Not a Date! -Alex-

[Casey Sam Richards]

Casey wasn't sure why he even came but something in him made him want to come. He had to come. He wanted to see Alex even if he would never admit it out loud. It took him nearly an hour to get dress since he didn't want to appear like he was excited but didn't want to seem like it was no big deal. This was a big BIG deal to Casey.

"It's just coffee, idiot. His not going to ask to marry you." Casey's mind reminded him and he huffed. Of course he knew that. He looked at himself in the mirror one last time before leaving his house and apparated to the Leaky. He got there a bit too early since Alex was not there yet. He wanted outside and looked at his watch every now and then. Casey felt so conscious that he kept looking at his clothes as well. Was he over dressed? Or was he too early? He was fidgeting on the spot he was standing and wondering if he was really too early. Damn this. Why was he acting like a young school girl now?

Clothes Here

[Alex Dean Andrews]

Getting ready for work, Alex had dropped the kids off with Lynn for the time being, he didn't like seeing his ex girlfriend, but he couldn't really take his toddler to the bar with him while he worked. Even Alex that wasn't a good idea, he wouldn't be able to watch her as much he would need to in Knock Turn alley, but for right now, he would be going to the Leaky, he hoped Casey would still be there. If he was even going to go. Alex knew he'd be disappointed if the younger man never showed, the man's scent alone drew the older man in.

Smiling, as he looked at himself once more in the mirror before he apperated to London. Walking up the Leaky, Alex spotted the tall wizard almost instantly, he stood out so well, Alex didn't even have the time to worry if he was going to show. "Hey there, it's the blushing book worm I met the other day." Keeping his smile friendly, he moved his hands to his pockets, to control himself a little better than to touch the man in front of him. He looked around thinking, "You would like to go inside here or did you want to get that coffee I promised instead?" Willing to do either, Alex had enough money to either one Casey wanted, but want Alex didn't want was to end up with the responsibility if Casey got drunk, if the man was as much of a light weight than he implied. If Alex didn't have to go to work after this, he would have no problem escorting the other man home.

Alex

[Casey Sam Richards]

Casey was a bit worried. Why he felt that way, he didn't know. He just was. He felt warm when he was with Alex. Like everything was sure to be better and the world would seem brighter if Casey was in the same room as Alex Andrews. He had not really noticed him back at Hogwarts but he was surprised what a couple of years could do to people after leaving the castle.

He was taken out from his musings when he heard a voice speak out and then when his mind processed what the voice said, he frowned. Casey wasn't a 'blushing bookworm'. He turned and raised a brow, "Hello to you too." he greeted back as he placed his hands on his sides. He tried not to stare at what the other looked and Casey succeeded if only he glanced a bit down from head to foot once.

"Coffee... I don't do well with crowds and I'm a lightweight. I'd drop down after five shots of tequila or any liquor for that matter." Casey told the other as he reminded himself of the stupid experience he had to face when he was with his male cousins from his mother's side. That night, Casey swore to never have a repeat of it. Ever.

[Alex Dean Andrews]

With an amused smile, Alex held his head towards the busy alley way, "Coffee it is." He started to walk, but he turned to Casey to see if the older man was following him. "I'm not real sure what to say to a guy on a date, but you look nice." Alex said without teasing this time, he did want the other man to want to be here. If Casey was a women, he would have offered his hand, but he didn't think that would have looked good to impress.

Heading towards a coffee place in the strip of businesses, "So tell me about yourself, there's got to be a story there right?" Alex offered an opening, wanting to get to know him, he went to the coffee shop, opening the door for the taller man. He briefly remembered doing this with Lynn, but it was normally with Josh on his hip. Right now, the kids were with her so he could go to work, which really was a pain in the ass. He mentioned not to tell her he was meeting someone before work.

Looking over the back of the taller man as he walked into the coffee place, he moved to sit down at one of the tables. He waved his hand at the opposite chair, Alex wasn't a 100% sure on what he was doing. Last person he was with, was Lynn, and they had been together for almost 10 years since Hogwarts. Here he was 27 years old, trying to date someone new.

[Casey Sam Richards]

Casey shook his head to get rid of the hotness that was creeping up his face when he saw the other smile. Damn. He then followed Alex and then couldn't help but blush since Alex had called this a date and said he looked nice. Was this a date?! "I -uh.. I-uhm..." Casey tried to look for the words to say but he couldn't find any. He was still caught up in the fact that Alex said this was a date. "This isn't a date. It's just coffee." he murmured under his breath as he walked.

Then Alex asked him to talk about himself. Story? Not really. As a Ravenclaw, Casey was never one for life stories. "Nothing much to tell. Former Ravenclaw, studied hard, blended into the background, graduated, took up muggle journalism out of whim, and now deciding whether to take a Mastery in Charms or not." he shared. That was it. Nothing exciting which Casey knew would bore Alex soon.

When they got to the coffee shop, sat across Alex and wondered why the man even wanted to have him as company. Casey was boring and even Casey himself knew it. It would only be a matter of time before Alex Andrews find out as well and leave.

