A/N: Next chapter ready. As usual I do not own the O.C. belongs to Josh Schwartz and respective owners. I do not own Cobra Kai, belongs to respective owners and Netflix.

Chapter Two: A Helping Hand

Robby's POV

I had managed to get away. I still had a few things left from before I had met Mr. LaRusso. And I had managed to use them: a fake ID and some cash I had saved from working with Mr. LaRusso at the dealership before he knew about Dad, an extra bit that hadn't gone towards rent or groceries. The cash was enough to get a bus pass, and the fake ID, well I was lucky the guy was good. It worked for more than just alcohol.

I had taken a few different buses to the end of the line, or the end of the day at least, five hours away, Berkley California. I had to get as far as possible as fast as possible. And well...I'm just grateful no one likes to talk on buses anymore. No one even looked my way, not at that time. Everyone was leaving work.

But the bus did eventually stop, and I had to go.

Adrenaline had been keeping me upright and moving, but I was dizzy, and there was some space to sit on the bridge I was walking on, a ledge that was better than nothing. The sun was going down soon, and I knew I needed to figure something out.

I held onto the edge of the bridge for support as I took stock. After a few minutes, well I didn't bother going through the list. I could feel the bruises, and I knew as long as we had gone at it, I had gotten off light, really light. But then, the winner in these cases always does. Especially when the other guy is unconscious.

Winner, that's an interesting word for this. And complete bullshit.

"Hey Kid, need help?"

I looked up and over, across the road, as I heard the voice. A man stood over by his car, a cell phone in his hand.

"Kid?"

Great, I managed to attract attention. I didn't answer, but I didn't need to keep an eye on the guy to know he was coming over. How did I get out of this one?

Ryan's POV

I went over to the kid. "Kid?" I tried again.

The kid glanced over to me and away, his grip on the edge of the bridge we were standing on tightening quickly. "Hi," He mumbled.

"Need a lift somewhere?" I asked. The bridge wouldn't be comfortable. It was getting late, and well this kid staying out here alone didn't sit right. I was hit with deja vu. Images of that payphone, using every quarter I had on me.

The kid shrugged, a motion that elicited a slight wince.

"Let me give you a lift. There's an In N Out around here. You hungry?"

I didn't need to see the kid's hesitant nod to know I'd hit on the fact of the matter. And a trip to the restaurant would give me some time to make a few calls.

I walked back to my car looking back to make sure the kid was following. "You got a name?"

No answer as I opened the driver's side door and unlocked the passenger side. Kid's smart. Wouldn't have given my name either if it weren't for the fact Sandy was my lawyer back then and already knew it. "Well, mine's Ryan, Ryan Atwood," I offered deciding to try a different tack. "You ever had these burgers before?"

"Few times," The kid replied back, not making eye contact as he slid into the car and buckled his seatbelt shutting the door, and the sound shattering the silence.

"Huh," I nodded as I began the drive. "Any recommendations?"

"Shakes are good," The kid answers, and I can feel him looking in my direction.

"I think so too," I replied. Taylor and I had taken Sophie Rose through the drive through a few times. I knew we were having family dinner but I could probably pick a few up for everyone. It would also give me a reason besides helping this kid out of a jam.

We pull up to the In N Out, and I go through the drive through. "Anything specific?" I asked.

Now the kid was hesitating. I saw him digging through pockets and pulling out a few bills, smaller ones I noticed. An ID card fell out of his pocket as well and I bent down to scoop it up taking a quick peek for any details. Robby Jones, 21. Well that was a name at least. Although, something was off about the age.

"You dropped this," I handed it back to him.

The kid blanched slightly but took the card back, going to hand me a handful of bills.

"On me," I waved him off. "Robby...right?"

The kid sighed slightly but nodded. I saw the frown on his face. "Yeah…um...cheeseburger sounds good, vanilla shake."

"Alright you got it."

I placed the order for a cheeseburger combo with a vanilla shake, and also shakes for everyone at the house as well and an order of fries for Sophie Rose. She liked shakes and fries together.

"So you got anywhere to go?" I asked. I had a feeling if this kid had been on the bridge, the answer to that was no.

My suspicion was confirmed by Robby's nonanswer. "I'll be fine," He replied. "Thanks,"

"No problem," I said. I pulled my phone out sending a message, taking notice of several unread messages in our sibling thread briefly, before putting it aside and driving up to the next window. "But you know, my family's place isn't far from here. Beats eating outside, and after that, I'll drop you off wherever," I knew Sandy and Kirsten probably wouldn't mind an extra guest. And this kid, well I couldn't just leave him. He seemed to need more than that. "What do you say?"

"Guess so," The kid said after a long moment's pause.

A/N: So, Ryan did get Robby something to eat, and he noticed Robby's fake ID. He invited him to the family dinner, and his suspicions are up. Any predictions for up next?