Wasted (part 1) Cheekymice challenged
Summary : for
cheekymice 's funfic challenge. My prompt was "anorexia". This fanfic set in early first season, just after Thanksgiving and is AU.
Beta : I want to thank Helen C for betaing this fanfic and Beachtree for her help!
Disclaimers : The characters and the universe were created and are still owned by Josh Schwartz. (*glare*)
All mistakes are my personal property.
No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
- “We good, you take the car, Trey's off the hook?” asked Ryan.
- “Oh, is that the deal?”
- “That’s what he told me.”
- “Huh, you fellas hear that? I’ve been waiting six months for this, all right and there’s something called interest!”
Ryan’s throat tightened.
- “I don’t have anything.”
- “Yeah well, interest needs to be paid!” snapped the guy, before delivering a punch to Ryan's face, so fierce it snapped his head back and he staggered backwards into the chain link fence.
Ryan winced before cracking an elbow into the guy's face. The guy swore and Ryan began to run. He had to get out. Now.
"Get back here, son of a bitch!" shouted the bald guy as he ran after Ryan.
Ryan didn’t manage to get out of the garage before he felt something hard connecting with his back, the sharp pain knocking the breath out of him. He fell to his knees and curled himself into a tight ball waiting for the kicks and the blows to stop.
The next thing he felt was the cold contact of a gun on his forehead.
- “Open your eyes, punk!” ordered an angry voice.
Ryan opened his eyes to see Gattas standing over him.
"I am not going to kill you. Not yet. But I know where you live, Atwood. Newport Beach…sounds like a really cool place, I’m going to visit you and your new family soon, Your new parents… Sandy and Kirsten Cohen, aren’t they?” he spat.
- “How do you know their name? Don’t touch them, you bastard, if you hurt them, I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you!”
- “Ryan, wake up! Wake up, kid!”
Ryan woke up with a gasp, his arms trapped by his sides.
- “Don’t approach them! I’ll kill you!”
- “Ryan, it’s me, it’s Sandy! Wake up, kid, it’s okay, you’re okay!”
Ryan sat up in bed, disoriented. He had kicked the covers off the bed and the sheets were tied up in knots. Perspiration fell down his head. He looked around and saw a worried-looking, surf-outfit clad Sandy hovering sitting on his bed.
-"You with me now, kid?" Sandy asked, peering down at him.
-“Sandy?”
- “Yep. I was going to surf and I heard you screaming. You okay?” asked a visibly concerned Sandy.
- “Yeah, I’m fine. It was just a nightmare.”
- “A pretty vivid one. Who do you want to kill, kid?”
“I…I don’t remember,” lied Ryan. Gattas wasn’t going to hurt them. Marissa had rescued him, everything was going to be just fine. Sandy looked sceptical.
- "Wanna talk about it?"
- “I don’t remember, sorry,” repeated Ryan.
- “Not your nightmare, your shiner. It looks painful, kid. Did you ice it?”
- “It’s okay, doesn’t even hurt, I’m fine, » answered Ryan while rolling over before dismissing his foster father them with a last, “Have fun at surf.”
- “I’ll let you go back to sleep but we’re not done yet, kid,” replied Sandy quietly. He gently patted Ryan on the back and exited the poolhouse.
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Monday, November 24th
The rest of the week-end went by quietly. Seth was babbling, Kirsten was nursing her hangover-induced headache, Sandy had to go to the office and Ryan seemed to be quieter than usual.
Seth’s attempt to skip school next Monday lamentably failed and as they got out of the car, Ryan quickly wished him ‘good luck’ before joining Marissa in Mr. Bendis’class.
- “Your class presentations will account for one third of your final grade, along with your term papers and of course the final-exam,” Mr. Bendis announced. "I'll be dividing the class into two person teams. Each team will be responsible for presenting a detailed account of a pivotal event or period in European history. Now I’ve already had quite a few a partnership requests. However in all fairness to the other students, I will select the teams myself at random, okay? Lauren and Kenny the French revolution; Ryan an Luke the Spanish inquisition; Stephanie and Bobbie the protestant reformation…”
Ryan bit his lips while waiting for Luke at the end of the class.
- « Hey, Chino! There are some books from the library we could borrow, and I pulled some stuff off the web on different subjects. Okay, my dad did. He was a history major at USC and liked gathering stuff on different subjects. I’m pretty sure he’s got some stuff on Spanish inquisition. You could meet me at my house after my kick-boxing training.”
- “Kick-boxing training?”
- “Yes, I’ve been practicing since September and it’s really cool.”
- “Cathartic”, mumbled Ryan.
- “Yeah, it is. Wanna try?”
- “I kind of promised to Sandy I wouldn't fight. Especially against you…”
- “It’s not a fight, it’s kick-boxing. And you won’t fight against me. We’re not in the same weight-category. Come on, Chino, we could study just after the practice.”
- “Okay.”
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- “All right, you’re going to jog for 15 minutes, then 10 minutes of jump roping and you could begin the training boxing matches,” announced the coach. “Hey, you Atwood? Come with me!”
