by Sarah Carter
Connor reaches over and grabs her hand. “You will have to tell me the story sometime.”
“After I know you for a little while more,” Lexi replies. “That’s an important story with a lot of secret information. Most Neturu know about us, but they don’t know the story. We don’t hide it, but we also don’t parade it around.”
“You have such an interesting life,” Connor states. “My life seems so lame.”
Folding her hands together, Lexi pleads, “I want a normal life. I want to be a normal teenager. I don’t want to know all of this stuff. I would love to run into a wall and smash my face. I don’t want to know every personal thing about people. It’s creepy sometimes.”
“Do you really see all of that?”
“Do you know Mr. Draper, the science teacher?” Lexi says.
“Yeah, who doesn’t?” Connor replies.
She leans forward. “He dresses up like a baby when he’s at home.”
“Shut up,” he gasps. “Like, what are you talking about?”
“He wears cloth diapers and giant onesies,” Lexi giggles. “I realize I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I have a really hard time concentrating in chemistry. His wife gives him bottles and powders his butt.”
Connor busts out laughing. “I feel like he should be on TV.”
“Oh god, no,” Lexi snaps. “He’d never be able to teach again, and he’s a good teacher.”
“Is he like a pervert?”
She shakes her head. “No, not at all. He just likes to dress up like a baby in his free time.”
“We so need to put a baby bottle on his desk when he’s not looking.”
A shocked look sweeps over Lexi’s face. “No, absolutely not. I didn’t tell you so you could torment him.”
“That’s true,” Connor sighs, still smiling. “It’d be funny, though.”
“Yes, it would,” Lexi says. “But, he’s a good teacher. He’s just a bit weird. Like you said, an odd duck.”
Turning his eyes to her, Connor inquires, “Speaking of odd ducks, what’s going on with Maddie? She seems super happy. What don’t I know about?”
“It’s not something I am going to tell you about,” Lexi replies. “When she’s ready, you will find out.”
“Let me guess, her and Derrick finally came to their senses?”
Her jaw drops. “What? How do you know?”
Connor rolls his eyes. “I have known both of them my whole life. Like, I knew it was obvious two years ago. I know they like each other. I wasn’t about to interfere.”
“You have to tell them!” Lexi gasps. “They are so scared to tell you. That’s not funny, Connor.”
He puts his hand up. “Listen, he’s still dating my cousin. I’m going to make him stew on this. He needs to tell me.”
“Maddie is terrified about you finding out,” Lexi snaps. “That’s not fair.”
With a roll of his eyes, Connor says, “Fine, I will tell them I know.”
“She’s super happy,” Lexi declares. “Like, I realize I don’t know her that well, but she’s just beaming.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s great. She needs that. She needs someone who will protect her and I know he will.”
Smiling over at him, Lexi sighs. “You are a great guy, you know that, right?”
“It’s true and honest coming from you,” Connor replies.
“What do you mean by that?”
He shrugs. “How do you feel about me?”
“I like you a lot,” Lexi replies.
“See, for me, it feels like I’ve known you forever. There’s this connection. I can’t quite explain or describe it. You just feel like home to me, like I finally found a piece of me that was missing.”
A small grin crosses Lexi’s face. “I feel the same way. I never thought someone would see me for me. My entire life, all people saw was my powers. You see right through that. You see me, the real Lexi. You have no idea how much that means to me.”
“No, I get it,” Connor says. “I totally get it. The day I saw and ran into you, you took my breath away. You stirred something inside of me. You were so beautiful, but there was something else, something beyond that. When we talked, you were so...I don’t have words. I just felt this burning deep inside of me.”
“Acid reflux?”
He laughs. “No, like a feeling. You challenged me and not in a bad way. All I know is I wanted you. I wanted to know what you thought. I wanted to know what you loved. I just wanted to know you.”
Those are the sweetest words anyone has ever said to her. Connor turns to look at her, and Lexi stares deep into his beautiful, blue eyes. They hold so much warmth. She has known that they have been caught up in all the excitement. For the first time, she is seeing him for himself. “You are so kind,” she whispers.
“Not always,” Connor sighs. “You seem to bring it out in me. You are good for me, Lexi. You make me feel things I never thought I would feel. When my mom died, a part of me died. My stepfather is abusive.”
“That is stopping.”
Connor looks at her from the corner of his eye. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I took care of it, and we will leave it at that,” Lexi replies. “Secret alien stuff. But, the abuse will stop. If for some reason he ever hits you again, you need to let me know.”
“What did you do to him?” Connor gasps.
“Nothing really, other than scare the shit out of him,” Lexi replies. “But, I can’t tell you because it really is a secret.”
He nods his head in final understanding. “That’s why he got me this car. I was wondering why he was being so nice. I figured he was just messing with my mind.”
She smiles. “Nope, we took care of it.”
“How did you know?”
“I saw one night, through the window,” Lexi replies. “So, my mom and I took care of it.”
“Kind of like how you took care of Maddie’s attacker.”
“Very similar. He shouldn’t be bothering you again.”
He looks at her. “You can’t tell me what you did.”
