Only Us (Justin Fields)

|46| New Beginnings

Jillian

*March 13th 2020*

There are few times in the history of the world where everything comes to a complete stop. This planet is home to over 7 billion people where we coexist well enough that we know what's happening on the other side of the world but usually don't do anything about it. It's not very often when all of us collectively can agree on something. Usually those kinds of things are not good.

Enter COVID-19

It all started back in February when news broke about a cruise ship not being able to unload back into the country due to a virus spreading throughout the guests on board. You think nothing of it, many boats quarantine for different reasons, this is nothing new. You never think that this time would be so different. But then you look at other countries who already have this virus spreading and you think maybe we should be cautious. The numbers of people who are affected multiply by the day and you know deep down as soon as it reaches America there is no stopping it. As days pass the cases make it into the country and the hospitals are on notice. They see how other countries have been handling this situation and do their best to stop all those bad things from happening. But no one is prepared for a pandemic, it's been far too long since the last one and we have a shot for influenza now. We don't have anything for this.

No one could have imagined the way the world was going to be shut down. All professional sports put on hold, jobs are being lost and hospitals being filled to the brim. People try to leave campus and go back to their home but there's a travel ban in and out of every border. It's awful. You live in fear of contracting this awful virus, what your life will be like afterwards. We just don't know enough to fight this thing. And if you get it how to move forward with our lives.

As for us the college goes on full lockdown. In fact all colleges in America were strictly online. A lot of kids go home and work from there, the dorms shut down and the city is nearly desolate. My choice was already made for me because I didn't have anywhere else to go. But my apartment complex was looking to close down for the time being as well. Use this time for remodeling since 95% of the tenants will be gone. Only I didn't have a place to go since that is where my scholarship allowed me to live and no one else was going to open up the door to outsiders considering the risk to their current tenants.

"My roommate is going home for the lockdown, you can come stay with me" Justin insists.

Throughout this whole shitty situation the one bright side is that Justin couldn't do workouts or anything and we've had more time together.

It was a long football season from August to January and he made it his goal to see me as much as possible throughout that time. He is a talented man but even with those natural born talents it will only get him so far. His work ethic gets him the rest of the way. So he would do just as much off the field as he did on it. It took up a lot of time but I don't mind how much he has to work in order to do the incredible things he does, he loved it and it gave me time to myself. Then when there was a chance we would watch a movie or share a meal. Stuff that isn't nearly as amazing as he does on the football field but gives us both the same feeling as satisfaction.

After winning every game in the regular season and the big ten championship the team lost in their bowl game. It wasn't pretty and the loss was to a familiar face for Justin from his past. He was nearly unapproachable for about a week. Then he showed up at my door with flowers and some movies and we spent two whole days locked up together. We've been doing great ever since.

That was a few months ago and now another challenge awaits us.

"You think us living together is the solution" I question.

"I do. It'll save money, and I know you will make me do online classes and not slack off. Plus, I really like the idea of being able to see you all the time" he confesses.

"You would be sick of me" I chuckle.

"Never" he defends.

I've known Justin for over a year now. And every time I think I understand him.... I see how much I really don't. Because he says things like this and it makes me feel all weak in the knees. I never know what to do with myself in these situations. The thought of always being with him, how he could make me feel like this all the time, it's terrifying.

"Okay, say I move in. You're helping me cook. I get to bring my plants. And you let me help out around the place" I bargain.

"Deal" he cheers. He's a little too happy about this.

We spend the morning collecting my things. Class will start back up next week after what was supposed to be spring break. It doesn't give the professors a lot of time to put months worth of materials into an online classroom but they don't really have a choice. There are already some cases reported on campus so everyone was masked up and prepared for the worst. I didn't have much stuff to begin with so it took just a few hours to get everything and move it to his place.

"Let me help" he insists as he takes a bag from me. He easily slings it over his shoulder and takes me to his ex roommates room.

We get in and I realize how nice they have it. I've been over before but I can't say I've been in the rooms. We usually hang out in the kitchen or the living area. But the athletes are very much treated well. I felt bad for taking advantage of his roommate leaving but I didn't really have much of a choice.

Once we arrive in the room he softly set the things down by the door. I see the lion that he won me sitting on the bed and I smile. Of course that's the first thing he put up in here.

I walk over and run my fingers through its mane. He doesn't know this but I sleep with it every night I do get to sleep.

"I always wanted an excuse to spend time together like this. I just wish the circumstances were better" he claims.

"This situation is quite a horrible one. But I think it will put a lot of things into perspective. When all the things we distract ourselves with are gone we will be face to see what was real and what was faked this whole time" I explain.

"I hope it doesn't last long. But I hope it lasts long enough for me to get you to see what an incredible human you are" he claims.