- “So, you’re a friend of Luke Ward?”
- “Kind of,” answered Ryan.
- “And you’d like to try kick-boxing? That’s great, you’ll see. You need a medical certificate before kick-boxing but I can tell you how it’s going to happen as soon as you get it. You could watch and if you’re interested, come again with your certificate and your parents’ agreement and I’ll be glad to integrate you in the team.”
- “That sounds great. I really want to give it a try,” answered Ryan enthusiastically.
- “Okay. I’m going to give you all the advice I’m thinking about and as soon as you get your certificate and the agreement, you’ll practice with the rest of the team. In kickboxing, there are weight categories, so I need to know how much you weight.”
Ryan winced. His last step on a scale was four years ago and he was around 100 lbs. He was barely 5’1”. He never went to the doctor, only to the ER when his mom’s flavor of the month had been especially harsh on him. He shook his head.
- “I have no idea, sorry.”
- “Come on. Hop up on here…160 lbs.” The coach winced. “I’ve already three guys competing in that weight category. Would that be possible for you to drop ten pounds? I mean you’re 5’7”-5’8”, 160 lbs is a little too big for a teenager your height. You’ll gain in rapidity being 10 pounds lighter. All you have to do is cut off junk food and try to jog at least three times a week. You think you can do that?”
- “Yeah, sure,” answered Ryan. He was sure he had put some weight since he was at the Cohens. They always had plenty of food and Seth was snacking all the time. At his mom’s he was often famished and the fridge was generally empty. Cutting off the Cheetos and the soft drinks and running three times a week sounded like something he could easily do.
- “Okay, before watching the guys fight, let’s talk about kick-boxing practicing rules.”
After the coach had explained him the rules, Ryan sat down and observed the other students.
-“Atwood, you’re going to train with us?” asked a student Ryan had seen at Holly’s.
Ryan nodded nervously. This guy hadn’t fought with him during Holly’s party but he was sure he was one of Luke’s friends. Which meant he wasn’t going to welcome him in the team with open arms.
-“I’ve seen you at soccer’s practice. You’re good. Fast runner. That could be good to have you in the team because we’ve got to beat Pacific High’s ass.”
-“They’re total jerks,” confirmed another guy. “I’m Tom and this is Jake. Have you ever kick-boxed?”
-“No, but I used to fight…a lot.”
-“That’s what I remembered,” said another boy. “My jaw had a pretty vivid souvenir of your fist.”
-“Yeah, sorry for that,” answered Ryan while looking down.
-“It’s okay. I was kind of a jerk. Kind of a drunk jerk…But it could be really great to have you in the team. »
Ryan smiled. It could be really great to have you in the team. Fighting and being welcomed in the OC, bitch, that would be awesome. He definitely had to convince Sandy to let him integrate the team.
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- “I can’t believe you’re hanging out with Luke Waterpolo jerk Ward,” exclaimed Seth for the tenth time of the evening.
- “I am going to practice kick-boxing with him and Mr. Bendis got me stuck with him on Spanish Inquisition. I am not going to hang out with him,” replied Ryan.
- “Are you sure it’s such a good idea to practice kick-boxing?” asked Sandy.
- “I need another extra curricular activity. Soccer is great but I really want to try kick-boxing. It could be a way to feel less an outsider, you know.” It could be really great to have you in the team.“Kid, it’s not a way to fight Luke legally?” asked Sandy.
- “I am not even gonna fight him. There are weight category and he’s heavier than I am, so I won’t fight him,” answered Ryan while pushing food around his plate. 160 lbs is a little too big for a teenager your height. You’ll gain in rapidity being 10 pounds lighter.
- “Okay, kid, we’re going to take you to Dr. Green next Friday, he’s Seth’s pediatrician and he’s really nice.”
- “So nice, he’s going to give you a lollipop,” mocked Seth.
- “So, how are Anna and Summer?” asked a grinning Ryan.
- “They’re like you and Luke…hanging out, BFF.”
- “BFF?” asked Sandy.
- “Father, you really have to stop reading all those lawyer’s papers. Try People Magazine, articles with Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton, BFF.
- “Lionel Richie’s girl? BFF?”
- “Best friends forever,” translated Ryan. Kirsten chuckled.
- “Summer and Anna are getting along, going together to the library which I find oddly disturbing,” explained Seth. “Mother, I’m going to need some comfort food. Is there any chocolate ice-cream left?”
- “I’ve bought it just after I discovered that everyone at the gym was considering me as a drunk and depressed Newpsie.”
- “We can totally share, Mom. Dad? Chunky Monkey? Ryan? Macadamia Nuts brittle?”
- “No, I’m full. Thanks! I really have to finish my part of the history presentation.”
- “Because your BFF is going to be mad at you if you don't…”
- “You’re so right, Seth,” answered Ryan while getting up to put the dishes away.
- “Kid, let us take care of the dishes, do your homework, it’s more important, okay?”
Ryan nodded, told everyone ‘good night’ and went to the poolhouse. He tried to concentrate on the Charles Quint’s story but his stomach was growling and kind of burning.
