Chapter 2

Seth and Marissa were making their way back to the party.

Seth had no idea that Marissa Cooper had anything in common with him apart from a zip code but after spending the past half hour with her, he was seeing a whole new side of her.

The group of boys by the bonfire had gotten bigger but Marissa didn't seemed threatened so Seth ignored them, listening to her talk about the new Bright Eyes album.

"What are you doing with that queer, Coop? Where's Luke?"

Seth glanced up and saw Chip Saunders towering over him.

"Leave us alone, Chip," Marissa replied, pushed past him and taking Seth's wrist to pull him with her toward the house.

"This little dweeb's bothering you, isn't he?" Chip asked. He laughed and promptly pulled his arm back and punched Seth in the face.

"Hey!"

Seth was still spinning and trying not to cry like a little bitch when he saw Ryan arrive.

Marissa was kneeling beside him, worried but Seth was transfixed by his new friend.

Ryan was like a street fighter and he had Chip on his ass in a matter of seconds. When the other boys ran up to help Chip, Ryan took two of them down before they got the upper hand.

"God, can you guys stop it?" Summer appeared with what seemed to be a water hose and quickly brought the brawl and the bonfire to an end. "You're acting like retards, and while for most of you, that isn't different, you need to chill out!"

She dropped the nozzle and it landed on Chip's chest with a thump when she saw Marissa. "Coop? What happened?"

"Stupidass Chip," Marissa muttered, helping Seth up.

Seth left the two girls alone and hurried over to Ryan's side.

He had blood from a cut on his forehead trickling down his face and he was holding his arm across his stomach.

"You all right?" Ryan asked before Seth could ask.

"Yeah, you?"

"Yeah. Fucking pricks…you ready to go?" he asked.

Seth followed Ryan's gaze to Summer who was holding Marissa and comforting her. "Yeah, man. Let's get out of here."

Ryan finally got to his feet and brushed off the sand.

"We can give you a ride home," Marissa offered. Seth was surprised when she put her hand on his arm. He glanced at Ryan but he wasn't looking at him. He was watching Summer again.

This was definitely an interesting night.

"Thanks," Seth said.

"I'm going to get my stuff, don't leave without me, Coop," Summer said, glancing at Seth for a moment, curiously before hurrying inside.

"My jacket's in there," Ryan said, wiping the blood off his face.

"Your suit's ruined anyway," Seth said.

"Dammit. I guess your mom's not going to be able to return it now," Ryan muttered, glancing at the bloodstains on the shoulder.

"I think the suit's the least of our worries," Seth replied, motioning to his swelling eye.

"It wasn't your fault," Marissa said.

"Can we get that in writing?" Seth joked.

********************* ************ *********************** **************

The next morning, Ryan woke up and saw Seth sitting up across the room with his mom standing over him. Glaring.

"What happened to your face?" she demanded.

"Mom, before you get all upset…" he started.

"House. Now," she ordered, glaring at Ryan before pulling Seth outside.

Well, it had been an interesting weekend to say the least.

Seth seemed like a good guy. He wasn't like any of Ryan's other friends. He was a really nice dude. Naïve, but nice.

And the girls here were definitely hotter than the girls at home.

He stuffed everything he'd brought with him back in his dufflebag.

He could probably catch a bus back to Chino. Settle things up with his mom. Maybe call Theresa and see if she was on the outs with Eddie yet.

He glanced around the poolhouse as he flipped the switch off.

Yeah, right, like he'd ever have a life like this.

The doors to the kitchen were open so he stepped inside.

He could hear Kirsten talking to Sandy through the opened front door. Did these people ever lock their doors?

He put his bag down. The least he could do was make them breakfast.

Seth was bound to be hungry after last night. They'd smoked a joint in the driveway before the girls had left them.

Summer had been in the back seat with him and she'd managed to get his zipper down before Marissa had given her the evil eye.

He'd love to have another go at that one.

