Colliding Skies

by Debbie Zaken

  “Do you need me to…help calm your nerves? I can, you know. Relax you enough just to get through it.”

  He took my hand in his and I felt the soft pulses.

  “Sure. Who needs anti-anxiety medication when they’ve got a mind controlling alien boyfriend, right?”

  “Mood altering, not mind control. And I just thought it would help.”

  And it did. I could already feel the calming effect of his touch.

  “All right, let’s go before I change my mind again. Emily’s waiting for us.”

  We made it from the parking lot to the sliding glass doors without anyone noticing us. As soon as we stepped into the lobby, though, several pairs of eyes locked onto us. The whispers quickly turned into a ripple. Then, like a domino effect, one pair of wide eyes after another fell upon us.

  “Oh, God.”

  My knees buckled, but Ethan steadied me, his arm holding me by my waist. I grabbed onto him and we took a few steps. The crowd in front of us parted like the waters of the Red Sea. More people shuffled out of the way, clearing a path to the event hall.

  “It is just the initial shock,” Ethan whispered. “It will calm down soon.”

  Inside, blue and white strobe lights illuminated the ceiling of the hall like stars. At the other end, strings of soft lilac lighting bathed the dance floor in a warm glow. But even under the glimmering dance floor lights, I felt hundreds of pair of eyes turning in our direction the moment we stepped in. The loud music made it all the more surreal, because everyone had stopped dancing, their heads turned to where we stood by the entrance. It was like being in the middle of a high school horror movie. The one where the prom queen gets doused in blood and then unleashes all kinds of hell.

  The phone in my hand vibrated and I looked down at the text I got from Emily:

  To your left. 4th table. Walk fast.

  “Come on. They’re over there.”

  I swallowed and led the way, the crowd stepping aside, their shocked eyes following us to where Emily and Lucas sat.

  “Hey.” I slumped into the chair next to Emily.

  “Hello, Emily. It is nice to see you again.” Ethan gave her a friendly smile.

  “Um…you too.” My otherwise outspoken friend stumbled on her words.

  “And you must be Lucas,” he continued.

  “Uh, yeah. Hey…man.”

  I kicked him under the table.

  “Ow!” Lucas cried out.

  “Wow, talk about making an entrance, huh?” Emily flashed me an encouraging smile.

  “You think? Is everyone still looking?” I knew she was trying to make me feel better, but it wasn’t really working.

  “Yep, pretty much,” Lucas replied. “Teachers, too. See, there’s Principal Hayes and Mrs. May looking straight at you. Looks like they’re trying to decide whether to come over or not.”

  I didn’t want to look to where he pointed. Instead, I turned to Ethan. “Maybe we should go.”

  “Skye, you’re here. The cat’s pretty much out of the bag now. And what can they do?” Emily lifted her shoulders. “It’s not like they can kick you out for bringing Ethan. He’s your date. You’re not breaking any rules.”

  “Yeah, I don’t think there’s anything in the Student Handbook about this. Besides,” Lucas added, shooting Ethan a nervous glance. “I doubt anyone’s gonna wanna mess with him.”

  Ethan shifted in his seat. “Things will settle down in a few minutes. They cannot possibly stare at us all night.”

  Lucas hid his face behind his hand. “Yeah, I’m sure people will forget all about it. It’s not like it’s weird or anything...”

  Emily elbowed him in the ribs.

  “What?”

  “Shut up!” she snapped.

  I sank lower in my chair as they started to argue. How did I ever think this could possibly be a good idea? Not really the magical night Ethan had envisioned. I rubbed my forehead and a shiver ran through me.

  “Are you cold?” Ethan asked, putting his arm around my shoulder.

  “A little. I left my sweater in the car. Maybe we should—”

  Taylor burst through the doors, and I forgot all about my sweater. He was alone and the cold, hard look he wore made it pretty clear he’d come with a purpose. He looked around, finding me almost immediately since pretty much everyone still stared in my direction. Even with the flashing lights I could see his shock when he saw Ethan sitting next to me. Shock blazed into fury.

