Melissa walked out of her and her former boyfriend's apartment and down the stairs. Let's put it this way, Melissa's day wasn't at the highest point in her life at the moment. Her boyfriend had not only dumped her, but had admitted to cheating on her with the girl next door. Her mother had decided it would be a good time to call Melissa and lecture her on "letting a good thing go" after Melissa mentioned the break up. Honestly? Melissa could care less. Who needs men when your lead a busy lifestyle being a photographer/journalist for music based magazine? Her. All Mel needed were her two best friends, Erin and Scout. Of course, seeing as how life was just smacking her with bad news, Mel found out she couldn't even seek comfort through them. Both were off with their loves in different parts of the U.S.
Wanting to forget the horrible day yet celebrate of her new found "single and ready to mingle" status, Mel went to a nearby club. As soon as she walked in, the very strong scent of cigarette smoke, alcohol, and a faint scent of sex and loud music greeted her. Mel pushed her way through the crowded club and headed to the bar area. Thankfully there happened to be a seat between a suspicious looking guy and someone who could have easily mistaken for Billie Joe Armstrong.
"And what can I get for you?" the bartender asked as soon as Mel had made herself comfortable.
"One of your strongest drinks." Yeah, she didn't want to remember this day at all.
Gerard Way was shoved into the club by his friends/band mates. They were tired of his anti-social attitude and thought tonight was a great night for clubbing. After rushing into his place, grabbing him then pushing him into the shower, and getting him dolled up, they headed out. Gerard knew he couldn't win with his friends so why argue?
The group of five dissolved into just Gerard. Sighing, he walked to the bar only to find there were no available seats. He settled for an abandoned table.
One tequila, two tequila, tree tequila, floor.
After a couple of drinks and watching people dance, Gerard's confidence was high enough to talk to the opposite sex. He looked around ready to pounce on his prey. His eyes locked on a woman sitting at the bar caught his attention. He stood and walked to whom he hoped his escape would be.
Mel tipped her head all the way back just to get the last drop of the bittersweet drop of alcohol she had left.
"Hey."
Mel slammed the shot glass on the counter of the bar and turned to the stranger that demanded her attention.
"Yes?" Mel asked.
Gerard smirked. "Care for a dance?"
Mel sighed and took a moment to think about her next action. Was she really going to dance with a complete stranger when she was drunk?
Oh, what the hell? It's not like I'm dating someone the bitter thought went through Mel's clouded mind.
Mel gave a grin. "Lead the way."
After a few moments of being engulfed by the beat of music, Gerard pulled Mel close to him and let his husky voice enter her thoughts. "What's your name?"
Should she give this good-looking man her name? Mel decided against it. There was nothing wrong with playing hard to get. Besides, it just added to the pair's oblivious passion towards each other.
Mel gave Gerard what seemed to be a seductive smile (due to the alcohol) and walked back to the bar. Gerard stared after her in confusion, but followed. Gerard felt something was different about this girl. He just didn't know what the different quality was.
"Why don't you stop playing hard to get and tell me your name?"
Mel gave Gerard a soft
Gerard let out a low, but still audible chuckle
"I may be drunk, but I'm not stupid," Mel leaned back against the counter of the bar.
"I never said you were," Gerard held out his hand. "Gerard."
Mel took it and ignored the spark she felt. "That's good to know."
Thirty-five.
Thirty-five tries of getting her and having her agree to a date. Not that Gerard was counting or anything, but his friends and brother were while watching him from another table.
He finally realized what was different about this mystery girl. She had spunk. The more she would turn him down, the more his slowly sobering mind would want to get to know this girl. He just needed her to give in.
"Please give me you name and go out with me?"
"No." The slight slur in her voice was barely noticeable. For such a
Gerard sighed and decided to be bold with the very last bit of his confidence left.
He kissed her.
Gerard gave Mel a nice, hopeful kiss thinking it would convince her to go out with him. Unfortunately, it didn't work because what happened next shocked the hell out of him and Mel.
Mel pulled away and slapped him. "I'M SORRY!"
The romantic part? She passed out after saying her apology.
It took a few moments for Gerard to be officially sober and to fully comprehend what had happened. He looked down at the girl who was passed out in his arms. He couldn't just leave her here, but he wasn't sure if he could just take her to his place.
My kind of girl The sarcastic though ran through Gerard's head as he managed to put his mystery girl into the bridal carrying position after a long struggle. He left the club, leaving his friends behind, and got a taxi to drive him and the passed out woman to his home. Another long struggle later, Gerard had safely placed his passed out mystery girl on his bed and left for the couch.
