Shut Up and Drive

Summary: Ryan teaches Seth

Let's make this an AU where Ryan comes earlier in the Summer around June and all the events after "The Gamble" don't happen until Late August. Also, lets pretend that Marissa is the one that drove in the episode 'The Model Home' And Summer was the one driving in the Tiajuana ep. Everything else happens the same way, I only did this so that this story makes more sense to me time wise.

That being said, this takes place inbetween "The Gamble" and "The Outsider" taking place somtime during mid June or early July.

Oh yeah - I don't own it, The O.C that is. The computer and the account and the mad typing skillz are all mine.

This is the first fic I've done that for and I've written four already. I hope I don't get sued. :)

Enjoy.

"But Dad-"

" I said no Seth. Let's give it a little while longer, then we'll see"

" Dad if we give it any longer, I'll be old and grey and I will have inherited you caterpillar eyebrows. Please"

"After that eyebrow comment? I don't think so"

Seth flops down on the couch next to Ryan who's watching in bemused silence.

He was watching TV and Sandy and Seth come storming into the living room and start arguing. Back in Chino, that sort of thing would have Ryan running for cover, but this is Newport and he's comfortable enough with Sandy and Seth's everyday bickering to stay put. Besides, sometimes it's better than TV.

"Come on, Dad" Seth flashes his father his best cheesy smile. " I took all the drivers Ed courses, watched the horrifying videos about what happens when you don't come to a complete stop, I've had my permit for like, ever. I'm ready to take my drivers test."

"You're ready"

"Yes!"

"You're sure"

"uh, yeah Dad. I think we covered this like, 20 minutes ago"

"Like you were for the last two tests?"

"Third time's the charm, Dad"

"NO. I'm not paying for anymore broken traffic cones. We're going to go out get some more driving hours in and if in a few weeks I see some major improvement, I'll think about it."

In a last ditch effort to change is father's mind, Seth switches tactics.

"What if I really have to go somewhere, like an emergency, and the car's here but you're not home"

"Then your mother will drive you"

"What if she's not home?"

"How can we both be out when our cars are still here?"

"This is hypothetical, Dad. You're at the beach or something, whatever"

"Well in that case, you can walk"

Seth snorts

"Dad, what's Summer gonna say when every guy my age is driving around in a car except me"

"She'll say, Hey! Who's that cool kid on the bike?!" Sandy chuckles.

Ryan efforts to hold in his laughter are useless and Seth frowns at him.

"Dude, united front. Remember?"

Ryan just shakes his head

"I'm gonna go ask your mother what she wants for dinner"

Seth turns to his new brother "Dude, this totally sucks"

"Yeah"

"I'm never gonna get my license at this rate. My parents say they'll get me a car as soon as I get it, but I think they're just trying to torture me. Dad always says he'll take me out ,but he never has time"

Ryan stares at his best friend. He doesn't understand him sometimes. It seems like Sandy had nothing but time for Seth and is always hanging out with him. His dad would have never taken him out, let alone paid for two failed driving tests. Plus he's getting his own car? He has to make his foster brother feel better though, or else he might never shut up.

" I know. It sucks, man. When Trey was teaching me how to drive-"

"Wait. You know how to drive?"

"Um, yeah"

"How long have you had your license" Seth's tone going from depressed to excited in a matter of seconds

"Only a couple of months but I've been driving since I was 13..."

"You can't get a permit when your 13. Ryan"

"You don't need a piece of paper to be able to drive, Seth."

"That's so unfair. You get to cruise around town in car while I'm stuck on my skateboard"

"Not any more" Ryan murmurs. Seth looks at him but Ryan's eyes are focused on his hands.

"It's suspended… my license, you know… car theft, misdemeanor, probation"

"But you 're a good driver, right?"

Ryan shrugs

"And if you had to, you could like… give somebody pointers, right?

His foster brother shrugs again before realizing what Seth is asking him.

"No."

"Yes you could, I bet you could totally give someone tips"

"I mean, No, I'm not going to take you driving"

"Come on."

"No"

"Please"

"Seth, drop it"

"You could take me out. Get me ready. Then Dad takes me out to practice, I totally wow him and then I get my license. Problem solved."

"Except for one thing. I'm not taking you"

"Ryan. you're putting a serious hole in the plan, buddy"

He gets a frustrated grunt in response.

Seth crosses one leg over the other and folds his hands in a business like manner "Give me one good reason why you shouldn't help me out"

"I don't have my license"

"You don't need a piece of paper to be able to drive, Ryan. Besides you have your license. It's just not with you right now."

Ryan could almost feel the sting of those words coming back to bite him in the ass.

"You could crash. Scratch the car. Blow us up. Blow somebody else up."

"We'll drive early it the morning. Nobody will be around."

"You parents will freak"

"Once again solved by the 'early morning thing'. They can't see me driving if they're asleep"

Flustered, Ryan blurts out the next excuse he canthink of.