  “I thought you said he wasn’t coming,” Emily hissed to Lucas.

  “He wasn’t. He must’ve changed his mind when he found out about Skye and the alien dude.”

  “And how did he find out, Lucas?” Her irritated tone made it pretty clear she knew the answer.

  “I sorta texted him.”

  “God! Why would you do something so stupid?”

  “Oh come on, gata. It’s not like he wasn’t going to find out. All he had to do was check his phone. They’re blowing up my news feed and I’m sure everyone else’s. ”

  She huffed loudly. Leaning into me, she whispered as low as she could, not knowing that Ethan’s superhuman hearing could pick up every word.

  “He never asked Julia to prom. I saw her walk in with Andrea and Josh earlier, all pissy.”

  Ethan’s grip on my shoulder became an iron clasp. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye—jaw clenched, brows furrowed, his eyes a turbulent lightning storm glaring right back at Taylor.

  Just then, the lights, the people, the music…it all faded into the background. All I was aware of was Taylor and Ethan, and the growing tension pressing down on all of us.

  Lucas swore under his breath, his worried gaze on Taylor. Ethan started to stir, the rancor on his face growing. The fingers on his free hand curled and uncurled, the hand on my shoulder becoming so hot it began to burn my skin.

  “Ethan, stop,” I cringed.

  But he was too far gone to notice. His breathing grew louder, his chest heaved, and a look so menacing crossed his face, it wasn’t human.

  “Lucas, do something,” Emily whispered.

  “Hold on. Give him a minute.” Lucas motioned with his hand, his eyes fixed on Taylor.

  Taylor took a step forward. At that same moment, Ethan dropped his arm, releasing me from his fiery grip. I still felt heat coming from somewhere. I looked down, and when I saw Ethan’s hands, I gasped. They hovered just over the table, his fingers outstretched and alive with volts of blue electricity flowing under his skin. Actual shockwaves formed a glowing aura of energy around his hands. Ethan had warned me numerous times about the dangerous energy the Celeians produced, but I’d never seen it. Not like this. The voltage radiating unnaturally on his hands, the smell of burning fabric coming from the tablecloth, the heat so intense it could light the entire place on fire.

  “Deus do Céu.” Lucas’ normally tanned face paled as he gawked at the currents of electricity circulating under the skin of Ethan’s hands like veins. He jerked his gaze back to a seething Taylor, who was about one step away from blowing up.

  “Don’t do it, bro. This guy will kill you,” he muttered, as if Taylor could hear him, blaring music and all.

  I didn’t know if Taylor could see the blue currents glowing from Ethan’s hand through the flashing lights. But when Taylor took another step, his gaze anchored on me.

  Don’t do this. Please don’t do this.

  One touch, even if by accident from the electric surge flowing through Ethan’s hands and Taylor would be instantly killed.

  “Ethan, please.” My limbs rattled me in my seat, making my voice shake. “You don’t want to do this.”

  I murmured.

  Ethan didn’t respond. Taylor’s eyes narrowed and a curious look flitted across his face. Then resolve hardened his features, and he spun on his heels and stormed out the doors. Lucas, Emily and I let out a deep breath. But Ethan remained focused on where Taylor had been. The sparks receded back into his fingers until they disappeared completely. Finally, he l
eaned in and whispered low in my ear.

  “Your friend is very upset. I understand if you need to talk to him.”

  “What?”

  “You asked me to trust you, and I do. Go talk to him. Make sure he understands I mean him no harm, but it is in everyone’s best interest that he stays clear. This cannot happen again, and right now he is too incensed to think clearly. As much as I dislike it, Skye, you are the one who needs to do it.”

  I shook my head in disbelief. “Ethan, I—”

  “Go. Before he makes things worse. He will listen to you. And I will get some much needed fresh air.”

  “I really don’t think that’s such a good idea. Maybe Lucas could—”

  “I will go get your sweater from the car,” Ethan blurted out and got up before I could even react.