- “Don’t be such a pussy, Atwood,” he cursed. He was becoming soft. At his mom’s, he could stay weeks without eating anything but bread and peanut butter. And he never complained. Tonight, he hadn’t finished his plate and skipped desert. That wasn’t a tragedy. As the Coach had told him, he needed to lose 10 pounds. At least ten pounds. Luke was 185 and 6’2”. At 5’8” and 160, Ryan was clearly overweight, wasn’t he? “160 lbs is a little too big for a teenager your height. You’ll gain in rapidity being 10 pounds lighter”. 10 pounds and he was going to be able to run faster. 20 pounds and he was going to be a lot faster. Comforted by this resolution, Ryan began to write the second paragraph of his presentation.
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Friday November 27th
“I can’t believe you stayed all night on the couch watching dvds!” exclaimed Sandy while shaking an asleep Seth. “Do we need to give you a curfew inside the house? Anyway, wake up, take a shower and change your clothes!”
- “But it’s 5:30!” whined Seth.
- “No it’s not!” replied Sandy. “it’s 7:30!”
- “It can’t be. Ryan woke me up at 5:30 and I closed my eyes for less than a minute before heading my bedroom.”
- “Obviously, you didn’t. Because it’s 7:31 and you’re still in the den. Why did Ryan wake you up at 5:30 anyway? Did he have another nightmare?” asked a worried Sandy.
- “Another nightmare? No, I don’t think so. He was going to go jogging and found me asleep. He told me to go to bed before you went down.”
- “He’ll be glad to know you follow his advice. Get up, Seth! Now! Shower! Clothes! Bagels! School!”
- “Sir, yes, sir!”
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- “Congratulation, Ryan. You managed to go jogging and to come back before Seth took his shower. Come on, kid. Let’s feed you!”exclaimed Sandy while schmearing a bagel and giving it to his foster son. “You were up early. Did you have a bad night?”
- “No,” answered hastily Ryan. He certainly wasn't going to tell his foster father he hadn't been able to get any sleep since his little Chino’s trip. It was so stupid. He didn’t even get hurt, so what was wrong with him? Trey’s sentenced echoed in his head, “Don’t. You've got a chance little brother, you gotta leave me behind, leave all this behind”. He had a good life, he had to forget about Chino, Trey and how he missed his mom. He wasn’t five year old, was he? It was going to be better after all the holidays. Christmas had always been hell, but Thanksgiving was usually cool. Well, cooler than this year. AJ wasn’t there, they were all invited at Teresa’s and that went great. Stay focused on school and sports. Forget Chino, he told himself.
- “So, you decided to run at 5:30?”
- “Yeah, I need to practice if I want to be ready for the next boxing matches,” Ryan explained.
- “About that. I’m going to take you at Dr. Green at 5. For your medical certificate. So be sure to be home at 4:45, okay?”
- “4:45, okay, I’ll be there. I need to check my books,” explained Ryan while going to the poolhouse.
- “We’re running late thanks to ‘Matrix’s the best movie ever-Seth’. Here’s your bagel. Hurry up!”
- “Thanks!” Ryan went to the poolhouse, added his history book in his backpack, put the schmeared bagel in a plastic bag and hid it at the bottom of his bathroom trash (can?) before jogging towards Sandy’s car.
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- “So, according to your medical files, you’re 11 years old, 5’1” and 100 lbs,” joked Dr. Green.
Ryan cracked a smile to show the good doctor that he got his joke. He couldn’t believe he was stuck in a medical cabinet for a stupid certificate when he had so much to do: pre-calculus homework, English litt paper, improving his running performances…
- “Let’s weigh you, Ryan!” indicated the doctor while pointing the scale…”157 lbs, that’s great. Let’s now see if you’ve grown up since 1999…5’7”… Well, you’re a very muscular young man.”
5’7”? He was so sure he was 5’8”. Seth was 5’10” and Luke 6’2”. Why on earth was he so short? Trey grew up with him, ate the same food and had the same parents and he was Seth’s height. If he was only 5’7”, he had to drop 30 pounds, not the 20 he had primarily considered. He had already lost 3 pounds. In 4 days, that was great. And so easy. Skipping snacks and cutting off junk food and soda. Well, the following pounds had to be less easy to loose, but in three, maybe four months, that could be easily done, couldn’t it? Super Welterweight category was in the 147- 153 lbs range. He could easily reach it before Christmas. That was the plan.
- “Here’s your medical certificate, you’re good to go,” finally said the doctor while handing the precious paper to Ryan who thanked him.
- “Kid, it’s 6, we could grab a bite, couldn’t we?” asked Sandy as they exited the medical building.
- “I had a big lunch and I’ve got a ton of homework,” explained Ryan. “Final exams are in less than a month, I haven’t finished to catch up with all the reading and I really have to finish up papers that are due Monday. Could we postpone it?”