Lexi grins. “I promise, if we continue to date, and I know I can trust you, I will tell you all these stories. Just give it time. We have only known each other a short bit. You aren’t supposed to know any of this, anyway. Let’s take it slow.”
“I’m just happy I get to know you,” Connor states. “I mean it. I think you are remarkable. You are so funny and kind. Your sweetness is genuine. But, you have spunk and not in a bad way. I couldn’t imagine you not in my life. I couldn’t imagine you disappearing from me. I would never tell a soul anything, just in the fear that I could never look into your eyes again. I fear that you could just disappear, and I don’t want that. This connection I feel, it’s deep. I have never experienced anything like it before. I don’t see powers. I see Lexi. I see this wonderful girl who I adore. You make me feel complete. I know it’s fast, but you do. From day one, you were a piece in my puzzle that had been missing.”
“I feel the same way,” she whispers. “I never in a million years would think I would find someone who sees Lexi. I can tell you don’t always look at me like a super being. That’s why I love Ashe and Lana so much. They see me for me. Other Neturu shy away from me. They don’t understand. They are scared.”
“I’m not scared,” Connor says, reaching over for her hand. He squeezes it. “That’s because I know you. I know Lexi. I know the type of person you are. You’re a protector. You use your powers for good because you are a good person. There’s nothing to be scared of. If anything, everyone should feel safe with you because I know you would never let anything happen to people. I feel safe, and that’s beyond your powers. I know I can trust you with my thoughts and feelings. I feel like I could bare my soul and you would hold it in your hands and cherish it. Lexi, what I feel for you, I never thought I would feel it.”
Her heart swells. “Connor, I really care for you, too, and it scares me. I never thought I would find so
meone. My biggest fear is that I will lose you. We technically can’t be together. My family won’t let me.”
“Can they always detect you?”
“What?”
“Can they always find you, through your technology?”.
She shakes her head. “Not at all. If they don’t have a tracker in me, they can’t find me at all. Even on the ships, they can’t sense me, which made it interesting when I was a kid. But, no, they can’t find me. Why do you ask?”
“Because if we get older, we could disappear together,” Connor says. “Think about it. You could jump and see your family but come home to me at night. If they realize what you are doing and how much you care about me, maybe they will fold. Maybe, this one time, they would let you follow your heart. You aren’t technically fully Neturu, correct?”
“No,” Lexi replies. “I’m Kenga for the most part. Only a tiny bit Neturu. I can’t even shapeshift. I can’t at all. Why?”
“Then they shouldn’t decide on who you can be with,” Connor declares. “Think about it. We can’t have kids.” He pauses and then says, “Wait, can we even have sex?”
Lexi smiles. “Yeah, but we don’t know what it’s going to be like. I’m pure energy. I’ve never done anything with anyone before. Even when we kiss, I don’t let myself fully go.”
“We should try that,” Connor says. “Not have sex, but let yourself go. Get into it. Maybe it will be a whole new experience for both of us. I want that with you, Lexi. I want that connection with you. You drive something deep inside of me. You bring the good out of me. I want to experience all of you. Someday we can be together intimately, but for now, let me experience Lexi. Let me experience who you are. I want to know the real you.”
“Pull over,” Lexi demands.
“Why?”
She points to the side. “There. Pull over onto that road.”
Connor swerves and goes down the dirt road. “What are we doing?”
“Stop the car,” Lexi states. “Put it into park.” He does that. Lexi unbuckles her seatbelt and crawls over to him. She straddles him in his seat.
“What are you doing?” Connor asks.
“Giving myself to you,” Lexi replies. “I want that, too. I want that connection with you. I have never felt this way about anyone. I want to do this. Not have sex, but I want to unleash my energy and see what happens.”
He looks up at her. “Will it hurt me?”
“I don’t think so,” Lexi replies. “But if it does, I will take care of it. I can heal.”
“Okay,” he whispers. He brushes her bangs out of her face. “You are so beautiful. Both inside and out. I couldn’t imagine a day without you.”
“Kiss me, Connor,” Lexi breathes out. “Let me feel you.”
Gently, he grabs her head and brings it down to his. Their lips meet. It is soft and sweet. They gently kiss each other for a while. Slowly, Lexi lets her energy go. The kiss deepens, and then it happens. Her power is let loose. Her mind connects to his. She sees all his memories. Feels his feelings. The kisses deepen, and Lexi presses herself against him hard. Connor reaches up her shirt and gently caresses her. Lexi moans into his mouth. She feels a connection with him she didn’t think possible. Time slips away from them. They get lost in each other. The drive, the burning passion, that’s all they feel.
Finally, Connor pulls away. “What was all that?”
“What did you feel?”
“I saw you,” Connor whispers, with tears in his eyes. “I saw you when you were a child. I saw you locked in a room. What was that?”
“We must have connected,” Lexi whispers. “I can’t explain it. I feel what you have felt your entire life. You have felt so alone.”
“I don’t feel that way anymore,” he whispers. “You complete me. You make me feel whole.”
She shakes her head. “It’s different now. It’s different now that we have connected. I don’t know what I’m feeling.”
"I think It may be love," Connor whispers.
