missmara13

Title: Fifteen
Author:

missmara
Fandom: The OC
Characters: Sophie Rose Cohen and Ryan Atwood
Rating: R
Warnings: Eating disorder discussion. The image prompt for this one is a woman in her underwear, but it covers more than most bathingsuits, so...
Summary: When Sophie Rose pointedly turned her face away from the rest of the group, she saw her brother standing in the doorway, his expression grief stricken as he watched her.
Notes: I don't have much (or any really) experience with people who have eating disorders, so it's quite possible that I have Ryan saying all the wrong things to Sophie Rose in this, but it's what came out as I typed. It's meant to be sad, but also a testament to Ryan and Sophie Rose's relationship, how he's the one who gets through to her and gets her to try to get better, to want to get better.

Fifteen

When Sophie Rose pointedly turned her face away from the rest of the group, she saw her brother standing in the doorway, his expression grief stricken as he watched her.

And she felt a wave of anger wash through her.

Anger at her parents for putting her in this place.

Anger that they must have told him she was crazy.

Anger at them for calling Ryan to come all the way home when nothing was wrong with her.

Anger at him for just standing there with heartbroken eyes instead of coming over and helping her.

But as she saw his expression crumble further, saw the tears that were starting to fall, all she felt was guilt.

"Ry," she cried, getting up and going to him, wrapping her trembling arms around his chest and feeling his arms surround her in the familiar, safe, warmth she remembered from her childhood. "Ry," she repeated, clinging to him as her tears soaked through his shirt.

"Shh," Ryan murmured, one hand stroking her hair and the other gently holding her against his chest. "It's okay, Soph."

~~~

"Soph, I didn't come see you sip water and glare at an innocent salad," Ryan said, nudging the plate closer to his sister. "Flapjacks would be flipping out to see something that deliscious in front fo him."

"Flapjacks likes cheetos," Sophie Rose replied, picking up her fork and poking at the salad.

"Well, yeah, but he also appreciates a nice, healthy, low calorie salad," Ryan said. He waited another moment, then sighed. "Do you remember when I used to pick you up after school on Fridays and we'd spend the whole afternoon together?" he asked, changing the subject.

"I loved it when we played soccer the best," Sophie Rose said.

"Do you still like to play?" Ryan asked.

"I haven't in a while," she admitted. "I've been... tired."

Ryan nodded. "You know, maybe you could see this as a vacation, Soph. Get some rest, eat some food that doesn't suffer from the Kirsten Cohen Experiments curse..."

Sophie Rose giggle, absently poking at the salad again. "I still get scared about eating fudge at home," she said.

"I brought you some of the good stuff from a store in Manhattan," Ryan said. "It literally melts on your tongue it's so soft."

"That sounds really good..." Sophie rose said.

"If you can choke down half that salad, I'll bring some tomorrow," Ryan offered.

"Tomorrow?"

"Yeah, tomorrow," Ryan said. "When I come back to see you again."

"You're coming back?"

"Everyday," Ryan promised, reaching across the table to wrap Sophie Rose's thin hands in his own, careful not to squeeze or tug on the delicate skin. "I'm not leaving you alone, Soph."

"I don't wanna be here," she whsipered in response. "I'm not crazy."

"Of course not," Ryan said.

"Then make them take me home!" she pleaded.

Ryan shook his head sadly, his eyes tearing up again. "You're not crazy, Sophie Rose, but you are sick..."

"No, I'm not!"

"You're fifteen, and you had a heart attack, Soph," Ryan said, his voice cracking. "That's not what happens to someone who's healthy."

"I'm fine!"

"You're starving yourself to death," Ryan said. "And I am just sitting here hoping that I'm gonna get my little sister back, instead of watching her die because she won't eat."

"I was fat..." Sophie Rose began.

"You have never been fat, Soph! Not a day in your life! You were the most beautiful girl in the world, and you've turned yourself into a skeleton. And I'll admit, I don't get it. I don't... thin doesn't equal beautiful. It doesn't. It's your heart, and your smile, and your laugh, and your brain that made you so beautiful, so perfect. And it is killing me, it's killing all of us, to see you doing this to yourself."

"Ry..."

"Please, Soph, just..." Ryan began, looking down at the salad, then back up at her. "Can you just try? For me?"

Sophie Rose stared at him for a long moment, then looked down at the salad and lifted her fork, slowly spearing a single small leaf of lettuce and lifting it to her lips. It hurt to swallow, she could almost feel the weight it could add, and she squeezed her eyes shut, tears squeezing between the lids, as she chewed and swallowed. But when she opened her eyes again, Ryan was smiling slightly.

"That's my girl," he whispered.

"I don't wanna be here," she repeated.

"Then show them you can get better," Ryan said. "We'll figure out a plan, okay? I promise, as soon as you convince me that you aren't gonna starve yourself anymore, I will do everything I can to get you back home, okay?"

Sophie Rose nodded. "I'll try," she whispered.

"Come on, half the salad, and tomorrow a piece of melt in your mouth fudge," he said. "Which, by the way, is fat free," he added, knowing that at this point that wuld be a big seller for her.

"Half the salad," Sophie agreed, spearing another piece of lettuce.

"Did I tell you about the gallery?" Ryan asked. "I've got a new show opening next month..."

The End