The Last One | Project Fear

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄

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The world is on fire.

Okay, maybe it isn't, but it sure as hell feels that way. Halfway through my spring semester, the world basically shut down thanks to a pandemic. Having to do school from home isn't the worst thing in the world, but it's scary out there. You can't go out, you can't see friends, you have to social distance and wear masks—it's a scary time.

Oh, and to top it all off? Two weeks after the world shut down and it's my nineteenth birthday.

The atmosphere is so different from last year for obvious reasons. Last year, all my friends (some who I don't even speak to anymore) were here because they could be. Danny stopped by earlier against the guidelines to celebrate with my family, mostly just because I'm so sad that no one can really celebrate with me. And last year was when my whole life changed, with Tanner asking me to be on Destination Fear.

Now, with the pandemic, I wonder if we'll even be able to go and film another season like we planned.

As my birthday winds down, I change into my pajamas and crawl into bed. Despite it being during lockdown, my day was relatively good. Mom tried to make it as happy as possible and I'm grateful for it.

I'm scrolling through YouTube, trying to take my mind off of the world being on literal fire, when a FaceTime request comes through. It's almost nine o'clock at night, and Melissa knows I like to be in bed early, so this can only be one person. As I read the caller ID, I realize I'm right.

Smiling still, I accept the call and set my phone against my thighs, waving to the camera as the call connects.

"Happy birthday!" Dakota cheers from the other side of the screen. "Sorry it's late, I've been slammed today."

"It's all good," I assure him. "Thank you, though. It's a weird birthday."

"For sure," Dakota agrees. "It's a weird time."

"A scary time," I mutter distractedly.

For someone with asthma, a virus that affects the pulmonary functions can be life threatening. Mom is also immunocompromised, since she has a few autoimmune diseases, so we're in such a treacherous spot.

"Speaking of scary things," Dakota continues and I turn my attention back to him. "We have a month until the premiere of season two!"

I clap my hands excitedly. "I wasn't even this excited when my sister got engaged," I tease.

"Wait, your sister got engaged?" he questions, brows shooting upward. "When?!"

"Dude, this was months ago," I laugh. "Like, in December."

Dakota huffs, shaking his head. "Well, no one told me," he says dramatically and I chuckle. "Anyway, we're going to be doing a special episode of the show soon."