"And, yeah, it's actually really cold here—,"

A scream could be heard from across the room. "SHUT UP, COLORADO!"

"Shut it, Alaska! We bought you from Russia!" Colorado responded after a moment.

"You don't have the right to talk! You're known for being the centennial state and for doing drugs!"

"I just think everyone here is really—," Wyoming started. Nobody listened to him, though, for he wasn't populated enough to be heard. Especially not over his neighbors.

Meanwhile...

"Hey, hey Massachusetts!" Texas called out.

"What is it, Texas?"

"Why are you drinking tea?"

"Tea is my favorite drink."

"But America banned tea from the house!"

"No he didn't."

"He did, actually," New Jersey called out.

Massachusetts fell out of his chair. Washington bent down, lightly slapping him in the face. "Crap, he's out cold!"

"Yeah!" Texas and New Jersey high-fived each other.

"Now, now, everyone, why are you picking on your brother again?" New York asked, sauntering over to them. "We're all as American as an apple pie. You know that."

"But he's Irish and likes tea!"

New York lowered her voice. "Don't pick on him again. We're supposed to be united. If you pick on him again, I'll poke your eyes out and put them on a necklace to wear to the Grammy's." Texas gulped while New Jersey simply bounded ahead.

"Hey, Alabama!"

"What?"

"Do you have a crush on anyone here?"

"What? No! Everyone here is like family to me." New Jersey stared at her pointedly. "Shut up, New Jersey! Incest is actually legal in your state!"

"That's enough, New Jersey." Washington mumbled. "Come sit next to me and be a good kid until Alfred comes home."

"No!" New Jersey went to go hang out with the Virginias.

There was a crash from the garage. Wyoming took Colorado by the hand and dragged him over so they could go check it out. "Hey! I'm still arguing with Alaska!" Colorado protested.

Wyoming opened the garage door. California had crashed the car into the wall, creating a dent in both the wall and the car. Maine and Idaho bounded behind him happily.

"Everybody, we bought more food! Lobsters and potatoes!"

"Great, as if we needed more lobsters or potatoes! Why can't we just have actual meat?"

"You didn't want to go, Illinois!"

California was carrying a bag. "Hello, Wyoming! Hiya, Colorado!" He put the bag down. "Oh, I actually have some stuff for the two of you! Come sit at the dining table with me!"

Suddenly, soft music filled the room.

"Looking out upon the ci~ty lights

And the stars above the ocean—,"

"Turn that garbage off!" Georgia screamed. "I'll show you real music!"

"Why? It's a good song!" Hawaii said, eating spam from the container with a fork. She smiled, despite how stressed she felt. It was nice to be on the main land. Her people were peaceful, but it was nice to be surrounded by her fellow states. It got lonely every once in awhile.

"Ugh. Come on, Colorado, let's go somewhere private. I need to talk to both you and Wyoming."

"Okay! Then let's go up to my room!" Colorado said.

They followed Colorado.

Colorado loved his room. All the states had their own rooms, even the sets of twins. But Colorado's looked like winter wonderland. It even had a Christmas tree in the corner. Wyoming teased him about it a lot, but he simply said, "It's the state tree. Am I not allowed to be proud?"

Wyoming didn't like the winter. It was always bare and empty in his state, and it made him feel even lonelier than usual, so his room was bright and cheerful. It had a lot of plants and paintings. The plants wouldn't die as long as he was with them, but he took them home the few times he ever went back.

Colorado pulled up an extra chair and a stool around the desk. California brought out the food. "In-N-Out." He announced. California, naturally, took the other chair, and Wyoming sat on the stool.

Wyoming wasn't expecting any food. Of course he didn't get any. Everyone forgot about him. Still, when he realized that California hadn't brought him food, he just felt awkward and uncomfortable. Wyoming almost wanted to cry, but he held his tears back. He was used to this.

"So anyway, Colorado..."

Colorado gave him fries and the drink while he and California were talking. He even brought out a knife from his desk drawers, cutting the burger in half, and gave one half to Wyoming.

"Well, a lot more of my people are going to be moving to Colorado now."

"Why?"

"Couldn't tell ya. My state is the best." California said.

"Okay, but what did this—," Wyoming started. California was about to leave the room, but turned to look at him. "What did this have to do with me?"

"As you may have noticed, many of my people are beginning to move to your state because it's easier to get to medical school." California stiffened, frowning.

Colorado closed the door. Neither of them said anything for a moment, before Colorado fished a bag of oatmeal cookies out of his coat pocket and casually began munching on them. "Damn it, Colorado, are you high again?"

Colorado coughed, before murmuring, "Maybe."

Wyoming hadn't even noticed that his eyes were red, that he hadn't been reacting quickly. He felt like a horrible friend— but really, how was he supposed to tell when Colorado was high when he was always high?

"Well, I'm going to go to my room." Wyoming mumbled. He really wanted to cry now. It was just Colorado's nature, it was how he lived, he tried to remind himself, but it was a combination of things.

Colorado frowned. "Hey, wait up!"

Wyoming paused. I'm just making a big deal out of it. Nothing's wrong. But I'm worried about him.

Wyoming didn't really want to imagine Colorado getting a stroke or a heart attack.

"Hey, Wyoming! Can I come in?" Someone called.

He frowned. "Umm... Yes."

And who was to come through the door but America himself?

Wyoming held back a sigh. "Ah, why are you cooped up in here by yourself?" America asked, hesitantly sitting next to him on the bed. "Why aren't you with Colorado?"

"Just tired." He mumbled.

"What's wrong?" America asked.

Wyoming shrugged. I really don't want to talk about this with someone who's never there. "I-I don't know. Just... no one paying attention to me, as usual."

"Well that's not true." Easy for him to say. Apparently he's the star of the show at all the World Meetings we're not allowed to go to. "I think you're great, Wyoming, and you are. That's all that matters."

He doesn't mean it.

"I mean it." America paused, studying his face for a reaction. Wyoming had gotten much better at keeping a stoic expression on his face.

It was awkward. The air was tense for a few moments. America checked his watch. "Crap, I have to go now. Can you check on Colorado for me, while you're at it?" America asked.

Wyoming could immediately feel frustration flare up inside him again.

"Yeah, of course I can." Wyoming said.

America smiled. "Awesome! Thanks, dude." He left the room just a bit too quickly.

So that was it. Wyoming hated how America was never around for any of his states. Not only that, but when he was around, he never talked to Wyoming because it was too awkward.

Wyoming sighed and knocked on Colorado's door.