So... here is the next chapter! Sorry it took a bit longer then I had hoped to post this but better late then never right? Anyways I hope you like this chapter. I posted some pics on my profile of the new characters introduced in this chapter so check them out! I love alllllllll of you who have review and alerted this story. So read and review and tell me what you think!!

Chapter 4

Christina laid a hand against her stomach trying to keep the nervousness at bay. She made her way up the steps of the large building. It was finally her first day of school and she felt like she was ready to empty her stomach. She had been to an orientation the day before so she had a feel to where everything was, but she still found that she had trouble finding her first class. It was a Professional Behaviors class and is basically an introduction to provide the students with a working knowledge of professional behaviors and skills used in nursing.

She looked down at her watch and saw that she still had twenty minutes to find the classroom. Walking into the building she saw all the people bustling around, some where hanging out with friends and others were sat down on chairs studying or minding there own business. She took the map she got at the orientation and stared at it, hoping that if she stared long enough she would know where to go. She was never good with directions.

She had to take the bus to the university and left and hour and a half early in case she got the wrong bus. She was lucky and was happy that the first bus that came by had the words Detroit University flashing on the front.

Looking down at the map she walked forward but no sooner had she done that she suddenly found herself on the floor.

"Hey watch where your going." A female voice said. Christina to see an African American woman on the floor in front of her picking up the few books that were in her hands.

"Oh God. I'm so sorry." Christina stood up, thankful her bag was closed so nothing fell out. She looked around seeing some of the other students watching the scene. She felt her cheeks go red from embarrassment. She reached down to help the girl pick up her books.

"Let me help you. I'm sorry I wasn't watching where I was going." Both Christina and the girl stood up. The girl looked around at all the people staring at them and glared.

"What the hell are y'all looking at. This ain't no show." The crowd that were watching them immediately went back to what they were doing.

"I'm sorry." Christina said handing her one of her books.

"It's fine. I wasn't really paying that much attention anyway. I'm Courtney Bishop." Courtney held out her hand.

"Christina Wilson." Christina shook her hand. "Sorry about knocking you over. It's my first day and I'm trying to find my first class."

"Your first day too? What class are you going to?"

"Professional Behaviors. I'm doing nursing."

"No shit. Me too. I was just trying to find my way. I didn't see you at orientation did I?" Courtney said.

"No I don't think so. They gave me this map but it doesn't seem to be doing it's job." Christina handed Courtney the map to see if she could make any sense out of it.

"I'm sure between the two of us we'll be fine. Us newbies got to stick together you know. Come on." Courtney hooked her arm through Christina's and began to drag her in the opposite direction she was going. She laughed slightly hoping she had just found herself a friend.

Jack stepped into Rick's Records with a huge smile on his face. He wasn't usually this happy when he went to work but he was happy with the progress he had made with Christina. He didn't even realize it but he had started whistling. The whole thing with Bobby didn't even faze him at the moment.

"Man what are you so happy about at seven in the morning?" Another employee and a good friend of Jack's said.

"Cory, Cory, Cory. It's a beautiful day. The sun is out and its warm. What's not to like." Jack said as he started organizing some Cd's before the store opened at eight.

"What?" Cory said narrowing his eyes. This was not the Jack Mercer he knew. The Jack Mercer he knew hated mornings and hated working in the morning worse. He only had one reason he could think of to make Jack act this way.

"What's her name?" Cory asked crossing his arms and smirking at Jack.

"What do you mean? What makes you think its a girl." Jack said innocently.

"Come on man. It has to be, no man on this earth acts like that unless its a girl. Or unless your gay." Cory said. "You can tell me you know. Your my friend first and foremost."

"Shut the fuck up man." Jack said chuckling. He stayed silent for a minute. "Her name is Christina. She moved in next door to me a week ago."

"Into old man Norman's house? Shit. I didn't think they would ever sell that place. It' s so old it looks like it will collapse if a butterfly landed on it."

"Yeah well her older sister is an interior decorator so if anyone can fix that place up I guess it would be her." Jack said absentmindedly as he spotted a CD he liked and put it behind the counter so he could buy it for himself.

"You already know what her sister does? You two must be close." Cory grinned.

"No. We only really hung out once. And that was a dinner with the whole family, that doesn't count. Then Bobby was being a dick head, like normal. Trying to get her attention away from me. All because he's scared I'll win the bet. I mean he already told me he thought her sister was hot. So why would he want her." Jack stopped realizing he was rambling.

"What makes you think he doesn't want her. You know Bobby doesn't bother with any women unless he really liked them. Remember Jan?" Cory had grown up just down the street from the Mercer's so he knew them quite well.

Jack nodded and frowned. He had convinced himself that Bobby didn't really like Christina but now Cory had him doubting. His good mood suddenly diminished. He glared at Cory and walked into the back room.

