FicWad

Cassie Richards sat on a bench in the local coffee shop, drinking her usual, a vanilla latte, as she watched the people bustle up and down the sidewalk outside the large paned

window. She thought about how busy this area was compared to where she'd moved from 6 months ago. She'd lived in a small town just outside of Philadelphia for all of her

24 years until she took a job as a paramedic for Jersey City, New Jersey. It was a well thought out decision, knowing that the pace of her job in Jersey City would be so much

more hectic than her small town of Malvern. But, she loved challenges and she loved her career, so she took the chance.

Swallowing the last bit of her hot, sweet, drink, she glanced at her watch and saw that she still had almost 30 minutes before she had to be at work so she stood and got in

line, deciding to get one more latte before she started her shift. As she stood in the short line of about 6 people, she took note of the 3 supposedly adult men in front of her,

carrying on like they were teenagers. Laughing, pushing eachother around, it was obvious the LAST thing they needed was more caffeine. She attempted to not pay attention to

as she waited patiently for her turn, opting to look back out the windows.

That idea didn't work very well because a few seconds after she'd turned her attention from the men, she was sent flying and to the ground as one of them came jumping back

against her. "What the...?" She stated loudly from the ground, where she now sat, glaring up at the men.

The one that had knocked her down, stared at her wide eyed. "Oh my God! I'm so sorry!" Reaching down for her hand, he said, "here. Let me help you up."

Practically livid that she was on the floor, Cassie pulled her hand away from the man roughly and said, "no thank you. I think you've been enough of a help to me already," then

stood up slowly, rubbing her now sore bottom.

The man looked at her wide eyed. "I really am sorry. I didn't realize anyone was behind me."

With a sigh, Cassie calmed her anger a bit then said, "don't worry about it. I'm fine," as she finally looked at his face for the first time. He had shaggy black hair that barely

covered his glistening hazel eyes and as he smiled softly, cute little dimples appeared in each of his cheeks, brightening up his entire face. A beautiful face, Cassie thought to

herself, then quickly turned her gaze towards floor.

At that point, the other 2 men stepped beside the one that had knocked her down and the shorter one said, "dude, is she okay? I can't believe you just knocked some poor

woman on her ass like that."

The man turned to his friend and glared at him. "Had you not pushed me, Frank, I wouldn't have knocked the poor girl on her ass."

Laughing, the one named Frank said, "oh come on. I didn't push you that hard."

"No, not at all. Only strong enough to launch me half way across the room, had I not hit her first."

Hearing enough of their bickering, Cassie said, "guys. I'm fine. It's okay really."

Just then, the third part of the trio of troublemakers said, "guys it's our turn to order, what do you want?"

"My usual, Mikey," replied the longer haired one.

"Me too," repeated Frank.

Then the longer haired one looked at Cassie. "What are you drinking?"

Shaking her head, Cassie said, "don't worry about it. I can get it."

He shook his head back at her. "Come on. I knocked you on your ass. The least I can do is buy your drink to make up for it." Then he smiled sweetly and Cassie could feel her

insides begin to melt. She had no idea who this beautiful creature was in front of her but he was damn gorgeous.

With a sigh, she relented. "A vanilla latte, extra whipped cream."

He nodded and told the man ordering to order one of those too, then he turned back to Cassie. "Are you sure you're okay? I mean, you hit pretty hard."

"I'm sure. I mean, it'll probably bruise but, I'll be fine."

He looked her over quickly and said, "you're a paramedic, huh?"

"I am," Cassie replied. "For Jersey City."

He nodded. "Sweet. That sounds like a kick ass job."

"It is," she smiled proudly. "I love it."

He got a tap from behind from his friend and turned, taking his drink and her latte then handed it to her. "Here you go. And one more time, I really am very sorry for knocking

you down."

Cassie grinned at him sweetly. "It's okay, really. I've had worse happen. And thank you for the drink."

He chuckled. "I bet. And you're welcome. It's the least I could do."

