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myficsTitle: Verdict [Part Seven of the "Trials" series, a sequel to "Heal"]
Paring: Seth/Ryan
Rating: R
Word Count: 2,000 (this chapter)
Summary: Ryan and Seth are finally together, but now Ryan's got one very big problem. Something's stopping him from really being with Seth.
Disclaimer: Me = Poor. Josh Schwartz = Both very ballsy and extremely rich. Note the difference.
Spoilers: For everything. Literally.
Notes: This is a sequel to "Heal", which you'll want to read before you read this. All 12 chapters of "Heal" can be found here.
Part One can be found HERE
Part Two can be found HERE
Part Three can be found HERE
Part Four can be found HERE
Part Five can be found HERE
Part Six can be found HERE
Seth hasn’t been back to the graveyard since they buried Marissa, and he feels uncomfortable being there with Taylor while she says her goodbyes. Thankfully, Taylor wants to be alone, so he stands at the entrance to the graveyard waiting for her, watching the cars drive by.
He tries to ignore the butterflies in his stomach, which on top of being queasy from being in the graveyard is also currently doing flip-flops while he worries about Ryan and the trial and how that’s going. Then there’s the extra layer of “oh my God”-ness to it all that stems from the fact that tonight’s the night. Or at least, Seth hopes it will be, because if that fucking jury is hung, he’s going to die. The only thing that’s supposed to be hung today is the two of them.
He keeps grabbing his cell phone, intending to call Ryan to see how it’s going, but he stops himself from it. If something had happened, Ryan would call. He would want Seth to have the good news. Or—gulp—the bad news.
Taylor returns soon enough, her eyes rimmed with shiny tears, but she puts on a big smile when she gets to Seth and says, “So, shopping?”
Seth takes her around Newport, stopping at every store that tickles her fancy. She doesn’t buy much, more like she peruses each store lovingly. No, longingly.
Seth suddenly remembers Ryan telling him about Marissa during their first Chrismukkah and asks, “You’re not going to shoplift anything, are you?”
Taylor laughs and shakes her head no and mumbles something about how she’s got to get back to Korea soon and that being in jail wouldn’t help that.
They’re in the final store of the day—at least, Taylor promises it’ll be the last one—when she turns to him and says, “So. Really. What’s the real reason you and Ryan haven’t done it yet?”
Several Newpsies turn to stare at them and Seth shushes her and drags her to an area that’s less populated.
“Oh, come off it, Seth. Who cares? So you and Ryan are doing the Big Gay Love thing. It’s very modern of you.”
“I know it’s okay,” Seth says. “I just don’t want all of Newport spreading it around. You know how these women talk.”
Taylor rolls her eyes at him and says, “So, come on. Spill. What’s with the celibacy?”
Seth rubs his left eye with his hand and stares at the ground before mumbling, “I already told you, the trial—“
“That’s why Ryan’s holding off. Fine. But what about you?”
“I respect his wishes?” Seth says. Asks, really. Asks if she’s willing to buy that lie.
Clearly reading him, Taylor says, “No. Come on. Fess up. Truth.”
Seth sighs and groans and hems and haws and finally manages to say, “I’m scared.”
Taylor stares at him like he’s an alien being.
“Come on,” he says. “Don’t give me that. I’ve never…I mean…he’s never either, but he’s not the one that’s going to…stop it!”
Taylor chuckles softly and stops staring at him like he’s nuts and says, “Come on.”
“Where are you dragging me now?” he asks.
“To the bookstore.”
“If you’re going to make me read stuff, I’ve already looked on the internet.”
Taylor raises and eyebrow at him. “And that was informative?”
“Not really,” Seth says, wincing at the memory of his father walking in while he was reading about the apparent magical wonder that was lube.
“Then the bookstore it is.”
“You’re not going to make me read the Kama Sutra for two guys book, are you?”
“No, you’re not nearly advanced enough for that,” Taylor smirks. “We’ll start with Gay Sex For Beginners.”
Seth groans but follows her when she takes his hand and drags him out of the store. The day is already half over, but he can tell that the remaining half is going to drag on painfully slow.
*
Taylor hands Seth a book and smiles at his embarrassment as he starts reading the first page.
While he’s occupied, Taylor wanders around the corner and leans against the shelf, doubled over, breathing slowly.
She’s trying not to think about Korea. Trying not to think about Sung Ho.
She tells herself that she did the right thing. Leaving him was her only choice. The man that she got off the plane with in Korea wasn’t the man she fell in love with. He was different. Distant. Wrong.
