked over and sat in the seat across from Ryan.

"So, you and Marissa? Are you guys?..." He didn't finish the sentence because Ryan shot him an angry glance. "What man?"

"Trey that's not the least bit important right now. My biological father is in jail, Sandy is dead. My biological mother is also in jail, Kirsten is a wreck. Our parents are instituinilized, and the Cohens are falling apart, and you wana ask me about my love life?" Ryan asked him in a slur of harsh words,

"I asked because I know she's important to you man...God! I know you don't take bad news well, so I was trying to change the subject" Trey said trying desperately to explain himself.

"Don't Trey, these people are important to me! Sandy and Kirsten were more like parents to me than my own parents! Now our parents are both gone, and so is Sandy, and I can't expect Kirsten to be a guiding light through this, I need to take care of her now." Ryan said. At first his tone was angry, but it later changed to sadness.

" Sorry man, I forgot how close you were to the Cohens...I know this is tough for you man. I'll try not to be such a prick anymore" Trey said with a sincere apologetic tone.

"It's alright man... you just need to think before you talk. God, you're 31 and still have the same dumbass problems you did ten years ago" Ryan said playfully. Trey hit Ryan's arm playfully, then Trey walks into the guestroom. Ryan just sat at the table. His life was piecing together slowly...but the foundation he was standing on was fragile at best.