Disclaimer: Not mine…just borrowing
A/N: So I'm having fun with this and hopefully other people like it too. Many thanks to Spykid18, SVOC Luva, and Co for the reviews. Happy reading!
Chapter 2 – Ribbons and Curls
After Kirsten had invited them to stay, Dawn and Lee had Sandy drive them back to where they were staying so they could pack a bag. Since they had been staying with a friend of a friend, both women opted to take all of their belongings with them, but to Sandy it looked as if they had each taken just a large duffle bag.
Back at the house, Dawn and Lee had each gotten their own guest bedroom, and while Dawn decided to immediately head to bed, Lee opted for visiting her brother in the pool house. She walked in and plopped down on the bed where he sat reading a comic book.
"So?" she cocked her head at him.
"So," he set the comic book aside.
"You know," she scanned the room, "If I had known I would end up somewhere like this, I would have gotten myself arrested too."
"Don't joke about that," he said seriously, not even wanting her to think that. He saw Lee as the hope to break the Atwood streak of bad luck, which plagued her despite not being an Atwood by blood. Either way, Ryan did everything in his power to try and keep her on the right track.
"I know, Ry," she sighed, "But this place is beyond those fairytales you used to read me."
"This place isn't perfect," he told her and she raised an eyebrow, "Everyone's got their own problems."
"Right," she stood up to look out the windows at the night sky, "I'd take their problems over our own any day."
"What happened with A.J.?" Ryan watched her stiffen from his seat on the bed.
"That night, after you left, some guys showed up wanting money," she glanced over her shoulder at him, and then turned back to the window, "They roughed him up, trashed the place, and then wanted to work on some 'alternative payment methods' to settle his debt."
"Alternative?" his blood began to boil when he heard the bitter tinge in his little sister's voice.
"Just a realignment of terms," she tried to make her voice light.
"Lee," he placed his hand on her arm, "What were the terms?"
"Me," she whispered without looking at him.
"Where was Mom?" he growled.
"She showed up with a gun before anyone could…anything could happen," Lee sighed shakily, "She threw A.J. out, pawned off our stuff, and just left."
"Without me," his voice was calmer than before, although he still wanted to kill A.J. for what he almost did.
"We tried to find you, well I tried," she paused, "But no one knew where you were, and," her voice began to break, "And, I just wanted to get the hell out of the neighborhood."
"It's okay," he hugged her and she cried softly into his chest, "You needed to get out of there."
"I should have waited for you to come back," she took comfort in his strong arms. Ryan always made things better for her, no matter how bad.
"I shouldn't have left you there," he had felt guilty for leaving Lee there, but he didn't have a choice.
"So I guess we're even?" she sniffed.
"Yeah, sis, we are," he said, stroking her hair.
"Kirsten Nichol Cohen!" Sandy admonished finding his wife looking out the window of their bedroom, "Are you spying?"
"No," she defended, "I'm just observing."
"Really?" he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"I never pictured Ryan as a big brother," she sighed watching Ryan hug his sister in the pool house, "I know he mentioned his sister, but this side of him just seems so out of character."
"From the fist fighting, house burning, Ryan we know?" he teased.
"Yeah," she smiled crossing the room to sit on the bed, "Do you think things will work out with Dawn?"
"I hope so," he drew the curtain closed.
"But do you think so?" Kirsten pressed.
"Honestly?" he raised his eyebrows, "I think they might have a good month or two."
"Damn," she breathed having thought the same thing, but didn't like hearing him confirm her suspicions, "What do we do?"
"Help them get a place nearby and check up on them," he gave her a kiss, "That's really all we can do."
"So, where'd they go, anyway?" Seth asked as cleaned the pool with a skimmer net.
"I don't know," Kirsten looked up from the work she was doing at the table, "Out."
"All right," he rolled his eyes, frustrated with his mother's unconcerned attitude, "So we'll just wait for Happy Hour to end, and…"
"Seth," she snapped, "We need to be supportive. She seems like she's trying."
"Yeah, but how do you?" he argued, "I mean, this woman abandoned him, and now all she has to do is how up? Mom, she should be the one that's on probation, not Ryan."
"What do you want me to do?" she sighed, "Invite them to stay so we can keep an eye on her?"
"Yes, that is exactly what I want you to do," he looked over to the side of the yard at the sound of laughter.
"What a beautiful walk. The water's so warm, not that Ryan or Lee would know," Dawn appeared first holding her shoes in her hand, "You two used to love going in the water."
"Not with our clothes on," Ryan answered.
"Ah. I'm an embarrassment to my son," she proclaimed and the three teens shared a knowing look.
"Welcome to my world," Kirsten laughed.
