Jasmine or Jazz

"Is Jasmine your real name or an online persona?"
"Sort of."
"Well what do you call yourself when your computer's off?" Dereck asks with a smirk.
"My real name is Pepper Burn. I know, I know it sound ridiculous but my mother thought my name should mean something. Her name was Burn hence the ..."
"Oh, so you have your mother's name."
"Yep. Dad didn't know about me till I was 16. After he heard my name he didn't like it so he started calling me Jasmine - after his favorite flower and scent."
"Good man. I like your father already."
"I loved my dad. Everyone followed suite till my first serious boyfriend came along and shortened it to Jazz. After Dad passed away a little over a year ago it has been just Jazz ever since. If anyone calls Jasmine, the way he did, I have to fight too hard not to cry ... sometimes."

Dereck is shocked to be in such deep waters so early in the date. Jasmine's face is not wrinkled now but seems more at ease in a peaceful kind of melancholy state. He watches her avoid his eyes and stop eating. Then he sees them, the tears she spoke of, just about to brim over on their first date. "Jazz. That's a beautiful name."

They are walking down a busy enough street when Jasmine asks, "Where are we going?"
"Don't know. Thought you might have a clue. I just moved here, remember?"
Jasmine snickers and shakes her head. "That's right. Come on. I'm this way."

After a few blocks, Jasmine cuts off Dereck's steady stride to let them into her downtown apartment. He actually thinks twice about entering the 1940s styled building that does not look remodeled since it's golden era. Despite himself, Dereck takes a few brave steps for mankind. At least the men of his kind.

Jasmine opens the door to a surprising large apartment and starts searching through piles of the organized mess surrounding her.
"Any roommates?"
"A few but they are off for the weekend."
"Oh yeah, where to?"
"Not sure. All I know is I got a note saying they were off to some exotic location. You have to understand my roommates. They tried this last minute travel site a few months ago and now they're addicted to taking trips ... they're feeding their youthful spontaneity the note said."

Dereck is still standing near the door.
Jasmine looks up at him and asks, "Why are you all the way over there?"
"I can see your looking for something and didn't want to get in the way. Can I help?"
"You will. But first come sit down, anywhere you like. Just toss any pile of stuff in your way on the ground. I have this thing with piles. It is form of organization."
"What are you tearing the place up for? I'll feel better if I helped you find it"
"Condoms. I think I lost the pack I bought today."

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