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myficsTitle: Right [Part Ten of the "Trials" series, a sequel to "Heal"]
Paring: Seth/Ryan
Rating: R
Word Count: 1,105 (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
Part Seven can be found HERE
Part Eight can be found HERE
Part Nine can be found HERE
Ryan growls angrily, attempting to untie the knot he’s managed to put in his tie.
“Ryan, calm down,” Seth says, coming up behind him and fixing the tie for him.
“I still don’t see why we have to go to this thing,” Ryan says. “After all that stuff she said about us…besides, it’s Christmas.”
“Mom is her maid of honor, we have to go. And…well, I guess we can take a few hours off of our Chrismukkah celebration for this.” Seth grins broadly before continuing. “We’ll just have to stay up extra late tonight celebrating to make up for it.”
“Well, when you put it that way,” Ryan says, turning around and wrapping his arms around Seth, kissing him softly.
“Hey, are you two ready—“ Taylor’s voice rings out from the doorway. “You know…seeing that never gets old. Still hot.”
Ryan disentangles himself from Seth and says, “Yeah, we’re ready.”
“Sandy’s waiting for us in the car.”
They head outside and climb in the car and Sandy drives them to the wedding.
After her wedding to Caleb, Julie insisted that this one be inside, so she chose a ritzy hotel with a ball room bigger than any room Ryan had ever been inside.
An usher shows them where to sit, and the four of them take a seat. Most people are still just milling about, since it’s still early yet, and Ryan spots Summer, in her bridesmaid gown, talking to Luke in a corner.
“Hey,” Seth says, shaking Ryan out of his trance.
“Hmm?” Ryan says distractedly.
“Taylor said that she thought Catwoman was a good movie. Help, Ryan, I think I’m going to cry.”
“It was good!” Taylor insists.
“See? There’s no reasoning with her, Ryan! Help!”
Ryan laughs and puts his arm around Seth as everyone starts moving into position for the ceremony.
*
The wedding ceremony is boring, Kaitlin thinks, so she tries to remember her favorite quotes from The Valley to distract herself. Charlie keeps waving to her from his seat, and it’s really starting to get annoying. Summer pokes her once, when she lets out a loud yawn just as her mom and Neil are proclaimed husband and wife.
Then there’s a lot of clapping, which Kaitlin doesn’t participate in, and they’re finally allowed to get the hell out of there.
“Hey,” Charlie says, sitting down next to her at the reception.
“Hey,” Kaitlin sighs.
She watches as her mom and Neil start their first dance, then other couples beginning to trickle onto the dance floor.
“Want to dance?” Charlie asks.
“No.”
“Come on, what kind of date would I be if I didn’t take you for a spin?”
“You’re not my date. You’re my—“
“Food stealer, right. But I’m pretty sure that if you look up the job description for ‘food stealer,’ you will find that I’m legally obligated to dance with you. I don’t want to get arrested for breaking the law.”
Kaitlin lets out a noise, part sigh and part growl, but allows him to lead her onto the dance floor.
“See? Not so bad.”
“Yeah, for you. I’m hot.”
“I am too. You told me so, remember?”
“That was before I found out about your loserness.”
“Hate to tell ya, Kay, but you’re a loser, too.”
Kaitlin leans away and glares at him, but before she can say anything, he presses his lips to hers.
“Bastard,” she says.
“Loser.”
“Okay,” she says, then kisses him again.
*
“Anybody want to go dance?” Summer asks.
“Sure,” Luke says, getting up and taking her hand.
Seth and Ryan stand up, too.
Summer catches Taylor’s eye. “Um…never mind. Let’s just sit here and make fun of everyone.”
“No, no, it’s okay,” Taylor says. “Go on, go dance.”
“We could do the Chrismukkah Barmitzvakkah thing,” Seth says.
“Really not necessary,” Taylor says. “Besides, Julie is already shooting daggers at you two, best not to ruin her wedding. Go on, you guys. Dance.”
“Are you sure?” Summer asks.
“Yeah, go on.”
Summer nods and takes Luke’s hand, following him out onto the dance floor. A little ways away, Seth is leaning onto Ryan and swaying slowly, caught up in a rhythm that no one else can hear.
“Summer, about Rhode Island.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you like Brown?”
“I love it,” she tells him.
“Okay,” he says, sounding like he just made a decision.
“What?”
“Like you said. I can wait tables anywhere. I’ll…I’ll come to Rhode Island next semester. Get an apartment near Brown. You can move in if you want or stay in your dorm. But I can’t take another semester like this.”
“I’m not asking you to move,” she tells him.
“I know you’re not. I’m offering. I just want to be with you, Summer. And if that means living in the fucking snow, then I want to do it.”
Summer feels tears spring to her eyes. Luke hates the snow. And the fact that he would do that for her? It’s almost heart-breaking in an absolutely beautiful way.
Instead of answering, she just pulls him closer and holds onto him for dear life.
*
“Ryan?” Seth says, watching Julie Cooper glare at the two of them dancing in the middle of her wedding reception.