- “Sure, kid. But you’ve got to relax. Your last grades were top notch, we’re very proud of you. You’re one if Harbour’s best student and athlete. I can’t wait to go to your kick-boxing matches!” ended Sandy while gently putting his hand on Ryan’s shoulder. Ryan felt his throat tighten. Neither his mom nor his dad had ever come to one of his games.
- “You’re okay, kid?” asked Sandy. Ryan nodded and whispered, “Sure.”, before feeling Sandy squeeze his shoulder.
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Wednesday December 16 th
- “Come on Ryan!” insisted Marissa. “We have to go to that new place! You spend all your time studying and training. You’re so not funny!”
- “I need to study and so do you. Finals begin tomorrow,” protested Ryan.
- “I know… Mom,” snapped Marissa. “You know, I thought you weren’t one of those preppy jerks always buried in their books and living at the library. And guess what? You are the king of them!”
Ryan shrugged and closed his locker.
- “You know what? Find your own ride home, I’m not waiting for your stupid training to end!” exclaimed Marissa while hastily walking away.
Ryan sighed and went slowly to the kick-boxing training. He couldn’t wait for this day to end since a nasty headache was constantly lurking in the back of his head. He was constantly hungry and tired but forced himself focusing on his school work and the sports. And it seemed to be working pretty well: he was straight A’s and the coach often told him that he was making impressive progress. He was a little disappointed that Sandy didn’t have time to come to his matches but Sandy was busy and he wasn’t 10 anymore, was he? He had to stop being self-centred. He couldn’t expect that the Cohens change their entire life just because Sandy had forced Kirsten to take him in. He wasn’t their son. Seth was. Now he had made others friends, he wasn’t interested in Ryan anymore. He was hanging out with his two women. If Ryan was able to entertain him with the Playstation or to listen to his so-called problems, that was great, but when Ryan had explained to him that he wanted to visit Trey, Seth had asked if he was looking for another shiner to add to his collection. He wasn’t sleeping properly and was up at 5 in the morning. He had developed a comforting routine. He ran an hour and a half every morning, then took a shower, got dressed and made coffee. Kirsten was always up when he finished his first cup and he had tried to talk to her but it was obvious that she was preoccupied by the trial over the Balboa Heights.
The only person he could talk with was Marissa. Until now, he guessed sadly.
- “Atwood, come on, you’re late, go change and join the others!”The coach’s yell woke Ryan from his thoughts and he nodded before hurrying to the locker.
- “Okay, guys, the next matches are going to be after Christmas. I’m going to weigh you and I’d like you to be in the same weight category after the holydays! Am I clear?”
- “Crystal clear”, replied Luke.
- “Ward, come on!”
- “Atwood. 150 lbs. That’s great, you’re competing in the Super Welterweight category. I have no one else in that category, so be sure you don’t put some holiday weight!”
Ryan repressed a smile. He had achieved his goal. 10 pounds lost in about four weeks. Super Welterweight category. Well his first goal. He should be able to reach the Welterweight category in a month for the second championship.
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- “Sandy, could you please tell Ryan that diner’s served?” asked Kirsten.
Sandy hastily joined the poolhouse and found Ryan fast asleep on his bed. The kid obviously hadn’t planned to fell asleep since he was surrounded by several books and pens. Sandy carefully gathered the books and put them on Ryan’s desk. He sat on the bed and began to shake his new charge’s shoulder
- “Kid, wake up! Diner’s served and it’s Mexican, your favourite.”
Ryan moaned and curled himself into a ball. Sandy gently rubbed the kid’s cheek and frowned. Ryan’s cheek was unusually cold. It was pretty hot for December and the A/C was clearly off in the poolhouse. He shrugged and spread a blanket over his foster son’s asleep form. He definitely had to spend some time with Ryan. He had promised him he was going to go to his soccer games and his kick-boxing matches and he hadn’t. Caleb Nichol, stupid old rat. God! He loved Kirsten, but her father was evil. The Balboa Height’s file was a pain in the neck. And Sandy was convinced this old crook wasn’t going to accept their settlement offer. He wanted to go to trial. Ryan was more important than any trial and Sandy had to make sure that the kid actually knew it. Ryan had been quieter than ever these last few weeks. He looked self-conscious and maybe a little sad. Christmas coming had to be the reason, he thought.
Sandy gently stroked his foster son’s hair. God, he loved this kid. But he had to show him much better. He slowly got up and closed the poolhouse door before returning to the kitchen.
- “He’s out cold,” he explained to his wife.
- “Let him sleep. He has been looking totally exhausted and pale for days.”
- “He was shivering,” added Sandy
- “I hope he’s not going down with the flu or something,” answered a concerned Kirsten. She felt bad. She had so much work she didn't have any time left for the new Cohen member. When Seth had a problem, the entire town…scratch that…the entire State of California was aware of it. Her son had obviously picked all of Sandy’s habits. Ryan was quiet. Almost silent, recently. They had received Harbor’s reports and Ryan’s was impressive: only A’s and A+’s. Dr. Kim had written to them that they were going to make Ryan take more AP’s classes. She definitely had to talk with the kid about that, she thought. During the holidays. Comforted by this thought, Kirsten drank some white wine and listen to the last adventures of Seth and his women.
cheekymice 's funfic challenge. My prompt was "anorexia". This fanfic set in early first season, just after Thanksgiving and is AU.
