Disclaimer: I do not own The O.C. or any of its characters. Everything belongs to FOX and Josh Schwartz.
Ryan was sitting on the porch of his best friend Theresa's house. He had knocked on the door and was waiting for an answer. It was Saturday and every weekend he spent most of it at his best friend's house. They never went to his house. It was always pure chaos and Ryan liked to find any reason to get out of the house. And half the time, his mother didn't even notice he was gone. She was usually too drunk to care; it was better if he stayed out of the way.
Eventually, it was Theresa's mother who answered the door. "Hello Ryan." She greeted with a frown, which concerned Ryan. "I'm sorry, but Theresa is sick this morning." She told him, sadly. "She's not going to be able to play today."
"Can I see her?" Ryan asked. He didn't care what they did. He would even be up for coming in and getting her whatever she needed to feel better. He knew what to do from taking care of his mother.
"She's asleep right now." Her mother told him and Ryan could gather from that response that she wasn't going to let him inside. "Sorry." She added, obviously seeing the disappointment in Ryan's eyes when he took a step closer to go in.
"I could help her feel better." Ryan offered. He took care of his mother when she got her morning hangovers or when she went over her limit and spent mornings vomiting up her liquor. He knew how to take care of people and he certainly wouldn't mind taking care of his best friend. He wanted to be able to do something for her, if he could.
"I don't think she is up for visitors."
"But-" Ryan tried to insist, even though he had quickly realized that her mother didn't want him here today.
"Maybe tomorrow she will feel up to it. But for today, I think it would be best to let her rest and go home. And I wouldn't want you to catch what she has."
Ryan nodded and turned around, slowly walking away from the Diaz house. He understood why she was sending him home but only to an extent. He didn't want to go home. He would have given anything to stay. Home life has been difficult for as long as Ryan can remember but as of late, it's gotten worse. Ever since his older brother, Trey, got arrested and sent to juvie. Trey used to protect him from his mother and her boyfriend of-the-day when they had their rage fits. But now he was on his own and there wasn't much he could do to protect himself; Ryan was only seven years old. He tried to stay out of the way but somehow, they always found a reason to get angry at him.
Ryan dragged his feet up the path to his house and he went inside. He tried to be quiet, but then stopped in his tracks. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his mother pouring herself a glass of whiskey.
"Where the hell were you?" Dawn asked as she then lit a cigarette and took a puff.
"I went to see if Theresa wanted to play." He admitted, honestly.
"I guess she didn't want to." Dawn chuckled slightly.
"She's sick." Ryan informed, but regretted it instantly as Dawn's face hardened.
"Goddamn it!" Dawn cussed before downing her glass of whiskey with one swallow. "Just great! And now you're going to be spreading the germs." She complained. "Now I'm probably going to get sick and be out of work for a few days."
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Little Wonders l The O.C.
FanfictionAU: Ryan Atwood is seven years old and was abandoned by the only family he has ever known. Kirsten and Sandy are unable to have more children and have decided to give fostering a try. Little did they know, how much Ryan would change their family's l...
