12:32 PM.

It was 12:32 PM.

America wrestled his blanket away from his tangled legs and scrambled out of bed. How long had he been asleep? America jogged down the stairs, tying his sweat pants drawstrings into a quick knot. Why didn't anyone wake him up? He tugged on a NASA hoodie and rushed out the door and towards the stairs.

The last thing he remembered was worrying about Dixie and that weird dream of his. Did he really drift off that fast?

As he walked down the hall and bounded down the stairs he was greeted with a clean living room and the sound of silence.

Silence was never good in America's household.

America crept through the house, listening for any type of noise to convey a surprise dodgeball attack and looking around for anything that might've been broken. Nothing. There was only one place they could go, and that was outside.

America cautiously walked across the living room and stopped at the back door. He prepared himself mentally, pushed the door open, and stepped out into the porch.

Sure enough, a water balloon whistled towards him, and he jumped out of the way just in time. It smacked against the outside of the house and popped on the porch with a splat.

"PAUSE!" A nearby tree bellowed. "Dad's awake!"

A swarm of states popped out of bushes and rolled out from under the porch. They were all dressed in camouflage and were armed with water guns and balloons. Most of them were soaking wet.

"Hey, kiddos." America wheezed as they all flocked around him, squeezing each other into a huge group hug.

"Afternoon pop!" Georgia said, brushing some dirt off his green-and-brown shirt.

"Did ya sleep alrigh?"

"Missed you." Hawaii mumbled as she nuzzled the leg she was clinging to.

America smiled and pulled as many of them as close to him as he possibly could. Some of them groaned and tried to wiggle free. While they were in his grasp, America asked, "Why didn't anyone wake me up?"

"That was sorta on purpos'." New York said sheepishly.

"Ya." Oklahoma (who was clinging to America's waist) interrupted.

"North Dak mighta put about five allergy pills into your water last night when you weren't looking." South Dakota said, earning a dirty look from her sister.

"It may or may not've been planned." Michigan sniffed.

America sighed. "You really think I wouldn't 've gone to sleep?"

"Duh!"

"Really Dad?"

"When was the last time you went to sleep without us making you!"

"Alright, alright." America said, ruffling Mississippi's hair. "Just don't drug me up again, ok?"

Everyone mumbled a "yes" or grumbled an "OK."

"No promises." Alabama grinned.

America smiled again and gave his kids one last big squeeze. "Where's Dixie?"

"He went out to the garage to get some 'ore water balloons." Delaware said.

America attempted to move towards the garage, but the States decided to cling on to every limb he had. America ended up dragging a good chunk of them along with him to the garage, most of them giggling. America clomped up to the thick door and pushed it open, Arizona dangling from his arm.

Dixie was sitting cross-legged on the ground, humming to himself as he filled up water balloons. He looked up and smiled at his brother. "Good morn'. Sleep good?"

"Oh ya." America said, trying to detach Florida from his leg. "You?"

"Best sleep I've had in years." Dixie said, standing up. "Best sleep I've ever had, actually."

"Dad." Arkansas said, adjusting her grip on his elbow. "We've been in quarinteen for ages now -"

"If you're asking what I think you're asking," America interrupted, "you already know the answer."

"But daaaaaaad!"

"Pleeeeeeeeease!"

"We can't invite anyone over." America said as Dixie walked out of the garage, carrying a bucket of water balloons out with him.

"But it's so stupid!" Idaho snapped. "We can't even spread COVID!"

"Ya!" Colorado agreed.

America sighed. "Look, we have to follow our own rules-"

"Oh, who cares! No one knows we even exist." Mississippi frowned.

"Pleeeeeeease?"

"Please!"

"Papa PLEAAAAAASE-"

America shook his head and wiggled out of the grasp of his states. "You know the rules."

"Uhg." Illinois pouted. "Since when have we ever followed the rules." She folded her arms.

"Rules are good when they keep others safe." Indiana said matter-of-factly.

"I'm giving you guys about a ten-second head start. " America said out of the blue. He was holding a water gun, which was resting on his shoulder. It took a couple of seconds for what America said to register, but as soon as the States realized what he was implying, they ran off into different directions.

About an hour and a half later, America stumbled into the house wet and sore. The States hustled past him, determined to change out of their clothes and possibly relax for the rest of the day.

"Well, how 'bout some lunch?" Dixie said rather happily as America popped his back. Somehow the battle flag had managed to stay out of the water fight.

