**
57

Nicole was already at work by the time
I woke up, that day, I decided to go to the park that's a little ways away from my house. The area was huge, by the way.

I sat on the bench, my phone next to me and a book in my lap, I was reading 'Emma' by Jane Austin, but soon enough, I heard someone walking on the sidewalk that was a few feet away from the bench I was sitting on.

"Ah, hello again" I heard him say. I looked to my left and sighed.

"So, new stalker. That's cool" I said sarcastically. He chuckled and I looked down at his feet, he was walking his cat.

"When I tried walking my cat when I was 14, I had to carry him because he wouldn't walk" I said as I looked at Kitney.

"Kitney is animal-fluid. She can't decide if she's a cat or a dog or a parrot" he joked. I chuckled a little and he sat down on the bench, which Kitney walking around at our feet.

"So, Joey," he started as I closed my book. "What's your vibe?" He asked me, crossing his legs. I chuckled a little and tilted my head

"Pardon?" I questioned. "Like what are you all about?" I scoffed and chuckled again. "Not sure what you want me to tell you" I said as I shrugged.

"I can like, read people pretty well if I do say so myself, and I'm getting the vibe that you have a very complex life" I shrugged again.

"Not sure if you could call it complex."

"Great. I actually can't really read people I was just taking a shot in the dark. So, tell me about you"

"Wait... Did I accidentally come to the job interview bench by mistake?" I joked as I pretended to look around.

He chuckled, then spoke again. "Nope, just like getting to know people" I nodded, but decided to keep 'I'm dying in 60 days' out of the topic.

"Nothing too interesting about me. I'm just a 24 year old man who lives with his sister" I chuckled.

"Why do y'all live together?" He asked, genuinely. "Just for... Reasons. We just need to spend a lot of time together for a month or two" I answered. He nodded and then I got to asking questions.

"So, what about you, mister stalker?" I asked. He chuckled a bit and shrugged.

"I'm just a a man who has a cat. That's actually it" he said. I chuckled.

We talked and talked and talked for like, three hours after that. Just about our favorite things. (A/N where you at Maria from The Sound Of Music?)

"So, what's your favorite... Um... Word?" I asked. He thought for a minute that answered.

"Probably orangutan" he said. "Why orangutan?" I asked. He hummed for a second. "I don't know. It's fun to say"

"What about you?" I answered without having to think about it. "Abendrot" he scoffed. "What?"

"Abendrot. It's German. It's like, the colour of the sky when the sun is setting" he hummed after I spoke.

Then, my phone began ringing before I was about to talk. I took it from my pocket, it was Nicole.

"One sec" I said, he nodded and began petting Kitney, who was asleep on his lap.

"Hello?" I answered as I picked at my nail with my other fingers.

"Joseph Michael Graceffa! Where the hell are you? I told you to tell me if you left the house!" She yelled. I put the phone a tad away from my ear until she was done

"Nicole, damn. I literally went like 5 minutes away. You're not my legal guardian" I said. She sighed loudly before speaking.

"Joey. You don't know what can happen to you if your out without someone being there. You could literally need to be hospitalized but nobody would be around to help!" I rolled my eyes, but agreed.

"Okay okay. Sorry, you're right. I'll be home in 10" she murmured in agreement and I hung up, and let out a breathy laugh.

"Sister?" He questioned as I put my phone back in my pocket.

"More like parent" I joked then stood up. "Well, thanks for the chat, stalker" I said as I also picked up my book.

He chuckled and picked up his cat.

"I'm not taking you outside every again, Kitney" he said as the cat stretched in his arms.

We said our goodbyes, and then I went home. Then I mentally scolded myself.

I broke one of my rules. Don't get too close to people... You're going to die.

***