Raising Ryan

Chapter 12 – A First For Seth

It had only been three hours since Ryan woke up on the morning of his 'ungrounding' but Seth was already driving him mad. Searching the house, he found Kirsten in her room, preparing a bag for the dry cleaners.

"Morning Ryan."

Flopping himself down on her bed, he laid on his stomach with his face buried in the comforter. Kirsten frowned at the back of his head.

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing. Can I please have a cigarette?"

"Uh oh. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Seth is driving me nuts!"

"Nuts enough to need a cigarette? What did he do?"

"Nothing. He's just…Seth."

Nodding admittedly, "Sadly, I can relate. Okay Ryan, but only one."

"Thank you. I'll get it."

Wrestling with the dry cleaning bag, "Ryan wait, wait! I'll get it. I don't think I want you going through my box of tampons."

"Imagine how I feel. I get to put this in my mouth after it's been in that box." Emerging from her bathroom, Ryan put the stick in his mouth and raised the lighter to his face.

"Uh uh uh! Outside with that! You know the rules."

Lowering his arms, he walked out the open patio door, parked himself on the concrete stoop and lit up. Kirsten watched from her bedside, still stuffing items into the dry cleaning bag. She couldn't help but smile at him. Joining him on the stoop, she sat down next him and he moved his hand to keep the curls of smoke away from Kirsten.

"So, what are you going to do today? You're first day of freedom."

"I'm not going anywhere near the bar, if that's what you're asking," he smirked.

"I wasn't, but that's good to know."

"I'll probably call napkin girl."

"Sami?"

"Yeah. Seth calls her napkin girl and now he's got me doing it."

"You really like her don't you?"

Ryan shrugged, "Yeah she's okay."

"Just okay? You're keeping her around. Not your style really."

"People change."

"That they do."

When Sunday afternoon rolled around, Ryan decided it was time to put Seth out of his misery. Walking into the den, he found Seth sitting on the couch.

"Hey, your parents gone?"

"Yeah. They left for that cruise thing. They'll be gone all day."

"Cool. They leave the keys for the Rover?"

Narrowing his eyes on his foster brother, "Why do I get the feeling you're up to something?" Seth inquired.

"Come on, let's go."

They'd only been in the car for roughly twenty minutes, but Seth was already getting restless. "Where the hell are we going anyway?"

Ryan smiled, still concentrating on the road ahead. Lifting only his index finger off the steering wheel, he pointed at the interstate sign.

"Chino? You're taking me to Chino?"

"Yep."

"What for?"

Turning only his eyes in Seth's direction, Ryan's expression relayed 'there's only one thing worth doing in Chino.'

"Oh my God! Today? Right now?"

"Yep."

"Ryan! You can't spring something like this on a person! Why didn't you say something?"

"Because you wouldn't have gotten in the car."

Good point. Rattled by the news, Seth's mouth dropped open and he spaced out the window for a moment. "Ryan, I mean, what if I'm not…ready?"

Smirking again, "This is you we're talking about. You're as ready as you're ever going to be."

"But we didn't finish 'the talk'," Seth worried, accentuating the air with his fingers. "There's so much more you have to teach me."

"She'll teach you."

"She? She who? Loose girl?"

"It's someone I know. We've spent time together."

"Ryan, stop the car! I can't! I can't do this!"

"Why?"

"I can't be with someone you've slept with! You're like a high-performance vehicle and I'm just a wind up toy."

"Seth…"

"Ryan, I'm serious!"

"Seth, where do you think I learned everything? You think I just woke up one day knowing what to do and what to say? Everybody's first time is…an experience. Once you get the first one behind you, you'll have a clue for the next one."

"Ryan, I feel sick."

"Get over it because soon you'll be feeling really good."

The rest of the ride to Chino was spent in silence. Ryan knew Seth was scared to death, but he'd survive. When the car finally came to a stop in front of a bungalow style home, Ryan was worried he might have to coax Seth out of the car.

"Ready?"

Wringing his hands, "Ryan…what if…I mean…what if I make a fool out of myself?"

Seth's voice was so pitifully serious, Ryan couldn't help but feel sorry for him. "Hey, look at me." Ryan waited for Seth to turn an embarrassed and petrified face in his direction. "You're going to be fine. I've known this girl for a long time. I brought you here because I trust her. She'll take good care of you."

Seth still wasn't talking. Maybe he didn't believe Ryan. Maybe he really wasn't as ready for this as he thought he was. Either way, Ryan made a point of proving he had his back.

"Seth, I wouldn't mess with you…not with this. I know this is important to you. You'll be fine. Just let her do her thing. She'll make you feel good."

"You really think I'm ready for this?"

"Yeah. You're ready," Ryan admitted with a little more confidence than Seth wanted to hear. "Come on, let's go."

They'd only taken a few steps down the walk toward the house when a thin, but curvy, girl with long black hair came barreling out the front door, screaming with her arms in the air. Taking a running jump, she landed in Ryan's arms and wrapped her arms and legs around his body, still squealing in delight.

