A/N: Thanks for the reviews you guys please keep in coming it keeps me motivated and keeps me wanting to update this story!!!
Pulled back to a life once familiar
"Well that was actually fun" Seth said leaving the diner. "Yeah I almost forgot how much fun it is to be around you" She said. He smiled. "I think that was like the first time in forever that we ever went to the diner without Ryan and Marissa" He said.
"Yeah that's true" Summer said walking up the pier. He looked at her. "It's a nice change" He said.
"Yeah it was" She said. Everything stayed quiet. "So I think I'm going to go you know I have work in the morning so I should" She said. "Of course. Working on Chrismukkah always a bitch" He said.
"Right well it's not a national holiday yet so I sort of have to" Summer said with a laugh. "Yeah so I guess this is good night" He said. "Yeah promise me we can hang again before you leave maybe with Coop and Atwood this time" Summer said. "Absolutely" He said. "Well night Cohen" She said walking away.
He watched her go and he blurted out "I missed you, you know" Seth said. She froze when she heard his voice.
She turned to face him. "What?" She asked. "I said I missed you" Seth said.
"You did?" She said walking towards him.
"Yeah I mean you were apart of the better part of my life and I miss not having you around" He said being honest. She smiled and threw her arms around Seth. He was a little surprised.
"I missed you too" She whispered into his shoulder. She kissed him on the cheek "Night Cohen" She said. "Night Summer" He said and with that she walked way and he watched her go. When she was clearly gone he headed to his car and headed home.
Ryan was just taking off his shoes in the pool house when he heard his cell go off. "Hey" He said.
"Sorry about bailing on you and Coop" Summer said. "Oh that's okay. Where did you guys go anyway?" Ryan
said."The Diner" She said. He smiled thinking about how much time they spent there in high school.
"So did you at least have fun?" Ryan asked her.
"Yeah you know for the first time in along time I actually did" Summer said.
"Well I'm glad it's been long over due" He said.
"You know you and Coop deserve to be happy too" she said still driving. "Summer how many times do I have to tell you there's nothing going on between me and Marissa?" He said. "Relax Atwood I didn't mean you had to be happy together. It's just time that you'd be happy" Summer said. He stayed silent.
"Hey Ryan?" She said. "Yeah" He said listening. "Thanks for always being there to talk with me" She said. He smiled. "Summer you can't thank me because it goes both ways and you know that" he said. She smiled.
"I'm really glad we got to be actual friends" She said.
"We were always friends but now where best friends" He said. She laughed. "Don't tell Seth that he'll flip out knowing he's not the only one" She said. "Oh well he'll just have to deal" Ryan said. "Right well thanks Ryan" She said. He smiled. "Night Summer" He said.
"See ya later Atwood" She said hanging up. He shut his cell and smiled. He placed his phone and laid back on the bed thinking about Newport and how much it changed and how he changed just by being apart of it.
His thoughts were broken when he heard the sound of the telephone he didn't even look he just assumed his was Summer forgetting to say something. "What is it Summer?" He said picking up. "Ryan" He heard her say.
He sat up quickly. "Mom" He said. "How are you sweetie?" She said. "I'm good mom where are you?" He wondered. "I'm in Chino I just wanted to see if you were back in New Port for the holidays" She said. "What are you doing back in Chino?" He asked.
"I don't know Rye a stroke of bad luck I guess" she said obviously messed up. He hated when she was like this but then again she was his mother and he couldn't leave her.
"Maybe you can come visit I'm in the old neighborhood" she said sounding desperate. He caved sighing. "Alright tomorrow's good" He said. "Great I can't wait to see you" She said. "Bye mom" He said hanging up. Just when things where starting to go better and now this.
The next morning Ryan found Seth in the kitchen. "Morning man" He said. Ryan poured some coffee. "So Ryan I was thinking that maybe we could hang today, go mock the people of New port what do you say?" He said sitting down at the table.
"As appealing as that sounds I have to pass. I have a few things to do today" Ryan said. "Like?" He asked. "Well I have to stop by the New port group in an hour to see your mom and then after that I have to drive to Chino to see my mom" He said drinking the coffee.
"Wait Dawn called you?" Seth said sounding surprised. He nodded. "Yeah and it was apparent that she's back to getting into trouble" Ryan said. "So why put yourself through that again man?" He said.
"She's my mother Seth and that's what it comes down to" Ryan said knowing Seth would understand. He nodded. "Well you want me to go with you? I can be good company on a long ride" Seth said.
