Mark and Tom, despite their differences (and their distressing backgrounds) could be decent friends in the long run-- as long as Mark doesn't crash out and run away from it all first. It is, however, likely to be a long first night as Mark awaits the beginning of his attendance at Tempered Trails: a place he's really nervous about, and unsure that it will actually help anything. Certainly, this recovery won't be fast, and Mark is going to need to give the school a lot of patience first (something he's not known for.)
