Ok, I've made it so that Luke and Joan haven't got their license yet, for story purposes.
The next day was Saturday. Helen was going to take the guests around. Joan and Luke insisted on coming, but there wasn't enough room in Helen's car. In the end, Kevin agreed to go too, and take a car load of people. Will was called out to work at the last minute.
So Ryan, Joan, Seth and Luke piled into one car, with the adults in the other. The drove around the centre of town, pointing out Kevin and Will worked, where Luke and Joan went to school, and explained that Helen worked at the school. Seth was quite amused at the thought of having your mother working at the same place you went to school. Luke laughed, and told him it wasn't too bad. Joan said nothing. She and Ryan were deep in conversation.
They finished up at a park. Everybody hoped out, and surrounded a table, and Helen pulled out a picnic basket she had put together earlier that day. They all had a great time, talking and laughing. Will turned up about half an hour later, and also helped himself to a chicken and salad roll. It was Will that suggested they go to a restaurant for tea that night. Everyone agreed that would be a great idea.
After lunch, the two families sat around the pond, exchanging stories; how Helen and Will met, about the time Luke won a science fair by mistake, how Seth had started his own comic book. Joan was getting sick of all the same old stories.
She looked over to Ryan. He looked equally bored. She guessed it was because he didn't have many memories from Chino that anybody would care about. She asked him if he'd like to go for a walk. He nodded.
They set off around the boardwalk. It was a fairly long walk, but it didn't seem like anyone was ready to go anytime soon, so they didn't hurry.
"So, you're from Chino."
"Yeah," he answered robotically.
"You don't sound like you liked it there," she insisted.
"Let's just say that my home wasn't very happy."
"That's too bad…you're 16, right?" she asked.
"Yeah."
"Me too!" she cried.
Ryan looked at Joan. She seemed way too eager. He didn't like where this conversation was going. He had to stop her before she got carried away.
"Yeah, that's cool hey. Seth's sixteen too, you know. I was so happy when I moved in with him, to finally have a brother who cared," he stated, "In Chino, my brother would steal, and blame it on me. It's heaps better now though. I have Seth, and a girlfriend, Marissa, who really cares, it's great, you know?" he said, perhaps a little too hastily.
Joan looked hurt. But Ryan knew it was for the best. Joan was way too clingy.
OK, review time! No revviews, no more chapters!