An Alienating Secret

Ready to See an Alien?

--Alana—

I brushed my sweaty hands against my pants. Closing the car door behind me, I took a deep breath.

Conner had texted me last night, telling me that he agreed. Agreed to let me style his hair for the call with his family. Agreed to go behind his guardians' back, risking their anger, to let me into his house and... show me his alien form.

I breathed in and out again. I couldn't believe this was really happening.

I hadn't thought Conner was faking this whole "alien" thing, but this proved he was telling the truth. Would Conner really try to fool me with an alien costume? I mean, if it was a lie, wouldn't he just say showing me was too dangerous and drop it?

So, he must be telling the truth.... Which means I'm about to witness a real-life sci-fi movie scene.

The thought filling my mind, I stepped away from my car, up some stairs, and to the apartment door that Conner told me was his. I rang the doorbell and waited.

It was a couple seconds, but it felt like hours. I could already envision Conner opening the door, blue skin and tentacle beard (like Davy Jones), with his blonde human wig still on his head. He'd be glancing from side to side, making sure no neighbors were watching. Would he have two arms- or maybe four? And would he ooze green slime when he walked around the floor?- NO, that sounds like his blood. Not a good idea. And why are you imagining that Conner's an octopus, Alana? And-

Conner was just Conner when he opened the door.

No green ooze. No tentacles. No blue skin.

I didn't know what to say.

"Thanks so much for coming. You can't imagine how much I appreciate it." Conner smiled. When I didn't respond, Conner said awkwardly, as if reading my thoughts, "Uh, I'm not in my alien form yet because someone could see me. It's safer to do it inside, with all the window blinds closed."

I nodded slowly. Why didn't I think of that? Idiot.

Conner let me in, and I looked at the inside of their apartment. It was clean enough, but a bit cluttered. As if Conner was doing a last-minute clean-up to make the place more presentable.

Conner led me to his room, where the window blinds were already shut. He flipped on the lights and I smiled. There wasn't too much furniture in the room, and no postures or pictures were on the wall, but it still felt like Conner was trying to make the room his own. His backpack was by his dresser, books were piled half-neatly on his desk, and a desk lamp had many galaxy stickers on it. At the last one, I frowned, thinking about how homesick Conner must feel.

At least he can call his family today, I thought.

Conner faced me and took a deep breath.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

I felt jumpy all of a sudden. "Y-yeah, for sure."

***

--Conner—

I pressed a steady finger onto my chest compartment. I heard a whir and felt a painful suction against my skin as my human disguise (not including my clothes, which were left on my alien body) was pulled into the deep metal ring inside my chest. I took my blond wig off easily when I felt the suction on my head, then plopped it back on immediately.

I didn't want Alana seeing the little stub of real hair I had, and my "alien hair wig" was still hiding in my closet. So, I'd be a blond alien for now.