Today marked the beginning of a new adventure for Brooke. She stood in front of the door of her new apartment with all her boxes. She had never lived with anyone other than her parents, and now she was going to have to share a space with strangers. Her mother had helped her find this shared apartment, thinking it would be a good experience for her as she began her first year of law school. Her family was there to help her move in. Her sister, always enthusiastic, offered her encouragement, while her parents took care of moving her things into the apartment. Brooke felt supported, even if a part of her felt a little anxious about living with people she didn't really know. Opening the door, she discovered the space that would now be hers, at least for the next few months. She was grateful for her family's support, because even though she was in a new environment, she felt surrounded by love and kindness.
Brooke rushed to see her new room. Her roommates hadn't arrived yet, they should be here in the evening. She and her parents put all her boxes in the room. Brooke would take care of unpacking everything later, when her family had left.
Richard : Well, that was the last box.
Brooke : Thanks, Dad, you guys are awesome. I don't know what I would have done without you.
Richard : It's normal, sweetie. We'll always be here when you need us.
Rachel : In the meantime, I've done most of the work. I will remind you that it was I who took care of the biggest boxes.
Brooke : Maybe you want a medal, sister.
Rachel : Why not? The one for best sister of the year.
Victoria : I don't know what I'm going to do with you, my daughter. Well, my dear, we're going to leave soon. I've put away everything that goes in the kitchen, you'll have that less to do.
Brooke : Thanks, Mom, you're the best.
Victoria : I know, I know.
After saying their goodbyes, Brooke's family left, leaving her alone in this new space. Brooke looked around, a smile on her lips mixed with a slight apprehension. But she knew she was ready to face this new challenge, meet her roommates and start this new phase of her life with optimism and determination.
Later that evening, after putting everything away, Brooke went to the bathroom to shower and dress so she would be more comfortable. She heard talking in the distance, it must have been her two roommates who had arrived. She rushed to the living room to meet them.
Haley : Hi, you must be Brooke. I'm Haley.
Brooke : Yes, nice to meet you Haley. I take it you must be Peyton?
Peyton : Very good deduction. Welcome among us, you'll see I'm sure you'll like it here.
Brooke : I'm sure of it.
Haley : Has it been long since you arrived?
Brooke : No, not very long. I got here around two o'clock.
Peyton : Sorry, we wish we could have been here when you got here but we were working.
Brooke : It's okay. What are you two doing?
Haley : I work in the cafeteria at the university.
Peyton : And I work at the convenience store.
Brooke : You're lucky, I also have to find a job.
Haley : Oh well that's good. He's looking for a waitress where I work, would you like me to talk to my manager about it?
Brooke : Oh if you could do that for me, that would be great.
Haley : I'll send him a message right now.
Brooke : Great, thanks.
Haley went to her room to be quiet to contact her manager to talk to him about Brooke. Meanwhile, Brooke went to the kitchen accompanied by Peyton.
Peyton : Oh, I'm starving. I haven't stopped all day, I haven't had time to eat.
Brooke : That's good, I made you spaghetti bolognese.
Peyton : Oh, you didn't do that. If you take care of my belly, I feel like I'm going to love you.
Brooke : Oh yeah, you're the kind of girl who likes to be taken by feelings.
Peyton : It depends, when it's with good cooking I never say no.
The fragrant vapors escaped from the plates as they took their seats at the table. Haley entered the kitchen with a radiant smile, her phone in her hand.
Haley : It's okay. I talked to my manager... He wants to see you tomorrow morning at ten sharp.
Brooke : Oh, that's cool, you're awesome. I don't know how I'm going to thank you.
Haley : Apparently, it's already done.I heard in the distance that you made dinner.
Brooke : Oh my, I came across two gourmands.
Peyton and Haley each helped themselves to a generous portion of spaghetti bolognese, the bright red sauce deliciously tangled with spaghetti.
Haley : It smells divine.
Peyton nodded, the look of pleasure on her face spoke volumes about her appetite. Brooke and Haley joined in, grabbing a fork and diving into their dishes with enthusiasm.
Haley : So, do you have any plans for tonight?