Beta : I want to thank Helen C for betaing this fanfic and Beachtree for her help!
Disclaimers : The characters and the universe were created and are still owned by Josh Schwartz. (*glare*)
All mistakes are my personal property.
No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
- “We good, you take the car, Trey's off the hook?” asked Ryan.
- “Oh, is that the deal?”
- “That’s what he told me.”
- “Huh, you fellas hear that? I’ve been waiting six months for this, all right and there’s something called interest!”
Ryan’s throat tightened.
- “I don’t have anything.”
- “Yeah well, interest needs to be paid!” snapped the guy, before delivering a punch to Ryan's face, so fierce it snapped his head back and he staggered backwards into the chain link fence.
Ryan winced before cracking an elbow into the guy's face. The guy swore and Ryan began to run. He had to get out. Now.
"Get back here, son of a bitch!" shouted the bald guy as he ran after Ryan.
Ryan didn’t manage to get out of the garage before he felt something hard connecting with his back, the sharp pain knocking the breath out of him. He fell to his knees and curled himself into a tight ball waiting for the kicks and the blows to stop.
The next thing he felt was the cold contact of a gun on his forehead.
- “Open your eyes, punk!” ordered an angry voice.
Ryan opened his eyes to see Gattas standing over him.
"I am not going to kill you. Not yet. But I know where you live, Atwood. Newport Beach…sounds like a really cool place, I’m going to visit you and your new family soon, Your new parents… Sandy and Kirsten Cohen, aren’t they?” he spat.
- “How do you know their name? Don’t touch them, you bastard, if you hurt them, I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you!”
- “Ryan, wake up! Wake up, kid!”
Ryan woke up with a gasp, his arms trapped by his sides.
- “Don’t approach them! I’ll kill you!”
- “Ryan, it’s me, it’s Sandy! Wake up, kid, it’s okay, you’re okay!”
Ryan sat up in bed, disoriented. He had kicked the covers off the bed and the sheets were tied up in knots. Perspiration fell down his head. He looked around and saw a worried-looking, surf-outfit clad Sandy hovering sitting on his bed.
-"You with me now, kid?" Sandy asked, peering down at him.
-“Sandy?”
- “Yep. I was going to surf and I heard you screaming. You okay?” asked a visibly concerned Sandy.
- “Yeah, I’m fine. It was just a nightmare.”
- “A pretty vivid one. Who do you want to kill, kid?”
“I…I don’t remember,” lied Ryan. Gattas wasn’t going to hurt them. Marissa had rescued him, everything was going to be just fine. Sandy looked sceptical.
- "Wanna talk about it?"
- “I don’t remember, sorry,” repeated Ryan.
- “Not your nightmare, your shiner. It looks painful, kid. Did you ice it?”
- “It’s okay, doesn’t even hurt, I’m fine, » answered Ryan while rolling over before dismissing his foster father them with a last, “Have fun at surf.”
- “I’ll let you go back to sleep but we’re not done yet, kid,” replied Sandy quietly. He gently patted Ryan on the back and exited the poolhouse.
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Monday, November 24th
The rest of the week-end went by quietly. Seth was babbling, Kirsten was nursing her hangover-induced headache, Sandy had to go to the office and Ryan seemed to be quieter than usual.
Seth’s attempt to skip school next Monday lamentably failed and as they got out of the car, Ryan quickly wished him ‘good luck’ before joining Marissa in Mr. Bendis’class.
- “Your class presentations will account for one third of your final grade, along with your term papers and of course the final-exam,” Mr. Bendis announced. "I'll be dividing the class into two person teams. Each team will be responsible for presenting a detailed account of a pivotal event or period in European history. Now I’ve already had quite a few a partnership requests. However in all fairness to the other students, I will select the teams myself at random, okay? Lauren and Kenny the French revolution; Ryan an Luke the Spanish inquisition; Stephanie and Bobbie the protestant reformation…”
Ryan bit his lips while waiting for Luke at the end of the class.
- « Hey, Chino! There are some books from the library we could borrow, and I pulled some stuff off the web on different subjects. Okay, my dad did. He was a history major at USC and liked gathering stuff on different subjects. I’m pretty sure he’s got some stuff on Spanish inquisition. You could meet me at my house after my kick-boxing training.”
- “Kick-boxing training?”
- “Yes, I’ve been practicing since September and it’s really cool.”
- “Cathartic”, mumbled Ryan.
- “Yeah, it is. Wanna try?”
- “I kind of promised to Sandy I wouldn't fight. Especially against you…”
- “It’s not a fight, it’s kick-boxing. And you won’t fight against me. We’re not in the same weight-category. Come on, Chino, we could study just after the practice.”
- “Okay.”
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- “All right, you’re going to jog for 15 minutes, then 10 minutes of jump roping and you could begin the training boxing matches,” announced the coach. “Hey, you Atwood? Come with me!”
