It's been ages i've had what we artists like to call writers block! But it's a big update so i'm forgiven right?

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Chapter 6

Seth spooned another mouthful of mushy cereal into his mouth as he watched his father throw his coffee down the drain. The uneasiness between them was evident. Ryan was segregating himself to the pool house for some reason and his father had suddenly stopped communicating with them both. He sighed and pushed his bowl away. He was missing his mom. He missed her fussing over him before a night out and the way she'd try to mother Ryan resulting only in a smirk and a sigh. He was missing her.

Ryan couldn't take it anymore. The silence was deafening. He piled his bow on top of Seth's and placed them in the sink. He turned to face Sandy who opened his mouth as if to say something but instead shook his head and looked away. Ryan was startled at Sandy's appearance. He'd been avoiding him so much recently that he hadn't really looked at him. It all seemed to be taking its toll. The Newport Group took up most of his time and the rest of it was spent trying to find out exactly how long Kirsten would be away for. His eyes were dark and his cheeks were sunken. His expensive suit hung languidly on his frail frame. Ryan hadn't seen him eat anything in days. He had never looked so old as he did in that moment. Ryan turned hurriedly and passed through the doors onto the patio thankful for the cool breeze coming off the ocean.

He walked over to the poolside in dipped his foot into the water the icy liquid numbing his toes almost instantly. He settled himself onto one of the chairs facing the sliding doors into Sandy and Kirsten's bedroom. He saw their bed sitting empty in the middle of the room.

Ryan stared into the wide green eyes defiantly. Her hardened expression couldn't disguise her beauty. As much as Ryan hated to admit it Julie Cooper was one of the most beautiful women in Newport. He caught sight of Kirsten in her bedroom.

"ONE of the most," he reminded himself.

He turned his attention back to the woman in front of him.

"Ooh what a surprise. Who'd ya beat up this time, Dr Kim?"

Ryan glanced at the bedroom across the patio at Kirsten as she grinned through the glass.

"I guess you an Marissa haven't talked in a while."

She let the towel surrounding her tiny body fall to the floor

"Well as a matter of fact she'll be spending the weekend with me so…"

"She will?"

At his next glance she pulled the hair band from her hair letting her blonde tresses fall to her shoulders still smirking at his efforts to keep from attracting attention toward the doors. He wondered how long she had waited for him to appear. He could see her makeup was already done.

"I guess you an Marissa haven't talked in a while." Julie shot back smiling amused. Ryan took a seat as Kirsten disappeared from view.

"Look I know you and I haven't always agreed when it comes to Marissa...but I'm asking you please keep her away from this kid Oliver, he's not well."

"Really...the boy who lives in the pool house is warning me about the boy who lives in the penthouse?"

Suddenly Sandy appeared at the doorway handing Kirsten a cup of coffee. That explained the sudden halt to her floorshow.

"He's got this thing that he does, he locks into a girl thinks she's gonna make everything ok an when she cant he loses it."

"I am not getting involved in the thrills of teenage romance thank you."

"He cut his wrists last year because of a girl, last month when his girlfriend Natalie broke up with him he got busted for trying to buy cocaine...its true you can ask Marissa."

Just as he finished Kirsten emerged from the bedroom, "Julie, are you ready?" She threw him a sly look and smiled obviously pleased with the effects of her game.

He nodded silently as Sandy passed him heading across to his bedroom. Ryan was pleased to see he had a bagel in one hand and a coffee in the other. He couldn't believe Sandy's dependence on Kirsten. As much as it pained him to admit he knew that Kirsten wouldn't be able to go on without Sandy. But Sandy always seemed like the strong one. It wasn't like she was never coming back. Unless she was the one who decided she wasn't coming home and not the doctors. Sandy settled himself at the table and flipped open his laptop as Ryan continued to stare into space. They were all ghosts.

Seth climbed the stairs to find Summer, his soggy letter still clutched in his hand. Ryan found the caterers still packing things away in the foyer. Neither Sandy nor Kirsten were anywhere to be seen. He passed through the kitchen as the last person left. The garden was back to the way it usually was. It was as though nothing had happened there that night. No Man of The Year party. No fist fights with angry goateed mechanics. He sighed and climbed the stairs to his pool house when a sudden movement caught his eye. He turned slowly his eyes scanning the patio but there was nothing there. His head still pounded and his eye throbbed. He pulled his exhausted body up the stairs and placed his hand on the handle to the pool house when he heard a soft giggle coming from the bedroom on the other side of the pool. He turned to find Sandy with Kirsten in his arms. Ryan frowned and turned away but Kirsten giggled again and Ryan looked back. Sandy had hoisted her off of her feet pulling her legs around his waist.

Ryan couldn't watch anymore. He could handle their flirtation at the breakfast table and he could even get passed them making out around the house. He'd simply dip his head and pass them by but the dull ache in the pit of his stomach was undeniable, as Seth would say. He shrugged off his shirt and placed his hand on his stomach. He grimaced as he remembered the pizza he had eaten earlier. He kicked off his shoes and closed the blinds starting with the windows facing into her bedroom but as he glanced up again he saw that the curtains were drawn.

An hour later and Ryan had gone through his entire math textbook and he still hadn't fallen asleep. Thoughts of Kirsten continued to invade his mind. He hadn't really seen her since the night Oliver almost shot himself. Kirsten was preoccupied with work something to do with her dad and he was busy fussing over Theresa. He gave up and swung his legs out of bed. He crossed the patio passed the still drawn curtains and into the kitchen. He went immediately to the fridge and scanned the contents.

