~Atonement~
Luke came out the door and stopped for a moment, letting his eyes adjust to the bright light and scanning the crowd of kids leaving school. Ignoring the crude comments about his father that were being tossed his direction, he finally spotted the person he was looking for. Seth was sitting on a low stone wall, tapping his skateboard impatiently, obviously waiting for someone. Luke approached him slowly, hesitated once, then closed the distance between them.
"Hey." Luke caught his gaze with his own, then quickly glanced away as he saw first surprise, then distaste in Seth's hazel eyes. He didn't blame him, not at all, but it still was hard to see after the events of the past few days. In particular, his family's eye-opening truths, the fallout at school from it, and the personal revelations he'd had about his own character flaws. Being on the receiving end of the cruel remarks he'd so often aimed at Seth, well, it made you think about things a little.
"Hey, ah, Luke. What's up?" Seth looked over Luke's shoulder then back at him.
Luke watched Seth carefully. Seth was looking back, cool and distant, with just a hint of curiosity. A month ago, Seth would have had some fear in his eyes on Luke's approach. A little fear, but more - resignation. He'd be doing that speed-talking thing he was so good at, and also be looking all around for Ryan. Luke had always thought of Ryan as Seth's bodyguard. He'd figured the kid from Chino was just protecting Cohen out of loyalty, since his parents had taken him in and all, but Luke had watched them together. Ryan really seemed to like Seth. They acted like brothers or something. And since he'd figured out there was a lot more to Ryan than he'd given him credit for, maybe he'd been wrong about Cohen too. Hell, he'd overheard someone saying Summer Roberts was dating him. Unbelievable. Regardless of whether he and Seth ever became friends, he still felt like a dick for all the grief he'd given him over the years. And there was really no way he could make up for it. Saying he was sorry wouldn't come close to covering it. "Ryan wanted me to let you know he's going to be a while still. Coach has him cornered, telling him stories about Harbor's glory days or whatever. Ryan hasn't even got to the showers yet."
"Oh. Thanks." Seth paused, as if trying to think of something to say. "And uh, how did you avoid the stories of glory?"
Some guys on the team walked by and were staring curiously at the sight of Luke and Seth apparently having normal conversation. It was known throughout school that Luke had always considered Seth his favorite geek target for abuse. Luke glanced up and saw them looking, then whispering to each other, and felt Seth's eyes on him, waiting to see how he'd react. He sat down on the stone wall next to Seth and gave him a wry smile. "Most of us are "lucky" enough to have heard Coach's stories a few hundred times now. He just kept the new guys."
"Ah. I see." Seth glanced over at him and nodded slowly.
Luke had been expecting a nervous look from him, but Seth just seemed to be calculating, or appraising the situation. Confidently. Luke was impressed. He guessed Ryan had a lot to do with the changes he'd been noticing in Seth lately. He seemed to have grown a spine. And if Cohen could handle a girl like Summer, well then, he'd definitely misjudged him. Luke had several friends, now former friends, that had tried to take her on and been shot down in flames. He wanted to ask him about her, but was afraid it was too personal for their very strained relationship. Talking about chicks was for buddies bonding over a 12 pack. But seeing as how he didn't have any buddies anymore, what the hell? "So, Cohen, I heard you're going out with Summer."
Seth turned his head quickly and scanned Luke for signs of ridicule. He found none. All he saw was a strangely shy Luke-clone sitting next to him. "Yeah. I am."
"Well, that's cool, man. She's hot. And a handful. I know several guys that tried to date her, but couldn't keep up. What's your secret?"
Luke watched as Seth smiled and got a distant look in his eyes. "Yes. She certainly is a handful." He turned to Luke. "You just have to know how to talk to her. I learn as I go."
Luke laughed. "'I learn as I go.' That's perfect. That should be the motto for all guys concerning women."
Seth smiled. "Well, you're welcome to use it."
