U Miss Me

Jack feels... angry. Also, jealous. The girl standing next to that handsome show host is Nitte.

On the show, Nitte is asking Andyo how to keep their passwords safe and avoid getting hacked.

"Can we change the channel?" Jack stands up, actively walking away from the TV. Jack goes to the counter and asks the cashier girl to change the channel.

"Oh... but this is a popular show." The cashier girl seems to want to finish watching it, "Andyo helps you organize your life and find the right job for you. It's a very inspiring program."

Jack tries not to roll his eyes, "I'm sure he is a wonderful person. I have nothing against him. It's the guest on the show right now that I don't want to see. As a paying customer here, I currently do not wish to watch this show for that reason. Just this particular episode, please. You can watch more of the show later."

"OK. I will switch to another channel for ten minutes. This episode is about to end. Oh, if you like Andyo, you are in luck. Because he is coming to New York City for the newest season to help a guy find a new career. If you are interested, you should go to set. I hear they are filming in Midtown. I am going, actually. I also hear Andyo is super nice, he would even give guidance on the spot if you get to speak to him."

This girl seems to be a fan. Jack just pretends to smile and he walks away.

Bob is naturally curious. But he has a few guesses in his head already.

"Hmm. I think I know why you are so eager to change the channel. Your girlfriend is that female guest?"

"Bob, you are way off. You know I don't have a girlfriend."

"Oops, I really meant to say: your ex-girlfriend."

"No."

"Then it's Nitte Hallow Horn." Bob crosses arms, leaning back, chuckling a little.

"Yes, it is her. I'm only upset because I'm supposed to watch her. So annoying. And, she made herself sound so busy, like she has a ton of busy tasks to do. And she told me she needs help to solve some mysteries. And she is casually and leisurely participating a reality show?" Jack is apparently upset. He is actually surprised that he is more upset than he thinks.

"Maybe she is on the show for a reason. Didn't you say she is looking for other people to help her? Maybe she wants that handsome Andyo help her now. Oh, the green eyes Andyo has." Bob says sarcastically. He is trying to tease Jack on purpose.

"Let's go back to work now," Jack then waves a waiter down, asking for two orders of shrimp dumplings to go.

Jack and Bob then go back to work. Jack notices that he can't really concentrate. He decides to call Nitte. No. Maybe just text her. Yes. Texting is probably less... direct.

So he starts: "Hi, Nitte. How are you? Where have you been? Just checking to see if you still need my help."

He stares at his text, wondering if he should send it out like that. Oh. Whatever. Send.

Then he tries to look through new in-coming NYPD cases. That is his job and Bob's job. Look through them and make sure all the information have been filled out. Once everything looks good, they will sort them and categorize them.

This might not sound like a difficult job, but New York City is a big city with a lot of communities. They actually get a lot of cases coming into the system every day. Kind of like a restaurant that keeps getting different orders. There are small orders and they are big orders. Some could just be a parking ticket. Or Jaywalking. Some are obviously more serious. It's important to look through them and make sure nothing is amiss, such as wrong addresses or inconsistent dates.

Jack is trying to be serious with this job now because he knows Bob is getting promoted to be a detective soon. So Jack will be the only one doing it. He can't believe Bob has been the only one checking and filing everything. It's really a lot of work.

And then, Jack gets a text back from Nitte:

"U miss me? R U still an asshole? *Poop emoji*"

Jack realizes he hasn't really texted Nitte much in the past. And he only just sees that Nitte is one of those people who type "U" instead of "You." He forgets how old Nitte is right now. She has to be young.

Jack texts back: "I am sorry I was mean to you. I am just trying to find out where you are right now."

"I've never left. Well. Kind of. I did have to leave a little bit. But I always stay near NYC within a few days, after I finish my biz."

Jack shakes his head. Her message reads like she is just simply thinking out loud.

"How old are you, Nitte?" Jack asks.

"U can find out tonight. Wanna meet me and my friend? I have a new recruit now. But the new recruit is also my friend."

"What are you talking about?"

"Meet us at Black Eight Pub. It's a bar in Brighton Beach. Maybe Bob wants to go as well. Is 7 o clock OK?"

Jack is a little disappointed that Nitte is not meeting him alone. Because he thinks it would be easier to talk to Nitte alone. Definitely not because he wants to be alone with her.

"No. Make it 10 tonight. I will ask Bob, too."

"Ooh. Asking to meet so late. Don't you have to work the next day? Jack is not dull but wants to play."

"Because I have a dinner plan so I don't want to meet too early." Jack replies. For some reason, he thinks he is making his reply vague on purpose.

The truth is, Jack just bought a bunch of shrimp dumplings for Bob to bring home. He doesn't think shrimp should be kept for overnight. So he intends to finish them with Bob later.

Jack walks over to Bob, "Hey. So. We can eat the dumplings tonight. At your place. And then, do you mind going out with me to a bar in Brighton Beach?"

Bob seems amused. "A bar? At Brighton Beach? Wow, Jack, you are too nice to me tonight. Buying me food and taking me out at night. Sure. Why not."

"Well, it's Nitte who wants to ask you to come out. To meet her friend, too. Maybe she has a female friend and that's why she wants to ask you to come out."

"Oh my god. Don't try to set me up." Bob leans back on his office chair.

"We will see." Jack smiles.

"Well well well, Jack. You sure look a lot happier now. Much happier than earlier. Good God. You are acting like a fool falling in love."

"I'm not. Don't say weird shit like that." Jack quickly walks back to his desk and sits down.

And then his phone chimes. Another text from Nitte comes in.

"I will try to save some time for U later tonight. Depending on if U R still a Jackass."

Jack suddenly feels a sense of excitement. He is actually looking forward to seeing her. God. Stop it.