Good morning, lovelies! I know many were worried about Carlisle. Honestly, me too. The pandemic was (and still is) terrifying when it came to vulnerable loved ones (and strangers alike!).

Thank you so much to Fran S. Sunflower for her beta work, and DaniDarlingxx for prereading.

Day 6: March 18, 2020

Alice

9:35 PDT

Los Angeles, California

"Coffee," Rose demands the moment her feet hit the bottom stair. I glance up at her and point to the kitchen. She grunts, moving past where Jasper and I are curled up on the sofa. He has a large mug of coffee while I sip my tea. Despite the drinking we did last night, neither of us has woken with a hangover, thank god.

I hear Rose in the kitchen, and I turn my attention back to the TV. They are giving reports of parties that went on last night, and it hits me like a lead brick. We're assholes.

I glance at Jasper to see he's frowning at the TV. He's wearing his glasses this morning, and he looks so sexy in them. "We're all dicks, aren't we?" I say, looking back at the TV. He hums.

"We really should have thought it through," he agrees. I shake my head. I can't believe none of us considered the ramifications last night. Of course, now that I'm sober and watching every news outlet basically shame us and thousands of people who went out to party last night, things are clearer.

"We have to crack down," I say, shaking my head. "We can't…" I pause, thinking about my dad. He's going out of his mind, unable to help right now. Every doctor and nurse in the world is working around the clock, and we're just out here, being careless dicks. Those people are someone's loved ones, sacrificing to help idiots like us through the pandemic. "Things are going to change."

Jasper looks at me. "Yeah," he agrees. "They have to."

I turn to the TV, my fingers drumming on my mug. It is now my personal mission to make sure the five of us come through this pandemic without causing anyone more grief or hardship. I am going full lockdown on this lockdown.

Whew, thank god for Alice!

Unfortunately, while many did have the sort of realization these kiddos are having, many did not. Personally, I'm grateful for the people in my life who have been ultra responsible and conscientious.

See you tomorrow, my dears!