A/N: Yet another chapter for you guys! I was actually shocked that I got like what, 4 reviews? That's a big thing to me! Oh, I forgot to mention that I'll only be able to update on weekdays and not weekends (It's Friday now where I am). And I apologize if nothing interesting is happening in the chapters so far. I like to take my sweet time developing the characters and the plot, so when shit hits the fan, it hits hard.

It was a boring routine.

Wake up, go to college, go home, forget about college, sleep.

Tyler was getting sick of it. Although nothing truly bad had happened, he just felt extremely disturbed by... by something. He just couldn't quite figure it out. He'd heard that the constant feeling of unsatisfaction was a symptom of OCD, but he wasn't unsatisfied. Just... afraid, maybe?

Afraid of what?

It didn't help that his brand-new laptop, the one he specifically bought for college, was dying a little every time he used it. Even after charging it overnight, it would come up with having only half the battery left in the morning. How bothersome, Tyler would say to himself. I'll need to have it checked.

And so he eventually did.

"I'm sorry sir, but nothing appears to be broken," said the employee at a gadgets store. "If the charger is the problem, we'd be happy to replace it, so long as it has a warranty."

"My warranty has expired already, so I suppose I'll have to buy another one," replied Tyler in a dry tone. "I just hope it's worth it."

The employee just smiled.

It was nearing dusk when Tyler made his way home from the shop. He was a little upset that he wasted his precious money on a new charger than may or may not remedy his laptop problem. As he mulled it over, a loud ringing emitted from his pants pocket and cut through the warm spring air, completely snapping him out of his thoughts.

Oh. It's just my phone.

"Hello?" Tyler greeted.

"Guess who this is!" replied the singsong voice. A voice that brought memories of band practice and singing and trying on the most fashionable clothes on the block.

"Craig? Is that you?"

"Ding-ding-ding! We have a winner!" He laughed on his end of the call. "What's up, man? I haven't talked to you since forever!"

"I'm on my way home from the tech store down the street."

"Did you buy something?"

"I had to. My laptop's been giving me some problems these past few days." He paused to navigate his way through the dormitory he currently resided in.

Craig didn't even notice the pause. "Really? What a coincidence! My laptop's being a jerk to me, too!"

Tyler took out the keys to his dorm room and opened the unlocked door. He was greeted by the sight he was so tired of seeing: the same study desk, the same organized papers and books, the same neatly arranged furniture. Ironically, the cleanliness seemed vile to him.

"How have things been going with you?" Tyler finally said after a long silence.

"Same old, same old." You could practically hear the smile in his voice. "But it's a pretty chill lifestyle. Like I wake up every morning looking forward to something. I don't know what I'm doing differently; I just, y'know, play the guitar, hang with friends, hang with my girlfriend, et cetera, stuff like that."

"That's great, actually. I'm stuck in a routine as well, but unlike you, I don't look forward to anything." He frowned and laid his exhausted body on the bed. "Perhaps I'm missing something. I just don't know what."

"Maybe you just need some spice in your life! Whaddaya say to some jamming? Just me and you, vocalist to bassist, chillin' and doing drugs, or whatever floats your boat."

The bespectacled teen sat up and fit his phone between his ear and shoulder as he removed his shoes and started to dress down. "I don't do drugs, Craig." Then, with worry creeping in, he added, "Do you?"

"Nah, man. That ain't my thing. A couple of dudes I know do it, but, well, y'know. I don't want to ruin my beautiful voice."

"Is that so? Well, I'd love to catch up with you some time. When and where?"

"My college, my dorm, room 213, this Saturday. Just knock twice and I'll know it's you." He cleared his throat. "So, uh, I guess I'll see you then?"

"Yes, of course. See you."

"And bring your bass!"

"I will."

Tyler then hung up.

He suddenly remembered about the newly-bought charger, and, with his hopes tied in a tight bundle of expectations, connected it to the laptop. He eagerly waited for something to happen as he sat by the study desk. The laptop was practically life to him! He did everything there, from making college reports, to updating his blog, to chatting with friends online. If it was dead, then he may as well be dead, too.

A minute passed. Two minutes. Five. Ten.

And yet the laptop was still not charging.

Tyler's first impulse was to blame the tech shop for scamming him, but then he realized, no scam would ever risk using a warranty system. So what would he do now? Who or what would he blame? Then again, what use would blaming anything be? To vent his anger and frustration?

...No. He was not that sort of person.

So, as useless and upsetting as it was, Tyler simply left the laptop charging overnight. What little hope he had left diminished as quickly as the laptop's battery. He may have to consider buying a new laptop, but that would definitely hurt his allowance, and who knows? It might have the same problem. Even Craig's laptop was giving him problems; of which the sort Tyler wasn't aware of, but he was almost sure his friend was stuck in the same situation as he was. Whatever the reason was for the damn laptop not charging, Tyler hoped he would forget about it in the morning.

He didn't.

A/N: I'm quite happy with this! It's long and it has more character development. And whoo, finally, some problems to add to the boring drone of this story! I'm just wondering if you guys sympathize with poor Tyler...?

Reviews of all sorts are appreciated!