When Chloe saw that Jay was in fact waiting for her outside the locker room door she smiled and walked up to him, answering his question about where she wanted to eat with a small shrug of her shoulders. "I...well I hadn't really thought that far ahead, wasn't sure you'd agree to lunch in the first place...but I can find something to eat just about anywhere...so you can decide."

Maybe getting called off of work today wasn't a bad thing after all, if she'd been at work...well, she'd have been at work dealing with her coworkers and not going out to lunch with Jay. Granted she didn't know much about him, but he intrigued her, and he seemed like a genuinely nice guy. She can't help but giggle for a second when she thinks about most of her coworkers because they would be crushed to find out that she was going out to lunch with a guy, since almost all of them were engaged in trying to set Chloe up with their single sons.

She took in Jay's appearance as she stepped a few steps closer to him so that some other gym goers could walk by, 'he looks just as good in street clothes as he does workout clothes...maybe even better. Smells good too.' "So, uh...you hang out here often," she gestured towards the ladies locker room, "Must be a good place to pick up the ladies." She teased. Although she's positively sure that Jay wouldn't have to hang out by the ladies room to find any number ladies willing to spend time with him.

Realizing that they were still standing in front of the ladies locker room since neither one of them had moved at all and that it was starting to get crowded in the hallway, Chloe grabs Jays hand and gently tugs him towards the exit in the front of the training facilities. "Come on, it's getting really crowded in here and we can walk and talk at the same time, I mean...we managed to run and talk without falling off of the treadmills...So, where would you like to eat? Like I said I'm good with anything, but somewhere quiet would be nice." Realizing halfway out the door that she still had ahold of Jay she looks at him blushes and quickly lets go of his hand apologizing, "Sorry."

Jay smiled as Chloe admitted that she hadn't really thought about what she wanted for lunch as she hadn't expected him to agree to it, saying that she could eat just about anywhere and it was up to him.
"There's a Chinese place close by that has the option of a buffet and it's not too expensive so it won't break either of our bank. Or those some fast food places like Burger King and Wendy's," he responded. Truthfully, he was in the mood for Chinese. What could he say? he had a craving. But it was up to her, not him. Whatever she was in the mood for, that's what what they would do.

He then flushed slightly and laughed as she teasingly asked him if he hung around the ladies room often, saying it was probably a good way to pick up girls.
"Okay, yeah, probably not the best place to hang around as a rule," he admitted sheepishly. But at least she didn't seem to be too upset by it, which was a plus. I probably could've come up with something better,he thought to himself. But he hadn't and thankfully, she didn't seem to be too upset, which was nice. He wasn't really sure what he would've done if she had gotten upset. Hopefully, he'd never have to find out.

At her suggestion of them walking talking as the gym was getting crowded, he nodded and started heading out, not minding that he was being herded, and glancing at her as she repeated her question of where he wanted to eat, saying that she was good with anything, but kind of wanted to go someplace quiet.
[color-blue]"I think our best bet is the Chinese place then,"[/color] he responded. And that worked for him. Yup, he was definitely craving Chinese. Wonder why that is, he thought to himself. It didn't make sense.

When she apologized for not letting him go, he shook his head.
"You're fine," he assured her. Hey, he didn't mind. Not one little bit. [/font]

Admittedly Chloe was a little rusty at this hanging out with a guy thing, she'd been far too busy with and focused on her career to do much more than have a random date here and there. They rarely turned into anything more than a first date, possibly a second before she realized that she'd rather pick up an extra shift at work than be forced to spend any more time with them. So far she'd managed to escape her coworkers attempts at matchmaking always claiming to be busy with something or another, but she knew her luck on that front was about to run out. Jay suggesting Chinese was enough to pull her out of her thoughts.

"I like Chinese, plus the place you're talking about is pretty good." She's really glad he has suggested the Chinese place, she's not a big fan of Burger King or Wendy's especially after having just worked out. "Besides...fast food places kind of negate the work out this morning, but I'm good with whatever you decide."

She noticed him blush when she teased him about hanging out in front of the women's locker room. "May not be the best place to hang out, but I'm kind of glad you did today," She says with a shy smile. Chloe liked this guy, he didn't talk much but in his defense she really hadn't given him much chance to talk. She felt comfortable enough with him already to pick on him, and she hadn't seemed to upset him with her sense of humor yet. Some guys just didn't know how to handle a bit of good natured ribbing, Jay didn't seem to be that type.

