Down A Rabbit Hole We Go – Chapter 17
Disclaimer: I do not own the OC or any of its characters. I do not own any Academies. Any academies mentioned in this fic are intended to be fictional.
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"Kiki, I wouldn't worry. I'm sure the boys will be fine. It's just a beach party. It'll be good for Seth to do something with kids his age," Caleb reassured his daughter. "Oh, excuse me. I see Dean Kim. I wanted to talk to her about Ryan's enrollment at Harbor," he added, kissing Kirsten on the cheek, and patting her arm while she was too preoccupied to remember she was mad at him.
Caleb strode across the room catching the dean's eye. "Rosalind, I've been looking for the opportunity to speak with you all night. How are you?"
Rosalind Kim forced a smile. "Hello, Caleb. I'm fine. It's so good to see you. How are you?"
"I couldn't be better." Caleb answered. "I wanted to introduce to you my son Ryan, but he left a few minutes ago with my grandson Seth and Summer Roberts."
"Well, it's a shame that I missed him," the dean replied. "I've heard a lot about him."
"No doubt, with this Newpsie crowd." Caleb muttered, before smiling at Rosalind Kim. "I wanted to talk to you about enrolling Ryan at Harbor for next year. He'll be in the same grade as Seth. I asked for his records to be sent to Harbor. Your secretary said she would set up a meeting for us as soon as they came in."
"Oh. Yes, I did receive records on a Ryan Atwood from Chino Hills. I didn't make the connection," Dean Kim responded. "But I'm sorry to say, there aren't any spots left for next year for the 10th grade class."
"Oh, is that so?" Caleb asked. "That's interesting because I heard you telling Cameron Stern earlier that Harbor always had room for promising new students."
Dr. Kim looked startled but recovered quickly. "Yes, well, we received and accepted Anna Stern's application weeks ago and she is a very bright student with excellent grades." Seeing Caleb's stony expression she fortified her resolve, "I've reviewed Ryan's records…weak grades…suspended for fighting…truancy…not exactly Harbor school material."
At that, Caleb bristled. "Humph. My daughter Kirsten and her son Seth were Harbor School material. And let's not forget Haley," Caleb chuckled darkly. "Haley nearly flunked out her senior year due to her excessive partying. She was expelled once for having weed on campus and at least twice for fighting. Her mother and I had no control over her, but she was Harbor material. Ryan is my son. His grades suffered last year due to an unstable environment in his mother's home. But he's living with me now. He's a very bright boy. His scored in the 98th percentile on his SAT-ONE. I'm sure if you'll give him a chance, Ryan will do great at the Harbor School."
"Mr. Nichol…Caleb, there's no doubt that Ryan has extraordinary promise, I'm just concerned that he hasn't had adequate preparation for the rigors of our curriculum."
"Or are you concerned about what other Harbor parents are going to think?" Caleb snapped. He wasn't a fool. While none of New Port's elite would dare say anything to Caleb's face, he'd had enough people abruptly stop conversations as he approached them tonight to know that his infidelity and his "bastard" son were the hottest topic among the Newpsies. Caleb was willing to pay the price for his decisions, but he was determined to protect Ryan as best he could. Before Rosalind Kim could come up with a response to his question, he added. "Well, I guess I'll have to explain to the president of the school board that the Newport Group won't be able to help build Harbor's new gym after all. If Ryan isn't up to Harbor's standards, my support will have to go to whatever school Ryan attends. Perhaps St. John' Academy will have a place for Ryan." Caleb added, naming one of the Harbor Schools main rivals.
"Now Caleb," Rosalind hesitated at Caleb Nichol's glare. "Perhaps there's room for a compromise. If Ryan can pass a placement exam…it's not an aptitude test…it measures a student's preparedness, what they've learned, not how bright they are."
"Just tell me when and where and Ryan will be there." Caleb responded.
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One hour later…..
Summer staggered down the beach trying to keep Ryan upright as Seth Cohen stumbled along in front of them, his mouth moving a mile a minute. He'd tried to help her with Ryan initially, but with his inebriated state, he was more of a hindrance than a help.
"I'm sorry I made you go to Holly's party, Chino." Summer muttered, pulling Ryan's arm further across her shoulder. "Stupid Luke and Chip and their stupid water polo friends."
"It's ok. I'm ok, Summer." Ryan answered quietly.
"Yeah, right, Chino. You'd be all right if your arm was ripped off your body," Summer snarked.
"Luke just got in a lucky shot. Kicked me in the same spot that AJ did," Ryan countered.
Summer could kick herself. Ryan told her he didn't want to go to Holly's beach house after the fashion show, but Summer had pleaded with him to at least make an appearance with her. Cohen had wanted to go too and helped her convince Ryan. Once they arrived, Summer had gone to find Marisa and found the girl already drunk. She'd talked Holly and a few other girls from school. They'd wanted the scoop on Caleb Nichol's son, but Summer felt it was Ryan's story to tell and left them disappointed.
When she found Ryan again, he was on the back deck trying to fend off Jess Sathers who had apparently spilled her beer down the front of his shirt and was trying to dry him off. Seeing the girl drunkenly pawing at Ryan made Summer see red. "Get your grubby paws off of him, skank," she spat.
"I didn't see your name written on him," Jess shot back.
Summer glared at the girl, before grabbing Ryan's arm and pulling him toward the beach. "Come on, Ryan. Let's find Cohen and get out of here."
They found Seth being hoisted off the ground by a group of water polo players who appeared intent on throwing him in the ocean.
Ryan took off at a run and ordered Chip and his buddies to put Seth down, but then Luke showed up. Summer wasn't really sure who swung first, but the fight that followed was brutal. She finally managed to break it up by pepper spraying a couple of guys in the face, but not before Luke kicked Ryan in the ribs like he was kicking a soccer ball. Summer could swear that she heard something pop followed by a strangled cry from Ryan as he rolled away from Luke and curled up into a ball. Even Luke looked stricken by Ryan's reaction but recovered quickly with a "Let's get out of here," to his friends.
Summer, joined by Seth Cohen, dropped down next to Ryan who was panting trying to catch his breathe. Five minutes later, when he still hadn't made an attempt to get up, Summer pulled out her phone to call an ambulance, but Ryan's frantic "No, don't!" stopped her. After several minutes of arguing, Ryan finally convinced Summer that calling an ambulance would also mean cops and cops at a party of teenagers with drugs and alcohol would not be good for any of them.
Ryan finally got to his feet with Summer and Seth's help, and they remembered that they'd ridden to the party in the back of one of Summer's friend's jeep. After debating what to do, Seth pointed out that his house was only three houses down the beach from Holly's beach house and the three had started walking. But three houses down through the sand with Seth drunk and Ryan barely standing was taking its toll.
"There! There's the path to the house!" Seth shouted.
"Shh!" Summer shushed him. "Stealth, Cohen. I do not want to see your mom's reaction to the shape you two are in."
"Oh yeah. I forgot." Seth tried to whisper but failed.
"If we can sneak Seth in, we'll call your dad, Chino, get him to pick us up outside of Marissa's drive. I still think you need to go to the hospital."
"I'll be fine, Summer." Ryan countered, but gasped as he stumbled over a rock half buried in the sand.
"Boys..." Summer muttered, exasperated.