Kiss This Thing Goodbye
Disclaimer – I own nothing to do with The O.C, they belong to Josh and the people at Fox!
A/N; Here is chapter seven – can't believe I've written this many already! This is Ryan and Seth's first day of school, they are still living in Berkeley but this will be the last next chapter they move to Newport (in keeping with the show.)
A note to anyone who laughs at the uniforms I force the boys to wear – it comes from personal experience. I spent seven years in the horrid uniform described followed by another six in a similar outfit (only difference was blue and red instead of grey and green). All you Americans who don't wear uniforms count yourselves very lucky! I will be spending thousands of pounds on therapy for what I was put through – lol!
Congratulations; Izzy worked out what the album was! I was sure that no one would work it out it's a rather obscure reference but congrats for having great taste in music. For all those who want to know they are a great Scottish band called Del Amitri and all the chapter titles come from their greatest hits album; Hatful of Rain.
Enjoy and please review!
Kirsten had spent the entire night pressing the boy's uniforms; today they started at Springbank Elementary.
The school have a strict dress code which every student has to wear; black shoes, grey shorts or trousers, green shirt, school tie and a grey blazer with green binding. The uniform had been the bain of Kirsten's existence having to buy one item at a time and build up the whole ensemble – the boys being on their very worst behaviour every time they entered the store.
Sandy hadn't helped at all in fact he had been against the school in the first place saying uniforms 'compressed individuality'. When he had actually seen the uniforms he had burst into fits of laughter, much to the boy's disgust who were not impressed at having to wear such horrid outfits. They had never had to wear a uniform to pre-school; Seth was particularly unimpressed with the colour scheme wondering if he could jazz it up a little with odd socks.
Out of all the Cohen clan Kirsten was the only one excited about the boys first day of school although Sandy new that when the time came to say goodbye she would be a mess. The boys had complained all night long, listing reasons why they didn't want to go to Springbank. They had been on visits a few days before so that they could get use to their surroundings and when they started they would only attend half days forthe first week.
Last night had been relatively calm in the Cohen house; the boys were both rather nervous although they wouldn't admit it. In a change to their nightly routine the boys had packed their school bags for the first time before going for a bath and then off to bed.
Sandy had caught Kirsten in the corridor outside the boy's room, watching them sleep tears running silently down her face. Their boys were growing up so fast it was hard for them to grasp that they weren't their little babies anymore. They had stood for a while longer before Sandy had managed to coax Kirsten off to bed knowing they would all need a good nights sleep.
Waking up this morning Sandy felt butterflies in the pit of his stomach, it had been a long time since he had been nervous – it was strange to think that it wasn't because of some first degree murder trial but because his children were starting school.
Entering the boys room he took in the sight before him, both boys were laying on their stomachs facing toward the other. Seth was snoring and grunting in his sleep while Ryan lay huddled beneath his covers as if he were sleeping in a freezer.
Crossing the room Sandy perched on the edge of Seth's bed knowing he would be the difficult one to wake up, "Hey guys, time to get up. Big day rise and shine."
Ryan being the light sleeper opened his eyes blearily looking at his father while Seth grunted and rolled over. "Sorry little guy you have to get up, come on Ry you go to the bathroom first."
Sandy jiggled Seth's bed several times to ensure he was wide awake, then stood and took Ryan's small hand leading him down the hall to he bathroom. Joined five minutes later by a pouting Seth, Sandy made sure the boys scrubbed their hands and faces knowing Kirsten would have a meltdown if there was one molecule of dirt left on them.
Taking the boys downstairs, Kirsten flew around the kitchen hectic she already had the boys cereal poured ready to be eaten and the toast was burning nicely. They had decided last night it was wiser to give the boys breakfast before getting them dressed sensing that some spillage would go on if the boys were given the opportunity.
Deciding to play man to man defence Sandy took Seth will Kirsten commandeered Ryan; they prepared themselves for the battle ahead. The boy's uniforms were hung up ready to go on; the first part was easy socks and trousers although Seth did try to put on his batman tool belt. Next came the starched shirts, which were more of a problem as the boys kept wiggling and pulling at the stiff collars and cuffs. The ties were a challenge for the parents as they couldn't fathom how to tie them on the boys Sandy had problems tying his own never mind doing it in reverse on a five year old.
