FicWad

Chapter VI.

"Gerard."
He nodded. "Bria."
"What are you, um - hi."
"Hey. Sorry if I caught you off guard."
"No, no, you're fine."

They stared at each other so long they found themselves laughing. Her bright, warming smile challenged his
animosity. It was like they were back in high school.

"What are you doing here? I mean ---"
"Just hanging around, heard you were here. Thought I'd see how you were doing
before I missed the chance."
"Oh, good to know I'm still important. I'd probably start to think you forgot all about
me.
Gerard sighed. "So I've been back and didn't call to let you know. I just figured you'd
be busy, you know. Seems you got a lot to manage."
"Well I don't. Things have been on the quiet side. Not many phones ringing off the
hook or anything like that."

Gerard knew Bria would be upset that he hadn't kept in touch, so her smart remarks were welcomed. In fact, with
each one the dimple on her right cheek grew. He asked if they could wipe the slate clean and start over with a hug.
Bria was still upset, but accepted. She wrapped her arms around his neck, so her chin came to rest on his shoulder.
The feeling of him gripping her waist was an odd comfort.

"You know I miss it when we don't talk." Bria whispered.
"Yeah... I just got caught up. But it's good to see you, Bri'. You look great."
"A haircut wouldn't hurt, but you look pretty good yourself."

They lingered for a few moments longer before putting some distance between them.

"What else you have planned aside form hanging around?"
"Oh, I gotta straighten some stuff out with the apartment I'm moving into."
"You got a new place. That's great."
"Nothing special, just a cramp studio apartment. Couldn't get back on the lease for
my old place and I figured, can't crash with my brother forever."

Bria smiled and suggested in the mean time he join her for lunch. Gerard promptly turned down the invitation. He
wouldn't say it out loud, but her with E'jay , them together, even thought they weren't acting as if they were together
when they were in fact together was confusing and not a sight he wished to witness. She pleaded and begged him to
stay even if for only two seconds. He wasn't budging. Bria decided to reach a compromise. He could leave at his own
will if and only if he had a quick drink with her. They went to the bar, which was in a separate section from the actual
dining area. He ordered a sake bomb for them both.

"Sake bombs?" Bria repeated, curious.
"Welcome to the big leagues."

The bartender placed two tall glasses of beer and two shots of warm sake in front of them.

"Just drop the sake and chug." Gerard explained,

Bria followed his lead like timid novice. In one swift motion, they dropped the shot glasses into their beers and started
to down the frothing concoctions. Almost immediately, Bria realized she might have overestimated herself. She
dropped her glass as she gagged for air. The sake literally set her throat aflame. Gerard slammed his empty glass
down on the bar in triumph.

"You alright?" He asked.

She nodded, still coughing violently. Gerard helped her onto a barstool and asked the bartender for a glass of water.
Bria started to laugh through her coughing fit. He had definitely introduced her into the big leagues too soon.

"Here. Drink this."

Five minutes and two glasses of water later, she had finally caught a grip. He asked if she was felling any better.

"Oh, yeah. Never better."
Gerard laughed. "Good."

Bria apologized to the bartender repeatedly for breaking the glasses. When she offered to pay for the damages,
Gerard wouldn't hear of it. He had ordered the drinks, so he was responsible for the mess they made. He pulled
some cash from his wallet and laid it on the bar.

"That'll cover it for now. Put the rest on my tab."
The bartender nodded. "You got it."
"You sure you okay?" Gerard asked Bria again.
"Yeah, no, I'm fine. Just... just a little winded."

Gerard's devious smile made her cheeks turn a bright red. She looked away taking a sip of her water. He was out of
his mind, Bria thought. She let strands of hair veil her face as she traced the rim of the water glass with her fingertip.
He wouldn't take his eyes off her for a second and she felt wrong for not wanting him to stop. Any reasonable person
would have said she needed to be with E'jay having lunch, not doing sake bombs with Gerard. And they would have
been right, but Gerard could read through her body language. Part of her felt she was in the wrong, but there was still
that small fraction that wanted to be here with him. Fuck it, he decided. Gerard pressed up against her lips
desperately. He had a stubborn need for her. Bria, who hesitated at first, found that she wanted him just as bad. It
always felt different with him. When she parted her lips further, she realized how deceitful this was.