  Zipping quickly around the crowd of people, who were more than eager to get out of his way, he bolted out the door. Lucas and Emily turned to me, looking about as confused as I was. I couldn’t believe I was actually going to do this. I didn’t know what Ethan had seen or heard, but he seemed genuinely concerned about what Taylor could do and I knew just how reckless he could be when he wasn’t thinking straight.

  “I’m going to go freshen up a little,” I mumbled. “You guys should like dance or something.” I left them there, the same perplexed look on their faces, and dashed out the doors.

  Although I’d never been to this hotel before, I had a feeling I knew where Taylor could be. I took the stairs down to the terrace and went out. The pool was still open, but there was no one there. I circled it, checking behind every one of the billowing, white drapes of the stylish cabanas, but nothing.

  I was about to go back inside when I noticed a stone path leading down to a set of dimly lit steps somewhat hidden behind a wall. I followed it, and there on the top step sat Taylor. A cigarette dangled from his lips as he fumbled in the pockets of his suit jacket for a lighter.

  “Since when do you smoke?”

  He spun around, the unlit cigarette now between his fingers, a surprised look on his face.

  “It’s a habit I picked up. I gave it up along with everything else, but now seemed like a good time to start again.”

  “Well, it’s disgusting.” I sat down next to him, took the cigarette from his fingers, and broke it in half.

  “Hey! What the hell are you doing?”

  “I’m saving your life. Those things will kill you.”

  His face broke into a wry smile. “Is that your way of warning me?”

  “No. The warning is right on the box. Didn’t you ever read it?”

  He barked one short ironic laugh. Rubbing the back of his neck with his hand, he looked at me. “What are you really doing here, Skye?”

  “I, uh, came to see how you were.” It sounded more like I was asking a question than giving him an answer.

  He took a deep breath and let it out, dropping his gaze. Playing with the lighter in his hand, the flame flickered on and off as he clicked it over and over. It cast an eerie dance of light and shadow on his face. We sat like that for a few seconds.

  “Why didn’t you ask Julia to prom?” The words slipped out of my mouth before I realized it.

  His brows creased as a peculiar look crossed his face. Then he shrugged and a sneer appeared on his lips. “Don’t really need to. I can get a room and take her up there now if I wanted to. Who knows? Maybe I will.”

  I glared at him, so arrogant and mocking. I knew he said it to hurt me. But I wasn’t going to let him get to me, even if the idea of exposing him to a little electro-shock therapy at the hands of Ethan was starting to have some appeal.

  “This was clearly a mistake. I should go.” I got up, ready to walk away.

  “Wait! I’m sorry. I know I’m being an ass. Don’t go yet. I promise I’ll be nice.”

  I hesitated.

  “Come on. Just sit with me for a few more minutes.” He patted the vacant side of the step and gave me his best puppy dog look. “I’ll be a perfect gentleman. I swear.”

  I let out a breath. “Fine, but consider that a warning.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” His lips curved into a smile— a real smile—while he gave me a military salute with his hand.

  I sat back down and another pause followed, both of us trying to figure out what to say.

  “Ballsy move tonight,” he said. “You pretty much topped any prom in the history of proms.”

  “Yeah, you know me. I live to make big, bold statements.”

  “Well, consider that an epic success.” His irony mirrored mine and we both laughed a little.

  Another short awkward pause and I sighed. “I guess we were both sort of tired of hiding. I know it’s a shock, but people will get over us being together, and eventually, just accept it.”

  “Ah, spoken from the lips of the truly self-deluded. So you think you’re what? A trendsetter? You think you’re starting some intergalactic interspecies rights movement here? Like the Star Trek Federation?”

  “You’re doing it again, Taylor. Acting like a jerk. Remember, you promised.”

  “And how is this going to work?” he pressed on, his voice like acid “You and Mr. Nuclear Power Plant gonna get married, buy a house in the suburbs and have a couple of mutant alien babies?”

  “Shut up.” I didn’t want to answer his questions. I didn’t know the answers to them myself.

  “Oh, come on. What’s the five year plan? You’re going to go off to school, get your Physics degree, while he and his crew conquer Earth, and then a big, fat alien wedding on board the Starship Enterprise, and everyone lives happily ever after? Tell me how it’s going to work, Skye, because I simply don’t see it.”