"Ryan! Ryan! Oh my God! Honey where have you been!" the girl hollered, cupping his face in her hands when he finally set her down.

"Hey, it's good to see you," he smiled.

"And this must be Seth," the girl greeted extending her arm to a clueless and confused Seth.

"Seth, this is Dina," Ryan explained.

"Dina. Right. Hi. Hi, I'm Seth. Um, Seth, that's me," he stuttered.

"Aw, he's so sweet." The girl reached up and stroked the hair on the back of Seth's neck, causing him to nervously retreat a bit. "Well come on inside boys!"

Seth couldn't help but worry about the girl's enthusiasm. So far he'd only said 'hello' and he already felt out of his league.

The inside of the house was modestly decorated and the scent of fajitas wafted through the air.

"Smells good in here." Suddenly remembering which appetite he'd come to satisfy, Seth felt stupid about his observation.

"That's for later. First things first," Ryan explained. Seth marveled at Ryan's composure, as if he'd done this a thousand times. Then again…

"Sex and dinner?"

"Her Mom is always cooking something."

"Her Mom is home!"

"Ryan, oh dolly, there a-you are!"

A petite, yet stocky, woman with a heavy accent emerged through the doorway, offering Ryan a hug. He had to bend over a bit to embrace her.

"And, who is a-this?" the woman asked, staring at Seth skeptically.

"This is Seth. He's ah, he's like a brother to me."

"Ah. Well anyone that Ryan a-trusts is a-welcome in this a-house." Reaching up she embraced Seth as well before pulling away to give him a brief lecture. "But no a-cigarettes in this house. You understand a-me? No a-smoking here!" To prove her point, the woman fondled Seth's pockets in search of the unwanted contraband.

"He doesn't smoke," Ryan offered.

"No a-smoke?"

"No."

"Aw, he is a good boy then. Okay then. He can a-stay." The woman disappeared back through the doorway, assumingly into the kitchen.

"So? Are we ready boys?" Dina flirted.

Swallowing hard, "Ryan…" Seth panicked.

"Dina can you give him a minute?" Ryan requested.

"Sure. Bring him up when he's ready."

Watching Dina disappear upstairs, "Alright here, I've got something for you." Fumbling through his jacket's inner pocket, Ryan retrieved a condom and held it out to Seth. "Take this with you. You don't do anything without it, hear me?"

Panicking, "Ryan, I don't even know how to put his on! I don't know…"

"Relax, man. She'll do it for you. She'll do everything. Just…relax."

"Relax. Right. Okay. Okay. I'm okay."

Smiling, "Come on, let's get you upstairs."

"What about her Mom?"

"She has a tendency to turn a blind eye. If she does walk in on you by chance, just keep going. She won't say anything. This is Chino Seth. The normal rules don't apply here."

Opening Dina's bedroom door at the end of the hall, Ryan stepped in and nodded Seth in.

"There's my boys. Sure I can't change your mind Ryan?" Dina courted, pleadingly.

"Not today. Today's for him. Take good care of him alright? I gotta take him home in one piece."

"Oh I'll take real good care of him, don't you worry."

"It's his first time Dina…make him earn it."

Concerned about the coded exchange, "What? Earn what? Who has to earn what?"

Slapping Seth on the back, "Good luck man. I'll see you downstairs."

"You're leaving!" Seth panicked, bringing a smile to Dina's face.

"I'm certainly not staying. Remember what I gave you. Use it."

Seth watched the door close behind Ryan and looked to Dina for direction.

"I promise Seth, I'll make this worth your while."

"Ryan gave me this," he advised, absentmindedly holding up the wrapped condom.

"I'm not ready for that just yet honey. We'll get to that, just relax, okay?"

Everyone kept telling him to relax…how?

Nodding nervously, "Okay. Just…one thing…if I should, at any point, pass out, promise me you won't go on without me."

"I promise. I want you to see everything I'm going to do to you."

"Dear God," Seth whispered.

Dina's voice was sultry enough by itself to make certain parts of Seth stand at attention. He watched as she knelt down in front of him and teasingly undid his pants. Within seconds, his eyes were closing and his mouth was gaping open. Relax…relax…God he was going to owe Ryan huge for this…

Ryan happened to glance at his watch when Dina came into the den. "Hey. How is he?"

Putting her hands on her hips, "He was with me! He's great of course!"

Smiling, "I meant, is he still breathing?"

"Yes, loudly."

Cuddling up to Ryan, she straddled his lap and playfully pulled at the belt on his jeans.

"Not today Dina."

"Not today? You disappear for almost a year and you're gonna deny me what I know is waiting for me? Wait a minute. What's her name?"

Ryan let his head rest on the back of the couch and allowed himself to study the girl in front of him. There was a time when she meant a lot to him. Not as a girlfriend, just as a release, an escape. He'd spent more wild nights in her bed than he cared to remember. There was a time when he really needed her. It amazed him to recognize that time was over.

"Samantha."

"Yeah? Is she good to you?"

Knowing better than to burn a Chino girl's heart, especially one that provides such a valuable service, "No one will ever measure up to you Dina."

