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Sorry for the spammage. I'm on a writing binge.
Why has no one told me that I hadn't updated this in so long? Oh well. Here's chapter 4 of Spin. Click the Spin tag in the upper left for previous chapters.
“Sandy?” Kirsten sat up abruptly, disoriented at first before recognizing that she was sitting on the couch.
“I thought you’d be at work,” he replied flatly.
“I was waiting for you,” she whispered. She’d been waiting all night. Again. “Seth’s not home…”
“He’s staying with Ryan tonight, he’ll be home tomorrow morning.”
“Ryan? You found him?” God…she was so relieved. Sandy wouldn’t hate her if Ryan was safe. She could convince him to come home. He’d forgive her, she’d make it up to him, to them both…
“We need to talk,” Sandy said, sitting down in the separate armchair.
“Sandy, I’m sorry. I’ll…”
“I’m not the person you should be apologizing to. But…I wish you had told me the truth. I wish you wouldn’t have pretended to want him here…”
“I did want him here…I do,” she stammered. This wasn’t the way the conversation was supposed to go. He was supposed to let her back in and they were supposed to work together to get Ryan back.
“You didn’t care about his education, about all the things he did for this family…”
“Sandy…”
“I’m not walking out of this relationship, Kirsten, of this family. I love you. You allowed Ryan to stay here to make me happy. Well, I’m letting him go to make you happy. Sacrifice is supposed to make a marriage stronger.”
“It wasn’t a sacrifice to have him here, Sandy…I made a mistake…”
“I guess we all did,” he said coldly.
Kirsten could feel the hurt in his words.
She didn’t know what to do.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Dude. So…I’m sorry. For not having your back lately. I just got caught up in…everything. I’m a shitty brother.” Seth was hesitant from his perch at the hotel’s room’s small table.
Ryan smiled. “Good thing you’re not my brother. Dude, you’re my best friend and for one of the first times since I met you, you’re actually happy. Me moving out, it has nothing to do with you, believe it or not.”
“But if I had talked to mom…”
“Seth. Don’t blame your mom for this. Please.”
“She didn’t even fight for you, dude, of course this is her fault…”
“No, Seth. It’s my fault. For trying to be something I’m not. I don’t belong at Harbor…”
Seth scoffed. “The phone’s been blowing up with teachers calling for Mom. Dean Kim has even offered to waive your tuition if you come back…”
“I don’t need school,” Ryan said. “I’ve applied for scholarships, Seth, and I’m pretty sure that I’m not going to get one. And your parents…”
“Will totally pay for you to go to college,” Seth finished.
“Seth. Can you just respect that I need to do this?” Ryan asked.
Seth opened his mouth to speak but stopped, nodding solemnly. “I guess. You know I’m going to be at your house all the time…”
“I know,” Ryan said, rolling his eyes dramatically. Seth shoved him with a laugh.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ryan had been gone seven days and Kirsten couldn’t take it anymore. Seth still wasn’t talking to her, other than asking for money to put gas in Summer’s car and Sandy was still sleeping on the couch.
At least Sandy was talking to her, though.
She knew that she had to do something.
If she could get Ryan to move back in with them, then she could convince him to go back to school.
She realized now that Ryan was as much a part of her family as Seth or Sandy.
She missed him.
And she’d do anything to get him back.
She glanced at the directions she’d printed off before tucking them into her purse and grabbing her keys.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ryan waved at his boss as he climbed into Summer’s car.
“Dude, what took you so long?” Seth groaned, turning to grin at him from the front seat.
“I was working, dude,” Ryan sighed.
“Shut up, Cohen, we were only waiting a few minutes,” Summer said. “He’s pissed that he doesn’t have any cds in the car,” she explained.
“I get it. So, what’s the occasion tonight?” Ryan asked. He was seeing more of Seth now that when he’d lived with him.
“I have this killer test in bio tomorrow and the stepmonster is having some kind of cocktail party and Cohen gets all twitchy at home,” Summer said.
“You’re coming to my house to study?” Ryan scoffed.
“I do not get all twitchy,” Seth replied, feigning insult.
“He’s still not talking to his mom,” Summer told Ryan in the rear view mirror.
“Dude, you’ve got to let it go,” Ryan said.
“No, I don’t. She’s being stupid. You shouldn’t be working, I know, you say it’s what you want, blah blah, but it doesn’t make it right,” Seth said.
“She’s your mom, Seth,” Ryan said. “She loves you. She…she might not always be around for you to talk to.”
“That’s what I keep saying,” Summer murmured. “She made a mistake, Cohen, but she’s human. You’re definitely not perfect.”
Seth ignored them, staring out the window.
“Whatever. I’m making corn dogs for dinner,” Ryan said as Summer parked outside his apartment.
