"Goodbye, Aaron! I'll see you tomorrow on Call of Duty, this time on PlayStation, my boy!" Dakota exclaimed, giving Aaron a rough shoulder hug. Aaron chuckled uncomfortably as his headphones popped out of his ears. He looked up and nodded, giving a thumbs up in response.

"I'll be there this time, man, I promise," Aaron said with a faint smile. Dakota patted him on the back as Aaron blinked and packed up his gaming stuff into his backpack. The bus driver watched as they prepared to leave, the motor idling in the peaceful neighborhood. The students waved their farewells to the bus driver. It was Friday, and the weekend awaited them. The chatter among the students was drowned out by Aaron's indifference in the moment. He sat on the warm school bus, blocking out the odd mix of radio music and school bus talk by slipping on his headphones. He listened to his own tunes, which lifted his mood, causing him to bop along with the music as he eagerly awaited his arrival at his own house. He gazed out of the window, observing the mailboxes, cars, and vast terrains of the neighboring areas. He sighed, his red jacket providing warmth, as he heard footsteps descending the school steps. Aaron turned his head to see Dakota running towards his driveway, where his family and siblings were waiting for him. It was a heartwarming sight that Aaron rarely witnessed up close nowadays.