Flame (Fireborn)

by Arden, Mari

  "Do you need some he-" My jaw drops open. I can't believe who's in the car. Lenora turns her lips into a helpless smile, but that's not why my jaw is hanging open wide as a potato sack. She's pushed herself so far back from the pedals that she's almost at a 180- degree angle. I instantly note the right leg is on the accelerator, and the left leg is leaning on the brake. One hand is on the gearshift, and the other is tightly squeezing the wheel. My eyes travel back to hers, and she shoots me a confused look.

  "It looked easier in the training video," she confesses.

  I smile faintly. "I bet." I'm close enough to see her glowing eyes in detail. They seem to be filled with light, but they aren't hard to look at. Deeper colors of violet and gray swirl in the golden mists like fireflies. They remind me of an aurora borealis.

  "Do you want me to help you park?" I ask.

  "Would you?" Her smile is sugary, but it doesn't seem artificial. On the contrary, she's making me feel like I've known her a lifetime when I've literally just met her! She puts the car in park. Her little heels click on the sidewalk when she gets out. Dark blue skinny jeans encase long legs, and an adorable buttoned striped shirt is roughly tucked in, giving her a carefree, angelic look. She's only been on this planet for a couple of days, and she already knows to dress better than I do! I shake my head, amazed. She hands me her keys, and I slide into the driver's seat- literally. The leather is new and luxurious, and my tights slide right over it. Within minutes I have the car parked.

  "Thanks." She takes her keys back. "I'm Lenora. Doe," she adds, almost as an afterthought.

  "I'm Kenna Parker. And it's no problem." I smile. "You guys don't have last names where you come from?" I guess.

  "No." She giggles. "Am I that obvious? It's just hard to get used to having two names. We practiced it in class, but it still doesn't feel normal," she explains as she walks beside me. Large sunglasses cover her eyes. They're the kind I've seen movie stars wear on front pages of magazines. Based on the number of photographers waiting at our school, she's a star of sorts, too.

  She shows me something on her wrist. "This is our last name," she declares with a small smile. Before I can get a good look at the mark, she pulls her sleeve over it. I wonder if it's a tattoo. I'm wondering many things as I glance at her expensive clothes and then at the luxurious Lexus I just parked. Where were they getting the money for this? There's probably some complicated secret agreement between our government and theirs, I reason. Maybe they traded in their space ships for our cars. Maybe they gave us some secret weapon in exchange for money. Who knows? I doubt I'd ever find out.

  Lenora turns her head, searching for someone.

  "Where is your brother?" Instantly, I bite my lips to stop them from saying more and wince. Why did I just ask that? Why do I even care?

  "Rhys? He's not my brother. We're just here together." She shrugs. "We were in the same program back on Sangine, our home planet. We studied human language and culture. We were the best in our class," she admits proudly. It's a little odd to hear her say that, but it reminds me yet again of how vast our universe is.

  Remembering yesterday, I ask, "Did you guys ever have a class called 'Late night talk shows'?"

  She looks confused. "No. Why?"

  I shrug.

  "There are so many cultures on Earth. It was hard to choose which to study first. Our data showed us English is the fastest rising language on this planet so I decided to study it. I love all your words!" she gushes. She looks expectantly at me.

  I'm supposed to say something. "Er, thanks. I do, too."

  Her smile broadens. "I was so happy when we decided to contact your government. I even got to say hello to your president."

  I remembered that. CNN had aired a few seconds of it. That little clip played all over the world. It went viral within the hour. Lenora's effortless charm gained her instant fame. People were infatuated with Saguinox beauty. Lenora's face had been on countless print and commercial ads and I doubt she even knew about it.

  "People were shocked because that was the first footage of the Saguinox we had ever seen. It was exciting and kind of scary." I decide to be honest.

  Her gaze is empathetic. "I understand. I hope I didn't scare too many people then."

  "No," I assure her. "Well… kind of."

  She scared me. Aliens? I'd only seen clips of E.T. and had only heard the Katy Perry song of the same name. Some people thought they were our saviors. Others thought the beginning of the end was near. The controversy still hasn't gone away despite the numerous Senate bills purposed and Ambassador Damien's whirlwind world tour prior to Lenora and Rhys's arrival. I'm still not sure what to think.

  Rhys's face appears in my mind. I can't help the smile that tugs at my lips.

  "We're happy you're in Minnesota," I tell her.

  Lenora beams. "Me, too. I chose this place," she reveals.

  I'm surprised. I'd assumed it'd been some sort of long secret negotiation, and they'd chosen Minnesota because we could offer privacy that places like California and New York couldn't.

  I'm curious. "Why'd do you choose Minnesota?"

  "I want to see snow."

  It figures. "The novelty wears off fast."

  She shrugs. "They let me choose because it doesn't really matter where we go. It'll still end the same way."

  I frown, chewing over her words in my head. "What do you mean?"

  She shrugs again, looking away. "It just doesn't matter."

  "Do you mean the experience won't be any different?" I ask slowly.

