Title: Apples and Trees

Description: Ryan is in danger of following in his brother's footsteps.

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to The O.C.. Not for profit.

Chapter 7

Ryan sat in the chair at the foot the pool house bed, chewing on his pen, notebook in hand, trying to compose his note to Sandy, Kirsten, and Seth. He wanted to explain to them what he was doing and why he was doing it. He wanted to assure them that there was nothing wrong, he just needed to get away. He also wanted to reassure them that he'd be back. He intended to keep his promise to enroll in school next year and get his diploma. But the words needed to say all that just weren't coming easily.

Ryan sighed, lowered the notebook and looked around the pool house. He had already tidied up and gotten it ready to be unoccupied for eight months. He looked at the bed, which he had stripped and put the sheets into the laundry basket. He knew that Rosa would take care of washing them. Sitting on the bed were his fully-packed duffle bag, his cell phone (couldn't forget that), plus his gray hoodie and leather jacket. For traveling, Ryan had decided to wear what Seth had dubbed the "Ryan Atwood escapist ensemble": his boots, jeans, a wife-beater, plus the hoodie and leather jacket. He wanted to be ready for anything.

Ryan smiled to himself at that. God, Seth. "Escapist Ensemble." Only Seth could come up with something like that. Suddenly, Ryan was stricken with doubt. Maybe he shouldn't leave. Kirsten and Sandy definitely weren't going to be happy. Maybe he should stick it out, work harder at finding a job in Newport. Maybe Kirsten and Sandy could help him, although he wasn't sure how, since neither of them worked for a large firm any more.

Ryan sat back and thought for a moment about the possibility of staying in Newport for the next eight months. The idea had its appeal. But then he remembered what his life had been like here for the last three months: not seeing his friends very much, stuck in the pool house most of the time. He could remember one week when he didn't leave the Cohen property at all, and he wasn't even grounded. He just didn't have anywhere to go. That was depressing.

Ryan remembered that at the time, he compared it to Trey being in jail. He had wondered if Trey had ever taken any classes while he was at Chino Penitentiary, you know, to finish his high school diploma. He couldn't believe that he never asked him while he was in town. He shook his head at himself. Anyway, if Trey did take any classes, Ryan imagined that it would be like this: taking classes and living in the same place and never going anywhere else.

Ryan took a deep breath and looked back down at his notebook. No, he definitely had to leave. He went back to attempting to write his note, figuring that he'd just have to do the best that he could, even if he wasn't really good with words. Maybe it wouldn't be poetic, but it would get his point across. He hoped.

On his way out, Ryan made sure to lock up the pool house and the main house, and set the alarm. The Cohens often left doors and everything open, even when nobody was home, but Ryan felt better locking everything up. After going out the front door, Ryan turned back and looked at the house for a moment. He just wanted to memorize it before he left. He was going to miss this place, and the people, of course, while he was gone. It would have been much worse if he didn't know that he was coming back, but still...

After one last look, Ryan turned and walked down the driveway. He left his bike in the garage. He was going to be going further than his bike could take him. So he'd just have to walk to do the stuff that he had to do before he left town. His first stop was the bank. He needed to take out some travel money. He wasn't going to close the account, or even take out a large amount right now. He would need the account when he got back, and he did have an ATM card, so he could withdraw more money later if he needed it.

And his second stop was to see Marissa. He just couldn't bring himself to leave without telling her goodbye in person. He cared a lot about her, and she was still his girlfriend, even if they hadn't seen each other much lately. So his second destination was Newport Union High School. He hoped to time it to be there when school got out for the day, so he could catch her on her way out. Now just to figure out how to explain this to her...

Ryan got to NUHS a little early, so he dropped his duffle bag on the ground and sat down on a low wall across the street from the main entrance to the school, and waited. He didn't think she would go out any other door, so he figured he'd just watch for her. He really hoped to catch her alone, that is, not with her new friends. They of course had all met each other and had hung out sometimes when Marissa had invited Ryan along to some school event, or just out for the night with the whole gang. But Ryan had never felt very comfortable around them. He wasn't sure why...

Ryan looked up when he saw Marissa out of the corner of his eye. She was just leaving the school grounds. Good, she was alone. Ryan quickly picked up his bag and rushed over to her, to catch up with her before she left.

"Marissa!"

Marissa stopped and turned. When she saw Ryan, she broke out in a large grin, but a confused one.

"Ryan! What are you doing here?"

When Ryan reached her, she put her hand on his shoulder and leaned forward to kiss him.

"Were we supposed to meet?"

"No –"

Apparently at that point, Marissa registered Ryan's clothes and duffle bag. She pointed at the bag.

"Wait – where are you going? Are you leaving?" Her voice had an almost hysterical edge to it.

Ryan sighed. "Marissa, we need to talk."

Ryan took Marissa's hand and led her over to the side of the school, away from the crowd of exiting students. He sat her down on a bench and sat next to her, dropping his bag on the ground.

This wasn't going to be easy.

To be continued.