A Brand New life (Chapter 18)
Summary : What if Ryan had entered the Cohen’s life when he was five years old?
Beta : As usual, I want to thank the awesome
anne35 for the incredible work she did on this fanfiction.
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.
I can't believe I've already posted 17 chapters...the end isn't here right now, but near...
-“Honey?” Sandy questioned as he turned the kitchen calendar over to a new month. “Sunday, the nineteenth is circled in red. Is something special happening that day?”
“ Why, I don’t know. I can’t think of anything.” Kirsten turned to Seth and Ryan, her eyes wide with mock innocence. “Boys, can you think of a reason I might have marked that particular day?”
Her voice was light and teasing and Ryan couldn’t stop the sheepish grin from spreading across his face. They were talking about his birthday. He shoved another spoonful of cereal in his mouth, embarrassed by the attention.
Seth rolled his eyes. “Ha-ha, very funny. You guys are so not stealth. I already told Ryan that so far you’ve gotten him six presents for his birthday, and he can probably count on at least four more.”
“And just how do you know that, Mr. Smarty-Pants?” Kirsten asked, playfully poking her son in the shoulder. “If I had any presents, and I’m not saying I do or don’t, I would have hidden them in my secret hiding place.”
“The back of your closet isn’t that secret, Mom. I found your so-called hiding place the first Chrismukkah we lived here.”
“Seth Cohen,” her voice raised exasperation, “if it was your birthday I’d take them all back.”
“Oooooooh, I’m sooooo scared.”
Ryan listened to Seth and Kirsten banter back and forth and thought of how different this birthday would be for him. There would be cake, and presents, and most importantly . . . a family that loved him. He smiled to himself. He never knew life could be like this.
Kirsten, noticing Ryan’s obvious happiness, leaned over and kissed the top of his head. “I guess you boys are just getting too big and too smart for us. I was hoping maybe we could pull off a surprise party, but I don’t see that’s possible, not with Seth snooping into everything.”
“I don’t snoop. I investigate. And besides, it’s not like Ryan and I haven’t figured out that you two like to keep things even between us. Throwing a party for Ryan wouldn’t
exactly be a surprise.” He turned toward Ryan. “So what do you think, buddy? Do you want to invite everyone who came to my party? We could leave out Luke and say his invitation got lost in the mail or maybe the dog ate it.”
“Son, we don’t have a dog and neither do the Wards.” Sandy said. He looked at Ryan and noticed that all of a sudden he seemed uncomfortable. “Is something wrong, kid?”
“If we have a big party, do we have to go swimming?”
“Well . . . not necessarily.” Sandy rubbed the back of his neck, wondering why the thought of swimming upset the boy. “But I thought you liked swimming.”
“Not after last Saturday.” Seth interjected.
“Seth.” Ryan hissed.
Sandy walked closer to the boys. “What happened last Saturday? I thought you two spent the day next door.”
“We did.” Seth answered. “And everything was fine until some of Mrs. Cooper’s friends showed up. Ryan and I overheard some of them talking.”
“What were they saying?” Kirsten’s voice was filled with concern.
“Nothing,” Ryan said quickly. “It doesn’t matter.”
“If it upset you, kid, it matters.”
“They were talking about Ryan’s back and how scarred it is. One of them even said it was disgusting. They said it was a good thing you guys are friends with Dr. Roberts and that maybe he’d do plastic surgery on him as favor to you, because Ryan’s already a charity case.”
“Oh, honey.” Kirsten looked at Ryan. “I’m so sorry. They’re just mean, cruel women who don’t know what they’re talking about.”
“That’s what I told him, Mom, but he didn’t listen to me. He ran in the house and put his shirt back on and refused to go back outside. The other kids saw us go in and came to see what was wrong. Ryan didn’t want me to tell them anything, but I told anyway.”
“Seth, you should have respected Ryan’s wishes.”
“I had to tell! Everyone was really worried about him. Boy, you should have seen the gang after I repeated what those old bats said.”
