Gifts of Ficmas - Gift #4 - Ryan Begins
The title is based on the 911 episode titles when it focuses heavily on 1 character and their backstory.
The book Summer gives Ryan does not exist in reality, but totally should.
"I'm literally throwing myself at you," Summer said as she sat on the edge of Ryan's bed late one afternoon.
Ryan took another step away from her. "Trust me, I noticed."
"Did you? Because skimpily clad girl right here, trying to climb you like a tree," Summer said, gesturing at her bikini and miniskirt. "I mean, what? Are you gay?" she asked, laughing. Ryan flinched at the words, and Summer stopped, her entire demeanor changing. "Chino? Are you... are you gay?" she asked, softer this time.
Ryan hesitated. "No one knows," he finally said. "No one."
"You are."
"Please don't tell anyone," Ryan begged her. "Please..."
"No, of... of course I won't," Summer said. "No one knows? Not even Cohen?"
"Especially not Seth," Ryan said. "If I told him... everyone would know within a day."
"Probably, he has no brain to mouth filter," Summer agreed. "But, I mean... it's not something you should feel... I don't know... ashamed of."
"I know, and I'm not," Ryan said. "I know there's nothing wrong with me, but... in Chino it would get me killed, and I doubt I'd be that much better off here."
"Probably not," Summer agreed.
"You won't tell anyone?"
"I promise," Summer said. "Of course, now I'm really embarassed about the whole throwing myself at you thing."
"Don't be. If I was attracted to women... I probably still would have said no because Seth has a giant crush on you and it breaks the 'Bro Code'," Ryan said, his tone half mocking. "But I might have enjoyed the groping a little more," he added.
Summer laughed. "So... does this mean I have someone to talk hot guys with?" she asked. "Because Marissa won't drool over anyone but Luke or her latest crush... which oddly enough is you."
"So is there no 'girl code' about that kinda thing?" Ryan asked.
"There is, but it doesn't come into play, because Coop has a boyfriend, so she tries to deny lusting after you, which makes you fair game... except I'm not your type."
"Oh geeze," Ryan said.
"Hey, I thought gay guys were suppose to have style?" Summer teased.
"Stereotypes are bad," Ryan told her. "And even when there's truth, there's always exceptions. And what is wrong with jeans and t-shirts? They're normal clothes."
Summer laughed. "Don't worry, Chino, I got you," she said.
~~~
Having someone he could trust with his secret took a lot of the weight off of his shoulders. Summer would tease him mercilessly about his taste in men (and he would give it right back to her, especially once she started dating Seth), but when he got serious about his anxiety about whether he'd ever feel 'safe' coming out, she would take his hand and tell him that when he found someone worth it, he'd know.
A few weeks into their friendship, Ryan was stretched out on Summer's bed while she tried on dresses for the Valentine's dance, and he didn't think twice about it when she asked him to zip up her dress for her.
"What is going on here?"
They both jumped and spun towards the door. "Hi, Daddy," Summer said. "You remember Ryan, right? The Cohens foster son?"
"I do. Why is he in your room when you're half dressed?" Neil Roberts replied, his expression deeply displeased.
"Oh, oh, Daddy, no, it's not what you..."
Ryan looked between them and decided that if Summer could accept him, maybe her dad would too, and at least it might keep her from getting in trouble. "Dr. Roberts, I swear, it's not what you think," he said. "I'm..."
"Chino, you don't have to," Summer said quickly.
"I'm not... there's nothing..." Ryan began before closing his eyes. "I'm gay. Like... very gay."
There was a moment of silence, then Neil's expression relaxed slightly. "I see."
"He's not out, Daddy," Summer said. "I'm the only one who knows... except for you."
Neil nodded. "Unfortunately, that's probably for the best in this town," he said. "I have no issue with it, but I know others would. So I promise, I won't tell anyone," he told Ryan.
"Thank you, sir."
"Can Ryan stay for dinner?" Summer asked.
"Sure," Neil said. "We were going to order Italian, if that's ok with you, Ryan?"
"That's fine," Ryan said. "Thank you."
~~~
"Hey, got you something," Summer said, dangling a blue gift bag by it's rainbow colored ribbon handles. "Happy Birthday, Chino," she said.
"I think you're the only one who remember," Ryan said, taking the bag. "Cohens said nothing this morning."
"Open it!" Summer insisted.
"It's not something embarassing, is it?" Ryan asked suspiciously.
"No, that gift is for dinner at my house on Friday," Summer said.
Ryan rolled his eyes, but peeked into the bag, finding a hardback copy of a book called 'Superheroes And Social Justice'. "Really?" he asked her.
"Don't pretend you don't lust after Tony Stark as much as I do," Summer said quietly after making sure no one else was around.
"I don't," Ryan replied. "I lust after Robert Downey Jr," he corrected, grinning when she laughed. "Thanks, Sum."
End