So I really want to apologize for the long break in between chapters. As I said in my author note for last chapter I moved, my good friend visited me, I threw my sister a baby shower, and I took a mini vacation to Michigan. It took me forever to get internet. I am really sorry about the long wait.
Please let me know if you are still reading the story, if no one is then I will not continue with it. This was my favorite chapter to write. This is the chapter you have been waiting for, Brulian's first date.
Reminder, I do not own any of the characters in this story except for Christy.
Previously on All By Herself…..
Brooke learns, from Christy, that Julian is a director and he models as a means to earn more money. She also learns that Julian does not open up easily because he has had his heart broken. Brooke questions why he is opening up to her and why he never informed him of his real job.
Brooke agrees to go on a 'date' with Julian, but she is unsure of the meaning of it.
Brooke had a busy day at work on Saturday, which was okay with her because that meant she did not have that much time to worry about her 'date' with Julian later that night. In true Brooke fashion she worried about her 'date' especially because she was unsure if it was a date. Also Brooke was nervous because she did not know what to wear and it did not help because Julian would not tell her where he was taking her. Plus, he told her that she would probably look as sexy as hell in whatever she decided to wear, which made her even more nervous.
Brooke was so preoccupied with her thoughts that she did not notice that Peyton had entered the store. Nor did she hear that Peyton had greeted her. "Hello, earth to Brooke," stated Peyton.
"Oh sorry P. Scott. I was thinking about my 'date' with Julian tonight. Do you know where he could be taking me? He could at least give me a clue. Or at least tell me what to wear!" explained Brooke.
"Well, then Brooke that would be no fun would it?" teased Julian as he entered the store after working on his film in the morning.
"Well if you are going to tease me, perhaps, I should find someone else to hang out with tonight," replied Brooke as Peyton wandered around the store to help Brooke find something to wear for her 'date' with Julian.
"Oh come on Brooke. We will have fun, why can't I just surprise you without being questioned to death about where we are going?" questioned Julian.
"Okay, sorry Julian. I guess I should just be grateful that a guy like you would like to take a girl like me out," replied Brooke. Brooke acted as though she were the most confident person on earth when in all actuality she was very insecure when it came to men.
"Brooke, I never want to hear you say that again," rebuked Julian. "You are one of the strongest, most beautiful, and caring women I know, so I am lucky that you agreed to go with me."
"Perhaps, we are both blessed that we found one another," replied Brooke.
"I do not think that I can argue with that," smirked Julian.
After more than an hour of Peyton showing Brooke her ideas of what she believed Brooke should wear on her date, Brooke finally agreed on an outfit. Peyton did not understand why Brooke was being so picky, it was not like Brooke had never been on a date before. Peyton was waiting patiently for Brooke to come out of her dressing room.
Brooke finally exited her dressing room wearing a gorgeous black dress with a thick red ribbon that wrapped around her waist. "Peyton, do you think this dress is too much? I mean is it too fancy? I mean I do not even know it is a real date? Perhaps I should just say something came up," rambled Brooke.
"Brooke calm down, you are starting to sound like Haley. I think you look absolutely stunning in that dress and if it is not a date it will be once Julian sees you in that dress," smiled Peyton. "You cannot cancel this date, even if you tried. We all know you cannot lie to save your life."
"Well thank you so much for the confidence. I think I will get this dress, but I still need to find shoes and I only have two hours before Julian comes to pick me up," stated a worried Brooke.
"Do not worry, Brooke. I have the perfect shoes for you. Come to my house, get the shoes and get ready there," commented Peyton.
"Thank you so much Peyton. You are my lifesaver," said Brooke.
"That is what friends are for," smiled Peyton.
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After getting ready at Peyton's house, Brooke was finally back to her place. Brooke was extremely nervous because she had not been on a date in awhile. Yeah she hung out with boys, but she did not really see herself dating any of them for an extended period of time. With Julian she could see herself dating him and perhaps even marrying him. Wow I am getting way far ahead of myself, thought Brooke. One date at a time. No need to put more pressure on this date. If it even is a date.