They would leave the itchy woollen blazers off until they reached the school gates, keeping the boys in them the whole ride over would be pushing it too far. The boys did however have to stand on the front steps with them on while Kirsten took pictures to be sent to their grandparents it took a lot of encouragement before Kirsten could get a picture of both boys smiling.
Bundling them into the car, Kirsten sat looking out the passenger window trying to keep a firm grip on her tears. Drawing up outside the school Kirsten could see a swarm of mothers doing the same as she, gripping their children's hands firmly guiding them trough the crowds of older children.
"Right guys here we go." Sandy unbuckled himself and turned to the back seat helping Ryan out of the car. Kirsten and Sandy joined hands with the boys on the outside of them, leading them down the gravel path they went into the classroom through the specially opened fire doors.
The classroom was small but well decorated, coloured sugar paper lined the walls ready for the children's work to adorn it. The tables were arranged neatly into four groups each had five or six seats around them a large tray sat in the centre containing pens, pencils, rulers, rubbers - all the essentials. The table had the names of the pupils stuck to the top and a picture was placed beside it which related to their peg for coats and gym bags.
The parents had lined up along one side of the room anxiously waiting for the teacher to begin proceedings. Kirsten recognised a couple of the other mothers from the nursery but more were strange unfamiliar faces. The teacher waited for a short time continually checking outside to look for straggling parents.
At quarter past nine she decided to begin, "Well good morning everyone I'm Mrs. James and I'll be your teacher for the year. I'm just going to take the register as I call out your names I'm going to show you where you're sitting." Pausing she directed the parent's attention to another woman standing by the desk, "Miss. Stuart, our classroom assistant, will take the boys and girls to the cloakroom while I talk to the moms and dads. When you get back you'll have to say goodbye to mom and dad then we're going to get to know everybody."
Sandy didn't know how Mrs. James did it; keeping up those false energy levels all day long would kill him. Plus she had still to face the tantruming children who didn't want their parents to leave he just hoped that Seth or Ryan wasn't one of them.
"Okay here we go then Madeline Ashton red table, Greg Brown green table…" The teacher continued on through the register Sandy wasn't particularly paying attention he knew the boys names would be called soon and he was trying to search them out on the desks.
"Ryan Cohen red table," Looking up she waited for the person to step forward, Ryan gripped his fathers hand tighter and looked at him for guidance.
Kneeling down to his level Sandy handed him his bag and pushed him in her direction, "There you go kid, we'll see you before we go."
Ryan went quite calmly sitting down next to the girl called Maddie; he looked at his name and seemed quite pleased to discover his sticker was a fire truck. Sandy could see Kirsten was gripping Seth's hand in anticipation; Ryan's departure had been too easy.
"Seth Cohen yellow table," Again she looked up searching out Seth in the crowd, Kirsten tried to repeat the process with Seth but he wasn't going to be palmed off so easily. He looked at his mother, eyes showing the first sign of tears he stepped closer to her body using her as a shield to all the staring eyes.
"On you go sweetie," Kirsten tried to urge him on but she knew that Seth could tell she was weak at this point. "Go to your seat, daddy and I will see you when you get back from the cloakroom."
Seth wrapped his arms securely round his mothers waist and shook his head vigorously, sensing that this would escalate out of proportion if the focus continued on Mrs. James went onto the next name.
Sandy and Kirsten pulled Seth slightly off to the side hoping to calm him and get him into his seat. Knowing that Kirsten would pander to him Sandy took control of the situation, "Seth buddy come on there's nothing scary. It's just like pre-school okay, look Ryan went to his seat."
Seth just whimpered and let the tears fall, "I don't wanna sit on my own daddy. I want to sit with Ryan."
"Kid you're not sitting on your own the teacher hasn't called anyone else's name yet." Sandy was quietly trying to remove Seth from his mother's waist so that he could guide him over to his chair but Seth wasn't budging.
"Mommy I wanna sit with Ryan." Seth began to sob and Sandy could see Kirsten crumbling beneath his manipulations.
"Sweetie you can't sit with Ryan he's at a different table with other boys and girls, you get to sit at your own table and make new friends." Kirsten tried her best to make it a positive thing although she personally would have kept the boys together.
