Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with the OC.

Ryan sat in the front passenger seat of Sandy Cohen's swanky car. He looked completely overwhelmed.

Sandy jumped in the driver's seat beside Ryan, who jumped.

"Hey kid, its only Sandy."

Ryan nodded and visually relaxed, for some reason, he trusted Sandy. Trust he had never trusted anyone before, not his mum, his dad, Trey…

Ryan felt his seat. It felt soft, like leather, very posh.

"I didn't realise you guys made so much money, this is a nice car."

Sandy was slightly taken aback, how did the kid know? He was certainly very perceptive…

"We don't, my wife does."

Ryan nodded.

"What does she do?"

"She works as an architect for her fathers company"

"I always wanted to be an architect, you know, before…" Ryan trailed off and cleared his throat.

"Kid, let this be a new beginning for you, don't think of the things you can't do, think of the things you can do."

Ryan just nodded, but didn't look convinced. Sandy gulped, poor kid, but there certainly was something special about him.

Sandy pulled into the drive to the Cohen mansion.

"Kid, stay in the car ok? I have to have a word with my wife, she isn't exactly expecting you."

Ryan just nodded. He listened to the sound of the car door slam shut, the crunch of gravel under feet, the click of the front door of the house being opened. When he was sure he was out of sight, he felt to open the car door, swung his legs around and shuffled along the side of the car, never moving both hands from it to guide him.

Ryan pulled up his grey sweater hood against the wind, then reached into the pocket of his sweats. He drew out a packet of smokes and a lighter. God, he needed a cigarette so bad…

"Who are you?" A sexy voice inquired.

"Whoever you want me to be," Ryan answered, glad his hoodie was covering his eyes, hot chicks didn't dig poor little blind boys, he was sure of it.

"Right…"

"Seriously? I stole a car. Crashed it. Actually, my brother did. Since he had a gun and drugs on him, he's in jail. I got out, and got blinded and my mom threw me out. Because she was pissed off and drunk. And Mr. Cohen took me in."

" You're the cousin from Boston, right?"

" Right."

Just then, Ryan heard Sandy approach him from behind.

"Hey Marissa"

"Hey I was just meeting your nephew."

"That's right, my favorite nephew, all the way from Seattle."

Damn, thought Ryan- I'm meant to be from Boston!

"My mums from Boston, dads from Seattle," he explained.

"Right, bye, see you around Ryan", Ryan heard Marrissa retreat up the drive. Sandy chose that moment to pull the cigarette from between Ryan's fingers.

"We don't have smoking in this house, Ok kid?"

Ryan's heart was pounding in his chest. This was it, he'd made mad. Damn having no sight, he couldn't defend himself. Instead he crouched down and put his arms defensively over his head.

"Sorry Ryan almost pleaded.

Whoa, Sandy remembered, tread carefully around this kid, he was vulnerable as hell.

"Hey kiddo, relax, I'm not angry, I just will be if you smoke again, and you can call me Sandy, ok?"

Ryan nodded apprehensively. Sandy gently took a hold of his shoulder and led him up the drive towards the house. Ryan was tense as hell, he obviously wasn't convinced about the not angry thing.

"Steps here kid, watch out," Ryan was grateful for Sandy's help, he had fallen over steps countless times in hospital and juvie since the accident.

Sandy opened the front door and lead Ryan through into the kitchen, where a rather narked Kirsten stood with her arms crossed.

"Kirsten, I'd like you to meet Ryan Atwood, Ryan, this is my beautiful wife, Kirsten."

Kirsten was quite taken aback when the awful juvenile delinquent she had been expecting held out his hand slightly to her left and said:

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

Kirsten took the boys hand, noticing that he started as she did so, and shook it.

Maybe she could live with this for the weekend after all, but what would Seth think?