With Seth's permission of course. But from what he could tell from last night, Seth had developed a little crush on his neighbor. And Marissa wasn't exactly pushing him away, either.

He scrambled the eggs, started the coffee and had just put the bacon in the pan when Kirsten stepped in.

"Look, Ryan, I don't mean to play bad cop. It's nothing personal," she said.

He gave her a nod. For it to be personal, she might have actually had to have a conversation with him.

"Is that bacon?" she asked.

Ryan shrugged. It was her house, she had to know what was in the fridge. "I usually make breakfast at my house. My mom's not much of a cook so," he started before letting his words fade. She didn't care, he didn't have to tell her anything.

"I'm sorry. You seem like a really nice kid," she said quietly.

He didn't know why he felt like he had to make this rich lady feel better. "It's okay. I get it. You have a really nice family," he added. He didn't really blame her for wanting him gone. She already had a perfect life. And Ryan was far from perfect.

He put the bacon on the table and picked up his backpack.

He wondered if she wanted to search it first.

********************* ************ *********************** **************

Sandy hated leaving Ryan in a place like this. If the front yard's disarray was any sign of what was inside, he knew he'd never be able to live with himself.

He felt so stupid, sitting in his car when he'd just sent the kid back to god knows what kind of hell.

He grabbed his keys and locked the beamer before hurrying up the rickety stairs of the house.

The door was half open and he stepped inside, searching for Ryan.

But what he saw disturbed him more.

An empty house.

Nothing but trash left to decorate the floor.

"Ryan?" Sandy called, walking inside.

Shit. This couldn't be good.

He saw a note on the floor, half balled up.

"Ryan, if you find this note you'll know I'm gone. Your grown up enough to take care of yourself. Good luck, kid. –Mom"

Sandy went through every room in the house but Ryan wasn't there. It was only on his trip back into the kitchen that he saw the back door still swinging in the wind.

He'd lost him.

********************* ************ *********************** **************

Kirsten glanced up when Sandy walked back into the kitchen. "You get him home okay?"

"His mom left," Sandy stated flatly.

"What?" she asked.

"His house. Was empty. She left him a note on the counter."

"Oh honey…" she started, sympathetic. "I'm sorry…where is he?"

"Don't say you're sorry," Sandy snapped. "He ran off. He would never have called me in the first place if he hadn't been desperate. And now, thanks to your warm welcome, he has nowhere to go." He turned to leave. "I'll put my pillow on the couch."

"Sandy…" she called.

"Don't worry, honey, if I hear from him I'll be sure and call the police so they can lock him up until they find someone to adopt him," Sandy added.

********************* ************ *********************** **************

It took Ryan four days to find his mother.

Four nights of changing clothes in convenience store bathrooms and catching naps in bus stations and libraries.

He didn't go to the shelters because he didn't have a fake id good enough to fool the truancy officers that kept check on stuff like that.

And he definitely didn't call Sandy. He didn't want to get the man in any more trouble with his wife.

So on the fourth day when he found his mother drunk and passed out in a cheap motel room, he was too relieved to be afraid of A.J.

He didn't think his mother even knew he was there, she didn't stir at all while AJ delivered her message again, but not with words.

Now, he'd found his mother and knew that she wasn't going to help him.

She didn't care.

She didn't even wake up. She might see the blood on the floor when she came to, but he didn't have any doubt now that she was done with being a mother.

She could've at least tried to do a little bit better job at being a mother if she was going to take early retirement.

Now he was really at a loss. He was hurt, more messed up than he'd been in a while, and he didn't have anyone that he could call.

He couldn't go to the clinic to get patched up and anywhere else that he went would probably call the cops because of the amount of blood on his clothes.

Ryan didn't know what to do.

He needed a plan. And soon.

********************* ************ *********************** **************

Seth yawned, reaching over and answering the phone. "Hello?" For the first time in years, he liked answering the phone. Marissa had been calling him since the party to talk and she'd even come over a couple of times to find out about Ryan.

