Jail, as Ryan would put it, sucked ass. The walls were cringingly discolored, water stains slithering down from the ceiling to the stone floor. It was cold as hell, the toilet was putridly stenching up the room, cochroaches manifesting themselves through every crevice.
However, none of these things seemed to matter to Ryan. Seth was gone. He was dead, and it was his fault. He hadn't been careful enough, just like it was his fault that Marrisa had O.D.'d, because he wasn't careful in how he had let her know about who he really loved.
Love? He didn't even get to tell Seth that he loved him. Ryan looked to his hands, which had been stained only hours ago. his shirt was still dark, more of a brown from the dry blood.
He sat, lost in his world on the small, hard cell bench, when he heard the sound of keys. The cell had slid open, and Ryan heard the echoing sound of footsteps. He hadn't paid any attention though. He continued to stare at the placid ground.
He then felt a warm hand on his left cheek, and looked up. It was Kirsten's hand. She had been crying, probably for hours, and her eyes her bloodshot.
"Hello Kiddo." Sandy said. They had paid his bail, and had come to take him home. Home, of course, was only going to be hell for the lot of them, but that was the last thing on their mind at the moment.
The ride home wasn't the most comfortable moment in time either. Sandy was quiet, Kirsten seemed lost, and Ryan would seem externally distant, but he was a racing mess inside. The same phrase had crossed his mind since it all happened; He's gone. He walked the mile, and now he walked alone. For once, there was something he couldn't handle.
He cried to himself in the backseat of the vehicle, but he didn't think Sandy and Kirsten had seen. He really could care less if they had.
"Well," Sandy began "The situation was explained to the police, they've talked to Caleb and returned the money. The good news is, he's not going to press charges on Ryan for assualt, attempted murder, breaking and entering, and theft."
Both Kirsten and Ryan looked at him in disbelief. "Really? Is that good news? Well I guess the whole fucking world can relax now, can't it?" Kirsten snapped. Ryan would have been surprised to hear Kirsten say 'fuck', but he was too tired to care.
Of course, this enslued a series of arguements over the next few days...
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3: 27 a.m. Ryan couldn't possibly be expected to sleep at this time of night, especially after what happened. Seth had never slept down in the poolhouse with Ryan, Kirsten and Sandy prevented that possibility when they told the two they were together.
But, now, without Seth, it all seemed so much...colder. He could remember the few times when he held Seth close to him. There was no social-cast system, no worries about school, jobs, the future, just them. The two of them.
Ryan decided sleep was useless, so he stood up and headed outside. The night air was cold, and unwelcoming, as he made his way across the damp lawn.
The house was no better, dark and quiet. He walked into the livingroom, where Sandy slept on the couch, and through the kitchen, where a few empty bottle of wine (Kirsten's mess) and the Hrad liquor bottles, i.e. Jack Daniels, Vodka, etc. (Sandy's wake).
Ryan's feet found what they where looking for, as he silently crossed into Seth's room. His computer, comicbooks lacing the floor, and the messy bed.
He crossed over to Seth's desk, and flipped the lamp switch. The dim light bathed the insignificant items in a small veil of light. He smiled to himself, in contrast to feeling dead, and reminisced over the room.
And on the desk, by the computer, was an envelope, adressed to one Ry. Ryan refrianed, as he debated picking the letter up. His arm, however, got tired of waiting for him to decide, and picked the paper up.
Sitting upon Seth's bed, he ripped the envelope open, and pulled out a piece of folded lined paper. He unfolded it, and saw Seth's handwritting. And so, the last words of his lover had read,
Ry,
I know we were supposed to discuss on our future, and never got around to it. Also, we also agreed not to talk about it today, and ruin our two year anniversary. However, you don't get to get out of it that easily. I'm too stubborn to let it go, you know this.
You told me that we probably wouldn't last with a long-distance relationship. I mean, we'd really only have the weekends and holidays, and then one night you'll get waisted, and sleep with some girl. I'll find the thong, I'll call you a whore, you'll call me a cock-tease, and we'll break up.
Sure, I know you stole that from Not Another Teen Movie, and it was meant to be a joke, but it did cross my mind. So, I have a proposal.
In the envelope, you'll see a ring. That's my gift. The big surprise I told you about. Whenever you feel alone when I'm not there, just remember: I love you. I love you, and nobody else. That's why, it you'll notice on my left hand, I'll be wearing the matching ring when you're reading this.