  “I don’t have it all figured out yet. But we’re together now and that’s all that matters.” In my silly fantasies it did end with Ethan staying with me forever, but I wasn’t about to tell Taylor that. “And you can’t do anything stupid. Do you understand what I’m saying, Taylor?”

  “So he sent you here to warn me, just like I thought.” He laughed in contempt. “What? Too much of a coward to do it himself?”

  “God, you’re such an egotistical ass sometimes!” I squeezed my temples with my fingers. “Don’t you see? The only thing he’s afraid of is killing you.”

  “And are you here because you’re worried he might actually take a life or because you don’t want me to die?”

  “Don’t provoke him, Taylor.”

  “Thanks for your concern, but I can take care of myself.”

  His arrogant smile worried me.

  “Relax,” he told me. “I won’t do anything. As long as he stays out of my way, I’ll do the same. That’s what you can tell him. Good enough?”

  I nodded.

  His features softened, while his eyes took in my face, my hair and down to my plum-colored gown. A small smile appeared on his lips.

  “You look beautiful. You always do. But tonight…you’re radiant.” He lifted my wrist and stared at the delicate corsage around it. “Is this the dress you uh, originally bought?”

  I pulled my arm away from his hands, understanding the unspoken question.

  “Taylor, does it matter?”

  “Just curious, I guess. Well anyway, you look beautiful.”

  I let out a nervous breath, suddenly very much aware of how close we were sitting. “Thanks. You look nice too,” I mumbled awkwardly, looking at his charcoal suit, light gray shirt and burgundy tie.

  Julia must’ve been eating her heart out when she saw him walk in. I almost felt sorry for her…almost. Then my eyes caught sight of something bulking from inside the pocket of his jacket—something that looked like a flask. I gave him a long, hard look.

  “Any other old habits resurfacing that I should know about?”

  “What?” The corners of his eyes tightened.

  “You know. Really stupid crap that could ruin everything you’ve worked so hard for?”

  “No. What? You don’t believe me?”

  “I don
’t know.” I searched for the truth on his face. He was taken aback, maybe even offended. But he’d be the first to admit what a good liar he was.

  His lips pressed into a taut line. “This is bullshit. I get this from my father— every day. I expect it from him, but not from you.”

  He reached into the pocket of his jacket, took out the pack of cigarettes and handed it to me. “Here. Take it. That’s all I have. I swear. I’m as clean as a toddler’s rap sheet. Frisk me if you don’t believe me.”

  I looked at the cigarettes in my hand and then back at him. “Sorry, I just don’t want you to mess anything up,” I said.

  “You think I’m going to start drinking again because of you? Who’s a little full of themselves now?”

  My head sunk in embarrassment. “I didn’t mean it like that. I was just worried.”

  “It’s all right. Nice to know you care.” He smirked. “So what? Are we like friends now?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe. I’d like us to be friends.” I didn’t like pretending that we didn’t exist to each other.

  He winced. “Ughh, man! The F word? Guess payback really is a bitch. Do you know how many times I used that line on a girl? Besides, I don’t really think your crazy killer boyfriend with freaky glowing hands would like that very much.”

  “He’s not a crazy killer. And you looked like you had murder on your mind, too. But what do you say? You think we could be, you know, friends?”

  He hesitated for a second, a quizzical look on his face. Then his gaze dropped to my hand extended in the air. Scratching his head, he sighed. “Friends.”

  He gave my hand a soft squeeze, his fingers grazing my skin. I glanced down at to our interlocked hands. Something inside me stirred. Our gaze met, and his eyes became a smoldering caramel, so rich and deep I could almost drown in them.

  “There you are, Skye.” Ethan’s voice made me jump and I pulled my hand away from Taylor’s. “I thought you might have gotten lost. Would you care for a dance?” He held my sweater in his hands, looking composed. Too composed.

  I cleared my throat, trying to clear my head at the same time. “Uh, sure.” I wasn’t sure what had just happened, but a twinge of guilt constricted my chest.