"Seth?"

He could barely hear him through the static, but he recognized Ryan's voice.

It was the voice his father had been praying to hear for days. "Yeah, is this…"

"It's Ryan. I…I, kind of, need a favor, Seth."

"Sure, whatever I can do…where are you? We've been looking for you…"

"Looking for me? Did I miss court or something?"

"Your mom, dude, she cleaned out the house…Dad went in to check on you and you were just gone…"

"Shit…"

"Ryan? What's the favor?"

"I…never mind…I shouldn't have called…"

"Ryan, wait. Just…what's up? Are you all right?"

"I need a ride. Some cash…something…I need to get out of town or something…"

"Where are you?" Seth asked.

Ryan hesitated but finally gave him an address.

Seth dressed quickly and hurried down the stairs. His mom was in the kitchen but his dad was at work.

He'd talk to Ryan before he went running to his dad.

"I'm going out, Mom, I'll be back later," he called, taking the keys and going outside. He was vaguely aware of his mom telling him to be careful.

"Hey. Where are you going? I was just coming to see you," Marissa said from the driveway.

"Yeah, can we use your pool, Cohen? Kaitlyn's got some kind of party today and I really need to lay out," Summer explained from beside her.

Seth hesitated. He was still nervous around Summer, but he knew that he was over her. Even though she was civil to him now because of Marissa, he had a whole new view of her and it wasn't necessarily a good view.

"What is it?" Marissa asked, concerned.

"Get in. I'm on a mission and you're officially kidnapped to help," Seth said, popping the locks on the rover.

"Well, if you put it that way," Summer sighed, nudging Marissa.

"You were the one that wanted the pool…"

"Yeah, but you wanted to hang out with Cohen. I'm not totally selfish," Summer replied. Marissa glared at her and Seth hid his smile. "Oh, sorry, Coop…"

Once they were all inside, Summer leaned up between the seats. "Where are we going anyway?"

"Ryan called," Seth said quietly.

"Is he okay?" Marissa asked.

"I don't know. He didn't really say much, but he said he needs a ride or some cash. I was going to figure out what to do when I got there. I don't want him to disappear again…"

"Are you going to tell your Dad?" Summer asked.

"I don't know yet."

"You should tell him," Marissa said. "I mean, Sandy's the only one who can really help him, you know? Get him a place to live and stuff, keep him out of jail."

"Jail?" Summer asked. "Someone needs to fill me in on the whole story of Ryan. I know he's from Chino and everything, but jail? He's a thug, too?"

"No, Summer. It's…it's a long story," Seth sighed.

"So? We have a long trip, right? Spill. You guys will have plenty of time to flirt."

********************* ************ *********************** **************

Ryan saw the Rover pull up from his lurking place in some trees in the park.

He hadn't expected Seth to bring backup but he was relieved not to see Sandy amongst the people in the car. He hated that he'd had to call the guy, but he'd exhausted all other options.

"This is a park, Cohen. A park. Why would Ryan be in a park?" Summer's voice asked.

"Just…just stay in the car, Summer. I'll be right back," Seth said, getting out.

"Lock the doors, Coop," Summer added before Seth closed the door.

Ryan pushed himself to his feet. He'd managed to get cleaned up, slightly, but he knew that he still looked rough. His face was swollen and several of the cuts that needed stitches made him look even worse than he felt, which was pretty bad.

He picked up his backpack and considered putting it on his shoulder, but remembered how much that had hurt before and simply held it at his side as he walked over toward Seth.

"Dude…what the hell happened to you?" Seth asked, his eyes wide with surprise and concern.

"I went looking for my mom," Ryan replied.

"And?"

"I found her boyfriend instead," Ryan muttered.

They were beside a bench now and he sat down heavily.

