AN: Sorry this chapter took so long – I've been busy. Well, if a vacation counts as busy…but I got to do a whole lot of thinking and planning, and now I'm quite ready to handle the rest of this story. And I was kind of naughty…I started something another fic. But I don't know if it will go anymore. I'm just experimenting.
Anyway, this chapter is done. I hope everyone likes it! SO many people wanted to see Sandy and Kirsten's reactions to the head-shaving incident, and I wanted to write it just as badly. So here it is. Thank you so much for the reviews – lots this time! I'm loving it. Keep it up!
FADING – Chapter Nineteen
Monday Night
"Ow! Seth, be careful. You almost cut me!"
"Quit whining. I'm almost done."
"Well would you hurry up? It tickles."
"Ryan, first it hurt and now it tickles. What's the matter with you?"
"Do you even know what you're doing?"
With an exasperated look, Seth took his eyes off the top of Ryan's crown and stepped back a foot, pointing to his own very, very short head of hair. "Uh, hello!" He exclaimed.
Ryan smiled meekly and relaxed in his seat with a satisfied look on his face. "Good point." He mumbled, smiling at Seth's reflection in the mirror.
Shaking his head, Seth lowered the buzzing razor back to his foster brother's head, starting at his hairline and cutting in a straight row until he reached the nape of his neck. "Now, are you sure you don't want me to leave a mohawk or a mullet or anything?" He joked, looking Ryan in the eye with a serious expression. "Because now is the time to make these kinds of decisions." he said knowingly.
"Seth." Ryan hissed, shooting him a glare. "Just cut, okay? No mullets, no mohawks, no lightening bolts. Nothing." He insisted emphatically.
Seth's eyes widened and he grinned. "Lightening bolts! Dude, why didn't you suggest that before? That's so Billy Idol of you. Now we're getting somewhere. How do you feel about…"
Ryan whirled around in his seat and grabbed for the razor Seth held in his hand. "That's it. I don't trust you anymore." He said, sounding slightly afraid, and tried to snatch the offending object away, but Seth evaded the attack, grinning widely. "Give me that thing, Seth. I'll finish myself." He demanded, holding out his hand.
"Ryan, have a little faith, man. We're almost done. Just cool your jets and settle." He waited until Ryan's expression mellowed and he turned back around, sitting silently facing the front, though his eyes still glared daggers at Seth through the mirror. Seth held up his hands innocently and smiled. "Ry, dear friend and sort of brother, how can you not trust me?" He asked sweetly.
Still glaring, Ryan bared his teeth. "Seth." He snapped. "The words 'Billy Idol' were mentioned."
Seth shrugged, grinning. "Point taken." He smirked. "Now just take a chill pill and relax. I'm almost done." He watched Ryan finally nod before he continued.
He was on his last run with the razor when they heard a knock on the door. "What's going on in here, you two?" Sandy's voice asked curiously from the other side.
Without warning, Ryan spun in his chair to look at Seth with wide, panicked eyes, causing the blades to veer off to one side, basically achieving the zigzag look Ryan had specifically banned from the head shaving equation. Seth would have laughed if the situation weren't so dire. "Uh, nothing, dad." Seth called back.
There was a pause. "What's that noise?"
Seth's fumbling fingers couldn't find the button fast enough, so he reached for the cord and yanked it out of the wall. At this point it didn't really matter if he ruined the socket, or hell, ended up electrocuting himself in the process. His father walking in on this situation without proper rehearsal on their part could possibly result in far more painful circumstances. And he meant from the Kirsten, not the Sandy. "What noise?" he asked innocently, at which moment Ryan apparently couldn't take the tension and bizarre circumstances anymore, because he started snickering.
"I'm coming in." Sandy's voice informed them, and then the door squeaked as it slowly opened. A head popped in, and Seth heard Ryan hold his breath, so he held his as well. It seemed like the right thing to do.
A mop of dark hair framed two dark, startled eyes as Sandy quickly scanned the room and then settled on the two figures in front of him. Seth felt Ryan tense as the eyes roved over his foster brother first, and Seth knew he wasn't the only one that saw the distinct pity and sadness that practically filled Sandy's eyes as he looked at Ryan. Seth heard the breath catch, and saw the shoulders tense.