"Come on Seth don't you want to see what your sticker is?" Sandy extended his hand.
Seth sniffed and looked cautiously at his father, then back over his shoulder at the table where he was suppose to be sitting several children were now seated around it.
"Come on kid, we'll go see what it is then you have to go find it in the cloakroom I bet you can find it faster than everybody else." Sandy challenged knowing Seth couldn't resist.
Letting go of his mother Seth took his father's hand and walked toward the table, Kirsten took a deep breath trying to get a hold on her emotions looking up she spied Ryan anxiously watching his brothers progress.
Kirsten and Sandy both knew that if Seth didn't stay then neither would Ryan.
Once Mrs. James had everyone seated she handed over to the classroom assistant to take them off to the cloakroom, as the last little head disappeared round the door the middle aged woman turned her attention to the parents. Four other children had copied Seth's performance and were still huddled with their parents in the corner, the occasional sob or raised voice being heard.
Ignoring the commotion the teacher ploughed on, "I know this is a hard day for all of you so I'll make this brief. Once the children come back you'll say your goodbyes then the children will start on their 'Welcome Packs'." She held up a clear pocket containing A4 paper. "These are little booklets the children will work on all week, just some simple details name, age etc. At the end of the week we have a little introduction ceremony and they go up on the wall."
Pausing she passed a few copies around the parents so they could see what she meant, she began to place them down on the small desks. Once she was done she returned to the front of the class and concluded, "As you know the first week is all half days so you should aim to pick the children back up around 12:45."
As if on cue the door swung open and the children came barrelling back in minus their jackets and gym bags. Sandy and Kirsten smiled to see Seth and Ryan come back through the door as a pair, again though Seth paused when Ryan dropped into his seat leaving him to walk up to the back of the class on his own.
After a few tense seconds Seth accepted the situation and wandered back to his seat, the teacher signalled to the parents to say their goodbyes. Sandy and Kirsten broke up saying goodbye to each boy individually Sandy heading in Ryan's direction first.
Leaning down Sandy adjusted Ryan's tie and kissed him on the forehead, "Have a good day Ry, show everyone how clever you are 'kay?"
Leaning forward Ryan gave his father a high five, "'Kay daddy promise to come pick me up?"
Smiling Sandy answered, "Maybe… but I might like having a quiet twin free house." Sandy rose from the floor and moved behind Ryan wrapping his arms around him he kissed his temple tenderly and whispered, "Promise."
Moving across the room he gave Kirsten's hand a reassuring squeeze as they swapped places, oddly Seth sat quietly at the top of his table not really speaking to any of the other kids.
"Hey buddy all set?" Sandy chucked Seth under the chin trying to get him to smile, Seth merely nodded mutely. "Come on little guy you'll love school I promise, think about everyone else whose here by themselves they've got to be really scared at least you've got Ryan."
Seth seemed to take comfort in this fact and wrapped his arms around his father's neck, "Love you daddy."
"Love you too see ya later buddy."
Meeting Kirsten by the door he could see the path the tears had taken down through her make up, wrapping his arm around her waist he lead her back to the car.
Kissing the crown of her head he murmured, "They'll be okay, they've got each other."
The morning had been spent with Kirsten staring at the first page of the visitors surveys, she was suppose to compile a report on their comments and suggestions for the end of the week. She had yet to turn over to page two, she had phoned Sandy three times already twice just for a chat but the second had been a little more panicked.
"Sandy, Sandy did I put Ryan's inhaler in his bag? I don't think I did, it was on the kitchen counter and then we went upstairs. He hasn't got it I should call the school…"
"Kirsten sweetie breathe, you put the inhaler in the bag in the side pouch remember. I told Ryan's teacher where it was and she said she would put it in the medicine cupboard later."
"Medicine cabinet? Sandy he needs it with him all the time, what if he takes an attack at recess, I'm going to call the school."
"Kirsten they know all about his asthma okay they have trained staff who know how to use his diffuser. If he has an attack they'll look after him just calm down."
That phone call had been rather embarrassing causing Kirsten to call back half an hour later under the pretence of apologising. Sandy knew it was because she couldn't concentrate he was having the same problem, having read the same file three times now.