Cory laughed softly to himself and felt his mood brightening. Jack obviously had something for this girl. Cory suddenly found himself very interested in meeting this Christina girl.

Christina walked out of her first class laughing at her new found friend Courtney. She wouldn't stop whispering to her how hot their professor was. His name was Jacob Murphy but he insisted to just be called Jake when in class. He seemed really laid back but was strict when it came to actually doing the work.

"Aw Chris you gotta admit the guy was hot." Courtney gushed.

"Yeah, yeah he was pretty good to look at. Funny a guy teaching a nurses class." Christina admitted.

"Nothing wrong with it. If a guy can pull it off and still look masculine. He's a real man in my book."

Christina shook her head laughing softly. Courtney was a character that's for sure. She hoped that she and Courtney would be good friends, she seemed like the loyal type that would do anything for you.

"My next class isn't for another hour, wanna go get something to eat." Courtney asked Christina.

"Yeah I have another class this afternoon so I got the rest of the morning free." Both Christina and Courtney made there way to the nearest fast food restaurant for lunch.

"So you live next door to the infamous Mercer brothers?" Courtney had just found out where Christina lived and what her story was. They were currently sitting at a table just outside Starbucks.

"Yeah we moved there a week ago." Christina also told her about the dinner and how both Bobby and more so Jack seemed to put there attentions on her.

"Well it seems to me like you've put some of your attentions on Jack too." Courtney said.

"Yeah but I'm comfortable around Jack. Around Bobby I'm stuttering idiot." Christina was sure she liked Jack but couldn't explain why she was so nervous around Bobby.

"Well Bobby is an intimidation person. Anyone who didn't really know him would be a stuttering idiot." Courtney said making Christina feel a little better.

"Yeah I guess."

"Yeah. I remember the Mercers. When I was a little girl I lived just down the street. My older brother Antoine used to be friends with Angel. Both of them joined the marines at the same time. Angel came back earlier because his mom died. Antoine came back just over a year ago and is living in Chicago with his wife. I remember I had the biggest crush on Angel. Man he was the best thing since sliced bread to me." Courtney chuckled. "But he could never take his attentions away from Sofi. I guess it was the whole Spanish thing, I don't know."

Christina smiled sympathetically at Courtney. She was the little sister that followed her big brother around and fell for his best friend. But it never seems to work out. That's why she never read any romance novels or fairy tales. They make you expect more than what your going to get.

"Well if its any constellation, I think he's happy. He seemed really happy when I met him anyway." Christina said finishing off her coffee.

"Yeah. It's okay. I'm over him anyways. Besides I sort of have a boyfriend now, at least I think." Courtney said.

"Sort of?"

"Well his name is Paul and we've hung out a few times but we haven't said anything official yet. I really like him but I'm still not sure if he likes me as much as I like him. We're just going to play it slow and see where it goes."

Christina nodded. "Yeah that's probably the best bet. I've heard of too many relationships that are ruined because of moving too fast. If you hook up with a guy too early in the relationship then that's all their going to expect for the entire relationship."

"Girl why are you doing this nursing shit. You should be a psychologist or something." Courtney laughed.

Christina laughed with her. "Naw, that would take way too long."

"Hey I got want to head over to the record store. There's a CD I've been meaning to pick up. Wanna come?" Courtney asked standing up.

"Sure I still got some time until my next class." Christina stood up as well and threw her empty coffee cup in the nearest garbage bin. Then both girls made there way to the record store.

"Have a nice day." Jack sighed when he watched the customer he had just served walk out the door. He looked at his watch and saw he still had a few hours of his shift left. Seeing no one else in the store Jack left the cash register and started to browse the small isles. Cory was in the back room, said he had to do some filing but Jack was pretty sure he was on the phone with his girlfriend of the week.

He loved working here. His first love is and would always be music so since he knew he would never get anywhere with his band since he had quit he was in the next best place. Here he was able to listen to any album he wanted and got a discount on everything. Also the store next to Rick's Record's was a music store and he was saving up to buy a guitar he had seen and wanted.

Jack was looking at the back of a Rolling Stones album when he heard the little bell go off indicating someone had walked in. He smirked when he saw the familiar blond head walk in. He saw her look around then stiffen when she noticed him. He recognized her friend from when he was younger. Her brother use to hang out a his house a lot. He couldn't remember her name though.

Christina looked around the store. It wasn't very big but seemed really nice and intimate. She glanced around and froze when she spotted Jack looking at her with a large grin on his face.

"You didn't tell me Jack worked here." Christina hissed to Courtney.

"You didn't ask." Courtney said innocently and made her way over to the R'n'B section and began looking through the various Cd's.

"Well, well, well. Didn't expect to see you here today." Jack made his way over to her.

