Alexis leaned against the stone pillar of the dorm building as she waited
for her date. She wore a knee-length plain, but sexy, black dress. Alexis
had bought it senior year of high school, but never had the occasion to
wear it- until now. Looking up the street and hugging her warm pea coat
tight to her body, she quickly fluffed her hair. A few seconds later, an
impressive black town car pulled up in front of the building. A chauffeur
climbed out of the front and opened the door for Jack.
He was wearing a black Gucci suit and an off-white dress shirt with an open collar; dressed up, but not 'too dressed up'. He smiled at Alexis as she descended the stairs.
"I hope you haven't been waiting too long," Jack took her hand and led her into the car.
"No, you're right on time." Alexis smiled and for once, in a long, long while, felt at ease.
The car traveled a few minutes until it arrived at its final destination. Alexis peered through the tinted windows at the trendiest restaurant in town: The Restauranté Dé Florenź.
"Oh, Jack! This is incredible!" Alexis breathed.
Jack smiled knowingly and got out. He opened her door and took her hand.
The exterior of the restaurant had an authentic Italian awning and several gondola poles. Guarding the entrance were two white muse statues. Jack led Alexis through the entrance and to the hostess. Jack had made previous reservations and they were seated immediately. The interior was even more beautiful than the exterior. The restaurant was bathed in a rich carmel color. There were splashes of bright paint here and there and authentic Italian artifacts decked the walls. The restaurant was filled with beautiful and powerful people. Alexis even recognized the mayor and his wife sitting in a corner table. Listening carefully, Alexis could hear Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' playing softly in the background.
"Jack, this is so beautiful! I feel like I'm in Italy!" Alexis said, leaning closer.
"I knew you'd like it." He unfolded his linen napkin and placed it in his lap. Alexis did the same.
A waiter arrived and handed them menus and asked if they would like champagne or wine.
"Give us a bottle of Dom Perigion, please." Jack smiled over at Alexis, "Decide what you want to eat, then I have another surprise for you."
Alexis smiled and looked at the menu. After deciding, she and Jack waited patiently for the waiter to come back to take their orders.
"So Alexis, what do you like to do for fun around here?" Jack asked, sitting comfortably in his chair.
"Well, I really don't have any free time with school and the internship and all." she answered, looking embarrassed.
"I was like that- about three years ago. I didn't even have time to sleep!" Jack laughed.
"'There's plenty of time to sleep when you're dead.'" Alexis quoted.
"Ah ha! I knew you did something other than school and work! 'Die Another Day', am I correct?" Jack laughed.
"Yes, I love Bond movies." Alexis smiled, "It's a fetish."
Just then, the waiter came and took their order. The waiter gave Jack a small black device and left.
Curious, Alexis asked, "What did he give you?"
"This," Jack said, holding up the beeper-like mechanism, "Is to let us know when our food is ready."
"Where are we going to go?"
"That's the surprise," Jack stood and held out his hand, "C'mon, I want to show you something."
Alexis rose and Jack led her to a large marble staircase off to the side of the room. As they descended, she could hear music and laughter floating up from the bottom. When they reached the ground floor, she found herself standing on an immense hardwood ballroom.
The floor was comfortably crowded with couples moving around with the swift beat of an Italian song. There were three large glass chandeliers emanating a low, romantic light. The stage was host to a twelve-piece band with instruments known and unknown. The walls were painted in the same colors as in the restaurant.
Jack led Alexis out on the dance floor as the band changed to a slower, amorous song. Jack pulled Alexis close and she could smell his expensive cologne. Together, they moved as one slowly across the floor, oblivious to the other couples around them. She rested her head on his shoulder as they swayed back and forth.
Alexis felt Jack's hand on the small of her back move her in a different direction. She surrendered to his will and followed his lead.
Alexis looked up into Jack's eyes.
Jack looked down at her and said, "Your name is so beautiful, I'm curious, what does it mean?"
