Ernie had been having a good day all things considered. After all, he didn't actually have the virus and he hadn't been one of the people trapped in the woods, nor part of the search party who likewise seemed traumatized by the events. The only thing he had to worry about was the fact that he really didn't have anything to give to Wayne for a present, but he would make it up to his friend later.
The party hadn't really begun yet, and he didn't really know what to do, so he just wandered the pitch, stopping to make small talk with those he passed along the way. He felt like he hadn't spoken to these people in a while, though he knew he had spoken to them all in the last day.