"Ack, now you're covering your ass!" she laughed. "I mean it, is she good to you?"

Shrugging, "So far. Haven't known her that long."

"Well, if she turns out to be a bitch on wheels, then you come see Dina, okay?"

"Alright," he smiled again.

"You better go check on your boy upstairs. Dinner's going to be ready soon."

"Thanks Dina…for everything."

"Any time Ryan. And I do mean, any…time."

Ryan knocked on the bedroom room and waited for Seth to mumble a response. Cracking the door open, "You dressed?"

"Yeah."

Ryan couldn't control his grin at the sight of Seth sprawled across the bed flat on his back. "So? How'd it go?"

Shaking his head, still staring at the ceiling, "That, Ryan, was amazing. I feel euphoric. I'm a man now."

"So you went through with it. That's good."

"I kind of got the impression that Dina's the sort of girl that doesn't really take no for an answer."

"Did you remember to use the condom?"

Nodding at the ceiling, "Yes I did. I told her you'd break my legs if I didn't use it."

"That's probably true."

"That's exactly what she said." Seth forced himself to sit up on the bed, his hair sticking out in all different directions. "I did good. I amazed even myself! I lasted longer than five minutes, might only have been seven or eight, but it was definitely longer than five."

Chuckling, "That's good man, I'm happy for you. Feel better now?"

Nodding again, "I do. I really do. I can walk with my head held high now. I'm a man now."

"Well, good. I'm glad. Let's grab a fajita and then we gotta hit the road. I gotta warn you, her Mom likes hot peppers so they're pretty spicy."

Getting off the bed, "Hey Ryan, um…thanks…for, for…you know… I mean, I know I'm a huge pain in the ass and I drive you nuts and make you hate me…"

"Enough alright. You really think I would have brought you here if I hated you? You can definitely be a pain in the ass, but you've sort of grown on me."

"So I'm like a wart?"

Laughing, "Yeah, something like that. "

"Well, cool…so can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Has she ever done that thing with her tongue to you?"

Turning to leave the room, "We are so not talking about this."

"Ryan wait! This is what guys do, isn't it? They have sex and then compare war stories right? Right? Ryan? Where are you going?"

"To put extra hot peppers on your fajitas so you'll shut up!"

Pulling in the driveway at home, they were surprised to find Sandy and Kirsten already there.

"Isn't it a little early for them to be home?" Ryan wondered out loud.

"Yeah it is. Wonder what's up."

Strolling through the front door, they found them sitting on the couch, sipping wine and laughing. Seth did a little side step into the room, still feeling euphoric from his experience earlier that evening.

"So, what brings you guys home so early?"

"Well aren't you in a festive mood."

"I am. I feel great! I'm on top of the world!"

Ending the conversation with his parents, Seth danced his way into the kitchen, where he continued to sing in a high-pitched voice.

"Wow, what's up with him? Ryan, what did you give him something?" Kirsten asked point blank.

"I didn't give him anything."

"It's like he's high or something, listen to him," Sandy added, wincing at his birth son's screeching voice in the next room.

"He had a good night that's all. You know how he is."

"He had a good evening? That's it?" Kristen inquired, watching Ryan carefully.

"Yeah. We had fajitas, he hasn't been right since he ate all those hot peppers."

Shrugging off the conversation Ryan made a quick escape from the room.

It was after midnight when Ryan made his way into the kitchen and made himself a snack.

"Ryan? What are you doing up?"

"It's only midnight."

"I guess my age is showing," Kirsten joked. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. Just, hungry."

"Ryan now that we're alone, can I ask you something?"

With a spoonful of cereal in his mouth, he looked at her. He knew what was coming.

"Were you telling us the truth about Seth earlier? Are you sure he didn't take anything?"

"Kirsten, you've seen me do a lot of things but in all the time I've been here and all the things I've done, have you ever known me to do drugs?"

Tapping her hand on the counter, she knew he had a point. "You're right. I believe you. But something was up with him when he came home. Do you know something you're not telling me?" By Ryan's expression she could tell she was onto something. "Ryan, why won't you tell me this?"

"Because there's nothing to tell. We went out, had a good time…he told me he was sorry for doing things that make me hate him and I said I didn't hate him. Apparently that news was important to him because he's been happy ever since."

"You're sure there's nothing else?"

With his face still buried in his cereal bowl, "Mmm-hmm."

Still skeptical, "Okay. Well, I'll see you tomorrow then. Goodnight."

"'Night."

Ryan watched through the kitchen doorway as Kirsten walked through the living room toward the stairs. For the first time, all day, he had doubts about his decision to bring Seth into manhood. For the first time he felt like this could blow up in their faces. He'd have to talk to Seth in the morning and tell him to tone it down a bit. Hopefully this would all blow over quickly and everyone would stop talking about it.

(TBC)…

A/N – This one's for Romie007…because she was twitchin' really bad for an update: D

Sorry there wasn't more Sami in this one…as you can see, she didn't really belong in this one: D On the horizon though…more Sami, her Grandmother and some old faces from Chino. Coming soon to a computer screen near you!

: D