"Where the hell is Nick?" Riley said, coming down the stairs. "We can't start working on the next stage without him."
"He doesn't have football practice today" Hudson pointed out. "He should be here."
"Yeah well we all saw how he tore out of here before," Shannon said. "I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't come back at all today."
"You think maybe one of us should go find him?"
No need." The door had swung open and Nick entered. "Can we just get this over with?"
"What, now that you're ready?" Shannon said.
Nick laughed, approaching her. "You have something else in mind?"
"You're disgusting,"
"We've got a lot of work to do today" Riley said. "If we're going to get anything done, we need to get going." Nick moved passed him, going up the stairs. "Now where are you going?"
"If it's any of your business, I'm going to the bathroom. Do you need any more information?"
"Are you guys still here?" Julie said, coming into the room.
"Just waiting on you and Nick" Jen said.
"I'm set." They looked at Nick.
"I'll meet you guys at the site." Nick said.
"Come on," Riley said. "Marcie and Mark are already holding down the fort."
"Marcie?" Jen said once they had reached the site. "What's going on, where's Mark?" She looked around.
"Oh... you guys didn't pass him?" she said. "He was checking out the plans last night and left them in the room. He went back to get them."
"Maybe he can pick up Nick on the way back." Riley said. "I hope they don't kill eachother."
Nick stood in the bathroom, eyeing the hypodermic that Ethan had given him. It was already filled, thanks to Nick's own doing, but he hesitated, thinking, playing through different scenarios in his mind. Ultimately, he had come to a decision. He pulled the cap off the needle, piercing it into the fleshy part of his rear.
The initial entry stung, but just for a brief second before he injected the juice and retracted the needle. Nick dabbed the point of entry, lightly with a piece of toilet paper before recapping and wrapping the needle, tossing it into his gym bag. He would find a safer way of disposing it later. He couldn't leave it in the waste basket for the rest of the house to see.
Nick turned to step out of the bathroom, swinging the door in and walking out, practically colliding with Mark. "Jesus," Nick said. "Will you watch where you're going." Mark shook it off. "What the hell are you doing here anyway?"
"The plans," Mark said, pointing out the folded papers in his hand.
"Right, whatever." Nick said. "Can we just get out of here. I've got a meeting to get to later with resident services."
"We all do," Mark said. "Something about our dorm assignments."
"Yeah, well if the school screws this one up, I'm outa here."
Mark smiled inwardly. Was he really having a human conversation with Nick? "Would off campus housing be that bad?" he said. "I mean at least you wouldn't have to give up your football scholarship and end up having to play for... Philly State."
"Don't even joke like that" nick said. "I'd die before I played for Philly State." He headed for the door. "Besides, my old man wouldn't hear of it. It's LU or nothing"
Mark didn't want o press his luck, but was shocked that Nick was telling him all this. He enjoyed the conversation. "He came here... your Dad?"
"He was All-State Champ. Captain of the Cougars... quarterback three of his four years. He was all set to go pro... til he tore his knee." He paused. "I can do what he couldn't. And I will. As soon as we finish this project, and the scouts come to watch the team... I'm gonna go where my Dad only dreamed of going."
Mark was silent. Nick was capable, he thought. He had seen him play... on more than one occasion.... and Nick was good. He was talented and if any one of the Cougars could end up going pro, it was Nick Messina. Catching the glimpse of determination in Nick eye was mind blowing. It could send a chill down anyone's spine. There was passion there and Mark could see it.
"Are we going to the site or not?" Nick said.
Mark nodded slowly. "Yeah... yeah, I'm right behind you."