Chad was leaning against the back counter alternating between watching the customers and watching the door. Yawning he looked at the time on the register and realized that it was way past his bedtime. Billy and Dominic their normal night crew were off- they were also partners - and had flown home to England for family business. Jared had offered to come back, but Chad was determined to make sure Jared knew he had his back again, and instead offered to take over night shift for the week 'til they got back. Pulling out a cigarette Chad lit up, inhaling deeply as he tried to ignore the doubts and nerves that seemed to always be threatening to surface.
Hearing the bell over the door jingle, Chad was jerked from his thoughts, when one of the most gorgeous men he'd ever seen in his life walked in. The guy looked to be just a tad shorter than Chad himself, but had sharp sculpted cheek bones, and to die for blue eyes. He moved with an air of self confidence that Chad could only dream of possessing.
As the dream guy moved to the counter, Chad carefully laid his cigarette in the ashtray, before pushing off the counter to go stand by the register in front of Mr. Dream Man. "Welcome to Paddy's Coffee, can I help you?" Chad asked glad for the scripted greeting Jared insisted they use on the non-regulars. He was pretty sure it was the only way he was able to speak to this incredible hunk of man.
Blue eyes smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly as Chad's insides melted slowly watching him. "Just a regular decaf, large dark roast, don't wanna be up all night." The guy said easily and Chad nodded heading over to make the order watching the man out of the corner of his eye.
When he realized that the guy was watching him with more than a small amount of not so veiled interest, Chad almost spilled the whole pot of decaf all over himself.
"Careful there," the guy warned easily, flashing Chad a concerned smile. "I don't want you to burn yourself all for a late night cup of Joe."
Chad smiled weakly before moving back with the order, but got caught staring into intense and yet surprisingly warm blue eyes. He was pretty sure that if the guy would let him, he could easily spend the rest of his life just looking into them. When the same eyes began to sparkle with amusement, Chad blushed bright and turned his attention to the register, touching the key pads, but not actually ringing anything up. "Sorry," he said softly, trembling slightly.
"No harm," the guy said soothingly and without thinking about it, Chad found himself looking back up at Mr. Dream Man. "My name is James, but my friends call me JP, at least the ones who like breathing."
Chad found himself grinning before sticking out his hand. "Chad," he said, JP's hand wrapping around his. "My friends call me various things depending on how big of an idiot I am being at the moment," Chad confessed, then blushed brighter calling himself an idiot.
Fortunately JP seemed to take it with a grain of salt, because he laughed happily and Chad found himself staring again, caught without meaning to be. Something inside just seemed to be drawn to this stranger making him want things he was only just becoming comfortable with along with several things he knew that he certainly was NOT comfortable with yet.
"So what is a smart guy like you workin' in a coffee shop?" JP asked and Chad fidgeted feeling suddenly irrationally irritated and protective of the shop. While it wasn't his, it was Jared's which for the two of them had always been the same thing.
"My best buddy owns the place. I help him with the books and stuff, but it's not so bad. Someone has to serve the rest of the world their Joe right?" Chad replied sharper than he intended, and looked down at the keypad again wondering how he always managed to blow opportunities before they had even really presented themselves yet.
The Dream Man didn't respond right away, and Chad was almost afraid to look up and see if he'd left when he heard him speak. His soft voice filled with regret. "I'm sorry. That was rude and way out of line. It sounded way better in my head. I should know better than trying cheap pick up lines. They always seem to work better for Rosey."
Chad's head whipped up and he found himself studying JP again, this time unsure what to think at the sound of Rosey's name. Finally he decided that it had to be another Rosey. "You don't mean The Baum owner Rosey do you?"
James nods easily smiling. "Yeah, do you know him?"
Grinning Chad shook his head, laughter erupting from his chest. "Jesus, I swear that guy knows everyone in the world. Yeah I know him. He and Jay are buddies. He actually set up Jay with his new boyfriend."
JP cocked his head to one side, arching an eyebrow grinning. "Wait, you're friends with Penny's new man?"
