by Sarah Carter
“That is so weird,” Connor snorts. “But cool at the same time.”
Lexi smiles. What’s up, Dad?
Are you coming home straight from school?
Probably not, why? It’s not like I really have to do homework.
What are you planning on doing?
Hang out with my friends.
Connor, you’re going to hang out with Connor.
Maybe some other people, too. Lexi hates lying to her father, but it’s necessary.
I’m worried about how close you are getting to this boy.
Weren’t you the one who wanted me to make friends? Isn’t that the whole reason I’m going to school? To socialize and meet people.
Well, yes.
Then I don’t see what the big deal is.
There’s not a big deal. I just worry because it’s a boy...and a human.
I’m not Neturu, so there’s no way for me to out you.
I know that, but still.
Dad, listen, I’m not Neturu; I’m Kenga.
You’re a small part Neturu.
Barely a fraction, Lexi responds. It’s so small it doesn’t even count. I can’t shapeshift, so it doesn’t matter. Even if something did slip, you can erase memories, remember?
True.
See, nothing to worry about. Anyway, why would I get attached to a human? I could never be with them. Again, I’m going to get thirty hedgehogs and be a crazy pet lady.
Hedgehogs?
I’m original, Dad. Got to do something original.
Ha. That’s very true. All right, will you at least be home for dinner?
I don’t know. What are we having?
Shrimp tacos.
Hell yeah, I’m going to be home.
Okay dear, see you then.
Bye, Dad.
Lexi looks at Connor. “All right, I’m done.”
He smiles. “That’s so crazy.
“Yeah, I know. It’s just the way that I work. It’s handy, though.”
“That’s probably true,” Connor replies. “What would you like to do?”
“Want to go see a movie?” Lexi asks. “This time we will try and not to get held up afterwards.”
“Sure,” Connor says. “That new Nicholas Sparks movie?”
She raises her eyebrow. “Umm, no, I was thinking of that horror movie that just came out.”
“The blood and guts one,” Connor laughs.
“Oh yeah, the bloodier the better,” Lexi cheers, rubbing her hands together. “Gore. Lots of gore.”
Connor reaches over and puts his arm around her shoulders. “You are definitely my kind of girl. Let’s go.
That night, Lexi gets home around 7:30. She tries to sneak in but is immediately confronted with, “You can’t creep into this house, dear. We have security at all the perimeters.”
Lexi turns to see her father standing there. “Dad, we went to see a movie and then had dinner.”
“I thought you wanted to eat here,” her dad responds.
She lets her hands drop. “I’m finally being social, and you have a problem with it.”
“Not at all, actually,” her father states. “I just want you to be careful about how much you attach to this boy.”
“He’s just a friend, Dad. You have no problem with me being friends with Ashe, and he’s a boy.”
“But you grew up with Ashe,” he says, walking over to her. “This boy is new and human.”
Rolling her eyes, Lexi walks past her father. “Dad, it’s nothing. He’s just a friend.”
Her father turns and walks with her. “I get that. I trust you. You don’t lie to us.” Lexi’s heart sinks at those words. Now, she feels awful. She is lying. She really has never done that before. All she can think is what is she doing? “Anyway, did you make any other friends?”
They walk into the kitchen, and Lexi goes to the fridge. “Yeah, Maddie is Connor’s cousin. She and I are going to be really good friends. You would really like her, Dad, and his best friend Derrick. You’d like him, too. They are really cool people. They are going to fit in really well with my friends already. Ashe and Lana want to meet them this weekend. Can they come over?”
“That’s fine. Neither of your brothers have started shifting yet. I don’t see why it would be a problem. We will lock up the plants.”
“That is very important because Connor loves botany and would notice that they were different.”
“Good to know. At least he is interested in something. Scientific, nonetheless.”
Lexi smiles as she grabs a jar of pickles and mustard. “Yeah Dad, if you got to know Connor, you’d like him. He’s actually very smart. Gets good grades.”
“Well, that is a positive for me.”
Opening the jar of mustard, Lexi dips a pickle into it. “Yeah, I need someone who I can have an intelligent conversation with.”
Her dad raises an eyebrow. “That looks gross, Lexi.”
“It must be a Kenga thing,” Lexi mumbles, between bites. “I love weird foods.”
“I think you picked it up from your mother,” he replies. “She eats weird things, too. I always associated it with being a succubus.”
“Well, I’m not a succubus, so we may just be weird,” Lexi snorts. “You should try it. You can’t pick on me, if you’ve never tried it.”
He puts his hands up. “I will pass, but thank you.”
“Chicken.”
“Oh, taunting me is going to get me to try it.”
“Yes, chicken,” Lexi exclaims, pushing over the jars. “Try it, Dad. What’s it going to hurt? Spit it out in the trash, if it’s really that gross.”