Luke stared at the ground. "Not exactly doing well in that department these days."
Seth wasn't sure what to say. Because you're an ass? No. Better not. "Oh. Sorry."
"Don't be. It's my own fault." Luke leaned back and crossed his legs, staring at his shoes. "Look, Cohen, I wanted to say thanks for the other night at your house. You had every reason to kick me while I was down, but instead you offered me your guest room."
Seth's voice was hard. "Yeah, well, I know how it feels to be beat up."
"I know. All the more reason to say thanks." Luke's words were soft; Seth could just barely hear him.
"You're welcome."
Looking to cut the tension, Luke commented on the blonde walking toward them. "Whoa. Who's this little babe? She must be new."
Seth turned and saw her. "I'll introduce you, if you want."
"Damn, Cohen, what's with you and all the fine girls?" Luke gave him an astonished look.
Seth looked bewildered. "Trust me, I honestly don't know how it happened."
Luke laughed at his confusion. "Whatever you're doing, keep doing it."
"Doing what? What are you up to now, Seth?" Anna stopped in front of them.
"Hi, Anna. Just attracting women like bees to honey. You know how I am." Seth smiled up at her.
"Yes. Delusional."
Luke snorted and tried not to laugh.
Seth rolled his eyes. "Go ahead, man. I'm used to it. So, Anna, have you met Luke yet?"
"No, but his reputation precedes him. Plays water polo and soccer, ex- boyfriend of Marissa, current talk of the school." She held out a hand to him. "Pleased to meet you."
Luke looked warily at her. "You sure about that?"
"Oh yes. The talk about Marissa's OD was just dying down, and they were beginning to circle me as the next topic of gossip. New girl from - horrors - Pittsburgh, that doesn't dress or talk like them, and has unconventional interests. Your fall from grace held off mine for a little while."
Luke smiled at her and shook her hand. "Glad I could help you out."
"Don't worry, I give it another week, and something else will happen to take the heat off of you. Newport seems to breed scandal." She looked at him sympathetically.
"True. But I'm dealing. And I've learned a lot from it." He glanced at Seth.
"So, Seth, I was wondering if I could get a ride home? My mom had to use my car today while hers is being detailed."
"Of course, but I'm not sure how long we have to wait for Ryan." Seth looked over his shoulder at the school doors, then to Luke. "Will it be a while?"
Luke looked at his watch. "Probably. Coach is pretty long-winded once he gets wound up." He raised his eyes to Anna. " I could, uh, give you ride home if you didn't want to wait. If you want." He looked down quickly then up at Seth.
Anna looked at Seth also, raising her eyebrows in an unspoken question. Luke knew the question was 'Should I? Is this guy safe? I thought you said he was a dick'. Seth's answer would tell him if he'd made a little progress repairing the damage he'd done. He cleared his throat, then added, "Hey man, I can give you a ride too. We can take your keys in to Ryan so he can drive home."
Seth considered it for a moment, staring at Luke, and then smiled at Anna. "That's ok. You go ahead though Anna, if you want. Ryan and I are meeting the girls whenever he gets done here anyway. But thanks for the offer, dude."
"No problem." Luke stood up and turned to Anna. "How about you?"
"Sure. Thanks. Bye, Seth." Anna gave him a little hug and Seth gave Luke a hard look.
Luke raised both hands in an "I'm innocent" gesture. "Don't worry about a thing, man. Cohen, later, and um, thanks." Luke wasn't sure whether to shake hands, slap hands, or what, so he settled for a wave.
Seth smiled and waved two fingers back at them. "See ya tomorrow, guys."
As Luke walked away with Anna, he felt better than he had in a long time. A little lighter somehow. His life was upside down and things were pretty twisted at home still, but it sort of felt like things were looking up. From the easy chatter and appraising glance or two he was getting from Anna, some things were maybe looking really good. All thanks to Cohen. Who'd of thought it?