“Ooh, ghetto gourmet, I can’t wait,” Summer teased.
“You don’t have to eat it,” Ryan replied, wondering when Summer decided to start channeling her boyfriend.
“No, she has to eat it,” Seth said. “It’ll be hot, come on, Summer…Summer?”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kirsten knocked on the door of the garage’s office and was surprised at the elderly man that answered the door.
“Can I help you with something?”
“Does Ryan Atwood work here?” she asked.
“Yes, but he’s off for the day. He’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Actually, I wanted to talk to you. I would like to make you an offer. Can I come in?” Kirsten asked.
The man stepped aside and she walked in, sitting down on the folding chair in front of his desk. “Is he in some kind of trouble?”
“No, not at all. But I’m here to make sure it stays that way. Ryan is my foster son. We had an argument and he moved out and due to circumstances beyond my control, my husband is allowing it. But Ryan needs to be in school. He needs to be in a stable environment, not on his own working a full time job.”
The man studied her. “How exactly can I help you?”
She pulled out her checkbook. “I’m willing to pay you the worth of your business if you’ll release him from his contract,” she said.
“You want me to fire him,” the man rephrased.
“Well. Yes. I need to convince him to come home.”
“Why don’t you try talking to him? He seems to be a good kid, a smart kid.”
Kirsten frowned. “Double the worth of your shop.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ryan was relaxing on his couch with the stereo playing one of Seth’s donated cds when his cell phone rang. He recognized his boss’ number.
“Hello?”
“Ryan. I hate to do this to you, but I’ve got some bad news.”
Ryan sat up. “Yeah? What’s wrong?”
“I’m closing the shop down for a few months to remodel. I’m upgrading everything, I’ve come into some money and I’m finally able to do everything that I’ve ever wanted. But I’m not going to be needing you anymore.”
“Oh. All right. Good luck, I guess,” Ryan said, stunned.
“You’re a good kid. You’ve got a family that really cares about you. Good luck.”
Ryan listened to the dial tone.
What did his boss know about his family?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kirsten had been surprised when Seth had greeted her before he went to school. Her son had apologized to her and even Sandy had the presence of mind to be stunned.
“I guess that means I’m next,” Sandy said, walking into the bedroom as she finished putting on her earrings.
“Next?” she asked, looking up at him.
“I’m sorry for being angry.”
“I’m sorrier,” she replied. “But I’ll do whatever I can to make it right again.”
“I know. Even though Ryan’s not here, he’s still a part of our family. I wish things could’ve been different but we can’t change what’s happened. We can just go forward,” Sandy said.
The doorbell rang and they were both surprised.
“I wonder who that could be this early,” she said, leading him to the door.
Ryan was waiting outside, a blank expression on his face.
“Hey, kid,” Sandy’s said, his face breaking into a smile. “What’s the occasion?”
“Can we talk? Like, the three of us?” Ryan asked, motioning toward her.
“Sure, come in. You don’t have to ring the doorbell,” she said. She needed to get her composure.
Ryan glanced at her curiously, but stepped inside.
“What’s wrong? You seem upset,” Sandy said.
She wished she could read Ryan as well as her husband could.
“I am, actually. I got fired. Or laid off. Turns out that the boss came into a large amount of money. Suddenly,” Ryan said and his gaze finds hers.
“What? Ryan…” Sandy stammered, confused. “You think we had something to do with this?”
It’s like Ryan is looking right through her.
“No. I think she had something to do with it. Why would you do this to me? I mean, I get that you’re mad but I don’t understand why you’d deliberately sabotage my job like this,” Ryan said.
“It’s not…”
“Kirsten,” Sandy whispered, hurt evident on his face. “Is it true?”
“I need you to come home. I’m sorry…” she started.
Ryan shook his head at her. “Fine, you’re sorry, but that doesn’t explain why you’d do this. I needed that job. It was a good job. I had everything in order…”
“You should be home,” Kirsten stated.
“That wasn’t the way,” Sandy muttered, running his hand through his hair.
“If you want to apologize, you could have come to me. Instead of going behind my back and paying off my boss,” Ryan said, his face visibly controlled but the hurt flashing in his deep blue eyes.
“I don’t know what to do to make you forgive me…”
“I can’t change the way you feel. I wanted to stay close to Seth, to Sandy, but all you’re doing is forcing me to cut all my ties. I don’t want to do that, I’m trying not to do that, but…” Ryan started.
“This has gone far enough,” Sandy said suddenly. “We’re going into the kitchen and we’re going to sit down and discuss this as a family…”
“No,” Ryan said. “Families don’t act like this. Or at least they’re not supposed to. I’m sorry for ruining your family, Kirsten, I was trying to make things better but this…this hurts.” He turned and walked out of the house before she could stop him.
