Title: Alternate Realities: Chapter Seven, A Visit
Rating: R/NC-17
Warning: violence, language, sexual nudity




Heading out of her classroom, Jane powered on her cell phone before sticking it into a pocket in her bookbag. Before she even slung the bag over her shoulder, it beeped with a message. Wondering who would have called during the school day, she reached for the phone and dialled into her voicemail. He hadn't really said a word before she knew who it was and smiled, barely listening to his rambling.

Her happy thoughts were suddenly arrested when Jayden stepped in front of her. With a flush she closed her cell phone and tucked it away, smiling at her boyfriend. His arm slipped around her, guiding her down the hallway as he chatted about something she really wasn't listening to. She had a feeling they were supposed to eat dinner together that evening, but she really didn't want to. Jane wanted to call and talk to Adam, that's what she really wanted. But she clearly couldn't do that while on Jayden's arm.

"So you want to head there now or—"

"Actually I have some assignments to grade and I would like to get those out of the way first," Jane interrupted.

"Oh sure," Jayden nodded. "I'll pick you up at—"

"I don't think it's a good idea to go out on a school night, Jay."

"But—"

"Really," she held her stance. "But Friday for certain."

He frowned but nodded, "All right. I'll just bring over something for dinner then. We don't have to go out."

Sighing, she gave in, "All right. But not until after seven. Give me some time to get some work done."

"Can I at least give you a ride home?"

Jane shook her head, "I relish my bike ride. I'll see you tonight."

Eyes darting side to side to check for any students in the halls, Jayden softly kissed her before releasing her from his embrace. Smiling slightly she slipped away, not hurrying until she was out of his sight. Retrieving her cell phone from her bag, Jane recalled her voicemail as she headed to unlock her bicycle. Her smile increased as she listened to Adam's message once more. Though she was tempted to call him back, it didn't quite seem like the thing she really wanted to do.

So instead of turning down the street towards her apartment, she guided her bicycle in the opposite direction. It was about time she paid a visit to Houdini's mansion.



"I think it should be kept as raw as possible," Adam commented. "I don't think we should—"

"Dude, there's a girl on a bicycle at the gate," Jesse stated, re-entering the room after checking to see who had buzzed them. "And I think she wants you, Adam."

He instantly perked up. A girl on a bike could be just about anyone, but how many people would know to look for him there? Jumping to his feet, he ignored the looks from his bandmates and trotted over to the intercom. Glancing at the tiny image of the visitor he couldn't help the grin on his face, the leap in his heart. It was her.

"I'll be back in... awhile," he declared, before trotting out the door.

Forcing himself to regain his composure, Adam strolled leisurely down the pathway up to the locked gate. His eyes met hers and he neared the iron structure. Watching as she flipped the kickstand of her bike down, Adam smiled, handing naturally resting upon one of the iron bars. For a long moment they just stood there, looking at each other, apparently surprised at the other's presence.

"Just happened to be riding by?" he teased.

"Not at all," Jane replied with a straight face. "Nowhere near my neighborhood."

Adam grinned, "Why don't you come in and meet the guys?"

"Sure. You going to unlock the gate?"

Stepping back from the iron gate, he pushed the button after waiting for her to move away as well. Watching the gate swing open, he instantly jumped to take her bicycle from her. She hesitated a moment before letting him steer the black road bicycle up the hill towards the house. After stowing her bicycle, he offered his hand to her. Jane barely even hesitated before slipping hers into his, following him into the house. Adam softly spoke, pointing out things in the house that he thought would interest her as he headed back to where the guys were.

He stopped just outside the door, hearing the sounds of instruments inside the makeshift studio Rick Rubin had installed in his house. His eyes went to Jane's, sparkling at the fact her soft hand was still in his. Just as he leaned forward, intending on stealing a kiss, the door opened behind him.

"Hey! There you are," Jesse slapped Adam's back, before his eyes flicked to Jane. "Hi."

"Hi," she replied, flushing slightly as Adam squeezed her hand.

"This is Jane. Jane, this is one of my best buddies, Jesse," Adam introduced the two of them.

A few moments later, the schoolteacher had been introduced to all of the band as well as their current producer. Adam wanted to share with her one of their new songs, more or less showing off to her, and therefore guided her to a chair before whispering to the guys which song they should play. A single note filled the air, indicating it was time to play.

Jane couldn't really recall the words or even the melody when the song ended. Merely because her entire soul and being seemed to be abuzz from the mere way that Adam looked at her. She had thought that Jayden was something special. But the way that Adam looked at her, the way her heart raced when he held her hand, the very fact that she was sitting in Houdini's mansion while he performed a brand new song for her, threw that in stark contrast.

She shouldn't be there.

With the end of the song, Adam approached her, his smile freezing as soon as he noticed a haunted look in her eyes. Rather than ask her about it in front of the band, he offered his hand again, hoping she would accept it. Hesitantly her hand slipped into his once more and he helped her up. Without a word to his bandmates, Adam led her out of the room. Not bothering to stop in any other part of the house, he headed out to the back garden, some place where they wouldn't be easily seen from the windows.

Sitting on a garden bench under the cover of a large tree, Adam gently pulled her to join him. Jane resisted a little, her eyes darting to the house, before sitting as well. Her fingers wiggled out of his, landing in her lap, fiddling with the edge of her blouse. With her eyes not glancing her way, Adam afforded himself a slight frown, not liking the way her mood had shifted.

"Jane?" he broke the silence finally, reaching for her hand again.

She avoided his grasp, "I really shouldn't be here."

"What? Why not?"

Her eyes flicked to his, "I'm supposed to have dinner with my boyfriend in a little while."

His mind suddenly whirled to a halt. She had a boyfriend? Had she mentioned it before and he ignored it? It did explain some things. But he couldn't explain away the fact thathe didn't care. He wanted her no less right then than he had before she admitted it. It just added a little more challenge to winning her heart. And he was up for it. Besides if she felt awkward being with him because she had a boyfriend, it indicated she had feelings for him. That was half the battle won already.

"Well I'll give you a ride home, if you'd like," he heard the words tumble out of his mouth without any thought behind them.

Her eyes flicked to his, trying to read his motives clearly. Seeing nothing amiss, she nodded, accepting his offer. Without even explaining it to his bandmates, Adam stood and headed towards the front of the house. While he was saddened that she was leaving, he knew he was playing this just right. She would trust him. And if all went right, show up on the doorstep again in the very near future.