"Man on the Side"
Author's Note: My attempt at a Ryan/Summer story that is more than one part. Hopefully I will be inspired to write and will have long or semi long chapters. Sorry for those of you who read "Hakuna Matata". I'm just not feeling that right now.
Name taken from a John Mayer song.
"I am the man on the side Hoping you'll make up your mind. I am the one who will swallow his pride. Life as the man on the side."
I frown at them. Could they be any more affectionate? Happy people bother me. They're so oblivious to those around them. I lean back in my chair and try not to grimace as Seth throws popcorn at me.
"Come on, buddy. It's your turn."
I offer them a half smile before taking the controller and pummeling Seth's character. I pretend it is Seth and not some green monster. I then feel like throwing up. He is my best friend so why do I hate him right now? My conscious tells me it is because he is with her. I should be happy for him, but I am not. I am a selfish bastard, and I realize I hate myself too.
"Hey, Ryan, do you want a coke or something?" Summer asks me smiling.
"You didn't call me Chino," I observe as I nod my head yes.
She smiles. "That's cuz I don't see you as grubby anymore," she states simply as she skips off to the kitchen.
"Hey dude, isn't is awesome? I'm with Summer, as in Summer Roberts. It's unbelievable."
"Ya unbelievable," I agree without mustering up much enthusiasm. He doesn't seem to notice.
"So when you and Marissa get back together we can go out together in a group. It will be awesome!" he adds.
I want to take a rifle out and shoot him. Blowing his brains to smithereens would give me satisfaction for a few minutes.
"I don't think I'll be back with Marissa," I reply.
Once again, he doesn't seem to notice. I don't push the subject. Telling him it because I one to fuck his girlfriend seems out of line. If he ever found out how I feel about her, I'd be homeless. I don't have the pride to live in the same house knowing he hates me. That's why I don't pursue her. That's why I must stay away.
"Here you go, Ryan," she hands me a coke. She then gives Seth one identical to mine, kissing him on the lips after he places the coke on the coaster on the table.
Suddenly I am not thirsty.
"I got homework I have to do," I speak up hoping to get some time alone. Surprisingly the happy couple stirs from their honeymoon on the coach and acknowledge me.
"We'll do it with you," Seth speaks up.
I suddenly realize they are forcing me to play damn video games with them because they are afraid to leave me alone. They must be worried about me heading into a downhill spiral because of the Oliver fiasco and me refusing Marissa's proposal. They think I am fragile. The little they know. I have faced much more than some rich bitch leaving me for a psycho. I am stronger than that. I can handle myself, which is why I am staying away from Summer. If I was not capable of controlling myself, I'd probably being rolling around on my bed right now with Summer withering below me. Instead I am just fantasying about it.
"No, I have a project in English. You don't have the same teacher," I inform him as I get up from the chair, stretching.
"We can do our homework in the pool house. We don't have to be working on the same stuff," Summer replies.
"No, you two have fun," I say smiling. Before they can say anything I exit the room on my way to the pool house.
* * *
I am brought out of my reverie by a knock on the pool house door.
"It's open," I call not bothering to turn my chair around to see who it is.
"Hey, kid," Sandy greets me as he steps inside.
I offer him a small smile.
"Kirsten wanted me to tell you dinner is ready. Don't worry Rosa made it. She left it in the oven to stay warm before leaving for the day," he informed me.
"Ok, I'll be there in a minute," I say ending the conversation or so I thought.
"Something wrong?" He asks as he sits down on my bed. "You can tell me," he adds as an afterthought.
I shake my head. "No, why would there be?" I ask him as I turn my chair around so I am facing him.
"No reason. You're just quieter than usual if that's possible."
"Don't have a lot to say."
He must be getting tired of his casual approach because he runs his hands through his hair and sighs.
"Ryan, talk to me."
"I have nothing to say," I tell him trying to make an innocent expression adorn my face.
"I know there is something. Is it a girl?"
I consider humoring him and saying yes. Technically it is a girl, but he'll assume it's Marissa or Theresa. He'd never guess I am bothered because I spend most of my time thinking about bedding Summer. So deciding saying yes is a safe answer, I nod my head.
"Thought so. You're a lady's man. Want to talk about it?"
I shake my head.
"I thought you would say that." His stomach growls, he blushes, embarrassed. "Tell you what, I'm hungry so this conversation can end her, but if I don't see you getting happier in the next few days, I'll approach you again. That time I'll make you tell me who this girl is. Now let's go eat."
I nod, agreeing. I am determined to hide my feelings and appear as happy as possible. From now on I am Ryan Atwood, man of smiles.