They were each miles apart but doing the same thing, watching the seconds tick by on the clock so that come twelve fifteen they could pack up to leave and pick up the kids.
Again Kirsten and Sandy were gathered with the other parents anxiously waiting for the bell to ring for lunch. The fire doors would be thrown open once again and the kids would come out full of gossip about their very first day of school.
Continually checking his watch Sandy was pleased when he heard the shrill tones of the bell ring out around the playground. Mrs. James appeared at the door talking animatedly to what the parents presumed was a line of excited children, after a few moments when she was satisfied with their order she pushed open the door.
Much to the annoyance of the parents she was letting the children out in ones and twos so some were left to stand in the wind while others hurried off to cars. Kirsten and Sandy were the unlucky ones, Seth came out the door about seventh or eight but they had to wait until the last for Ryan's blonde head to appear through the door.
All the time they were waiting Seth rambled on about what they had done, naming children Sandy and Kirsten had never even heard of. Eventually Ryan stumbled out the door heaving his bag onto his shoulder as if it contained many books; his face was pulled into a concentrated pout. Sandy and Kirsten shared a worried glance at Ryan's expression; leaning down Kirsten wrapped her arms around her son taking his book bag from him.
"Hey honey how was the first day?" Kirsten smiled and took his hand leading them back to the car.
"'Kay I guess." Ryan mumbled into his blazer.
Sandy noted his sons tone, "What happened buddy?"
"Nothing daddy."
Kirsten stopped him before he hopped into the back of the car, "Ryan what do daddy and I say about lying?"
Not giving a response Ryan knew he had to tell the truth, but he didn't get the chance as Seth decided he would rat him out instead. "Ryan got in trouble because he didn't finish his letters, that's why he had to line up last."
Seth had a strangely smug expression on his face but Ryan just looked hurt, his eyes fixed on the ground he scuffed his feet trying to avoid his parents gaze.
"Ryan? Ryan look at me please," Sandy knelt before him looking into his eyes, "Don't worry about it kid okay you did your best and that's what matters. It was your first day so you have lots of time to finish your letters."
Sandy chucked Ryan under the chin hoping to reassure him, but truth be told he was mad at the teacher for upsetting him on his very first day. Ryan was a sensitive kid he needed to be reassured and encouraged not singled out for his mistakes. Sandy knew that Ryan took pride in his work he had probably spent most of the morning rubbing out and rewriting every letter till he thought it was perfect.
Kirsten had walked around to the other side of the car with Seth, as Sandy buckled Ryan in he could hear his wife giving Seth a stern lecture on tattle tailing. Seth looked very solemn throughout and was obviously feeling chastised as he was strapped in because he stuck his tongue out at his brother when he thought his parents weren't looking.
Back at home Kirsten had ordered in the boys favourite as a treat, although she couldn't cook a thing their money situation meant they had takeout very rarely.
They were gathered round the family table delving in to the feast Kirsten had ordered for them, Seth was chatting non stop about everything he had done at school. It seemed that his initial jitters had dispersed quickly and he had thoroughly enjoyed his first day of school.
Ryan was more sedate, only adding in little remarks here and there. Sandy and Kirsten were pleased at the report they were receiving glad that tomorrow would an easier day on everyone. They had learned from when the boys were born that routine was everything, the quicker they set one up the easier the transition would be.
After dinner Kirsten and Sandy tidied up while the boys played outside, Sandy was very glad neither had homework yet he got the feeling Mrs. James would be handing out work soon enough, so he let the boys enjoy their free time while they still had it.
Kirsten had already bathed Seth and was drying him off in their room while Sandy conditioned Ryan's hair. They were talking about the boy's day and Ryan was expressing his disgust at the uniform again moaning about how much it itched.
The room fell into silence as Ryan splashed with his bath toys, looking up at his father he questioned, "Daddy do I have to go back tomorrow?"
Laughing Sandy scooped him up in the towel, "I'm afraid so kiddo."
That was chapter eight - poor S&K saying bye to the boys. Next chapter is a little more angst because the boys are six and as we all know this is when Kirstens mother dies. So hope you can wait till I write it because it'll be a difficult one.
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