"So Chinese it is," It was her turn to blush when she reluctantly turned loose of his hand. She stopped in front of the parking lot and nervously switched her gym bag from one shoulder to the other before asking, "You feel up to walking there, or would you rather drive and meet there? Either way is fine with me I just need to toss this bag into my car." She gestured towards her vehicle.

Jay smiled as Chloe stated that she liked Chinese and that the place he was referring to was pretty good.
"Excellent," he stated and then nodded when she added that fast food would defeat the purpose of the workout they had just gone through. "Very good point," he stated. She was right of course, and that's why he had chosen the Chinese place to be honest, because you could get pork, chicken, vegetables, and rice. There were other options obviously, but those were the big sellers for him, and they would be perfect for after their workout.

His smile grew as she said that even though the outside of the women's locker room wasn't the best place to hang out, she was glad he had done so.
"Yeah?" he asked. Glad she's comfortable enough to tease me about it, he thought to himself. Because really, that hadn't been one of his brighter moves. No, he wouldn't have been surprised if she had gone off on him for his lapse in judgment.

He then nodded at her agreement of Chinese, listening as she asked if he wanted to walk or meet up at the place, saying that she'd have to put her stuff in the car.
"Let's walk," he decided. Yeah, he didn't really feel like being cooped up in the car right now, thank you very much.

"Yeah...I'm pretty glad you waited here for me, I have to admit I'd have been more than a little bummed if you'd changed your mind" She quietly admitted with a small smile on her face. "Really glad." Granted she had prepared herself for the eventual disappointment of him not being there, she was used to things not going the way she wanted them to...especially when men where involved. It was a nice surprise for her to find him doing exactly what he said he would. "I'd tell you that you could wait outside the ladies locker room for me any day, but I'm not sure I could stand up to the competition...you'd probably find someone to eat with that didn't monopolize the conversation and talk your ear off." She said as she gently bumped her shoulder into his with a small laugh.

She was actually pretty happy that Jay had decided to walk; it was a beautiful day, the restaurant wasn't that far away, and it gave them a chance to continue their conversation. After she tossed her bag into the back seat of her car and locked the doors again she made her way back to him. Being a curious person by nature, it was killing Chloe that she still knew almost nothing about Jay other than the fact that for some reason she was intrigued by him. As they started walking in silence she realized that he seemed to be the type that if she ever wanted to find out any more about him she was just going to have to ask. "So...how long have you been here?" She asks. "This is my first winter here, and I have to admit that I'm liking it a lot. I'm not a big fan of the cold and snow so this has definitely been a nice change for me. I love the mountains here too, they're beautiful...and from what I hear there are lots of trails to hike on that I'm hoping to check out this spring and summer."

As they're walking she looks over at Jay and smiles, "Tell me a little about yourself, I feel like I haven't given you much of a chance to talk at all, and you've been forced to listen to me ramble about all kinds of things. So, now it's your turn."

Jay smiled as she admitted that she was glad that he had waited for her and that she would've been bummed if she had come out to find that he had changed his mind.
"I wouldn't do that. If I had changed my mind, I'd man up to it, not just pull a disappearing act," he assured her. Had someone actually done that to her before? That was just wrong. He then quirked a brow and grinned at her as she laughed and bumped his shoulder playfully, saying that she'd tell him that he could stand outside the ladies room anytime that he wanted but that she'd probably get competition from the other women on the base and he'd go off to eat with someone who wouldn't talk his ear off. "Nope. I like that you're talking as much as you are. It's a good balance with me since I practically don't talk," he corrected. And that was kind of a bad thing. Sort of.

When she asked him how long he had been in Tiernney, saying that she was going through her first winter in town and that she liked it because she had never been a fan of the cold, adding that the mountains were beautiful and that she was hoping to check out some of the hiking trails in the spring and summer.
"I think you'll enjoy them," he responded. "They're beautiful," he stated. They were beautiful in winter too, but to him, it just wasn't the same.

At her encouragement for him to tell her a little about himself, saying that she felt like she hadn't given him much of a chance to talk, forcing him to listen to her ramble on about different things, saying it was his turn to talk
"Not forced at all," he assured her. "I was recently stationed here by my unit. I'm liking it so far," he responded. Okay, so there wasn't really much he could say. After all, he didn't want to bore her to death.