TBC...
Author's Note: My attempt at a Ryan/Summer story that is more than one part. Hopefully I will be inspired to write and will have long or semi long chapters. Sorry for those of you who read "Hakuna Matata". I'm just not feeling that right now.
Name taken from a John Mayer song.
"I am the man on the side Hoping you'll make up your mind. I am the one who will swallow his pride. Life as the man on the side."
I frown at them. Could they be any more affectionate? Happy people bother me. They're so oblivious to those around them. I lean back in my chair and try not to grimace as Seth throws popcorn at me.
"Come on, buddy. It's your turn."
I offer them a half smile before taking the controller and pummeling Seth's character. I pretend it is Seth and not some green monster. I then feel like throwing up. He is my best friend so why do I hate him right now? My conscious tells me it is because he is with her. I should be happy for him, but I am not. I am a selfish bastard, and I realize I hate myself too.
"Hey, Ryan, do you want a coke or something?" Summer asks me smiling.
"You didn't call me Chino," I observe as I nod my head yes.
She smiles. "That's cuz I don't see you as grubby anymore," she states simply as she skips off to the kitchen.
"Hey dude, isn't is awesome? I'm with Summer, as in Summer Roberts. It's unbelievable."
"Ya unbelievable," I agree without mustering up much enthusiasm. He doesn't seem to notice.
"So when you and Marissa get back together we can go out together in a group. It will be awesome!" he adds.
I want to take a rifle out and shoot him. Blowing his brains to smithereens would give me satisfaction for a few minutes.
"I don't think I'll be back with Marissa," I reply.
Once again, he doesn't seem to notice. I don't push the subject. Telling him it because I one to fuck his girlfriend seems out of line. If he ever found out how I feel about her, I'd be homeless. I don't have the pride to live in the same house knowing he hates me. That's why I don't pursue her. That's why I must stay away.
"Here you go, Ryan," she hands me a coke. She then gives Seth one identical to mine, kissing him on the lips after he places the coke on the coaster on the table.
Suddenly I am not thirsty.
"I got homework I have to do," I speak up hoping to get some time alone. Surprisingly the happy couple stirs from their honeymoon on the coach and acknowledge me.
"We'll do it with you," Seth speaks up.
I suddenly realize they are forcing me to play damn video games with them because they are afraid to leave me alone. They must be worried about me heading into a downhill spiral because of the Oliver fiasco and me refusing Marissa's proposal. They think I am fragile. The little they know. I have faced much more than some rich bitch leaving me for a psycho. I am stronger than that. I can handle myself, which is why I am staying away from Summer. If I was not capable of controlling myself, I'd probably being rolling around on my bed right now with Summer withering below me. Instead I am just fantasying about it.
"No, I have a project in English. You don't have the same teacher," I inform him as I get up from the chair, stretching.
"We can do our homework in the pool house. We don't have to be working on the same stuff," Summer replies.
"No, you two have fun," I say smiling. Before they can say anything I exit the room on my way to the pool house.
* * *
I am brought out of my reverie by a knock on the pool house door.
"It's open," I call not bothering to turn my chair around to see who it is.
"Hey, kid," Sandy greets me as he steps inside.
I offer him a small smile.
"Kirsten wanted me to tell you dinner is ready. Don't worry Rosa made it. She left it in the oven to stay warm before leaving for the day," he informed me.
"Ok, I'll be there in a minute," I say ending the conversation or so I thought.
"Something wrong?" He asks as he sits down on my bed. "You can tell me," he adds as an afterthought.
I shake my head. "No, why would there be?" I ask him as I turn my chair around so I am facing him.
"No reason. You're just quieter than usual if that's possible."
"Don't have a lot to say."
He must be getting tired of his casual approach because he runs his hands through his hair and sighs.
"Ryan, talk to me."
"I have nothing to say," I tell him trying to make an innocent expression adorn my face.
"I know there is something. Is it a girl?"
I consider humoring him and saying yes. Technically it is a girl, but he'll assume it's Marissa or Theresa. He'd never guess I am bothered because I spend most of my time thinking about bedding Summer. So deciding saying yes is a safe answer, I nod my head.
"Thought so. You're a lady's man. Want to talk about it?"
I shake my head.
"I thought you would say that." His stomach growls, he blushes, embarrassed. "Tell you what, I'm hungry so this conversation can end her, but if I don't see you getting happier in the next few days, I'll approach you again. That time I'll make you tell me who this girl is. Now let's go eat."
I nod, agreeing. I am determined to hide my feelings and appear as happy as possible. From now on I am Ryan Atwood, man of smiles.
TBC...