“God,” Sandy muttered, rushing after him.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Why has no one told me that I hadn't updated this in so long? Oh well. Here's chapter 4 of Spin. Click the Spin tag in the upper left for previous chapters.
“Sandy?” Kirsten sat up abruptly, disoriented at first before recognizing that she was sitting on the couch.
“I thought you’d be at work,” he replied flatly.
“I was waiting for you,” she whispered. She’d been waiting all night. Again. “Seth’s not home…”
“He’s staying with Ryan tonight, he’ll be home tomorrow morning.”
“Ryan? You found him?” God…she was so relieved. Sandy wouldn’t hate her if Ryan was safe. She could convince him to come home. He’d forgive her, she’d make it up to him, to them both…
“We need to talk,” Sandy said, sitting down in the separate armchair.
“Sandy, I’m sorry. I’ll…”
“I’m not the person you should be apologizing to. But…I wish you had told me the truth. I wish you wouldn’t have pretended to want him here…”
“I did want him here…I do,” she stammered. This wasn’t the way the conversation was supposed to go. He was supposed to let her back in and they were supposed to work together to get Ryan back.
“You didn’t care about his education, about all the things he did for this family…”
“Sandy…”
“I’m not walking out of this relationship, Kirsten, of this family. I love you. You allowed Ryan to stay here to make me happy. Well, I’m letting him go to make you happy. Sacrifice is supposed to make a marriage stronger.”
“It wasn’t a sacrifice to have him here, Sandy…I made a mistake…”
“I guess we all did,” he said coldly.
Kirsten could feel the hurt in his words.
She didn’t know what to do.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Dude. So…I’m sorry. For not having your back lately. I just got caught up in…everything. I’m a shitty brother.” Seth was hesitant from his perch at the hotel’s room’s small table.
Ryan smiled. “Good thing you’re not my brother. Dude, you’re my best friend and for one of the first times since I met you, you’re actually happy. Me moving out, it has nothing to do with you, believe it or not.”
“But if I had talked to mom…”
“Seth. Don’t blame your mom for this. Please.”
“She didn’t even fight for you, dude, of course this is her fault…”
“No, Seth. It’s my fault. For trying to be something I’m not. I don’t belong at Harbor…”
Seth scoffed. “The phone’s been blowing up with teachers calling for Mom. Dean Kim has even offered to waive your tuition if you come back…”
“I don’t need school,” Ryan said. “I’ve applied for scholarships, Seth, and I’m pretty sure that I’m not going to get one. And your parents…”
“Will totally pay for you to go to college,” Seth finished.
“Seth. Can you just respect that I need to do this?” Ryan asked.
Seth opened his mouth to speak but stopped, nodding solemnly. “I guess. You know I’m going to be at your house all the time…”
“I know,” Ryan said, rolling his eyes dramatically. Seth shoved him with a laugh.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ryan had been gone seven days and Kirsten couldn’t take it anymore. Seth still wasn’t talking to her, other than asking for money to put gas in Summer’s car and Sandy was still sleeping on the couch.
At least Sandy was talking to her, though.
She knew that she had to do something.
If she could get Ryan to move back in with them, then she could convince him to go back to school.
She realized now that Ryan was as much a part of her family as Seth or Sandy.
She missed him.
And she’d do anything to get him back.
She glanced at the directions she’d printed off before tucking them into her purse and grabbing her keys.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ryan waved at his boss as he climbed into Summer’s car.
“Dude, what took you so long?” Seth groaned, turning to grin at him from the front seat.
“I was working, dude,” Ryan sighed.
“Shut up, Cohen, we were only waiting a few minutes,” Summer said. “He’s pissed that he doesn’t have any cds in the car,” she explained.
“I get it. So, what’s the occasion tonight?” Ryan asked. He was seeing more of Seth now that when he’d lived with him.
“I have this killer test in bio tomorrow and the stepmonster is having some kind of cocktail party and Cohen gets all twitchy at home,” Summer said.
“You’re coming to my house to study?” Ryan scoffed.
“I do not get all twitchy,” Seth replied, feigning insult.
“He’s still not talking to his mom,” Summer told Ryan in the rear view mirror.
“Dude, you’ve got to let it go,” Ryan said.
“No, I don’t. She’s being stupid. You shouldn’t be working, I know, you say it’s what you want, blah blah, but it doesn’t make it right,” Seth said.
“She’s your mom, Seth,” Ryan said. “She loves you. She…she might not always be around for you to talk to.”
“That’s what I keep saying,” Summer murmured. “She made a mistake, Cohen, but she’s human. You’re definitely not perfect.”
Seth ignored them, staring out the window.
“Whatever. I’m making corn dogs for dinner,” Ryan said as Summer parked outside his apartment.
“Ooh, ghetto gourmet, I can’t wait,” Summer teased.