She smiled up at him and replied, "Its Greek; it means 'defender and helper of mankind'". Alexis saw Jack's smile waver. She pulled away from him a little as she looked deeply into his eyes. She sucked in a quick breath.
Jack knew something was wrong. "I was just curious as to what you name meant, that's all. I think it's a beautiful name." He gave her his best award-winning smiles and pulled her closer again.
"Wait, Jack. I...uh...have to use the rest room. Please excuse me." Alexis turned and headed towards the rest rooms she spotted earlier near the staircase. She pushed the massive door open and looked in the mirror. Buckle down girl, she thought to herself while running some cold water over her hands, you're imagining things! But deep in her heart, she knew what she saw in Jack's eyes could not have been her imagination.
"I had a wonderful time, thank you Jack." Alexis said, standing in the doorway to the dorm building.
"My pleasure; I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," Jack smiled mischievously and leaned closer to Alexis, "I know I did."
Alexis smiled and turned to enter the building when Jack caught her arm and pulled her into a fiery kiss.
A bit stunned, Alexis mildly returned the passionate kiss. Slowly she detached herself from Jack's embrace, gave a quick smile and went inside.
Jack turned slowly away from the dorm building and reentered the car.
As soon as she went through the double doors, she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. Sighing, Alexis trudged back to her room.
"What the hell are you doing with that girl?" Michael declared, still sitting at the kitchen table, only now the pile of papers was replaced by a laptop computer.
"T and A." Jack replied with a sick smirk, looking out the darkened window.
"Jack, this is not the time to fool around with shit like that! Just concentrate on your plan so when you get your souls, I'll stop having to be your damn babysitter!" Michael hissed.
"I have it under control," Jack replied, staring out the window, "Now, I don't want to be bothered by you for the rest of the night." With that, Jack turned from the window and strode into his master bedroom suite.
"Tell me everything! I want all the juicy details!" Lisa said giddily into the phone.
"I didn't call to tell you everything," Alexis said, struggling to get her pajamas on while talking, "I just had to get something out."
"What? Did something go wrong?" Alexis could hear concern in her friend's voice.
"Let me ask you this: Have you ever looked into a guy's eyes and saw nothing?"
There was a pause on the line before Lisa replied, "Of course I see something- an eyeball, pupil..."
"Lisa that's not what I meant! Haven't you ever really looked into a person's eyes and saw something? Anything?"
"You mean like what happens in movies?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"Nope, can't help you there. I guess I haven't been in love with someone to really see anything."
Alexis sighed.
"What happened between you and Jack? Did you see something? Are you afraid to commit?"
"No, I am not afraid to commit. We went to the Restauranté Dé Florenź-"
"The Restauranté Dé Florenź? Are you serious?" Lisa cut her off.
"Yeah, it was amazing; there was an underground ballroom even. It was so beautiful...but..." Alexis paused, "But something happened when we were dancing. He asked what my name meant I told him. I saw his smile fade and I looked deep into his eyes- I searched and searched, but I saw nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing. There was a blankness, a void where there should be some kind of emotion. I couldn't take it so I went to the bathroom and tried to get it out of my head."
"So you saw nothing and you're scared?"
"It was like I was staring into the eyes of something..." Alexis paused, then whispered, "inhuman."
Lisa burst out laughing, "You're not serious, are you?"
Alexis paused, hurt.
"You're not, are you?" Lisa repeated, stopping her laughing.
"Well..." Alexis began.
"God, I'm sorry; I thought you were...Geez, I feel like shit now. So, what are you going to do?"
Alexis turned to her computer and opened up her email, "I don't know, I don't think I want to go out with him again. I'll make some excuse or something."
"Hmm...Did you get a kiss?" Lisa asked playfully.
"Ugh! I'm hanging up now."