Things were wrong with them ever since they got there, and then Summer’s letter arrived two months ago.
She closes her eyes and winces, feeling the crack of his hand across her cheek once more, hearing his voice berate her and hearing her own whimper, “But I’ve got to go back. She was my friend, I want to say goodbye…”
A tear rolls down her cheek and she hurriedly wipes it away. That’s over now. That part of her life is done with. She snuck out and got away. She’s home now.
But fuck, it isn’t the home she knew. It’s still Newport. The women still gossip cattily about each other, the stores still charge exorbitant amounts of money for a t-shirt, and the air still smells salty like the sea.
But it’s an alternate universe of Newport, one where she’s no longer allowed to come home so she stays with the Cohens. One where one of her friends is dead, the other in Rhode Island, and the other two are having a sexual crisis. Okay, so the sexual crisis thing was old hat. But that only makes it worse. It’s different, yet the same. It’s a fucked up Newport, a negative image of the home she left.
“Taylor?” Seth says, poking his head around the corner. “There you are. Thought I’d lost you. Um…I think this book will help,” he says, blushing softly.
Taylor puts on a smile and puts her arm around him and says, “Now, Seth. Have you met Mr. Prostate?” as they head toward the checkout counter.
*
Kaitlin checks her watch again as she sips her Diet Coke, her leg bouncing nervously.
“Kay,” Charlie says, “what’s with the hyper overdrive?”
“Nothing,” Kaitlin snaps, glancing towards the parking lot.
“Something’s up,” he says evenly.
“Trial ends today,” she snaps, glancing at Jessica, who is currently eating Charlie’s fries right off of his plate. Kaitlin makes a small disgusted noise before continuing. “Mom’s picking me up in a few minutes to go see the verdict.”
Charlie nods and says, “Good luck, Kay.”
“It doesn’t matter to me either way,” Kaitlin says. “She’s dead and I’m rid of her. I just want to know who did it so I can thank them properly.”
Charlie’s eyes widen comically and Kaitlin would laugh, but Jessica is whispering in his ear and it makes her sick.
She finally spots her mom’s car out in the parking lot and gets up and leaves without saying goodbye. She doubts they even noticed her leaving anyway, considering how Jessica had her tongue down Charlie’s throat.
Disgusting.
*
Ryan paces the hallway outside the courtroom. The iPod he borrowed from Seth lays forgotten on the bench he’s supposed to be sitting on next to Sandy. Sandy keeps making tutting noises and pointing to the space next to him on the bench, but Ryan just shakes his head and paces more. Finally Sandy stands up and places one hand on Ryan’s shoulder.
“Ryan. Hey, earth to Ryan. Listen, son. A paced hallway never announces its verdict. Sit, okay? Pacing isn’t going to help the jury decide.”
Ryan makes a noise of frustration, but sits like Sandy told him to.
He finally picks up the iPod and turns it on, going to the playlist Seth keeps on there especially for him and finds that something new has been added to it. He puts the earbuds in and presses play, turning the volume up when he doesn’t hear anything at first.
Then Seth’s voice drifts across the earphones.
“Hey, is this on? Is this working? The little bar on the computer is moving like it hears me. Um, okay. So anyway. I’m going to put this on my iPod before you leave this morning, and I don’t know if you’ll listen to it because Dad’s told me that all you do is pace the hallway and you haven’t listened to the iPod at all. So if you don’t, then I’ll just delete this off later, but if you do, then um…hi.” Seth pauses and Ryan can’t stop the grin that spreads across his face.
“Anyway, so this is the last day, and if I know you, which I do, then you’re either pacing around like a lunatic or my dad has tied you down to the seat. I guess…I just wanted to say good luck. And that I love you. And that no matter what happens, it’ll be okay, Ryan. United we’re unstoppable, right? It’ll be okay, Ryan. I know it will. And you’ll come home and he’ll go to jail and we’ll kick Taylor out of the pool house and shut the blinds because she’d be kinky enough to try to watch, and then…then we’ll be together, right? Just me and you. It’ll be great.” There’s a long pause and Ryan thinks maybe that’s the end, but then Seth continues.
“Ryan. Um. Listen. I…I think I get it. Why you really wanted to wait. And…and I get it, okay? I mean…I get it. About her. I mean…she’s…she’s Marissa. And…and I’m Seth. And I get it. Don’t feel guilty, okay? I know that’s what you’re doing.” Ryan looks down at his hands, a small smile creeping on his face at how well Seth obviously knew him, right down to the pang of guilt that just shot through his chest.
