March 30, 2020

Washington took a deep breath as he stood in front of a large office door. He clutched the manilla folders in his hand and prayed this would work as he knocked on the door.

"Come in." A gruff voice ordered, and Washinton entered the office. A young man sat behind a large desk surrounded by stacks of papers, folders, and empty coffee mugs. He was currently working on his laptop as Washington approached the desk, only looking up when he was directly in front of him.

"I've got the new memo from the CDC, DC." Washington announced handing the folders over to the government.

"Thanks Washington." DC muttered taking the folders and opening the top one. Washington gulped when he noticed a small shiner underneath his eye.

"Um....you okay?" Washington asked.

"I fell this morning on the subway steps." DC announced not glancing up.

"DC, that can't just be--"

"Look, does IDC need something?" DC asked, finally looking up, quickly changing the subject. Washington sighed.

"Oh, I also included some state COVID numbers, specifically from Texas, California, Florida, New York, and Louisiana." Washington announced.

"Awesome I've been needing those." DC said with a small smile. Washington left DC's office, and as he closed the door behind him, he took a deep breath.

"Five, four, three, two...." Washington counted.

"WHAT." DC yelled as Washington got to one. "Washington get in here!"

"Coming!" Washington called, spinning around and opening the door.

"This can't be possible! How are these numbers so high?" DC yelled looking down at the document.

"Well the president did want the states to make their own rules." Washington pointed out.

"Yeah but look at Florida's numbers!" DC yelled holding the paper up.

"New York's is just as bad, I hear they're running out of ventilators." Washington announced as DC sat back and groaned.

"I need to do something." DC muttered. "I think....I think I need to call a meeting."

"But DC, you've never called one. Do you think you're ready?" Washington asked.

"This is kind of forcing my hand isn't it?" DC said with a smirk before running a hand through his hand. "Put together an email for the five states, tell 'em I'll meet up with them next week." Washington nodded and hurried out of the office, once again closing the door behind him. As soon as he knew the door was closed, he did a silent dance. His plan was coming together perfectly, now he just had to make sure the five would be there.

"I say we skip this meeting and tell this 'DC' exactly where to stick it!" Washington facepalmed, this is not how he planned dinner would go. He figured he could at least get California to show up, but none of the five were enthusiastic about meeting DC.

"Yeah I might have some ranch work I need to take care of." Texas announced.

"Do you five actually get it?" Washington asked. "Your numbers are super high, you need to meet DC."

"We don't have to 'meet' anyone sha." Louisiana pointed out. "He can't tell us what to do."

"Stop making this hard Louisiana." Washington thought before trying to calm down. "This is his first meeting...."

"Could've just sent one of his interns." California muttered, cutting up his veggie burgers.

"After what you did to the last one?" Washington asked, shutting California up.

"Hey that wasn't us! That was Dia!" New York yelled.

"And I'd do it again!" Florida announced proudly.

"Do yall really think he'll give up if you don't show up?" Washington asked, silencing the five. "If you don't come to this meeting, he'll just call another, then another..."

"Alright, alright we get it." Texas said, rolling his eyes. "I guess we'll go."

"Do we have to?" Florida whined.

"It's just one meeting, Dia, just to get this 'DC' off our backs." California pointed out holding Florida's hand. Washington smiled behind his glass as the states became resigned to the fact that they had to attend this meeting. He did feel slightly guilty that he was manipulating everyone, but it would pay off in the end, at least he hoped it would.

It worked out better than he ever could've thought.

The day after the first meeting, Washington was sitting in the living room reading a magazine, the house surprisingly quiet for the middle of the afternoon. He did briefly remember DC returned to the hotel late last night, and mentioned something about going out for dinner with the five states, but didn't hear anything else which made the state think the plan fell through. Washington was just about to turn a page in his magazine when the paper was ripped away from him and he was faced with an angry main five.

"The fuck man?" Washington yelled.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Texas hissed clutching the magazine tight.

"Look I don't know who drank the rest of the milk, but I told Massachusetts to replace it." Washington announced.

"Well that was your first mistake." New York muttered. Washington felt something heavy standing over him and looked up to see Florida glaring at him.

"Why didn't you tell us HE WAS CUTE?" Florida yelled. Washington tried to hide his smile.

"He is? I've never noticed." Washington said with a shrug. Florida yelped as California knocked him down, and the sunshine state got face to face with Washington.

"I made a joke about my polyester flannel yesterday, do you know how embarrassing that was?" California hissed.

"Y'all are lying, you know he was making goo-goo eyes at me." Texas announced.

"Oh BULLSHIT he was eyeing me the entire meeting!" Florida argued jumping up.

"That's because you were causing trouble, sha." Louisiana pointed out.

"Why are you all competing, aren't you all dating each other?" Washington asked.

"The point is!" New York yelled, silencing his boyfriends. "We could've had some warning! Now we don't know what to do with ourselves."

"Well....there's only one thing you can do." Washington said with a shrug. "Ask him to have another meeting." Silence filled the living room.

"Yeah...yeah we'll have another meeting! California, call him!" Florida ordered.

"Why do I have to call him?" California squeaked.

"You tried paying for his dinner last night and nearly spilt spaghetti over his pants, this is your second chance." Florida pointed out.

"YOU suggested a trip to Polk County!"

"I'll call him." Washington announced silencing the five. "You all just come up with ways not to embarrass yourselves. The five took up arguing again as Washington moved away, a devilish grin on his face. He had no doubt this plan would work.

March 1, 2021

"It was you, wasn't it?" Washington glanced up and stared at Texas in confusion.

"Me what?" Washington asked.

"You put us and DC together, didn't you?" Texas asked. Washington chuckled and looked down at his bowl of cereal.

"What gave it away?" Washington asked.

"Well we were thinking the other day." Texas announced leaning back in his chair. "Dee never called a meeting before, and you were the one to convince us to actually go. The puzzle pieces fell in place after." Washington smiled and looked back over at the living room. DC had been locked in a Mario Kart battle with Louisiana and Florida, with California in-between his legs on the floor. At the finale music, DC threw his hands up in the air as the other states laughed at his placement. DC didn't have a chance to finish being aggravated, however, because California suddenly popped up and kissed DC, making him laugh and smile. Florida was clearly feeling aggressive because he pushed California off of DC and then started kissing him as well.

"Well....ya'll are happy aren't you?" Washington said teasingly. Texas smiled and looked out in the living room where his boyfriends all broke free of one another and started up another game.

"He was the missing piece." Texas whispered. Washington laughed and stirred the spoon around in his cereal.

"I better be one of your best men though." Washington announced.

"Nah that's going to be South Carolina, you'll be ring bearer." Texas explained.

"I got all of you together and that's the best I get?" Washington whined.

"Flower girl too."

"Deal."