~Fini~
Luke came out the door and stopped for a moment, letting his eyes adjust to the bright light and scanning the crowd of kids leaving school. Ignoring the crude comments about his father that were being tossed his direction, he finally spotted the person he was looking for. Seth was sitting on a low stone wall, tapping his skateboard impatiently, obviously waiting for someone. Luke approached him slowly, hesitated once, then closed the distance between them.
"Hey." Luke caught his gaze with his own, then quickly glanced away as he saw first surprise, then distaste in Seth's hazel eyes. He didn't blame him, not at all, but it still was hard to see after the events of the past few days. In particular, his family's eye-opening truths, the fallout at school from it, and the personal revelations he'd had about his own character flaws. Being on the receiving end of the cruel remarks he'd so often aimed at Seth, well, it made you think about things a little.
"Hey, ah, Luke. What's up?" Seth looked over Luke's shoulder then back at him.
Luke watched Seth carefully. Seth was looking back, cool and distant, with just a hint of curiosity. A month ago, Seth would have had some fear in his eyes on Luke's approach. A little fear, but more - resignation. He'd be doing that speed-talking thing he was so good at, and also be looking all around for Ryan. Luke had always thought of Ryan as Seth's bodyguard. He'd figured the kid from Chino was just protecting Cohen out of loyalty, since his parents had taken him in and all, but Luke had watched them together. Ryan really seemed to like Seth. They acted like brothers or something. And since he'd figured out there was a lot more to Ryan than he'd given him credit for, maybe he'd been wrong about Cohen too. Hell, he'd overheard someone saying Summer Roberts was dating him. Unbelievable. Regardless of whether he and Seth ever became friends, he still felt like a dick for all the grief he'd given him over the years. And there was really no way he could make up for it. Saying he was sorry wouldn't come close to covering it. "Ryan wanted me to let you know he's going to be a while still. Coach has him cornered, telling him stories about Harbor's glory days or whatever. Ryan hasn't even got to the showers yet."
"Oh. Thanks." Seth paused, as if trying to think of something to say. "And uh, how did you avoid the stories of glory?"
Some guys on the team walked by and were staring curiously at the sight of Luke and Seth apparently having normal conversation. It was known throughout school that Luke had always considered Seth his favorite geek target for abuse. Luke glanced up and saw them looking, then whispering to each other, and felt Seth's eyes on him, waiting to see how he'd react. He sat down on the stone wall next to Seth and gave him a wry smile. "Most of us are "lucky" enough to have heard Coach's stories a few hundred times now. He just kept the new guys."
"Ah. I see." Seth glanced over at him and nodded slowly.
Luke had been expecting a nervous look from him, but Seth just seemed to be calculating, or appraising the situation. Confidently. Luke was impressed. He guessed Ryan had a lot to do with the changes he'd been noticing in Seth lately. He seemed to have grown a spine. And if Cohen could handle a girl like Summer, well then, he'd definitely misjudged him. Luke had several friends, now former friends, that had tried to take her on and been shot down in flames. He wanted to ask him about her, but was afraid it was too personal for their very strained relationship. Talking about chicks was for buddies bonding over a 12 pack. But seeing as how he didn't have any buddies anymore, what the hell? "So, Cohen, I heard you're going out with Summer."
Seth turned his head quickly and scanned Luke for signs of ridicule. He found none. All he saw was a strangely shy Luke-clone sitting next to him. "Yeah. I am."
"Well, that's cool, man. She's hot. And a handful. I know several guys that tried to date her, but couldn't keep up. What's your secret?"
Luke watched as Seth smiled and got a distant look in his eyes. "Yes. She certainly is a handful." He turned to Luke. "You just have to know how to talk to her. I learn as I go."
Luke laughed. "'I learn as I go.' That's perfect. That should be the motto for all guys concerning women."
Seth smiled. "Well, you're welcome to use it."