"Oh! You did! You little-"
"Bye Lisa." Alexis pressed 'end' and tossed the phone on her chair. Turning back to her computer Alexis saw that she had five new messages. After deleting three spam mails, and one campus announcement, she opened the fifth which was entitled, "Cruise Ship Research". After thoroughly reading through the report, she smiled to herself, At least Jack's good for something.
He was wearing a black Gucci suit and an off-white dress shirt with an open collar; dressed up, but not 'too dressed up'. He smiled at Alexis as she descended the stairs.
"I hope you haven't been waiting too long," Jack took her hand and led her into the car.
"No, you're right on time." Alexis smiled and for once, in a long, long while, felt at ease.
The car traveled a few minutes until it arrived at its final destination. Alexis peered through the tinted windows at the trendiest restaurant in town: The Restauranté Dé Florenź.
"Oh, Jack! This is incredible!" Alexis breathed.
Jack smiled knowingly and got out. He opened her door and took her hand.
The exterior of the restaurant had an authentic Italian awning and several gondola poles. Guarding the entrance were two white muse statues. Jack led Alexis through the entrance and to the hostess. Jack had made previous reservations and they were seated immediately. The interior was even more beautiful than the exterior. The restaurant was bathed in a rich carmel color. There were splashes of bright paint here and there and authentic Italian artifacts decked the walls. The restaurant was filled with beautiful and powerful people. Alexis even recognized the mayor and his wife sitting in a corner table. Listening carefully, Alexis could hear Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' playing softly in the background.
"Jack, this is so beautiful! I feel like I'm in Italy!" Alexis said, leaning closer.
"I knew you'd like it." He unfolded his linen napkin and placed it in his lap. Alexis did the same.
A waiter arrived and handed them menus and asked if they would like champagne or wine.
"Give us a bottle of Dom Perigion, please." Jack smiled over at Alexis, "Decide what you want to eat, then I have another surprise for you."
Alexis smiled and looked at the menu. After deciding, she and Jack waited patiently for the waiter to come back to take their orders.
"So Alexis, what do you like to do for fun around here?" Jack asked, sitting comfortably in his chair.
"Well, I really don't have any free time with school and the internship and all." she answered, looking embarrassed.
"I was like that- about three years ago. I didn't even have time to sleep!" Jack laughed.
"'There's plenty of time to sleep when you're dead.'" Alexis quoted.
"Ah ha! I knew you did something other than school and work! 'Die Another Day', am I correct?" Jack laughed.
"Yes, I love Bond movies." Alexis smiled, "It's a fetish."
Just then, the waiter came and took their order. The waiter gave Jack a small black device and left.
Curious, Alexis asked, "What did he give you?"
"This," Jack said, holding up the beeper-like mechanism, "Is to let us know when our food is ready."
"Where are we going to go?"
"That's the surprise," Jack stood and held out his hand, "C'mon, I want to show you something."
Alexis rose and Jack led her to a large marble staircase off to the side of the room. As they descended, she could hear music and laughter floating up from the bottom. When they reached the ground floor, she found herself standing on an immense hardwood ballroom.
The floor was comfortably crowded with couples moving around with the swift beat of an Italian song. There were three large glass chandeliers emanating a low, romantic light. The stage was host to a twelve-piece band with instruments known and unknown. The walls were painted in the same colors as in the restaurant.
Jack led Alexis out on the dance floor as the band changed to a slower, amorous song. Jack pulled Alexis close and she could smell his expensive cologne. Together, they moved as one slowly across the floor, oblivious to the other couples around them. She rested her head on his shoulder as they swayed back and forth.
Alexis felt Jack's hand on the small of her back move her in a different direction. She surrendered to his will and followed his lead.
Alexis looked up into Jack's eyes.
Jack looked down at her and said, "Your name is so beautiful, I'm curious, what does it mean?"
She smiled up at him and replied, "Its Greek; it means 'defender and helper of mankind'". Alexis saw Jack's smile waver. She pulled away from him a little as she looked deeply into his eyes. She sucked in a quick breath.