She pulled away. "Gerard. Stop."
"What -- was that wrong?" He asked breathless.
"No, I -- I'm with E'jay. You know that."
"And?"

He kissed her again. This time his tongue invaded her moist, warm mouth without debate. She could feel her heart
racing madly from fear and desire both. It was too much. Bria fought against herself as she tried to pull away.

"I miss us." He managed to say without paring their lips.
"Gerard, don't."
"Say you don't want me."
"I can't."

He watched Bria gather her bag and remnants of self-respect, helpless to change the circumstances. She left him
standing alone at the bar. She could feel his eyes on her as she walked in a white haze through the restaurant. Bria
thought that when Gerard left for California it was a sign her first few dates with E'jay could probably turn into
something more. And when he stopped calling that maybe, just maybe her and Gerard both had moved on. Now, she
wasn't sure what to think.

Ray spotted Bria coming towards the booth she looked obviously flustered, but she quickly flashed a smile when their
eyes met. She returned to her seat next to E'jay and cleared her mind. This wasn't the time or place to find logic in an
irrational accident.

"Hey, boys. Sorry about that."
"Everything alright?" E'jay asked.
"Yeah, good."
"You sure? Look a bit ghastly."
"No, I'm fine. Just don't think I'm feeling too well."

Ray suggested she eat something. Bria turned down the offer. She only managed half the sake bomb and felt her
stomach-turning already. Raw fish and seaweed would only result in a horrifying upchuck episode. She sat back,
nibbling on the senbei, Japanese rice crackers, and tea E'jay ordered for her. He always jumped at the opportunity to
take care of me, Bria thought. She never had to ask or tell him what was wrong, he just knew. E'jay was handsome,
intelligent, and charismatic. What he wanted he got, which explained his long list of success at twenty-six. How could
Bria even fathom the idea of getting involved with Gerard? It stood as a fact that her future would simply be more
secure with E'jay. She wouldn't have a thing to worry about. He'd take care of everything.

Ray excused himself to answer a phone call. She cursed him silently for leaving them alone. It was rude. E'jay put an
arm around her shoulders and asked if she was feeling any better.

Bria nodded. "Yeah, a little."
"If you want to leave, I'll get us out of here."
"No, you don't have to do that. I'm fine."
"If you're feeling ill, I want to." He insisted stroking her arm. "Get you out these clothes
and straight into bed. Hands to myself, no funny business."
She smirked and nodded again. "Okay. Thanks."

It was his pleasure. He kissed her cheek then moved his arm away. Bria sighed, partly in relief when Ray returned.

"Hey, Brandon, still wanna get some studio time today?"
"I'd have to make some calls. What'd you get?" E'jay asked in response.
"Rest of the day, but that all depends on how quick you can get your boys down there."
"Told you I was the best, didn't I? Consider it done."

Ray left E'jay and Bria to get their things together. He walked out into the brisk, autumn weather outside to hail down
a cab when he spotted Gerard. He was leaning against the building with a cigarette to his lips.

"Hey, man. Still here?"
"Yeah... think it was right, me coming back now?"
"Do I think you were right?" Ray told the taxi driver to hold on. "I don't think you had
much choice."
"Seems like my timing was off."
"Look, you'll get another job and things'll work themselves out. That's the way it works.
Door closes, you open a window. "
"What's the use if you're on the top floor?"
"Scale the drainpipe then. You gotta want it bad if you're gonna go after it."


Gerard nodded slowly, he did. It was settled then and Ray had finished his short motivational speech just in time.
E'jay exited the restaurant, Bria following behind him. E'jay acknowledged the raven haired gentleman standing with
Ray with a nodded then jumped into the waiting cab. Bria gave him a small wave. Their dinner tonight was to be rain-
checked. Ray said his good-byes, which left Bria and Gerard alone for a second time. It took some thought, but
Gerard finally ended the silence.