  "Something like that."

  I wonder how long the Saguinox have known about Earth. When I ask her she answers, "For as long as earth has been around. You're just a baby planet."

  "Huh. How many planets do you know about?"

  "Many," is her mysterious answer.

  "Are those planets inhabited by living things too?" I can't help asking.

  She hesitates. "Your government considers that classified information."

  "Oh." Right. "Sorry."

  "No, it's ok. I'd be curious, too," she admits. "They're still working on an intergalactic agreement between our kind and yours, and then maybe we can talk about things you've missed out on, sitting all alone in your milky day," she beams.

  "Do you mean milky way?" I ask.

  "Yes," she nods. "I'm not sure why you call it that. It looks nothing like milk." She pauses. "Milk is that white liquid stuff in the lunch room, right?" she asks worriedly.

  I laugh. "Yes. Don't worry. Everything you're drinking and eating in our lunchroom is edible, even though sometimes it might not taste like it."

  "Good." She sounds relieved. "We can eat anything humans can. Our bodies are very similar." I want to ask her how that can be, but something tells me that's classified information as well.

  My stomach makes an embarrassingly loud grumbling sound. Remembering I didn't eat breakfast yet, I take out a small Ziploc bag from the side of my backpack. Baby carrots were the only snacks in our refrigerator so it's what I pull out.

  "Would you like some?" I ask.

  "Carrots!" She brightens. "We have something similar where we come from." She takes one. "Why are carrots more orange than an orange?" She stares at it, looking puzzled.

  I pause, a carrot half in my mouth. "Um, I'm not sure," I say.

  "Ok." Not missing a beat, she continues. "If glue can stick to everything, how come it doesn't stick to the glue bottle?"

  I gape at her. "What?"

  "Yesterday we were using glue, and it sticks to everything! Why doesn't it stick to the bottle? Is the bottle made of some special plastic?" She sounds serious, and an image of her studying and analyzing a glue bottle like it's going to save the world, pops into my brain. I bite my lip to keep from laughing. As best as I can I answer, I say, "We could Google it."

  She looks earnest. "I know what Google is. It's a lot like Nexus."

  "What's Nexus?" I ask.

  "It's a lot like Google." She laughs.

  My gig
gle joins hers, and for a moment it feels nice to have someone to talk to.

  "Lenora," the low voice comes out of nowhere. The hair on the back of my neck stands up, and I know who it is even before I turn.

  Rhys.

  He's propped casually next to a tree. Dressed in jeans and a light jacket, he wouldn't look out of place in an Express catalogue. It's maddening how attractive he is. He saunters over like he owns the sidewalk. Abruptly self -conscious of the ragged hat over my head, I'm torn between using it to hide my face or throwing it to the dogs wagging their tails next to us.

  "How long have you been waiting for me?" Lenora asks.

  "A few minutes."

  "Sorry. Turns out I'm not so good at parallel parking."

  He raises a perfectly black eyebrow. "Really." He doesn't sound surprised.

  "Don't you dare say 'I told you so'," she warns gently. "You know I've always wanted to drive a car! It's so much more interesting than pressing a button."

  "You're really loving this, aren't you?" He looks amused.

  "Yes." She turns to me. "Rhys, this is Kenna Parker. Kenna, this is Rhys Doe." Her words are careful and precise. She's still learning the language, and her accent is thicker than his. I can't help noticing the little smile that's appeared on his face.

  In my head I say: I'm the girl you noticed yesterday. I hope this doesn't sound creepy, but would you mind noticing me everyday? Out loud I say, "Of all the sidewalks in all the cities in all of Minnesota, you walk into this one…"

  "Ready for that probe when you are."

  It's official. We're flirting. Even in my wildest dreams I couldn't imagine myself doing this, but I am. I'm giddy inside.

  Lenora looks between us, confused. "Is that a new human greeting?"

  We exchange a secret smile, each daring the other not to laugh. I bite my lips to keep it in. "No." Just ours.

  "Oh."

  Turning to Rhys before my laughter can burst out, I ask, "How was work yesterday?"

  His smile vanishes. "Fine." His voice is curt.

  Did I say something wrong? He takes a step back from me. He did this yesterday too, and I'm trapped between calling him out or watching him slip away again.

  Another step back.

  Another inch away.

  Suddenly angry, I lift my chin up. What's his problem?

  "We should get going Lenora."

  "Come on," she says, tugging at my elbow. "We're taking the back route. Reporters are in full swing today."

  I try not to notice the way Rhys's shoulder stiffens at her suggestion, and shake my head.

  "No, you guys go ahead. I've got to make a stop in the office," I lie. His shoulders seem to relax a little with my refusal. Annoyed, I look away. If I didn't, he'd see the daggers in my eyes.

  Lenora hesitates. "Are you sure?"

  "Very," I answer truthfully. Rhys doesn't wait for more conversation, and gestures without turning for Lenora to catch up. She looks at him then back to me.

  "Hmm," she says.

  I don't ask what she means by that and she doesn't tell me.

