The ladies need some basic amenities.

When she had caught her breath, Sam finally spoke. "I think we need some of our clothes. I'm still wearing my clothes from yesterday."

Janet finished the thought. "They're gonna get grungy fast with all of this exertion." She winked at Sam, who chuckled a little. Sam turned to Jake. "I feel left out of a conversation I just had, so thanks for that."

Jake knew she was right. He was putting on his third pair of jeans since this all started. He started to ask a question then realized that they'd just interrupt him again.

"Dude, you told us to stop interrupting you. Don't be so weird about it. Anyway, I think we should run by my place then Janet's to pick up some items. What do you think, Janet?"

Janet rolled her eyes. "I can't think anything different, remember? If you want a second opinion you've got to go with Jake. But you can't really think differently from him, so it's a little bit of an echo chamber in here."

Sam turned to Jake. "Then it's settled. Let's go by my place first."

As they walked out to the car, Jake realized this was the first time they'd gone out in public since this all began. He felt a keen anxiety, which meant they did too. Janet acknowledged this with a paranoid whisper.

"I don't know which one of you is freaking out right now, but please stop. I'm fucking terrified and I don't even know why."

Jake **** himself to breathe, and both Sam and Janet seemed to feel a little better. "Sorry about that. It's just weird, being out in the open like this." As they reached the car, they all got in in one fluid motion.

Something struck Jake. "Huh." Sam said pensively. "Yeah. I think so." Janet agreed. Sam scowled. "Quit acting like I'm not here! Or like Jake's not here. I keep feeling left out! Jake, we've got to work on that. Anyway, we're all correct - we were walking in lockstep. And did you see how we got in the car? It was like we had choreographed it."

Janet shrugged. "So what? Oh God, what if people see us and think we're weird. What if they think we're some kind of sex cult or something?"

Now it was Jake's turn to try to calm them down. "Look, I know you two are picking up on my fears and anxieties. Janet, I'm sure you're getting even more from Sam. But we need to just keep our heads down and get through this. I'm gonna try to regulate my anxiety, but I need you two to fight it too. Ok?"

Janet sighed. "Ok. It's hard because we'd normally be anxious about this too. It makes it hard to separate that feeling as not our own."

Sam reached out and lightly rubbed the back of Jake's neck as he pulled out of the apartment parking lot. "Look, we all need to relax a little. What if Janet gives you a massage?" Jake looked sharply at her. "Nothing sexual!" She added. "No more weird orgies. Just, if we can help you relax, that'll help us relax, right?"

Jake nodded and immediately felt Janet's hands on his shoulders.