Colliding Skies

by Debbie Zaken

  Fear and longing swirled in his eyes “Skye, I—”

  “Ethan, I want you to kiss me. You won’t hurt me. Just try.”

  I leaned in, leaving only the smallest fraction of a space between us. The electrically charged air he exuded seeped in, settling on my tongue and making my entire mouth tingle. I licked my lips, tasting the cool peppermint flavor in my mouth. In that instance, I heard his sharp intake of breath. Then sparks struck as Ethan brushed his mouth ever so lightly against mine.

  One chaste kiss ignited a fire within me. My body burned as if I’d been struck by lightning. My mouth pressed hard on Ethan’s hesitant lips, my arms wrapped around his neck. He tried to pull away, but my fingers clutched wildly at his hair, pulling him closer. His lips moved with caution, yet this only made the inferno within me spread, my mouth demanding his to move with mine, my breathing erratic.

  At that moment, with my parted lips pressed to his, something in him came undone. Ethan molded his mouth to mine, his kisses no longer hesitant. Pure electric heat burned my lips, my tongue. The sparks became pulses, the pulses became currents and the currents became waves. The electricity consumed everything, scorching my skin, boiling my blood. I tasted fire. When he finally broke away, we were both out of breath and stunned.

  “Well, that was…unexpected.” A look, somewhere between sheepish and puzzled crossed his face. “Are you all right?”

  “I’ve never been better,” I whispered. In my eighteen years, I had never felt more alive.

  His brows sloped. “Yes, me neither. Maybe we should take a break. How about if we do a little more space traveling? There is a place on my planet that I would like to show you.”

  I doubted my stomach could handle any more space traveling. It already felt like it had gone through a blender. And my head still spun from the effect of his lips.

  At the look of hesitation on my face, he grazed my cheek with his finger, smirking. “Now that I think of it, if you close your eyes, you should not feel the motion sickness.”

  Oh, now he tells me.

  He was right, though. As long as I didn’t see the blur of speeding lights, I didn’t feel sick.

  “All right, you can open your eyes now,” he said a few moments later.

  This time the room stayed in place. I gazed up at the open dome. Above us, a picture perfect exotic alien beach floated in mid-air. An emerald waterfall cascaded down rocky, turquoise cliffs, surrounded by teal sand and crystal lavender waters.

  “These are the Dakonil Cliffs, one of my favorite places,” he said.

  I was struck by the waves flowing over my head, so close, I could practically hear them swooshing. “Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so beautiful.”

  “That is what I used to think. But now I know there are things in this universe far more beautiful.” Pulling me into his arms, his mouth nuzzled my neck. The soft pulses melted my insides.

  “Since it went so well the first time, you think we could try the kissing again?” I looked up, a coy smile paying on my lips.

  “Only if you promise to tell me if you feel any discomfort,” he murmured, grazing my jaw with his lips.

  I didn’t respond. My heart hammered so fast, I thought I might go into cardiac arrest.

  “Do you promise?” His mouth left a trail of kisses followed by the soft electrical pulses from my jaw, to my ear and back down to my throat. I trembled.

  “Skye.” He kissed the corner of my mouth, sending sparks running along my lips.

  “I promise,” I murmured. “Trust me, no discomfort at all.”

  When his mouth came down on mine, the fire spread from my lips to the inside of my mouth, rolling on my tongue. My fingers knotted in his hair, my lips molding to his, and the electricity flaring everywhere. All too soon, he pulled away, leaving me short of breath and dizzy. The room was spinning again.

  “Oh, God… I need air. ”

  His eyes opened wide in alarm. “Are you in pain?”

  “Pain? Oh no, far from it.”

  “Then what is the matter?”

  “Nothing is the matter. Except you’re making my head spin faster than the space traveling.”

  His forehead wrinkled. “The kissing?”

  When I nodded, an amused smile appeared on his lips. “I guess I am better at this than I thought.”

  “At what?” ”

  He planted a soft kiss on my cheek. “At being with you. I told you; this is not in our nature. Kissing, while common for you, is not a universal expression.”

