Theories of Global Warming

~Lee~

SIZZLE. That's all I could hear, minus the high pitched screeches that pierced into my ear drums. Everything was burning. The whole neighborhood, including my friends. First, it was Arum. She appeared out of nowhere, black smog coated her body, flames were arising from her arms and clothing. Her once long dirty blond hair was slowly burning off.

"Lee, is that you? Please help," her voice dragged as she spoke, obviously trying to stay conscious. I did nothing. I couldn't move. All I could do was look at her in pure shock, trying to think of a way to help.

After a few moments, her knees buckled and she fell to the ground.

Next came Terry. He rushed up to me, panting. He was just as on fire as Arum was, if not more.

"You need to help us. Get some water, Please," he cried desperately. Just like before, all I did was stare. I couldn't move. Even if I could, where would I get water from?

Terry sighed before his body started to crimple, turning into ashes.

Last came Provence. Her appearance was without a doubt the worst of them all. She came to me, her whole body set aflamed. Her once green eyes seemed to be an orange glow. Provence reached out her hand to me, as if she were trying to hold on to me. Her hand faltered mid-air, as it dropped to her side. She seemed to be seethed in sorrow.

"Goodbye, Lee..."

I felt a strong force shake me. My eyes opened to see my body in Provence's spare bedroom, with Provence standing beside me, but she looked normal. Her sandy hair was put back in a single braid, her eyes were their normal green, and her yellow cardigan was neatly buttoned up.

"Finally, you're awake. Hurry and get ready, we have a meeting this morning," she reminded me, throwing some of her older brother's clothes in my face.

Provence's big brother, Doran, was in college, so there would be no way he could find out. Besides, me and him have a mutual understanding, so he was bound to be fine with it. Although he is many years older than myself, we've always been the same height and roughly the same size, so we have always been able to share clothes or underwear in times of desperate need.

"Let me guess, they cancel school when the old man's kitchen set on fire on the opposite side of town, but they don't even consider closing it when my whole house catches on fire just a few blocks down." I rolled my eyes, easing myself up out of bed, a burning sensation waving across my body.

"Yeah, I know. I don't think it will be a full day though," Provence states before taking a wash cloth from the room's closet and turning to the door to leave.

After I changed into Doran's clothes, I quickly glanced at myself in the body mirror. I was wearing a black long sleeved shirt, baggy blue jeans, and my light brown jacket that was torn in the arms. Whenever I came over, Provence would always roll her eyes when I put it on. A few years back, after she realized what terrible condition my coat was in, she had gotten me a new one for Christmas. I've never worn it since. It just stays in my closet, collecting dust.

As I entered the kitchen, I spotted Provence walking back and forth, her head rested on her hand. I just stood there, waiting for her to notice.
After a few moments, I grew bored and decided to speak up. "We have a meeting today, Provence. Stop wasting time." She looked over at me, at my jacket more specifically, and rolled her eyes.

"You know I hate when you wear that jacket. Do you realize how much I spent on that other one?" Provence frowned.

"$34.99." I moaned, emphasizing the '9' at the end.

No matter how hard she tries, Provence will never be able to change my ways. First, she tries to fix my clothing. Next, she tries to fix my "laziness" by inviting me to the stupid park everyday. She even tries to fix my molecule problem of smoking.