"Well," Dawn sighed, "We should probably head out soon."
"Actually, I was thinking," she began and Seth broke out in a smile, "Uh...you just got here, you have nowhere to stay, and we're all just getting to know each other."
"We're having a party tonight," Seth chimed in.
"Right," Kirsten nodded.
"Not for me," Dawn shook her head, "Thanks, though."
"Vegas Night," she tempted back.
"Vegas, huh?" Dawn considered it, "Well, it's very kind of you to offer, but no. I don't have anything to wear."
"Oh, we'll find something," Kirsten stood up and led her inside, "You too, Lee."
"You better go," Seth advised her, "My mom's relentless. She even got Ryan in a suit and tie."
"Seriously?" Lee's jaw dropped, "Oh God, just let me picture this for a second."
"Just go," Ryan glared at her.
"So will you be wearing this tie tonight?" she taunted.
"Yes, he will," Seth grinned, happily goading the siblings.
"And you'll be in a cocktail dress," Ryan shot back and Lee's face froze.
"Lee!" Kirsten's voice called from inside.
"Have fun," Seth waved goodbye as Lee went into the house.
Lee stood before the full length mirror and stared at herself in awe. The girl in the mirror before her seemed nothing like the girl she really was. Yes, Lee had always known she looked good, guys were always attracted to her…well her body…but she'd never come close to elegant before. Sure, she was no where near competing with Kirsten, who Lee was certain would look every bit the ideal Newport socialite, but for her this was as good as it ever was going to get.
The dress Kirsten gave her came from her younger sister's closet. It was strapless and white with a black lace overlay that pleated at the bust. The dress had an empire waist accented by a black ribbon that wrapped twice around the waist and tied in the front. Black and white sandals and a matching purse completed the ensemble.
"Lee," Kirsten knocked on the door of the guest room. She had heard the shower stop twenty minutes ago and wanted to check in on the teenager.
"Coming," Lee dashed across the room and unlocked the door to find Kirsten standing there wearing a stunning red dress with perfect hair and make up, "You look nice."
"Thank you," she walked in and examined how the dress looked on Lee, "So do you."
"Thanks Mrs. Cohen," she smiled self-consciously.
"Kirsten, please."
"Thanks, Kirsten."
"I wanted to see if you needed any help with your hair," Kirsten held up a small bag of hair things, "I figured that you didn't pack for a party."
"Uh, thanks," she took the bag a little apprehensively. Lee had never been a ribbon and curls little girl and could count on one hand the number of times Dawn had ever helped her style her hair. 'Doing her hair' meant leaving it down in its natural blond waves instead of her standard ponytail.
"I'd be happy to help if you want," she sensed Lee's distress.
"You don't have to."
"Please," she pulled over a chair, "Sit."
"Okay."
"Just give me one second," she said as she began brushing Lee's hair. Kirsten Nichol was the little girl with the perfect ribbons and curls, so in seconds she had twisted Lee's blond tresses into a simple yet classy half up-half down do, "Done."
"Thanks," Lee smiled at herself in the mirror.
"You're welcome," Kirsten led her to the door, "Now, you're coming to my room for make-up. Your mom's waiting, so let's go."
"Hey!" Sandy came up to Ryan who was doing the dishes in the kitchen. Both men were dressed for the party, "Kirsten does the same thing--washes the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. I never know whether they're clean or dirty.
"We never had a dishwasher," he just shrugged.
"So, how's everything going?" Sandy helped with the dishwasher loading.
"Okay, I guess. We had a good day."
"You know, you being with your mother and sister doesn't mean we're not going to still see each other."
"She really likes it here. She talked about finding someplace nearby," he paused, "In the numbered streets."
Before Sandy could respond, the women walked in and he was reminded of just how amazing his wife was.
"So," Dawn stepped forward so he could see the conservative black dress Kirsten had found her, "How do I look?"
"You look nice," he looked from her to Lee and saw a young lady in the place of his little sister, "So do you."
"Nice tie," she smirked at him.
"You look wonderful, honey," Sandy kissed his wife on the cheek.
"Thank you," she smiled, "Where's Seth?"
"Here," he entered the kitchen from the other doorway, "Wow, everyone looks great. You know Mom, if you have got tired of working for Grandpa you could always go into the makeover business."
"Seth!" she admonished and turned to Sandy, "You ready?"
"Of course," he offered her his arm and led the way into the garage.
Spykid18 – You're jumping the gun on romances…I haven't even gotten that far yet…but I'll consider what you said…
SVOC Luva – Thanks!
Co – Hehehe…well I don't want to break the law!
And to anyone else out there, please review and let me know what you think!