"You have to be at least 25 to accompany a person driving with a permit. It's against the law"

Seth smirked 'How old was your brother when he taught you?"

Ryan mumbled

"What was that?"

"16" Ryan replies through his teeth

"Then it's settled. I'm thinking maybe tomorrow morning. If we get a jump on this thing, I should be able to take the test by next week"

"I don't know"

"I don't need that much pratice. Dad's just wants me to practice backing up and 2 point turns and stuff"

"Three point turns"

"Right. Thanks man, I really appreciate this"

Ryan put his head in his hands. He said no. At least, he thinks he said no. How did he get roped into this one.

Seth stands up giving Ryan a pat on the knee before saying " Oh and Dude. I totally owe you one. Anything you want, just ask."

"Will you forget this whole thing?" Ryan tries

"Funny, Ryan. Have I told you you've gotten funnier these past few weeks?"

Ryan watches Seth exit the room and charge up the stairs, hoping he's going up to read the drivers Ed manual.

Ryan leans back on the couch and begins flicking through the channels. Three weeks. He's only had this new life three weeks he's already going on another joy ride.

"Ry-an"

Seth stands over Ryan's bed. Peering at the sleeping form under the gigantic lump of covers.

"Ryan" He shakes him again but his foster brother doesn't stir.

He leaves the bed then, walking over to the kitchenette and returning soon after with a glass of cold water.

I takes no time for Ryan to register the change in his condition. And he turns around, bleary - eyed to see his best friend bouncing up and down like a five year old.

"Come on, it time"

Ryan glances at the clock "Seth. It's 3:30 in the morning. Come back in two hours"

"No" Seth whines " Then it will be too late. Dad goes out for his morning surf at six. I say, we get dressed now leave by four and get back here by five thirty"

"And I say, keep dreaming" Ryan retorts turning back on his side and away from Seth "In fact, keep dreaming for another two hours. That's what I'm gonna do."

"Ryan I'm not leaving. So you can just go ahead and try to sleep knowing I'm standing over you the whole time"

Ryan ignores Seth's statement and closes his eyes.

13 minutes later the two of them are dressed and in the kitchen.

"Ryan" Seth snaps his fingers in front of his face "You should probably eat something before we go"

"I'm too tired to eat" Ryan grumbles "Let's just get this over with. Do you have the keys to the Rover?"

"Oh shit! I knew I forgot something!"

"Well, do you know where they are?"

"They usually keep them in their room"

Yes! An out! "We'll," Ryan leans on the counter, his expression a confident smirk "Go get 'em"

Ryan cheers inwardly when he sees Seth cheerful expression falter and his posture stiffen.

"Um... I don't know. You can't? I mean, Can you…?"

"No. If you want to do this so badly, you have to go get the keys from your parents without waking them up"

Ryan thinks he has Seth now, but the challenge just makes his friend all the more determined.

"Ok" Seth psychs himself up " I can do this. I was all camp Takahoe. I can be stealth."

"Go" Ryan pushes Seth towards the right direction and watches in amusement as Seth literally tiptoes towards the bedroom door.

Please don't be naked. Oh, Please don't be naked.

Seth turns the knob to his parents room and takes a peek . He glances at his parents. They're covered up and sound asleep. Thank Moses.

He creeps in, leaving the door behind him open.

It's dark in their bedroom so when Seth almost trips over a stray shoe, he lets out a help in surprise.

His eyes dart towards his parents. Sandy turns slightly and snuggles closer to his wife.

'Don't, wake, Daddy' Seth sings in his head, starting his search.

He checks the top of his Mom's dresser. Not there.

He checks the top of his Dad's dresser. Not there either.

He walks around each side of the bed to each end table and looks there too. Nothing.

He creeps over to the table right next to the windows overlooking the pool. Papers, Paper and more Papers, but no keys.

That's when he hears it. His mother saying something. Her voice is low and mumbled but it sounds kind of like 'Seth'.

Seth turns and dashes out of the room. He wastes no time getting into the kitchen, where Ryan is waiting for him.

"Oh, man. That was too close"

"Did you get them?"

"I couldn't find them" Seth shrugs

Ryan shrugs back " Oh, well. Guess we can't go. I'm going back to the pool house."

"Wait." Ryan stops. "I see them!" Why did he stop? Seth goes over to the counter and plucks the keys from their spot next the coffee maker. Ryan found the keys 5 minutes ago but he wasn't about to tell Seth that.

"That's... That's great, buddy"

"Let's go"

Ryan groans and follows him out to the drive way.

Damn those keys. Damn this kitchen and Damn his inability to say 'no' to any member of the Cohen clan.

That's part one kiddies. I wanted to make this a one- shot but its so long I had to make it a two- parter. Hope your not mad. :)

Oh yeah, part two of 'Lil Sis and chapter 3 of Father? Figures are coming soon.