*THUD*
Mel groaned after she made contact with the floor of the bedroom. She slowly sat up and took in her surroundings.
This wasn't her room.
This wasn't even her apartment.
Her head turned to the stranger that had suddenly came into the room.
Who was he?
Had she slept with him?
No, her clothes from earlier were still on her.
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!" Her eyes were wide with panic.
Gerard stared at the girl. "I'm Gerard. You know, from the bar...?"
Mel grabbed the nearest object she could find, which was a pillow, and threw it at Gerard. "WHERE AM I AND WHY AM I HERE?!"
Gerard ducked. How she manage not to wake up Gerard's neighbors was a mystery to him. "You're at my apartment. I took you here after you passed out."
A horrified Mel grabbed the sketch book from a desk and repeatedly smacked him as soon as she got near him. "SO YOU DECIDED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME?!"
"What?! NO! OW! Would you stop?!" Gerard asked while blocking her abuse.
Mel stayed to her defensive ways. "NOT UNTIL YOU GIVE ME ANSWERS!"
"CALM DOWN THEN!"
"I AM CALM!"
"NO, YOU'RE-" A smack in the face made Gerard snap. He grabbed Mel's wrists and pinned her down against the bed.
The action made Mel squeak then go silent.
"Are you calm now?" Gerard softly questioned.
In a state of shock, Mel nodded.
Gerard smiled to insure that he wasn't going to hurt her in any way. "Good. I'm going to let you now, but promise me one thing."
Mel's response was nothing, but another squeak.
"Promise not to hit me?"
After another nod from Mel, Gerard let her go and got off her, but Mel didn't move. Gerard couldn't contain his grin. After everything, he still thought this girl was worth going out on a date with. "Need help?"
Mel shook her head slowly. "I-I'm good," she carefully stood up and walked to the door in a daze.
Mel yawned and impatiently stood in line to order her coffee. It has been a week since that night and, well, Mel couldn't stop thinking about those
"Dude, all that time and you didn't get her name?" Ray's voice held amusement behind his question.
Gerard glared at his so-called-best-friend and stood behind some woman. "Shut up."
Mel's body tensed as she heard the person behind her speak. It was him. It Jared! Or was it Gerry? Mel made a mental note to ask for his name again. That's IF she was willing to talk to him again.
"What will it be, ma'am?" the teenaged cashier person asked Mel. Mel gave her order, but was very hesitant on saying her name out loud.
"Name?"
Mel leaned close to the counter. "Melissa."
The cashier boy looked at her weird. "What?"
"Melissa."
"I cant-"
"IT'S MELISSA, DAMNIT!" Mel covered her mouth then gave a sheepish grin to the cashier boy. "Sorry."
Gerard's eyes went wide. He knew that voice, even after a week, he still knew that voice. It was-"Drunk Girl!" He and Ray said simultaneously.
Mel could feel the heat raise to her cheeks as she turned to face one familiar face and one nice looking hair-do. "Hey! It's-" What hell was his name again?"-you..."
"Gerard."
Close enough.
"That's what I meant," Mel laughed hopelessly.
Gerard grinned. "You can lie better than that, can you?"
"Much better."
The two stood there, letting the awkward silence settle on them. Ray had let the two suffer by going off to order what he and Gerard wanted.
"So..." Gerard started.
"Melissa!"
"Oh, thank God!" Mel blurted out and rushed to her coffee and rushed. Could you tell she wasn't one for uncomfortable silences?
Ray stared at Gerard. "You're just going to let her go?"
With that, Gerard ran out the door, yelling Mel's name. Slightly wincing at her full name, Mel turned and stared at the man running towards her. "Yes?"
Gerard stopped in front of her, panting and promised himself to cut down on smoking (right, like that's going to happen). "Look, I know we got off on a bad start-"
"I'm pretty sure 'bad' is an understatement."
"True," Gerard grinned. "Maybe a date could fix that?"
Just when Mel was about to reject him, her reasonable side took over her head. She did owe him for taking care of her when she was drunk. Mel smiled. "One date, then we'll see what happens from there."
Thirty-seven.
Keep your head down
Untill I tell you may speak
And now giving me the run around
When you fall back
Unto my coffin
No you shouldn't stay on my way
Dare you, Test me
How many licks does it take to reach the center of a toostie pop?
I don't know...but it took thirty-seven tries to get me to accept! *grins*
Gerard: *mutters about getting hit with things*