“Hey,” Sandy interjected. “I don’t want to hear you talk about your elders that way, Newpsies or not.”
“Sorry. Anyway, boy was Summer mad. As soon as she heard the news she started ranting and raving that she was going to push every single one of them in the pool. I stopped her, though. Marissa started crying and saying that she was sorry that her mom had such mean friends. Even Luke said they were stupid, which means a lot coming from someone as dumb as him. And Taylor, well, she started talking a mile a minute. I’m
not really sure what she was talking about, but you could tell she was mad too. She sure does talk a lot. I mean sometimes I can hardly get a word in edgewise with all of her talking.
I don’t know how she can talk so much. I get tired of it. I’m glad I’m not like that. I mean, I know I occasionally talk a little bit more than Ryan, but that’s not really all that hard to do.”
“Thank you, son. You’ve been very informative, but your mom and I need to talk to about this with Ryan. Okay?”
Seth sighed and slumped down in his seat. “All right, but does this mean I have to in the other room again?”
“No, just try and be quiet. It’s important that Ryan talks about this.” Sandy turned his full attention on silent boy. “Ryan . . . ”
“It’s alright, Sandy. I told you before it doesn’t matter.”
“And we told you that it does. Kirsten and I have promised you that we do everything possible to make sure no one ever hurts you again, and that includes here.” Sandy lightly patted Ryan’s chest. “Inside, where things can hurt the most.”
Ryan looked up at him with wide eyes. “Will it hurt?”
Sandy and Kirsten exchanged a confused look.
“Will what hurt, sweetie?”
“The surgery. The one those women were talking about.”
“I don’t honestly know, kid. I’m proud to say that as opposed to most of the households in Newport no one is this family has ever wanted or needed plastic surgery.”
“But they said my back was repulsive.” Ryan said with catch to his voice and a tear ran down his cheek.
Kirsten cupped his face in her hand and wiped the tear away with her thumb.
“Oh, honey. The only thing repulsive is those women’s behavior. You know your back is much better than it was when you first came here, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but you can still see the scars.”
“You’re right, you can. But has anyone else ever mentioned them, like Summer or Taylor?”
“No, but they’re my friends.”
“Well then, how about Luke? He isn’t exactly your friend, is he? I think if anyone would tease you about your back, he would.”
Ryan thought for a moment. “You’re right,” he said. “Luke would tell me if he thought it was gross.”
“And no one’s ever said anything to me about it.” Seth added.
“I tell you what, Ryan,” Sandy began, “Let’s give your back another year. If this time next year you still want surgery we’ll talk about it. I’m not promising you that Kirsten and I will agree to it. However, if you’re still self-conscious about it, we’ll consider it. How does that sound?”
“All right,” Ryan agreed. Then slowly, a grin began to spread across his face.
“Not that I’m complaining about that smile on your face, but can I ask what has made you so happy all of a sudden?” Sandy asked.
“You said next year.”
“So?”
Ryan’s grin got even bigger. “I like it when you talk like that. Like, I’m for sure going to be here next year. It feels good knowing that I’m not going anywhere. It makes me feel safe.”
“Well if that’s the case, kid...next year, we’ll plan a big party for your party, and the year after that we’ll have an even bigger party. Heck, let’s start planning your sixteenth birthday. What do you think we should do for that one?”
“Ask for a car!” Seth exclaimed. “Get it writing now, before they change their minds.”
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In the end, Ryan decided upon a small party. He wanted to spend his special day with the three people who meant the most to him in the whole world....his new family. However, neither Sandy nor Kirsten thought it was any reason to skimp on party supplies. So the weekend before Ryan’s birthday found the family getting ready to go to the mall to pick out decorations. Everyone that is except Seth. He had been invited by Summer to go shopping with her that day.
“I still don’t get it. How is spending the whole day with a girl shopping making you more of a man?” Ryan asked.
“How many times do I have to tell you?” Seth rolled his eyes and sighed loudly. “It’s not the shopping that makes me manly it’s the fact that she wants me there to carry the bags. Obviously, it means she’s beginning to see me as the strong not-so-silent type.”
