Family Drama

Author's Note: Man, those reviews you guys sent were amazing! I could not believe the feedback I was receiving from everyone. Well, I hope you enjoy this next chapter that you are about to read. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything that has to do with The OC.

Chapter Four

The Cohen's and singular Atwood, had just marched through the first holiday of the year and were preparing to head back to school and work. Ryan was just finishing packing his school bag with the homework he had completed over the break while Seth was still stubbornly in bed despite Sandy and Kirsten's protests and prodding in an attempt to wake him up.

Five minutes later, Sandy walked into the kitchen with his shoulders slumped in defeat. Looking up, he saw that the coffee had already been made. Ryan was sat at his usual place by the counter with a bowl of Cap'n Crunch in front of him and the Sports section of the newspaper shielding his face from view.

"Thank God you're not like Seth," moaned Sandy as he retrieved a mug from the cupboard and proceeded to pour the black liquid into it. Ryan looked over the top of the paper at Sandy in confusion. Just then, you could hear Kirsten yelling at Seth to get up or he'd never see the inside of a comic again. Realization dawning on his face, Ryan poked his head behind the paper once more with a smirk.

"He is your son!" said Kirsten forcefully while stomping angrily into the kitchen. Her high heels clicked and clacked as she made her way over to the family's only salvation; coffee.

"How come he is my son only when he is being difficult?" asked Sandy in protest. "Don't answer that," he surrendered upon receiving a look from Kirsten that could rival one of Ryan's glares.

Ten minutes later, Seth slumped into the kitchen with his eyes barely open. Moving immediately to the coffee machine, he filled his mug and took a generous swallow.

"Good morning to you all," said Seth after he had taken another generous gulp of caffeine. Upon receiving a glare from Kirsten, he looked to Ryan in confusion, who merely shrugged his shoulders.

"I have to get to work," stated Kirsten. Walking out of the kitchen in much the manner she had entered it, she left the three men of the house looking bewildered at her mood.

"What climbed up her butt and died?" asked Seth to the dead silent room.

"No idea," said Sandy leaving the room with a quick farewell. Seth turned and looked at Ryan who shook his head with his lower lip jutted out.

"Whatever it is, I don't like it," offered Ryan. "Come on, we have to get to school."

Due to his resurfaced asthma, strong scents such as perfume were banned from any school function and during normal school hours much to the chagrin of most of the girls in the school.

That new rule was constantly broken despite Dr. Kim and all of the teachers cracking down on the repeat offenders. If a teacher could so much as smell the faint whiff of perfume or cologne, that person was thereby either sentenced to detention or suspension if they continued to be stubborn.

Ryan walked through the double doors that led into the school with the glares of many following his progress. He understood why they were upset, but he couldn't see why they could be so careless when it came to someones' health. I guess that's Newport for ya, he thought to himself as he made his way to his locker.

By lunch time, Ryan was sick of all of the angry stares. He had been dealing with them for a month now, and it was really getting old. Sitting down next to Seth, he placed his tray of food in front of him and began to pick at the fries.

"What's wrong, man?" asked Seth from around his mouthful of tuna melt.

"I'm sick of everyone blaming me for the bann on perfume and cologne. It's not my fault my asthma decided to resurface," answered Ryan sullenly. Picking up a fry, he smeared it in ketchup and shoved it into his mouth angrily.

"Well, it's not easy for these pod people to give up their natural scent like that," continued Seth with a snap of his fingers to prove his point. Ryan snorted in response and continued to eat his meal.

After lunch, Ryan went on to his afternoon history class. Walking into the class, he took his seat at the back of the class and proceeded to take out his notebook and a pen.

Sitting upright, his nose immediately prickled. Attempting to breathe in the scent without his asthma kicking in, Ryan tried to see what it was and where it was coming from. It was definitely perfume, but where was it coming from? Looking toward the front of the class, it all became clear.

The person who was battling the bann more openly and harder than any other student was Heather Knowles. She had been in detention for what seemed the entire month and suspension was a very real possibilty for her in the near future despite who her parents were.

Getting out of his seat, Ryan approached the teachers desk.

"Sir, I think I need to leave the classroom," said Ryan once he was standing in front of Mr. Schmidt.

"Why?" asked Mr. Schmidt.

"Somebody is wearing perfume," said Ryan, " and I don't want to risk having an attack."