When Jay smiled and assured her that if he had changed his mind he would have manned up and let her know not just disappear on her, she smiled at him in return and said "Good to know, I'll keep that in mind." She had so many insecurities when it came to dealing with men, that she found herself constantly needing to be reminded that not all men were like her ex.

Chloe laughed a bit when he said that he liked her talking a lot, and that she balanced him out. "You like that I talk a lot? Said no man ever..." She scoffed. Jay might not talk a lot, but Chloe found herself watching his facial expressions. The subtle smiles, and the quirk of a brow could give you at least some insight into what the other person was thinking. Sometimes a person said more with their face than they did with their mouth, plus it gave her an excuse to look at him while she talked to him.

"Oh yeah, you gonna come with me an be my tour guide? I'd hate to get lost in the mountains. I'm pretty good with first aid, but you get me out there in the mountains and I can't tell North from South." She giggled. It was the truth. While she highly doubted that she'd manage to get lost on the well marked trails, she wasn't really looking forward to going by herself. No, trails and hiking were much more fun when you had someone to enjoy them with.

She turned to look at him again when he said that she hadn't forced him to listen to her, and smiled sweetly. She placed her hand on his shoulder before saying "I give you permission to tell me to shut up if I start getting on your nerves, but only because you've been so sweet today."

Nodding when he mentioned that he had been recently stationed here with his unit she asked, "Which unit was that?, and I'm glad you're liking it here...It makes a real difference. I've been places that I hated before, and it's really not fun. Only problem I've found here so far...and I'm not really sure it's a problem...is that it's really small here compared to other places I've been...and everyone knows just about everyone else. Well...that and the fact that most of the nurses here are old enough to be my mother, and they all seem to have single sons. At this point it seems like I spend more time avoiding them than I do doing my job."

Chloe wished that she had a unit to be assigned with, she mostly just got jerked around and put wherever they needed her at the moment. It got really lonely and she found it hard to invest much time or effort into making friends, because she never knew when she was going to get tossed around again. When she had been stationed here they assured her that this assignment would be longer term because of the joint task force that served here.

Jay smiled as Chloe said that it was good to know that he'd be straight with her and that she'd keep it in mind.
"Good," he said and then let out a small chuckle as she scoffed at his statement, saying that no man had ever said it. "Maybe they just haven't found the One yet," he stated. In his opinion, when you found the One you were meant to be with, you loved every part of them and encouraged them to be themselves. Was it old-fashioned? Perhaps, but it was how he felt and he was going to stick by it.

When she asked him if he'd go along and be her tour guide, adding in a laugh as she said that she'd hate to get lost, he nodded.
"Sure, if you want," he agreed. Granted, it was pretty hard to get lost given the fact that the trails were all clearly marked, but it was always better to be safe than sorry. And it sounded like that was what she was thinking. Either that, or she was just messing with him. He wasn't sure which. Oh well.

He then smiled as she placed a hand on his shoulder, saying that she gave him permission to tell her to shut up if she was getting on his nerves, but only because he had been sweet to him.
"I would never phrase it like that anyway," he assured her. And he wouldn't. It wasn't polite. And his parents had always raised him to be polite.

When she asked him what unit he was with, saying that she was glad that he liked it in Tierney, adding that she had been in places that she had hated, saying that it wasn't fun.
"No it's not," he agreed and then listened as she stated that she found the town to be small, that everyone knew everyone else, and that all of the other nurses were old enough to be her mother with single sons whom she spent most of her time avoiding. "Well, if you need to, the next time one of them tries to set you up, just tell them that we've started dating," he advised. Okay, so it would be a lie, but at least it would get them off of her back.

“Listen to you being all old fashioned and talking about finding the One, but for the record I agree. Maybe I watched too many movies and read too many fairy tales while I was growing up, but I always imagined that when you found the person you were meant to be with… well you appreciated everything about them. I’m beginning to think that person doesn’t exist though, so maybe I’m cursed to spend the rest of my life alone.” She laughed.

She watched him and smiled when he agreed to go hiking with her, “Of course I want you to come, I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t. Now I may not have been entirely honest in my motives for asking you to accompany me, because I’m pretty sure I couldn’t get lost if I tried… but I figured it gave me a good excuse to ask you to come with me.” She shrugged and smiled as she felt herself blush.

When he claimed that he wouldn’t phrase it that way, she smiled and patted his shoulder before pulling her hand away. She decided to take him at his word and believe him, he hadn’t given her any reason not to. Smiling again she was left to wonder where the people like Jay had been hiding her whole life.

