Down A Rabbit Hole We Go – Chapter 16

Disclaimer: I do not own the OC or any of its characters.

This originally was going to be a longer chapter, but the Muse just wouldn't cooperate. So, I decided to go ahead and post this short part.

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Ryan climbed out of Caleb's limo and stared at the daunting clubhouse in front of him. Summer had insisted that he come to the annual fashion show and Caleb had decided it would be the perfect venue to introduce him to Newport society. He looked around and spotted Kirsten talking to a group of ladies on the steps a few yards away and Seth chatting with a redheaded kid who looked to be around twelve years old. He nodded at his brother-in-law Sandy as the man approached.

"Look at you," Sandy commented. "You clean up nice." Sandy reached out instinctively and straightened Ryan's tie, tightening the knot slightly as he'd done with Seth hundreds of times, while continuing to make conversation. "So, you got to hang out with Seth some this week…. you two went sailing his morning. How was that? Was that alright? He's an interesting kid if you get to know him."

"He's cool." Ryan replied.

"Cool, huh." Sandy patted Ryan's shoulder once he was satisfied with his tie. "So, you ready for your first Newpsie event?"

Ryan looked up at the building and sighed.

"Don't worry, kid. You'll be fitting in with these folks in no time. And if not, you can join the Sandy Cohen Outsider Club."

"Of which, I'm an honorary member," Haley commented as she approached them while Caleb spoke with his driver.

"Haley," Sandy said in surprise, kissing first one cheek and then the other. "I thought you'd sworn off all Newpsie events."

"Don't you mean you thought I'd been banned from all Newpsie events?" Haley quipped. "I thought I'd show up and provide a distraction. Take some of the spotlight off baby brother here."

Seth approached, grinning at his aunt, but speaking to Ryan. "Aunt Haley is the queen of distractions. The last time she came to one of these events she pushed Lilly Parker into the pool. It was awesome!"

"Seth, don't encourage her." Kirsten said as she approached. "Hales." She hugged her sister before turning to Ryan. "Hello, Ryan." She smiled at her brother, although Ryan thought it looked a bit forced.

Caleb's limo pulled away and the man approached. "Kiki, you look radiant," he commented, stepping toward his oldest daughter, expecting her to meet him halfway. When she didn't, he leaned forward awkwardly, kissing her on one cheek and stepping back when she failed to turn the other toward him. He put a hand on Haley's back and another on Ryan's shoulder. "Well, shall we go inside?"

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As a kid, Ryan had dreamed of one day being introduced as Caleb's son. That didn't prepare him to see the shocked look on people's faces as Caleb introduced him with "This is my son Ryan. He's been living with his mother, but he'll be living with me in Newport now." Ryan reminded himself to smile and be polite, despite the awkwardness of the situation. After a dozen or more introductions, Caleb started talking business and Ryan wandered over to where Haley was trying the hors d'oeuvres.

It was funny how rumors spread like wildfire as various women approached Ryan with comments like, "So you're Caleb's son…from Boston, right? I don't know how you do it. I could just never live there. I hate the cold." And "Do you like Seattle? I mean all that rain, isn't it depressing?"

One of the Newpsies asked, "Did I hear you were from Canada?" Ryan, with a straight face, replied, "Yes, you did," causing Haley to snicker and pull him away.

"Come on baby brother. Let's go find our table."

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