Luckily, in a week Lillith was much better, other than having to now permanently wear her glasses after her time ill gave her severe eye pain. She complained for a bit, but they did not change her appearance, James actually thought they enhanced it, but he also thought it'd be hard to lower it much anyways. For some reason, James, or his mother hadn't gotten sick, that which he was thankful for. However, it seemed that other people who they had come into contact with, showed sickness, which was increasingly worrying.

Their classmates on the other hand, had made this crippling, murderous disease, into a huge joke. Although expected from a bunch of your average teenagers with nothing else to focus on, you would think that they would take this many deaths a little bit more seriously than just a number on the screen.

A sudden monotone voice started the class and interrupted James' train of thought.

"As you may or may not know, there is a new disease going around, and it soon may turn into something way worse. Get your supplies out for your notes, because today the first death in America was announced, and it is time to start worrying."

Taking that in again. The first person with it had died here. A drop of sweat started to build up and then run down James' face. Glancing around the room to lock eyes with Lil sharing a quick nod and then returning focus to the class.

Was it really time to start worrying?

"The virus seems to target those who are of older age, more specifically, the respiratory system. It has a high survival rate, but it does leave long lasting after effects, and patients who lived say they have seen death in the eyes. "It feels like breathing through a straw," Someone said. Symptoms include bodily pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, or any basic flu symptom. This, is what we call, SARS-COV-2, or more commonly known as COVID-19, your modern day coronavirus."

The teens seemed to tone out the moment they heard that it wouldn't specifically target them, and no longer cared to learn of the new illness.

They seemed to have forgotten that you usually hit a couple other places before hitting your target.

↭

"Okay let's go slickback, hit me."

Before opening up his locker, he self-consciously ran a hand through his hair, the gel had made it harder than it should. Quickly remembering who he was talking to, he pulled out his phone.

"Australia is dying at the moment."

Giving him a small confused nod, she pulled out a textbook and bag from her locker. "Go on, elaborate."

"Well, it's the expected forest fires. Except that the country is actually going down in flames this time."

The bell rang, and quickly the two started walking, but, as they got pushed together by all the kids running to get to their home, Lilith dropped her hand down to hold James' pinky. She then asked him to continue.

"Oh, um, well, you see, the, um, forests, are, um, burning! They're," He cleared his throat to the sound of her giggling, the action didn't help him recollect the pieces she had so easily picked apart.

A deep breath came in and left his lungs. He wasn't going to act a fool in front of the smartest person he knew.

"They're burning really badly. More than 46 million acres were burned this season. Along with 34 people dying, and more than 1 billion animals and wildlife were killed."

"It's like hell arises more and more everyday, huh?"

"That or climate change." A single snicker followed by a small slap was heard.

They stepped aside for the chaos of the end of the day to cease, and when they looked back up, the halls were completely still. The only noises being far away conversations, and a few students going to after school activities, as were they.

Lilith let out a sigh, and broke out into a big smile, slowly letting go of his hand and continuing their path.

He didn't know how to feel about the loss of heat.

"Alas, my friend, we have made it to the hour of the day, where time stills for a few seconds, and,"

"LILITH AND JAMES HURRY UP!"

"Lets us speak and breathe for a moment." Spirits being severely lowered after being cut off.

He emitted a low chuckle and grabbed the strap of her book bag to start dragging her towards the classroom of the club they participated in.

"Let us go Shakespeare, for the day will actually start once we get where we need to be."

They walked together, enjoying the small moments of peace they were able to share together, the sliver of bliss and stillness that they were able to grasp in a world, where nothing seemed to ever stop.

↭

"Come on! It won't even affect you! Plus, if just one of us gets it, the school has to give us, like what, a month off? Take one for the team!"

"I volunteer, my best friend!"

"I'll take the chance! Just means a vacation!"

"It's not we're in New York! We'll be fine."

Absolute hatred for the people he had the sad misfortune of having to share air with flowed through his entire body. Yes, because, sacrificing others when it came to your convenience was nothing new to humanity. We've seen, see, and will continue to see this, because good can't run without its adversary, can it?

Those same statements were stated everyday, for multiple days. Everyday, kids went through another cycle, enjoying multiple laughs and memories throughout it, yet wishing they didn't have to do it. Hypocrites; that is what the human species will always seem to be, stating one thing, showing the opposite.

It's amazing that once they get what they want, they return to begging for what they once had, yet wished away.