Brandywine's 15 minute challenge

[jillbee7]

This was written for Brandywine421's 15 minute challenge. (I'm sorry, but it took me an hour. I've only reread it a couple of times and it's late, so bear with me.)

Title: Finality
Rating: PG-13 (language)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to The O.C. 
Word count: 1556

Comments

[60schic]

Oh my. So vivid. So real. So sad. I do believe that Ryan would be angrier with himself than with Seth, but I think you did an admirable job here.

[jillbee7]

That's a really good point. Ryan, for whatever reason, does seem to blame everything that happens to practically anyone on himself. I'm sure he'd be furious with himself that he drank in the first place, especially since he has seen the horrific effects of alcohol so many times in his own home. He'd be mad that he got so drunk, mad that he let Seth get so drunk, mad that he let Seth drive...and the list goes on. He really does self-blame a lot. When he says, "This is why I don't drink", to Seth, part of the comment may be directed towards himself. (Weird how I'm analyzing this Ryan, but I wrote him. I guess I should know what he means, hey? Hmm.) I guess I wanted to write this more from the perspective of Seth, and having Ryan angry with him just worked. I definitely agree with you, though.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and comment! =) I'm so glad you liked it.

[famous99]

Beautiful. I like the repetition of time throughout the story.

[jillbee7]

Thank you! I wasn't sure how the time thing was going to work out, so I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[muchtvs]

Poor Seth.

I know Ryan came out the worst...but in a way, I feel like Seth's life is the one that is ruined. It was so sad, how he kept hoping Ryan would forgive him, and I thought for a second that was going to happen.

Well done.

[jillbee7]

I know, I was so mean to both of them, wasn't I? Haha. I sort of get the feeling that Ryan will be able to go on with his life, while Seth might not. Ryan's tough, he's gone through massive amounts of shit in his life, and he has a knack for shoving problems away and moving on. Seth, on the other hand, just lost his best (and really only) friend because of his own stupidity. He's a dweller, too. I just don't know if he'd be as able to move on.

I wanted Ryan to forgive him too, but I decided I just couldn't let that happen. Ryan needed to stand up for himself at some point, and this was sort of just the last straw.

Thanks for reading and commenting, I really appreciate it!

[jillbee7]

Thanks for the comment! I know, Seth's such a resilient guy that I was sort of hesitant to make him this guilt ridden. Ryan is (or was, I guess) his best friend though, and I think that seeing Ryan in his new state every day would just be a constant reminder of his stupidity. I feel bad for him too

[teachertam]

Oh, my goodness.

This is just...

Urgh.

I love Ryan. And the way you have him just determined to be what he can, is just so sweet. It hurts, though, that the friendship is over. I mean, it'd almost *have* to be. But it hurts.

And the poor Cohens! Knowing that one son so hurt another. And trying to live in a house with two people who can't speak to each other! That's hard. On everyone.

I love the line where Ryan says "This is why I don't drink." *sniffs*

Poor boys!

All that being said, I have absolutely *no* respect or understanding for drunk drivers. It's a completely selfish act, and I will never understand it.

Echoing Ryan, this is why.

[jillbee7]

I agree, it's so sad that their friendship's over. I didn't want it to be either...but I think it has to be too. Actually, it's Ryan we're talking about, so he might have been able to find it in him to forgive Seth. Ryan always suffers the consequences of everybody else's actions, but I think this is the last time he ever will.

Ugh, life in the Cohen house is definitely not happy right now. Can you imagine? How incredibly sad and awkward and just plain awful. I feel so bad for all of them. Seth makes me sad too, although I, like you, have no respect for his decision.

Thanks so much for reading and replying to this! I've said it so many times I must sound like a broken record, but it really means SO much to me.