Ryan let out a small laugh. "Nah this is something I have to do myself but thanks man" He said. "Okay" Seth said. "Alright so I'll be back later" He said setting his cup down. "Say hi to the mom's for me" He said. Ryan smiled. "I will do that" Ryan said walking out and heading to the New Port group.
He arrived a little while later. He stepped out of the elevator and walked over to the reception area waved to the receptionist as she knew he was Kirsten's son. He went towards her office.
He noticed the door open so he stuck his head in noticing Kirsten on the phone. He motioned that he could come back. Kirsten nodded no and motioned him to come in. "Alright so look at the plans and get back to me" She said hanging up. He sat down across from her desk.
"Well I'm glad you came when you did" Kirsten said sitting down. "Yeah it gets a little busy around here" He said with a laugh. She smiled. "So you're probably wondering why I called you here?" She asked. "Well it has made me wonder. What's up?" He said.
"You're an exceptional worker" She said. He smiled thanking her silently. "I don't know how you'd feel about this but I want you to consider a position that's open. I think it would be a good fit for you" she said to him. "You mean work for the New Port group?" He asked.
"Yes the position would be a step up from what you do now, pay raise, and you would be building low income housing as well as a few mcmansions here and there only on account of my father" She said. "So if I said yes Caleb would be my boss?" Ryan said.
"No you would be working for me" Kirsten said. He smiled. "Are you sure that's a good idea? I'm not exactly Caleb's favorite person and it may look like favoritism" He added. "What because of the fact that you're my son" She said. He smiled just hearing her say it.
"Ryan I picked you for your work and yes I admit it's better that your part of the family but your exceptional and I want you to really consider this opportunity" She said. He nodded understanding. "You don't have to give me an answer right away just think about it" She said.
"Okay I will" Ryan said getting up. "See I'll see you back at the house?" She said. "Probably a little later Dawn called last night" He said. She looked at him.
"Is she okay?" Kirsten said concerned. "She called so no" He said with a sigh. "Ryan just be careful alright" She said knowing that it was what he had to do. "Don't I always?" He said. She hugged him. "See ya later" She said. He smiled. "Bye Kirsten" He said walking out.
Meanwhile back at the Cohen Manor the door bell rang. Seth opened it. "Marissa" He said. "Hey Seth" she said coming in. "Come on into the kitchen we got coffee and bagels" He said. She followed him in.
He poured her a cup and handed it to her. "Thanks. So where's Ryan?" Marissa asked him. "At the New Port group talking to mom" he said. "Oh so he should probably be back soon then?" She said.
"Yeah actually much later then that" He said. Marissa looked at him. "He's going to see Dawn today" Seth said. "But I thought she's not in Chino anymore?" She said.
"Yeah well she wasn't but apparently she's back to put a damper on Ryan's life and you know how he can't say no to her" He said. "Right" She said. "So what brings you here anyways?" Seth said.
"I thought we could hang out for a little while you know since we haven't really done that since you came home" She said. He smiled. "Is this because Ryan's not home?" Seth said joking. She playfully hit him.
"No Seth so come on" She said. "Okay but I refuse to go to fashion Island with you" He said. "Just for that that's where were going" She said dragging him off.
Ryan pulled into the familiar town one that he had left behind. He no longer fit into this world but yet it still tugged at his heart whenever he came back here.
He pulled down the familiar street it was his old house the very one where Sandy had rescued him from when he was abandoned. He smiled thinking about it. He sounded the alarm and walked across the street.
It turns out Dawn was staying next door with Theresa's mom of course Theresa still lived there. He went in the gate and hurried up the steps and knocked. The door flung open. He was staring straight and Theresa.
"Ryan" She said opening the door. "Theresa Hey" He said. She hugged him and then let him in. "So how's Marissa?" She said walking him through the foyer into the living room. "She's good. How's it going?" He said.
"Good nice job decent pay still living with my mom" She said. "How is she?" He said. "She's dawn" Choosing not to lie to him about it. They walked in and saw Dawn and Mrs. Rodriguez before them.
"Look who's here" Theresa said. They turned to see him. "Well I'll just leave you too alone." Mrs Rodriguez said grabbing his hand. "It's good to see you Ryan" She said. "You too" He said.
With that they left giving Ryan some time with Dawn. He walked over to her. She stood up and hugged him. "Hi Mom" He said. "You look so good sweetie" She said.
"Thanks" Unfortunately he couldn't say the same for her. "The Cohen's have done quite a job with you. Theresa was just telling me that you're an architect in Boston now" She said. "Yeah" He said sitting down next to her. "So what are you doing back here?" Ryan asked.