She turned and walked away, heading back to the bench she'd been in before the whole knocking down fiasco began and sipped at her latte as she went back to people

watching out the window. But, she was intterrupted a few moments later by the man that had knocked her down.

"I'm sorry to bother you again but, I realized that I knocked you on your ass and bought you a drink but I didn't even get your name."

She smiled. "It's Cassie Richards."

Grinning in return as he held his hand out to her, he replied, "Gerard Way. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"You too, Gerard," she answered.

There was a short pause, then Gerard said, "would you like some company? I'd rather not sit with Frank right now since he embarrassed me like he did."

Cassie smiled. "I don't care but, I'll be leaving in about 5 minutes to get to work."

He sat down as he took a drink of his mocha. "So, I can tell you're not from around here, where ya from?"

Looking at him surprised, she said, "How can you tell that?"

He grinned. "You just have this innocence about you that's definitely not Jersey bred."

Nodding with a smile, she said, "I'm from the suburbs of Philly."

Wide eyed, he said, "Philly? And still innocent looking? How's that happen?"

She chuckled. "I said suburbs. Very small town. That must be how I've managed to keep innocent."

"Ah, I see."

There was another short pause, then Cassie said, "so, what do you do for a living?"

There was obvious hesitation in his response then he answered, "I'm a comic book writer."

"Really? Wow. That sounds like fun."

"It is," he beamed. "It's what I've wanted to do since I was little so, I guess you could say it's my dream job."

"Cool. And what's the name of your comic?"

"The Umbrella Acadamy."

She nodded. "Maybe I'll have to check that out."

"Do you read comics?" he questioned.

She shook her head. "Not really but, I'm willing to try. Then I can tell people that I got knocked on my ass by the guy that wrote it."

Gerard laughed. "Yes you can." As he was laughing at her comment, Cassie's eyes focused on his face. The strong cheekbones, the dimples, the cute little nose. Then the lips.

Full, pink, moist lips. Lips that looked like they'd feel incredible on her skin. As she was thinking those impure thoughts, Gerard slowly slid his tongue along his bottom lip,

moistening it even more and Cassie bit her bottom lip, sucking in a breath as she felt herself shiver.

She was pulled from her fantasy by a laugh and Gerard saying, "you know? Maybe you're not as innocent as I thought you were."

Tearing her eyes from his mouth to gaze at him, she said, "excuse me?" Surprised by his comment.

"Well, judging by the look on your face just then, the thoughts in your head were not innocent in the slightest," he answered, still chuckling.

Her face reddened in embarrassment. "I...wasn't thinking anything," she defended.

"Uh huh, that's why you're blushing. So, what were you thinking about, huh? Was it really juicy?"

She grabbed her purse, letting her latte on the table as she quickly stood. "Im sorry. I've...uh...got to get to work." Then she walked swiftly for the door.

Gerard jumped to his feet, giving chase. He reached her as she got to her car and said, "wait, don't go yet. It's not fair."

Eyeing him curiously, she said, "What's not fair?"

"You just had some sort of perversion in your mind and it was obviously me that caused it so, it's only fair that you share it with me," he smiled cockily.

"Perversion? I never said anything about a perversion," she answered.

"Shit, it was written all over your face, Cassie. Plain as day. So, tell me what it was. Was it something simple like my lips on you or were you thinking about full blown sex?"

The cocky smile still planted on his face.

Cassie drew in an angered breath and glared at him. "I don't know who you think you are, Gerard, but just because you're a comic book writer does NOT mean that every

woman in the world wants to sleep with you! And IF I did have temporary loss of sanity and wonder what it would be like to kiss you, I regret it wholeheartedly because you

may be very nice on the eyes but you, sir are UGLY on the inside!" Then she swiftly opened her door, sliding into the seat and slamming the door shut before locking it then

starting her car and peeling tire as she pulled away, leaving Gerard standing there, pleading with her.

"Cassie wait! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...," but his efforts were fruitless as she peeled away, ignoring every word. With a sigh, Gerard said to himself, "Smooth move, Gee. Real

fucking smooth," then headed back into Starbucks with his friends.