Title: Seasons
rating:pg:13
Summary: Women are like the seasons, always changing and never still. A 4 part series of vignettes where Ryan thinks about some of the women in his life. Second person narrative
A.N. written during early season 2, so it's kind of dated.
Chapter 4: Spring
Kirsten is like a spring blooming flower, all soft around the edges and fragile, but strong enough to withstand the wind. Her smile is like the shy sun peaking through the clouds on rainy spring days. She makes you feel like the teenager you were supposed to be..
It took you months to be comfortable enough with Cohens to use their kitchen for actual cooking. You were afraid you'd mess up the state of the art pots and pans or scorch the shiny stove. After you burned down Kirsten's model home, it didn't seem like a good idea to tempt fate in the Cohen's actual house. Besides, you liked Captain Crunch.
Kirsten isn't anywhere near adept in the kitchen. You hear more jokes about her cooking than jokes about Sandy's eyebrows. You've noticed a fire extinguisher next to the stove. When Seth saw where you were looking, he assured you it works, because they've had to use it, with a nod in his mother's direction.
Kirsten always seems casual with ribbing, playfully joining in and deflecting the attention to someone else. Her eyes, though, they become dull, and you know she is upset at what she considers a failure. So you help change the subject, and all is forgotten.
You think the house is empty when you sneak inside the house for a coke. You are staring at your shoes as you open the door. That's why you don't notice Kirsten until she spots you.
"Ryan."
You jump in surprise, and then settle as you realize it's Kirsten.
"Hi Kirsten," you say politely.
She smiles as you begin to fidget in her presence. She wearing a full length white apron, stained with use and food. Her hair is pulled in a loose bun, with sweaty tendrils framing her face. It's then you realize how warm it is inside the kitchen. Then you see the mess.
Spatulas, wooden spoons, a colander, an empty brownie mix box, and a pan of burnt brownies litter the counter. There is a splattering of a thick white substance over the stove, that upon closer inspection, seems to be dough. There are pots with caked sauce resting haphazardly in the sink, and an open box of spaghetti noodles spilling unto the floor.
"I was trying to cook." Kirsten says after you finish ogling the disaster the kitchen was in. She is wearing a self effacing grin, ready for a quick quip about her latest kitchen disaster.
You take a minute to assess the situation. There seems to be enough noodles left for a serving of three or four people. You know there are a couple of cans of tomato sauce in the pantry, and you've noticed before that there are spices laying around, even if they are used for decoration. Opening the refrigerator, you see butter and cheese. You look up to see a confused Kirsten seconds away from tears.
You roll up your sleeves.
"Let's make dinner."
Later, after the meal has been eaten, dishes put in the sink, and counters cleaned off, Kirsten knocks on your door. After you let her in, she gives you a big, if not awkward hug.
"Thanks." She says, with glistening eyes.
You shake your head, and let a small grin slip out.
"It was nothing." You reply.
She smiles back, and turns to leave.
"Ryan,"she pauses, "Tomorrow, would you, maybe, like to help me cook again?"
Your face shines with pride, and you nod. She smiles at you again, and leaves, closing the door behind her.
Kirsten is your new beginning. Your spring.
A.N. 2 : I rewrote this a couple of times, and during the process I lost the notebooks which held the stories. So I had to rewrite this vignette from scratch. It is a little different from the others, since I wrote it six months after the others. I hope it conveys the same sentiments. I wanted to show the metamorphosis Ryan went through his first year with the Cohens. Hopefully, some of that came through. Anyways, though belated, I finally finished, and that is something to be proud of. :) Happy reading!