A/N: The title comes from Jessica Simpson's new song called "A Public Affair". I heard it on the radio and there was something about it that gave me the idea for this chapter. Jack and Popuri's relationship kind of is a public affair, everyone in the town knows about it. As always, read and review! I appreciate all the comments made so far on the story :)

Chapter 9: A Public Affair

The morning after the cooking festival Jack was outside doing his usual chores. Today didn't feel like a normal day though. He was on his hands and knees trying to pull up all the weeds between his plants but his mind was everywhere except on what his job was. Jack couldn't stop thinking about Popuri and what she asked him the night before. She wanted to go on a 'real' date. What exactly was a 'real' date? Did that mean they would be an official couple?

Jack wasn't sure he was ready to call him and Popuri an official couple. He felt that it was a bit too soon to settle right down with a steady girlfriend. He had only been in town for most of one season. And with people already talking about it being too fast, he wasn't sure he wanted to risk his reputation. Though he wasn't quite sure if he really cared about what the town's people thought of him.

Maybe it wasn't what the town would think of him that held him back. He still couldn't stop thinking about what Karen had said to him the other night about 'being careful' around Popuri. Popuri was so innocent, what could Karen have meant?

Karen... she was so beautiful when he first laid his eyes on her. He remembered how he did everything he could to get her attention and just failed miserably. It was stupid of him to go for a girl who was already in what seemed like a very serious relationship. How she could want to be with Rick... oh well, it was none of his business. He had Popuri now, and she was just as beautiful in her own way. Also she wasn't attached to any of the boys in town, so Jack couldn't see how it wouldn't work out for them.

Maybe he should just go and take her on a real date and make it official. It was stupid to worry about what people will think of him or what people will say about their relationship. They were happy and that was all that mattered. Jack had made up his mind; he was going to ask Popuri on a real date! Where would he take her though? That was something to figure out another day, on this day Jack was already late to see Popuri at the Goddess Pond.

A few days had passed and Jack still hadn't come up with where to take Popuri on their date. He actually never even mentioned a date to her; he didn't want to get her hopes up yet. They were still having fun together doing what they usual did, so Jack didn't feel rushed to take her out yet. Even so, he needed to figure out a plan. It was going to be their first real date. He wanted it to be perfect.

Where would be a good place to take a girl on a nice date? He wasn't quite sure. There weren't many places in town to actually go and he wasn't sure what the people around here actually did for fun, other than attend numerous festivals. Maybe Ann would know a good place to take Popuri.

It was afternoon already, but Jack knew that he could find Ann working in the upstairs of the inn. It was her favorite part of the day, she had often told him about how much she loved to clean. She wasn't exactly the dating type of girl. The whole time Jack lived in Mineral Town he had never heard Ann mention anything about dating. Even so, she had lived there her whole life and she should know what was fun to do.

Jack entered the inn, tipping his hat to Doug as he passed by and walked straight up the stairs. When he got to the top, he noticed the first room closest to the stairs had its door open. He peeked inside to see Ann dancing around with her feather duster; singing to it like it was a microphone. Her voice was awfully out of tune but the sight still made Jack laugh out loud. Hearing this, Ann stopped suddenly and hid the feather duster behind her back. She was blushing a deep red.

"Hello Jack. I didn't see you there."

"Wow Ann, were you just singing? And… dancing?"

"Um… no."

"Oh come on Ann! I saw you doing it!" Jack walked into the room and Ann sighed.

"Fine, I was. It helps the day pass by faster. Don't tell anyone, okay?"

"Alright fine, but it was pretty funny sight to see." Jack sat down on the bed and Ann gave him an 'I just ironed that' look. He shrugged.

"Shut up Jack! Did you come here to just make fun of me?" Ann put down the feather duster on the dresser and sat down on the bed opposite of Jack.

"Actually this time I didn't." He grinned at her. She was scowling back at him. "I need your help."

"Oh so you think you can come in here, unannounced, make fun of me, then ask for my help?"

"Of course, what else are friends for?"

"Fine, what do you need help with?"

"Well," Jack paused for a moment, "See, I want to take Popuri out on a real date, but I can't seem to figure out where to take her."

Ann looked around herself then back at Jack. "Um, here? Are you that clueless Jack?"

"Well I don't really know much about this town and it's traditions. I thought maybe you could help me out."

"Dating is normal here. The only thing that isn't like any other place is our marriage tradition, but you don't have to worry about that for a while. Maybe you should go see Mary and have her give you a book or two about our traditions and you can read up on them." At this point Ann had pulled Jack up off the bed and was pushing him towards the door. "Now I need to get back to work before the dinner crowd comes. See you!" The door shut behind him and Jack was standing in the hallway alone. At least he got one idea from Ann. Time to go to the library!

Jack approached the library not realizing what day it was. He pushed to open the door, but it wouldn't budge. He pushed it again, it still wouldn't move. This time Jack knocked on the door, figuring that Mary forgot to unlock it. Not many people came here so he could understand the mistake. After waiting a minute or two Jack looked over at the sign: CLOSED MONDAYS. He sighed.

Where would he find Mary now? Then he remembered something she said one day while he was shopping in the market; "Monday's are my day off. I help Mom with the groceries in the afternoon." Hopefully Mary was still in the market.

Jack walked down the street and casually entered the market. Mary was there with her mother, slowly browsing through all the items for sale. Mary looked up when Jack entered and smiled at him. He waved at her and walked over to where she was standing with her mother, Anna.