Julian knocked on Brooke's door exactly at 7pm. Brooke was amazed that anyone showed up at the exact time they said they would. However, Brooke was glad he showed up on time because that meant she could stop thinking about how the date would start.
"Wow, Brooke you look hot," commented Julian once he laid his eyes on Brooke.
"I am glad you think so since someone did not want to inform me where we are going or what I should wear," commented Brooke with her dimpled smile. "Plus, you do not look so bad yourself."
"Hopefully I won't let you down with my choice for our date," stated Julian.
All Brooke could do was smile because she finally knew it was a date.
"What?" questioned Julian.
"Nothing," replied Brooke, "I am just glad to hear that this is a date."
"Well of course this is a date Brooke. What else did you think it was?" questioned Julian.
"I just wasn't sure. I was hoping it was a date, but we never talked about it being one, I thought it was an apology dinner," remarked Brooke.
"No Brooke, that was just my excuse. I had been wanting to ask you out since I first met you and I finally had an excuse to ask you to dinner," replied Julian.
"Oh Julian, you did not have to have an excuse to ask me out," said Brooke. "Do you want to know a secret?" questioned Brooke. Julian just gave a gentle nod. "I have been waiting for you to ask me out since I first met you."
'Well that is good to hear. What do you say we leave, so we can start our date?' questioned Julian.
"I think that sounds like a perfect idea. Just let me grab my purse and then we can go," smiled Brooke. She could not remember a time in recent memory when she had been so happy.
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Once Brooke saw the restaurant they would be eating at she became very self-conscious. "Julian this is way too much. I would be fine if we just hung out at my place, just so long as we could be together. This is way too much."
"Brooke relax, I wanted to take you to a nice, fancy restaurant, but if you really want to go back to your place I would not object," Julian commented suggestively.
"No that is alright. This will do, you dirty little boy," smirked Brooke.
Julian and Brooke continued to talk and tease with one another. They talked about their childhoods, their families and their friends, and what they hoped to do with their lives, which allowed Brooke to ask Julian about his morning disappearing acts. "So I noticed that you have been coming to the store later than normal, what is that all about?" questioned Brooke.
"I was hoping that you would notice, but it sure took you awhile to ask," teased Julian.
"It's your life and I did not want to seem like a needy girlfriend," replied Brooke. "I mean I know I am not your girlfriend, but I did not want to seem like one either," commented Brooke once she saw Julian's face change.
"Well I was hoping that because of that statement you were considering yourself my girlfriend because I really want to continue seeing you," replied Julian. "I mean I know we do not know each other that well and we just meant, but it would be cool if we could get to know one another without dating anyone else," stated Julian. He was nervous because he was unsure of how Brooke would respond and because he was really into her but was afraid of getting his heart broken again.
"I would love to be your girlfriend, boyfriend," replied Brooke, "but stop avoiding the original topic. Why have you been coming into the store later than normal?"
"Well I actually have another job besides modeling. It is actually my first love. I just model to pay rent. I am actually a director and I have been working on this local movie, which is why I have not been in the store in the mornings, " explained Julian.
"Oh that is so cool Julian. I bet you are really good at that. What is the name of the movie?' questioned Brooke. Brooke was trying to act like she did not know this bite of information, but she kept hearing Peyton tell her that she sucks at lying.
"It actually has not been named yet. And you totally knew. How did you know? Who told you?" questioned Julian.
"Christy did. I was missing you and I wanted to know where you were so I asked her," replied a shy Brooke. "Please do not be mad at her."
"I am not mad at her. So you missed me?' questioned Julian.
"Great I am never going to live that down. Am I?" replied Brooke.
"Don't worry I find it sexy that you missed me," commented Julian.
Brooke and Julian continued to talk about his movie and work. The date flew by for the both of them. Both Julian and Brooke could not remember a better first date. Julian gave Brooke an appropriate first date kiss and agreed to see each other again the following day.
Sorry if you feel like they moved too quickly. I think people can decide to be girlfriend and boyfriend on their first date.
Please let me know if you think I should continue. If not then this will be my final chapter.