When he mentioned telling people that they’d started dating she was momentarily speechless, and she suddenly stopped walking. She cocked her head to the side and studied him for a moment before continuing, “Seriously? You’d do that, for me? If word gets out, and you know it will in this town… because nurses can be the world’s biggest gossips… wouldn’t that put a damper on your social life? I wouldn’t do that to you… I mean, well I guess I really don’t know what I mean…” She tried to gather her thoughts, and figure out why his idea had her so flustered. While his plan would certainly take care of her problems, and in her opinion any girl would be lucky to be dating Jay… ahhhh it all made sense to her now. She was silent again for a minute as she decided what to do with her new knowledge, deciding to go ahead and be brave she continued the conversation… “Please don’t take this the wrong way, because in my opinion any girl would be lucky to date you, and maybe I’m just not ready to jinx myself yet… There still might be some hope for me… I mean I haven’t scared you off yet, and you did agree to go hiking with me. Which I fully intend on holding you to by the way…” She started walking again and smiled at Jay as she caught up to him, “So, no… I don’t think I’m going to tell anyone that we’ve started dating, until it’s the truth.” She became silent again and nibbled on her bottom lip looking anywhere but at Jay, “Even if that never happens, I just don’t want to put any extra pressure on things especially when there’s no need… In the meantime I’ll just tell them that I’ve met someone, and keep avoiding them… It’s worked pretty well for me so far.” She smiled at Jay as she playfully bumped her shoulder into his.

She felt herself blushing so she looked away before continuing, “So yeah…now that I’ve thoroughly embarrassed myself… let’s get some Chinese, I’m famished.”

Jay smiled a bit as Chloe teased him about being old-fashioned talking about finding "The One".
"Yeah, maybe it's old-fashioned, but I like it," he responded and then grinned as she said that she agreed, saying that maybe she had read too many fairy tales or had watched too much television as a kid, adding that she surmised that when someone found the person they were supposed to be with, they appreciated everything about them, but that she hadn't met anyone yet and that she wondered if that meant that she was supposed to be alone. "I think maybe it just means you haven't found him yet," he responded. Just like he hadn't found someone himself. Did it suck? Yeah, but he knew that it wasn't the end of the world.

He then chuckled as she assured him that she wanted him to come with her, which was why she had asked, admitting that she hadn't been entirely honest with him, saying that she couldn't get lost if she tried, and that it had given her a good excuse to ask him to come with her.
"Sneak," he accused playfully. I like a girl who takes a chance, he thought to himself. And Chloe had taken a pretty big one.

And apparently his offer had taken her by surprise because she stopped, asking him if he'd really do that for her, saying that if word got out which it would because nurses gossiped, it'd put a damper on his social life, adding that any girl would be lucky to date him and that she wasn't ready to jinx herself, saying that she was holding him to hiking with her, and that she wouldn't tell anyone they were dating unless it was the truth as she didn't want to put any undue pressure on him, saying that if anyone asked, she'd just say that she had met someone and then avoid the person as it had worked well for her so far.
"Okay," he agreed with a nod. "Open offer though," he told her. That way, if she ever changed her mind, she'd have a ready alibi.

When she suggested that they go get Chinese, he nodded and headed out. He had taken the plunge and he was about to go out with a new friend. This was going to be good. Ashley would be pleased. Not that this was the only reason he was doing this, but it was a plus.

Chloe smiled and nodded when Jay pointed out that he thought maybe she just hadn’t found him yet, “Yeah, well this girl is getting tired of looking… guess maybe Prince Charming will have to find me. Either way life goes on, and I’m going to spend my time enjoying it while I can.” She was enjoying spending time with Jay, and hoped that she’d get a chance to spend more time with him soon.

When he laughed at her confession and called her a sneak, she smiled shyly. “Well I suppose I could have just asked you to come, but…” She shook her head and smiled, “I was afraid you’d tell me no.” Chloe was in uncharted territory here, she’d never been the type to ask a guy out usually just waiting for them to ask her. She was shy and afraid of being turned down, but she was trying to be brave for once in her life. No Chloe would much rather fly into warzones in helicopters and get shot at while trying to save people than have to take the chance of asking someone out and being turned down.

