Chapter eight: The last stand
Ryan had spent the better part of a week in the pool house, only coming out for the occasional coffee, or bagel. Seth, and Kirsten had put their problems aside for a while, at least until Ryan went back to the way he was. Seth, and Summer tried to talk to him occasionally, which only resulted in grumbles, and nods, or nothing at all. None of them had ever seen him like that before. Ryan was strong, Ryan was a fighter, Ryan was a survivor...but all that had faded away.
Marissa stayed in Hawaii after Ryan left. She always thought that the whole Ryan- Theresa thing was over...maybe it was...maybe she was wrong. He never lied to her before, why would he lie know, she thought to herself. The memories, and thoughts gave her a headache, which she tried to drown out with heavy doses of vodka. Her drinking had gotten much, much worse lately. She tried to convince herself that it wasn't that bad, but she was, as always, lying to herself. She hadn't slept a full night ever since she left...she looked like hell. She felt worse.
Sethwas a wreck as well. In the midst of all Ryan's problems, he felt his relationships with his mother, and maybe even his wife, were crumbling down, and holding on by a thread. "If only Dad were here" Seth said on many occasions. He doubted himself constantly, as a father, son, and husband, and he could feel everything he had worked for slipping away. "If only Sandy were here".
Kirsten was the only person who had tried to stay out of the way of the slow car crash that her two sons lives had become. She felt horrible about everything, and took blame upon herself to try to justify the pain Seth, and Ryan were feeling. The one thing she felt worst about was Ryan's problems. She was able to trace his problems back to his first day in Newport. Maybe if she had turned him away from their home, he would have never met Marissa, which would make his pain non-existent. "How stupid" She thought to herself. She knew Ryan loved living with them, and wouldn't push the blame on anyone but himself.
Ryan made one of his daily appearances in the kitchen, which gave Kirsten time to talk to him, something she should have done from the beginning. "Ryan...can I talk to you for a little bit...I feel like we should try to work things out." Kirsten said while pouring Ryan a fresh cup of orange juice.
"Nothing to talk about...she told me it was over...so it's over" Ryan said before sipping his juice. He looked just as bad, if not worse than Marissa. He had clearly not shaved in days, leaving a dark stubble all around his face. His hair was disheveled, and he black bags under his eyes. Kirsten was heartbroken after seeing her handsome boy so changed.
"Maybe you should give her a call. She's calmed down by now, maybe you could try to smooth some things over with her. I know you two love each other, and let me tell you...love is worth fighting for." Kirsten said putting her hand on Ryan's shoulder.
"She was right...No matter how hard I fight for her, something will always come between us...Maybe this isn't supposed to work." Ryan said in the dulcet tones of a broken heart.
"Are you kidding? I've seen you two together. You just have one of those "When it's good, it's great, when it's bad, it's worse" relationships. The question you have to ask yourself is this: Is going through the bad times worth it to get to the good times?" Kirsten said while trying to convince him to give her one more chance.
"Ten years ago...I would have said yes without a second's hesitation...but after ten years of being separated, and a month of absolute hell...I just don't know anymore...Thanks for the juice." Ryan said in a dead, flat tone. He walked back in the pool house, and shut the blinds.
Jimmy Cooper tried valiantly to get his daughter to stop drinking. He had seen her be self destructive before, but nothing matched the chaotic pace of her drinking. Jimmy was forced to make a call he hoped he would never have to make. "Hey….Jules….I know it's been a long time, but I think you should get over here. Our daughter needs help. I think it will do her some good to see you….hell, I think it would do me some good to see you again. Hope to see you soon Julie."
Seth had found solace in something he had put aside for a while, writing "Atomic County". The events of the last month had wore him down to the point that he thought he might never write again. Summer, and Sarah were the only things keeping him going, but with the shaky relationship they had at the moment, things felt like they were going to get worse. The events that had worn him down to his last nerve were the basis for the novel he titled "The last stand" It said everything he could never say, do everything he could never do, and ended in tragedy. He somehow knew it would be the last story he would write until he got his life back together. Something he wasn't sure he could do.
Summer and Sarah sat in Seth's old room reading a story when a weary Seth walked into the room.
"Sarah, why don't you go see grandma, she'll finish your story" Summer said while rubbing the little girl's back. She ran out of the room, leaving Seth and Summer alone for the first time in days. "Hey Seth….wanna talk?"
"Not really….I just need some rest." Seth said while pushing curly locks of hair from his eyes.
"I think we need to talk….I know everything has been really strained lately, but I want to know where we stand." Summer said while making room for Seth to sit down on the bed.
"I…I don't know Summ…I don't want to talk right now. It's been a long week…Hell, it's been a long month, I just need time."
"How much time? I want you to promise me we're going to get through this."
"We will…I promise….It's just tough right now. With My mom, and us, now Ryan….it's just piling up on us…and it's just a lot of weight on my shoulders….both our shoulders."
"Hey, with our history, we have had more weight on our shoulders than anyone will ever know…but we've been strong…and we just need to hold on for a little bit." Summer said while putting her hand on his back.
"Maybe you should be the one making the promises….I love you, and we're gonna get through this…" Seth said before kissing Summer.
Ryan was in the poolhouse as usual when his phone rang, which it hadn't in days.
"Hello….Hey Trey……Not to good man…you?…Good, Good….Yeah, I've been thinking about it a lot lately….Really?…Yeah…I'm actually thinking about coming back anyways…Yeah, for good….Yeah, well talk to you later bro…bye."
Ryan put the phone down with new thoughts in his mind, and he knew what he had to do.
Kirsten, Seth, Summer, and Sarah were in the kitchen when Ryan walked out with his black hoodie, and his green duffle bag. Everyone in the room stared in a questioning look.
"Where are you going bro?" Seth said before taking a drink of his soda.
"I'm going home….back to Chino." Ryan said while laying his bag on the ground.
"What? Why?" Kirsten said in shock, while nearly dropping her glass.
"My mom is getting out of prison next week….and I need to get out of Newport. Everything here just reminds me of Marissa, who I need to let go."
"You're coming back right?" Seth said sadly.
"I don't know….I don't think so. I need to get my life back. Living here with you guys has been the best thing that has ever happened to me…but I need to figure out my next step…and I need to be with my family right now."
"Ryan, we are your family! If you don't know that by now, you're crazy." Kirsten said in an almost angry tone.
"I know you guys are, but My mom is different now. Just knowing she stood up to A.J, and taking responsibility for Trey again shows me that. I love you guys to death, and I'll always be around, I just need to go away for a little." Ryan said in the most comforting tone he could muster up at the time.
"If this is what you want…I guess we can't stop you." Kirsten said in the same semi-angry tone.
"Kirsten….You are more of a mother to me than my mom will ever be…but maybe that's because I never gave her the chance. I'll always see you as a mother…but I need to be with my mom right now, just so she knows I forgive her for everything." Ryan said before hugging Kirsten tightly. Kirsten gripped Ryan tightly and didn't want to let him go. He hugged Summer, and then Seth, and walked out of the house.
A cab showed up a few minutes later, and he waved goodbye to the only family he had in the last ten years. Kirsten waved between sniffs, and Seth waved as well. After the cab pulled away, Kirsten broke down, and cried on Seth's shoulder. One boy left to find his family., but in the action, may have left another family in ruins.