I'm re-writing this story, some things are really different. I actually need advice because I plan on taking this story a different way than it was written. I'm not going to say what it is but if you think you can help PM me.
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Jade watched Cat blankly, she hoped stupidity wasn't contagious. Cat could be frighteningly dense and stupid, but really? This was something else entirely.
"Will the moon hit us?" Cat asked again when no one answered. They all were too busy watching the clouded sky. All but Jade, who had enough of gawking at the too large moon, peeking through heavily darkened clouds. Thunder rumbled far off.
"Yeah Cat, it's going to hit us. Smash us all like Tori's lumpy mash potatoes." Jade gritted through clenched teeth. The red head turned with large brown eyes and a gaped mouth to look at her dark haired friend.
"Really Jade…?" She girl whimpered.
"Don't listen to her." Robbie cuts to ease Cat's worry, which earned him an eye roll from Jade. "The likely hood of the moon hitting us is like a bazillion to one." He laughed an odd sound that echoed through the quiet court yard. "Something like that I think…" Rex - the boy's puppet is missing.
The moon is now, way too big, and way to close after being hit by an asteroid only last night. It frightened many of their classmates. Most of who hadn't come to school.
"I'm leaving." Jade comments dryly and stands.
"Why?" Beck asked standing with her.
"Powers out and I'm not going to read boo-." She began walking away suddenly realizing she was explaining herself, which she hated to do. Especially to someone who she felt was not owed explanations.
"Have you heard from your parents yet?" He asked appearing beside her, much to her annoyance. They had broken up months ago and only on recently had Beck decided to insert himself back into her life. They had been talking more lately. Actually talking, and not yelling.
Shaking her head she thought of her parents as they neared his truck, which was parked beside her car. Her mom had gone on a trip to Mexico with her little brother and her dad… well she hardly ever talked to him anyway. "I tried my dad this morning still no answer." Her shoulders rose and fell in a quick shrug.
He looked troubled, obviously more upset about her MIA parents then she was. She wasn't really sure how to feel about him worrying about her again. She guessed it felt… nice?. "Y-"She interrupts him.
"I'm fine Beck, and I'm sure they are too."
"I was just going to ask if you wanted to help me." He held up his phone. "My mom wants me to stop by the grocery store."
"Why don't you ask Tori?" It was a low blow and she hadn't really meant for it to leave her mouth and spew out of her mouth. She hadn't truly ever gotten over what it was she viewed over Cat's open chat back during the platinum music awards, even though she hadn't really told anyone about it.
"I guess I could…" He mumbled looking back towards the asphalt café. They're making plans for the end of the world, and they want me to get a lot of stuff. Their hitting up the grocery store near our house I'm supposed to do this one." He lightly shrugs.
"Since you're begging me," Jade commented realizing he may actually ask Tori. "I'll help out. Though I think your parents are a little…" She motioned towards her head. He was not offended.
"Yeah, they've been acting sort of strange. My uncle called last night after the moon thing. Ever since than they've been acting weird, even ta-" He cut himself off. "You can just follow me to the grocery, that way we'll have two cars to fill up.
"What?" She asked annoyed he hadn't finished his sentence. "Why did you cut yourself off?"
"Nothing," He quickly said.
They pull into Wiggly pig's grocery which is overflowing with panicky LA citizens. They had to park really far away from each other.
"Why is it so packed?" She heard Beck ask under his breath as they met up.
"It's the end of the world remember." She rolls my eyes and get out.
Jade, amusedly watches a few older women fight over a cart. Yelling and shouting could be heard even from her position. Whatever was going on she liked it. She turned around when she felt a cart hit her, finding Beck moving two carts. She bit back her scream. She hadn't even noticed he left.
"Alright, my mom said something about canned goods and water." He hands her a cart.
"How did you get it?" She asks seriously amazed pointing to the fighting old ladies. "It's like black Friday out here."
He gave a shrug. "Some lady was leaving and gave them to me. Anyway, you get canned goods I'm getting the other stuff. Nothing else but canned goods Jade, alright?"
She nods, annoyed. "Yeah I got it." She could tell all this was freaking him out. He handed her a few rolled up bills.