  My brows snapped up. “Celeians don’t kiss?”

  He shook his head.

  “So that was your first kiss? Well, you could’ve fooled me.”

  He smirked. “Let us just say I have been researching the subject—in theory, mind you—since I met you. Now, I can thoroughly research it in practice.” His thumb grazed my lips. I quivered.

  “I’m glad you’re pleased with yourself, because I’m actually going to faint.”

  “It is probably just the after-effects from the space motion sickness. Why don’t we lie down?” He placed his arm around my shoulders for support.

  I happily laid down on the blanket and nestled next to him, like I had on our dream-dates. With my head resting on his chest, I heard the fast beating of his heart.

  “Is that your normal heart rate? It sounds like you’re running a marathon.”

  “Yes, it is. But how about we leave the biology lesson for another day?”

  We gazed at the cosmic seashore before our eyes. On the horizon, two large translucent moons had set in the clear blue skies of Celeia.

  “How many planets with life do you know about?” I asked.

  “It depends on what you mean by life. There are over a trillion planets in the Milky Way alone. Habitable planets are significantly fewer, but many of those have developed some sort of life. Sentient life, however, is harder to come by. But we know of some.”

  “And you’re in contact with these planets— the ones with intelligent life? You’ve been there?”

  “Yes. There is a vast galaxy out there, a multitude of civilizations,” he answered.

  “So why only contact us now? Or have you been here before?”

  “Earthlings are an interesting species. A strange mix— your intellect, your curiosity, and your emotions. We have known about your existence, watched you from afar for thousands of years. But only in the last hundred years or so has your civilization developed into one that we are truly interested in. The technological advances you have developed have made you a civilization to be reckoned with.”

  “You watched us? How?”

  “Self-replicating probes,” he said simply.

  Time stood still while I listened to Ethan describe his travels, the beauty of the cosmos and his home planet. My eyelids grew heavy as I saw the vivid pictures he painted in my head.

  “Skye, wake up.” Ethan’s voice hummed softly in my ear. “We need to go. It is almost daybreak.”

  I turned on my side and let the weight of sleep fall over me. I felt a pair of strong arms encircling me, and I was floating. My head leaned against something hard and warm. A fast thumping beat against my ear. Soft, pulsating lips nestled my hair, and I mumbled.

  “Ethan…”

  “Sleep well, my sweet Skye.” Ethan’s lips tickled my cheek.

  Skye,

  What a fitting name you have.

  For you are now the celestial sphere that covers me.

  THE NOTE HIDDEN underneath my phone convinced me last night had not been another dream. Soaring from my window, traveling through space at warp speed, and Ethan’s cosmic kisses…they were all real. His words left me walking on air—electrically charged air, even after only sleeping a couple of hours.

  “Seriously, Skye,” Emily interrupted my thoughts. “If I didn’t know better, I’d ask you what you’ve been smoking.”

  “Huh?” I looked up to find her standing in front of me, one hand on her hip.

  “Um, c
lass ended like five minutes ago. Didn’t you hear the bell?”

  “Oh.” I glanced around the empty classroom.

  A knowing smile spread across her lips. “Thinking about your close encounters of the superhot alien kind last night? Come on. Lunch.”

  She grabbed my hand and practically dragged me down the hall. When we got to the lunchroom, Lucas had already claimed our table.

  He greeted her with a peck on the cheek. “Hey, gata.”

  “Hi, Lucas.” Emily batted a set of gleaming green eyes at him, and his face lit up. But when he looked at me, his features strained.

  “Um, Skye—”

  “Yeah, I got it. He’s here today. Lucas, it’s not like I expected him to cut school until graduation. It’s fine.”

  “Okay.” His shoulders dropped.

