Social Distancing (COMPLETED)

Prologue

It was a few minutes past noon when Alaric got a call from his editor. It was the fourth call that day, and he knew he cannot avoid it any longer.

“Hello” he grunted into the phone, already in a bad mood knowing what his editor was going to say.

“Alaric Walters, don’t you dare ignore my calls ever again. Do you know how many days has it been?” the editor grunted. He could imagine her sitting at her desk, her mouth in a twist, her fingers working on the stress ball; she definitely needed it while talking to Alaric.

“I’m sorry, I was busy” he told her,

“Busy doing what? I don’t even care; you were supposed to send me the final draft of your first chapter two days ago. Where is it?”

“Uh...” he grimaced; he didn’t know what to tell her, he still didn’t start writing the chapter. But that definitely wasn’t the right answer.

“Oh, my god” he heard her whisper, “you didn’t write it”

He wasn’t surprised she knew that. That woman knew him like the back of her hand.

“Writers block. Do you know how hard it is to find an idea to write a story? Give me some time, Hilary”

“Fine, I’ll give you two weeks of time, and if you don’t finish by then, God, help you”

“Whatever” he rolled his eyes, “Are you coming to the New Year eve’s dinner?” he changed the topic.

“I’m serious, Ric. I don’t care if you paint your house or join a dating site. I need it done in two weeks.” She took a deep breath, “And yes, I am coming to the dinner. Mum won’t let me live in peace if I don’t” she laughed but he wasn’t listening. He stopped listening after the second sentence, an idea forming in his head.

“It’s not a bad idea” he whispered cutting the call, and leaving a confused Hilary behind.

“Hurry up Shannon” Amulya snapped at her friend, who was taking her sweet time getting ready to the party.

“Relax, Chica” she said with a fake accent, which made Amulya almost smile, but she was frustrated at her friend.

“It’s your party Shannon” she grumbled, and frowned until her friend huffed and they climbed down the stairs, where the party was already in full swing.

It wasn’t a large party. Maybe around fifteen to twenty people, which was why the room was barely full. Shannon lives in a penthouse, bought by her parents along with a house keeper, who was the one that arranged the party on New Year eve.

The gathering went well. Everyone was almost drunk by the time midnight came. Well, everyone except Amulya. She refused to drink. It wasn’t how she was raised. She could hear her mother’s voice warning her not to get drunk and behave like the other girls who lacked morals.
Few hours past midnight, she found herself next to Shannon, who was about to pass out, in a circle playing truth or dare.

It wasn’t a game Amulya wanted to play along with a bunch of drunken people, but she wasn’t a total party pooper. That’s how almost an hour later she found herself tipsy, after refusing to do certain provocative dares, with her phone in her hand, and tinder profile set up and swiping right for a few guys.

A few too many she was going to regret.

~*~

6.04.20

Edited