He cleared his throat. "Dad…"
That brought Sandy's eyes to him, and it was as if instantaneously, the expression on his face changed. He looked at Seth in a way that no one had ever done before, and he immediately felt uncomfortable. Crossing his arms, Seth cleared his throat and brought up one hand to the top of his head, rubbing back and forth. It felt incredibly weird, and was going to take some getting used to. But on the plus side, it was definitely low maintenance. And it felt oddly soothing.
No one had said anything in a long time now. "Uh…Dad?" Seth began, and Sandy looked him in the eye, almost startled by the disruption of the quiet. "Are…you okay?"
Sandy's face was still deadpan. "Fine." He answered immediately, his eyes flicking between Seth and Ryan as slowly, a kind of pleasantly surprised smile turned up the corners of his lips. "Just fine. Might I ask what you two are doing in here?" he asked, now trying to look and sound casual as he leaned against one arm in the doorframe.
Ryan turned to look at Seth helplessly, his jaw opening and closing as he searched for words. "Uh…" Seth began, thinking frantically. "Changing it up? Going for the Sinead O'Connor look? Joining the army?" Ryan elbowed him in the side. If he hadn't, Seth probably would have gone on.
"Uh huh." Sandy chuckled lightly, looking unconvinced. But he still smiled and looked at Seth and Ryan with that muted, happy-go-lucky look on his face that made Seth feel like he was in some corny after-school-special.
"Not so believable, huh?" Seth sighed.
"Not a chance."
"When should I have stopped?"
Ryan snorted. "Probably at 'uh'."
Seth rolled his eyes. "So which suggestion was the most believable?" he asked, glancing between his father and foster brother.
Sandy peered over his shoulder before grinning back at his son. "I suggest you figure it out soon." He said, jerking a thumb behind him. "Because I think I hear your mother." His eyes sparkled, and Seth realized he was enjoying this way too much.
"Dad!" Seth exclaimed, bursting forward and poking his head out into the hall. Sure enough, the top of a blonde head was jogging up the staircase and heading in their direction. "Stall her." Seth ordered in a whisper.
His dad was still laughing. "Are you kidding?" He asked rhetorically, wiping tears from his eyes, his face beet red. "And miss her reaction to this little Hell's Angels convention? Not on your life, son."
Seth shared a look of combined horror and betrayal with Ryan, before they both returned their gazes to Sandy, crossing their arms and fixing him with glowering expressions. "Traitor." Ryan huffed.
"Boys? Sandy, did you find them?" Kirsten's voice floated in from the hall, the sound nearing as well as her gentle footfalls. Again, Seth joined his foster brother in the breath-holding experience, and faced the open doorway with wide eyes.
"There you are, I…oh my God!" Kirsten appeared in the bathroom door just long enough for her blue eyes to double in size as a hand flew to her open mouth, gaping at Seth and Ryan in shock.
Seth grinned cheekily. "Hey, mom." He gestured to Ryan, and then his own head. "You like?"
Several moments of heavy silence interspersed with Sandy's muffled chuckles went by, his mother's eyes dancing between first Ryan, then Seth. She looked confused, and slightly horrified. But as the seconds ticked by, the shock slowly wore off and she just looked perplexed. "Boys…" She began, finally lowering her hand and taking a step further into the room. "What possessed you?" She asked.
Dramatically, Seth gave an exasperated sigh. "But mom! All the cool kids are doing it!" he exclaimed.
Out of nowhere, Sandy jumped in. "I like it." He said, and Kirsten whirled around to stare at her husband gaping in a combination of horror and disgust. "What? I do. It's very…" He looked at Seth for help.
Seth scratched his chin. "Gandhi?"
"Try again." Sandy scoffed.
"Michael Stipe?"
"Who?"
"REM, dad."
"Oh, right, right. Better."
Kirsten glared at them both. "Quit naming bald people!" she exclaimed, walking up to Ryan, unable to hide her stare. Seth saw her mouth twitch slightly as she tried to lock eyes with her foster son, cautiously running her hand over the top of his head. "Is this…because of why I think it is?" she asked gently, but Ryan looked away.
Seth jumped in. "Because Ryan and I watched way too much of the Fast and the Furious and totally thought that a huge buff guy isn't the only one that can pull off a crew cut? Then yes, it's what you thought." He nodded, maneuvering behind Ryan's chair to plug the electric razor back into the wall. "I mean, yeah the man's produced a load of below B-list movies ever since then, but most recently, the Pacifier? Total crap. And yes, there are those who believe that the man is gayer than the locker room at the Ice Capades, but Vin Diesel is very misunderstood, mom. Ryan and I are just trying to keep the good name alive." Over the top of Ryan's head, Seth locked eyes with his mother and pleaded – no, begged – her not to make a bit deal out of this.