Chad nods fast relaxing, resting a hip against the counter. "Yup, known him forever. He's the one that owns this place. We go way back, through hell and back."
James chuckles, shaking his head, as he sips his coffee carefully. "Shit, the world gets smaller and smaller. I didn't know this was the guy. I've only been in here once before and that was during the day with Rosey. He introduced me to some poufy guy in a pink shirt, called him Paddy and said HE was the owner."
Chad laughed outright this time, face almost split in two his grin was so big. "That's Jay's alter ego, Paddy. He's really not that poufy in real life, it's all for the customers. How do you know Mikey?"
James snorts and takes another sip of coffee leaning against the counter himself, putting his face mere inches from Chad's. "We met through a mutual friend of ours, Allison. She tried to set us up, but we are really not compatible like that. Fortunately though we became friends, and he's been giving me really bad dating advice ever since." Chad grinned nodding thinking that sounded exactly like Rosey as James continued. "A few months ago, I decided I needed a change of scenery from New York and he talked me into moving down here. How do you and Jared know Mikey?"
Chad's smile slipped slightly but he hoped he masked it well, never liking having to think about Tom and what a mess he'd made out of Jared. "Jay used to date a friend of Mike's."
James' eyes got serious and Chad could practically see the wheels turning in his brain. He had a feeling this was a smart guy, and it would only be moments before he made all the right connections. "Jay is Jared? Padalecki? Tommy's ex?"
Chad wasn't even a little surprised when the connection came quickly. He just wondered if this would be what chased James back out the door, and didn't have the courage to speak the affirmative answer so instead settled for a nod.
"Jesus," James breathed and this time Chad was more than a little surprised to see compassion in those eyes instead of disgust or the hatred that normally came from people that knew Tommy. "I didn't even make the connection. He looks 110% different than the last time I saw him." James explained shaking his head. "That Tommy, I knew you aren't supposed to speak ill of the dead, but that guy was a piece of trash. I'm glad if anything came out of his death, Jared got away. I only met them once, that seen has never been mine, but you could just look at Jared then and know he didn't belong there."
Chad nodded carefully unsure it was safe to believe in this guy's understanding and compassion.
Silently he was ignoring how his heart cheered already on James' bandwagon.
"Small world indeed," James muttered quietly then refocused his attention on Chad. "Maybe this is kinda sudden, I mean we just met but, I don't suppose you'd like to go out with me sometime? I have a friend, Hugh, he's doing this play at the local theatre. Friday's the opening night and I thought maybe we could go if you're interested."
Chad didn't even stop to think about his work schedule before agreeing.
James was barely out the door, Chad's cell# along with the store's both programmed into his cell before he was on the shop phone calling Jared, to hell with the time.
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The insistent ringing of his cell phone woke Jared from a sound sleep. Quickly he' hit the answer button, before untangling himself from Jensen and making his way through the house and out onto the balcony. "Chad?" He asked, voice rough and husky from sleep. "Wha's wrong?"
"OMG JARED I HAVE A DATE!" Chad screeched and Jared quickly pulled the cell away from his head, fearing for his hearing, as a grin spread out on his face.
"No shit?" Jared asked happily leaning against the side of the building, wishing he'd grabbed a blanket or something. "Who is he?"
Chad snorted lighting a new cigarette before answering. "You are not gonna fuckin' believe this. He's a friend of MIKEY'S! Isn't that some shit?"
Jared chuckled low shaking his head, still grinning. "Man that guy is gonna own us for life. How'd you meet him?"
Chad excitedly launched into the whole story bouncing excited behind the counter from one end to the other, much to the late night patron's amusement. Jared just listened and smiled, something in his chest loosening up as his friend's happiness and excitement grew. "AND OMG HE's GORGEOUS!"
Jared nodded, jumping slightly feeling a blanket wrap around his shoulders before Jensen moved around to his front to wrap his arms around his waist, resting his head on Jared's chest. "Yeah, I think I remember him. He was only around once or twice with Mike. Didn't ever look comfortable there. Mike's talked about him though. I think he's an artist or photographer or somethin' like that. Where are you goin' and when?"
