PKOTA) Chapter 1 Part 4

I have no idea when I fell asleep. After I had brought all the boxes in, I sat on the couch, and I guess I passed out. I was awoken by my door opening. I looked at the clock to see that it was almost six. I rubbed my eyes and got up to see Momo walking towards the kitchen with a few Tupperware. “Jade!”

“I’m right here no need to yell.” I sighed, looking helplessly at my friend. I then looked at the size of the Tupperware and furrowed my brow. “I can’t eat all of that.”

“Of course not! I talked to my mom, and she said I could stay home until the heat wave was over. So I will be staying here with you. I figured you would not be going to school tomorrow. Was I right?” Momo had expectant eyes that were looking for praise for guessing my thoughts.

I chuckled and nodded my head. “Yes, I was planning to set up the new solar system tonight while it was cool. You can help me with that. But it’s crazy. We are getting temps as high as those seen in Death Valley. This is just not natural.”

“I heard. My mom told me that she and Dad will stop going to work after tomorrow. Even if they get yelled at, they won’t be putting their lives on the line to work.” Momo’s parents had always been realists. They looked at the facts in front of them, and based on what they saw, they made their decisions. It was how they had obtained everything they had today.

“If the power goes out and you guys can’t keep your electricity on, bring both your parents to my house. The basement is furnished and has a few rooms we can all camp out there. Even if the temps reach a hundred and ninety we will be just fine since there is air conditioning down there as well. I took into account you and your parents when I ordered food as well.” I would never leave Momo and her family alone if things got too bad. I did not wish to see them suffer.

“Maybe, being a paranoid weirdo is not so bad after all.” Momo giggled at her own words. I just rolled my eyes at her.

“Go sit and watch TV. I will get this all plated. It should still be hot.” Momo was like a little housewife some time. “By the way, Jade, you look quite sexy in your jammies. Makes me want to turn lesbian.” And other times, she was like a horny old man.

“Keep me out of your fantasies.” I walked away and made my way to the couch once more. I looked at the screen to see the news issuing a heat advisory. The weather was going to jump to a hundred and thirty in two days. It was supposed to steadily climb after that.

After the weather, it began talking about heat-related deaths. But what was strange was that they did not seem to be talking about how these temps were the same for all the states. No one was able to escape the heat. But this also brought about new issues like the melting of polar ice caps.

I am not sure if this was what was called selective reporting or what, but it seemed they did not want to cause a panic, maybe? Of course, this was all my own assumptions. Of course, if anyone was stupid enough to try to protest in this heat, they were just asking for it.

It did not take long for Momo to plate the food and bring it over. It was not the first time she had become a little housewife for me. “Oh! Spaghetti and meatballs!”

I licked my lips. Her mom always made the best pasta dishes. But then again, seeing how she was Italian, I guess that made sense. I did wonder what I was, though. My silver hair really stood out, and I do not know any nationalities that have silver hair. Both my parents had brown hair. From what I know, the doctor told my parents it was a form of albinism. But I didn’t have red eyes or pure white skin either. If you added in my unnatural strength, I stood out amongst the crowd.

“You still get excited every time she makes this, don’t you?” Momo asked with an amused smile.

“I can’t help that your mom’s cooking is to die for. Plus this is my favorite.” I really did like it. The sauce was always so fragrant. The meatballs practically melted in your mouth, and she always stuffed a bit of cheese inside them, making them even better.

“Enjoy it while you can. Since we might be eating what is in those buckets some time soon.” Momo pointed at the buckets of food in the corner with the boxes from earlier.

To be honest, I was not really looking forward to eating that kind of stuff, but there was no telling if we would be stuck in my basement at all in the coming days. Yes, I had a freezer packed with meat and three fridges downstairs full of things that had a long shelf life. I even had two shelves stocked to the brim with canned food. But what if this heat wave did not stop in a few days or weeks? Or even months? Basically, what it comes down to is beggars can’t be choosers.