Chapter 10

Brooke was finally over with all her schedule. She had worked in amazing speed, motivated by the fact she was seeing Jack within hours. She had been smiling all day long. At 7:00 pm she was back in her room, ready to start her beauty ritual.

After dwelling on it for ages, she had finally chosen her outfit. She didn't know what kind of place Jack was taking her to, but since he was a doctor, she thought it would be somewhere nice.

It was Fall, so she picked a light purple silky short dress. I wasn't that short, it got to her knees. It had short round sleeves that fell a little on her shoulders. It had a "V" neckline, not too low, but it revealed a little of her cleavage. She liked discrete accessories, so she picked short earrings and a long necklace with lilac, purple and white Swarovski crystals and other stones, which ended right before the neckline of her dress. Her shoes matched the dress, of course. They had a round end, and the heels were high, as most of her shoes. Her purse was also perfect for the dress.

Brooke rarely used her hair up. She just left it fall down her shoulders. She had heavy layered hair, so she had no problem fixing it. Her bangs were cut in a messy way, giving her a stylish look. Her make-up was light and smooth, and she liked her lips glossy and lined. She completed the outfit with a nice top-stitched coat and of course some drops of her perfume, which was soft, with some notes of grape and other sweet citrus fruits, fresh at the same time. She was finally ready to meet Jack Shephard.

When Jack was done he stared at the mirror. He felt overwhelmed by his own image. What am I doing? How can I have a date after all that happened? It's only been 2 years. I must be out of my mind… he thought. The feeling of guilt trapped him again, but it was too late to cancel. He was a gentleman after all, and he would never stand Brooke up.

As he drove to her hotel, thousand contradictory feelings and thoughts crossed his mind. He felt guilty for trying to move on, but at the same time he thought he had all the right to start over, though after everything that happened to him, he was starting to think he wasn't meant to be happy. The Red Sox might have won the Series, but maybe I'm just meant to suffer. That's what my dad would've said anyway…

He pulled over and went to the lobby. He asked to one of the girls at the front desk to dial Brooke Julian and tell her he was there.

– There's no answer, sir. You want me to try again? –the girl told him.

– It's okay, she must be on her way down. ­­–he replied.

Brooke got in the elevator and went down to the lobby. She started to feel nervous. Why am I nervous? It's just a date. God, don't fall for him Brooke, not yet. You know anything about him. The doors of the elevator opened and she saw him standing backwards. He was wearing navy blue trousers and jacket with a lighter blue shirt. It seemed as if he sensed Brooke coming, because he turned around at the very moment she stepped out the elevator. He looked absolutely gorgeous, tall and debonair as he was. He gave Brooke a short smile and then looked away, shy. Brooke felt her legs trembling.

When he looked back at her, he opened his eyes widely. She looked stunning. He looked deeply at her, making her nervous and look down. She finally was standing in front of him.

– Hey. –she said, shyly.

Jack looked at her up and down. – Wow… You're beautiful… –he told her, looking in her eyes.

– Thanks. –she replied, biting her lip.

– Shall we?

– Sure…

They got in Jack's car and had some small talk. They both relaxed almost immediately, as if they knew each other for ages. He asked her about her day and found her conversation really interesting. The whole editor thing was a new world for him and, eager to learn more everyday as always, he enjoyed Brooke's stories.

– So, where we're going? –she asked, smiling.

– To this place I really like, not too crowded, great food, not pretentious.

– Sounds great to me.

– Really? I thought you'd like other kind of places.

– Like what?

– I don't know… trendy places, maybe.

– Right. And why you think that?

– No… I mean… I don't know what I mean. ­–he said, embarrassed.

Brooke threw a short laugh. – It's okay, I get that a lot.

– What?

– That, you know. People always think I'm shallow because I work in fashion.

– You're not shallow. You're… sophisticated…

– Am I? I don't think so… –Jack glanced at her with a suspicious look. – I mean it, I'm a simple person… fashion's just a job to me…

– So you don't like fancy places and fancy stuff?

– Well, I mean, who doesn't? But that's not what's important to me…

They arrived to this sushi restaurant, which was just as Jack described, but it was nice and, yes, fancy after all.

– So, what you're having? –he asked her.

Brooke hesitated and stared at the menu. – Um… I really don't know… why don't you pick for me?

– Really?