“And just where is Summer’s father going to be during all of this?” Kirsten asked. “You two are too young to be walking around by yourselves. If Dr. Roberts isn’t going to be there you’ll have to stick with us.”
“As cool as that sounds, Mom. I’ll have to pass. First of all, we’re not going to the same mall. Summer has very exclusive tastes. There’s not even a comic book store where she wants to go. And don’t worry, Dr. Roberts will be there. Summer says he can’t be bothered carrying the bags. She needs his hands free so that he can break out the credit card at a moment’s notice.”
“Son, I’ve got to admit, that girl of yours son is always thinking.”
“You bet she is. Now let’s get going. I don’t want to be late and have to deal with her wrath. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this life it’s not to stand in the way of Summer and her pursuit of fashion.”
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Three hours later Sandy and Kirsten sat on a bench in front of the pet store window. They looked on in amusement as Ryan pressed his hands and face against the glass eyeing the display of rabbits.
“Honey,” Kirsten said looking pointedly at her husband. “You’re not thinking of breaking the no-pet rule are you? Don’t you remember what happened when Seth brought home the class rat for the weekend last year?”
“It wasn’t a rat. It was a hamster, and his teacher said it was getting on in hamster years. It was just bad luck that it died on our watch.”
“Easy for you to say. You didn’t take Seth to school that Monday morning and explain to class full of five year-olds why Lenny wasn’t in his cage.”
“Oh look,” Sandy said quickly, trying to change the subject. “I think that little brown one is hopping right toward Ryan. I think he knows him.”
“Of course he knows him,” Kirsten replied exasperated. “We’ve only stopped by this exact same window three times in three hours.”
“You know, honey,” Sandy paused his voice suddenly solemn. “Ryan’s other rabbit was brown.”
“I remember.” There was a catch in her voice as she recalled the fate of Ryan’s last pet.
Sandy took her hand and squeezed it. “It would be a wonderful birthday surprise. I could pick it up over my lunch hour this week and keep it in my office until the weekend.”
“No.”
Sandy looked at her, obviously disappointed.
“The P.D.’s office is no place for a little bunny. I’ll get it and it can stay in my office.”
“You’re going to keep a rabbit at the Newport group?” Sandy laughed. “Is that safe? I mean, you’re going to take that poor defenseless bunny and put it in the same building with Caleb “the big bad wolf” Nichol. That just seems a little cruel, honey.”
“Very funny. But for your information, my father is going to be gone all this week.”
“Thank goodness. I’d hate to have to report you to PETA,” Sandy teased. He stood up and held out his hand to her. “Come on. If we don’t get going soon, we’ll never get him away from that window.”
They walked across to the store window and each took a place on one side of Ryan.
“This little brown one sure is smart.” Ryan said. “Look at him follow me.”
Ryan took a few steps to the right and then to the left and the little bunny hopped along with him. Sandy and Kirsten exchanged a knowing look above his head.
“Yes, sweetie. He is very smart, but we need to get going. You can visit the rabbit another day.”
“You promise?”
“Yes, I promise. Speaking of promises, didn’t you tell Seth we would go to the book store and get him the new Superman today?”
“You’re right! We better get going.”
He ran straight ahead and would have run right into a puddle if Sandy hadn’t stopped him.
“Whoa, there kid. You almost gave us a shower there.”
“Oh, sorry.” Ryan smiled shyly and looked down at the puddle.
“Here, give Kirsten and me your hands.”
“Why?”
“You trust me, don’t you?”
Sandy was more than a little relieved when Ryan said yes and slipped his small hand into his.
“Okay then. On the count of three, Kirsten. One, two, three...up, up, and away.” Sandy and Kirsten lifted Ryan high into the air over the puddle. Ryan squealed and laughed in delight.
“Do it again, guys. Do it again.”
And they did, four more times until they reached the front of the book store.
Mr. Giles, the owner, greeted each of them by name as they walked in the door before asking about Seth.
