A/N: This story will follow the miniseries with a few additional scenes. It is intended to be the novel the series could have been adapted from, for my own pleasure. It is my first fan fiction and the first time I have written anything of length since I finished school (over a decade ago). All comments gratefully recieved.
Standard discaimer: I own nothing, story or characters.
First meetings.
He'd walked carefully into the studio, scanning the room and trying to pick her out from the description he had been given. He'd been surprised by the tremor of nervousness as he was used to getting what he wanted without any real effort, no one denied him! The petite blond on reception had smiled brightly and directed him to the changing rooms, but was too busy gossiping into the phone, red nails tapping lightly on the desk, to speak to him. Half a dozen others were speedily stripping off street clothes, a number in suits similar to the one he was wearing. They greeted those they recognised in that awkward, half friendly way of those who see each other regularly, but know little of each other's lives. The chap closest gave Jack a half smile, which he took as an invitation to ask "So what's the instructor, like?"
"Young!" his companion said, making Jack feel uncomfortable with his leering expression. A couple of the others rolled their eyes and walked away. Jack took the chance to escape and followed them into the long room.
At the far end of the mats, talking quietly to a couple of early arrivals was Alice. She wore her long dark hair tied back in a school girl pony tail and her white robes clothed a powerful, athletic body.
He'd had little chance to talk to her beyond being told where to line up and who to partner, so had lingered as others said their goodbyes and left to change once the class was over. She'd wandered over before asking mildly "Still with us?"
"Yes, just catching my breath so I can introduce myself. I'm Jack", he offered her his hand.
"Alice", she gripped his hand lightly, before lifting her hand to smooth an escaped tendril of hair behind her ear. "You're enthusiastic enough and plenty of energy. You need to work on your technique though! It'll help you stay fresh."
She looked him in the eye, sizing up his response to her assessment. He smiled to show he wasn't fazed by her judgement of his ability, it gave him just the opening he needed. "What do you suggest?"
"Well to start with I have a midweek class; we could work on your throws then. You can book on your way out."
Jack noticed a new group of people assembling on the mats "Your next class?"
"No I'm done for the day, part time only, so I can go grab some lunch." she replied and turned to leave. Jack fell into step beside her,
"Lunch, mm I'm famished. I don't suppose you know a good deli nearby that I could pick something up at?" He waited, Alice stopped and looked at him and for a moment he thought he'd not been quite casual enough. Had he pushed too hard? The opportunity had been too good to pass up. After a long moment the corner of her mouth tweaked up in a half smile and she gave a little nod of her head.
"I'm going past one on my way home, meet me here when you're changed" and with that she strode into the changing room. Jack gave a satisfied smile before doing the same.