Making Friends

March 22, 2004

“I’m telling you, dude, I’ve never met a woman who knows so much about networking concepts,” Jeremy said. “She’s amazing. I could totally use her help. I’m dying here! Have you seen how well she does on those tests?”

“Well, no actually.” Kyle replied. “Those grades are supposed to be confidential. Satisfy my curiosity, though, would you? How did you happen to see her grades?” Kyle smirked, satisfied that he had cornered his friend. “Were you hacking the university computers?”

“She sits right next to me, Kyle. It’s nearly impossible to miss the con- stant stream of high marks that pass across her desk when the professor hands back our papers,” Jeremy responded. “But I’ve never run into her outside of class. I wonder if she’d be willing to help me out with my net- working project. And no, I didn’t hack anything.You know I couldn’t hack my way out of a cardboard box with a hatchet.”

Kyle smirked again as he looked at his friend. Jeremy was a smart kid, but he could get distracted easily. Jeremy was right about one thing, though: Layla was very smart, but Kyle seldom noticed her brains because she was also a beautiful young woman. She had dark, deep eyes and long black hair, but smiled only occasionally and often seemed to be completely absorbed in her studies. Case in point, he glanced across the student lounge where she was seated. Alone, and completely immersed in a book.

Kyle guessed she was just very shy, but that gave little comfort to his friend. Jeremy stared into his coffee cup lost in thought. He and Layla had been in many of the same classes over the last couple of years, and she apparently was studying computer science with a focus on net- working, just like Jeremy was.They obviously had something in common, but he still hadn’t built enough nerve to approach her.

Kyle suspected that his friend might have a crush on the girl, but decided not to press the issue. Jeremy was 23, tall, and skinny. All in all, he was basically just a normal, young, run-of-the-mill American boy. He had thick dark hair that often had a mind of its own due in part to the mas- sive curls. Kyle also suspected that part of the problem was because his hair was cut so seldom, but he understood his friend’s reluctance. For a college student, getting a haircut was a laborious chore that took time away from more important extracurricular activities, cost too much money, and was easily neglected.This had the unintentional effect of allowing Jeremy to fit in with the current retro 1970s big-hair fad,

making him slightly more popular with the girls. Kyle liked to kid Jeremy about looking like Greg Brady on The Brady Bunch. But there was no doubt that Jeremy was a good friend who could be counted on.

Kyle and Jeremy had met two years earlier, when Kyle was a new freshman enrolled in the Computer Science College at the University of Eastern Canada. Kyle first met Jeremy at a computer club meeting in the student lounge one night.The club didn’t last too long and soon turned into a convenient excuse for a party, but Kyle and Jeremy hit it off after only a few meetings and started hanging out.The two young men had similar personalities, and, as it turned out, backgrounds as well. Kyle had felt overwhelmed by the weight of his new situation at the university and Jeremy understood perfectly well what it was like to come from a small town to a large university for the first time. He had taken Kyle under his wing and the two had become fast friends, hitting the clubs on the weekend, studying together, and hanging out in the student lounge. Kyle was younger than Jeremy by a couple of years, but wasn’t the typical freshman. It wasn’t unusual to see them hacking away on their laptops in the student lounge trying to get a new piece of open source software to compile so that they could try it out.

For Jeremy’s part, he was originally from a small town just south of Oklahoma City, called Moore, and had never really had the opportunity to leave the state, much less the country, prior to college. But when he

had arrived in Toronto the first time, he was surprised to find that it wasn’t at all like a foreign country.The fact of the matter was that Toronto could have been any American city.

Jeremy was enrolled in this particular university out of sheer financial necessity and a compelling need to see more of the world. But it wasn’t a bad school at all. In fact, it was one of the best schools north of the border and the popular Computer Science program was rising through the ranks of North American universities and colleges in the field.

When he had applied for scholarships, the university had responded immediately with a full list of grants and waivers. Jeremy jumped at the opportunity and had started as soon as he graduated high school. Jeremy wished that the scholarship was due to grades, but it actually was granted as part of the sports program.

Jeremy was the second-string quarterback for the university’s football team. He had spent a great deal of time in his hometown playing foot- ball, but now he was trying to break away from sports and get serious about starting a career. Sports were fun to watch, but he had no intention of becoming a professional football player. Instead, his interests were drawn to the world of computers and networking. With less than a year left in school, Jeremy had forsaken his former self and moved into the world of technology. He was first and foremost a computer geek, and proud of it.

Last semester, Jeremy and his academic advisor began plotting what his first career move would be. Ahead of the game, Jeremy already knew his interests involved working for a U.S. federal agency in the computer or networking field, and he became active in sending out applications. He liked the idea of working for the government and stability of never really having to find another job. Sure, he likely could make more money in the commercial sector, but when it came down to it, he didn’t enjoy the idea of riding the next wave of technology until it came crashing down around him and left him with no job and worthless stock options. It was through one of these applications that a response came back, requesting 38 Chapter 3 • Making Friends

an interview.

The agency turned out to be the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).The DHS was apparently staffing up with fresh graduates in var- ious technology-related fields.The interviewer gave Jeremy no more information about the job, other than to tell him that he would need a security clearance.The paperwork for the security clearance was both time consuming and long, but once it was done, the process was com- plete on his end, and an offer letter was received back at his home in Oklahoma.

