JSS

The Virus

"You know, I heard the reason Liam hasn't been in school is because he got that virus." My friend Serena states as Leah and I walk with her on the way home from school.
School has been shut down for about a week now because it's being turned into a medical shelter since this virus is spreading like crazy, and the hospitals and clinics are getting overwhelmed. Of course I volunteered to help set it up, thankfully my only friends, Leah and Serena, tagged along so I wasn't lonely all day.
"Well, I heard he moved to Florida because his grandmother got the virus." Leah says and then yawns.
She must be tired, Leahs the type of person that takes naps often and drinks tea, is straight A student, has aesthetic fashion, and is space obsessed.
Serena is totally opposite though, she's our rebellious party girl, drinking, smoking, sex, that's Serena. Sometimes I say she does all that stuff so we don't have to.
Nevertheless, she's an amazing person, That I've known for twelve years, and Leah for six.
I'm basically the shitty mom of the group.
Self centered, but I care about everyone and everything too much, but for some reason they seem to tolerate me more than anyone.
"What have you heard Lee?" Serena asks shuffling in front of me as she starts to walk backwards while facing me.
"I dunno, nothing really. I didn't even know he had been gone since you mentioned it just now." I answer shrugging my shoulders.
Which is true, so many people had left school because of this virus that I didn't even realize the biggest fuckboy left too. But I never really pay attention to stuff like that anyway.
"What?! You mean you didn't acknowledge the hottest guy in school stop showing up?" Serena overreacted as usual flailing her arms in the air like a mad woman.
"He's not that hot." I chuckle as I reply.
"Not that hot?!" Serena shouts and nearly falls on her ass which cause me and Leah to both start laughing.
"Oh yeah, can I stay at your place this weekend?" I look over at Leah as Serena regains her balance and walks beside us again.
"Sure fam, Serena you wanna come too?" Leah asks leaning her head over to see Serena.
"I would" she sighs, "but I have to babysit Emmet this weekend." Serena groans and slumps her shoulders.
"Again?" I ask longingly, you know how most teenagers have jobs? Well Serena has an Emmet, and she's always babysitting.
"Yeah, I know." Serena rolls her eyes.
"Well hey, if something changes and you can come over, just let me know." Leah says breaking away from the group, walking towards her house across the street.
"I'll be back in like ten minutes! Gotta grab some clothes." I shout as Leah walks inside.
"Okay!" She yells back.
After a few minutes of silent walking with Serena I ask, "you wanna come with me to pack? I'll walk you home before I go to Leahs." I ask.
"Sure" Serena says shrugging her shoulders and pulling out her phone texting all her friends.

After about five minutes, we finally reach my house and I unlock the gate to my 2 acre yard that holds a house, a shed, and three dumb dogs. As I open the gate I hear Serena start to talk, "Hello?" She says, I turn around and realize she's on the phone, "What? What do you mean? No way. I mean yeah, Leah said I could stay over at her place earlier. Okay. Yeah. No. Alright. Bye." She hangs up and looks towards me.
"Who was that?" I ask curiously I, unwrapping the chain from the fence while my dogs bark and jump around.
"Mimi.. Apparently pawpaw got the virus and she doesn't want me to go home because she's afraid I'll catch it. So, got any clothes I can borrow?" She explains then asks.
"Duh" I laugh sliding open the gate and walking in with her following behind me.
"This virus stuff is getting pretty crazy, it's only been a couple days since it got around and it already seems like it's even out of Georgia." I tell Serena as we walk in the front door to the empty house.
"Yeah, half the people I know have gotten it, I'm surprised I haven't." She responds while walking over to the kitchen with me.
I swing open the fridge and snatch a couple water bottles and toss one to Serena who's now sitting on the kitchen counter.
"So where's your mom and dad this time?" She asks annoyed, she hates it when they leave me alone by myself, so does Leah. But I don't mind it, it gives me freedom.
"They're in Atlanta right now, my Aunt Kat's cancer has spread to her lungs, so they want to be with her, and they said since I have school, I have to stay here. I haven't even told them about it being shut down for now, but honestly it doesn't bother me, if they were here I'd be under their constant control and I don't need that." I explain walking to my bedroom to pack some clothes.
"I guess that's true." Serena mumbles as she hops off the counter and follows behind.
I open my wardrobe and pull out a few outfits, a black crop top with black jeans and a paint splattered shirt with a black skirt and cat leggings, then I grab my pink night gown and shove everything in a small backpack that I usually take with me to spend the night at friends houses.
"You need one?" I ask Serena holding up a spare backpack, she nods and I toss it towards her.
Immediately she starts going through my wardrobe and picks out some old clothes.
Serena's never really cared much for fashion which doesn't bother me at the moment, if she was Leah she'd be snatching up all my cute outfits and I'd actually bite her.
I walk into the bathroom and toss a few things in my bag, like a my tooth and toothpaste and my hairbrush.
"Here, can't forget your babies." Serena says from behind me as I turn around to see her holding my glasses, round hippie shades that are too big for my face.
She hands them to me and walks towards the front door.
"I'm gonna go wait by the gate, gotta call my mom and let her know I'll be at Leah's and not Mimi's tonight." She says walking out the front door and shutting it lightly.
Getting my old man sweater won't hurt, it's pretty cute.
I run back into my room and snatch up my grungy sweater and look in the mirror.
My outfit today wasn't too bad, a black shirt with a flannel, and jean shorts with black leggings, and a beanie with my glasses.
My red hair needs re dyeing soon, the tips are fading white and the roots are all grown out.
I pull my focus away from the mirror and remember that Serena is outside waiting for me, I fling my bag over my shoulder and make sure all the light are off.
Leaving the front door I go to meet Serena outside at the gate.

"You talk to her?" I ask Serena as I shut the fence and wrap it in the chain.
"No, she didn't answer, I'll try again when we get to Leahs." She answers and starts walking towards the sidewalk, I put the lock on the gate as my dogs bark and whine "I love you babies, I'll see you soon!" I shout making kissie noises, Serena laughs and rolls her eyes and we begin walking to Leahs.