Chapter 25: I believe you, Day 2

After my eventful afternoon, Dad and I settled in at home with Ashton. Dad cooked dinner and Ashton and I washed the dishes. It felt like I never left. Ashton didn't seem thrilled to see me, but I knew he was. I mean, I missed him; shouldn't he miss his only sister?

I didn't have much rest time after my flight. I was due at the museum for 10 o'clock the next morning to continue work on my internship. My boss, Dr. Pierre Chang, had me helping to plan a benefit concert for the museum. It was one of the more glamorous parts of the job, as I'd already spoken to the booking agent of the band Drive Shaft. I'll admit it; I loved their hit You All Everybody, even if it is a bit repetitive.

I needed a caffeine fix before I headed to work. Jet lag was a pain in the…well, you know. I walked into the coffee shop and looked around. The place was filled with blonde college students, and as usual, I didn't fit in. The Middle Eastern girl doesn't fit in very well in California. I didn't recognize anyone, but that wasn't new. Even though I had lived here for years now, I barely knew anyone.

"Kalie?" I turned at the sound of my name, not recognizing the voice. "Kalie Walker?" A man stood in front of me, his bright blue eyes sparkling. I had the feeling that I knew him, I just couldn't place from where. Shouldn't I recognize those eyes?

"How do you know my name? Do I know you?" I knew I didn't recognize him, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I knew him. Maybe I'd run into him on the bus or around campus.

He smiled a really cute smile where one side of his lips was raised higher than the other and chuckled softly. "Yes, well, no."

"Which is it?"

He glanced at the queue in front of the register before looking back at me. "Would you like to join me for a coffee? My treat and I promise to tell you."

I glanced around the shop again, not nearly as nervous as I should be when a stranger offers me coffee. But then again,it was a public place, what harm could it do? There were maybe a dozen or so patrons in the room, so it wasn't like we were alone."Sure," I said after a moment's hesitation.

His smile spread into a grin and he led me to a table in the corner, isolated and practically hidden behind a fake tree. "What can I get you?"

"A small mocha."

Flashing the smile again, he nodded and headed off to the queue. I kept a careful eye on him, making sure he hadn't dropped anything in my cup. I didn't think it was overreacting, I didn't even know this man's name.

I watched him from behind the plant, taking the time to really look at him. He was taller than me, though that wasn't saying much as I was only 5'4", and he had brown hair that fell in such a graceful way. Why could this man want to talk to me? He looked so put together, so handsome, definitely not the kid of guy that would want to talk to me. Where did I know him from?

He walked back to the table, sliding a cup across to me."I'm sorry, but I don't even know your name," I said when he sat down. Wrapping my hands around the warm cup, I looked up at him. Gosh, he was gorgeous.

"Oh, of course," he said, holding out his hand with yet another smile. "I'm Boone, Boone Carlyle."

The name struck a chord, Carlyle, but I couldn't… I used that name twice. Why? Did it have anything to do with him? Did I know him, but forget? "Nice to meet you," I said softly, shaking his hand. "So…" Taking a sip of his coffee, Boone grinned. His constant smiling was starting to get annoying. "Are you planning on telling me how I'm supposed to know you?"

"You really don't remember me?" His voice sounded sad and I thought again, tryingto come up with any place I might have met him. How could I forget someone as gorgeous as him? And furthermore, why would someone as gorgeous as him want to talk to me?

I shook my head, "no. Should I?" If he didn't explain some time soon, I was out of here. I didn't have time to waste sitting in the coffee shop, even if it meant not staring at him any longer.

"Well for starters, we were on the same flight from Sydney." A light bulb clicked. Now I remembered where I knew him from. I bumped into him as we were exiting the plane. "You remember that, right?"

"I bumped into you on the plane. But I don't remember ever telling you my name."

"Yeah, you didn't. Now, Kalie, this is going to sound weird, but do you believe in love at first sight? Or soul mates?"

He looked completely serious, but I couldn't stop the laughter. "Soul mates? I can honestly say I've never heard that pick-up line before." Leaning back in my chair, I took a sip of the coffee, still smiling. Did he think that would catch my attention? Though I'll admit, it worked.

The smile was gone from his face and now he looked worried, sad even. "It's not a line. I'm being completely serious."

I paused and he didn't look like he was joking. "You're serious? You really believe in love at first sight?"

"It's the only thing that makes sense. You bumped into me on the plane and… I don't know. It was like I suddenly had all these memories, of you and me… and this island."

I raised an eyebrow and leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. "An island? We were on an island? Why don't I remember any of this?"