"I just hit some hard times you know" She said. Ryan got angry. "Yeah it's always the same story isn't it" He said not really needing to hear anything else. "Ryan" She said. He got up.
"You know don't it's always the same with you. You stay away for years and then when your desperate you call me to bail you out" He said yelling frustrated and hurt to have to keep dealing with this over and over again. "That's not true" Dawn said trying to defend herself.
"Yeah it is. All you've ever done is leave me and yet the sad part is whenever you call I can't bring myself to leave you. I guess that's what makes us different" Ryan said staring her straight in her eyes.
"Maybe you got it from the Cohen's" She said sadly. "You can't keep doing this" He said shrugging his shoulders in desperation. "I'm sorry I called you I thought I could see my son" Dawn said.
"Not call me Mom you can't keep going out with these jerks and expect that there not going to just take off leaving you with nothing. You have to straighten out once and for all" He said.
"What difference does it make I already lost everything" She said. "If you lost everything then why am I still standing here?" He said trying to get through to her. She looked up at Ryan with tears in her eyes. "Your right I know you are" She said.
"So listen to me for once Mom just please listen to me" He said desperately. "I will I'm going to go back to New Mexico it was better there. You know I had a job, a nice life. It will be better this time. I just wanted a chance to see my boy first before I left" She said standing up.
He stood up too and hugged her. "You can call me whenever you want" Ryan told her and with that he slipped some money into her hand. "Ryan" She said trying to stop him. "Take it and go back and start putting your life back together for yourself. You can do this Mom. I know you can "He said.
"I love you, you know?" She said kissing his cheek and hugging him again. "I love you too mom" He said softly. This was what always killed him they couldn't see eye to eye but he came whenever she called him. "You take care of yourself okay?" She said. He nodded.
"You want a ride to the station?" he said. She smiled. "Yeah I'd like that" Dawn said. He went outside to wait for her. "Why do you do it?" Theresa said. "Because she's my mother Theresa" He said. "Ryan she's always jerking you around" She said.
"You can't choose your family. You also can't turn your back on them in their darkest hour no matter how mad you get" He said. She nodded. "Well regardless it was nice seeing you again" She said.
He smiled noticing his mom coming out with a bag. "Yeah you too" He said. She kissed his cheek and went back inside. Dawn came up to him. "Bye Ryan don't be a stranger" Mrs. Rodriquez. "Thanks Mrs. Rodriquez" He said. She closed the door. He grabbed her bag. "Come on" He said they headed to the car and he took her to the station.
That night Seth was playing play station with Marissa and eventually even Summer stopped in and had been hooked so they sat there quietly knowing that Ryan would need them when they got back. So no one wanted to go home until they knew he was okay.
Dawn tended to take a lot out of him leaving him with nothing but his pride left to pick up off the floor. They heard the front door and the familiar foot steps. Ryan walked in with a sad expression on his face.
"Hey" He said. "Hey" They said. Summer knew what she had to do. They all did by this point the object was to make Ryan laugh. "That's it Cohen your ass is grass. I already kicked your ass twice" Summer said grabbing the controller.
"No way I already beat you and it's Marissa's turn" Seth said. "Who are you kidding Seth? Summer totally beat you" Marissa said. "See even Coop see's that I'm way better" she said.
Ryan sat down on the couch and just watched what was going on and thought this was his life with a sad smile. "Well just see about that" Seth said. Marissa looked at him.
"You okay?" Marissa asked him. "Yeah I've gotten used to it" He said. "Yes. Take that Summer" He said. "Cohen you totally cheated" Summer said. "No I didn't and now it's Ryan's turn. Come on buddy" Seth said.
"Seth you realize I could kick your ass right?" He said moving closer to the game. Summer moved over to make room. "Well your going to have to kick Marissa's ass because it's her turn" He said handing the controller over to her.
Ryan knew what he was doing. Marissa and Seth switched spots.
"Okay Cooper prepare to be amazed" He said joking. "Oh please I can take you" Marissa said with a smile sitting next to him and with that they played of course Marissa wasn't as good as Summer and wound up losing to Ryan.
Marissa laughed and followed Ryan into the pool house. Seth had walked Summer to her car. Ryan sat down quietly and as much fun he had hanging out Dawn was on his mind especially now but Marissa knew that. She sat in the chair next to the bed.
"You okay?" She said. He looked up acknowledging her. He was going to say yeah but some how he stopped himself. "I'm just wondering if she's gonna be different this time or if she doesn't then when's the next phone call going to be at five am" He said.