“Ryan, I love you, okay? And I know you love me, too. So nothing else matters, all right? All that crap that happened in the past…we’re here now, Ryan. Right now, we’re here together. And that’s what’s important, all right? So quit feeling guilty, and quit worrying. Because I’m at home right now, waiting for you, and no matter what, guilty, innocent, or mistrial, I’m here for you and we’ll get through it, okay? We’re like…Batman and Robin. Bert and Ernie. Sherlock and Watson! So just come home to me, okay?” There’s another pause.
“All right. I love you. Bye.”
The iPod stops, and Ryan pulls the ear buds out of his ears. He puts it in his pocket and rests his head on his hand, leaning back on the bench. Then Sandy taps his arm and nods towards the courtroom.
Ryan swallows roughly and gets up, following Sandy into the courtroom.
This is it.
*
Seth’s head snaps up and he dives to hide the book under the mattress as Ryan walks in the pool house. Seth tries to read his face, but it’s completely passive. Taylor puts her magazine down and says, “See you boys tomorrow,” with a wink, then shuts the pool house door behind her. Ryan locks it once she walks away and then pulls the shades down, throwing the pool house into darkness except for the soft light coming from the TV screen.
“Ryan?” Seth asks quietly from the bed, eyes following Ryan as best they can while they adjust to the dark.
Ryan puts a finger to his lips and then moves it away, replacing his finger with his lips.
“Guilty,” Ryan whispers, and Seth can’t stop the shudder that runs through him.
“You’re kidding,” he chokes out.
“No,” Ryan says with a smile. “He’s behind bars.”
“They…they believed you?” Seth asks incredulously.
“Apparently, your outburst is what pushed me over the edge. Something about the passion and conviction you said all that stuff with or some shit.”
Seth thinks he might cry of happiness, but he opts for grabbing Ryan and pulling him as close as he can, kissing him like there’s no tomorrow.
Only now…there is.
The next chapter will be a complete PWP with absolutely no plot advancement in it. Why? Well, one, you deserve smut. Two, it'll be it's own chapter for those who don't want to have to read a sex scene, so it'll be "optional." Then there will be (roughly, this is an estimate) two more chapters and then we'll be done. I hope to get it all posted before next Wednesday, because I'm leaving for vacation then, and it's ridiculous to leave this unfinished when we're this close to the end, so expect some rapid updating in the next few days.
Hope you enjoyed, and please leave me a review. :)
Paring: Seth/Ryan
Rating: R
Word Count: 2,000 (this chapter)
Summary: Ryan and Seth are finally together, but now Ryan's got one very big problem. Something's stopping him from really being with Seth.
Disclaimer: Me = Poor. Josh Schwartz = Both very ballsy and extremely rich. Note the difference.
Spoilers: For everything. Literally.
Notes: This is a sequel to "Heal", which you'll want to read before you read this. All 12 chapters of "Heal" can be found here.
Part One can be found HERE
Part Two can be found HERE
Part Three can be found HERE
Part Four can be found HERE
Part Five can be found HERE
Part Six can be found HERE
Seth hasn’t been back to the graveyard since they buried Marissa, and he feels uncomfortable being there with Taylor while she says her goodbyes. Thankfully, Taylor wants to be alone, so he stands at the entrance to the graveyard waiting for her, watching the cars drive by.
He tries to ignore the butterflies in his stomach, which on top of being queasy from being in the graveyard is also currently doing flip-flops while he worries about Ryan and the trial and how that’s going. Then there’s the extra layer of “oh my God”-ness to it all that stems from the fact that tonight’s the night. Or at least, Seth hopes it will be, because if that fucking jury is hung, he’s going to die. The only thing that’s supposed to be hung today is the two of them.
He keeps grabbing his cell phone, intending to call Ryan to see how it’s going, but he stops himself from it. If something had happened, Ryan would call. He would want Seth to have the good news. Or—gulp—the bad news.
Taylor returns soon enough, her eyes rimmed with shiny tears, but she puts on a big smile when she gets to Seth and says, “So, shopping?”
Seth takes her around Newport, stopping at every store that tickles her fancy. She doesn’t buy much, more like she peruses each store lovingly. No, longingly.
Seth suddenly remembers Ryan telling him about Marissa during their first Chrismukkah and asks, “You’re not going to shoplift anything, are you?”
Taylor laughs and shakes her head no and mumbles something about how she’s got to get back to Korea soon and that being in jail wouldn’t help that.
They’re in the final store of the day—at least, Taylor promises it’ll be the last one—when she turns to him and says, “So. Really. What’s the real reason you and Ryan haven’t done it yet?”