"Yeah well I didn't expect to be here today." Christina walked over to the cash register and leaned against the counter while Jack followed and stood in front of her.

"Can't say I'm disappointed."

"I see." Christina's cheeks flush. She didn't know what to say, she had never been complimented as much as Jack has been complimenting her.

Jack felt extremely smug, he saw her cheeks flush and how speechless she was. He really liked the effect he was having on her and wished Bobby was there to witness it.

"So what brings you here?" Jack asked moving to stand next to her.

"Courtney said there was a Cd she wanted. I just came along for something to do until my next class."

Jack nodded his head and glanced over at Courtney. Now he remembered her. Her brother was best friends with Angel and she would follow them around everywhere. He looked her up and down discreetly and noticed she had grown up since the last time he had seen her, which was over five years ago. She stopped coming by when Angel and her brother went off to the marines.

"So how was class?" Jack asked. He wasn't all that interested in a nursing class but he was trying to keep the conversation going.

"Really good. The class size is small so that's good. And Courtney's in it with me which is fun. And the professor is really hot." Christina said grinning and she tilted her head to the side as if she were day dreaming.

"That's-. Wait. Your professor is hot? She must really be smoking for you to say that." Jack laughed.

"Who said my professor was a she." Christina said looking at Jack who suddenly stopped laughing.

"His name is Professor Murphy, but he told us that we could call him Jake."

"Jake." Jack scoffed. "That's not very professional. What kind of guy teaches a nursing class."

"For your information a quarter of the class are male. Besides he's really laid back and makes us comfortable so we can have a very good student teacher relationship."

Jack just crossed his arms. He didn't like the fact that she was having any type of relationship with any guy whether it be casual or professional. Christina smirked against her better judgment. Who was making who speechless now?

"But don't worry, in my personal opinion, I think he's gay. Just don't tell Courtney. It would crush her." Christina said noticed the slight curve of Jack's mouth as he let out a soft chuckle. Staring at his lips she noticed again what a great smile he had. He noticed she was staring and didn't hesitate to look back at her.

"So I don't have any plans this weekend. Maybe if you don't have any plans, we can not have plans together."Jack said leaning in closer to her. She notice the flirtatious way he looked at her.

Christina thought for a moment. Ava had asked her to paint the bathroom Saturday after noon, and she wasn't sure how long that would take.

"Well I have some painting to do this weekend." She said and saw the disappointment flash through his eyes.

"But," she continued seeing his eyes light up again. "I could always use an extra pair of hands." Christina leaned in the same way he had.

"Well I have a friend who is really good at painting. Let me give you his number, he could help you out." Jack walked around behind the counter and pulled out a phone book, leaving Christina standing there mouth hanging open.

What had just happened? She thought. She was about to tell him to stop what he was doing when she noticed the arrogant glint in his eyes. Well, she thought, two could play that game.

"Oh yeah. Is he single, maybe after we could go to dinner, then a nice moonlit walk downtown. Then go back to my place and have a drink..." Christina trailed off seeing Jack looking at her through narrowed eyes. She giggled when he slammed the phone book shut.

"Okay I'm done playing. I'll be there Saturday afternoon."

"Okay." She broke out laughing causing Jack to laugh along with her.

"So if you two are done flirting, could I get this checked out or do I have to go to the manager about the poor service." Courtney broke in with a smile.

"Sorry." Christina stepped back letting Courtney pass Jack the Cd she had picked out.

"Boys II Men huh?" Jack said looking at the Cd as he scanned it.

"Always a classic." Courtney said passing him the money. Jack put the Cd in a small bag and handed it to Courtney who put it in her purse.

"So I guess I'll see you Saturday." Jack said looking at Christina.

"I guess you will. Bye." Christina waved as she and Courtney started to walk away.

"Hey wait!" Jack shouted causing Christina to turn and look at him. "Is that offer for dinner and drink at your place still up?"

Christina shook her head laughing and left the store. Jack watched her leave with a large smile on his face. He watched in the direction she went until he couldn't see her anymore.

"What the hell got you so happy?" Jack spun around to see Cory walk out the back room. "You look like an old man that just got his happy pills."

"Shut the fuck up man. I think I just got a date with Christina this weekend."

"Christina. The Christina. And you didn't bother to introduce her to me?" Cory said sounding crushed.

"Man. The last thing I'm going to do is introduce her to you. At least for the first couple of years." Jack said as a couple of guys walked in the store.

"Now that hurt dude." Cory put his hands up to his heart as if he was heartbroken.

"Yeah well truth hurts." Jack laughed. Cory shook his head chuckling and went back to the back room to fill out the rest of the stock.

Jacks mind went to Christina and this Saturday. Painting a bathroom wasn't at the top of his list on things to do on a Saturday. But the fact that it will be with Christina made him suddenly excited to paint.

Review