Theories of Global Warming

~Terry~

Throughout the day, there was no sign of any of my friends. Not in the hall, not in the cafeteria, not even at our usual after school meeting place. I was left by the radiator at the end of the empty hallway, watching my classmates sprinting out of the school.

I wasn't sure what had happened to my friends. Lee most likely got suspended for doing something that he wasn't supposed to... Like the time he spit gum into my hair. Provence probably had to go home early for defending him, like usual..... And Arum probably freaked out in the middle of class.

Me, I usually don't get sent home, unlike the others. Everyone has always told me that I should steer away from those kinds of people. The kind of people who hold useless knowledge, get into trouble, and who have something mentally wrong with them. But, I think that nevertheless, it's good for me. Arum, Lee, and Provence. These are my people; I don't care what others think.

After everything cleared out, I decided to leave. The tapping sound of my brown tennis shoes hitting the concrete floors echoed. That was the only sound that I could hear, besides by seemingly loud breathing, and the beating of my own heart thumping in my ear drums.

After what seemed like hours of walking through the hallways, I finally made it outside. There was only one thing I noticed: fire. Although it was in the far distance, you could still spot the flames, and the smell was distinct.

Everyone was gasping, and rushing to their homes. A few people fell to their knees and started to pray. One of whom was Arum's friend, Daryl.

Since the park was in the opposite direction of the flames, I decided to head there, hoping that my friends would meet me.

I headed through the suburb, dodging trucks, and the occasional girl jumping rope. The foul aroma of smoke still clouded my nostrils, causing them to stuff up.

Finally, I arrived at the park, and sure enough, my friends were sitting on the bench.

"Guys... There's-" I got cut off by Lee's cut throat glare.

"A house on fire. Duh. We know," he spat.

We seemed to always be sitting in the same position on the bench. Provence would be in the smack dab middle, leaning backwards. Lee, to the right of her, as usual, oftenly sitting on top of the back of the seat. Arum was always to the right of Lee, a daze in her face.

I took my spot to the left of Provence, slowly hugging my knees to my chest. The stubbles of my leg hair poked into my skin, making it uncomfortable. But that's how I liked it. There was always extra space for me, which I definitely didn't need, but Provence and Lee never made the effort to scootch over to the left to make room for Arum.

Provence didn't even regard the comment. She slammed the notebook on the ground, causing me to jump.

"Guys! We have a mission! The sake of humanity is relying on us. We are the ones that will determine if we have even the possibility of a future, I can feel it!" she roared, standing up on the bench and puffing out her chest.

"Provence, calm down. We are in public!" I exclaimed, watching a family walk by, staring at us.

"Sucks to them then. You're all gonna listen to what I have to say, like it or not." she jumped down and stood in front of us, scanning us with a glare on her face... Almost like she disapproved. "If we don't do something risky, who will? We are the only ones on this planet who has the guts."

"What are you proposing?" I questioned, my body quivering.

"Theory number one... The Waters of Formidity." she breathed her words, her scowl forming into a devil like grin.

Lee's mouth dropped, "What are you talking about, doll face?"

Doll face was a nickname that Lee has had for Provence ever since they were small. It started when she went through her 'devil child' phase. During this phase, she would draw on the faces of dolls and pop their heads off. That's how she played with them. After Lee walked in on her in the act one day, he had decided to give her a new nickname.... "Doll face".

Provence stuck her tongue out at him before continuing, "It's basically the theory of Carbon Dioxide levels rising in the waters by god knows what. I uh-" she paused for a moment, picking up the notebook, "I explained it better in here. One of you can take it home tonight if you wish, but bring it to school tomorrow so that I can show the rest of you." She waited for anyone to pipe up.

Lee groaned, "I guess I will." He jumped down from his position, and tugged the notebook out of Provence's grasp.
"We're going to the same household, idiot," Provence rolled her eyes, letting him take it regardless.

Arum and I just sat there, watching them. I wasn't sure what goes on with them sometimes. They are so similar that they often get carried away while talking to one another. On the other hand, Arum and I are so much different than them.

"Let Arum have it. She's more of a visual learner. Plus, I think she may be the perfect stunt devil if she's up for it," My head darted from Provence to Arum. There was no expression on her face, as if she didn't even hear her, until she started to nod. "She is the best swimmer out of all of us, after all."

Arum stood and grabbed the notebook from Provence's grasp, "I should probably go home. I think we're having company over tonight or something."

"Yeah, I think I should go home too," I blurted out, standing. Lee cackled.

As everyone took off, I grabbed Provence's wrist, "Are you sure this is a good idea?" I whispered. Her green eyes hit mine. They were hard with determination. I could already tell that it would be hard to change her mind. "It's just that... Arum's mind goes kinda blank at unexpected times. You know that." She stared at me for a moment before yanking my hand away and running to catch up with Lee.

I sighed, watching them go. The insides of my stomach were churning. The idea of Arum being the "stunt devil" in any one of Provence's plans did not sit well with me. I probably wouldn't be okay with it if it were Lee. Sure he's a jerk, but he's still my friend.

Lee and Provence headed down a different part of the road than Arum. Usually Lee would go with Arum since they were neighbors.

Without thinking about it first, I sprinted to catch up with her. When I finally made it, she stopped in her tracks, watching me huff and puff, out of breath.

"Terry?" she raised an eyebrow.

"I'm gonna-" I paused to huff one more time, "walk home your way." I straightened up and eyed her. Her pale forehead was squinted in confusion.

"Isn't this out of your way?" Arum questioned, starting to walk again. I shrugged in response. Quite honestly, I didn't know why I was walking with her. It's not like it would be to talk her out of anything. Her mindset is fixed, which isn't her fault, she was born like that.

After a few moments of awkward silence I broke the silence, "I don't know what Provence wrote down in that notebook, but I already know it's not going to end well... None of her plans do."

Arum looked at me with the same face as she always does, a blank one. "We have to try," her voice sounded shaky. "I'm tired of constantly sweating, Terry."

"So... You're going to sacrifice your life?"

"Who says it's going to be a bad plan?" she countered. I wasn't sure how to respond to that. Provence's ideas are almost always harmful, but that's not a good enough excuse. Arum trusts her with her life.

Instead of answering, I just turned away, going back towards where I would've went home earlier.