  I scanned the room for Taylor, hoping he’d stuck to his routine of eating lunch outside. When I didn’t see him, my inner coward sighed with relief. Maybe I wouldn’t have to see him until last period, in Physics. But just when I thought the coast was clear, Taylor walked in, a mask of aloofness hardening his face. Our gaze met and a haunted frown strained his features. Within seconds, the poker face was back on. Without a second glance, he took his tray and went to sit at one of the empty tables in the back of the room.

  Back at our table, Lucas shifted uncomfortably in his chair, his glance darting from Taylor to Emily. Despite being slightly opposites, Lucas, the popular, goofball jock, and Taylor, the too cool to care, but hot as hell and I know it semi-loner, had become friends.

  “Lucas, is there a problem?” Emily asked, in that overly sweet voice that was anything but.

  “Em, come on. The guy’s sitting there by himself.”

  “You’re welcome to join him, if you want.”

  The sugary smile on Emily’s face only accentuated the warning in her words. Lucas’ GPA might not have been anywhere near as high as Emily’s, but he wasn’t stupid. Glancing one last time in Taylor’s direction, he sighed and sunk his head in defeat.

  I looked down at my tray, the guilt over breaking up Taylor and Lucas’ bromance ruining my appetite. But I didn’t have too long to worry about Taylor. Within a matter of minutes, Julia walked in. She pranced straight to Taylor, and plopped down close to him. When our eyes met, she flashed me that smug smile of hers.

  “Figures,” Emily muttered. “Slut.”

  “Emily!” I scolded.

  “I meant him, not her. Although...”

  “Em, just chill.” Lucas ripped his milk carton open as he glared at her.

  “Oh come on, Lucas! We all know that was her plan.”

  “Yeah well, Skye cheated on him.” He glowered.

  “No. He broke up with me, remember?” I yanked my gaze away from Julia trailing her fingers along Taylor’s arm and took a sip of Diet Coke.

  Just friends. Bullcrap.

  The day went on and before I knew it, it was last period. I made Emily walk extra slow so that by the time we got to the Physics class, Mr. Ruiz had already started.

  “Miss Reilly, you’re unusually late.” I was welcomed with a disapproving look.

  Even with the whole class staring in our direction, my eyes landed on Taylor. He sat with his arms crossed over his chest. His face was deadpan, but his gaze fierce. I went to sit next to Emily, a couple of rows in front of him.

  I tried hard to focus, but Taylor’s eyes burned a hole on the back of my neck. The minutes passed in slow motion, turning Physics, normally my favorite class, into my own personal hell. Two seconds before the peal of the bell, I stood up. But Taylor made it to the door before me.

  “Not so fast,” he hissed. “You and I need to talk.” He held me by the shoulder, pushing me deep into the hall.

  I froze with my back against the wall. The hallway flooded with students, but within seconds Emily appeared by my side.

  “There’s nothing to say.” We’d both made our decisions.

  “Oh, but I disagree,” he said.

  The Taylor in front of me was different. He wasn’t the angry and heartbroken one I left on the portico, nor the self-possessed and aloof one either. The domineering tone of his voice, the cold, calculating look in his eyes made me very nervous. I didn’t move while students hurried past us, free for the day. Some of them gave us curious glances as they walked by, but no one interfered, dismissing the little scene as nothing more than post-breakup drama. Before I knew it, only Taylor, Emily and I remained in the hall.

  “Taylor, let me go.” This time I spoke more forcefully, glancing at his hand on my elbow.

  “Not until you listen to what I have to say.”

  “Taylor, I don’t think Skye wants to talk right now.” Emily’s face tensed.

  He shot her an icy stare. “Stay out of this, Emily. I know you think you’re protecting her, but by encouraging her you only push her deeper into the lion’s den.”

  The weight of Taylor’s words and the cold sobering look on his face made Emily’s confidence falter. “Skye?” She looked nervously from Taylor to me.

  I sighed in frustration. “Fine. Talk.”

  “Not here. In private. I’ll drive.” He gritted his teeth.

  “Excuse me? Tell me where and I’ll meet you there.”

  He shook his head, glaring at me in suspicion. “No dice. How do I know you won’t just drive off?”