Eyeing her up, her dad finally reaches for a pickle. Dipping it in the mustard, he makes a face. He then takes a bite. At first he makes a face, and then he nods. “Hey, that’s pretty good.”
“What’s pretty good?” Lexi’s mom walks into the kitchen.
“Pickles and spicy mustard,” Lexi replies.
“Oh, I will have one,” her mom cheers. “This is so good.”
Her father finishes the pickle and says, “I don’t think I’d eat it on a regular basis, but now I can say that I tried it.”
“Good job, Dad,” Lexi laughs.
Her mom looks at her dad. “Brayden wants you to say goodnight to him.”
“I promised him I would read some of his book,” her dad replies. “I will go do that now. I’m glad you’re home safe, Lexi.”
“I’m going to go upstairs and do the little bit of homework that I have and then going to read,” Lexi declares. “I just started a good book.”
“That’s great. I will see you in the morning.” He comes around and kisses her on the head. “I love you.”
“Love you too, Dad,” Lexi replies.
He disappears around the corner, and Lexi’s mom turns to her. “So...”
“So what?”
Her mom smiles. “What’s going on with you and Connor?”
“Nothing, we are friends,” Lexi states. “There’s nothing going on.”
“Mmhmmm,” her mom hums. She smiles even more. “Lexi, I may be your mom, but I’m not stupid. You like him. Your dad may not notice, but I do. I’m a girl. I can tell.”
Nervously, Lexi shifts her weight. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“It’s okay if you like him,” her mom says.
Lexi gives her mom a look. “Mom, he’s human. It’s not okay.”
“I didn’t say you had to marry him, but it’s okay if you’re interested.”
“No, it wouldn’t be okay. He’s human. I’m also of the Merjyet line. That doesn’t mesh. The Neturu would have an absolute shit fit.”
“Lexi, language,” her mom scolds.
“Mom, people would lose their minds,” Lexi snaps. “Normal Neturu can’t date humans, but the daughter of the leader of the species can. That wouldn’t fly with people. At all.”
With a sigh, her mom replies, “I know it must be hard being your father’s daughter.”
�
�It sucks, Mom. I’m not even Neturu. I’m Kenga. No one is going to want me in their line, and I can’t be with a human. I swear, you guys don’t believe me, but I’m going to be alone for the rest of my life.”
“A Neturu will want you.”
Her eyes bulge and Lexi exclaims, “Who is going to want me? No one. I’m a super being. People are scared of me, not interested. Why date someone who knows everything there is to know about you? Why date someone who can hurt you or worse, kill you!”
“People don’t think that.”
“Yes, they do mom,” Lexi snaps. “You have no idea. You live in this bubble. We get called freaks. Especially me. People just don’t do it around you guys because they are afraid of getting in trouble. But, I’ve been called a freak. All of us kids have been. Except for the ones that are fully Neturu, but even then, they’re associated with us, so that makes them freaks by association.”
“So, why not date a human then?” her mom counters.
“Mom, that will so not fly with anyone. Grandpa, Dad, the whole Neturu population. No one else is allowed to do that, I’m sure not going to be excluded from that. I have to set an example.”
Her mom crosses her arms. “I know it’s tough, honey. I dated humans.”
“No one knew about you! Everyone knows about me,” Lexi whines. “It’s not the same.”
“Tell me the truth. Do you like him?”
Hesitantly, Lexi replies, “Yes.”
“Then I will help you hide it.”
Lexi’s jaw drops him shock, and she stares at her mom. “You’re kidding, right?”
“No,” her mom replies, shaking her head. She puts her hands on the counter and looks down. “I know how hard it is on you, sweetie. I understand. I know what it’s like to be different. That’s the way I grew up, too.” She looks back up with concern in her eyes.
“You’d really do that?” Lexi exhales. “You would really help me hide it.”
“Yes,” her mom replies. “But, Lexi, you also have to realize that you can’t get married to him.”
“Mom, I’m only 18. Not ready for marriage yet. I’m not Neturu. I don’t mature as fast.”
Her mom smiles. “Well see, then you can date him with no problem.”
“Will you really help me hide it?” Lexi asks. “Like seriously?”
“Yes,” her mom answers, with an enthusiastic nod. “I want you happy, and you need to experience life. He seems like a nice boy.”
Lexi couldn’t be happier and has the biggest grin on her face. “He’s wonderful, Mom. He really is. Smart and funny. He makes me laugh so much.”
“That is really important,” she replies. “Very important. You need to be able to laugh with each other. Laughter is a sign of happiness.”
“Connor’s great.” She lowers her voice to whisper. “I really like him.”
“Just be careful when you are home,” Lexi’s mom says. “I can only help so much. If your dad does find out, I don’t know if there is much I can do.”
Nodding, Lexi says, “I know. Don’t worry. I know.”