“Is Seth not here today? I’ve got his new Superman comic all ready for him. I even put it in a protective plastic covering so it wouldn’t get wet in case it started raining again.”
“Thanks, Mr. Giles,” Ryan replied. “Seth is going to love it. He’d be here himself, but he’s spending the day with Summer Roberts.”
“Ah, I should have known that only a certain brown-haired beauty could keep that boy from a first edition.” He leaned over the top of the counter and gestured at Ryan to come closer. “I’ve got something for you, too, my boy.”
“What is it?” Ryan asked eagerly.
“I just got a new shipment in of Step into Reading books. Most of them are for level two readers, but I don’t think you’d have any problem reading them. The Cohens have told me what a good student you are. I thought maybe you’d like to take a look.”
Ryan gave the man a quick thank you, before running to the children’s section.
Mr. Giles laughed as he watched Ryan inspect each book.
“It’s good to see him so happy. I’ll never forget the first time you brought him in here. I know a lot of kids that age are too shy to talk to adults, but I could tell it was something more than that with Ryan. In all my years, I’ve never seen such a look of terror in a boy’s eyes before. But look at him now,” he pointed at Ryan. “You wouldn’t even guess it was the same boy. You both are good people. You should be very proud of what you’ve done for him.”
“Thank you, but the one to be proud of is Ryan. He’s had to overcome a lot in his short life. He’s a very special boy.
Mr. Giles smiled and nodded as he watched the couple join the happy young boy in the back of the store.
Another three hours later and three more trips past the pet store a very tired Sandy, Kirsten and Ryan walked across the parking lot to their car. Ryan was holding Kirsten’s hand. He let out a long yawn and laid his head against her arm.
Sandy looked down at him and smiled. “Come here, kid,” he said and swooped the boy up and put him on his shoulders. “I’ll give you a free ride to the car.”
Ryan held on tight and rested his head on top of Sandy’s.
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Feeling awake after his catnap in the car, Ryan burst through the front doors of the house.
“Hey, Seth,” he called out. “Where are you?”
“On the couch,” came the reply. “Come here will you? I need a glass of water.”
“Why don’t you just get it yourself?” Ryan sat on the couch next to Seth’s feet. “The glass is right in front of you.”
Seth gave a half-hearted attempt at raising his head and lifting his arm before flopping back down on the couch. “You have no idea what I’ve been through today. I never knew shopping could be so grueling. I mean back-to-school shopping with Mom can be pretty rough, but it’s nothing compared to what I’ve been through today. Store after store. Shopping bag after shopping bag. And the shoes!” He sat up and grabbed Ryan by the front of the shirt. “You’ve never seen so many shoes in your life!” He fell back once again, his arm over his face. “Oh, the humanity of it all.”
“So you’re saying you didn’t have a good time.”
Seth peaked one eye out from under his arm with a failed attempt at glaring at Ryan.
“Cause I’ve got something that might cheer you up.” Ryan teased.
“Is it the new Superman?” Seth sat up, suddenly full of energy. “It is? Isn’t it?” He grabbed the comic and hugged it close to his chest. “Thanks, buddy. This makes the whole day better.”
“So do you want to hear what we did today?”
“Uh? Oh yeah, sure,” Seth mumbled as he started to read.
“Well, first we picked out my party supplies, and then we had to go to a couple of shops for Kirsten, and then we went by the pet store a couple of times. There’s a rabbit in the window. He’s really smart and Sandy said we could come back and visit him. Then on the way to the bookstore, they swung me by my arms over all the puddles. Then we ate at CPK, then we went back to the pet store and then we went some more places. I was so tired that Sandy had to carry me back to the car on his shoulders.”
Seth looked up at Ryan.
“You got swung over puddles and Dad carried you on his shoulders?”
“Yeah,” Ryan said with hesitation, suddenly not feeling so good about his day.
“Did anyone see you?”
“I don’t know. Like who?”
“Like anyone from our class? Or maybe even some second graders?”