- “So, you’re a friend of Luke Ward?”
- “Kind of,” answered Ryan.
- “And you’d like to try kick-boxing? That’s great, you’ll see. You need a medical certificate before kick-boxing but I can tell you how it’s going to happen as soon as you get it. You could watch and if you’re interested, come again with your certificate and your parents’ agreement and I’ll be glad to integrate you in the team.”
- “That sounds great. I really want to give it a try,” answered Ryan enthusiastically.
- “Okay. I’m going to give you all the advice I’m thinking about and as soon as you get your certificate and the agreement, you’ll practice with the rest of the team. In kickboxing, there are weight categories, so I need to know how much you weight.”
Ryan winced. His last step on a scale was four years ago and he was around 100 lbs. He was barely 5’1”. He never went to the doctor, only to the ER when his mom’s flavor of the month had been especially harsh on him. He shook his head.
- “I have no idea, sorry.”
- “Come on. Hop up on here…160 lbs.” The coach winced. “I’ve already three guys competing in that weight category. Would that be possible for you to drop ten pounds? I mean you’re 5’7”-5’8”, 160 lbs is a little too big for a teenager your height. You’ll gain in rapidity being 10 pounds lighter. All you have to do is cut off junk food and try to jog at least three times a week. You think you can do that?”
- “Yeah, sure,” answered Ryan. He was sure he had put some weight since he was at the Cohens. They always had plenty of food and Seth was snacking all the time. At his mom’s he was often famished and the fridge was generally empty. Cutting off the Cheetos and the soft drinks and running three times a week sounded like something he could easily do.
- “Okay, before watching the guys fight, let’s talk about kick-boxing practicing rules.”
After the coach had explained him the rules, Ryan sat down and observed the other students.
-“Atwood, you’re going to train with us?” asked a student Ryan had seen at Holly’s.
Ryan nodded nervously. This guy hadn’t fought with him during Holly’s party but he was sure he was one of Luke’s friends. Which meant he wasn’t going to welcome him in the team with open arms.
-“I’ve seen you at soccer’s practice. You’re good. Fast runner. That could be good to have you in the team because we’ve got to beat Pacific High’s ass.”
-“They’re total jerks,” confirmed another guy. “I’m Tom and this is Jake. Have you ever kick-boxed?”
-“No, but I used to fight…a lot.”
-“That’s what I remembered,” said another boy. “My jaw had a pretty vivid souvenir of your fist.”
-“Yeah, sorry for that,” answered Ryan while looking down.
-“It’s okay. I was kind of a jerk. Kind of a drunk jerk…But it could be really great to have you in the team. »
Ryan smiled. It could be really great to have you in the team. Fighting and being welcomed in the OC, bitch, that would be awesome. He definitely had to convince Sandy to let him integrate the team.
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- “I can’t believe you’re hanging out with Luke Waterpolo jerk Ward,” exclaimed Seth for the tenth time of the evening.
- “I am going to practice kick-boxing with him and Mr. Bendis got me stuck with him on Spanish Inquisition. I am not going to hang out with him,” replied Ryan.
- “Are you sure it’s such a good idea to practice kick-boxing?” asked Sandy.
- “I need another extra curricular activity. Soccer is great but I really want to try kick-boxing. It could be a way to feel less an outsider, you know.” It could be really great to have you in the team.“Kid, it’s not a way to fight Luke legally?” asked Sandy.
- “I am not even gonna fight him. There are weight category and he’s heavier than I am, so I won’t fight him,” answered Ryan while pushing food around his plate. 160 lbs is a little too big for a teenager your height. You’ll gain in rapidity being 10 pounds lighter.
- “Okay, kid, we’re going to take you to Dr. Green next Friday, he’s Seth’s pediatrician and he’s really nice.”
- “So nice, he’s going to give you a lollipop,” mocked Seth.
- “So, how are Anna and Summer?” asked a grinning Ryan.
- “They’re like you and Luke…hanging out, BFF.”
- “BFF?” asked Sandy.
- “Father, you really have to stop reading all those lawyer’s papers. Try People Magazine, articles with Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton, BFF.
- “Lionel Richie’s girl? BFF?”
- “Best friends forever,” translated Ryan. Kirsten chuckled.
- “Summer and Anna are getting along, going together to the library which I find oddly disturbing,” explained Seth. “Mother, I’m going to need some comfort food. Is there any chocolate ice-cream left?”
- “I’ve bought it just after I discovered that everyone at the gym was considering me as a drunk and depressed Newpsie.”
- “We can totally share, Mom. Dad? Chunky Monkey? Ryan? Macadamia Nuts brittle?”
- “No, I’m full. Thanks! I really have to finish my part of the history presentation.”
- “Because your BFF is going to be mad at you if you don't…”
- “You’re so right, Seth,” answered Ryan while getting up to put the dishes away.
- “Kid, let us take care of the dishes, do your homework, it’s more important, okay?”
Ryan nodded, told everyone ‘good night’ and went to the poolhouse. He tried to concentrate on the Charles Quint’s story but his stomach was growling and kind of burning.