"Did you go to the hospital? Dude…you look…"

"Yeah, I know. Not winning any pageants today. I can't go to the hospital, I don't have insurance, I don't have a parent that can sign a release and I'll get sent right back to juvie. I'll be all right. But I've got to get out of town. I don't want to go to jail, I've got to get out of California," Ryan explained.

"Where have you been staying, man?" Seth asked quietly.

"Around. Seth…I didn't want to have to call you, but…can you help me? Loan me some money for a bus ticket or something?" Ryan asked. He was too tired to beat around the bush.

"I want to help you, man, but I don't know if you're thinking straight right now. Seems to me that you've had a pretty eventful week. Are you sure you want to go this way?" Seth asked, hesitating.

"There is no other way, Seth. Not anymore. I don't have anywhere to go, I'm on my own. I…I can't explain it to you. Either you can help me or you can't."

Seth sighed. "Come on, get up."

"What? Seth…"

"I said I'd help you, but you have to do it my way, okay? I can't just give you a fistful of money. I need time to get a plan together. So? Come on, dude, I won't bite."

Ryan let Seth take the backpack from him and followed him to the Rover.

Summer pushed open the back door when he was a few feet away. "God, took you long enough. Get in."

********************* ************ *********************** **************

"This is your house?" Ryan asked her when Cohen pulled into her driveway.

"Yep. And for the next two weeks, it's all mine. I was planning on throwing a rager, but my housekeeper is a real bitch and she always calls the cops," Summer said.

She was worried about Ryan. At first, she just wanted to fuck him senseless, but she could tell he wasn't really in any shape for that.

She hated when boys actually became people instead of being just mindless entertainment.

Ryan was a good guy. He'd went to bat for Cohen against the jocks and he'd even turned her down out of loyalty to Cohen.

And he had that air of mystery that she couldn't deny and even though he was from Chino and probably poorer than dirt, she was still attracted to him.

Hell, she was enthralled by him.

Summer had never really associated with anyone outside of the upper class bracket and the fact that she was attracted to this…criminal was against everything she'd learned and worked for.

She was meant to marry well.

But that didn't mean she couldn't play in the mud with Chino boys. Did it?

"Summer? Are you going to let us in?" Coop asked from the front step where they were all waiting for her.

"Oh, yeah."

She'd offered to let Ryan get cleaned up and give them all a place to brainstorm. He hadn't robbed Cohen so she didn't think that he'd rob her. She was looking forward to having him around at least long enough to heal up and pay her back with some action.

"Come on, let's get you cleaned up…" Marissa cooed once they were inside. She started to lead him toward the guest room and Summer had to push the flare of jealousy down.

She'd never had to compete with Marissa for guys before, there had always been Luke to keep her off the market.

"I think I can manage. Can I take a shower?" Ryan asked her.

"Yeah, there should be towels there," she said, relieved when Ryan went into the bathroom alone and locked the door.

Seth let out a long sigh.

"Call your dad, Seth. You have to tell him. You can't just let him run away," Marissa whispered.

"He trusts me," Seth said, torn.

"Just chill, guys," she said, glancing between them. "He's here for now, we'll figure it out as we go, okay?"

"Summer, you have ulterior motives," Marissa warned.

"What?" she asked.

"You want to get in his pants," Seth translated flatly. "I want to help him and you just want to fuck him. That's what she means."

"Seth!" Marissa gasped.

But he wasn't wrong. She shrugged. "Whatever. But I don't want him to leave right away either, so for now, we're on the same page. If you tell your dad, he'll take Ryan away from all of us."

"He's not a toy. He's a kid, he's just like us except he doesn't have rich parents, he has no parents. You can't just talk about him like he's a puppy or something. He's in trouble and we're the only people that can help him. If we give him cash and something happens to him on the streets, we're going to be responsible," Marissa said.

"Dammit, Coop," Summer sighed. "Fine. Call your dad. Nobody said we had to be all mature and shit."

Seth glanced between them but finally pulled out his phone and walked away.

Summer would get her chance eventually. She'd make sure of that.