"Oh, I'm sure you'll be alright," said Mr Schmidt waving Ryan back to his seat. Without arguing, Ryan turned and walked back to his desk.

He couldn't have chosen a worse route though, seeing as he walked right by Heather's desk. Continuing on, he felt his throat begin to tighten. Practically running back to his desk, Ryan grabbed his inhaler from the front pocket of his bag and began to move back toward the front of the room. Walking right past Mr. Schmidt, Ryan walked out into the hall.

"Where do you think you are going!" thundered Mr. Schmidt. He had followed Ryan outside leaving strick instructions to the rest of the students to read pages 145- 160 in the text. Upon seeing Ryan leaning against the wall however, with his eyes tightly closed, his anger quickly left him. "Oh no."

Ryan didn't hear Mr. Schmidt talking to him, and he didn't hear the other students leaning outside their classroom doors in the hopes of seeing what the commotion was all about. All he knew was that he needed to somehow bring his inhaler to his mouth before he passed out.

Wheezing greatly, his hand slowly moved upwards. Feeling the plastic mouth piece on his lips, he laboured to breathe in the medication. Wheezing some more, he gave another great puff of the medication into his mouth.

Suddenly, he could hear all of the whispers. Could see all of the faces peering at him. Feeling embarassed over this weakness, Ryan turned around so all he could see was the brick wall that made the school's halls. Taking great shuddering breaths, he attempted to control his breathing.

"I'm sorry Ryan, I didn't know it was this serious," came Mr. Schmidt's voice from within the foggy fray.

"Next time will you believe me?" rasped Ryan raggedly.

"Yo Ryan, what happened?" Suddenly Seth was right there beside him, supporting him against the wall.

"Attack," responded Ryan shortly.

"At school? That's rough man," said Seth.

"Tell me about it," said Ryan. Taking a deep breath, he turned around. There was a semi-circle of people surrounding him; their faces gawking at his situation. Feeling his face burning with further embarassment, Ryan pushed through the whispering crowd to the nearest bathroom.

Thankfully, no one was in any of the stalls, so he had plenty of privacy to get his act together. Splashing water on his face, Ryan leaned on the sink and stared at his dripping reflection in the mirror.

"Why do you have to be so weak?" he whispered to himself. Berating himself for not being able to control this asthma, his breaths began to get shorter once again. "Oh no, not again," he moaned Sliding down the wall, he leaned against the cool brick and began to take as deep a breath as he could to try to prevent another attack. Within five minutes, his breathing was back to normal without the aid of the dreaded inhaler; the symbol of his weakness.

Wow, maybe I can get over this, he thought to himself. Pushing himself up, he silently thanked Seth for knowing he needed time to himself and whatever teachers kept the students out of his face.

Walking out into the hallway, he was pleased to see that nobody was around until he saw Kirsten round the farthest corner with Seth silently in tow. Stopping in his tracks, he was horrified to see Dr. Kim following behind Seth. Kirsten nearly ran down the rest of the hall when she saw him standing there.

"What are you doing here?" asked Ryan in confusion when Kirsten was standing right in front of him.

"Dr. Kim called me when you had your attack. Are you alright?" asked Kirsten holding him at arms length to inspect him for herself.

"I'm fine," responded Ryan embarassed her fussing.

"I tried to tell her that, but she wouldn't listen to me," cut in Seth.

"I had to see for myself," said Kirsten defending herself. "By the way, shouldn't you be in class?" Giving Kirsten his attempt at a glare, Seth continued on down the stone hallway.

"Really, you didn't have to come down here," said Ryan.

"Oh nonsense," fussed Kirsten. "So you're really alright? I can leave now?"

"Yes."

"By the way Dr. Kim, I understand this Heather Knowles has made no attempt to follow these new banns on perfume and cologne and that Mr. Schmidt didn't believe Ryan when he warned him, let's discuss this while I'm here," said Kirsten as her and Dr. Kim walked down the way they had come. Shaking his head in embarassment, Ryan made his way back to Mr. Schmidt's classroom.

Walking in, he attempted to avoid the curious and Godly looks most of the students were giving him. Taking his seat, he slid down until he could just barely see the chalkboard.

"Sit up straight please Mr. Atwood," said Mr. Schmidt before he continued teaching. Sitting up straight, Ryan felt his ears burning. Why did this have to happen here of all places, asked Ryan to himself. God, I hate asthma.