She began in a direction purposefully hitting her cart against people that refused to move fast enough. This was staring to be fun to her. She begins pulling canned goods from shelves. Canned beans, canned fruit, canned vegetables, she had no idea what Beck family liked to eat, but honestly she really doubted if the world was ending that they would be picky about green giant canned corn verses an off brand. Finishing fairly quickly after just shoving things into the cart, she pushed her way toward the check-out finding every line missing a cashier. People were just leaving without paying for anything. Was this looting? She honestly didn't care. Quickly she made her way back to Beck's truck and threw the cans into the back of his truck and waited. He appeared about fifteen minutes later his cart full of bottled water just as a heavy down pour started.
After helping him unload he took her home and promised to return later when he had helped his family out. Entering her home the girl found herself hoping her mom and brother would be there. The girl even found herself hoping to see her dad's unwavering frown as he waited. They weren't. Her electricity was out which meant no checking emails and no phones. Instead she found a seat at the island in the middle of their large hardly ever used kitchen, with a whole bottle of vodka. Her parents weren't exactly there to stop her.
Gry
Three weeks later, things hadn't changed much. Except for Jade's diminishing supply of food and the number of those lost and dead continued to grow. Jade cursed her mother for being such a health freak as she glared into her almost empty pantry. The only canned food they owned was black beans, which were a few years, passed the expiration date. All of the other food was perishable, like apples, and those cutie tangerine things which were her brothers, mostly all likely on its way to spoiling. She had decided to late to go search for food. All the grocery stores had been picked clean; it was sort of scary to see. All she had found was a bunch of candy bars and other none nutrient candies.
Shaking her head she began looking for her keys. The girl was happy that for at least for a few weeks food wouldn't be a big issue until school closed for summer. She could always ask Beck, but his mom had glared at her when Beck had invited her over for dinner yesterday made her hesitant.
Walking into Sikowitz's class a view minutes behind the bell went completely unnoticed. Hardly anyone bothered to show up for school anymore, not even Sikowitz. There was only about eight of them left anyway – students. Everyone had a lot on their minds, and Sikowitz was missing anyway. Jade wondered what would happen if Sikowitz didn't return, he was already only one out of the nine teachers left. She hoped that wouldn't result in school being canceled, because with canceled school food would be canceled, with food canceled Jade would cancel.
The girl sat beside Beck because he was in the closest empty seat, and the energy to find another seat wouldn't come. The classroom was abnormally quiet with everyone having their own moments with their own thoughts. Lane appeared only moments after Jade had entered the room. He looked tired and stressed.
"Sikowitz had a family emergency with his mother and left," He announced. "You all can go home, he won't be returning."
Jade's hands turned into fists, she felt like murdering something.
"What about lunch?" Tori questioned and stood up mirroring everyone's horrified expressions.
"Supplies are running low and something happened to our delivery guy… Today will be the last… I'm really sorry kids." With that he left like he couldn't handle looking at them any longer.
Silence fell over the room. Jade refused to show her hopelessness, and how much this news worried her. "I'm going to eat."
"It's so hot." Andre announced picking up his peanut butter sandwich, the only thing left for lunch to give.
Jade began picking at her own sandwich eating it painfully slow. She ignored everyone as they began to make very sad attempts at conversation. She looked up when another half of a sandwich landed on her plate. Looking up she found Beck watching her expectantly. His eyes clearly read do not argue. He had noticed the girl losing weight.
Jade to hungry to argue looked away.
"We're leaving," Tori suddenly said getting all their attentions. "We're going to my grandma's farm."
"Who cares?" Jade couldn't help but say though her comment lacked its usual edge.
"We are to." Cat announced suddenly. "We have to go check on my grandparents in Vegas." She looked around at everyone. "We might be back though."
Jade had no smart reply to that. Everyone was leaving; apparently LA wasn't really safe and was sinking and the little tremors that had begun a week ago were growing stronger with each passing day.
"We're leaving too." This made the girl look up. Not a word escaped her as she looked blank faced at Beck. She was a little upset he hadn't told her before, like when she was at his house yesterday, but guessed she wasn't owed an explanation considering they weren't really together.
