I followed him through the not-so-crowded New York streets.

There were many people walking, drinking, smoking, or just talking about their tiring and boring days. It was hard to admit, but the fact I wasn’t completely alone with him made me feel a lot more comfortable, and safe.

I wasn’t saying he was the maniac we were looking for, but he scared me.

“Aren’t you scared?” He said, as it looked like he read my thoughts.

“Why?” I asked. Scared of him?

“You know why.” He said, rolling his eyes. “I know you watched the news today, they said people shouldn’t go out alone in the middle of the night…” He whispered, moving closer as we walked.

“I’m not scared of you Jack.” I said, forcing a laugh. He stared at the ground and smiled, and it was a nice smile, even beautiful, it didn’t even looked like it was coming from someone like him.

“Tell me about you Gaskarth.” He said, looking forward again.

“My name is Alexander, I’m 25, I’ve been a cop for three years. I have a wife, three kids…” I didn’t know why I was telling him all of this. “And you? Tell me about you.” I said, staring at him. I don’t usually find men attractive, but Jack really was good looking.

“I’m Jack.” He said, and he also laughed a little bit to himself, he seemed nervous now. “I’m 26 and I work at… I’m still studying so I work at my grandpa’s bar.” He said, without looking at me. “Hey, let’s get inside? It’s cold here.” He said, and pouted like a child.

We were standing in front of a random pub, he openned the door and we both sat on a table by the window.

“You said you work at your grandpa’s bar, so what were you doing at the park, and why are you dressed up as a park worker?” I asked, maybe it was none of my business, but it was weird.

“You’re a smart one aren’t you?” He said, taking his coat off and revealing a checked shirt. “I was doing my friend a favor, he got sick and I was just working in his place.” He said, fixing his hair and smiling at me. “What do you have in mind Alex? We both met in some weird conditions, I wonder what were you doing there.” He said, raising an eyebrow.

“I already said, investigation.” I can’t go out telling details to strangers.

“Come on Alex, I’m just a random guy you casually found working at the park. What’s the big deal on telling me?” He asked, laughing at me, his facial expressions weren’t weird anymore, he really looked like a nice guy now, I guess it wasn’t a big deal after all.

“Ok, listen…” I said, moving closer to him on the otherside of the table. “You have to promise me you’ll forget this.” I said, and he just nodded and played with his hair. “Me and some other cops from my station were investigating this house today, right after they found the bodies in front of the Public Library. My friend found this sort of diary, it had many names and stuff, and the Central Park’s adress was written there. I decided to go to the park, see if I could find something there. Maybe the Head Collector was after your friend that worked there, I don’t know.” I said, pulling back again, he still made me nervous.

“Head Collector eh?” He laughed. “Doesn’t it scare you Alex? Going to some adress your friend found on a random notebook and finding a weird guy like me there?” He said, he still looked nervous.

“You are a little bit creepy, but I can get used to it.” I smiled at him, earning a smile back from him.

The waitress came to ask us what we wanted to drink, and she seemed pretty attracted to Jack. She looked like a whore anyway. The place we were was kind of dark, and a band played some shitty sort of music in one of the corners of the almost empty bar. At least it was warmer than outside.

We finished our beers, Jack payed, as he promissed, and the waitress gave him her phone number or something. We didn’t talk much, Jack kept asking me some questions about my life and I kept answering them. How idiot was this?

“Do women always act like this with you?” I asked him, as we left the pub and faced the cold wind again.

“Most of the time.” He said, chuckling cutely. The streets were almost empty now, but I didn’t feel uncomfortable anymore. “I just find it so stupid, they’re so desperate for sex they just give their adress to the first stranger that shows up.” He said, he wasn’t with his coat on.

“Aren’t you feeling cold?” I asked, since I was shivering.

“Not at all.” He laughed. “Why Alex? Are you cold?” He said with a childlike voice, moving closer and hugging my shoulders.

“Stop this Jack, we look like two teenagers in a Christmas movie.” I chuckled, it felt a lot better though.

“So I guess that’s the part of the movie I take you home?” He said against my hair.

“Shut up.” I said.

I guided us to my house without saying much. It felt nice, being next to him, laughing at some people on the street without saying a word to eachother. I missed this. I couldn’t remember the last time I hugged Taylor like that and we walked home together.

When we finally got in front of my apartment.

“It’s here.” I said, looking at the clock, it was 00:25am, it was late.

“Oh..” He pouted, unwrapping his arms from me. “It was really nice to meet you Alex.” He said, looking down.

“It was nice to meet you too Jack.” I said, turning around and walking towards the door, when I felt his arms around me once more, it made my heart stop.

“Will I ever see you again?” He whispered against my ear and I shivered, and it wasn’t because of the cold weather.

“Maybe Jack.” I said, but my voice came out barely hearable, he laughed at that.

“Alright then.” He whispered again, his hot breath against my neck as he left a quick kiss there. “In case you want to see me, I’ll be waiting you by the pub at 11pm ok?” Then he left, without saying any other word.

---

“Who was that guy?” Taylor asked as I got out of the shower.

“…” I didn’t know what to say, I didn’t want to get her worried. “Just a guy I met, at uh… the pub, he was helping me with the investigation.” I said, hesitantly.

“He knows where you live now.” She said, she was laid on the bed and had her eyes closed.

“So what?” I said, laying by her side.

“So what Alex?” She was now staring at me. “There is a fucking serial killer out there and you just go around giving your adress to the first guy that shows up?” She said, she was worried, maybe she was right.

“He wasn’t ANY guy, he was helping me. Stop being so paranoid Tay, oh my god.” I said, turning of the lights and closing my eyes.

“You are dropping the kids at school today.” She said, upset.

“I know.” I replied.

She didn’t say anything else. I couldn’t sleep, maybe I got worried about what she said, maybe I got worried Jack was more than just a guy that was working for his friend. Maybe I was paranoid. All I knew is that I couldn’t stop thinking about him. his voice echoed through my mind, it was like I still felt his touch against my skin, his hot lips against my cold neck.

I had never felt this way before, for anyone.