“When are you going to see him next? As in do something?”
“Tomorrow,” Lexi chimes, smiling broadly. She is so excited; she can’t help it. “He is coming over. He wants to meet Ashe and Lana.”
“Can we please send a ship for them?” her mom asks. “I hate when Ashe jumps everywhere. No matter how many seconds, it’s a disruption in time.”
Lexi nods. “Yeah, that’s fine.”
“All right, I’m going to go check on the twins.” She comes around the counter and gives her daughter a hug. “I just want you happy. Even if it’s only for a little bit. This will be good for you.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Lexi whispers, hugging her back.
“I will see you in the morning, honey.”
“Bye, Mom. Goodnight,” Lexi says, as her mom turns to walk away.
“Night,” her mom replies.
When she is out of sight, Lexi thinks, Don’t be scared but this is the only way I can talk to you. If you are alone, talk aloud.
Connor replies, Woah. This is weird.
My phone is monitored, so this is the only way I can really talk to you without my family finding out.
But, this is so cool.
It’s handy.
So, you can do this with anyone?
Yup, but I have news.
What’s that?
My mom knows.
Oh, that’s bad.
It’s not. Not at all. She is going to help hide us.
Really? Why?
She understands what it’s like to be in my position. She thought she was weird when she was my age, but she met my dad.
Your parents met at our age?
They were actually eighteen, but close enough. They have a really strong, great relationship.
That’s very cool. See, maybe we will make sense.
They were a lot more mature than me at this age.
I don’t know. You’re pretty mature.
They were a little beyond their years, but I won’t get into that. So, Mom says you can come over this weekend with Ashe and Lana.
Well, that’s exciting news. What should we do?
Not get caught by my dad. He won’t have a problem with you being over, but we just have to be careful. I have a swimming pool.
In your house? No way.
Yeah, it’s in the basement.
Is it like a kiddie pool?
Yeah, with one of those plastic toddler slides. It’s fun.
I think I’m taller than the slide is long.
Probably.
No, that’s seriously awesome. I love swimming.
We can play Marco Polo.
That game is awesome.
My dad has a thing with playing it. That’s what I grew up doing. It’s his quirk, but it’s fun to do. Ashe and Lana like it, but Ashe tends to cheat. That won’t surprise you if you meet him.
I’m excited to meet your friends. You’ve met mine.
Ashe and Lana are a little crazier. Just putting that out there. They are a tad bit on the weirder side.
Is it because you are in this secret society?
Maybe. Doubtful, though. We are just a little strange.
I don’t think you’re strange.
We are unique. Maybe that’s a better word for it.
I can definitely say that you are unique, but that’s not a bad thing
Because I’m a super being.
No, not at all. Okay, yes that makes you unique, but you do that by yourself, too. You don’t mind being a bit different. You have an attitude about people and life. That’s a good thing.
I get that from my mother. She takes crap from no one. My parents have very strong personalities, but that’s not bad. They are very confident in themselves, and I think they try and teach us that. I have a hard time. I’ve always been so different, and people are scared of me.
I’m not scared of you. Not at all.
Well, that’s you. The rest of the people that know are. I lived in seclusion for a lot of my life. I didn’t have my powers under control. I would lash out if I was upset. I would make things disappear if I didn’t get my way.
Disappear?
I can change the elements. I didn’t show you that. I can change metal into air or water. Or vice versa.
That’s incredible. Can you change things into gold?
Yes.
Will you do that for me!?
No, that’s abusing my powers.
Will it shift time?
Probably, I don’t know for sure. I can barely see you remember?
Then do it! I want some gold.
I don’t feel comfortable doing that. That’s not what my powers are for.
What are they for then? Was there a plan for you?
Yes, but we won’t get into it. I can guarantee that there would be a time shift. Seriously. I doubt I was meant to make you rich. That doesn’t seem logical.
I say do it. Just a little bi
t. Don’t make me a millionaire but like some spending money.
I’d rather give you spending money than make you gold. I’m not doing it. Sorry.
That’s okay. I’m just giving you a hard time, honestly. I’m only joking. Wouldn’t someone look into why a sixteen-year-old guy has a mound of gold. They would probably think I stole it from somewhere. Really couldn’t explain that my friend turned some silverware into gold for me.
That’s true. I don’t want to bail you out of jail, and that would be really obvious to my parents.
Ooo, good point. I didn’t think about that. That would be really obvious that I know about what you can do then.
Right. We have to be careful.
Fine, I won’t become rich. Darn it. I could use a car.
I can buy you one.
No, absolutely not. I’m not that type of person. If I get a car it will because of my own money. Anyway, I have an inheritance I get when I turn eighteen. My mom put aside a large chunk of her life insurance for me when I turn legal. She wanted me to go to college.
Which college are you thinking about?
Probably just state college. Start out there.