He watched Kirsten swallow and briefly her hand came up to her mouth again, her fingers trailing across her lips as she looked down at the top of Ryan's almost-completed buzz cut. Her eyes flicked across the room to Sandy, who nodded at her as well, before she reached out to touch the top of Ryan's head again. "Well, I have to admit." She smiled slightly, and reached up to put her other hand on Seth's crown as well. "It's very soft."
Seth rolled his eyes. "Tough, mom." He sighed. "It's supposed to make us look tough. Not soft." He implored.
Kirsten nodded. "Oh, of course." She corrected herself, and smiled first at Ryan, and then at Seth, letting her eyes rest on her son's for a long moment, the look filled with pride. "My mistake." Her blue orbs glittered with unshed tears.
Clearing his throat, Seth nodded towards the door. "Now you two kids go on and get out of here." He said, nodding towards his mother and father. "Ryan, Mr. Buzz, and I have some unfinished business." He said, holding up the device with a grin.
"You named the razor?" Ryan said in disbelief, tilting his head back to give his foster brother a withering look. "That's sad, Seth. Even for you." He shook his head.
Flicking his thumb over the 'on' button, Seth held up the buzzing piece of machinery in his hand and grinned maniacally. "Ha, ha." He said sarcastically. "Just remember who is holding Mr. Buzz in his capable, hands, Ryan. I know you said no lightening bolts, but there definitely is a little space left right by your ear, here…"
"Seth." Kirsten's voice warned as she glared at him with wide, dangerous eyes. "No lightening bolts."
Ryan grinned. "Told you so."
Leaning down, Kirsten planted a kiss on the top of Ryan's head, smiling at him briefly. Then she put a hand to the back of Seth's neck and bowed his head, giving his newly cropped hair the same treatment. Then she let Sandy draw her out of the room. "See you boys in the morning. Don't stay up too late." She warned half-heartedly, smiling warmly.
"We won't." Seth answered simultaneously with his brother, and waited until the door shut behind his parents before he turned back to Ryan and prepared to lower the razor. "So." He began. "How do you feel about 'I heart wife beaters' on the back of your head?" he asked teasingly.
In the reflection of the mirror, Ryan rolled his eyes with a barely concealed grin. "Just cut it off, Seth." He said.
Predictably enough, Tuesday had been a grade A drag. As most chemo days were, Seth supposed. But something about this particular day felt somehow worse.
When his foster brother returned from the hospital hours later, it hadn't just been as bad as usual. Ryan was so close to unconsciousness, Sandy had practically carried him up the stairs to bed, and hardly any words exchanged as a flurry of activity took over the Cohen household. Seth wished he could just write it off as his imagination that somehow made that single day so much crappier than the others. He guessed it was because the day before had been so great, so effortlessly normal at times, that when their new reality decided to strike up again, Seth wasn't prepared.
But at least his hair was.
Seth didn't want to admit it, but this buzz cut thing really had its perks. Most mornings were spent with torturous styling sessions in front of a mirror, with combined forces of a well-used comb and a little bit of gel. Add that to the already time consuming job of pairing the perfect t-shirt with the right pair of jeans, and Seth's mornings were eaten up pretty fast. But now? Roll out of bed and he was good to go. Just a few seconds in front of his reflection to smooth down the eyebrows and pray to Moses that with each passing day it was just his imagination that made them look suspiciously furrier and not his Jewish father's whacked-out genes.
Having not seen Ryan conscious basically all of the day before, Seth was determined to make Wednesday awesome. He'd gotten up early for the second time in his life, called Summer and dragged her out of bed, as well, then went in the general direction of the kitchen and languidly made coffee and toasted bagels.
His mom was still in her bathrobe when she came down the stairs. "I could get used to this, Seth." She said, kissing his cheek and rubbing the top of his head as she stole a bagel from the plate he was setting out on the counter, then went in search of a clean mug. "Be careful, honey. You've been warned." Kirsten smirked.
"Good morning, mother." Seth rolled his eyes, and maneuvered through the fridge in his hunt for the cream cheese. "How's Ryan?"
With his back turned, Seth couldn't be certain if he'd heard her sigh, but he could picture the frown on his mother's face. "Still sleeping." She responded, and sat down at the table.