- “Don’t be such a pussy, Atwood,” he cursed. He was becoming soft. At his mom’s, he could stay weeks without eating anything but bread and peanut butter. And he never complained. Tonight, he hadn’t finished his plate and skipped desert. That wasn’t a tragedy. As the Coach had told him, he needed to lose 10 pounds. At least ten pounds. Luke was 185 and 6’2”. At 5’8” and 160, Ryan was clearly overweight, wasn’t he? “160 lbs is a little too big for a teenager your height. You’ll gain in rapidity being 10 pounds lighter”. 10 pounds and he was going to be able to run faster. 20 pounds and he was going to be a lot faster. Comforted by this resolution, Ryan began to write the second paragraph of his presentation.
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Friday November 27th
“I can’t believe you stayed all night on the couch watching dvds!” exclaimed Sandy while shaking an asleep Seth. “Do we need to give you a curfew inside the house? Anyway, wake up, take a shower and change your clothes!”
- “But it’s 5:30!” whined Seth.
- “No it’s not!” replied Sandy. “it’s 7:30!”
- “It can’t be. Ryan woke me up at 5:30 and I closed my eyes for less than a minute before heading my bedroom.”
- “Obviously, you didn’t. Because it’s 7:31 and you’re still in the den. Why did Ryan wake you up at 5:30 anyway? Did he have another nightmare?” asked a worried Sandy.
- “Another nightmare? No, I don’t think so. He was going to go jogging and found me asleep. He told me to go to bed before you went down.”
- “He’ll be glad to know you follow his advice. Get up, Seth! Now! Shower! Clothes! Bagels! School!”
- “Sir, yes, sir!”
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- “Congratulation, Ryan. You managed to go jogging and to come back before Seth took his shower. Come on, kid. Let’s feed you!”exclaimed Sandy while schmearing a bagel and giving it to his foster son. “You were up early. Did you have a bad night?”
- “No,” answered hastily Ryan. He certainly wasn't going to tell his foster father he hadn't been able to get any sleep since his little Chino’s trip. It was so stupid. He didn’t even get hurt, so what was wrong with him? Trey’s sentenced echoed in his head, “Don’t. You've got a chance little brother, you gotta leave me behind, leave all this behind”. He had a good life, he had to forget about Chino, Trey and how he missed his mom. He wasn’t five year old, was he? It was going to be better after all the holidays. Christmas had always been hell, but Thanksgiving was usually cool. Well, cooler than this year. AJ wasn’t there, they were all invited at Teresa’s and that went great. Stay focused on school and sports. Forget Chino, he told himself.
- “So, you decided to run at 5:30?”
- “Yeah, I need to practice if I want to be ready for the next boxing matches,” Ryan explained.
- “About that. I’m going to take you at Dr. Green at 5. For your medical certificate. So be sure to be home at 4:45, okay?”
- “4:45, okay, I’ll be there. I need to check my books,” explained Ryan while going to the poolhouse.
- “We’re running late thanks to ‘Matrix’s the best movie ever-Seth’. Here’s your bagel. Hurry up!”
- “Thanks!” Ryan went to the poolhouse, added his history book in his backpack, put the schmeared bagel in a plastic bag and hid it at the bottom of his bathroom trash (can?) before jogging towards Sandy’s car.
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- “So, according to your medical files, you’re 11 years old, 5’1” and 100 lbs,” joked Dr. Green.
Ryan cracked a smile to show the good doctor that he got his joke. He couldn’t believe he was stuck in a medical cabinet for a stupid certificate when he had so much to do: pre-calculus homework, English litt paper, improving his running performances…
- “Let’s weigh you, Ryan!” indicated the doctor while pointing the scale…”157 lbs, that’s great. Let’s now see if you’ve grown up since 1999…5’7”… Well, you’re a very muscular young man.”
5’7”? He was so sure he was 5’8”. Seth was 5’10” and Luke 6’2”. Why on earth was he so short? Trey grew up with him, ate the same food and had the same parents and he was Seth’s height. If he was only 5’7”, he had to drop 30 pounds, not the 20 he had primarily considered. He had already lost 3 pounds. In 4 days, that was great. And so easy. Skipping snacks and cutting off junk food and soda. Well, the following pounds had to be less easy to loose, but in three, maybe four months, that could be easily done, couldn’t it? Super Welterweight category was in the 147- 153 lbs range. He could easily reach it before Christmas. That was the plan.
- “Here’s your medical certificate, you’re good to go,” finally said the doctor while handing the precious paper to Ryan who thanked him.
- “Kid, it’s 6, we could grab a bite, couldn’t we?” asked Sandy as they exited the medical building.
- “I had a big lunch and I’ve got a ton of homework,” explained Ryan. “Final exams are in less than a month, I haven’t finished to catch up with all the reading and I really have to finish up papers that are due Monday. Could we postpone it?”
- “Sure, kid. But you’ve got to relax. Your last grades were top notch, we’re very proud of you. You’re one if Harbour’s best student and athlete. I can’t wait to go to your kick-boxing matches!” ended Sandy while gently putting his hand on Ryan’s shoulder. Ryan felt his throat tighten. Neither his mom nor his dad had ever come to one of his games.
