Chapter 1

Chase was in the kitchen making eggs, bacon, and sausage. As he sat the plates, Jonathan walked into the kitchen.

"Good morning Jonathan," Chase said. "I made breakfast."

"Thanks," Jonathan said.

Chase sat across from Jonathan and they began eating.

"This is really good," Jonathan said.

"Thanks," Chase said. "Glad you like it. So Jonathan, I have to work tonight at Tric but I'll be home by 9:00. I'm going to leave money on the table. You can order pizza or Chinese or anything under $20 that can be delivered. I want you to come straight home after school. Chris is across the street if you need anything."

"Okay," Jonathan said. "Thanks."

There was a sound of honking outside.

"That's the bus," Jonathan said. "See you later."

"Bye," Chase said.

Jonathan walked out the door and Chase noticed Jonathan left his backpack by the chair.

"I guess I'd better take his backpack to him," Chase said.

Jonathan ran back into the kitchen and grabbed his backpack.

"Forgot my backpack," Jonathan said.

"Yeah," Chase said.

Later, Chase was at Tric doing inventory. Chris walked into the room.

"Hey," Chris said.

"The bar isn't open yet Chris," Chase said.

"Chris Keller just wondered how Jonathan is doing," Chris said.

"He's doing great," Chase said. "You're going to be home tonight right?"

"Yeah," Chris replied. "Why?"

"I'm letting Jonathan stay by himself while I work tonight," Chase replied. "I'll be home by 9:00, but I can't help but feel nervous about him being alone. Do you think you can check on him?"

"Okay," Chris said. "Chris Keller will watch him like a hawk."

"That's not what I said," Chase said. "I just asked if you could check on him."

"Okay," Chris said. "I'll check on him."

"Is it weird that I'm stressing out about Jonathan's safety?" Chase asked.

"No, not at all," Chris said. "It's a father thing."

"Yeah," Chase said. "Can I talk to you about something?"

"You finally have a girlfriend?" Chris asked.

"No," Chase said. "I don't have time for a girlfriend."

"That's Spanish for you're desperate," Chris said.

"I am trying to talk to you," Chase said.

"About how you want Chris Keller's help getting a girlfriend?" Chris asked.

"I want to adopt Jonathan," Chase said.

"Oh wow," Chris said.

"Yeah," Chase said.

"Have you talked to him about it?" Chris asked.

"No," Chase said. "I don't know what I should say."

"How about 'Hi Jonathan, I want to adopt you,'" Chris said.

"I can't just blurt it out like that," Chase said. "We need to sit down and talk about it."

"Okay," Chris said sitting on a chair. "What do you want to talk about?"

"I mean Jonathan and I need to sit and talk," Chase said.

"Oh," Chris said.