By the time Amber got back to her apartment she'd almost forgotten about what had happened at The Brewed Awakening before her meeting. Almost. It wasn't until she plopped down on her old shitty futon in her living room and started pulling stuff out of her bag she remembered.

After the papers for her next unofficial assignment from her also unofficial boss, J. Jonah Jameson, her laptop and notebook came out. An empty page fluttered out of her notebook after being opened and closed so many times at the meeting. She furrowed her eyebrows, silently questioning herself as to why there would be a page ripped out before it came back to her. The cute guy back at the coffee shop. James. She couldn't help but smiled as a bit of pink covered her cheeks.

Sure she'd only met the man that day but there was no denying he was attractive. Chiseled jawline, gorgeous eyes, big pouty lips, and that was just his face. She didn't really get the opportunity to see any more, but she had no doubt it was just as nice from the neck down. Her blush got deeper and she restrained a nervous giggle, even though she was the only one in her little apartment.

"No. Stop it Amber. You barely know the guy. You just met him today. Bad." She scolded herself before sighing and laying back against her futon.

She pulled out her phone a minute later and took it off of silent, lips turning down slightly when she saw she had no calls or texts. Not a second later however, one of her friends from back home texted her, making her grin.

Moma Blair: Hey babe! How's my favorite New Yorker doing? 3

Her grin widened as she texted back.

Deano: Good, good.

Moma Blair: Anything interesting happen today? I know you had a meeting with that douche of a boss of yours.

Her cheeks flushed pink again at the thought of the man she'd met earlier.

Deano: Oh, nothing much. He was a douche like normal, but I've got another assignment that'll keep me out of there for a while.

Moma Blair: That's good.

Deano: How are things back home? Everyone good?

Moma Blair: Yeah, everyone's good mostly. Theo still misses you like crazy.

Her heart twinged and she bit her lip, closing her eyes briefly before messaging back.

Deano: I miss him too. But don't tell him. It won't help either of us.

Moma Blair: Yeah, I got you boo. :(

Things were quiet for a few minutes before Blair texted again.

Moma Blair: SO other than that did anything happen?

She couldn't help but smile at her friend who, even from so far away, was trying to make her feel better. She also knew there was no point keeping anything from her, seeing as there was no real was she could embarrass her from so far away.

Deano: I might have met someone at the coffee shop…

Before Amber could even add anything, Blair texted back, making her giggle.

Moma Blair: Ooooh! Boy? Girl? Cute? I need details!

Deano: Definitely boy and /definitely/ cute. Long dark hair, pretty blue eyes, big pouty lips. Looked pretty muscley but he was pretty bundled up so I'm not sure. Overall a yes.

Moma Blair: Niiiice. What happened?

Amber sat back more against her futon, getting comfortable before responding.

Deano: Well I was just sitting at one of the tables, working like normal, when he walked up and asked if he could sit with me. There weren't really any other options and he looked pretty uncomfortable and cautious so I figured why not and let him sit. We talked for a while then I had to go cuz of the meeting so I gave him my number and told him to call me later. Now it's just a waiting game for me.

Moma Blair: You actually straight up gave him your number? I'm impressed!

Deano: Oh shush. -/- :P

Moma Blair: XD You know I'm just teasing. So he hasn't contacted you yet?

Deano: Nope. Nothing yet.

Almost immediately after hitting send her phone buzzed, notifying her of a call from an unknown number. She brightened up and hit the green accept button. On the other end of the line she heard someone shuffling around then a somewhat gruff voice she recognized. "Hello? Is this Amber..?"

She held back a grin, wanting to be sure it was the right person. "Yes, is this James?"

More shuffling then a somewhat tentative sounding "Yes.."

She grinned outright at this point. "Hi! How are you?"

"Not bad. You?"

She sighed a little, rubbing her eyes behind her glasses. "My boss was a jerk like normal, but I still have a job this month so that's good."

After a bit of silence she spoke up again. "So did you find a place to stay tonight?"

He stayed quiet for a second. "Uh, yeah. I'll be fine."

She frowned a little bit. "Because I know we just met today and all, but you seem like a really nice guy and I wouldn't want you to have to sleep on the street or in a shelter or something like that if I can help it."

Again he got quiet, seeming to be mentally arguing with himself for a minute before he sighed softly. "I guess.. Alright…"

She beamed. "Ok! I'll just text you my address and-"

"Text?" She can hear genuine confusion in his voice, making her eyebrows furrow.

"Yeah, text. Can your phone not do that?"

"Well, I'm at a payphone right now so… No?"

"Oh. Well, do you have something to write with?"

"Uh," She heard faint shuffling again. "Yeah."

She quickly rattled off her address, listening closely as he read it back.

"Sounds good. So, see you soon?"

"Maybe not soon, but tonight." She heard more shuffling and a soft curse before he talked again, voice much quieter than before. "I have to go. See you later. Bye."

Before she could say anything in return there was a click and he was gone, leaving her staring at her phone with wide eyes, mentally reeling.

Over the course of the phone call a few text messages had racked up from Blair, which she checked quickly.

Moma Blair: Well let me know what happened, alright?

Moma Blair: Amber?

Moma Blair: Hello?

She responded quickly, fingers flying over the little touchscreen.

Deano: Sorry! He called like, right after my last message.

Moma Blair: And? :D

Deano: He… Might be coming over…

A second later her phone is buzzing again, Blair's picture glowing bright on screen. Amber laughed and rolled her eyes fondly before answering, holding her phone away from her ear so she didn't go deaf when her friend screeched, "WHAT?!"

"Can you not read? He's coming over."

"How the hell did that happen?"

"Well if you'd calm down I'd tell you."

She heard Blair take a deep breath, blowing it out slowly before she responded. "Alright. I'm calm. Now details."

"So you know how I said we talked at the coffee shop?"

"Yeah."

"Well, one of the things that we talked about was that he didn't really have a place to stay cuz he's new in town. Well, not really new, apparently, but it's his first time back in a long time which I don't really get because he doesn't even look that old but-"

"Amber. Point."

"Right! So when he called pretty much the first thing I asked is if he had a place to stay for the night and he didn't really say so I kinda just… Offered to let him stay the night."

"... Well for your sake I hope he's not some psycho. Course, if he is, maybe you could finally meet one of those superheroes you're always writing about."

Amber could hear the grin in her friend's voice and couldn't help but blush a little. "It's my job! People like hearing about them and their stories!"

"Suuuuure." She snickered.

"Oh, shut up." Amber huffs, cheeks still pink.

"Just be careful with this guy tonight, ok? He may seem like a nice guy but that doesn't mean he is."

Amber rolls her eyes fondly. "Yes mom. I'll be careful"

"You better. Ok, I actually have to go. Mom asked me to come over and help her with some stuff around the house."

"Alright. Talk to you later. I love you!"

"I love you too! Bye!"

With that she hung up, leaving Amber to the emptiness of her apartment.

Hello hello! And finally we have chapter 2! Sorry this took so long, been working my ass off lately and haven't had much time to just sit down and write. Also, sorry if this was a bit shorter than the last chapter. It's more of a transitional one. Next chapter will definitely have more interaction and backstory elements. Who knows! maybe even more new characters or some old favorites! Honestly even I don't know! Tune in next time though! As always, reviews and constructive criticism are welcomed, but flames will be used to roast the marshmallows and the souls of the damned. Until next time, bye bye! -KRS