"I gotta go, mom." Noah called as he ran through his house Friday morning.

"Do you need a ride, honey?" Maggie Gazeer asked him as she walked into the kitchen, toweling off her still-wet hair.

"No ma, I'm picking up Wes and Sonya." He shoved a breakfast bagel in his face.

"Well okay Sweetheart, stay safe and have a wonderful day." She called as he ran out the door and into the bright sunlight of Ridge Bay, California.

Noah put the car in reverse and pulled out the driveway. He turned onto the street across from his to pick up Wes.

Wesley Reid was not that popular. In truth, he and Noah had met when their Kindergarten teacher suggested that he had looked 'lonely' and to go talk to him. It wasn't until much later, 5th grade year in fact, that they realized that they had a lot in common with each other and decided to be friends. It wasn't like they didn't have their arguments, Wes tended to be a more levelheaded thinker, while Noah needed more impulse control.

"Hey buddy!" Noah said as Wes yanked open the door and hopped inside. Noah went to ruffle his red hair and pulled back immediately.

"What did you put in your hair?" He asked, wiping his hands on his jeans before touching the steering wheel.

"I gelled it this morning, I think it looks stylish." He said as he reached up to check that it was back in place.

"Wes, that's not a cool style."

"I like it."

"No way, man. That's not cool."

They pulled into the driveway of Noah's girlfriend.

Sonya Teish stepped onto her lawn and ran to the car.

"Morning Noah." She said, kissing him on the cheek before sliding into the back seat.

"What's up, Wes?"

"Just trying to make my way through home life." It was true that Wes was the oldest of five siblings, ranging from four to twelve. But Noah had to give him credit, he never complained.

In fact, all of them had awkward home lives. Sophia's parents were divorced, and during the summer she'd fly to Wyoming to be with her dad, then come back at the end of summer to start school in California with the rest of them. And being that Noah's dad had died before he was born, his mother was having trouble keeping up with bills, so Noah worked odd summer jobs.

The entrance to the Cherie Hills Memorial High School, named after their past governor, sat at the top of a hill. In keeping with the pun, they had planted cherry trees as well, but for safety reasons, ( teens had been climbing up into the branches to jump on their unsuspecting classmates,) they had been cut down. The stumps were an okay place to sit.

"Everyone out." Said Noah as he parked the car.

The final bell rang, signaling they'd all better be inside the building or would 'suffer the consequences.'

Noah slammed his locker door shut before heading to homeroom. After homeroom came choir, which he had joined because his mom had guilt-tripped him into it saying, 'I remember how much your father loved to sing. He would be so proud of you if you joined.'

Next was Advanced Math, a class he shared with Wes, whom he passed notes to. Wes almost never answered, choosing to throw them away so he couldn't be blamed.

Art came next, which he would have liked, if all of the schools 'bad kids' hadn't been put in it. There were people throwing paintbrushes at each other. And what was it with teens painting and drawing all over themselves? They would come back from art with stained fingers, leaving marks all over their assignments. Noah's mom wouldn't let him do that.

After lunch was a free period, then study hall. Followed by a language class, then Noah's last class of the day, French.

Wes's hand tapped him on the back. "So, what do you think of the solar flares they've recorded at NASA?" He asked.

"Didn't know they recorded anything." Said Noah.

"Oh yes, massive ones. It's good thing for the atmosphere, am I right?" He laughed, jabbing Noah with his elbow.

"This is why you have no other friends." He muttered.

After school Noah dropped his friends back at their houses and went home. No lights were on, and so he let himself in. His mom must have been picked up by her carpool.

He poured himself a glass of orange juice and sat at the kitchen table to start his homework. Translating English phrases into French, algebra, and an essay for social studies class about the Texas Alamo that wasn't due until Monday.

The squeak that came from the hall alerted Noah to the passage of time. He glanced up at the clock. It's face shown 9:00. He hadn't made dinner, for him nor his mother.

"Hey. I brought some Chinese home today, I figured you'd be tired after school." His mom worked overtime as a professional driver for movie sets. Currently they were assigned 'The Death Cure.' It made good money, but it was hard to keep up with the rent. She loved it though. 'I meet so many interesting individuals every day.' She once said.

"Thanks mom. I wasn't able to cook anything, I got lost in my homework." Noah said.

"There's something I have to tell you." She said. "We're needing to film in a new location in Georgia, and I can't take you with me."

"So you're leaving me home alone?" He asked, clearly astonished.

"Noah, you can take care of yourself, it'll only be for a week. I'm leaving you money so you can order pizza or some other unhealthy takeout."

"Fine, I'm not complaining."

"I'll be calling you every five hours or so to check up on you." Noah cringed at her protectiveness. "And we're leaving in the morning. I might not see you."

After a meal of chicken and rice Noah headed upstairs for bed. He surfed the web until ten o'clock before drifting off, still in his school clothes.