[Alex Dean Andrews]

Making a face, Alex was sure this was a date when he asked the man, maybe he should have been more clear. He would accept fault for that, but he couldn't help his smile when Casey blushed. Deciding he wouldn't push, "You know, okay. Pre-date than. Huh...I've never been on one of those." Laughing, Alex tried to keep the mood light, he liked the other man enough to want to hang out, so he hoped that that the feelings would just continue on going.

"Former Ravenclaw." Alex echoed while sitting across from him at the table, he looked as he if was thinking it over, "Okay it's official, I can't date someone smarter than me." Alex smiled, to let Casey know he was only teasing him. "I'm a former Slytherin, I didn't study hard...really, at anything..and now I'm deciding if I should take my youngest to the store with me or not on a daily basis." His kids were his everything, if him and Casey did get anywhere, Casey would have to accept that Alex was a single dad and nothing was every going to change his kids.

"How about I go order our coffee's than? What would you like?" Alex taking a mental note of what he wanted himself, he'd probably grab a snack while up there for him and the other man. But he wanted to pick up the small tab because he was the one who asked Casey to come out with him. On their not date.

[Casey Sam Richards]

Casey didn't know if he had ever blushed as hard as he was blushing now. Alex just had this knck for saying things that turn Casey into a tomato. He decided to not say anything or he'd just end up stuttering. Casey was never good when it came to dates since he had never gone on a date before. Ever.

When Alex made his joke, Casey wanted the ground to open and swallow him whole. Then the other spoke of himself. He listened well. "How old is your youngest?" he asked, then stopped and his eyes widen. He was fascinated with the fact that Alex Dean Andrews already had kids of his own. Whoever the mother was clearly made the wrong decision of leaving them. Alex seemed like the perfect father. Wait! What the hell did that thought come from? He shook his head discreetly to get rid of the thoughts.

Casey turned to Alex and thought of what he wanted. "A Dark Mocha Frappocino please." he told Alex shyly. Clearly he was the girl in this situation and there was no way around it.

[Alex Dean Andrews]

Grinning, "She's 3. Terrible twos....they don't fade man, they just don't fade." Alex shook his head as if was grieving something, but his smile made the joke obvious. He adored Chelsey, and anyone could tell you that by seeing the two together, but as for the poty training and Lynn not being around, it was not something Alex pictured for himself. Scratching the back of his neck, "She's an angel though, Chelsey...she'll kiss your boo-boo every time because she thinks that really makes it stops hurting. But I got two kids, Josh he's 5, nicest kid you'd ever met though. He's pretty shy, but he's great once he warms up to you." Alex could talk about his kids all day, but he decided that Casey probably didn't want to hear about that right now.

Nodding to the drink with a smile, "Alright, I'll be right back." Moving up to the front counter, Alex ordered himself a mint mocha and than Casey's drink. He even bought the biggest brownie on the stand next to the register. Coming back to the table with the drinks and the brownie, Alex sat down, breaking the chocolate piece in half. He kept the plate in the middle, so that Casey could grab it when he wished. "So, how come this isn't a date? I'm sorry if I pushed too much, I had orginally meant to ask you out on one. It's been awhile since I've done this." Alex spoke truthfully, embarrassed, but truthfully.

[Casey Sam Richards]

Casey listened with a smile as Alex spoke of his daughter, Chelsey. He chuckled. "For females, their 'Terrible Two' stage would mostly likely last until they turn five. Some out grow it faster than others depending on the environment they are in." he explained to Alex about the stage he mentioned and how different it was from boys. "For boys, they remain until half of age three and eventually they move on to others things. Your son Josh, he is already in his shy stage which you must guide him whether to be the outdoor type or the other. Whether he will be into sports or studying. This is the most crucial stage for boys really." Casey added, sounded like a muggle pediatrician.

He nodded when Alex left to get their drinks. He thought about the fact that he was having coffee with Alex Andrews. He wondered how long the man would be around until he'd leave. Then he came out of his thoughts when Alex came back with their drinks and brownies. He loved brownies. Then Alex asked why this wasn't a date and he blushed a bit, hiding himself behind his drink before answering. "I don't know what happens on dates so I can't consider this a date. I have to look it up first and see what happens on dates before I can say that a date is a date." he answered calmly. Casey always hid behind his books and research. And it was yet to change.

[Alex Dean Andrews]

Unsure of what to say about Casey's explanation of children, he decided to just nod, "You're...educated." Why would someone who didn't have kids, take the time to learn about kids in so much detial? He wasn't sure how to take it, even though it mostly amused him that Casey knew all these little facts, not just about children. "You're kinda a walking encyclopedia huh ?" Alex smiled, not trying to offend the taller man, but wanting to have a little fun.

Looking at his drink, he couldn't help but laugh. Look it up. Alex thought he was going to choke, this man was adorable. "Merlin, your adorable you know that?" Leaning back in his chair, looking Casey over, he just shook his head with amusement. Look it up. Alex would have to remember that for later. "You can't just look up a date babe, you have to..well, just let it happen." Alex hasn't dated since Lynn left, she was the only one who knew about him being a wolf outside of the Burke and Jason. He wondered for only a second, how Casey would take it if he ever did find out.

"You just have a fun with a person your attracted to. So let's examine this shall we? Are you having fun and is the oh so smart guy attracted to me?" Alex teased, with a grin.