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savannah couldn't wrap her head around what ryan had done. he promised her—sworn, in fact—that he wouldn't do anything reckless, that he wouldn't let oliver get under his skin and risk everything he'd worked so hard to build. and yet, here they were. ryan was suspended indefinitely, possibly facing expulsion, all because he couldn't keep his fists to himself.
inside, ryan sat on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the window, lost in thought. the pool house, usually a place of solace, felt more like a cage now. the sound of a light knock on the glass door pulled him from his reverie. sandy stood there, his expression a mix of concern and disappointment.
"you're not having breakfast?" sandy asked gently as he stepped inside.
ryan shrugged, still staring at the floor. "i'm not really hungry."
sandy studied him for a moment, then sighed. "dr. kim just called to let us know that you've been suspended indefinitely. the disciplinary committee is trying to figure out whether or not they want to expel you."
ryan absorbed the news silently, his fists clenching as he tried to rein in his frustration. after a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice low and measured. "i know you want me to say i'm sorry, but i'm not. oliver admitted it right to my face. he told me he wanted me gone... so he could get to marissa. and he'll do whatever it takes to make that happen."
sandy raised an eyebrow, half-wanting to believe ryan, but the facts weren't in his favor. "then why would he drop the assault charges against you?"
ryan's brow furrowed in confusion. "he did that?"
"yeah," sandy confirmed, walking further into the room. "i mean, it seems to me that if he had it in for you, if he wanted you gone, you'd be gone. you'd be back in juvie already. you know that, right?" he took a seat on the bed next to ryan, his tone softening. "c'mon, help me out here, would you? tell me what's going on."
ryan sighed heavily, feeling trapped by the situation. all he could manage was a weary, "oliver's dangerous."
sandy looked at him for a long moment before speaking again, his voice firm. "this is what i know: you attacked him, period. you're on probation. you knew the slightest infraction could get you taken from us," he shook his head, frustration creeping into his tone, "and you did it anyway. for the life of me, i can't understand why. talk to me."
ryan's eyes snapped shut, trying to block out the world, but sandy wasn't giving up.
"c'mon, ryan, talk to me."
ryan swung around to sit on the edge of the bed, his hands gripping the mattress. "what's the point? you're not gonna believe me anyway."
