Title: A Spot Of Trouble
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to The O.C.. Not for profit.
Description: Ryan gets into a spot of trouble with a girl. (Set in early season 1.)

Chapter 3

As Jane watched her father enter the office, close the door, and sit down in a chair across from herself and Ryan, she tried not to be too scared, even though she wasn't quite sure what to expect. She had hardly ever been in any trouble at home, had hardly ever been punished, not counting the times when she was little and got sent to her room for your typical little-kid acting out.

It just figured that the first time she did something even a little bit wrong, she got caught. She tried to at least take heart in the fact that her father looked more disappointed in her than angry. His perfect little girl wasn't so perfect after all, or so little any more.

When her father entered the room, Jane could feel Ryan tense up next to her. She wanted to reassure him that her father wasn't terribly scary, that everything would be okay, but right now she wasn't entirely convinced that was true. So she tensed up herself and waited for her father to start. After studying her and especially Ryan for a long moment, finally he did. It turned out he was kind of pissed off after all.

He leaned forward. "Janie, what's gotten into you? Trespassing on private property? Having sex in public? You know you could have been arrested? You're lucky that those officers recognized you as my daughter and decided to let me handle it."

"That's not what happened –"

Her father continued like she hadn't even spoken. He gestured at Ryan. "And who's this? A new boyfriend?" He turned to Ryan. "How old are you? Are you aware that Jane is only fifteen? If you're over eighteen, that's statutory rape."

Jane responded before Ryan was forced to defend himself. "Dad! He's sixteen! And we didn't have sex!" She almost died of embarrassment saying that to her father.

But at least that revelation seemed to take a bit of the wind out of her father's sails. Apparently he had been convinced that Ryan was older. He looked at Ryan quizzically, and after a quick glance at Jane, Ryan nodded to confirm her information for her father.

Her dad cleared his throat, regrouped, and then continued his rant at Ryan. "What did you do? Get her drunk? I swear if you've done anything to hurt my daughter –"

Ryan started to speak, shaking his head emphatically, "No, sir. Of course not –"

Jane interrupted. "Dad! I'm not drunk. I haven't had anything to drink. Not even one beer. And Ryan didn't do anything to hurt me. He wouldn't." She looked tenderly at Ryan and softened her voice. "In fact, he's a really nice guy."

Ryan looked back at her, right into her eyes, and gave her the perfect little smile. She almost swooned.

Jane cleared her throat and turned back to her father. "It wasn't anything like you think. It was my idea to go to the gazebo, not Ryan's. And all we did was make out."

Her father sighed and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Fine, sweetie. If it wasn't what I think, then tell me what really happened. I'm listening."

Jane looked at Ryan and thought back on that night and tried to figure out a way to tell her father the truth about what happened, while leaving out the parent-unfriendly parts.

.oOo.

Jane couldn't believe what he just did. First, he noticed that she didn't want the beer. Second, he didn't pressure her into drinking it anyway. And third, he actually gave up drinking beer himself to have a soda with her. It melted her heart. All she could do was stand there and stare at him in awe for a moment. She couldn't believe her luck. Not only was he gorgeous, hot, cute, and sexy, but he was nice, and kind, and considerate, and thoughtful. He was perfect. She didn't know his name, yet, but he was perfect.

Usually gorgeous guys like this didn't even look her way, much less come up to her in a crowded party (where there were lots of other more beautiful and sexy girls) and ask her to dance, especially since it was obvious that he didn't really dance. And even more unbelievable, he seemed to be turned on by her. She had noticed him watching her dance, and looking at her boobs a lot. She had even taken a quick look down at his, um, package, and she wasn't sure but she thought she saw something there.

Jane smiled to herself. She really couldn't believe her luck tonight.

And now here he was, leading her back through the house and out the front door. Jane knew that she should probably go back and find her friends and let them know that she was leaving (assuming that she was), but she didn't want to take the chance of losing this great guy.

Once they were outside, he turned to her and gave her a tentative smile. "I just thought... it's less crowded out here..."

Jane almost swooned. God, that smile. "And less hot and less noisy. Yeah." They shared a laugh. Then she took a chance. "Hey, you know, there's a bench over there, at the bus stop."

She pointed across the street. The bench was fortunately empty right now. He followed her gaze and shrugged. "Sure."

And then he was such a gentleman, following her over, with a hand occasionally resting lightly on the small of her back, making sure that the road was clear before they crossed, making sure she was okay. She smiled to herself. If only her friends could see her now.

Once they were seated, he finally introduced himself. "Hey, um... I'm Ryan, by the way."

"Jane. I'm fifteen."

Jane blushed and looked down. She couldn't believe that she just blurted out her age like that. Just being near him made her nervous. She rolled her eyes at herself. God, what he must have thought of her. He probably thought she was just a baby...

But he – Ryan – just smiled and said, "Sixteen."

Jane looked back up at him. She could have sworn he was older.

Ryan continued to talk about where he was from and stuff, and she answered with her info, but her mind was really elsewhere. Those beautiful blue eyes, that brilliant smile, that blond hair, those arms...

Eventually she realized that he wasn't talking any more, but was watching her watch him, with a bit of a smile on his face. She blushed again, embarrassed about being caught out like that. Luckily, he didn't seem to mind.

Now that Ryan had her attention, he asked, "You want to go somewhere?"

Jane grinned. Just what she was waiting for. "I know just the place. Come on." She took Ryan's hand and led him down the street.

.oOo.

At this point, Jane's father interrupted her story. "So just like that you took a boy that you just met to the town make-out spot?"

She looked nervously at Ryan for a moment. "Something like that."

Her father nodded. "Uh-huh. Okay, well, go on, I can't wait to hear what happens next."

To Be Continued