Jack knew something was wrong. "I was just curious as to what you name meant, that's all. I think it's a beautiful name." He gave her his best award-winning smiles and pulled her closer again.
"Wait, Jack. I...uh...have to use the rest room. Please excuse me." Alexis turned and headed towards the rest rooms she spotted earlier near the staircase. She pushed the massive door open and looked in the mirror. Buckle down girl, she thought to herself while running some cold water over her hands, you're imagining things! But deep in her heart, she knew what she saw in Jack's eyes could not have been her imagination.
"I had a wonderful time, thank you Jack." Alexis said, standing in the doorway to the dorm building.
"My pleasure; I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," Jack smiled mischievously and leaned closer to Alexis, "I know I did."
Alexis smiled and turned to enter the building when Jack caught her arm and pulled her into a fiery kiss.
A bit stunned, Alexis mildly returned the passionate kiss. Slowly she detached herself from Jack's embrace, gave a quick smile and went inside.
Jack turned slowly away from the dorm building and reentered the car.
As soon as she went through the double doors, she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. Sighing, Alexis trudged back to her room.
"What the hell are you doing with that girl?" Michael declared, still sitting at the kitchen table, only now the pile of papers was replaced by a laptop computer.
"T and A." Jack replied with a sick smirk, looking out the darkened window.
"Jack, this is not the time to fool around with shit like that! Just concentrate on your plan so when you get your souls, I'll stop having to be your damn babysitter!" Michael hissed.
"I have it under control," Jack replied, staring out the window, "Now, I don't want to be bothered by you for the rest of the night." With that, Jack turned from the window and strode into his master bedroom suite.
"Tell me everything! I want all the juicy details!" Lisa said giddily into the phone.
"I didn't call to tell you everything," Alexis said, struggling to get her pajamas on while talking, "I just had to get something out."
"What? Did something go wrong?" Alexis could hear concern in her friend's voice.
"Let me ask you this: Have you ever looked into a guy's eyes and saw nothing?"
There was a pause on the line before Lisa replied, "Of course I see something- an eyeball, pupil..."
"Lisa that's not what I meant! Haven't you ever really looked into a person's eyes and saw something? Anything?"
"You mean like what happens in movies?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"Nope, can't help you there. I guess I haven't been in love with someone to really see anything."
Alexis sighed.
"What happened between you and Jack? Did you see something? Are you afraid to commit?"
"No, I am not afraid to commit. We went to the Restauranté Dé Florenź-"
"The Restauranté Dé Florenź? Are you serious?" Lisa cut her off.
"Yeah, it was amazing; there was an underground ballroom even. It was so beautiful...but..." Alexis paused, "But something happened when we were dancing. He asked what my name meant I told him. I saw his smile fade and I looked deep into his eyes- I searched and searched, but I saw nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing. There was a blankness, a void where there should be some kind of emotion. I couldn't take it so I went to the bathroom and tried to get it out of my head."
"So you saw nothing and you're scared?"
"It was like I was staring into the eyes of something..." Alexis paused, then whispered, "inhuman."
Lisa burst out laughing, "You're not serious, are you?"
Alexis paused, hurt.
"You're not, are you?" Lisa repeated, stopping her laughing.
"Well..." Alexis began.
"God, I'm sorry; I thought you were...Geez, I feel like shit now. So, what are you going to do?"
Alexis turned to her computer and opened up her email, "I don't know, I don't think I want to go out with him again. I'll make some excuse or something."
"Hmm...Did you get a kiss?" Lisa asked playfully.
"Ugh! I'm hanging up now."
"Oh! You did! You little-"
"Bye Lisa." Alexis pressed 'end' and tossed the phone on her chair. Turning back to her computer Alexis saw that she had five new messages. After deleting three spam mails, and one campus announcement, she opened the fifth which was entitled, "Cruise Ship Research". After thoroughly reading through the report, she smiled to herself, At least Jack's good for something.