Lexi shakes her head again. "It can't be. It can't be love. We haven't known each other long enough."
"We have a connection," Connor exhales. He puts his hand over her heart. "I feel you. I can feel you right now. Where you are. What you are feeling. Don't you see that? Can't you feel that with me."
She nods. "It's almost like being an empath. I feel you...deep in my soul."
"What did you do?" Connor inquires softly.
"I don't know," Lexi replies. "We are connected now."
He shakes his head. "This is so weird and foreign. I just...feel you. Like, I can sense you. If you walked away, I think I would still know where you are."
"Close your eyes," Lexi whispers. He does. "Now, think of me."
"Okay," Connor says.
"Now, think of me and talk in your head. I have a feeling."
I really want to see you naked.
That's not going to happen any time soon, Lexi responds.
His eyes fly open. "You could hear me?"
"Yeah, we are connected telepathically now."
"Don't most people have to talk out loud?"
She nods. "Yeah, but we are connected now. So, you can just talk to me."
He stares into her eyes, and they hold so much more warmth. "I can feel you, and I can talk to you. What is this?"
"Neturu have a different plane of existence called Shima," Lexi replies. "I can go there. I think I used the energy from there and made a bond with you. I can connect people to make babies; I think I connected with you."
"Do you think we could have babies?" Connor asks.
"Whoa," she gasps, putting her hand up. "Let's stop that train for a second."
Connor starts to laugh. "I didn't mean today. I just meant in general."
With a shake of her head, Lexi says, "I don't know. I'm not sure."
"This is incredible," Connor sighs.
"It is," Lexi whispers. "I think we are stuck with each other now."
"What I feel," he says, placing his hand on her heart. "I never want to let that go away."
Exhaling a long breath, Lexi says, "I feel that. I feel that from you. This is incredible. To have this connection with someone."
"Kiss me," Connor whispers. "I want to feel you more."
"One," Lexi replies. "Then we have to get to Jenkins." She leans in and presses her lips to his. It's like an electric spark. The energy flows between them from one to the other. Pulling back, Lexi gasps, "I know what that is."
Connor stutters, "What? That was incredible."
"That's what Neturu feel when they bond," Lexi states. "I never thought I could experience it. When Neturu fully connect during sex, it’s an equal ebb and flow. My mother, Claire, can do it without sex. It must be something similar. Oh my gosh, this is the first time my Neturu side has shown."
He puts his hand to his chest. "But, I'm not Neturu."
"I know," Lexi replies. "I don't know. I must have done something."
"Really, your family can't keep us apart now," Connor declares. "We are connected. I doubt you can break that bond."
Lexi's face falls. "Dad is going to kill me."
"This is what we wanted, though," Connor says, squeezing her hands. "This is what we wanted this whole time. I have finally found my other half."
"We are so young, though," Lexi sighs. "Stuff like this doesn't happen at our age."
"Your aunt and uncle got together at our ag,e and they are married with three kids," Connor says. "It does happen."
She shakes her head. "The Neturu mature faster."
"Don't think of this negatively, please," Connor pleads. "This is a good thing. I couldn't be happier."
"I am, too," Lexi whispers. She runs her fingers through his hair. "We should go, though."
"Yeah, we can't get caught."
Lexi climbs off of his lap and sits down. Connor starts the car and does a U-turn. "So, this may come in handy later on in life. Being able to communicate without talking."
"For sure,
" Lexi replies. "I hope we can still do it at a distance. Then it will be way easier to hide our relationship. No phone calls."
"That would be great," Connor agrees. They link hands and are quietly content the rest of the way.
When they get to the house where Jenkins is, the car shuts down again. "That must be a trigger," Lexi replies. "It's kind of creepy."
"Safety first," Connor chirps. "Come on, I will feel better when we get inside."
They grab the suits and dash to the house. Jenkins immediately opens the door, and they go inside. Lexi turns around in a circle. "Where is everyone?"
"I am the only one here," he replies. "We don't want anyone to know you took the suits. We are keeping the main plans between Andrew and myself. We don’t want it to get back to Jose that you will be there."
"That's a good idea," Lexi replies. "We need to take them by surprise."
He nods. "We agree."
"So, these are the suits," Lexi declares. "They are one size fits all. The material stretches to fit the body."
"Good to know," Jenkins says. "I'm going to take them to a safe house." He thrusts out a piece of paper. "This is the address. Look at it, and then I'm going to destroy it."
Lexi takes it and looks at the address. "I know this place," she whispers.
Jenkins takes the paper back. "Don't breathe a word of it to anyone." Taking a lighter out of his pocket, he lights the piece of paper on fire and lets it burn.
"Well, that was a good idea," Lexi states.
"I have those once in a while," Jenkins says.
She shakes her head. "I'm going to leave these with you and go. The less time I spend here, the better. My tracking device is off, but I promised my dad I would put it back on soon. So, we need to get far away from here."
Nodding, Jenkins replies, "That's a good idea. I will take care of these right now."
"All right," Lexi says. "We need to go. Call me on tomorrow at fivw, so we can plan. I will make sure I'm not home."
"That will be the plan, then," he agrees. "Be safe. I don't know who that teenager was."