“You don’t have to eat it,” Ryan replied, wondering when Summer decided to start channeling her boyfriend.
“No, she has to eat it,” Seth said. “It’ll be hot, come on, Summer…Summer?”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kirsten knocked on the door of the garage’s office and was surprised at the elderly man that answered the door.
“Can I help you with something?”
“Does Ryan Atwood work here?” she asked.
“Yes, but he’s off for the day. He’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Actually, I wanted to talk to you. I would like to make you an offer. Can I come in?” Kirsten asked.
The man stepped aside and she walked in, sitting down on the folding chair in front of his desk. “Is he in some kind of trouble?”
“No, not at all. But I’m here to make sure it stays that way. Ryan is my foster son. We had an argument and he moved out and due to circumstances beyond my control, my husband is allowing it. But Ryan needs to be in school. He needs to be in a stable environment, not on his own working a full time job.”
The man studied her. “How exactly can I help you?”
She pulled out her checkbook. “I’m willing to pay you the worth of your business if you’ll release him from his contract,” she said.
“You want me to fire him,” the man rephrased.
“Well. Yes. I need to convince him to come home.”
“Why don’t you try talking to him? He seems to be a good kid, a smart kid.”
Kirsten frowned. “Double the worth of your shop.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ryan was relaxing on his couch with the stereo playing one of Seth’s donated cds when his cell phone rang. He recognized his boss’ number.
“Hello?”
“Ryan. I hate to do this to you, but I’ve got some bad news.”
Ryan sat up. “Yeah? What’s wrong?”
“I’m closing the shop down for a few months to remodel. I’m upgrading everything, I’ve come into some money and I’m finally able to do everything that I’ve ever wanted. But I’m not going to be needing you anymore.”
“Oh. All right. Good luck, I guess,” Ryan said, stunned.
“You’re a good kid. You’ve got a family that really cares about you. Good luck.”
Ryan listened to the dial tone.
What did his boss know about his family?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kirsten had been surprised when Seth had greeted her before he went to school. Her son had apologized to her and even Sandy had the presence of mind to be stunned.
“I guess that means I’m next,” Sandy said, walking into the bedroom as she finished putting on her earrings.
“Next?” she asked, looking up at him.
“I’m sorry for being angry.”
“I’m sorrier,” she replied. “But I’ll do whatever I can to make it right again.”
“I know. Even though Ryan’s not here, he’s still a part of our family. I wish things could’ve been different but we can’t change what’s happened. We can just go forward,” Sandy said.
The doorbell rang and they were both surprised.
“I wonder who that could be this early,” she said, leading him to the door.
Ryan was waiting outside, a blank expression on his face.
“Hey, kid,” Sandy’s said, his face breaking into a smile. “What’s the occasion?”
“Can we talk? Like, the three of us?” Ryan asked, motioning toward her.
“Sure, come in. You don’t have to ring the doorbell,” she said. She needed to get her composure.
Ryan glanced at her curiously, but stepped inside.
“What’s wrong? You seem upset,” Sandy said.
She wished she could read Ryan as well as her husband could.
“I am, actually. I got fired. Or laid off. Turns out that the boss came into a large amount of money. Suddenly,” Ryan said and his gaze finds hers.
“What? Ryan…” Sandy stammered, confused. “You think we had something to do with this?”
It’s like Ryan is looking right through her.
“No. I think she had something to do with it. Why would you do this to me? I mean, I get that you’re mad but I don’t understand why you’d deliberately sabotage my job like this,” Ryan said.
“It’s not…”
“Kirsten,” Sandy whispered, hurt evident on his face. “Is it true?”
“I need you to come home. I’m sorry…” she started.
Ryan shook his head at her. “Fine, you’re sorry, but that doesn’t explain why you’d do this. I needed that job. It was a good job. I had everything in order…”
“You should be home,” Kirsten stated.
“That wasn’t the way,” Sandy muttered, running his hand through his hair.
“If you want to apologize, you could have come to me. Instead of going behind my back and paying off my boss,” Ryan said, his face visibly controlled but the hurt flashing in his deep blue eyes.
“I don’t know what to do to make you forgive me…”
“I can’t change the way you feel. I wanted to stay close to Seth, to Sandy, but all you’re doing is forcing me to cut all my ties. I don’t want to do that, I’m trying not to do that, but…” Ryan started.
“This has gone far enough,” Sandy said suddenly. “We’re going into the kitchen and we’re going to sit down and discuss this as a family…”
“No,” Ryan said. “Families don’t act like this. Or at least they’re not supposed to. I’m sorry for ruining your family, Kirsten, I was trying to make things better but this…this hurts.” He turned and walked out of the house before she could stop him.
“God,” Sandy muttered, rushing after him.
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