�So, uh, you ready ta go?� Jack asked. I smiled and nodded.

�Hea�,� he said, taking my hand, �I�ll walk ya home.� He led me out the door and down the street. We walked in silence for a while.

�Uhh, Angela?�

�Yes?�

�Where �zactly do ya live?� It just occurred to me that we couldn�t wander aimlessly through New York.

�Oh! I�m sorry. It�s that Spanish style house on Broadway.�

�You live in dat big house?� he said, quietly surprised. I smiled sheepishly, �Yeah.�

I wondered if that intimidated him. I really hoped it wouldn�t. I really liked Jack... �Does that intimidate you?� I finally asked.

Jack looked into my eyes. He sighed. �Yeah, a little.� He sounded tired.

�No, please, don�t be. It�s not, I�m not like that...� I was struggling to explain myself.

Jack gently smiled. �I know you ain�t,� he said, quietly, �I know you ain�t.� he repeated in a whisper, getting a faraway look. I looked down and took a deep breath, �It�s just-I really don�t want you to feel intimidated. You�re, you�re the only person I feel like I can really talk to. I mean really talk, ya know? I just, I just feel, safe with you.� I finished, looking up at him worried, hoping he wouldn�t be upset or something. I felt really nervous and sick to my stomach. I had never poured out all my feelings to anyone before. I stared at Jack, frowning. He looked at me, studying my face.

Finally, he reached out and gave me a hug. At first I was really surprised. Then I just let out a deep breath, leaned against him, and closed my eyes. I felt like a great weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I breathed in and out a few times. Jack gently let go of me.

�Are you ok?�he said quietly. Am I ok? For once I really knew the answer to that one. I was. I was going to be ok.

�I haven�t been for a long time,�I said slowly, �but I�m gonna be. I�m gonna be ok.� I smiled up at him. He smiled back, understanding. I broke my gaze for a second and realized that we were standing in front of my house.

�Well, I guess, I should go, huh?� I said, not really wanting to.

�Yeah.� He sounded kind of sad. I stared at him and sucked in my breath. Jack stared at me intently. Suddenly he leaned forward and kissed me. I closed my eyes and just let myself enjoy the moment. I smiled and hugged Jack.

�See ya.� Jack said.