A scattered landscape stretches out across the word, a flat space of shimmering color and rays of light. You look look around to find the world is the same no matter where you turn, as if you are not moving at all.

Light dances like an aurora, first pink, then purple, then violet, before returning to being pink again. Time seems to flow with the light.

A voice stretches out through the light, "It's coming. Be prepared."

You try to call out in response, but . . .

Jack jolted as the bus hit a pothole, his head jostled by the blow against the window he had been sleeping on.

"Next stop, Union Station.," A pleasent voice announced over the loudspeaker.

Jack shook himself awake as he tried to get his bearings.

Standing at 5 foot 9 inches and 200 pounds, he wasn't skinny, but he also was not overweight. A mop of brown hair sat atop a pair of square glasses, which covered a pair of blue eyes above a clean shaven face. A polo and jacket covered his torso, while blue jeans and sneackers took care of his legs. He was currently riding the bus from his home to Reily Uiversity, his school for the last 2 years. Union station was his stop, and he had had some kind of strange dream.

"What was I doing?," He mused to himself, "What was that dream about?"

As he considered it, the bus slowly came to a halt. Around him, people began standing up and retrieving their luggage from the overhang. Jack soon copied them, reaching up to grab his dufflebag and backback.

He tipped his head at the young bus driver, who gave him a pleasent smile in return. He privately wondered why such a pretty young women was driving a bus before steppig out onto the platform.

It was the first week of August, a few days before school would be starting up. Jack saw families dropping off their kids for the first time and veterins returning to the battlefield. He laughed privately at his simile; school was a tough place.

"Now, where am I off to again?" The interrupted nap still held a spell over him as he reached into his pocket and took out his notebook.

Dorm: Graves Hall

Room: 209

1. Greet the hall manager

2. Greet the roomate

"Thank-you notebook." Jack grinned as he stowed away the item. Being as easily distracted as he was, it paid to make notes of important things before they floated away with the squirrals.

Speaking of.

Jack raised an eyebrow as a red rodent darted out in front of him and up a tree. It chittered at him from the branches above, and soon after a nut 'boinked' against his head.

Jack frowned and scratched the now red spot.

"Oy, enough of that!" A voice came from behind Jack. The squirral chittered again before disappearing into the leaves. Jack turned and raised his hand in greeting.

"Good to see you again old George."

George was a stopped old man wearing a greek fishing hat and brown overalls over a checkered shirt. A pair of mischievious brown eyes stared up at Jack as the old man grinned, "One foot in and the squirrals are already throwing things at you aye? Looks like the're impatient for their nuts."

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Jack sighed, "If I had known they had such a good memory, I would have never fed them freshman year. Will they ever forget?"

George laughed heartily, "Young man, those red squirrals hve better memories than me. Come back in 20 years and they'll be throwing nuts at you from their graves to get you to feed them." George clapped his hand on Jack's back as he reached down to grab the dufflebag.

"George, that's mine.," Jack protested as he tried to stop the man from grabbing the bag.

George rolled his eyes, "Young man, over the last 2 years you've found time to help me with my chores as groundskeeper, so allow me to help you carry your bag so I have an excuse to catch up with you before schooling distracts you." He leveled a watery eye at the young man, "Don't look down on a marine."

Jack grinned ruefully, "Hu rah then."

George cracked a smile as the two began walking down the cobbled street, "So, how was the family?"

Jack shrugged, "All good I guess. James is almost done with high school and Harry is starting middle school. Mom and Dad are still working, so same old I guess."

George snorted, "Really? That's all? Come on, didn't you go on vacations with them?"

Jack shrugged, "I had to work over the summer, so I stayed home and watched the dogs. They went to the beech I think."

The older man sighed and shook his head, "You should spend more time with your family Jack; the day will come that you will wish you'd of spent more time with them. In the coming years, that'll get harder and harder."

"I guess." Jack didn't continue, and George didn't pry anymore.

When they arrived at Graves Hall, George passed over a bag of sunflower seeds from his pocket. "You'll need these," was all he said before leaving with a wave. Jack carried his bags in and walked over to the reception desk.

"Hey Milly; I see you became an RA." Jack greeted the girl at the counter.

Milly, a southern country girl, grinned at him before winking, "Of course dear; how could anyone say I was suited for herding cattle?" They shared a laugh. She continued, "I just need your ID and room number hun."

Jack handed over his student ID and told her the room number. Milly glanced quickly at the Id before returning it with the room key. "Stairs are next to the elevator as usual, you need anything else hun?"

"I'm good to go, thanks Milly." Jack winked at her as he picked his stuff back up, "I'm sure you'll make a wonderful wife someday."

Milly rolled her eyes and shoo'ed him away. Laughing, Jack scanned his ID at the door and walked into the stairwell.

The second floor was covered in a pattered carpet and whitish walls as Jack made it to his room. Upon entering, he found it deserted except for two lofted beds and two desks underneath them.

"Home sweet home." Jack muttered as he deposited his things at the foot of the bed.