Seth let the fridge door fall shut as he turned around and set the desired container on the counter. "Yeah?" He asked, eyebrows frowning in slight concern. His mother was like Ryan – bad at lying – and right now he was fairly certain that she was hiding something. "He okay?" he added after a beat.
Kirsten nodded. "As well as he could be…considering. Since they've upped his chemo dosage, it's just harder on him. But Ryan's doing better than I expected, to be honest. And Dr. Collins loved the new do." She took a thoughtful sip of coffee. "He's exhausted, though. He could barely get out of bed when I checked on him last night." She sighed sadly, and shook her head.
Seth bit his lip as he located a knife and started smearing cream cheese on one of the golden brown salt bagels. He suddenly wasn't too terribly hungry anymore. "That's rough." He muttered, because he couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Yeah, it is." After that their chatter died down and Seth felt his mother's eyes on him as he cleaned up after his slight mess and positioned the perfectly prepared bagels in the center of the counter. "So, is Summer coming over today?" She asked perkily, and Seth looked up at her in surprise.
"Uh, yeah." He replied, nodding. "Why?"
With a shrug, Kirsten turned her attention to the front page of the newspaper that was currently residing on the table in front of her. "No reason." She said nonchalantly. "It's just good for Ryan to spend time with his friends right now. It's important for him to be happy." She smiled at her son, and continued reading.
Seth's eyes narrowed at her, but she just looked at him innocently. "Okay, Dr. Phil." He muttered, still staring at his mother quizzically.
The French doors opened and Sandy swooped in, flip flops clapping against his heels as he whipped damp hair out of his eyes. "Dr. Phil? Where?" He asked conversationally, making a beeline for the coffee maker and kissing his wife on the way.
Kirsten raised a hand. "That would be me." She grinned.
"How were the waves, dad?" Seth asked.
Raising a hand above his head, his father sipped at his coffee. "Ten footers."
"Awesome."
Sandy nodded in agreement. "Bagels?" He asked, looking hopefully at Seth.
"Right in front of you, dad." Seth answered proudly, pushing the plate towards the older man.
Picking one up and inspecting it with slight disdain, Sandy arched a signature busy eyebrow. "Low fat cream cheese?" He asked cynically.
Seth scoffed. "Bite your tongue, father." He picked up a slice for himself, dramatically inhaling the scent of his breakfast and blissfully closing his eyes. "Just good ol' traditional creamy goodness." He sighed, taking a large bite.
"Oh, I love you, son."
"I love you too, dad. But not as much as I love bagels."
Seth ran around the corner when the doorbell rang so fast that his socks slid across the smooth, shiny floor. His eagerness was caused by two main factors: one, Summer was at the other end of that door and he was suddenly desperate to see her, and two, he'd been hoping she'd knock – Ryan was still asleep. If he didn't let her in soon, she might ring it again.
As he lunged for the doorknob, he caught sight of himself in the foyer mirror, and did a double take. He'd forgotten about the hair. Or lack there of.
Rubbing a hand across the top of his head, he tried to conjure up her response with a little help from his creative imagination. Would she be thrilled? Horrified? No…she'd find this hot. It was dangerous. No, bad boy. She'd be all over him. He had nothing to worry about.
Lifting up the collar of his polo shirt, Seth shrugged his shoulders and fluidly opened the door, leaning against the frame in an overly casual stance, quirking up an eyebrow in what he hoped was an aloof and sexy expression. "Hey, Summer." He drawled, and added a wink for good measure.
The petite brunette stood slack-jawed and wide-eyed, staring at him as if he'd grown a second head. Then without warning her mouth crinkled and she threw her head back and laughed.
"Oh my God, Cohen!" She gasped between breath-stealing giggles, a hand covering her mouth as she pointed at his head. "What did you do?" She shrieked, clutching at her midsection as she doubled over and continued laughing.
Okay, now he was embarrassed. Flattening his collar and rubbing a self-conscious hand over the top of his head, Seth lowered his eyes and shifted his feet. "I gave myself a haircut, okay?" He grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her giggling form into the house, shutting the door behind her.
Tears of laughter were now streaming down her pink face. "With what, a lawn mower?" She chuckled, reaching up a hand to touch his scalp.
Seth swatted her hand away. "Leave it alone, okay?" He said, crossing his arms and taking a step back. "Only people who appreciate the new hair are allowed to touch it. Those who laugh and or make fun, similarly to what you just did, can only observe from a distance." He finished, and turned his body away from her playfully.