“I...I don’t think so. Why?”
“Why? Because you’re in first grade. Because you’re about to turn six. That stuff is for little kids. If someone saw you acting like such a baby, your reputation could be totally ruined. For crying out loud, Ryan, I’m embarrassed for you.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“There’s nothing you need to be sorry about, Ryan.”
Both boys jumped at the sound of Sandy’s stern voice. They turned to see him standing in the door way, looking less than pleased at Seth.
“Ryan, why don’t you help Kirsten carry in your party supplies?”
“I’ll help too,” Seth quickly offered.
“Oh no, you don’t.” Sandy stopped him from running after Ryan. “You and I are going to have a little talk.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong, Dad. I was trying to help Ryan, honest. You have no idea what second graders can be like. They’re cruel. They’re heartless.”
“Not unlike the comments you made to your brother just now.”
“Dad, it isn’t like that. I just don’t want him to get teased at school.”
“You mean like you used to get teased before Ryan came?”
“Well....yeah.”
“Seth, are you sure you didn’t want others to see Ryan because of how it might affect you?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“I mean that ever since Ryan started school with you, things have been different for you...better. I’m concerned that you think of Ryan as your key to popularity and that if Ryan is no longer considered one the “cool kids” then you won’t be either.”
“Geez, I never thought of it like that. I guess you’re right. I was kind of thinking of myself.”
“I think so too. Also, you need to remember that Ryan hasn’t had always had it very easy.”
“You mean how his mom drank too much and how some her boyfriends were mean to Ryan?”
“Exactly. The things you think you’re too old for, Ryan has never done before.”
“I never thought of it like that. Sometimes I forget that Ryan hasn’t always been here and that we aren’t his real family.”
“We are his real family, we just aren’t his only family.”
Seth nodded. “I think maybe I should go apologize.”
Sandy ruffled his son’s hair. “I think that’s a good idea, son.”
Ryan was already upstairs in his bedroom by the time Sandy and Seth had finished their talk. Through the half-closed door, he could see Ryan sitting on the edge of his bed. Seth pushed the door open a little further before knocking softly.
“Ryan,” he called out.
There was no answer.
“Come on, dude. I know you’re in there. I can see you. Can I come in, please?”
Ryan turned so that his back was to the door.
“Okay, since you didn’t say no, I’m coming in.”
He walked in the room and took a cautious seat next to Ryan.
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah? Well I’m sorry too.”
“You are?” Seth asked, confused. “What are you sorry for?”
“I’m sorry that you’re a big dumb jerk.”
Seth grimaced. “I guess I deserved that. Listen, Ryan, I’m really sorry I said those things. I didn’t mean them. You’re not a baby, and I was the one acting like a spoiled little kid. I should have never said those things to you.”
“Then why’d you say them?” Ryan asked defensively.
“I don’t know. I guess because sometimes I get too wrapped up in wanting to be popular and worrying about what other kids think of me. Before you came, I was a nobody. A great big nothing. Having you as my friend changed all that. Most of the kids at school think you’re this really tough cool guy. I didn’t want anyone to think different.”
“So you only like me because it makes you look like less of a nerd?”
“Hey! I resent that.” Seth protested, but then he noticed Ryan’s sly grin. “Okay, I deserve that. You’re right. With you around I’m not a nerd.”
“I wouldn’t say that. I’d say that you’re less of a nerd, but still definitely a nerd.” Ryan punched him softly in the arm.
“Ouch! If I’m such a nerd, you should know better than to hit me. Us nerds are very delicate creatures.”
Ryan laughed.
“So are we okay now?” Seth asked.
“Yeah, we’re okay.”
“Good. Now let’s get down to business and talk about your presents. We only have less than a week to drop some major hints. You mentioned a rabbit.”
“Do you really think Sandy and Kirsten would get me rabbit?”
“I don’t know. It’s a stretch. Mom’s not too big on the idea of pets. But it’s your first birthday with us and I say we go for the gold. Now here’s my plan....”