“Yeah?”
“Maybe we should go. I think Julie is going to have a fit.”
“I don’t care,” Ryan says.
“But, Ryan—“
“No. I don’t care. I only get you for a few more weeks and then you’ve got to go to the other side of the country, Seth. I’m not letting her keep us apart now, okay? I just…I just want to dance with you, okay?”
Seth nods and lays his head back on Ryan’s shoulder.
He doesn’t want to think about the future. He doesn’t want to think about the fact that Ryan is absolutely right, even if he doesn’t want to admit it.
It’s fucked up, they have to be separated just when they’re finally getting together, when they’re finally in the swing of things as a couple. They’re finally getting to the point where they can just relax with each other and enjoy that. They’ve finally got themselves synched up, and now the world says, “Neener neener neener,” and pulls them apart again.
It’s not right, and it’s not fair.
But when Ryan rests his hands in the small of Seth’s back and exhales a soft sigh that tickles against his ear, it feels like the world is standing still, even though it isn’t.
And right then, everything feels all right.
It feels like maybe this story, Seth’s story—no, Seth and Ryan’s story—might get a happy ending.
END
As I promised, I think I'm done with this universe. If I ever write in it again, it's liable to be something that could be in this universe but doesn't have to be, because I really think I'm done with this whole thing (hence my intentionally leaving it OPEN for a sequel, but also closing it enough for this to be "the end"). That being said, I hope you enjoyed it anyway. I had a blast writing it for you guys, and your endless support and encouragement helped me keep going even when I wanted to give up. You even helped me accomplish one of my goals! I wanted to write a novel-length (50,000 words) story this summer, and I did! So thank you so much for all you've done for me. MWAH!
Paring: Seth/Ryan
Rating: R
Word Count: 1,105 (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
Part Seven can be found HERE
Part Eight can be found HERE
Part Nine can be found HERE
Ryan growls angrily, attempting to untie the knot he’s managed to put in his tie.
“Ryan, calm down,” Seth says, coming up behind him and fixing the tie for him.
“I still don’t see why we have to go to this thing,” Ryan says. “After all that stuff she said about us…besides, it’s Christmas.”
“Mom is her maid of honor, we have to go. And…well, I guess we can take a few hours off of our Chrismukkah celebration for this.” Seth grins broadly before continuing. “We’ll just have to stay up extra late tonight celebrating to make up for it.”
“Well, when you put it that way,” Ryan says, turning around and wrapping his arms around Seth, kissing him softly.
“Hey, are you two ready—“ Taylor’s voice rings out from the doorway. “You know…seeing that never gets old. Still hot.”
Ryan disentangles himself from Seth and says, “Yeah, we’re ready.”
“Sandy’s waiting for us in the car.”
They head outside and climb in the car and Sandy drives them to the wedding.
After her wedding to Caleb, Julie insisted that this one be inside, so she chose a ritzy hotel with a ball room bigger than any room Ryan had ever been inside.
An usher shows them where to sit, and the four of them take a seat. Most people are still just milling about, since it’s still early yet, and Ryan spots Summer, in her bridesmaid gown, talking to Luke in a corner.
“Hey,” Seth says, shaking Ryan out of his trance.
“Hmm?” Ryan says distractedly.
“Taylor said that she thought Catwoman was a good movie. Help, Ryan, I think I’m going to cry.”
“It was good!” Taylor insists.
“See? There’s no reasoning with her, Ryan! Help!”
Ryan laughs and puts his arm around Seth as everyone starts moving into position for the ceremony.
The wedding ceremony is boring, Kaitlin thinks, so she tries to remember her favorite quotes from The Valley to distract herself. Charlie keeps waving to her from his seat, and it’s really starting to get annoying. Summer pokes her once, when she lets out a loud yawn just as her mom and Neil are proclaimed husband and wife.
Then there’s a lot of clapping, which Kaitlin doesn’t participate in, and they’re finally allowed to get the hell out of there.
“Hey,” Charlie says, sitting down next to her at the reception.
“Hey,” Kaitlin sighs.
She watches as her mom and Neil start their first dance, then other couples beginning to trickle onto the dance floor.
“Want to dance?” Charlie asks.
“No.”
“Come on, what kind of date would I be if I didn’t take you for a spin?”
“You’re not my date. You’re my—“
“Food stealer, right. But I’m pretty sure that if you look up the job description for ‘food stealer,’ you will find that I’m legally obligated to dance with you. I don’t want to get arrested for breaking the law.”
Kaitlin lets out a noise, part sigh and part growl, but allows him to lead her onto the dance floor.
“See? Not so bad.”
“Yeah, for you. I’m hot.”
“I am too. You told me so, remember?”
“That was before I found out about your loserness.”
“Hate to tell ya, Kay, but you’re a loser, too.”
Kaitlin leans away and glares at him, but before she can say anything, he presses his lips to hers.
“Bastard,” she says.
“Loser.”
“Okay,” she says, then kisses him again.
“Anybody want to go dance?” Summer asks.