– Yeah, I guess you know what's best here…

– Okay… you're going to love it. They have the best sushi in the world here.

– Can you order some rice too, please?

– Sure…

As time went by, Jack and Brooke were enjoying the conversation a lot, especially him. Brooke was very funny and expressive, and Jack could perfectly imagine every detail she described. He was laughing out loud as he pictured Patrick dressed as a hooker at some frat party and throwing up on Brooke's favorite shoes after getting wasted at beer competitions. She also told him how they always took care of each other in sickness, mid-terms, hangovers and breakups.

Then he realized Brooke hadn't touched the food.

– Why you're not eating?

– Oh, it's just because I'm talking too much… maybe if you talk now, I can have a bite. ­–she told him, playfully.

Jack didn't want to talk about him. – Well, I'm very boring, to be honest with you. I'm not half interesting as you are… –he said, trying to change the subject.

– You're not boring at all. Come on, tell me something about you.

Jack frowned a little. – Okay, let me see… I, um, play the piano.

– Really? You like music?

– Absolutely. Music's a big part of my life.

– And you also play golf like all doctors do?

Jack laughed at that question, because as much of a cliché that statement was, it was true. – I'm afraid I do. And I think I'm pretty good at it, you know? You like sports?

– I like to watch sports, and I exercise to stay fit, but I'm not a huge athlete or anything.

Jack noticed she still wasn't eating. – You didn't like the food, did you? –he asked her.

Brooke flushed and then confessed. – The thing is… I don't eat sushi…

– Really? Are you allergic?

– I'm not allergic. I just don't like it.

Jack opened his eyes widely in disbelief. – How can you not like sushi? I mean, you were a model and you don't like sushi?

– Yeah, that's a thing people find very odd about me, but there's something about raw fish that I just don't… –Then it hit Brooke. – Wait a minute, how you know I was a model?

Jack got busted and he flushed. – Um… Patrick told me.

– Patrick told you? And why were you and Patrick talking about me?

– It just… came out. –he said, embarrassed.

– It came out? –she replied, raising an eyebrow.

– Yeah, but now you wait a minute, why you didn't tell me you don't like sushi? I would've taken you somewhere else. –he asked, mortified.

– Oh, it's just… I mean, you told me you love this place and I thought it would be rude to tell you and make you leave. –she said, embarrassed this time.

Jack couldn't believe how sweet she was and ran out of words.

– But I can eat the rice, you know. And I'm definitely having one big dessert. –she said, smiling widely at him.

Jack smiled back and they went on with their chat. Brooke then told him everything about her job and how she met Ilana, who was her best friend and the sister she never had, and all the things she had learnt from her. He also learnt that her dad, Terry Julian, run a law firm in New York, and that her brother, Terry junior, had just turned 24 and become a lawyer as well, but wasn't very involved in the family business yet.

Jack loved how easy was for Brooke to share all those aspects of her life, as if she had nothing to hide or feel ashamed of. She was totally transparent and open, which Jack found not only charming, but unique. He never met someone that genuine.

They left the restaurant and got back to the hotel. Jack walked Brooke to the lobby again.

– Well, we're here. –she told him, smiling.

– Yeah. –he answered. Then he felt this urge inside him. He wanted to kiss her.

Please kiss me, please kiss me, Brooke thought. – I had a great time, Jack.

– Me too. I hadn't laughed like that in a very long time. It felt great.

– Then try to laugh more. I'm so going to kiss him right now.

Jack looked in her eyes and then at her lips. Just kiss her… – Can I call you tomorrow? Just in case you have some time off, you know…

– I'd love to. –she replied, biting her lip. Please Jack, kiss me goodnight.

Then Jack got closer to her and put his hand on the low of her back. She shivered and closed her eyes, thinking that he was going to kiss her. So he did, only he didn't kiss her on the lips. She gave her a deep, sweet kiss on the cheek. – Good night Brooke, it was great to have dinner with you.

Brooke hid her disappointment. – It was great for me too. Good night Jack and thank you.

He let go off her and walked away. I just don't believe myself. On the cheek, I kissed her on the cheek. Am I twelve? Jesus, Jack!

Brooke watched him walk away and get in his car. The minute he left, she ran to her room to call Ilana, who was in New York biting her nails and waiting for her to call and tell her everything about the date.