Chapter 2 : Nick Blood

Jonah's mother stood stiff in place clutching the cross hanging on a long gold chain around her neck. Her face was red and almost steaming.

Jonah felt torn between his own panic attack and worry that his parents might scare off his first chance to make a friend. But Nick Blood was holding his own against the relentless interrogation of Mr. Burke.

"Where are you from, Mr. Blood?" Jonah's father folded his arms across his chest again creating a clear bloated divide between his beer belly and chest.

"I'm from Texas originally, but my Dad's a jarhead, so we moved around a lot. Kind of excited to stay in the same place for a while." Nick tossed his duffel bag onto the left bed and hopped on it as well, releasing a thin layer of dust that was resting on the mattress.

"Military man, that's great. Good man, serving our country. You didn't want to follow in those footsteps?" Mr. Burke pulled his arms tighter across his thick body. Nick smiled weakly.

"What my father does is admirable, certainly. However, I felt called in a different direction."

"What are you majoring in? What are your career aspirations?" Mr. Burke continued.

"I'm majoring in education and history. I want to be a high school history teacher." Nick picked at the dirt under his fingernails.

"Well that's ... respectable. Do you do any drugs? Go to church?" At that last word, Nick looked up with a curious glint in his eye.

"I'll take good care of your son, Mr. Burke." Nick's voice was calm and crisp. He maintained strong eye contact with Jonah's father who looked a little taken back.

Jonah's mother however huffed and frowned. Nick chuckled under his breath.

"It'll be nice to have a good friend longer than a couple months," Nick added, holding his hand out for a fist bump. Jonah smiled and knocked it. Mrs. Burke frowned harder but reached into her bag and pulled out another can of pepper spray. She handed it forcefully towards Nick.

"Things happen to young boys, too," she said sternly in explanation and warning. "I gave Jonah a map highlighting the nurses station and the chapel."

"Well thank you, Mrs. Burke. Good looking out." Nick winked subtly at Jonah who stifled a laugh. "You're really lucky to have her as a mom."

"Thanks."

Mrs. Burke's face turned red and she did her best to remove her scowl.

"Do you have an alarm clock, Nick? I don't know what they taught you in any high school you attended but being late isn't something the real world tolerates." Jonah's mother looked hard at Nick as if any poor actions on his part would reflect badly on her.

"Not to mention it's just unprofessional. You two are professional college students now," Mr. Burke added, finally releasing the tension in his arms.

"I do have an alarm clock. My father also stressed the importance of punctuality." The smile on Nick's face looked almost painted on.

"Jonah, if anything happens, you call me immediately. I'll be on the next flight over to take you straight home. Be sure to check out when services are at the chapel. You can bring Nick along."

Nick stiffened but the painted smile stayed put on his face.

"Thanks, Mom. I will do all that," Jonah replied with a sigh.

"Well, I guess we better be off," Jonah's father stated, slamming his hands on his hips again. Mrs. Burke huffed. Jonah stood up and hugged both his parents goodbye. Nick stood and shook their hands. Both the boys remained standing slowly ushering out the adults.

As soon as Jonah's parents were out of earshot down the hall, Nick turned back to Jonah with a wicked smile.

"Now, how about we get to know each other for real?"