Good morning, darlings! Happy Friday!

Disclaimer on this chapter... This story is not meant to take any political stand whatsoever. The nature of this story is for amusement purposes. I don't always agree with the actions of the characters, but they are meant to reflect actions of real people as we learned how to deal with this pandemic.

Thank you so much to Fran S. Sunflower & DaniDarlingxx for taking this journey with me, and for all of you for joining us!

Day 5: March 17, 2020

Bella

20:23 PDT

Los Angeles, California

We have found a party. It's loud, obnoxious, and exactly the distraction we all need. It's only a few blocks down from the house, so we can walk, which means all of us are smashed. It's crowded, despite the lockdown, and though some part of me wonders if it's smart to be out right now, the rest of me absolutely gives zero fucks.

I've been flirting all night with a guy I found in the kitchen. He's medium height, with light brown hair and brown eyes. Everything about him seems ordinary, and honestly, he doesn't look like he'd be that good in bed, but he's cute enough to pass the night.

"Where are you from?" he asks, yelling over the aggressive Irish rock blasting out of the house's sound system. I ignore him. I plan on using this guy as a one-night stand, and that means as few personal details as possible.

"Want to get out of here?" I ask, glancing at him. His face is way too fucking eager.

"Come on!" he shouts. "We can go to my room."

Christ, he lives here? Fantastic.

He leads me upstairs, past thick crowds of people. His room is on the third door past the landing, and he opens the door with a flourish. I step inside and internally sigh. It's a boring-ass room, and already I know this is not a guy who is going to be capable of getting me off.

At this point, I feel like I'd be better getting off from my new Duck Dealer.

I turn to look at him. He looks like a puppy; he's so fucking excited. I briefly wonder how old he is.

"So," he says after I don't say anything. I sip my beer, starting to regret my decision to come up here with him. "How about that pandemic, right?" I raise an eyebrow at him, and he blushes. "I mean," he stutters, shaking his head. "We're supposed to be in like, lockdown or whatever," he waves a hand in front of him. "I know we don't know each other that well or anything, but," he pauses, scratching at the back of his neck. "I dunno, maybe we can like quarantine together or something." He says it in a joking way, probably to try to deflect when I inevitably shut him down.

His words hit me hard, and I take a moment to consider what the hell I'm doing. "I gotta go," I say, shaking my head. He is so startled that I'm able to brush past him easily. I climb downstairs, my head spinning. I don't want to sit with the heavy thoughts that are now in me, so instead, I head to the kitchen and pound some shots, desperate to lose myself for a moment.

I know, I know. The partying young adults at the beginning of this pandemic was a nightmare and I absolutely do not condone the behavior, but this is meant to be an authentic reflection of a lot of people around this age.

Okay, with the heavy aside, poor Bella is really going through it. Don't worry, she'll be taken care of soon enough ;)

See you tomorrow for some Emmett!