Getting her laughter under control, Summer struggled to make a serious face. "Aww, did I hurt your feelings Cohen?" She gushed, stepping closer to her boyfriend and wrapping her arms around his waist. "Come on, tough guy. I'm sorry. It was just a shock to the system. I'm over it now." She promised.
"Nope. No, me and my semi-hairless head are still offended." Seth insisted, tilting his chin to the ceiling. "There will be no touching today."
Summer opened her mouth in slight shock. "Really? No touching whatsoever?"
"That's right. You heard me." Seth replied.
With a dramatic pout, Summer stood on her tip toes in front of his face and gave a devilish grin. "Not even…" she planted a light kiss to his lips. "Here?" She asked playfully. Lightly, she touched her mouth to his again, waiting until he reciprocated.
Seth broke the kiss breathlessly and wrapped his arms around her. "Okay, maybe there." He relented with a roll of his eyes, and guided her towards the living room with her hand in his. He smiled a shark's smile as they toppled over the arm of the couch onto the soft cushions as she giggled and kissed him again. She could laugh all she wanted, but he knew his hair was definitely working for him today.
"Where are you parents, Cohen?" She asked slightly breathlessly, her nimble fingers working on the buttons of his shirt.
Seth reached for the hem of her sweater. "Dad's at work, mom's grocery shopping." He pressed his lips to hers again. "For lots and lots of food."
The floor creaked almost inaudibly as Seth and Summer broke apart like two negative magnets. "Ask where Ryan is. Always ask where Ryan is." His foster muttered groaned as he walked through the room to the kitchen, barefoot and in sweats, one hand shielding the side of face like blinders.
As Seth worked on fixing the buttons of his shirt, he tossed an apologetic grin at Summer. "Sorry about that." He said, fixing the cushions of the couch. "I'll take a rain check, though. Preferably in a boudoir." He said slyly, and leaned over to kiss her cheek.
It was then that he realized that she wasn't moving, just staring at him with tears in her eyes. Alarmed, he touched her shoulder. "What's wrong? Is it something I said? Did?" Seth demanded worriedly.
After a moment Summer seemingly broke from her daydream and shook her head. She locked on to Seth's eyes and smiled at him sadly. "His hair." She said softly, nodding towards the direction of the kitchen where Ryan had disappeared.
Seth pressed his lips together, trying to follow. "Yes…" he said slowly.
Summer sniffed. "And your hair…" She said tearfully, pointing to his head.
"Again, yes." Seth agreed, nodding. "Not understanding why you're so upset, though."
She swallowed and smiled at him again, reaching out to touch the side of his head with wide, watery brown eyes. This time Seth didn't pull away. "You did this for him." She stated, a look of admiration in her eyes.
Seth just nodded.
Summer sighed. "Cohen, that is the sweetest, most non-selfish thing I've ever heard of in my life." She said, and stroked her hand down to his chin, guiding his head forward and kissing him softly. Summer looked him in the eyes. "I'm sorry I laughed at you. I'm like, uber-bitch." She averted her eyes.
"Hey, you're not a bitch, okay?" Seth insisted, trying to get her to smile again. "If anything, my dad's the bitch. He had me comparing myself to Sinead O'Connor. No good can come of that." He chuckled, rewarded with a slight grin.
Summer tossed her thick, dark hair. "Cohen, just when I think you're starting to make sense, you go and say something like that." She straightened her skirt and stood up from the couch, offering a hand to Seth and pulling him up with her.
Draping an arm around his girlfriend's shoulders, Seth hugged her to his chest as they made the trek to the kitchen. "I can't help it my love, it's in my nature." He sighed dramatically. "Besides, it's more of an inside joke."
In the kitchen, Ryan was slumped at the kitchen counter, a steaming cup of something directly under his head. Seth walked closer to investigate, and clucked his tongue disapprovingly. "Ryan, man, you know mom will have your hide if she finds you drinking coffee." He chastised, taking the offending mug and dumping it in the sink.
Ryan's eyes were closed as he sighed, his head propped up heavily on his fist. "I know. But it was worth a try." He moaned.
"Hey, Chino." Summer said, still somewhat uncomfortable from the interruption before. "I'm digging the hair." She said sweetly, smiling towards his head.