Brooke : Well, I don't know much here, so I'm open to your suggestions.
Haley : Perfect! We should go celebrate your arrival! It would be nice to get out for a bit. What do you think, Peyton?
Peyton : Absolutely, I'm in. We could go to the Bogeda. I've been meaning to go for a while, and this is the perfect opportunity.
Brooke : The Bodega? Sounds good! I'm up for discovering this place.
The rest of the meal was spent in a lively atmosphere, punctuated by laughter and exciting plans for the evening to come. After all the dishes were done, the girls went to their respective rooms to change for the evening that promised to be more festive. A good hour later, Brooke headed to the living room and saw the girls sitting on the couch, their faces lit up with a burst of curiosity and excitement.
Brooke : Ready?
Haley : We've been waiting for you.
Brooke : Great, then we can go.
The club lights mingled with the intoxicating music as the girls walked through the doors. The atmosphere was electric, pulsing with energy. Peyton, impulsive, pulled Haley and Brooke towards the dance floor as soon as they entered. But Brooke resisted her offer, preferring to sit at the bar to sip a drink and watch the crowd sway wildly. Suddenly a smooth voice rang out behind her.
Lucas : Can I buy you a drink?
When Brooke turned around, a handsome man was standing beside her, a charming smile tugging at his lips. His eyes sparkled with a mysterious glow that instantly intrigued her. She felt slightly taken aback by his approach, but something about him drew her irresistibly. She hesitated for a moment, assessing the situation.
Brooke : No thanks, I'll be fine.
Lucas : Come on, let me at least buy you a drink. We can talk for a bit.
Brooke : Sorry, I'm not interested.
Lucas : I understand. But you know, we can just talk, nothing more. I don't bite.
Brooke : Okay, why not.
Lucas : Can I know your first name?
Brooke : Brooke, what about you?
Lucas : Nice to meet you Brooke, my name is Lucas. Is this your first time here? I've never met you before.
Brooke : Yeah, I just got to town, that's why.
Lucas : I figured. If I'd seen you before, I would have remembered. Did you come alone tonight?
Brooke : No, I'm with two friends, they're dancing on the dance floor.
Lucas : And why don't you dance with them?
Brooke : Let's just say I'm not used to this kind of place. The music is a little too loud for me. Tell me, Lucas, why do you insist on talking to me so much? There are quite a few girls here tonight, and they're quite pretty.
Lucas : Just because you seem different from the other girls here. You seem more reserved and intelligent. I'm curious to get to know you better.
Brooke : Hmm, I guess I can let you try. But don't expect me to give you all the answers to your questions.
Lucas : Sure, I understand. Let's take it slow then. And if you want to leave at any time, I'll respect your choice.
Brooke was deep in conversation with Lucas when suddenly, Peyton and Haley joined them. She then introduced them to the man standing next to her.
Brooke : Girls, this is Lucas.
Haley : Nice to meet you Lucas. Tell me Brooke, I didn't know you liked old people.
Brooke : Haley!
Peyton : Well what, she's right. How old are you? About forty years?
Brooke : Are you crazy or what!?
Lucas : No, leave them. It's okay.
He turned to the two young women to answer them.
Lucas : You hit the nail on the head... Forty exactly.
Brooke stared at Lucas, surprised by his revelation. She couldn't believe that twenty years separated them. He seemed so young and dynamic, but now that she knew his age, she couldn't help but see him in a different way. He suddenly seemed more mature, more experienced. Lucas, on the other hand, seemed relaxed, as if he was used to this kind of reaction. He gave Brooke a smirk, as if he knew exactly what was going on in her mind. Brooke suddenly felt vulnerable, as if he, with his experience and age, had an advantage over her.
Lucas : Brooke... Brooke...?!
Brooke snapped out of her thoughts and back into reality.
Brooke : Oh, sorry.
Lucas : Is it my age that got you in this state?
Brooke : Oh, no, no. That's not it at all. I was just thinking about something.
Lucas : You're a terrible liar, you know.
Haley : Well, it's not that we're bored, but we're going to go. We've been working all day and we're exhausted. Are you coming with us, Brooke?