“Sure,” Luke says, getting up and taking her hand.
Seth and Ryan stand up, too.
Summer catches Taylor’s eye. “Um…never mind. Let’s just sit here and make fun of everyone.”
“No, no, it’s okay,” Taylor says. “Go on, go dance.”
“We could do the Chrismukkah Barmitzvakkah thing,” Seth says.
“Really not necessary,” Taylor says. “Besides, Julie is already shooting daggers at you two, best not to ruin her wedding. Go on, you guys. Dance.”
“Are you sure?” Summer asks.
“Yeah, go on.”
Summer nods and takes Luke’s hand, following him out onto the dance floor. A little ways away, Seth is leaning onto Ryan and swaying slowly, caught up in a rhythm that no one else can hear.
“Summer, about Rhode Island.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you like Brown?”
“I love it,” she tells him.
“Okay,” he says, sounding like he just made a decision.
“What?”
“Like you said. I can wait tables anywhere. I’ll…I’ll come to Rhode Island next semester. Get an apartment near Brown. You can move in if you want or stay in your dorm. But I can’t take another semester like this.”
“I’m not asking you to move,” she tells him.
“I know you’re not. I’m offering. I just want to be with you, Summer. And if that means living in the fucking snow, then I want to do it.”
Summer feels tears spring to her eyes. Luke hates the snow. And the fact that he would do that for her? It’s almost heart-breaking in an absolutely beautiful way.
Instead of answering, she just pulls him closer and holds onto him for dear life.
“Ryan?” Seth says, watching Julie Cooper glare at the two of them dancing in the middle of her wedding reception.
“Yeah?”
“Maybe we should go. I think Julie is going to have a fit.”
“I don’t care,” Ryan says.
“But, Ryan—“
“No. I don’t care. I only get you for a few more weeks and then you’ve got to go to the other side of the country, Seth. I’m not letting her keep us apart now, okay? I just…I just want to dance with you, okay?”
Seth nods and lays his head back on Ryan’s shoulder.
He doesn’t want to think about the future. He doesn’t want to think about the fact that Ryan is absolutely right, even if he doesn’t want to admit it.
It’s fucked up, they have to be separated just when they’re finally getting together, when they’re finally in the swing of things as a couple. They’re finally getting to the point where they can just relax with each other and enjoy that. They’ve finally got themselves synched up, and now the world says, “Neener neener neener,” and pulls them apart again.
It’s not right, and it’s not fair.
But when Ryan rests his hands in the small of Seth’s back and exhales a soft sigh that tickles against his ear, it feels like the world is standing still, even though it isn’t.
And right then, everything feels all right.
It feels like maybe this story, Seth’s story—no, Seth and Ryan’s story—might get a happy ending.
As I promised, I think I'm done with this universe. If I ever write in it again, it's liable to be something that could be in this universe but doesn't have to be, because I really think I'm done with this whole thing (hence my intentionally leaving it OPEN for a sequel, but also closing it enough for this to be "the end"). That being said, I hope you enjoyed it anyway. I had a blast writing it for you guys, and your endless support and encouragement helped me keep going even when I wanted to give up. You even helped me accomplish one of my goals! I wanted to write a novel-length (50,000 words) story this summer, and I did! So thank you so much for all you've done for me. MWAH!
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no subject
Date: 2006-07-25 01:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-25 02:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-25 05:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-25 05:09 am (UTC)Annnnnnnyway (cuz I'm rambling now), I'm glad you liked it. :)
no subject
Date: 2006-07-25 02:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-31 10:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-31 11:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-31 11:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-31 11:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-31 11:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-01 12:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-01 12:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-25 06:45 am (UTC)Couldn't make myself care about Kaitlyn but I can live with that.
I still get the big *sigh* thinking about them being on different coasts soon, but that I knew from the beginning.
Thanks for sharing this story with us.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-25 08:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-25 07:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-25 08:30 pm (UTC)I'm glad you liked it. :-D
no subject
Date: 2006-07-25 11:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-25 08:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-25 04:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-25 08:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-26 10:14 am (UTC)Even with the threat of impending college, this story ended happily, and Seth/Ryan surely deserve that. I also love Kaitlyn and Charlie, he won't put up with any of her crap.
Thanks for proving there is hope for The OC after Season 3!
no subject
Date: 2006-07-31 10:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-19 01:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-19 02:03 pm (UTC)Maybe I'll get to it eventually though. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-10-11 05:47 pm (UTC)I read this series years ago, and it's still one of my favorite OC fics, handsdown.
Kudos!
skater
no subject
Date: 2010-10-11 09:55 pm (UTC)http://kaci-jabeth.livejournal.com/LINK.html
becomes
http://denofiniquity.livejournal.com/LINK.html
no subject
Date: 2010-10-11 10:08 pm (UTC)Also, I was wondering if it was okay to add the series to my ereader? It would only be for me, and I wouldn't share it, but I don't like adding fic to my ereader if the author doesn't want me to. Any answer is fine!:)
no subject
Date: 2010-10-11 10:11 pm (UTC)