The Door was #$%&ing Closed (and a collection of other shorts)

Happy Chance

An Aria Blaze Story

A Modest Sequel to Calendar Girls

Aria looked at the video she had just shot. So far her Youtube channel had about two hundred thousand subscribers, her Pateron, which was more of her paycheck than the ad revenue from Youtube, was bringing in about two hundred dollars a video. She did about ten videos a month, and all in all, she wasn’t hurting. Of course the fact that she didn’t pay rent did help. For the most part she enjoyed doing to the Let’s Play, and typically she would enjoy the way her subscribers would praise her abilities.

She began editing the video when her stomach growled. Getting up she walked to the kitchen to find that nothing was ready. She considered complaining to Adagio, but her sister was currently in her room, and it was likely she was currently cuddling with Passive. She rolled her eyes, looked to see where Sonata was, but her sister was working at a new Taco Place. Mucho Taco, which why she quit Taco hut she didn’t know. Something about health code violations. Knowing Sonata she did something stupid.

So, she could fix something from scratch, which she didn’t have the patencient for, or she could step out, walk down the street, and get something from the Burger place Adagio used to work at. Since that would be easier she grabbed her messenger bag, it wasn't a purse and no one was going to convince her that it was, and she headed out the door. As she stepped out she noticed how deserted things looked. In truth, it reminded her of when the black plague had broken out. Everyone stayed indoors, of course they didn’t realize that it was rats carrying the plague. They had survived that, and undoubtedly they would survive this.

As she walked she noticed how people wanted to interact, but looked frightened. She rolled her eyes. Humans had a tendency to change their morals every so often, and when something forced them to change their typical actions it caused a disturbance that they simply weren’t ready for. In this case humans seemed to be more social than they had been, and being forced to keep a certain distance was obviously bothering them. Personally, she felt no real problem with it.

Granted, when they had their magic she had to play people against each other, and at the same time get them to adore her, but since losing her magic she hadn’t needed to do that. Instead she was fine with just doing her videos, having her social interactions be with her sisters, Passive Voice, and his two siblings. And, if she was going to be honest she did enjoy being an aunt. She made sure that both of them understood not to let Passive, or Adagio know when she gave them chocolate or soda.

But since the two were sick, Passive and Adagio were both out for an extended Spring Break, it was likely they wouldn’t be getting their treats anytime soon. She sighed, and looked at the Burger place ahead. Swell Burger, home of the Swell Burger, stood nearly abandoned. There were a few cars, mostly in the drive through. She walked to the door, saw that the lobby was closed due to the virus, and she groaned. She just wanted a damn burger! She walked toward the drive through, determined to at least make her order, pay, and then walk home. Getting up near the order window she checked her messenger bag. Opening it she realized that her debit card was home. She closed the bag, closed her eyes, and softly said every swear word she had ever heard in her long life.

“You okay?”

She looked at the person asking. He was most likely about twenty, more than likely a student, most likely out because of the virus, and working here because they offered him a job and he needed it.

“Sure, I just got to walk home, get my card, and then walk back up here so I can stand in line at the Drive thru like a idiot while you take my order. The world is my fucking oyster.”

He shook his head, “Look, I’m about to take lunch, and I don’t mind getting an extra meal if you want one.”

She looked at him, “What’s the rub?”

He looked at her oddly, “Ummm, what?”

She sighed, “So, what? Do you want me to flash some skin or something for it?” she looked at his rich brown eyes, which she had to admit were actually nice, “because that’s not happening.”

He shook his head, “Yeah, that’s not what I intended. I just thought it would be nice to eat lunch with someone. We could sit at the tables outside.”

She looked toward the picnic style tables, back at him, and then finally nodded, “Sure, whatever,” she said, “I’d like a Swell burger meal, medium fries, and a diet Coke.”

He nodded, and after a few minutes he walked out with two trays. She took hers, sat down next to him, and bit into the hot meal. She saw him enjoying his food, and then she looked at the burger in front of her, “So student?”

He smiled, “That obvious huh?” he asked.

She nodded, “A little. What university?”

He leaned back, “It’s online. I mean the university itself is out of state, and I have to make a trip about three times a semester to attend a real class, but its not bad. Of course, there’s no classes for the next month, maybe two months, because of the outbreak.”

She nodded, “Well, thanks for the meal,” she began to get up.

He smiled, “You’re welcome. Thanks for sharing it with me.”

She looked at how happy he was just to talk, to visit, and he didn’t want anything else. His complexion was nice, a soft peach, his hair was the same brown as his eyes, and he had a few dark freckles that dotted the bridge of his nose and his cheeks.

“Look, maybe if you feel up to it we can hang out again. This virus outbreak has limited our options, but I’m sure we can check out the local box stores, maybe watch a movie at the electronics department.”

He grinned, “Sure, ummm, do you mind if I get your number?”

She grinned, “Okay, it’s 525-867-5309,” she said

He grinned at her, “like Jenny huh?”

She couldn’t help but laugh, “Yeah, surprised that you knew it.”

He got up, “Hey, I’m off in a couple hours, we could check out the local store like you said, feel up to it?”

She nodded, “Sure. I’m Aria by way. Arial blaze.”

He grinned, “I’m Happy Chance, Nice to meet you Aria.”