"You hungry?"
Bria glanced over her shoulder. "I just had lunch."
"Well, I don't eat alone, so come on."

Gerard stubbed out his cigarette and started in the opposite direction of E'jay and Ray's cab. He had walked a few
yards when he realized Bria wasn't tagging along.

He turned around. "What?"
She shrugged. "What?"
"You waiting for me to apologize or something?"
"Maybe." She hollered back.
"Look, would you just come on."

Bria crossed her arms refusing to move. He was unbelievably self-absorbed, she thought. She didn't have the luxury
of picking up where they left off, where ever that was exactly. Gerard would just have to come to terms and accept
the fact that thing weren't the same. First, he swallowed his pride.

"Fine. I'm sorry."
"For?"
"Are you serious?" Gerard sighed. "I shouldn't have acted the way I did. It was wrong of
me and I put you in an awkward position ---"
"A really awkward position, Gerard"
"Yeah, okay fine, a really awkward position. But if it makes you feel any better, I already
had a few this morning, won't even remember it later."

She smiled and accepted his apology. After all, no one was perfect.

Their trek to the obscure, revamped dinner made Bria rethink ever wearing heels again. Once they were seated, she
pinned her flowing hair into a loose bun. Gerard listed off his order to waitress as she diligently noted it down on her
order pad.

"Anything for you miss?"
"Oh ---"
"She's not eating, you know, watching her figure." Gerard said interrupting.
Bria scoffed. "Bacon burger with everything, but hold the onions, extra mushrooms on
the side please, and we'll split a plate of fries."
The waitress nodded. "Anything for dessert?"
"Yes. Two scoops of vanilla ice cream. Whipped cream, banana and caramel
sauce, crushed nuts, and extra cherries... on the side of course." He listed off in a single
breath.

The waitress stared at both them puzzled by their odd behavior. She left to put their orders in. Bria studied Gerard
closely. She held back her smile while a wide grin stayed glued to his face.

"See you didn't forget everything in California, still know how to order for me."
He shrugged. "Just wanna see how much you can scarf down before you yack."

Bria smiled and turned to look out the window. This is nice, she thought. Gerard cleared his throat a few times then
finally worked up the guts to ask about E'jay. He had been avoiding the subject all afternoon and figured to get it out
the way now, but 'good' was all Bria had to say. Work was going well, so that meant they were doing even better. He
was going out of town tomorrow, Friday, but would be back by next week so they could celebrate her birthday
together.

"That's right. The big two-five, huh?"
Bria nodded. "Guess so."
"Well, you know what that means. This time next week, you'll be a step closer to
your late twenties."
"And that's a bad thing?"
"No, but I assume you'll be settling down at some point. Getting married, the picket
fence deal, kids ---"
"Whoa, kids!" She shuddered at the thought. "I am not having kids."
"Never?"
"No, just not now. It's the wrong time."
"Wrong time or wrong person?"

The smile disappeared from her face. Things were complicated, fragile now. He skipped town, came back out of the
clear blue and wouldn't understand her relationship with E'jay.

"E'jay's a good guy, Gerard. He has a lot going for him."
"I'm sure you're right. I mean, I was only curious because, well..."

Gerard dropped the subject. It wasn't the reason he wanted her to accompany him to lunch anyhow. He genuinely
missed her, but she was on her way out that metaphorical door Ray was talking of earlier. Gerard felt like he could
have ceased to exist at that moment. Bria examined her food as the waitress placed it on the table, avoiding his look
all together. He took the hint and started eating.


"I knew what I was getting into." She blurted out after a fifteen minute silence.
"What?"
"With E'jay. I know he's my superior, but it's not the cliché scenario. I'm not the glib,
naïve chick people wanna make me out to be. We're serious about each other. "
Gerard nodded. "You wanna get out of here?"