Brooke : Yes, I'm coming with you.
As she was about to leave the club, Lucas grabbed her arm.
Lucas : Please, wait. Can I have your phone number?
Brooke suddenly felt awkward, unsure of how to react to his request. In the end, she didn't know him. She hesitated for a moment, then shook her head gently, politely declining.
Brooke : No, sorry. I'd rather not.
Lucas : Too bad, I would have loved to see you again.
Lucas looked disappointed, but he finally nodded, understanding her decision. Brooke freed herself from his hold and headed towards the club's exit, relieved to end this uncomfortable situation.
The next morning, Brooke woke up with a slight apprehension. Today was an important day, as she had an appointment with Haley's manager to discuss a potential job. She went through her clothes in order to carefully choose her outfit, finally opting for something professional but comfortable. Haley, her roommate and potential colleague, was waiting for her in the kitchen. Her warm smile reassured Brooke a little.
Haley : Hello Brooke, did you sleep well?
Brooke : With difficulty, I couldn't stop thinking about this morning's meeting.
Haley : Are you sure it wasn't your old man from yesterday that you were thinking about?!
Brooke : You're unbelievable.
Haley : Come on, I'm joking. In any case, you'll see, everything will be fine. Shall we go?
Brooke : I'll follow you.
The sun was already shining high in the sky, giving the day a promising atmosphere. Brooke and Haley arrived in front of the building where the manager was. Haley encouraged Brooke with a confident look before going through the door with her. They approached the counter where the manager was waiting for them.
Manager : Hello, I'm Owen, the manager of this cafe. Haley told me about you and that you were interested in the waitress position. I'm glad to meet you.
Brooke : Thanks, that's sweet of you. I'm Brooke. Haley told me there might be a spot for me, and honestly if there is, I'm interested.
Manager : Great! So, to start, tell me a little bit about yourself and your experience in serving or making coffee.
Brooke : Sure, I worked with my dad, he owns a small restaurant on the San Francisco Bay Area. I used to help him out on all my vacations, both in serving and bartending.
Manager : That's impressive. I'm sure you'll be a great addition to our team. Do you have your schedule for classes or other commitments yet?
Brooke : Not yet, but I'll be getting it in the next few days. As soon as I do, I'll let you know so we can organize my work schedule accordingly.
Manager : Perfect. We are quite flexible here, so once you have your schedule, we can adjust your hours accordingly. We need someone who is reliable and able to adapt to changes.
Brooke : Absolutely, I understand the importance of reliability in this type of environment. I am willing to commit and do my best to meet the needs of the team and the customers.
Manager : That's great to hear. I think you'll fit right in with our team. We value initiative and enthusiasm, and I'm confident you'll bring a lot to our café. Welcome to the team.
Brooke : Thank you so much, I'm excited to be a part of the team and I can't wait to start working with you all.
Manager : Just one thing, Brooke. We work like a big family here, so everyone speaks informally.
Brooke : Okay, I get the message.
The conversation continued as the manager gave her an overview of the specific tasks she'll be performing, the café's service standards, and internal policies. They ended the interview on a positive note, both eager to start working together. Brooke felt grateful to Haley. She had recommended her to her manager, which had helped her get the job she so desperately needed.
Once she got home, Brooke decided to get comfortable and put on an outfit to go running. She decided to go for a little jog in the park next to her house to relax and stretch her legs. The sun was shining high in the sky and the soft spring breeze caressed her face. She felt good, in harmony with the nature around her. While she had been running for about thirty minutes, she suddenly saw a familiar silhouette in the distance. She began to instinctively slow down the pace of her run to observe better. And there, she realized that it was him, Lucas, the man she had met in a nightclub last night. Her heart raced slightly at this unexpected sight. She wondered if he had noticed her, if he remembered her. She hesitated for a moment, but finally, she decided to go meet him. She approached him slowly, trying to keep her calm despite the excitement that was rising inside her. Lucas finally noticed her and a smile appeared on his face.
Lucas : Hi, I see you can't do without me anymore ...