The job was a great opportunity for Jeremy.The salary was just $30,000 a year, which was much less than what many other graduates at his school were being offered, but the opportunity to work with the fed- eral government was a huge bonus in his mind.The position would be out of Washington, D.C., back in the United States. He was already looking forward to his new job in the big city, but was worried it might all be in jeopardy.

Kyle watched his friend’s attention drift and guessed at what he was thinking. Jeremy’s grades had always been Dean’s List, but had gradually fallen recently. Kyle knew this was driving him crazy. Jeremy was con- cerned that if his grades slipped at all, the DHS would retract its offer. The only reason behind the recent drop in his grades was this one class, an accelerated honors class that he was intent on completing. Networking had been relatively easy in the earlier courses, but Jeremy had continued to escalate his learning in the area and now found himself lost at times. Kyle had asked him before whether it was possibly just a case of burnout or whether he was just excited at the prospect of gradu- ating so soon and was distracted. But Jeremy knew, quite honestly, that he was going to need some help in this class if he was going to salvage his grade point average. His answer was sitting across the student lounge at this very moment, engrossed in a networking textbook.

“If she’s that good, she might be willing to help you out once in a while.You could ask her to be your tutor,” Kyle said. “But I’m not sure

I’ve ever seen her in a social setting. Are you looking to ask her out or are you strictly looking for help with your school work?”

“No, I’m not looking for a date,” Jeremy quickly replied. “Not that I’d say no if it came down to it, but I need to get my grades up, and she knows what’s she doing. I’m going to chance it.The worse she can do is say no and I’m prepared for that. Do you mind staying here while I go talk to her? I don’t want her to clam up at the sight of two guys walking over to her at once.”

“Sure, I’ll wait here, dude,” Kyle replied with a grin.

With that, Jeremy stood up from his chair and glanced briefly across the student lounge. He wasn’t necessarily concerned that Layla would tell him no, but he was a little self-conscious about being rejected; at least the lounge area was relatively clear of inhabitants.

He and Kyle usually spent a couple of hours each day in the Student Union, eating junk food ordered from the university-sponsored student lounge and working on their schoolwork.The lounge was one of the few places that truly felt comfortable to him, but he knew his time at the school was almost over. He was due to graduate in another semester and would be headed back to the States to work for the federal government. But until then, he was still a young man at school and needed help with his schoolwork.

He smoothed his hair back with his hand and sighed to himself as he felt it bounce right back to where it had been. He cursed that he had not gone to get his haircut before he had decided to approach Layla. He glanced over at Kyle, still sitting at the table looking at him expectantly. “No backing out now,” he told himself. He steeled himself and walked toward her table.

Layla was sitting alone, as was normal for her. Jeremy wasn’t sure if she actually had any friends because he had never seen her sitting with

anyone. She was wearing a simple red t-shirt with blue jeans and was studying their advanced networking textbook.Taking a deep breath, he took the final steps necessary toward her. Her table was cluttered with 40 Chapter 3 • Making Friends

paperwork, most of which appeared too technical and wasn’t anything that he had seen in class.

“Hello,” Jeremy said meekly, horrified to see that Layla didn’t even look up.What should he do now? He looked at Kyle with a panicked expression on his face. Kyle just waved him on with his hands.Ok, he thought.She probably didn’t hear me; one more try.

“Hi there, Layla,” he said more energetically, to ensure she knew he was speaking to her.

She looked up at him, at first surprised to find someone apparently engaging her in a conversation. But then she smiled at him. “Hello there, Jeremy,” she replied. “What’s up?” Her accent was beautiful, and she spoke in deep flowing tones that caught him completely off guard.

“You know my name,” Jeremy stuttered. It wasn’t a question, but a statement made in shock. He hadn’t expected this and was equally thrown off by her apparent knowledge of his existence.

“Of course, I do,” Layla answered him. “We’ve been in a number of classes together over the last two years. Besides, we sit right next to each other in networking.” She smiled at him. “What’s on your mind?”

Jeremy hadn’t expected her to be so friendly, but here she was, appar- ently a very normal person. He pulled out one of the brightly colored chairs across the table from and sat down facing her. “I was hoping you could help me out,” he began. “I graduate after next semester, and I could really use some of your help with class. I’m having issues with my grades and need to get them back under control.”

“What makes you think I can help you?” she smirked playfully. Jeremy blushed as he suddenly realized that she had most likely noticed his gawking when her papers were handed back in class. “I’m sorry,” he replied. “But it’s really difficult to miss all those A’s you get. I know I shouldn’t look, but I couldn’t help it.” He paused before contin- uing. “So could you help me? I’d really appreciate it.”

Layla laughed quietly. “Sure, I’ll help you. We can meet in the library later this afternoon and talk about what exactly you need help with. Can you meet me there at 4:30? I’ve got Advanced C++ until 4:15.”

Jeremy was ecstatic. “Yeah, sure! Great! Okay, I’ll meet you just inside the front doors. I really appreciate this,” he responded.Finally, he could get his grades straight before graduation, and the small potential of flirting with Layla made his stomach flutter.

“Great, see you then,” she said.

Jeremy thanked her again before quickly saying goodbye and headed back to his table, with Kyle waiting patiently.

“It’s a go, dude,” Jeremy grinned, “I’m meeting her at the library later today to figure out what she can help me with.”

“Excellent!” Kyle shot back.“She must really like computer geeks, eh?” Jeremy laughed and took a deep breath. He had someone to help him get through his last months at school.I might hang on to that job after all,

he told himself.