By the time Oscar pulled into the driveway of his house the sun had already begun setting. The day had left him tired and ready to sleep, but as per usual, there was still homework to be done. He shuffled through the large, red-framed front door, and slipped off his jacket, leaving it in the entryway.

As he made his way past the family room his mother spotted him from where she was sitting on the couch. "Hey hun, how was school?" she asked, her eyes glued to the screen of the laptop that rested on her legs.

"It was fine," he mumbled "I've got a lot of homework..." and continued forth.

He trudged up the mahogany stairs and stumbled into his room, collapsing lazily onto the bed. Oscar began to think.

"Do I really need to do my trig homework? What's the worst that could happen?

Well, I could fail trig. So what it's only one class? If I fail another class I could fail this entire semester. Can't I make up one semester? Maybe, but then I might fail my senior year. So what? And then I won't get into any good colleges. Yes, you will. And then I'll still be living at home when I'm 30, and working a drive-thru. Or selling drugs. And then when my parents die I'll be homeless.

And then I'll die after another homeless guy stabs me because I took the last can of beans.

I'm right, I should do my homework."

This violent game of question-and-answer went on for at least another half an hour before Oscar heaved himself out of bed and sat down to begin working.

Oscar was plowing through trigonometric functions when his phone buzzed.

202-555-0168: hey, what's up?

Still focused on his homework, Oscar quickly brushed off the text. "Must be a wrong number," he thought.

Twenty word problems later the buzzing still persisted.

202-555-0168: Hey

202-555-0168: Hey, Oscar

202-555-0168: Oscar?

202-555-0168: Hello?

Oscar now stretched out on his bed, decided to respond.

Oscar: Who's this?

There was an immediate reply.

202-555-0168: It's Noah. You gave me your number. Remember?

No, actually, he hadn't remembered. This stress of his day had made Oscar forget all about giving Noah his number.

Oscar: Yeah, I remember. What's up?

Noah: Just finishing some bio homework. You?

Oscar: Same

Their menial chit-chat continued for what felt like an eternity.

Noah: Hey, this is kinda weird but are you doing anything this weekend?

Oscar's hands began to shake as he typed.

Oscar: Wasn't planning on it. Why?

Noah: A band I like is playing a show on Friday and I was wondering if you wanted to come with me?

Oscar's heart was racing. He hadn't taken Noah seriously when he said they should "hang out sometime."

A concert? With Noah? I barely know him. Friday?

He thought for a while longer.

Oscar: Sure, sounds fun

Noah: Cool. I'll fill you in on details tomorrow. Have a good night

Oscar: Okay, goodnight

Shortly after, Oscar drifted off to sleep with the hint of a smile clinging to his face.