No alarm to awake her, Emily realised that she was brutally late.

With an unusual squeal, she sprinted across the house, gathering her things. Her bag was relatively unpacked for the two weeks that she would be away, and she hadn't washed since she'd swam in the billabong several days ago. It was a mess, there were bruises across her body after toiling away at the unforgiving soil. 

No words could cover the rounds of obscenities that she made as she dashed across the house. Doors locked, windows closed, instructions for her oddball neighbour on where to feed the horses and other animals. 

Then the car- it was shaken and unreliable at best. Was the battery still working? She'd used it last week... right? 

A moment of tension as Emily waited, a splutter, a cough and then a rev. 

Now we're back in business.

Emily's prayers were answered when the gate swung open almost instantly. Running forty minutes late was bad enough, being trapped inside your own, well-prepped property would be even worse.

The grass lapped at the undercarriage of the ute as she drove through. The road had fallen away at parts, causing the car to rock and thud occasionally. It required a few more revs before she was out and speeding on the open and lonely road.

The world whirred past her- unusual and unfamiliar. Her memories from almost five years ago did the new world no justice. She'd driven by once or twice our of pure interest. But even since then, it's changed. The advertisements were a little dirtier. The grass on either sides of the road a little longer. The overgrown, rural paddocks, a little wilder.

The pairing program's first meeting was held in a community hall; an hour's drive. The kind where the elderly used to get together and play checkers or bingo. It was a little tired at the edges; the funding going to more essential items like training up assistant nurses during the first and second waves, military spending and the like. 

The carpark was overflowing; after the spike, there were cars for a population that no longer existed. The cars of City Regs all had the same look; a once nice, sedan that'd been slightly beaten along the doors where they were slammed into other cars, their owners anxiously stockpiling for the quarantines. Always in constant worry if the person in front of them or behind them may have it.

Watch out, it's all around you, and even if it isn't, it's still there.

Emily pursed her lips, opting to park in the shade of a tree where the grass was a little less stable. Benefits of driving in a ute. 

Ashy hair still dripping, she slid from the seat, shouldering her pack over one shoulder. This was the first stop of two. 

Thankfully, the doors were still open. She pushed it open with the tip of her shoe before entering. A sign-in desk with two, cheery government employees welcomed her. 

A flurry of butterflies suddenly arose in Emily's stomach. She was finally here. After many long nights waiting, many rounds of interviews and lab checks to ensure that she was good enough, she was here.

"Name?" The younger one asked, an eyebrow raised. 

"Emily O'Clare," The words tumbled out of Emily's mouth, they were strange on her tongue. An unused resource only for the curses and bird whistles that no one would usually hear. 

She's not wearing a mask! Emily realised with a start. The woman's mouth was pursed as she searched the checklist. Neither was the other employee next to her! A whole new waved of questions rose to the surface. Did city regs no longer take precautions? Was the fourth wave finally finished? The mask Emily held so preciously to, weighed heavier in her backpack. 

Probably against regulation, Emily bit her lip. The older woman wrote out a tag and gave her a slip of paper. 

"You're with group H," She gave a tight-lipped smile.

"Thanks," Emily spoke breathlessly, taking her slip, strikingly aware of the danger of their fingers possibly brushing. She turned, wandering in the direction that the woman had pointed her. 

It was a man-made hallway. Behind the carpet barriers on either side of her, she could hear groups going through various induction processes. Ducking her head, she did her best to avoid the look of the military pair guarding the doorways to the smaller rooms. 

Is the military really necessary? She wondered.

Room H. The A4 paper was printed against the glass. The soldier by the door checked her paper before opening the door for her to slip through.

It's like an AA meeting, Emily thought to herself as she entered, her boots unusually loud on the linoleum flooring. Not like she knew what they actually were, but that she'd seen them on tv some millennia ago. A group of twenty or so people were seated in a haphazard semi-circle. They all suddenly turned to look at her. The women sizing her up, and the men searching for something else. The youngest must've been sixteen, the eldest, just under thirty. Emily was distantly aware that the paid program wasn't available for those over thirty. 

"Welcome," The woman at the front had a tight-lipped frown on her face.

"Sorry I'm late," Emily's voice was a frail whisper and a lie with her pursed lips. 

"Find a seat," Emily knew that voice- it triggered something deep from her Grade Eleven years. The sharp tone and instant disapproval put question into wether or not she'd be able to pass that subject. She moved swiftly; adding her backpack to the stack by the side and pulled up a seat on the female side. 

"Luckily you've only missed introductions," The woman's voice was curt. Emily nodded obediently. 

Good, they're dumb anyway.

The woman turned her back and Emily scowled, her eyes briefly flashed to the Heavens. This is going to be a long two weeks.

The induction woman began drawing up timelines on the whiteboard. There'd be two weeks of meeting and team building exercises. Then, if all proceeded well, a two week placement at the female's house and with their family, followed by a two week placement at the male's house and with his family. A week would be followed in separation where both sides would consider if it was worth pursuing a relationship. Then, if all went well, a government funded wedding in the following week.

Emily bit her lip. All I need to do is to make it to week five.

Her mind wandered back to the empty pantries at home, her bank account hanging in the low negatives, the manure-covered soil fighting off weeds and other invasive plants. The program was offering a sweet, seven hundred and fifty dollars just to reach to the fifth week.

I can make it.

There was another payment for successful couples who married, three or so grand. 

What if I marry them, and then divorce in a year? Emily thought briefly to herself. Three thousand dollars would get me a lot further then a grand will.

Plus, you'll have that added bonus of... a friend. 

Emily's cheeks reddened. Despite the numerous amount of horses and birds and other odd animals that came to drop by, it was still awfully quiet.

Emily glanced across the men's side. Suddenly, she locked onto the gaze of one of the men across the classroom. He had reddish-blonde hair that was cropped low with sharp, blue eyes. Emily stared back, ignoring her still-dripping hair, knowing how this worked in the animal kingdom.

I won't be intimidated. 

The guy, as if in on his own joke, looked away, smirking to himself. 

Emily's rage slowly began to boil.