"We found out for sure this morning. My uncle has this place near Canada…" He trailed off. "I'll be back as soon as I can. I just gotta help my dad get my mom there."
"I guess everyone is leaving." Robbie announces looking around at his friends faces. He had never seen them so sad, "except me." He breathed out his shoulders sagging.
"Not me," Andre announces. "My parents would like to try, but my grandma is afraid to move and we can't leave her behind."
"My dad says we are leaving because of the flooding." Cat announces as if someone asked. "I asked if we could build and ark, but he told me to shut up."
"I'll be here too." Jade announces ignoring Cat.
"I'm going any place to wait until my parents return." Robbie announced with a forced laugh. Everyone cringed laughs were uncommon now.
Jade looked at him. She had completely forgotten his parents were out of the country around the time of the asteroid. Jamaica, with his Mamwa as present for her eightieth… ninetieth…? She wasn't really sure it was just a birthday. She thinks. Now she understood his forced laugh. Things couldn't be very good there.
"We all should make a date to promise to meet back here." Cat announces she had tears in her eyes, which made them all uncomfortable.
They all shared a look. None of them not even Jade felt right about bursting her bubble. They would likely never see each other again.
"How about May 30th, a year from now. 3:00 in the afternoon we will meet here no matter what." The red haired girl stuck her hand out into the middle of the blue hole filled table, and looked at all of them daring them to refuse. Tori was first her optimism shining through. Laying her hand on top of Cat's, the girl smiled. Then Andre, Robbie and Beck joined in on the corny futile action. All their gazed landed on Jade.
This was even more abnormally stupid than normal even for this group. She laid her hand on top of pile. The world had ended, why not make hopeless promises you have no plan of keeping?
GRY
Jade fanned herself and wrapped up her half eaten bowl of black beans. She had to save the rest for tomorrow; Hollywood Arts was out of food, which meant it was fresh out of Jade Wests. Sweat was drenching her, which she found disgusting and hard to get used to.
Pounding on her door had her moving towards it her pulse quickening like it always did when she hoped her parents would be on the other end. She opened it and sighed it was only Beck.
"Nice to see you too, Jade." He came in without an invitation caring a box. He tracked down the very short hallway into the living room and Kitchen dumping the box on the island.
Jade followed him arms crossed annoyed he had invited himself into her house. The box had her attention though. "What's that?"
He gave her a smile. "Food, I have more in the truck, be right back." Before anything else could be said he had jogging back outside. Following him Jade found that Beck's father was getting out of another car and helping Beck carry the boxes. Beck's mother sat in the passenger seat not looking particularly happy.
"Hello Jadelyn." His father smiled at her actually being kind to her. She gave a weak smile back. She couldn't be rude they were bringing her food.
"Thanks." Was all she could think to say.
"You take care of yourself now." He announced leaving. Beck lingered around his hands shoved in his pockets unable to look her in the face again.
"You're leaving now aren't you?" She asked coyly looking through the boxes of food.
"They wouldn't let me take Robbie any." He announced instead of answering her question. "He's alone to. Maybe you can take him some of this food. You, Robbie and Andre need to take care of each other.
"One year Jade, you guys only have to take care of each other for one year." He moved away for she could see his eyes. "I expect you all to be around then."
Jade refused to say anything else, though he left right after that, neither of them said goodbye.
Jade tried unsuccessfully to find a radio station that had signal and wasn't filled with the names of the missing and dead. At first listening to that had kept her sane. Not hearing her parents name had filled her with hope, now it only made her sick. Giving up she glanced at her kitchen island from her position on the couch. The boxes remained untouched from yesterday. Getting up she almost fell down again from lack of food and the heat making her dangerously dizzy. It had to be hotter than the time in the RV. Plus now with off and own electricity air conditioning was a pleasant memory. She grabbed a box and went looking in the garage for her old bike. Her gas had run out already in both cars her parent had left behind. She found the mountain bike from her thirteenth birthday behind her dads yard equipment, of course the tires were flat.
She guessed she had to rough it. Her boredom was great and stir crazy could be her middle name, making the three mile hike to Robbie house seemed fun.
When she had finally made it her cloths were drenched with sweat and her mouth felt like it was filled with sand, she hated it. Throwing the box of food down angrily, and began hitting Robbie's door.