Several Newpsies turn to stare at them and Seth shushes her and drags her to an area that’s less populated.
“Oh, come off it, Seth. Who cares? So you and Ryan are doing the Big Gay Love thing. It’s very modern of you.”
“I know it’s okay,” Seth says. “I just don’t want all of Newport spreading it around. You know how these women talk.”
Taylor rolls her eyes at him and says, “So, come on. Spill. What’s with the celibacy?”
Seth rubs his left eye with his hand and stares at the ground before mumbling, “I already told you, the trial—“
“That’s why Ryan’s holding off. Fine. But what about you?”
“I respect his wishes?” Seth says. Asks, really. Asks if she’s willing to buy that lie.
Clearly reading him, Taylor says, “No. Come on. Fess up. Truth.”
Seth sighs and groans and hems and haws and finally manages to say, “I’m scared.”
Taylor stares at him like he’s an alien being.
“Come on,” he says. “Don’t give me that. I’ve never…I mean…he’s never either, but he’s not the one that’s going to…stop it!”
Taylor chuckles softly and stops staring at him like he’s nuts and says, “Come on.”
“Where are you dragging me now?” he asks.
“To the bookstore.”
“If you’re going to make me read stuff, I’ve already looked on the internet.”
Taylor raises and eyebrow at him. “And that was informative?”
“Not really,” Seth says, wincing at the memory of his father walking in while he was reading about the apparent magical wonder that was lube.
“Then the bookstore it is.”
“You’re not going to make me read the Kama Sutra for two guys book, are you?”
“No, you’re not nearly advanced enough for that,” Taylor smirks. “We’ll start with Gay Sex For Beginners.”
Seth groans but follows her when she takes his hand and drags him out of the store. The day is already half over, but he can tell that the remaining half is going to drag on painfully slow.
Taylor hands Seth a book and smiles at his embarrassment as he starts reading the first page.
While he’s occupied, Taylor wanders around the corner and leans against the shelf, doubled over, breathing slowly.
She’s trying not to think about Korea. Trying not to think about Sung Ho.
She tells herself that she did the right thing. Leaving him was her only choice. The man that she got off the plane with in Korea wasn’t the man she fell in love with. He was different. Distant. Wrong.
Things were wrong with them ever since they got there, and then Summer’s letter arrived two months ago.
She closes her eyes and winces, feeling the crack of his hand across her cheek once more, hearing his voice berate her and hearing her own whimper, “But I’ve got to go back. She was my friend, I want to say goodbye…”
A tear rolls down her cheek and she hurriedly wipes it away. That’s over now. That part of her life is done with. She snuck out and got away. She’s home now.
But fuck, it isn’t the home she knew. It’s still Newport. The women still gossip cattily about each other, the stores still charge exorbitant amounts of money for a t-shirt, and the air still smells salty like the sea.
But it’s an alternate universe of Newport, one where she’s no longer allowed to come home so she stays with the Cohens. One where one of her friends is dead, the other in Rhode Island, and the other two are having a sexual crisis. Okay, so the sexual crisis thing was old hat. But that only makes it worse. It’s different, yet the same. It’s a fucked up Newport, a negative image of the home she left.
“Taylor?” Seth says, poking his head around the corner. “There you are. Thought I’d lost you. Um…I think this book will help,” he says, blushing softly.
Taylor puts on a smile and puts her arm around him and says, “Now, Seth. Have you met Mr. Prostate?” as they head toward the checkout counter.
Kaitlin checks her watch again as she sips her Diet Coke, her leg bouncing nervously.
“Kay,” Charlie says, “what’s with the hyper overdrive?”
“Nothing,” Kaitlin snaps, glancing towards the parking lot.
“Something’s up,” he says evenly.
“Trial ends today,” she snaps, glancing at Jessica, who is currently eating Charlie’s fries right off of his plate. Kaitlin makes a small disgusted noise before continuing. “Mom’s picking me up in a few minutes to go see the verdict.”
Charlie nods and says, “Good luck, Kay.”
“It doesn’t matter to me either way,” Kaitlin says. “She’s dead and I’m rid of her. I just want to know who did it so I can thank them properly.”
Charlie’s eyes widen comically and Kaitlin would laugh, but Jessica is whispering in his ear and it makes her sick.
She finally spots her mom’s car out in the parking lot and gets up and leaves without saying goodbye. She doubts they even noticed her leaving anyway, considering how Jessica had her tongue down Charlie’s throat.
Disgusting.