Well, I'm gonna stop now before I really start to sound like a girl.
Happy anniversary,
Seth
Ryan opened the ripped envelope, and saw the small ring. It was gold, with a design leading inward, where inside the ring, it read NEVER TAKE THIS OFF - SETH. Ryan smiled. So this was Seth's great surprise? A ring?
Ryan, never being the type to where rings, or jewelry, slid it onto his left ring finger. It fit perfectly. The glinted in the lamp-light, and he felt his eyes water again. The though was getting redundant, but Seth was gone.
"Couldn't keep yourself away either?" he heard her say in the doorway. Kirsten entered the room, and walked up to him. They stood in silence, both looking at each other.
She then brought her hand up to his eye, and wiped at a falling tear that he hadn't even noticed.
"It's hard to believe that he's gone, I know..." she said. She then, without warning, put her arms around him and held him. He knew she was trying to comfort him, but he really didn't feel like being held at the moment.
She pulled away, and looked into his face a little more, making him feel a little uncomfortable. "C'mon downstairs, and I'll fix you something to eat." she said.
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The hospitol was a little too bright for Ryan's taste. The nurses smiled as he walked by, the smell of rubber gloves, and medicine. It was his least favorite place to be, but he was here for someone, and he had promised himself that he would come.
He came across the room he had been looking for, 302, and entered. inside, the room was bright, and it smelled like a cafiteria. And there, in the middle of the room, she lied. The television on, potato chips in her lap, and the cheeriest smile on her face.
"Hey Chino." she said, turning off the T.V. He nodded, smiled, and sat down in the chair next to the bed. "How's life in this place?" he asked her.
"Craptastic. The food sucks, they never bring good news, and no one ever comes to visit you." she said. He laughed to himself, but the smile soon faded and they were back where they started.
"So, judging from the large rings under your eyes, and that terrible baggage, I suppose you haven't gotten much sleep?" she said. He avoided eye contact, and thought about the best way to tell her the news.
"What's wrong?" she asked, laying a hand on her shoulder. He only looked up to her, and told her as straight forward as he could.
"I didn't make it in time." he replied. She looked confused for a moment, and then relization dawned upon her brow. It was at this moment that Ryan's face met Summer's fist for the first time.
"AAH!" She heard him yell. He had fallen off of his chair and was dazed on the floor, holding his nose.
"What was that for?" he said. She gave him the deadliest glare she could.
"I crushed my hip for you to screw up? I ruptured my PANCREAS, I and I don't even know what it is!" she screamed. He looked up to her, and admired how strong her right hook was, as he climbed back into his chair.
"I didn't know it would end like that..." he tried to explain, flenching in case she was ready to strike him down again.
"I know...It wasn't anyone's fault..." she told him. She was taking the news much better than anyone else. But she was wrong in one sense. It was someone's fault, and they were to blame. The only problem was, he needed a name and a face to put together.
"I know how you felt about him, Chino. If it's any dondolence, he loved you more than anyone he'd ever been with...I even went with him to get your ring, which I can see you're enjoying." she luaghed.
He held up his hand, and slightly smirked. She then gasped. "Is that a smile growing on your face?" she mocked. Ryan only shook his head, and stood up.
"Well, I gotta go." he said. She seemed to dampen in spirit, but he took her chin in his palm, and lifted it. "I promise I'll come back soon, alright?"
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"The young man is back. Do you want to see him?" the intercom said. Caleb leaned back in his chair, and sighed. "Send him in." he said.
The door opened, and in walked that boy. He presented himself a little better this time, seeming less distressed, and obviously dressed descently.
Ryan was, though he shouldn't have been, surprised that Caleb now had two very large burly guards outside of his door to make sure that Ryan wasn't armed.
"Come to apologize?" Caleb asked, in the same smug air that he held high to everyone. Ryan, truth be told, was sick of it, but that wasn't why he was here. "No." he replied.
"Actually, I'm here because you owe me..." Ryan said. Caleb lifted a single brow, amused at the boy's gall.
"I owe you?"
"I want all the information you know on the cunts who did this to me, and the dick responsible."
A/N: Well, this chapter wasn't an action one, if that dissapointed you, just setting up to the next. As for those of you who have e-mailed me, I'll get to the whole beginning of 1st chapter later - all will be explained. And thnx to those who reviewed.