Title: Alternate Realities: Chapter Five, Just coffee
Rating: R/NC-17
Warning: violence, language, sexual nudity




She spent all of Saturday in bed. It hadn't been intentional. Not at all. She had things to do, or at least things she wanted to do. However Jane could not pull herself out of bed, other than to feed the cats. Her entire body hurt and she didn't understand it. It wasn't like Jayden was her first lover. Not at all. And the bad sex only explained the soreness between her legs, in her breasts. Not the rest of her. So to chase it away or in the very least ignore it, Jane remained in bed all day, not even really watching the images on the tv screen as the cats cuddled with her.

Only getting up to pee and refresh her water that day, Jane drifted into an uneasy sleep that evening. An excitement was beginning to build in her body once more. Just before she drifted asleep, she realized it was because she had a Sunday morning coffee date. The cats snuggled against her, purring gently. For the first time that day, Jane smiled. Tomorrow would be a better day. She knew it.



Glancing at his watch, Adam's eyes darted nervously to the door. He didn't even know her name or if she would blow him off and not show up. In fact he didn't know a damn thing about her. Only that he couldn't get her out of his mind. He had been plenty distracted all day Saturday. Playing with his dog, hanging out with the band hadn't helped. Even going out to some hot spot and getting hit on by a dozen ladies hadn't been able to hold his attention for more than a few minutes before he was back home wishing the sun was rising on Sunday already. The moment the clock clicked past midnight his heart rate increased. Which meant sleep was not something he had a chance at that night at all. At least not without some intervention.

Eventually he did get a few hours of sleep, waking up early enough to leisurely shower and dress. It had been some time since Adam considered his appearance so very intently. He must have changed seven times before finally deciding he wasn't overdressed but wasn't slovenly. While he wanted to look like he hadn't taken such time in getting ready, he still wanted to impress her. Leaving the house in jeans, a slim seagreen shirt, and a well-fitting hoodie, Adam made his way to the coffee shop in little time. So there he sat, at a small table in eyeline of the door but a bit secluded as well. He would be able to see her enter, should she actually do so, but they wouldn't likely be bothered by too many people.

Tapping his fingers on the table, his eyes glanced around. The cafe was fairly quiet, only one other couple tucked away near the window. He recognized the woman slightly. Maybe she had been at something he had. It didn't really matter.

The soft jingle of the bell on the door drew his instant attention. When she stepped out of the sunlight into the dimmer light of the cafe, he felt his heart jump. She was dressed in a swishy black skirt with little designs on it, tiny daisies he thought, topped with a fitted black button up shirt. Her hair was pulled from her face in a ponytail and just for a moment he wished she would reach up and pull it out, knowing her hair curling about her shoulders would soften her face, frame her so very well. Even so, he couldn't help but think she was beautiful.

Getting to his feet, Adam crossed over to her, smiling, "Good morning."

She smiled and he could have sworn a choir of angels erupted into hallelujah when their eyes met. Maybe she had said something, he wasn't sure. Instead he just ushered her over to the table, pulling out a chair for her. She sat slowly, eyeing him a bit oddly, though she was smiling.

"Oh!" it suddenly dawned on him. "What would you like to drink?"

Her eyes held his, "Surprise me."

Nodding once, Adam headed up to the counter. His eyes went up to the menu and he weighed his options. He knew absolutely nothing about her. Was she a mocha drinker or an espresso? Did she like soy milk or regular? Foam or no foam?

Sighing he leaned toward the barista, "See that lovely lady over at my table?"

Her eyes flicked to Jane, "Yes."

"You've been working here long enough to what people drink, right? I'm supposed to be getting her coffee and I haven't a clue what she would like," he confessed in a whisper.

"Oh that's easy," she smiled. "Plain mocha. No frills."

"Ah good," he smiled. "Make it one of those then."

She nodded turning away to make the drink. 

Returning to the table a couple of minutes later, Adam set he mocha in front of Jane, "Your mocha."

Her eyes went to his and she smiled, "Thank you."

"And," he set a small plate in front of her as well, "a blueberry muffin."

Her sparkling eyes met his, "Thank you again."

Slidding into the seat across from her, he couldn't help the warmth filling his soul as he looked at her. She sipped her coffee, eyes not glancing up to look at him. Adam was all right with that as it gave him the opportunity to look at her closely, to notice the delicate features of her heart-shaped face. When she set the coffee cup down and looked up to him, her hazel eyes sparkled, her pouty lips curved into a slight smile. He wanted to lean across the table and kiss her.

And he still didn't even know her name.

"So tell me about yourself," he requested softly.

"I teach first grade at a public elementary school. I grew up here in Beverly Hills. I have two cats, Booger and Aristotle. Um..." her fingers picked at the muffin but she didn't lift any of it to her lips. "I ride my bike or the bus everywhere. Um... what else do you want to know?"

"Your name perhaps," he winked.

"Oh!" she instantly flushed.

When she blushed Adam had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from jumping up and kissing her right then and there. The rosy tinge that filled her cheeks was so adorable, so genuine, it was so hard to react to. Never before had the women he had been with be so... down-to-earth. She was a schoolteacher for fucksake. How more real could one get?

"I'll start," he smiled gently. "My name is Adam Levine. I'm a... well fuck, I'm the leader of a little band called Maroon 5."

Her eyes widened at that, "No."

"You've heard of us?"

She nodded, "My mother gave your album to me a few months before she passed, since my name was in the title."

His thoughts latched onto that. For a moment he wasn't sure what to follow, but her name was something he rather needed so he followed that line of thought.

"Your name is Jane?" he asked, a touch worried with the implications of such.

"Not my given name. My given name is Kylia Winona," she responded. "But when I was young I wanted nothing more than to be... plain. So I adopted the name Jane."

"But you're a beautiful woman, befitting a name like Kylia," Adam commented.

Once more she flushed, eyes dropping to the muffin she was picking apart. Adam struggled to fight his instincts again. Instead he reached across the table and gently touched her hand. Her eyes snapped to his at that touch.

"It's true."

"I... I..." she pulled her hand back. "Thanks for the coffee. I should get going."

"What? Why? You just barely got here," he stood as she did.

"I have things to... um, do," Jane replied.

"I'm sorry. Please don't go. I promise I'll keep my hands to myself," Adam held up his hands in surrender. "Promise."

Her eyes went to his, seemingly weighing everything in her mind for a moment. Slowly she set her purse back down and slid back into the chair. Ignoring the moment of triumph, Adam returned to his seat as well.

"Just coffee," she muttered. "This is just coffee."