Ryan paces the hallway outside the courtroom. The iPod he borrowed from Seth lays forgotten on the bench he’s supposed to be sitting on next to Sandy. Sandy keeps making tutting noises and pointing to the space next to him on the bench, but Ryan just shakes his head and paces more. Finally Sandy stands up and places one hand on Ryan’s shoulder.
“Ryan. Hey, earth to Ryan. Listen, son. A paced hallway never announces its verdict. Sit, okay? Pacing isn’t going to help the jury decide.”
Ryan makes a noise of frustration, but sits like Sandy told him to.
He finally picks up the iPod and turns it on, going to the playlist Seth keeps on there especially for him and finds that something new has been added to it. He puts the earbuds in and presses play, turning the volume up when he doesn’t hear anything at first.
Then Seth’s voice drifts across the earphones.
“Hey, is this on? Is this working? The little bar on the computer is moving like it hears me. Um, okay. So anyway. I’m going to put this on my iPod before you leave this morning, and I don’t know if you’ll listen to it because Dad’s told me that all you do is pace the hallway and you haven’t listened to the iPod at all. So if you don’t, then I’ll just delete this off later, but if you do, then um…hi.” Seth pauses and Ryan can’t stop the grin that spreads across his face.
“Anyway, so this is the last day, and if I know you, which I do, then you’re either pacing around like a lunatic or my dad has tied you down to the seat. I guess…I just wanted to say good luck. And that I love you. And that no matter what happens, it’ll be okay, Ryan. United we’re unstoppable, right? It’ll be okay, Ryan. I know it will. And you’ll come home and he’ll go to jail and we’ll kick Taylor out of the pool house and shut the blinds because she’d be kinky enough to try to watch, and then…then we’ll be together, right? Just me and you. It’ll be great.” There’s a long pause and Ryan thinks maybe that’s the end, but then Seth continues.
“Ryan. Um. Listen. I…I think I get it. Why you really wanted to wait. And…and I get it, okay? I mean…I get it. About her. I mean…she’s…she’s Marissa. And…and I’m Seth. And I get it. Don’t feel guilty, okay? I know that’s what you’re doing.” Ryan looks down at his hands, a small smile creeping on his face at how well Seth obviously knew him, right down to the pang of guilt that just shot through his chest.
“Ryan, I love you, okay? And I know you love me, too. So nothing else matters, all right? All that crap that happened in the past…we’re here now, Ryan. Right now, we’re here together. And that’s what’s important, all right? So quit feeling guilty, and quit worrying. Because I’m at home right now, waiting for you, and no matter what, guilty, innocent, or mistrial, I’m here for you and we’ll get through it, okay? We’re like…Batman and Robin. Bert and Ernie. Sherlock and Watson! So just come home to me, okay?” There’s another pause.
“All right. I love you. Bye.”
The iPod stops, and Ryan pulls the ear buds out of his ears. He puts it in his pocket and rests his head on his hand, leaning back on the bench. Then Sandy taps his arm and nods towards the courtroom.
Ryan swallows roughly and gets up, following Sandy into the courtroom.
This is it.
Seth’s head snaps up and he dives to hide the book under the mattress as Ryan walks in the pool house. Seth tries to read his face, but it’s completely passive. Taylor puts her magazine down and says, “See you boys tomorrow,” with a wink, then shuts the pool house door behind her. Ryan locks it once she walks away and then pulls the shades down, throwing the pool house into darkness except for the soft light coming from the TV screen.
“Ryan?” Seth asks quietly from the bed, eyes following Ryan as best they can while they adjust to the dark.
Ryan puts a finger to his lips and then moves it away, replacing his finger with his lips.
“Guilty,” Ryan whispers, and Seth can’t stop the shudder that runs through him.
“You’re kidding,” he chokes out.
“No,” Ryan says with a smile. “He’s behind bars.”
“They…they believed you?” Seth asks incredulously.
“Apparently, your outburst is what pushed me over the edge. Something about the passion and conviction you said all that stuff with or some shit.”
Seth thinks he might cry of happiness, but he opts for grabbing Ryan and pulling him as close as he can, kissing him like there’s no tomorrow.
Only now…there is.
The next chapter will be a complete PWP with absolutely no plot advancement in it. Why? Well, one, you deserve smut. Two, it'll be it's own chapter for those who don't want to have to read a sex scene, so it'll be "optional." Then there will be (roughly, this is an estimate) two more chapters and then we'll be done. I hope to get it all posted before next Wednesday, because I'm leaving for vacation then, and it's ridiculous to leave this unfinished when we're this close to the end, so expect some rapid updating in the next few days.
Hope you enjoyed, and please leave me a review. :)