"I don't know," he said with a shrug. "But I remember you and other people from our flight, like the guy I was talking to a couple seats away from me. I think there was a plane crash and we were trapped there, on the island."

"And I was there?"

"Yeah." He reached forward and took my hands in his, our cups of coffee abandoned on the table next to us. "And we liked each other," he added with a smile.

Now that was hard to believe. Boone, this gorgeous man, liked me? And we were 'together?' "I… I don't remember any of this."

Boone's hand squeezed mine and he smiled. "But do you believe me? That we know each other, even if you don't know how?"

I stared into his eyes for a moment, getting lost in their blue depths. Did I believe him? Strangely, yes I did. "I… yeah. I think I do."

A large smile spread across his face. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." He squeezed my hand and I couldn't help but smile back. I had to be losing my marbles. This was outrageous!

We sat just staring at each other for a moment. Maybe it all was true, because I couldn't shake the feeling that I did know him. "Can I walk you out to your car?"

"Umm, sure." I picked my purse up from the table and tossed my now cold coffee into a nearby trashcan. He reached over and took my hand in his, holding tightly. It was a nice feeling, comforting.

He walked me out to the car and I clicked the button twice, unlocking the back door. After tossing my purse onto the floorboards and shutting the door, I turned and looked back up at him. "Well…" I said, trailing off. Where did we go from here?

"Can I have your number?" He asked softly, his voice shaking like he was unsure of the answer. "I'd like to call you and I think I'd like to get to know you a lot better than I do now." He leaned in, his right hand coming up to caress my cheek. I could feel his breath on my lips the closer he came and I stopped breathing, staring up at him.

Was I going to let him kiss me? I had only known him for an hour… not including the few minutes on the mind was empty and I doubted I could form a coherent thought even if I tried. I closed my eyes just as his lips brushed mine. They were soft and molded around mine…

Flashes flew through my mind, like clips from a movie, but they were from what seemed to be my life. I saw him, Boone, sitting next to me on a beach. Another one showed him straddling me as his fingers tickled my sides and I laughed loudly. The next was of us curled up in a tent, his arms wrapped tightly around me, holding me close to his body. I felt happy, safe and I knew I loved him.

I saw him lying lifeless on a stretcher and wrapped in a tarp as we buried him.

Startled, I pulled back, taking a few deep breaths to slow my heart. "What the bloody hell…?" I said, holding on to the car, the metalhot under my hands.

"What?" He looked around quickly before shifting his glance back at me. "What happened?"

"I… I don't know." Images had flashed through my mind as soon as his lips hit mine. I couldn't even sort through all of them, they moved so fast. "I… I think I just remembered…"

"Did you? What did you remember?"

"I need to sit down." I opened my driver's door and sat down, watching as he knelt in front of me. My hands were shaking and I clasped them tightly in my lap. "I saw you and me…" I'd been crying and I knew he had died. Did he know that? Did he know I cried when he died?

"You remembered?"

I had a headache and I dropped my head to my hand, only looking up at him for a moment. "Did it come in flashes for you? Like small scenes from your life?"

"Yeah," he agreed. "It was just scenes, small moments, but I know how I felt. I knew what I was thinking and what I wanted to do."

"I think I need to get to work." I turned toward the center console and pulled out a pen and small notebook. Quickly, I scribbled my name, address and cell number. "Call me," I said, handing him the paper. "I live near the UCLA dorms, but my dad has a house in Meiners Oaks, in Ventura County."

"I'll call you," he said, looking down at my number. "Bye 'Li." He stood up and lightly kissed my forehead before walking back into the coffee shop. The nickname, it sounded so familiar. I could almost hear him calling me that before. I was hit with another memory, the morning before he died if I remembered correctly."Go back to sleep. I'll try to come back early today." He kissed me again and smiled. "Sleep 'Li."

I turned my legs and slid completely into the car, closing the door and locking it tight. What the bloody hell just happened? Did I really know him? Or did he put something in my coffee that just made me remember?

It all felt real, everything from the kisses to holding his hand as he died. I remembered other things too, another man…Miles and being a teacher. I remembered two beautiful children and dying. It wasn't a complete picture, more like a puzzle that's missing the majority of the pieces. It was so strange, but so real.

Turning the key, I started the car and slowly drove off. I drove in circles, not wanting to head to work and face my boss. Dr Chang was terrific, but there was no way he'd understand. Heck, I didn't even understand.

Why did I suddenly have all these… memories? I had never met that man, Boone, before, why did I remember kissing him? Why did I remember sitting next to him as he died?

When I couldn't postpone work any longer, I was already twenty minutes late; I pulled into an empty parking spot and clipped on my nametag. I caught sight of my reflection in the rearview mirror. My eyes still looked older, why?

