Titel: Anger leads to pain, pt. 3?

Author: Kukka

Pairing: Ryan/The Cohens, Summer, Marissa

Rating: FRC (G )

Summary: Ryan needs to learn how to deal with his problems…

(actually I have no idea were this will lead)

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Josh Schwartz..I just like to play with it.

But I give it all back once I'm done.

AN: I'm so sorry guys to have let you wait for so long. Hope you're still interested in this story.

It took me forever to start writing this chapter but it's finally done.

Also a BIG thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far. I know that I need a proper kick in

the ass every now and then, to continue with something. Sorry again.

AN 2: Remember (if I even mentioned it before) that I'm not a native speaker and I screwed things

up badly today when I was chatting with someone. So there might be little chance that some

lines sound weird in this chapter. For some reason I just can't think straight today. Also it

was about 1 AM for me when I wrote this.

Chapter 3

School flew by very fast that day.

There was a calculus test in third period and a little argument beween a couple of students in the hallway during lunch break but apart from that, nothing of importance.

Ryan's thoughs were somewere else most of the time and he could be glad if he passed the test earlier.

Not that there was much to fail…he knew the stuff they were going through but his concentration was somehow lacking and that was never a good thing.

He met with Seth and the girls at the end of their schoolday and agreed to spend the evening together at the diner or someplace else.

Seth was still going on about how he wanted to make this an 'video games' evening instead, when Summer and Marissa drove off, leaving him staring after the car and Ryan smiling in amusement.

Yes, Seth Cohen could go on about video games forever…totally oblivious to the world around him.

Ryan got into their car at first and before he could even fasten his seatbelt, came the dreaded question from the boy with the curly brown hair.

"So buddy, care to tell me about the 'forgotten' backpack this morning? Because…Ryan, my friend and not so related brother…that was weird, even for you".

Great, Ryan thought.

What was he supposed to say ? He had no idea how to get out of this one and the drive home was long…with Seth behind the wheel.

"Ehm…I…", god…Atwood think of something, he scolded himself.

"You?…come on Ry…give me something to work with", Seth begged.

Ryan gave Seth one of his trademark looks but remained silent for the rest of the way home.

He was well aware that he was killing Seth this way but he didn't care.

He needed time to think of an answer to Seth's question and he knew there would be even more of them, once he got home and faced the 'rents.

Today wasn't over yet and it sure as hell was going to be a long night.

At least the girls didn't know about his 'weird' morning, let alone the previous evening, and therefore were far away from being suspicious and asking him questions that he had no answers too.

Later that evening, when the whole family including Summer and Marissa was gathered around the dining room table, and the tension was so thick that it could have been cut with a knife, it was Seth who spoke first.

"So…should I mention the elephant in the room or can you all see it?"

Ryan snorted "Oh come on, you wouldn't even see the elephant if it stepped you on the foot. Why would you even care? You…" he trailed off as he noticed Sandy glaring at him.

"Hey! Stop it…both of you, it's enough !" He said and his voice left no room for arguments.

"But Dad, I didn't…"

"Seth. I said it's enough. Ryan, could you please help me put the dishes away ?" with that Sandy stood up and started to collect the used dishes from their dinner.

After a few minutes of stunned silence, Summer dragged Seth and Marissa into the den and asked Seth to set up the playstation.

Kirsten, who had watched the whole scene silently, made her way into the kitchen were she found Sandy standing by the sink and Ryan sitting at the counter, head in his hands as if having a headache.

"Honey ? Are you okay?" she asked as she approached him after kissing Sandy on the cheek.

Ryan lifted his head and mumbled a bearly audible "Sorry" into her direction.

That little whispered word caught Sandy's attention.

"What are you sorry for, kiddo?" he asked, this time in a calm voice because…hell, the boy in front of him looked totally distressed.

"I'm sorry for freaking on Seth. He didn't do anything and I almost yelled at him for nothing…I…I should go apologize" having that said, he got up and walked into the den were Seth and Marissa were in the middle of a match and it looked as though Marissa was about to win…much to Summer's amusement.

When the match was over and Seth threw away his joystick in frustration, he was startled to hear Ryan's voice from behind.

"Seth, can I talk to you for a sec ? Please ?"

Seth turned around so that he was facing his adoptive brother and nodded.

"I wanted…I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to be so harsh. Are we cool ?" he waited for Seth's reaction and was a little anxious that he might didn't see it as relaxed as he himself did…or tried to do.

"Sure…wanna play ?" was all Seth said, before he grinned and returned his attention to the screen.

Sandy and Kirsten had followed Ryan to the door and were watching the teens as they seemed to settle back into their routine.

They knew though that something wasn't right.

It might have seemed okay for someone from the outside but something about Ryan was strange.

Sure he did have a temper but it wasn't like him to go off on Seth like this.

Kirsten looked up and searched Sandy's eyes and as they found each other, he whispered "Tomorrow is another day. Saturday even, that means more time to figure things out. Come on, let's go get some sleep. The kids will be alright for tonight."

They said their good night's into the room, that was now filled with laughter and Summer's annoyed "Eww, Cohen!" and went upstairs, not hoping on any replys.

Yes…the kids would be alright.

TBC