Title: Ryan and Joan

Summary: Ryan meets Joan from Joan of Arcadia.

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to The O.C. or Joan of Arcadia.

Author's Notes: Halloween 2003 landed on a Friday. We're going to pretend in this story that it was on a Saturday.

Chapter 11 - "Joan in Newport, part 2"

Ryan and Joan sat quietly together on his bed for a while. Joan had some more stuff that she wanted to talk to Ryan about, but she respected his desire to be quiet for now. She knew that he wasn't a big talker and liked his silences. And she didn't mind, either.

Their silent togetherness was broken when Seth came back out to the pool house.

"Hey, guys. Anna's here. We're going to play the ninja game. Want to join us? We can play two-on-two."

Ryan and Joan looked at each other and came to a silent agreement. Ryan turned to Seth and told him, "Sure. Give us a minute."

"Great. We are so going to beat your asses." Seth turned and headed back to the house.

Ryan and Joan disentangled themselves and got up off the bed. Joan headed for the bathroom. When she came out, she decided she wanted to talk to Ryan about something before they joined Seth and Anna in the house.

"Halloween is next Saturday, you know."

Ryan smiled. "I knew that."

"Why don't you come up to Arcadia? We can hang out, spend the day together. And in the evening we can go out. My school is having a Halloween dance. I know, kind of lame. They want to 'keep everybody out of trouble'. Or we could probably find a party if you want."

Ryan nodded. "Halloween in Arcadia sounds great. I think we should stick to the dance, though. Staying out of trouble sounds pretty good to me right about now."

Ryan and Joan exchanged smiles. Ryan continued, "And besides, I think Sandy and Kirsten would be more likely to let me go if it was a school thing instead of some party."

"Right. Good. So, we'll have to get you a costume."

Ryan frowned. "Costume?"

"For the dance. It's a costume thing." Joan was confused. What else would it be?

"I don't do costumes."

Joan decided to kid around with Ryan a little. She smiled and said, "Come on. Even when you were little? You must have been so cute in your little costume, trick-or-treating..."

Ryan looked down and blinked his eyes rapidly. Joan thought, Damn. She had upset him, again. She had to start thinking before she opened her mouth.

Ryan took a deep breath and looked back up at Joan. "You can't go trick-or-treating in Chino. Too dangerous. And my folks didn't have the money to waste on costumes, anyway."

Joan hated to see Ryan like this, especially if she caused it. "Ryan, I'm sorry..."

Ryan just shook his head, indicating that there was no need for an apology. Then he took Joan's hand, and they headed into the house to take on Seth and Anna at the ninja game. They found them as expected in the den, playing the game. When Ryan and Joan came in, Seth and Anna put down their game controllers and stood up. Ryan made the introductions.

"So. Anna Stern. Joan Girardi."

Anna smiled and put out her hand. "Pleased to meet you."

Joan shook hands with Anna. "Hi. Nice to meet you, too. How long have you and Seth been going out?"

Anna and Seth looked at each other quickly. Seth said, "Um, we're just friends."

Joan blushed. She was embarrassed. She could have sworn they looked like a couple. "Sorry."

Anna waved her hand, dismissing the problem. "Don't worry about it."

Seth decided to cut the tension. "Hey, you know what? We have our own little United Nations here." Seth pointed to himself. "Newport Beach." Then to Anna. "Pittsburgh." Joan. "Arcadia." And finally Ryan. "Chino."

The other three just looked at Seth like he was nuts.

Anna bailed Seth out. "Are you guys ready to have your asses kicked?"

Ryan replied, "Yeah, you wish."

The four kids squished themselves onto the couch and started playing.

Sandy hurried home from the office. He hated it that he had gotten pulled away from home today. He had been really looking forward to meeting this girl that Ryan was so enamoured with. But this stupid Balboa Heights law suit just wouldn't go away. Rachel had called and insisted that they had to deal with this emergency over the weekend -- it wouldn't wait until Monday. And if she had her way, he'd still be there. But he couldn't miss the barbecue with Ryan and Joan. He just hoped that Kirsten could get away from her father soon.

When Sandy got home, he put down his briefcase and followed the sounds of video games to the den. He smiled to see how Joan looked like she fit in so well with the other three.

"Sorry I'm late, guys." He nodded to Anna. "Hi, Anna." And turned to Joan. "And you must be Joan. Sandy Cohen. I've heard a lot about you." Sandy held out his hand to Joan. Joan and the others stood up.

Joan shook Sandy's hand. "Hi."

Joan had never shaken people's hands so much in all her life. They didn't really shake hands so much in Arcadia. Especially teenagers. Especially girls. Must be a Newport Beach thing.

Sandy turned to Seth. "Is your mother home?"

"No, not yet."

"Could you call her and remind her about the barbecue?"

"Sure thing, pops." Seth headed to the kitchen to get the phone.

Sandy looked at the mess in the den. The kids had been having snacks and drinks while they were playing video games and waiting for dinner.

He said to Ryan, "Could you guys clean up in here then start getting the stuff out in the kitchen? I'll go fire up the grill."

"Sure."

Ryan turned off the playstation. He and the girls started cleaning up the den. They were joined by Seth after he talked to his Mom, telling the others, "My Mom's on her way."

Sandy, Seth, Ryan, Anna, and Joan all worked together to clean up, set the table, and get everything ready in the kitchen for the barbecue. The food was all prepared, they just had to assemble and cook everything.

At one point, Joan and Ryan were alone in the kitchen because Sandy was outside at the grill and Seth and Anna had left the kitchen to bring stuff out to him. It was the first time that Joan and Ryan had been alone since they had joined Seth and Anna in the den. Joan took the opportunity to talk to Ryan.

"Seth and Anna really aren't going out?"

"Nope."

"But Anna is into him, right? Doesn't Seth like her, too?"

"Seth likes this girl Summer, who won't give him the time of day. He's been in love with her since like fifth grade. So he can't see what's right in front of him."

"Ah. So, um, are you going to ask Sandy if you can spend Halloween with me?"

"Yeah, of course. Later, after dinner, when Kirsten's here too." Ryan wanted Sandy and Kirsten to have some time to get to know Joan before he asked.

Joan smiled. "Cool."

Ryan and Joan went back to helping with the barbecue.

To Be Continued