Chad flopped dramatically against the back counter wrapping one arm around himself. "The theatre, Friday to see some play. FUCK! Friday! I have to work! JARED I HAVE TO WORK!"
Pulling the phone away from his ear, Jared grinned, feeling Jensen shaking against his chest as he tried not to laugh aloud. "Chad, relax, stop drinkin the triple shots! I think I can find coverage. Billy called tonight and said they should be back by Thursday, but if not I'll cover."
Chad sighed letting his head fall back as he stared at the ceiling grinning. "Damn, Jayman, I gotta date."
Jared smiled happily as his friend said his goodbyes needing to wait on a customer. "Wha s'that?" Jensen asked yawning against Chad's chest.
"Chad has a date with a friend of Mike's. Remind me to call Mikey tomorrow and make sure he's kosher, but if he's who I think he is.... Damn Jenny." Jared took a deep breath suddenly overwhelmed with emotion, burying his face in the top of Jensen's hair. "If he's who I think he is, this could be a really good thing for Chad man. I mean, big. Jesus, it could be everything,"
"Maybe everything will be ok with Chad after all."
"What's his name?" Jensen asked thinking of the friends of Mike's he knew, trying to figure out who it could be.
"I think Mike called him... JR? JC? Jsomethin'. I think he's an artist or somethin' like that."Jared answered, wishing he paid closer attention to Mike when he rambled.
"JP," Jensen said laughing. "His name's really James, but most of us call him JP. Mikey calls him Bella when he's being a jackass 'cause I guess people used to call him Bello Jimmy. So, of course Mikey had to give him some girl's name, even if James really IS NOT. He's more you than me."
"He's a nice guy though. You can totally trust him with Chad. He'll be completely sympathetic and supportive when he finds out Chad's whole story. He's just that kind of a good guy."
Jared nodded happy again, and chuckled as he led Jensen back into the house. When his boyfriend looked at him strangely Jared explained. "I am gonna end up owing Mike a kidney or somethin. First he hooks up us, and now Chad and James 'cause you KNOW he's gonna take credit."
Jensen grinned through a yawn, not even bothering to argue. "Don't worry babe, you still will have another one. He won't take both."
~~~~~~~~~~@--->-->------ ------<--<---@~~~~~~~~~~
Jensen sat on their bed three days later, watching Jared help a very nervous Chad get ready. Even he'd never created this big of a production getting ready to go out, but this was a big thing for Chad, so he understood and was being quietly supportive. Since Chad wasn't quite comfortable with James knowing where he lived just yet, Jensen had offered for the couple to meet at his place, and Chad could use the guest room afterwards if it was too late to go home.
Jared was basically living at his place. They'd frog leaped over several steps quite quickly when it came to living arrangements, but Jensen wasn't gonna argue. It felt right and he felt safer than he ever had before. Plus, his place was bigger and not that much farther from the shop than Jared's place. They hadn't called it formally moving in together just yet, but Chris said it was only a matter of semantics.
"Chad, breathe," Jared said quietly and calmly tying Chad's tie, before brushing his hands over his shoulders and sleeves, chasing away invisible lint. "It's gonna be fine. I talked to Mikey. He said this guy is a class act, nothin' to worry about man."
"What if he asked about my past? Should I tell him? I think I should tell him shouldn't I? But, God Jay, just the thought of it makes me nauseous." Chad asked in a rush of questions that Jared was only able to keep up with from years of practice.
"You don't have to talk about anything you don't wanna. Just explain to him you're not ready to talk about that and I am sure he'll understand. If you get stuck call me. It's no big deal. We're just gonna be here hanging out with Chrissy and Steve." Jared said rubbing Chad's shoulders and Chad took a deep breath snuffling as he rubbed his hands over his face. "'God you must think I am lame," he muttered and Jared shook him once frowning.
