For as long as George can remember, he's always felt like an outcast. He'd learned to be cautious when letting new people into his life, never allowing anyone to get too close. As time passed he gradually got used to relying solely on himself, but he still desperately wished he could just put himself out there a little more. At the age of twenty-one he's finally ready to take some risks and meet new people, or at least, that's what he's trying to tell himself. As George battles with his self worth and feelings of discouragement, he has a chance encounter with an American stranger in the middle of the night. Could an unlikely friendship between the two change the trajectory of George's life? He certainly hopes so. {t/w}~ alcoholism, abuse, talk of mental health, slight/implied homophobia, panic attacks *there will be a disclaimer in the specific chapters that warnings appear in, some are more mild than others* please stay safe and know that you are loved! this story is purely for practice purposes and is not intended to make anyone uncomfortable, and if it does, i'll take it down right away! now with that out of the way, let's get into the story <3

Quarantine hit just as George flew into Jacksonville, Florida for a business trip. Usually, he and Clay met up once or twice to hang out before ultimately resuming their own lives. This time, though, George's hotel shuts down and his return flight gets cancelled in the midst of the pandemic. Thankfully, his best friend offers him a place to stay until everything blows over... but how long will it be until that happens? And what may the two be up to while the world around them is in disarray? Word Count: 50,455 (that's a novel!! >:0) At time of completion: 35K views 2K votes 3K comments #24 in Minecraft #4 in Gream #16 in Dream