One eye popped open and Ryan regarded her tiredly. "Thanks. Sorry…about before." He mumbled, just as awkward. Then he blushed, averted his eyes, and jerked a thumb towards her chest. "And might I add that your…bra…is still showing."
Seth laughed as Summer looked down at herself and hurriedly adjusted her shirt. She clubbed him in the solar-plexus with her fist. "Ass!" She shouted, shoving him hard. "You could have told me, you know!" She crossed her arms in front of herself and shot him a death glare.
Rubbing his midsection, Seth still laughed. "True." He relented, but then shook his head. "But it's much funnier this way."
Summer rolled her eyes and sat beside Ryan at the counter. "Chino, let's ignore ignoramus boy." She said, patting Seth's foster brother on the back affectionately, all the while shooting daggers in her boyfriend's direction. "How are you feeling on this fine morning?" She asked conversationally.
Ryan coughed. "Been better." He sighed, and leaned forward to pillow his head on his arms, resting on the surface of the counter.
"Here man." Seth appeared at the other end of the counter with a cup containing tea and two small pills. "Drink up. And sorry for have to confiscate the coffee. But you don't want mom to start another lecture about caffeine and pain medication." He reminded gently, and achieved a grunt of acknowledgment.
"Cohen, you make it very hard to ignore you." Summer huffed. "Is that in your nature, too?" she asked rhetorically.
"Yeah, sure." Seth answered absently. He was currently distracted by the way Ryan was painstakingly lifting his head up to swallow his medicine and sip at the hot contents of the mug. By the way his brother's hands were so furiously shaking, Seth was glad he had taken the liberty to only fill it to the half-way mark. Today was quite obviously not one of Ryan's better mornings. When a round of coughing started, Seth's brows furrowed tighter in concern. He thought his foster brother's slight cold had cleared up days ago. He made a mental note to tell his mother about this later.
Summer's small, sharp fist pelted him in the shoulder. "Ow! Summer, what?" He demanded, rubbing his arm and glaring at his girlfriend in surprise.
"Cohen, I'm talking, here!" She growled, arching her brows accusingly. "You haven't heard a word I've said, have you?" Summer challenged quietly.
Still rubbing his aching limb, Seth looked at Ryan for help, but his foster brother just shrugged. "I have to." He began uneasily. "Refresh me." he pleaded.
With a dramatic sigh, a cock of her head, and a roll of her eyes, Summer crossed her arms and glared at him. "What time are you picking me up tomorrow, Cohen?" She asked as if she had been asking the same question for hours on end.
Confused, Seth wracked his brain. "For what?"
"Hello! For your grandfather's birthday party, genius." She said condescendingly.
Seth looked at her quizzically. "Tomorrow is Grandpa's birthday?" He asked himself, wracking his brain. He knew he'd been out of the loop where his grandfather was concerned for some time now. After all, Caleb Nichol was not on the Cohen family's favorite list of people at the moment. But Seth didn't know how he could have forgotten the date of perhaps one of the biggest annual parties in Newport Beach.
Summer clucked her tongue and smiled haughtily. "I guess I know more about your family affairs than even you do, Cohen." She said snidely. When Seth and Ryan gave her a collective glare of disbelief, she threw up her hands in defeat. "Okay, so Julie Cooper is throwing the party at her house, and Marissa invited me. But I still knew about it before you two morons."
"Point taken, Summer." Seth shrugged. "Point taken."
"Anyway, pick me up at seven tomorrow night, okay?" Summer went on, tucking her hair behind her ears and sneaking a sip from Ryan's mug. She wrinkled her nose in disgust. "God, Chino. And that's supposed to make you feel better?" She wiped the back of her mouth with her hand.
Ryan sighed tiredly but managed an amused smile. "No, not really." He mumbled.
Seth leaned against the counter top and avoided Summer's eyes. "Anyway Summer, I'm not too sure how to put this, but um…" He licked his lips. "I'm not going." He clapped his hands together and started milling about the kitchen. Maybe he'd prepare an early lunch.
Summer shook her head as if confused. "I'm sorry. I don't think I heard you correctly." She said, and Seth could feel her stare even as he turned his back to rummage through the cabinets. "It sounded like you just said you're not going to your own grandfather's birthday party, one of the biggest events in Newport every year."
Seth nodded without turning around. "Right. That's what I said."
Now it was Ryan's turn to sound confused. "What? Why not?" he asked, bewildered.