"Hey Mary, do you have a minute?" Jack looked past her and realized that Karen was there, in the back of the store, reorganizing the shelves.

Mary looked over at her mom; Anna nodded at her daughter and walked to another part of the store to look at something else. "Yes Jack, what do you need?"

"Ann told me that you could give me a book about this town's traditions."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. I was trying to figure out a place to take Popuri on a date when I realized that I still don't know that much about this town. I asked Ann about traditions and she just mumbled something about seeing you at the library. The library is closed today so…"

Mary smiled. It was very rare when somebody actually wanted to take out a book and nobody ever asked her about books on her day off. Then she frowned. "I'm very busy today. I would like to help you but you'll have to come by on a day that the library is open. I'll make sure to have a book ready for you."

"Oh okay Mary thanks for your help. I'll stop by when I get a chance."

Jack turned around to walk away and found himself face to face with Karen. He blushed a bit, obviously embarrassed about not paying enough attention to notice that Karen had moved from the back of the store to the front. "Oh hey Karen, sorry for almost running into you…"

"It's alright Jack. So… you are going to ask Popuri out on a real date?" She stepped back a bit to give him some room. Jack nodded to answer her question. "So you are going to make it official?"

"Yes."

For a second, Karen looked slightly disappointed. Then she recomposed herself. "Well if you are looking for a nice place to take her, you should go to the beach. Popuri really loves the beach…"

"Really? Thanks for the idea Karen! I've got to get going, thanks again!" Jack walked around Karen and left the market.

Anna, who had overheard everything, looked over at Karen and sighed. "Are you trying to start trouble?"

Karen wrinkled up her nose. "No." She went into the back room and shut the door behind her.

A few days after the events in the market, Jack was finally ready to ask Popuri out on a date. Earlier that morning he made sure to tell her not to eat dinner and that he would be waiting at her house at six. She squealed with excitement. They were finally going on a date!

It was 5:45 and Jack was doing the last few things around his farm before it was time to take Popuri on her date. He didn't actually own any nice clothing, so it was just his overalls and a white t-shirt again tonight. He thought about actually going without his hat on, but thought twice and decided not to.

Right at six o'clock Jack was there to pick Popuri up. The first person to open the door was no Popuri though. It was Rick, holding his hand out to shake Jack's. Jack shook it firmly even though he still despised the man. "Is Popuri ready?" Jack asked without even saying hello to Rick.

"Yes, let me go get her." He walked away, leaving the door open, and yelled up the stairs. "POPURI! JACK IS HERE FOR YOU!" Jack cringed for a moment. He didn't have to yell so loud.

A moment later Popuri came down the stairs. She was wearing her usually red and pink dress, but today there was something different about her. She had her hair all curled up, with most of it pulled back into a ponytail. Two strands were left to dangle in the front. She looked absolutely stunning and Jack couldn't help but let his jaw hang open. She grinned at him then ran towards him and hugged him. He took her hand and led her to the inn.

"Wow you are taking me to dinner!" Popuri was absolutely beaming. Nobody had ever taken her out to dinner before. Not even her brother for a special occasion like her birthday. She was almost bouncing up and down as Jack held the door open for her and she entered the inn.

Inside Ann seated them and gave them their menus. After a few minutes they each ordered something. Popuri got a salad, and Jack ordered pasta. It was too bad he couldn't have ordered one of Ann's now famous omelets. The sat idly chatting while they waited for their food.

"Jack I'm so happy!"

"I'm very glad Popuri" He smiled and took her hand.

They continued to chat all throughout dinner. To everyone else they looked like a very happy couple. Popuri talked about the weather and what it was like to work on the chicken farm, while Jack told her funny stories about his animals. He made sure to let her know more than one time that he thought she looked exceptionally beautiful that night. She couldn't stop blushing.

At one point during the dinner the conversation ended up being about the future. Popuri wondered what Jack was planning on doing after his three years were up on the farm.

"What makes you ask that Popuri?" Jack asked curiously.

"I'm just curious. Some people have plans for the future. Some don't. I don't know, it's something Carter talks a lot about at the church…" Popuri set her fork and knife down. She was just about done eating.

"I'm not all too sure yet. I just figured that if I could be successful I would continue to live here for a while."

"You aren't going to move back to the city?" Popuri frowned.

"I wasn't planning on it. I really like it here. I like the people here and I like the life I live." Jack smiled as he thought about how much he really did like this town.

"You mean you aren't ever going to go back to the city?"

"Nope, wasn't planning on it."

Popuri wrinkled up her nose to his response. Jack didn't notice though because he was too busy finishing off the rest of his pasta. He looked up and Popuri was just starring at him. "You should get dessert," Jack said to her.

"Really? Alright!"

The rest of the meal went smoothly and it looked like they were both having a good time. After Jack paid the tab he took Popuri by the hand and led her to the beach. The sun had just begun to set and Jack decided that this was a nice romantic way to end their evening.

"Where do you want to sit Popuri?" She pointed to the end of the beach that was opposite of the docks.

They sat down in the sand together. It was the end of spring and it was getting warmer outside. Even so, Popuri was cold and she huddled close to Jack as they quietly watched the sun set together. They both didn't move after the sun set and it was completely dark out. The only light they had to see was the moonlight. It was such a clear night.

Without warning, Popuri turned around and kissed Jack. The kiss lasted for several moments before she broke away. Jack continued to hold her close, in a moment that he hoped would never end.