Meeting ID: 848 7157 5191

[theo lovett]

"No, we still chat," he says, though he hadn't spoken to her for a while now. He leans back, taking a moment to soak in the fact that he was speaking to her, that she hadn't slipped out of his life after that stupid house party. He would never have been able to predict this but he's glad. His cheeks tinge ever so slightly pink as she blows him a kiss, catching him off guard. "I thought you were probably an entitled bitch," he admits. "Or at least someone who had no idea what real life is like. But I do think you get it, you're more normal than I thought." Another swig. "I can't ask what you thought of me before we met, but go on, tell me what you think now. Honestly."

[dolly weathers]

I always think it's weird when you know someone so well, then you break up and you're not suppose to know them. Although with Damien, it felt like their lies were so built up it was hard to see the true him. She scrunches her face at him, really? God, I work so hard on being America's Sweetheart. She thinks a minute, trying to get her words in order. I think you're a good person. I actively try to be, but you just are. I feel this weird connection with you and it doesn't make much sense. I like talking to you, I find you easy to talk to.

[theo lovett]

"Totally, and she was there for all that shit, we grew up together! It would be weird for her not to be in my life at all." He nods, as if he's proud of his own judgements. "Didn't buy it. How could you be America's sweetheart when you're in the 0.1%?" As she speaks, he goes to disagree with her assessment before she goes on to say she feels a connection. His stomach fills with butterflies and he's embarrassed by that fact, he feels suddenly shy and he's just not a shy person. "I like talking to you more. Promise."

[dolly weathers]

Oh, you're totally going to marry her, she mocks him like he did her and Damien. Oh my god! Oh my GOD. 1) I am studying Environmental Science AKA saving the world 2) this is a very achievable look, she waves at herself, 3) my Instagram is lit. Don't you tell me I'm not relatable. This isn't any Kardashian shit. This is some Taylor Swift sweetheart shit. Dolly feels her skin tingle and she covers her blushing with a mouthful of wine. Shit, Theo. You're going to make my sequins fall off.

[theo lovett]

"Touche. Maybe we will." He squints as she talks, his eyebrows raising quizzically. In normal circumstances he would bite his tongue, but he's had a few beers and a lack of social interaction, so behaving normally was not on the cards. "Will that even out all the damage your dad's company has done?" He laughs, nodding. "I don't like Taylor either. I don't trust anyone with the good girl schtick, I can't imagine how many NDAs she's got people to sign." He's silent for a moment, listening out to make sure no one's hovering by his door. "It's been hard. I forget that when I'm talking to you."

[dolly weathers]

"You think this is a schtick?" she pouts, knowing full well of her act. It's was exhausting to act so proper and good all the time. The moment she met Theo she'd felt exposed, she never thought any other way to act other than like herself. "I can't imagine," she sips her wine and struggles to see the softness in his face through the screen. I wish that you could be here, or even I could be there.

[theo lovett]

He nods sagely. He has a feeling that if they had met in different circumstances he would have met the Google version of Dolly, and the truth is he would have taken her at face value, none the wiser to her act. But it was more fun to pretend he could tell. "You can, you're on your own! This is a good time to have roomies. I'd invite you to move in here, but it'd be a bit cramped..." he pauses, his eyes lighting up. "The girls down the hall have a spare room!"

[dolly weathers]

Dolly's public persona was muddled at best. Manicured, beautiful and sweet, she seemed a light within her family's messy reputation. But then you had drunken nights at pubs and a slurry of NDA's being signed. She struggled with her identity. I don't think being lonely is the same as seeing everything first hand, she raises an eyebrow and ruffles a hand through her sandy hair. Oh my god, yes, she laughs, can you imagine? We'd be a terrible sitcom. She turns away the offer and sips her wine, you all can move in here... after we're married. Of course.

[theo lovett]

"At least I'm not bored," he says, meaning it. Watching what this pandemic was doing to Ollie had made him grateful to have a job, a purpose, just something to do. As stressful as it was, he was mostly glad that he wasn't spending months of his life trapped in this small apartment. The image of Dolly rooming with Lily and Cleo is an admittedly amusing one, though a little part of him wishes she had agreed. "That depends on one thing. Can Sylvie come?'

[dolly weathers]

"Do you find it hard to detach yourself from what you're seeing?" Compared to others, it was easy for her to make light of the pandemic. She could tell others to stay home, but most people didn't have a home that compared to hers. Dolly's home had entertainment on demand, she had no right to preach to others to stay put. She hiccups, is Sylvie your cat?

[theo lovett]

"Oh hell yeah. It sucks. I can't tell you how many people I've seen die now, and I'm not even at the coalface, not really. I don't know how ICU nurses cope." He doesn't let himself dwell on it, something he and Elyse had agreed would be the best coping mechanism for the both of them. He takes another sip of beer, finding it almost empty yet again. He grins, "close. She's my tarantula. She's gorgeous but a total bitch, has the worst attitude I've ever seen in a spider."

[dolly weathers]

She gapes when he mentions how many people he's seen die. He says it so casually and while she's sure that it's probably just how he copes with it, it does make her stomach twist. I know a great therapist if you ever need to talk, honestly A+. She's beginning to feel a little drunk. Her cheeks are rosy and she's ruffled her hair into a state of dishevelment. Like the spider? How is she bitchy? Does she bite you? I've never met one, she goes to top her bottle off, but realized that her bottle is running a little low. You can bring your spider, she lifts the computer and stands up. To the cellar!

[theo lovett]

He opens his mouth to tell her that would be extremely out of his budget, but thinks better of it. "Thanks, that's sweet of you. Honestly I'm all good." He glances at the spider in its habitat, barely peeking out of her burrow. "She's a cobalt blue, old world tarantula. I won't bore you with the details but they're super defensive, you can't handle them at all. Which is wise anyway, since their venom's pretty potent." His tarantula keeping hobby was easily one of his least attractive qualities, he'd found, so he forces himself to stop talking. "Oh man, yes! Give me the house tour!"

[dolly weathers]

Why do you like them? I mean.. why wouldn't you, obviously. But why would you? she's genuinely curious of the fact. So the most rich person thing I have, is a wine cellar. I don't know why I wanted one, but it's all I wanted, she shrugs as if it's a perfectly reasonable request. Her slippers move across the marble floor and she moves downstairs into the basement - flicking on lights as she does. Try not to judge me. You wouldn't if you saw my idiot brother's homes, she pulls a door open to a room full of bottles. And I'm aware that it is so gross that I'm drinking the family wine.

[theo lovett]

"I've kept tarantulas for years, felt like a challenge! She's super pretty too, I'll show you sometime." Theo had lost track of how many hypothetical plans he had made now, filling up an imaginary calendar with things he felt like he'd never get to do again. He can't help laughing, shaking his head. "So easy to please. No vineyard to go with it?" He laughs again as she continues: there's the vineyard after all. "I was joking!" He goes a little bit quiet, trying to absorb all that she's said and shown. "So you live there on your own.. is that safe?"