"Knock that shit off. You know I don't. How many fuckin' times have our situations been reversed and you've been the one holdin' me together, huh? Just relax and don't worry. It'll all work out." Before Chad could respond, the doorbell rang. Quickly Jensen got up and rush to answer while Jared did some final reassuring.
Opening the door after making sure it was James on the other side; Jensen smiled seeing Chrissy and Steve were there too, although it was more Chris than Chrissy tonight. His friend seemed to be toning the drama down around Jared, which Jensen found nothing short of hilarious. "Hey guys, come in. JP, Chad is almost ready."
"I'm here," Chad said from somewhere behind him and Jensen turned to see Chad standing nervously at the end of the hallway with Jared leaning against a wall behind him. "Hey James, longtime no see," Jared greeted and James nodded in his direction smiling.
Jensen got a sudden image in his head of James giving Chad a corsage and Jared telling him to make sure Chad was back by ten, but was fortunately able to keep his amusement to himself until they were out the door. Then however, he let things loose, and ended up on the floor holding his stomach as Jared shook his head, smiling down at him affectionately.
~~~~~~~~~~@-->---->--- ---<-----<---@~~~~~~~~~~
"Sorry if that was weird," Chad said softly as they waited for the elevator and James looked at him calmly smiling. "No big," he assured shrugging. "It's good to see you have such good friends. Everyone deserves people who are so protective."
"Yeah, I've been givin' Jay plenty to stress about lately, so he's kinda on the guard dog path these days," Chad admitted, his hands twisting together nervously. "So, um, what's this play about?" He asked, rushing to change the subject before James could ask any questions he wasn't yet prepared to answer.
James noticed the quick change in subject, but let it slide. He'd already figured out there were things in Chad's past that had wounded the younger man deeply, but had no intentions of pushing him into a confession. "Honestly I'm not sure. Hugh usually does Musicals or Comedy's though, so it should be fairly safe. His plays don't suck nearly as much as they used to. I have to confess though he's made me come to some real stinker's before so if it blows chunks don't dump me ok?" Chad laughed easily as the elevator came and they got in making their way down, with Chad assuring James he wouldn't hold someone else's stinky play against him.
Fortunately the play hadn't been a stinker and had indeed been a comedy, which Chad had laughed through almost the whole thing. Hugh turned out to be a brunette about Chad's own height, with an accent that he later found out was Australian. He was the same age as James and apparently they had been friends for years, meeting when James did pictures for Hugh early on in his acting career for a portfolio.
Afterwards, they went to a quiet Italian mom and pop place, where James hadn't so much as blinked when Chad explained he didn't drink and ordered coffee for them both. When James reached across the table to take his hand, Chad blushed slightly, but didn't pull away, not feeling nervous in the least. Something about James was just so comforting that it didn't even occur to him to be self-conscious about it.
They talked about everything and nothing. Chatting about nonsense things, and safe topics like favorite movies and why football was better than basketball; avoiding anything heavy and personal. By the time Chad found himself back on Jensen's doorstep, the door key turning round and round in his hand, he didn't want the evening to end and confessed as much. "I know what you mean," James replied honestly and Chad breathed a sigh of relief. "But for once, I think I have found something that has the potential to be really big, and I don't wanna rush this."
"I'll be honest, I haven't been the poster boy for commitment before now, but lately I've been wanting more than my normal endless string of going nowhere dates."
Chad nodded understanding as he fidgeted slightly. "I, I guess I should tell you this is kinda new to me. I... I haven't ever dated a guy before. There's some things I need to tell you, but..." He trailed off when James put his fingers over his lips.
"You don't have to go into that now," James assured. "I could tell earlier there was something, but that you weren't ready to talk about it, and I am completely ok with that. Like I said, I don't wanna rush this. We have plenty of time. When you're ready to tell me, you can, and I promise I will still be here to listen."
A few minutes later when they said their goodnights and James gave a friendly squeeze to his arm, Chad didn't even feel disappointed that there was no kiss. Instead he felt more uplifted than he had since Jared caught him in the back room, and as he let himself into the apartment decided that maybe things were finally looking up.
The End
