1 meeting Laurel
Ryan Atwood a well build blonde haired sixteen year old teen is walking through the glades on his way from the orphanage to public school. Ryan has lived in the glades for about 2 month ever since he got put into the foster care system, after his mother abandoned him and the public defender from Orange County couldn't get his wife to come around on adopting him. The glades are no new environment for Ryan since he grew up in Chino which is almost the same except on a bit smaller scale, so Ryan knows to stay out of trouble to the best of his abilities and often takes an unused shortcut to get to school.
But this day the alley he is making his way through is not deserted, instead there is a woman in her late twenties getting assaulted by three gangbangers. Deciding that he should help her out, because of his moral code and the possibility that the three guys won't just be satisfied with her money but may also want to sexually assault her Ryan goes up to the four and says "Hey, leave her alone."
"Get outta here kid before we decide to teach you to mind your own business." The oldest one of the robbers says.
"Look, take her money for all I care but then just leave her alone." Ryan says clearly not impressed by the threat of the gangbanger.
"Like my buddy here told you mind your own business kid." another gangbanger says.
"Here is all I have on me." Laurel Lance a public defender says taking out her money and handing it to the oldest man.
"Who says that we only want your money? You're quite the looker." The older man says leering at her.
"OK, one last warning. Leave her alone." Ryan says annoyed at the robber ignoring him.
"Or what?" the last member of the group asks.
"This." Ryan says and punches the man in the face breaking his nose.
"OK, now you're gonna get it." The oldest man says and the three of them charge at him and start punching him.
"Get outta here." Ryan yells at the woman, who instead of running is coming up behind one of the guys hitting him.
The older man takes out a knife and stabs Ryan in the stomach, while Ryan is punching the last man.
"Ugh." Ryan grunts and takes a few steps back, meanwhile Laurel has gotten the attention of one of the guys and is incapacitating him with a technique her father taught her.
"Not so tough now huh punk?" The oldest taunts.
"Let's see how tough you are without your knife." Ryan says and tackles him to the ground, making him loose the knife.
Ryan then starts to punch the man repeatedly in the face, even after he clearly passed out.
Deciding that the guy had enough Ryan stands up and looks at the last standing member of the group and says "You still want some?" dangerously.
The man takes off running leaving his comrades behind.
"Thank you for your help, are you OK?" Laurel asks going over to the teen and then seeing him bleeding from his stomach.
"Oh my god, we gotta get you to a hospital, that looks deep." Laurel says and takes out her phone, calling an ambulance and her father, so that he can send officers to arrest her assaulters.
"I can't afford the hospital, just get me bandage and I'll be fine." Ryan says slumping over slightly holding his wound, now that the adrenaline is leaving his body.
"Don't worry about that, I'll pay the bill, I owe you that much at least." Laurel says and soon the ambulance as well as the officers show up and Laurel tells the officers what happened while the paramedics take Ryan to the hospital.
After she finished reporting the crime to the cops Laurel takes a cab to the hospital, where she informs them who she's looking for and gets lead to Ryan who has gotten stitches and is waiting for Laurel to pay the bill so he can leave.
"So, what did the doc say?" Laurel asks Ryan, taking a seat next to him.
"Nothing, just that I should take it easy for a few days." Ryan replies.
"OK, well I'm gonna pay the bill and then we can go grab a bite to eat if you want." Laurel says getting up and going to pay the medical bill.
"Alright." Ryan replies.
A few minutes later Laurel walks over to Ryan and says "Come on, it's taken care of let's go. By the way my name is Laurel Lance."
"Ryan Atwood." Ryan replies shaking her hand.
"Thanks again for saving me back there, not many people would have stepped up to help me." Laurel says impressed at his courage.
"Well, they were no real threat, just some scum trying to intimidate others." Ryan says emotionlessly.
"So, where do you live? Want me to call your parents?" Laurel offers on their way to big belly burgers.
"Orphanage, my Mom abandoned me and my other relatives are in prison." Ryan informs her.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Laurel says sadly.
"Don't be, I'm used to being on my own, my mother barely ever behaved like one anyway." Ryan tells her not letting his emotions show.
The two of them get to the restaurant and Laurel orders them something to eat and they sit down in one of the booths.
"Is there anything I can do to repay you for saving me from being raped?" Laurel asks gratefully.
"Not unless you know someone who would hire someone underage." Ryan says not really liking his chances in terms of a career.
"Well I think we are looking for a legal assistant in the public defenders office I work at, I can ask them if they'd hire you despite your young age and put in a good word for you." Laurel offers.
"Really? Well, I don't care what I do as long as I can move out of the orphanage and have some money left for groceries." Ryan replies not getting his hopes up.
"Well enjoy your burger, I'll call the office and see what the situation is." Laurel says and gets up to call her work, meanwhile Ryan is enjoying his burger, watching Laurel closely, not trusting her since he never had anyone be nice to him without having their own gain in mind.
About 5 minutes later Laurel comes back over to Ryan smiling at him telling him "Well if you want to, you can take the job. My boss approved it and as for your living situation, if you want you can live with me for the time being."
"What? Why would you do that for me? What's in it for you?" Ryan questions her.
"Nothing, I just want to show you that I'm grateful and I think there is potential in you, so why not try and nurture it." Laurel replies confused by Ryans unbelieving expression.
"Well I guess I have no reason not to trust you. I'll take you up on that offer, but I'll try to get out of your hairs as soon as possible, I don't like being a charity case." Ryan tells her.
"OK, come on then I'll show you your new workplace and let's get to know one another, now that we're gonna be roomies.
2 years later, Ryan graduated, is still working at Laurels office and the two of them have grown closer. They see each other as sibling figures and Ryan also has a good relationship with her father Detective Lance, since he was grateful for protecting his little girl and after getting to know Ryan has seen that despite his rough shell, he is very considerate and well behaved on the inside.