"Jade?" Robbie asked as the girl angrily pushed her way into his house and stumbled over to his couch. Inside was still hot, but cooler.
She looked around the open floor plan. His stairs were to the left and living room and Kitchen straight ahead all a matching pale green, nothing special at all just ugly Jade thought.
She officially hated heat. "You have food on your porch."
She wasn't looking at him, but there was no doubt in her mind he was giving her one of his dumb looks. "T- Thanks Jade." His voice was filled with so much gratitude, she cringed.
The girl fanned herself unsuccessfully and groaned. "Don't. Beck told me to, before he left yesterday."
"Thanks anyway." He gave her a shrug. The boy sat his box down on his Kitchen's counter and picked up a homemade fan and began fanning himself. "Beck left already huh?"
"Let me in Robbie." Andre's voice filtered through the recently closed door accompanied by loud pounding against Robbie's door.
Robbie quickly made his way over, opening his door open once again he found himself being shoved back. The young man with dreads came in clutching a bottle of water he collapsed on the couch.
"Why… so… hot…?" Andre moaned throwing his hands up into the air. He began drinking his water before noticing pairs of eyes on him watching. He glanced at Robbie then Jade, both of whom stared at him their bottom lips stuck between their teeth. They wouldn't ask. No one asked for water anymore from someone, it was too vital. No one asked for food either, which was even more vital and hard to come by. The items were too precious. He handed his bottle to Jade first, and she hesitated only a second before taking a view gulps, handing it over to Robbie and he finished it.
A long silence went by as they all savored the taste of fresh water and tried to cool off. "So we're all that's left." Andre finally spoke breaking the heavy silence.
No one answered him.
"You guys should move in together." Andre oddly suggested out of thin air a few hours later. "You both live alone and that can't be really safe." He tried to explain further.
Robbie finished cleaning up the monopoly game that had gone on for hours. "I don't really think that's a good idea." No one had won the game but as arguments flared over property and debts, they decided to put quite before any fist fights broke out. Maybe it wouldn't get that bad, but it was too hot for any sort of arguing.
"Why is it a bad idea?" Jade to both male's surprised commented, yanking Robbie's folded paper fan away to use on herself.
Robbie laughed nervously. He had said it because he truly thought a girl who on tolerated him wouldn't like to live with him. "It's just uh... uh, never mind." He gave up. Loneliness was driving him crazy anyway, and he really didn't care as long as he had someone to talk to. He could take being insulted a few times a day.
"Who's house then?" Robbie asked.
"Jade's closer to my house. I vote that." Andre announces. "I'm never making the trip to your house again."
"That's alright, right Jade?" Robbie asked the girl who had her eyes closed still fanning herself.
Her answer comes out a little impatiently, "yeah yeah."
Almost the end of June and it could only get hotter. Jade counts and recounts their food supplies. Only enough to last another week, and they already ate only every other day. The girl ran a sweaty hand over her face in frustration. Her pantry door was closed she could cry in peace, but enough of that had already been done. Instead she counted again.
"Jade are you alright?" Robbie voice came through the closed door hesitantly.
Jade glared at the closed door. "Why wouldn't I be?" She huffed angrily forgetting what number she was on.
Robbie coughed forcefully. He really wanted to ask if she had been crying – he had caught her doing that a few days ago, crying alone. He had caught her while the girl was clutching a bag of beans to her chest - it had troubled him.
"What?" She asked again at his silence.
"I think your neighbors left. I've been watching the house for days no one has moved." Robbie leaned on the wall beside their pantry. He tried to notice anything amiss with Jade's voice.
Jade tugs at her loose tank that at one time fit snuggly against her, slowly getting onto her feet opening the room's door. Robbie looked surprised to see her – alive. Which annoyed her greatly; she hated being thought of as being weak. They had all lost weight, a lot of weight.
Robbie had come up with this plan a while ago. He called it house hopping. Jade called it robbery. They break into seemingly empty houses and hope for food.
"You sure it's empty?" She asked getting uncomfortably close to him, her eyes darting all over his face.
He nods with a swallow. She thumps his forehead and he winces dramatically.
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