  Pompous jerk!

  Who did he think he was, telling me what to do? With anger brewing in me, I met his gaze.

  “What are you going to do, Taylor? Drag me by the arm and shove me into your car in front of the whole school? If you want to talk, we either do it my way or not at all.”

  Taylor and Emily both did a double take. It was hard to hide the small smile on my lips while Taylor weighed his options.

  “Starbucks. Just down the road,” he answered. “But if you’re not there in five minutes, I’m driving to your house. And we’ll just have to bring good Dr. and Mrs. Reilly in on this.”

  ***

  WHEN I GOT to the coffee shop, Taylor had already claimed a seat in the back. I plopped down on the chair across from him and glanced at the two cups of coffee on the table.

  “For you. Just the way you like it.” He pointed a hand to one of the cups. “Trust me, you’re going to need it.”

  “I don’t have much time. If I’m not home soon, my mom is going to have a fit.”

  “Well, look at that.” He smirked. “Little Miss Perfect, grounded. Good. Maybe that’ll keep you out of trouble for a while.”

  I glanced out the window, ignoring him and the coffee. “Just tell me what this about, Taylor.”

  He took a large manila folder out of his backpack and placed it on the table.

  I eyed him and the mysterious envelope curiously. “What is it?”

  He slid the thick folder closer to me. “Look for yourself.”

  I took out the document from the folder. The official seal of the Pentagon was the first thing that caught my eye, followed by the words TOP SECRET. My jaw almost hit the table. “What are you doing with this? Are you insane?”

  “Read it.”

  With my hand covering my gaping mouth, I shook my head, struggling to get past the initial shock of the first page.

  A sly smile curled his lips. “Well, don’t hyperventilate just yet. At least wait until you see what’s in the file. Just take a deep breath and read it.”

  “Taylor, these are top secret intelligence documents— stolen intelligence documents.”

  “I didn’t steal them. I merely copied them.”

  “There’s hardly a difference.”

  I’d been worried about him doing something stupid, like drinking. But that would’ve been too cliché for the always so cool Taylor Manning. Instead, he had to go pull some crazy espionage stunt that could land him in prison for the rest of his life.

  “That’s why you skipped school yesterday? To break into your dad’s files?”

  “Hey, if he’s more concerned with protecting his Xanax
from me than his laptop then that’s his problem.”

  “Maybe because he trusts you not to hack into classified government files. Oh my God, Taylor. Do you know how serious this is? You could be sent to jail. Your father could lose his job or even be court martialed.”

  He arched a dubious eyebrow. “And who’s going to turn me in? You?”

  “No, of course not, but—”

  “Then? It’s not like I didn’t think this through. I covered my tracks and I’m burning the documents as soon as I get home.” He shrugged, smiling wryly. “He always said I’d end up in jail one way or another. But I didn’t go through all this trouble not to have you read the damn thing. The memo basically explains it all.”

  I huffed, and took a sip of coffee before I’d realized I’d done it. Then I turned to the page in front of me. The Director of National Intelligence and the NASA Administrator’s names were typed neatly in black font along the top of the memo. I remembered meeting both of them at the State Dinner. The memo was a summary of an analysis on deviations in satellite orbits. Nothing in it seemed significant, until I got to the last paragraph, which Taylor had highlighted in yellow:

  The cause for the sporadic gravitational perturbations on said satellites cannot be determined with certainty. However, conclusive evidence demonstrates the influence of an existing gravitational force of a number of transitory but reoccurring objects causing subtle shifts in the motion of celestial bodies. This, in addition to repeated scans conducted by the European Space Agency demonstrating high variations of thermal radiation levels, and taking into account current knowledge of alien spacecraft travel technology, point to the existence of additional Celeian ships within the outer limits of the Solar System. The levels of activity indicate anywhere from five to fifteen extraterrestrial ships possibly making their way to Earth. Intelligence teams are trying to nail down the facts on the potential fleet of cloaked alien ships, determine the level of threat, and recommend an appropriate course of action.