"I've got plenty of reasons why not, good buddy." Seth replied as he clapped his hands together. His search for nothing came up fruitless and he had to close the cupboards and face the two teens staring at him in puzzlement. "For instance, the Valley will be on at eight. I can't miss that. Summer, how are you tearing yourself away?" He asked in mock horror.
"I'm taping it, Cohen." She said slowly. "It's called a VCR, dumbass. I hope you have a better reason than that."
Seth shrugged. "I don't need a better reason." He said simply. "I'm just not going."
The click of high heels made themselves known as they got nearer and nearer to the kitchen. His mother walked in with both arms loaded with over flowing brown bags of groceries. "Not going to what?" she asked, interested. "Hi Summer." She said to the girl as she set down the two heavy bags. She smiled at Ryan and walked over to kiss his cheek. "Morning, sweetie." She rubbed a hand over the top of his very short hair, and looked at Seth. "Not going to what?" she repeated.
"Your dad's birthday party." Ryan jumped in before Seth got a chance to open his mouth.
"Oh." Kirsten said, and her face fell slightly.
Seth saw Ryan glance at her quizzically as she started unpacking the groceries from the brown paper bags. "Oh, what?" he asked, his expression growing more and more tense by the second. "We're going, right?" he asked suddenly.
Kirsten smiled down at him in a way that even Seth had to say was patronizing. "I don't think so, honey. Not this year." Her voice was soft and controlled. Then she turned around and looked at her son. "Seth, would you please go and get the rest of the bags from the back of my car?" She requested, and tried to make herself busy again.
But Seth hung back in the doorway and watched the exchange worriedly. Ryan was watching Kirsten's every more, silently and with a searching look in his eye. Then after a moment something flickered across his face and it fell. "You got fired, didn't you?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kirsten had stopped, her back to the room and carton of baking soda in one hand. Seth watched as she slowly turned around and looked Ryan in the eye. "I didn't get fired." She said slowly. "I quit."
Summer sucked in a breath. "I'm going to go powder my nose." She said lamely, not that anyone was really listening to her at that point anyway. She locked eyes with Seth briefly before she left the room.
"It was because of me, wasn't it?" Ryan asked out of nowhere, his voice now dark and ashamed, his head bowed and eyes trained on the table.
Seth bit the inside of his cheek to keep from speaking out loud, in his head a voice chanted, don't go for honesty on this one, mom. If you know Ryan at all, do not, under any circumstances, go for honesty.
His mother sighed and walked closer to where her foster son sat. She pressed her lips into a fine line and looked down at the top of his head. "It was because of a lot of reasons, Ryan." She said softly, reaching for to cover one of his hands and giving it a gentle squeeze. "But one of those reasons was because he was making me choose between work and my family. And my family always comes first." She stated.
Ryan looked up at her with heartbroken eyes, and Seth knew that it hadn't worked. "But he's your family." He said softly.
Kirsten swallowed. "And you're my son."
"I'm just your foster son." Ryan said immediately, shaking his head. "You can't choose me over your dad, Kirsten. I won't let you." He stammered, pulling away from her slightly.
Reaching out, Kirsten captured his hand again between both of her own. "Ryan, it's not a matter of letting me. It's done, sweetie. I did what I had to do, for you, me, for this family. I won't let him control my life." She told him, speaking soothingly. "You, and Seth, and Sandy are my life. Right now you need me. And I have to do what's best for you." She blinked back tears, stroked his palm with her fingers, and brushed a gentle hand down the back of his head.
Seth watched Ryan take a deep, calculated breath. He covered his mouth and coughed before he trusted his voice to speak. "Okay." He said softly, and finally looked Kirsten in the eye. "Then we'll go to your dad's birthday tomorrow." After a moment he released her hand and slowly stood up. With a little leverage from the edge of the counter and the back of the stool, he unsteadily made his way out of the kitchen.
After he was gone, Seth stood silently in his place and watched his mother sigh and wrap her arms around herself, staring into space with a troubled expression.
Seth rubbed his hands together, needing to break the silence. "Well now we need to buy a present, huh?" he said jokingly.
Kirsten looked up and leveling him with a look that was not in the least amused.
"Okay…" Seth mumbled and turned around. "I'll go get those groceries."
AN: Yay, it's done! It took me a long time to finish. I had the beginning written, like, two weeks ago and it took me forever to write the rest. But it was worth it, because I like it. So, tell me if you do, too. Review! Cheers,
-Vancouverite