He wondered if they were sleeping now or perhaps they were onto round two. He shook that from his thoughts and grabbed some ingredients for his sandwich.

He placed to slices of bread on the counter and spread butter thickly across it. He wondered if Kirsten was the same with Sandy as she was with him. Did she look at him the same way? Did she sound the same? Who did she prefer?

He cut the bread diagonally and observed his masterpiece before piling the ingredients back into the fridge. He sat at the table and took a bite his mind still wandering, mostly to Kirsten. Just as he went to take a second bite a shadow fell at the doorway.

"You're up late," Ryan said through a mouthful. Sandy grinned.

"Yeah I can't sleep." Ryan nodded as Sandy held out the coffee pot asking if he wanted some. Ryan nodded and swallowed his mouthful. He placed the sandwich onto the plate and joined Sandy at the island, "So how's Theresa?" he asked delicately. Ryan sighed.

"Gone. She took off after the party." Sandy nodded lightly.

"Well at least she has the option of going back to school." He answered trying to put a better spin on the situation. Ryan didn't answer. He eyed the red marks on Sandy's neck and his chapped lips. Sandy noticed his disappointment, "Aww Ryan come on. It's for the best you know that. I said it before you were in over your head. At least she had the sense to go back home."

"If she went back home." He answered reasonably.

"Well she doesn't have anywhere else to go." Sandy countered. Ryan nodded and took his place back at the table. They both sat in silence as they drank their coffee before Sandy got to his feet, "I'm gunna go to bed. And you should too. I'll see ya in the morning."

"Night Sandy." He said softly. Ryan wondered where in his conscience was he allowed to have such a deep conversation with a man when he was fucking his wife.

Ryan washed his plate and decided to try and sleep again after taking some aspirin for his headache. It seemed that Eddie had done more damage than he had realised. By the time Ryan had settled himself under his sheets there was a shadow at the door and Seth entered. "Dude sorry but do you have any condoms?"

Ryan got up from the chair and retreated to his pool house. He had started to store food and coffee in the small kitchen at the back. He barely had to leave the place now. He couldn't stand the look in Sandy's eyes as he mentioned that yet again Kirsten refused to come home. He didn't know what would happen when she did finally come home. What would change? Would she be different? Maybe she would wanna try the mom thing with him. He laughed at that thought. Yeah she had done a good job there.

Ryan blinked back the slat of sunlight slicing through the room. He could sense someone else in the room. Probably Seth watching him sleep again. He used to think it was creepy that Seth would wait for Ryan to wake up but eventually grew used to it. "So the condoms came in useful?" Ryan asked without opening his eyes.

"Excuse me?" a light voice came from his right. Ryan turned quickly to find Kirsten settled on the empty side of his bed. Ryan sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"Sorry thought you were Seth," he said stifling a yawn. Kirsten opened her mouth appalled.

"You gave Seth condoms?" she said in a high-pitched tone. Ryan couldn't help but laugh.

"Would you prefer I didn't and he caught syphilis?" Kirsten still shocked that her son was having sex stared at Ryan for another second before changing the subject.

"How are you? Sandy told me Theresa left." Ryan's mind was suddenly flooded with last night's events.

"Oh yeah uh I'm fine. It's for the best." Kirsten looked away and toyed with the blankets beneath her.

"So you and her… you were together?" she asked almost inaudibly. Ryan closed his eyes and sighed as he realised she was jealous. Again.

"Briefly." He said after a moment. Kirsten got to her feet and made her way around the bed.

"Okay." She said as she reached for the doorknob.

"Kirsten? Why are you doing this?" he said frowning. Kirsten turned on her heel.

"So how many girls has that been, Ryan?" she said calmly, "A week after you and Marissa break up you jump into bed with Theresa?"

"Who said that I jumped into bed with her?" he said climbing out of bed.

"Where were you yesterday morning? The library? Well that's what Seth told us. I'm not stupid Ryan. I know you spent the night with her." Ryan stood in silence for a second trying to comprehend her words.

"I can't believe your upset about this. After you spent the entire night in bed with Sandy and didn't bother closing the doors so I couldn't hear you." Kirsten threw her hands into the air.

"WHY THE HELL DO YOU THINK I DID THAT?" she walked over to him till she was a few feet away, "I was upset. You were out with some girl and you didn't even try to hide it from me. Having her over for dinner. Reminiscing about your past. Giving her little looks when I'm sitting right in front of you. I know I'm not… we're not together… really and I know that you have girlfriends but do you have to be so blatant about it?"

"Blatant? You've got some nerve. You and Sandy are all over each other all the time."

"When was the last time you saw Sandy and I kissing? You know it's not as bad as before. He's my husband Ryan I can't stop all contact with him but…" she stopped and shook her head, "Forget it. Maybe this is just too hard. I can't feel like this, Ryan. I can't do it all the time. You and Marissa or Theresa… whoever. I can't I hate it."

Ryan reached out and pulled her toward him. She resisted at first but eventually fell into his arms. "We have to end this," she whispered sadly. Ryan swooped down and kissed her softly.

"Okay," he said and kissed her again. He led her over to the bed and asked, "Sandy?"

"Work."

"Seth?"

"Summer." She answered grinning as she pulled off her robe.

"Last time?"

"Definitely."

Ryan sighed and watched as Seth washed his own bowl in the sink. Yeah Kirsten Cohen was the perfect mother figure.

R&R