November 10th, 2019

The bonfire was a disaster.

Florrie FaceTimed me the morning after to explain everything that had gone wrong. When her cute little face lit up my phone, I was overjoyed. By the time she finished talking, my spirits had fallen considerably.

"One of the sick kids escaped from the nurses office and shoved a girl into the fire. You might know her, she is Enrico's sister: Martha. Well, she had to be taken away to the hospital and so did the guy that shoved her in."

Florrie tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear before continuing. "You know what's worse? Che. Martha is one of her best friends but she hardly did anything when it all went down! Afterward, all she wanted to do was hiss at me from going back to the dorm with you!"

"Is she really that upset that you're talking to me?" I asked.

"Yeah... she said the scene I caused was totally embarrassing and she thinks you're too weird for me to talk to you." Florrie sighed a long, drawn out sigh. "I'm not going to stop seeing you though. We just have to keep it undercover."

Truthfully, I didn't like the sound of that... But it was what Florrie wanted. "Sure," I agreed. "I can't believe someone was shoved in the fire..."

"I know. I feel really bad for Martha. I can't imagine getting burnt like that and then not having your friends care, just rubbing salt into the wound." She looked so upset, and she wasn't even good friends with Martha as far as I knew. Florrie just seemed to care so much—to feel so much—for everyone. That had to be draining.

"At least we know she'll be okay," I said, not being able to stand seeing her upset. "Since you said there everything was going well for her in the hospital."

"Yeah. That's good at least." She sighed, slumping her shoulders in relief.

"Hey, listen... I'm sorry about getting mad at you before. I just assumed you were like every other blonde chick."

"It's alright! I forgive you."

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

The school finally told us what was going on. I think Martha's parents threatened the school. Afterall, their child had almost been burned alive.

It was a bleak Tuesday morning when everyone in the school got an email detailing what was going on.

Dear students, faculty, and staff of Foxcroft Academy,

We have recently verified new information regarding the 'cold' spreading around campus. This email will detail everything known along with a plan of action.

The 'strong cold', mentioned in a previous school assembly, is evidently not a cold. It is an entirely new disease that first presents itself as a cold. After three days however, the cold symptoms disappear as the disease attacks the mind. Truly, it is a horrible thing. Many students have acted in violent ways as a result of the brain damage.

After one week, the body begins to fail. This resulted in the death of beloved freshman: Ashlin. You may pay your respects online; There will be a link on the Foxcroft Academy site.

Doctors are working around the clock to help the students with failing systems, so that these children may live. In addition to our outstanding nurses, we have hired doctors to reside on school grounds to help the students dealing with this new disease and prevent its spreading.

As of now, all classes are postponed. All meals will be held in students' homeroom class. We are uncertain of the way the disease spreads, so we will take all precautions. Please take a look at the attached schedule.

As of now, the disease has only presented itself at Foxcroft. To keep the lives of those outside the school safe, we are not allowing students to leave the campus without a principal pass, as outlined in the previous assembly.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation,

Dr. Rondal Baldwin

Assistant Principal

Foxcroft Academy

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

I FaceTimed Florrie almost everyday during the quarantine. Other than that, I studied and completed the practice packets we were assigned in homeroom. The practice packets were lame, busywork reviews. Hockey practice had also been canceled until the quarantine ended.

"Che is so mad that we're isolating ourselves," Florrie said once on a call. "Apparently her homeroom is filled with freaks."

"Maybe this will let her grow and become a better person," I suggested, mostly as a joke.

"I hope so! That would be so cool. Maybe then I could talk to Tomlin without getting a hissy fit from her." Florrie sighed. "I hate when I upset her."

I was stuck on the name she mentioned. "Tomlin?"

"Oh, just my friend. He's like a brother to me. I've known him since freshman year... I should call him, we've hardly talked lately."

"Don't let me keep you then," I said coolly.

Florrie smiled at my generosity, but her eyes betrayed her. They told me she was upset. Regardless, I hung up.

I turned my phone horizontally and clicked onto a YouTube informational video, spending the rest of the night alone.