Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or its original characters. No copyright infringement is intended with the posting of this story.

A/N: So this is something I've been working on for about 3 months now after hearing a song on the radio that sent me down a rabbit hole filled with new music causing a fun plot bunny to be born. The song was titled Bored, and it's by an artist named Tessa Violet. If you've not heard it, please do a quick YouTube search because it will help set the mood for this story as will the rest of her music.

Many many many thanks to my amazing beta, BPlemons. She's the absolute best when it comes to cleaning up my words and keeping track of all my crazy thinking.

I also owe a big thank you to Lolypop82 for making this story a fabulous banner and Sunshine1220 for being the push I needed when I started to get nervous about sharing this on FFn.

Some quick house keeping before we get started:

1) This story will be nothing but humor, and romance, with a taste of drama to help keep things interesting. There will be no main character death or even illness from start to finish, so absolutely zero angst related to the pandemic.

2) Bella is 17 at the start of the story, anticipating her 18th birthday. Edward is her older brothers best friend and he's in his mid 20's.

If their age difference or the mentioning of a pandemic will bother you, you might want to consider skipping this one.


)*)*) Bored (*(*(

.Prologue.

.

Prom: Cancelled

Senior Trip: Cancelled

Graduation: Cancelled

Deposit for College Housing: Pending Reimbursement

Celebrating My Eighteenth Birthday With Friends: That's Funny

Honestly, it's been weeks since I've even bothered paying attention to what day it is.

What's the point when your life is stuck on a perpetual repeat, replaying the same monotonous day over and over again?

Even more so when you've been forced to shelter in place with your parents during a goddamn global pandemic.

I hear the phone. It's ringing downstairs, but I don't bother getting up to answer it.

Whoever it is, if it's important, they can leave a message.

Besides, my mother is probably already in the kitchen looking for a purpose that doesn't involve rearranging the pantry for the umptenth time today.

My laziness is actually a gift, though I doubt she'll notice or appreciate it.

Not to mention, I really need to finish this new flyer for Rose to hang up around town while she's out breaking quarantine promoting our new underground guerilla campaign;

'Say yes to masks, and no to bras!

Free the Titty, Protect the City!'

Perfection.

All it needs now are a few choice graphics but a high pitch screech suddenly assaults my ears.

The sound sends me upright with my laptop and then onto my feet at the edge of my bed.

What in the world?

With my heart now pounding like a jackhammer against my chest, it feels like an eternity before I'm able to make it down the stairs.

You can imagine my surprise when I reach the kitchen and find the woman who birthed me smiling like a crazy person while jumping in place as if she's just won something.

"What is it? Who was on the phone? Is there a vaccine?!"

She laughs and shakes her head, "No. That was your brother! You're not going to believe this! He's coming home, Bella! As soon as next week!"

Her words make zero sense.

"Emmett? Emmett is coming here? To our house? But… how? And why? He hasn't been home in over four years and they're not letting anyone leave California right now."

"His friend… the one he started his business with... he somehow got them clearance to travel. All they need is a flight and they'll be here with us!"

Her excitement over this news is numbing.

Mostly because the return of my older brother means absolutely nothing to me.

In fact, I'd practically forgotten he existed.

That's what happens when someone walks out of your life and never returns.

"Wait… they? Are you saying his friend will be coming with him? To stay here?! In our house?!" I shout on impulse, letting my growing frustration over this news to be clearly known.

"Bella—"

"No! I've not been allowed to see my friends… my boyfriend, for MONTHS! Emmett gets a golden ticket to cross the goddamn country that's on lockdown and suddenly we're hosting an open house?! This is absolute bullshit!"

"He's your brother, Isabella."

"And he left us, Mother! So what? Now that the world is ending he's ready to make amends and acknowledge we still exist?"

She flips her hand in my direction then lets out a soft sigh.

Next she'll tell me I'm being ridiculous.

"You're being absolutely ridiculous."

And there it is.

It's impossible to not roll my eyes.

"You need to stop being so dramatic. The world is not ending. All of this is only temporary. We just need to continue to do our part until this virus dies out or they develop a legitimate vaccine. Emmett needs us, and he will always be welcome in this home. I really need you to be an adult about this."

"An adult?" I scoff, "Now I need to be an adult? Jesus! You seriously need to make up your mind! One second I'm still a teenager living under your roof, with no choice but to abide by your rules, but now I should grow up, suck it up and play pretend with someone who has forgotten all about us until he actually needs us again? You're freaking hilarious!"

I turn to leave, but she manages to block the doorway, "This is a good thing, Bella. Please. We've had very little to celebrate this year. Your brother coming home is something we all need right now. You'll see."


A/N: And so it begins.

My plan is to start posting chapters as soon as I wrap up Roadies which should happen within the next two-ish weeks. Happy to report this new one is almost completely written and my beta is already working hard with edits.

Reviews help me smile, and I'd love to read what you're thinking.

In exchange for your thoughts, I'll share an outtake from Emmett's POV right after he hangs up with his mother to share some words with his best friend who will be traveling back home with him, *wink*.