Luke stared at the ground. "Not exactly doing well in that department these days."
Seth wasn't sure what to say. Because you're an ass? No. Better not. "Oh. Sorry."
"Don't be. It's my own fault." Luke leaned back and crossed his legs, staring at his shoes. "Look, Cohen, I wanted to say thanks for the other night at your house. You had every reason to kick me while I was down, but instead you offered me your guest room."
Seth's voice was hard. "Yeah, well, I know how it feels to be beat up."
"I know. All the more reason to say thanks." Luke's words were soft; Seth could just barely hear him.
"You're welcome."
Looking to cut the tension, Luke commented on the blonde walking toward them. "Whoa. Who's this little babe? She must be new."
Seth turned and saw her. "I'll introduce you, if you want."
"Damn, Cohen, what's with you and all the fine girls?" Luke gave him an astonished look.
Seth looked bewildered. "Trust me, I honestly don't know how it happened."
Luke laughed at his confusion. "Whatever you're doing, keep doing it."
"Doing what? What are you up to now, Seth?" Anna stopped in front of them.
"Hi, Anna. Just attracting women like bees to honey. You know how I am." Seth smiled up at her.
"Yes. Delusional."
Luke snorted and tried not to laugh.
Seth rolled his eyes. "Go ahead, man. I'm used to it. So, Anna, have you met Luke yet?"
"No, but his reputation precedes him. Plays water polo and soccer, ex- boyfriend of Marissa, current talk of the school." She held out a hand to him. "Pleased to meet you."
Luke looked warily at her. "You sure about that?"
"Oh yes. The talk about Marissa's OD was just dying down, and they were beginning to circle me as the next topic of gossip. New girl from - horrors - Pittsburgh, that doesn't dress or talk like them, and has unconventional interests. Your fall from grace held off mine for a little while."
Luke smiled at her and shook her hand. "Glad I could help you out."
"Don't worry, I give it another week, and something else will happen to take the heat off of you. Newport seems to breed scandal." She looked at him sympathetically.
"True. But I'm dealing. And I've learned a lot from it." He glanced at Seth.
"So, Seth, I was wondering if I could get a ride home? My mom had to use my car today while hers is being detailed."
"Of course, but I'm not sure how long we have to wait for Ryan." Seth looked over his shoulder at the school doors, then to Luke. "Will it be a while?"
Luke looked at his watch. "Probably. Coach is pretty long-winded once he gets wound up." He raised his eyes to Anna. " I could, uh, give you ride home if you didn't want to wait. If you want." He looked down quickly then up at Seth.
Anna looked at Seth also, raising her eyebrows in an unspoken question. Luke knew the question was 'Should I? Is this guy safe? I thought you said he was a dick'. Seth's answer would tell him if he'd made a little progress repairing the damage he'd done. He cleared his throat, then added, "Hey man, I can give you a ride too. We can take your keys in to Ryan so he can drive home."
Seth considered it for a moment, staring at Luke, and then smiled at Anna. "That's ok. You go ahead though Anna, if you want. Ryan and I are meeting the girls whenever he gets done here anyway. But thanks for the offer, dude."
"No problem." Luke stood up and turned to Anna. "How about you?"
"Sure. Thanks. Bye, Seth." Anna gave him a little hug and Seth gave Luke a hard look.
Luke raised both hands in an "I'm innocent" gesture. "Don't worry about a thing, man. Cohen, later, and um, thanks." Luke wasn't sure whether to shake hands, slap hands, or what, so he settled for a wave.
Seth smiled and waved two fingers back at them. "See ya tomorrow, guys."
As Luke walked away with Anna, he felt better than he had in a long time. A little lighter somehow. His life was upside down and things were pretty twisted at home still, but it sort of felt like things were looking up. From the easy chatter and appraising glance or two he was getting from Anna, some things were maybe looking really good. All thanks to Cohen. Who'd of thought it?
~Fini~