- “You’re okay, kid?” asked Sandy. Ryan nodded and whispered, “Sure.”, before feeling Sandy squeeze his shoulder.
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Wednesday December 16 th
- “Come on Ryan!” insisted Marissa. “We have to go to that new place! You spend all your time studying and training. You’re so not funny!”
- “I need to study and so do you. Finals begin tomorrow,” protested Ryan.
- “I know… Mom,” snapped Marissa. “You know, I thought you weren’t one of those preppy jerks always buried in their books and living at the library. And guess what? You are the king of them!”
Ryan shrugged and closed his locker.
- “You know what? Find your own ride home, I’m not waiting for your stupid training to end!” exclaimed Marissa while hastily walking away.
Ryan sighed and went slowly to the kick-boxing training. He couldn’t wait for this day to end since a nasty headache was constantly lurking in the back of his head. He was constantly hungry and tired but forced himself focusing on his school work and the sports. And it seemed to be working pretty well: he was straight A’s and the coach often told him that he was making impressive progress. He was a little disappointed that Sandy didn’t have time to come to his matches but Sandy was busy and he wasn’t 10 anymore, was he? He had to stop being self-centred. He couldn’t expect that the Cohens change their entire life just because Sandy had forced Kirsten to take him in. He wasn’t their son. Seth was. Now he had made others friends, he wasn’t interested in Ryan anymore. He was hanging out with his two women. If Ryan was able to entertain him with the Playstation or to listen to his so-called problems, that was great, but when Ryan had explained to him that he wanted to visit Trey, Seth had asked if he was looking for another shiner to add to his collection. He wasn’t sleeping properly and was up at 5 in the morning. He had developed a comforting routine. He ran an hour and a half every morning, then took a shower, got dressed and made coffee. Kirsten was always up when he finished his first cup and he had tried to talk to her but it was obvious that she was preoccupied by the trial over the Balboa Heights.
The only person he could talk with was Marissa. Until now, he guessed sadly.
- “Atwood, come on, you’re late, go change and join the others!”The coach’s yell woke Ryan from his thoughts and he nodded before hurrying to the locker.
- “Okay, guys, the next matches are going to be after Christmas. I’m going to weigh you and I’d like you to be in the same weight category after the holydays! Am I clear?”
- “Crystal clear”, replied Luke.
- “Ward, come on!”
- “Atwood. 150 lbs. That’s great, you’re competing in the Super Welterweight category. I have no one else in that category, so be sure you don’t put some holiday weight!”
Ryan repressed a smile. He had achieved his goal. 10 pounds lost in about four weeks. Super Welterweight category. Well his first goal. He should be able to reach the Welterweight category in a month for the second championship.
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- “Sandy, could you please tell Ryan that diner’s served?” asked Kirsten.
Sandy hastily joined the poolhouse and found Ryan fast asleep on his bed. The kid obviously hadn’t planned to fell asleep since he was surrounded by several books and pens. Sandy carefully gathered the books and put them on Ryan’s desk. He sat on the bed and began to shake his new charge’s shoulder
- “Kid, wake up! Diner’s served and it’s Mexican, your favourite.”
Ryan moaned and curled himself into a ball. Sandy gently rubbed the kid’s cheek and frowned. Ryan’s cheek was unusually cold. It was pretty hot for December and the A/C was clearly off in the poolhouse. He shrugged and spread a blanket over his foster son’s asleep form. He definitely had to spend some time with Ryan. He had promised him he was going to go to his soccer games and his kick-boxing matches and he hadn’t. Caleb Nichol, stupid old rat. God! He loved Kirsten, but her father was evil. The Balboa Height’s file was a pain in the neck. And Sandy was convinced this old crook wasn’t going to accept their settlement offer. He wanted to go to trial. Ryan was more important than any trial and Sandy had to make sure that the kid actually knew it. Ryan had been quieter than ever these last few weeks. He looked self-conscious and maybe a little sad. Christmas coming had to be the reason, he thought.
Sandy gently stroked his foster son’s hair. God, he loved this kid. But he had to show him much better. He slowly got up and closed the poolhouse door before returning to the kitchen.
- “He’s out cold,” he explained to his wife.
- “Let him sleep. He has been looking totally exhausted and pale for days.”
- “He was shivering,” added Sandy
- “I hope he’s not going down with the flu or something,” answered a concerned Kirsten. She felt bad. She had so much work she didn't have any time left for the new Cohen member. When Seth had a problem, the entire town…scratch that…the entire State of California was aware of it. Her son had obviously picked all of Sandy’s habits. Ryan was quiet. Almost silent, recently. They had received Harbor’s reports and Ryan’s was impressive: only A’s and A+’s. Dr. Kim had written to them that they were going to make Ryan take more AP’s classes. She definitely had to talk with the kid about that, she thought. During the holidays. Comforted by this thought, Kirsten drank some white wine and listen to the last adventures of Seth and his women.