"I don't have time to worry about this," I said to the reflection as I opened the door.

Rushing into the museum, I deposited my purse in my locker and headed out to the museum floor. I had a few hours behind the information desk before heading to my 'office' to finalize plans for the concert.

It must have been my lucky day, because no one noticed I was late. I settled in at the desk, smoothing my skirt and adjusting my nametag as I waited for my first guest. For a Thursday, the museum wasn't busy. I expected a lot more people… more people to keep my mind off what I experienced that morning.

What was that? What had I experienced? I couldn't help but believe that those things happened; it was too real not to believe.

I glanced up, scanning the small crowd. One man was standing alone, just standing. I slid out of my rolling chair and made my way over to him. "Can I help you, sir?" I asked, tapping the man on the shoulder. "You look lost."

"Oh no," he replied with a smile, "I'm all right. Thank you though."

"Okay, well if you need help, I'll be right over at the information desk." Smiling again, I turned and walked bask to the desk. So much for something to alleviate my boredom.

All I had left to do was finalize the program for the concert. I looked down at the paper, double checking the spelling. "Excuse me, but may I ask you a question?" I looked up and was greeted by the man from a few minutes ago.

"Yes, of course." I closed the program and looked up, putting on my best helpful smile. "What can I help you with?"

"I know this is going to sound odd, but were you on Oceanic flight 815?"

I narrowed my eyes slightly, wondering how he could possibly know that. "Yes, I was. Why do you ask?"

"I was on that flight as well. I recognized you from the plane. So you work here?"

"Yes," I said, still suspicious. I wasn't going to give him too much personal information, who knew if he was a mad man.

"Ah, it's very nice. I come to L.A. quite often, and hadn't been here yet."

Nodding, I forced a smile. "Yeah, it is quite nice. I'm enjoying my internship."

I looked back down at my papers, wondering if he had left yet. "Do you mind if I ask why you were in Australia? I was there for business."

"I was on holiday," I said shortly, hoping that maybe he would go away and I would have my free time to finish my work.

"Fun. Well, I'll let you get back to work. Nice talking to you," he said with a smile. "Oh, I'm Desmond by the way." Holding out his hand, I had to take a second look. For a moment, I thought I knew him.

"Kalie," I replied. "If you have any questions, feel free to ask." I looked back down at my papers and when I glanced up once again, he was gone. "Thank goodness," I breathed with a smile.

Throughout the remainder of the afternoon, I managed to finish the program and leave it on Dr. Chang's desk. Only a few more patrons asked questions and I gave suckers to a few children.

When I finally finished my shift, I stepped outside the museum into the bright California sunshine. It was warm, nearly 80* and I pulled my sunglasses from my purse, slipping them over my eyes. Now what should I do with the rest of my day?

I walked out to my car and clicked the button, unlocking the doors. Just as I slid into the driver's seat, my cell phone rang. I pulled it from my purse and looked down at the Caller I.D. I didn't recognize the number, but opted to answer anyway. Maybe it was Publisher's Clearing House and I won the grand prize. "Hello?"

"Kalie? Kalie Walker?"

"Yes, who is this?" The voice sounded familiar, but I wasn't sure.

"It's Boone Carlyle. We met earlier at the coffee shop? I hope you don't mind that I called."

A smile spread across my face and I had to suppress a giggle. He was calling me! "No, not at all," I said, hoping I didn't sound too silly over the phone. "How are you?"

He chuckled and I felt my cheeks blush brilliant pink. "I'm good. So, I was wondering, what are you doing tonight? Do you have plans?"

"Well, I'm having dinner with my father…"

"Tomorrow then? Lunch?"

"Lunch sounds great."

There was a pause on the other end of the line and I thought for a moment he might have changed his mind. "That's great. Can I pick you up at your house? Say around 12:30?"

"That sounds great. See you then?"

"Yeah, see you then."

"Oh, Boone. I believe you."

AN: Hooray! Boone! Don't get me wrong, I love Miles, but Boone will always be my first Lost love. And for the Miles fans, don't worry, he'll be back again soon. Was it everything you hoped for? Did you want it to go differently? Did you hate it? Do you want me to stop asking questions? *insert grin*

Thank you to: Chiquitabananas, hodhod2011danger, JacDanvers, LuliCullen, The Submarine, the_werewolf_gal, Maiqu and PaperBooksInk for reviewing the previous chapters.

Dharma Stories will be updated soon, I'm just finishing the next chapter. There are only two chapters left, so if you wanted to review, do it now! Thanks so much for reading and leaving one! I love you all!