"Sounds nice." He grunted. "Whadda we have?"

"Leftovers mostly. " Dixie had begun to inch off towards the kitchen. "And I think we have some apple pie left over..."

"Help yourself." America sniggered. "I'm gonna go change."

He trudged up the stairs, passing a couple states in the hall, already changed and heading back down towards the living and media rooms. He ruffled hair and patted backs as he passed, some of them swatting his hand away or giggling as he did so. Soon he reached his own room and drifted inside, the door still open from his hasty awakening.

America quickly changed into a different pair of sweat pants and picked up a short-sleeve NATO shirt. When was the last time he had seen NATO? Maybe he should have some of the military branches over for dinner sometime. They couldn't catch Covid like normal humans could.

America sighed and turned to face a small mirror he had against the wall. He was surprised at who looked back at him. He looked rather healthy. The bags that usually dwelled under his eyes were gone. The only thing that bothered him were those stupid cracks in his chest. They were aching less, but he could still feel them with every breath he took. At least they weren't spreading or getting bigger. He didn't want to Soviet Union away.

I'm not really hungry. America thought back at Dixie. And I need to freshen up anyway.

. Dixie's voice said in his head.

Thanks.

America put the shirt down on the coffee table behind him and headed towards his bathroom- but a violent buzz from his nightstand caught his attention.

Deciding to figure out what was about, he climbed the small dozen steps up to his bed and picked up his phone.

America smiled and immediately opened up the conversation.

amerika

Ame?

amerika?

Are you alright?

I just talked to Mexico,

he said you guys just talked

Amerika?

Goodnight

Amerika

Amerika are you ignoring me?

did I upset you?

SORRY DIDN'T SEE UNTIL NOW

UHH

I THOUGHT YOU DIED??

IM SORRY

You missed my call

I don't think I did

no call day is on tuesday

YESTERDAY was tuesday

it was

Yes

America felt his heart plummet into his stomach.

im sorry i forgot pls

pls forgive me

since you asked so nicely

thanks

can you call now by chance?

I'll explain

i guess

i have a meeting in 10 minutes

America smiled. A couple seconds later Japan's white face popped up, trying to look angry.

"You have a good explanation?" She was wearing a maroon-colored sweater and sitting near her window, and he could hear some of the city sounds. She was doing her best to look angry, but America couldn't really take her all that seriously with that look on her face.

"Sorry, but some crazy stuff happened over the past couple of days." America said, shrinking slightly under the country's gaze.

"And you didn't want to tell me!" She snapped, her camera wobbling as she did so.

"No!" America sassed back. "It's just, things have been crazy and it slipped my mind."

Japan frowned at him, trying to look intimidating.

"Look, I am really sorry. Please forgive me?"

She glared at him before her gaze softened. "Fine. But you have to tell me what's been keeping you so busy."

"Oh. That is kinda a big deal."

America gave her a sad smile. "I know. But I shouldn't 've forgotten."

"Oh, Amerika, it is ok." She gave him a smile that made his insides tingle. "I can't stay mad at you."

"I know. I'm too handsome." He grinned as she rolled her eyes.

Japan adjusted her grip on her phone. "I have to go though. Bye."

"Bye."

America hesitantly hung up. How could he forget to call Japan? It was the one thing he looked forward to. He sighed as he sat up on his bed, putting his phone back on the nightstand. What was he doing before he got distracted?

On cue Dixie popped through his bedroom door, carrying a tray with a glass of water and what smelled like a turkey sandwich.

"I thought you would be up here moping." He put the tray on the coffee table, looking up at America.

"Thanks Dix, but I'm not really hungry." America said. But his stomach let out a loud growl.

"Uh hu." Dixie said, raising an eyebrow. "What ya doing up there anyway."

America rolled off his bed and slumped down the steps. "Facetimed Japan. Apparently today's Wednesday. Not Tuesday."

"Youch. Missed call day?"

"Mhm."

"Oh boy, did you forget?"

"I didn't forget!" America declared when he reached the end of the steps. "It slipped my mind!" He grabbed the shirt off his bed and wiggled into it.l, grumbling to himself.

Dixie smirked. "Anyway, the kids wanted to watch a movie and decided on Wreck-It Ralph. Wanna come and watch with 'em?"

"Ya I'll come down." America said.

The country paused suddenly. "Did you feel that? "

Dixie looked a bit... scared? "That's what I felt before-"