His offer had taken her by complete surprise, she wasn’t really sure what to make of it. Sure it would solve a lot of her problems at work, but it might cause other problems. She didn’t want Jay to feel pressured into anything, she wanted him to spend time with her because he wanted to… not because of some lie she’d told her coworkers. So, after she babbled on about jinxing herself and his social life, she was happy and relieved when he nodded and simply said ok. When he said that it was an open offer, she smiled at him shyly and assured him, “I’ll remember that… as long as you remember that there’s an open invitation to hang out anytime you want.”

She walked alongside Jay in relative silence for a bit, paying attention to where they were going and trying to enjoy the feeling of just spending time with a new friend. She didn’t feel the need to force any conversation and had finally relaxed a bit and was content to just walk next to Jay with a smile on her face.

OOC
Sorry it's short, I hope I gave you something to work with.

Jay smiled at her sympathetically as she said that she was getting tired of looking and that Prince Charming would have to find her, adding that life went on and that she was going to enjoy it while she could.
"Well, until you find Prince Charming, would you settle for a trusty sidekick?" he queried. Everyone could use a friend, right? Right. Wow. Now he sounded like Yenta from "Fiddler on The Roof". He obviously needed to stop watching musicals late at night when he couldn't sleep. But hey, what could he say? It often helped. Right. Like anyone would believe that if they knew. All right, he had to stop thinking like this.

His smile then grew as she smiled, saying that she could've asked him to come along but that she had been afraid that he'd say no.
"I'd say yes," he told her. Hey, why not? Right? They could have fun, and who knew, it might lead to something. If it did, great. If it didn't, he'd still have a friend, and he could totally work with that. Okay, he had to stop thinking like this. He just had to figure out where they were going to go from here. He wasn't really used to going out like this. But maybe it would be a good thing, make him more friendly. Or something like that.

When she said that she would keep his offer in mind as long as he remembered that there was an open offer to hang out anytime he wanted.
"Will do," he promised. Sounds good to me, he thought to himself. This is going to be good, he thought to himself. It was good that he was getting out and meeting with people. It was all about baby steps. Yeah, right. Now if he could just convince himself of this.

OOC
Plenty to work with.

She saw him smile at her and she shrugged her shoulders. “I told you, I’m done looking that Prince is going to have to come to Tierney Tennessee and find me. A trusty sidekick sounds good any day, they’re pretty hard to come by these days too.” She could sense that he was deep in thought, but watched as his smile got even bigger when she told him she was scared that he’d have turned down her offer. It was her turn to smile and even blush a bit when he told her that he’d say yes. Ok, so she was clueless and way out of practice with this whole flirting thing but at least he’d agreed to be her friend… and that was a step in the right direction anyway. Realizing that she still hadn’t said anything and he was probably waiting for an answer she quietly said, “Well uhm, that’s definitely good to know… and I’ll keep that in mind in the future.”

Chloe couldn’t stop smiling and when he replied to her offer of hanging out anytime with a will do, she turned to look at him trying to get a read on what he was thinking. She wasn’t quite sure how to take him, but she was more than willing to hang around long enough to figure it out no matter how long it took. She was enjoying his company and so far spending time with him had been easy. She was hoping that she got the chance to spend more time with him soon.

She looked up and realized that they had reached the restaurant, without thinking she reached for his hand tugging him towards the door. “Come on trusty sidekick… I’m starving, and it smells sooooo good.” Not giving Jay much of a chance to object she opened the door and the delicious smell of Chinese food wafted out to meet them. “I already know what I want… I eat the same thing every time I come here. I’m so glad you suggested Chinese, it’s been awhile since I’ve had it and oh how I’ve missed it.”

Jay nodded as she reminded him that she had said that she was done looking for Prince Charming and that he'd have to come to Tierney to find her, though she'd accept a sidekick as they were pretty hard to find as well. He then nodded as she said that she would what he said in mind for the future.
"Good," he said with a smile. He then nodded again as she once more assured him that she'd keep what he had said in mind for the future. "That's all I ask," he stated.

He then laughed as she urged him to go into the restaurant, taking his hand and pulling him towards the entrance, saying she was starving, that the food smelled good, and that she already knew what she wanted as she ate the same thing every time she went to the restaurant, saying that she was glad he had suggested Chinese as it had been a while since she had had it and that she missed it.
"Glad to oblige," he told her. Hey, it had been a while for him too, and he had started to crave it, so why not? Chinese was good and he wanted it.