She looked at him sort of surprised that he was talking to her it was so not like Ryan to do. "Maybe she'll surprise you" She said. "Oh she surprises me alright just not in ways that I would like her too" Ryan said sadly.
"You know she's a grown up and she has to live with her choices" She said. "Yeah unfortunately so do I" He said. "Rye she was supposed to take care of you" She pointed out.
"Yeah but that's not exactly how it turned out. Otherwise how would you explain me winding up living in the Cohen's pool house? Not that I don't appreciate everything the Cohen's have done for me but he paused.. it would just be nice for once if she called me simply to see how I was not just to get her out of trouble yet again" He said getting angry with her.
She nodded. "Well you were never someone to turn your back on anyone. Maybe Dawn feels like she can depend on you" Marissa said. "Yeah depend on how I'm going to get her out of the next jam she gets in" He said. "Despite all her flaws she does love you" She told him.
"I guess I'm just looking for something I'm never going to find in Dawn" he said. "So maybe you've already found it in somebody else" She said. He looked at her confused. "Kirsten" Marissa said with a smile. He nodded.
"Dawn will never be Kirsten Cohen" He said. "So maybe in away you lucked out you know you got two mothers. Look at this way at least you didn't get stuck with Julie Cooper" She said disgusted.
"Your right" He said with a laugh which made her life. "But no matter what she does, she does really love you. I mean that's probably the only reason she was even nice to me the other day" He said.
"That wasn't because of me. I could let you listen to a whole bunch of voice mails that she left me. There's like a bazillion that mention you and how you are. Its scary but I think you've proven yourself" she said. He laughed.
"Well it only took her nine years" He said with a smile. "Well I'm surprised you ever got it from her at all" She said. "That makes two of us" He said. She smiled she noticed the clock on the wall read eleven thirty.
Her phone rang. "One second speaking of Julie Cooper." She said. He laughed at the irony. "Hello Mother" She said. Julie spieled something to her.
"Uh huh. Well I'm busy tomorrow night" she said trying to dodge her mother. "Mom" she said getting exasperated. "Fine what about breakfast at the yacht club tomorrow?" she said. He smiled knowing Marissa couldn't get out of it.
"Okay nine thirty I'll see you there" She said hanging up. "Sorry" She said. "You couldn't get out of it" He said. "No and I didn't really feel like listening to her go on and on about how I'm her first born and I never want to spend time with my mother especially when Kaitlin always seems to make time for her.
And then she'll go on and on how I like my father better then her and I just don't want to hear it so I gave in to her" Marissa explained. "It's probably wiser" He said. "Yeah now I have to sit through misery but I could always tell her I have an appointment for my job if it gets to be too much" She said.
"Nice back up" He said. "One of the joys of having a traveling job" She said. He smiled. "That's true" He said. "You like all the traveling?" She said. "Not really since I don't really do heights but you know I like the work so I guess it's okay" He said. "Right" She said.
"Well I should go get some sleep before facing my mother or else she'll tell me I have bags under my eyes or something" She said. He laughed. She got up to leave. "So I'm going to go and I guess I'll see you and Seth again before you guys leave" she said turning to leave.
"Marissa" He said. She turned towards him. "Thanks" Ryan said. She knew he was talking about the conversation about his mother and the fact that she didn't make a big deal out of it. "It's nothing you haven't done for me. Oh and if I call you in the morning just play along because I'm going to pretend I'm talking to a potential client" Marissa said. "Okay" Ryan said with a laugh. "Bye" she said leaving. "Night" He said.
He laid back on his bed and stared up at the ceiling. A few minutes later he was interrupted by Seth. "Hey man" he said. "Summer took off already" Ryan asked.
"Yeah but she wants us to meet her at the diner for breakfast" He said. "Okay" He said. "You should probably ask Marissa" Seth said. "Can't she has plans with Julie" He said. "So how was it with Dawn?" He said.
"It was as expected she was staying with Theresa's mom. We talked for awhile and then I drove her to the bus station and she promised that she was going back to New Mexico to clean up her life" He said.
"Do you honestly believe that?" Seth said. "I guess I have too for now anyway" He said sadly. "So she's gone again just like that?" Seth said.
"Yeah but you know it's better. I mean it's not like I still don't have family around" he said. Seth smiled. "So you and Marissa looked more friendlier. Ryan didn't even talk he just flung the pillow at his head. "What did I say?" He said. Ryan shook his head and laughed at Seth.