The Confidence Act

Before the end

       "Why would she even text him knowing the timing he be on."

       "How am I supposed to know? I didn't ask and I'm sure not texting him. BLOCKED."

       I looked around at the table of girls gossiping around me, my mind else where. They were too concerned about who said what and not concerned enough about what the news reporter read out this morning.

       "Ri? You okay?" I turned my attention to the 3 girls, now staring at me. My three best friends, Raven, Mimi, and Krystal. Raven and I had met first back in elementary school and it just always stuck. We were complete opposites and maybe that's what made us attract. She was tall, with long wavy hair and fair skin, whereas I was short with curly Afro hair and brown skin. She loved pink and Instagram glam where I have never liked pink, preferring to spend time outside and cosplay a nature goddess if you know what I mean.

       "Yea I'm fine", I responded, "Just a little stressed."

      "You can't seriously be bothered over what the news reporter said", Krystal rolled her eyes. "Bad stuff happens in the world all the time doesn't mean everything's gonna end."

       Krystal was Ravens roommate last year in the sophomore buildings. At first we all hated her and thought she was a little out of touch with her father being the mayor of our town and her mother being a well known cardiologist, but she showed her true colors when her parents got divorced last year. We were all there to help keep her together and she's stuck by us ever since, There was no doubt she was definitely out of touch, but she was always open to learn about other perspectives.

     Krystal was average height with a slim build from her track star record. You can trust she had the wall of trophies to prove it. She pushed her blonde hair back behind her ears as she pulled out her phone to read the report.

       "Of course you wouldn't be concerned. Your parents probably have a bunker built under that mansion of yours." Mimi gushed. Mimi joined our group about two years ago during our senior year of high school. She was a foreign exchange student from the Philippines. After her parents made the decision to stay in America, Mimi tried to fit in better, but high school kids are restless. The mocking of her accent and taking of her things was just the beginning. One day in the cafeteria the teasing was going a little too far and one of the boys got mustard all over her bag. Raven and I ran over and while I helped clean her up, Raven poured a fat carton of milk all over the boys head. They didn't mess with her again after that.

       "I don't know guys it seemed pretty serious!" I exasperated. "The way these politicians act I wouldn't be surprised if World War 3 started tomorrow."

       If only we would have known.
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Flashback to the news report:
      

       BREAKING NEWS

       AS TENSIONS ARISE GLOBALLY, THE THREAT OF A NUCLEAR WAR HAS OCCURRED. AS IT IS NOT YET CONFIRMED WE AS FOR THE PUBLIC TO REMAIN CALM. PREPARE FOR A FALL OUT AS PRODUCTION FROM OTHER COUNTRIES IS SET TO CEASE! WE ADVISE YOU STOCK UP ON NON PERISHABLES AND OTHER ESSENTIALS.

MAY GOD BLESS THIS COUNTRY

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      "If this was a huge current issue, I'm sure class would be cancelled."

       I looked at Raven, us sharing a glance then turned to Mimi and laughed.

       "You don't remember just a few months ago?" Raven laughed.

       "Krystal, the snow was 6 feet high! And we still had class!" Mimi shook her head.

"I didn't even go that day no way. I was checking my email like I KNOW you're lying they must own helicopters." Krystal went to speak but I quickly cut her off. "We KNOW you own a helicopter Krystal that's not the point!"

       We all laughed. Regardless of our differences, these girls were my family. Of course they would be able to turn a scary situation into a laughable moment.

       "I just think that it's obviously something serious if they would make an announcement like that on the news. And no one's even worried about it! At least outwardly." I began collecting my books from the table and putting them into my bag as I spoke, too stressed to continue the study session. We all sat in the campus courtyard studying for our coming up exam. Mimi and I were both psychology majors, Raven in Criminal Justice, and Krystal studying radiology.

       A cool October breeze came through pushing the pages of our books. With a quick progression the gentle breeze turned into a direct wave of air, knocking papers off the table.

       "What's going on?!" Krystal screamed. The sky above us began to turn dark as a shadow passed over the courtyard. We all glanced up just as the screaming began.

       "Everybody take cover unde—" and the speaking cut off, just as the world went black.