"Dear Studio Audience, I've an Announcement to Make..." *Part 29*
Ryan couldn’t believe that he had not only agreed to uproot himself and move to
Ryan sat in a coffee shop, as he stared out the window just watching people walk past. Every time a slight shiver went through his body, he tried to pull his huge winter coat around him even tighter. The one thing about
He was no longer writing in an attempt to sell millions of records or gain people’s acceptance and approval; he was now just writing for himself. It was something he had always loved to do, and just the mere fact that no one would ever read these made it so much easier for him to write.
His attention was taken from his writing as he heard someone begin to order coffee from behind him. Ryan continued to write, but was trying to listen to the man’s voice at the same time. When he realized why it sounded so familiar, he dropped the pen and quickly turned in his seat to see if his thought had been accurate. It was.
He had spent six months in
“Well I hate to interrupt the races,” Jon stated with a slight laugh as he watch Allison turn her attention to him quickly, startled by the sound of his voice. “But I’m going to go get some…coffee. Do you want me to grab you anything?”
Allison raised her eyebrows at him, not quite buying his story. She then carefully placed both of her hands over Benjamin’s ears and spoke to Jon. “Don’t you dare come back with another present for him,” she commanded firmly.
“Why not?” Jon pouted, as if he didn’t find this fair at all.
“I think he has more than enough gifts under that tree,” Allison responded as she jerked her head in the general direction. The tree was in fact overflowing with presents; ranging from big ones to small ones. The majority of which were from Jon to Benjamin.
“Fine,” Jon sighed as he reluctantly agreed, not wanting to get into an argument about it. “I’m still going to get coffee though.”
“Good.” Allison replied. “Get me my usual then.” She added, knowing that this way he would actually have to go get the coffee or else she would know he was up to something.
“Sure thing,” Jon confirmed before grabbing his car keys off of the counter, and making his way towards the door; he could hear Allison and Benjamin begin playing again as he exited the house to the sound of their combined laughter.
Ryan saw Jon at the counter, joking with the worker as he ordered two different kinds of drinks. Watching him order two different drinks had already gotten his brain jumping to all kinds of conclusions, and then when he scanned his eyes downward to see what he was holding in his hand. He knew his assumption had been correct. The red toy fire engine had confirmed it all. Jon knew where Allison was.
That was the extent of him trying to piece things together. He didn’t want to make a similar mistake as last time, and assume the worst. He just knew that he had to go up and talk to Jon. As soon as he made this decision, he noticed that Jon was already on his way out the door. Ryan quickly scrambled to gather up his things that were strewn across the small circular table, and quickly bolted after Jon.
“Jon!” he shouted as he jogged after him, following the footsteps that he was leaving in the snow. “Wait up!”
Jon immediately stopped in his steps, his shoulders tensing up as his brain instantly identified the owner of the voice who was shouting his name. He slowly turned around so that his eyes could confirm what his brain already knew. “Ryan?” he questioned as he watched his slim friend bound over towards him, wrapped up in the largest coat that he had ever seen; some may even call it a parka.
“Hey,” Ryan replied, slightly breathless after the slight jog he had to catch up with Jon. His lungs felt like they were now covered in ice because of all the cold air he was inhaling heavily.
“Long time no see buddy!” Jon stated happily, trying to cover up the shock that he was in
“Pete kidnapped me,” Ryan replied as if it was no big deal. “I’m working for his label quite a bit now, and just getting a new atmosphere. What about you?”
“Well
“Well it’s great to see you man,” Ryan replied, flashing him a genuinely happy smile. “I didn’t know you had a little brother though….” He stated curiously, to see what Jon’s reaction would be.
“What?” Jon replied. “I don’t. Why’d you think I…” he began to ask, but his question drifted off when he realized that he was holding onto the Toys R Us bag that contained a toy for a young boy. “Okay Ry, I know what this looks like, but I swear nothing’s going on between me and Allison. She’s just one of my best friends, and I needed a place to stay. We’re just friends though. Boy Scout’s honor!” he finished strongly.
Ryan couldn’t help but let out a light chuckle, that caused a swirl of smoke to appear in front of his mouth as his warm breath turned into condensation in the cold air. “I didn’t think that,” Ryan replied. “But I was hoping that you were with Alli.”
“You were?” Jon asked instantly, shocked that Ryan wasn’t mad at him for not telling him where she was sooner.
“Yes.” Ryan replied truthfully. “I hated thinking that she was on her own with a kid, without anyone being there for her. I’m really glad that you were able to be with her so that she wasn’t alone.”
“Yea…” Jon replied, waiting to see if there was a catch.
“How’s she doing, man?” Ryan asked after a few moments of silence passed between the pair.
Jon smiled widely, as he was glad that he obviously still cared greatly. “She’s doing really well.” Jon replied. “Benjamin, that’s her son, is almost three years old, and he is genuinely one of the happiest babies I have ever seen.”
Ryan smiled, relieved that she was doing well. He felt the anxiety that he had held for the past three years, suddenly release from the pits of his stomach; and he felt free. “I like that name.” Ryan stated simply, more to himself than to Jon. “How is she financially? I mean, how is she making money?”
“That’s what I was always wondering,” Jon replied. “She already had a house when I found her. Not a huge one, but one that definitely fits the three of us very comfortably. She’s been doing some freelance writing and other work from home so that she can stay with Benjamin as much as possible. I have some theories on where her steady flow of money’s coming from, but I’m not positive.”
“Brendon?” Ryan questioned as he looked at Jon’s face to see if he had guessed the same thing that he did. Brendon was the only one that had continued to be successful, and remain in the public eye. He had released a solo album of his own, just him with some nobodies playing in a backing band. The CD was actually quite good, Brendon had sent Ryan a free copy; not thinking he’d even listen to it.
Jon nodded his head, not wanting to upset Ryan in anyway when he seemed to be doing so well. “I’ve never brought this up with Allison,” Jon replied. “But legally he sort of has to pay child support, but I think he just adds quite a bit more to when he’s obligated to pay.”
“That’s good of him.” Ryan stated finally, glad to see that Brendon actually made a good choice for once when dealing with Allison. “Well I’m glad that she’s doing well. Can you please just tell her that I miss her, and I wish her a merry Christmas?” he added, deciding he’d better let Jon go back to them before she started to worry.
Jon winced as he tried to decide whether he was making a good decision or not. “I really think she would rather hear it from you actually.” Jon replied. “I’m not really supposed to tell anyone where she is, but if you happened to stumble across her, then I don’t see how either of us can be at fault…”
“Where?” Ryan questioned, instantly catching on to where Jon was going with this one.
“She reads short stories that she’s written every Thursday at the library at 4 o’clock in the afternoon.” Jon stated. “I always keep Benjamin at this time, so it will just be her.”
“Thanks,” Ryan replied graciously, before saying his goodbye to Jon and walking back to his small apartment that Pete had helped him get.
**Probably one more part left after this one, but maybe two. I'm not positive. Then there will be an epilogue, because we all know that I'm a sucker for epilogues. This story has been so much fun to write, and I truly want to thank you all for reading it, and sticking with it even though sometimes it takes me quite a while to update. I hope you liked this part!!**
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