  "See you at school," she says. "We're going to be naughty and sneak in. Shhh." She puts a finger to her lips. "Don't tell the reporters."

  "I won't," I promise, but her back is to me. I watch them walk away, wondering how two space aliens could look so beautifully normal. I think they belong here more than I do.

  Rhys bends his head to her, and whispers. Even from half a block away, I notice they're very close. His lips are next to her ear and if he moved a millimeter more, he'd touch her. An uncomfortable sensation settles in the pit of my stomach.

  Turning, I stomp off with my usual clatter, listening to my footsteps and the wind. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Rhys look up.

  His gaze is a pool of light; sharp and focused. Behind the surface of his eyes something flashes.

  Longing.

  I freeze mid stride.

  Something hard and fast comes by. It's tires jump over the curb. The truck's so close, I smell the diesel before a gust of wind rushes past, blowing my hat up. It's going to hit me. I open my mouth to scream.

  Suddenly a pair of strong arms circle my waist, pulling me hard. I'm pushed away, and I fall to the ground on my back. Rhys is hovering over me, his grip steel tight. Everything happens so fast his nose is touching mine before either of us is aware of our bodies intertwined on the ground.

  How did he--?

  I can hear Lenora shriek but my focus is on Rhys. For a moment everything stops. I'm tingly all over. His eyes drop to my mouth, and my eyes drop to his. I'm breathing hard, and he hears it because his breath catches in his throat, too. My arms move to circle his neck. Yes, I think, and I pull him to me.

  We stare into each other's eyes, and I'm hypnotized, as if an invisible bell is calling to me. Pictures flash in my mind. Glowing- everything is glowing. Shining, beautiful eyes. Floating in a sea of stars. Warm embraces. And fire. Hot, raging, red fire.

  Our lips move closer--

  "Are you okay?" I can hear Lenora above me.

  We still as whatever transfixed the both of us breaks. He holds me tight for a second more as if it's painful to release me. I don't want him to let go. He does.

  My body trembles without his heavy weight pinning me down. Adrenaline pumps through me. Sights and sounds come rushing back. Rhys is up and standing, but his intense face fills my vision. He gives a hand to help me up.

  I ask the only thing that comes to mind, "How'd you get here so fast?" It comes out breathless. His eyes drop to my chest where I'm breathing hard. His gaze flickers back to mine.

  "I beamed over."

  "Really?"

  Amusement flickers over his features, making them softer. "No."

  "Oh." I wait for an answer. It doesn't come.

  "Hey, you okay?" Lenora asks again, touching my shoulder. "That truck almost ran you over!" Her eyes are wide. "Your human body could have died."

  "That thought crossed my mind," I reply. It's a lie. The only thing I felt or thought of was standing less than a foot away, staring at me with bright Angel eyes.

  "Maybe you should walk with us." Rhys voice is deep.

  "I've survived walking for at least seventeen and a half years. I think I'll live another day."

  "Still…" Rhys is unsure, gazing back where the truck had been. "What if…"

  "What if what?" Puzzled, I peer closer at him.

  "What if it wasn't an accident."

  My mouth opens in shock as a thought suddenly occurs to me. "You're right. Where's your bodyguard?"

  For months there've been reports of Klan members threatening violence if our national government allowed the Saguinox to come. Rumors were they'd already sent death threats to the school and the principal. That truck could've been aiming for Rhys and Lenora. Cold dread settles in the pit of my stomach.

  "What?" Rhys looks offended. "I don't need a bodyguard. I was talking about y--" Something comes over his face. His lips tighten as if to hold himself back. He takes a deep breath. "Yes, that truck could have been an attempt on our life."

  Lenora opens her mouth to say something. He silences her with a steel look. I frown.

  "You need to let someone know, Rhys."

  "We will," he promises. "As soon as you walk with us."

  My first thought is now you want me to walk with you? After we've just discussed possible assassination? I don't feel fear though.

  I feel confused.

  Rhys is sending so many mixed signals, I can't tell what's genuine and what isn't. There's so little known about Saguinox culture. For all I know this could be a routine Saguinox courtship. He walks ahead, turning expectantly.

  "He leads and we follow," Lenora tells me.

  "He leads," I repeat.

  "Always."

  A student walks by, and I can hear faint music blaring from her headphones. She's heading to our school and we follow quietly behind. Katy Perry's "Hot and Cold" plays on her ipod over and over again. I can hear it
through her headphones.

  I stare at Rhys's broad shoulders. I think about yesterday and this morning.

  It's the perfect theme song to accompany our walk.

  Chapter 7

  My morning sucked. I'd burnt the cake I'd baked in Home Economics. The teacher scolded me for not paying attention because I was supposed to watch the timer. I'd been thinking about a certain alien instead.

  The lunchroom is crowded by the time I arrive. I didn't pack food, so I wait in line with a tray. The plan is to get lunch, then head over to my little dining area a.k.a the corner couch at the hip and happening Morrison High Library. The process usually happens like this: I get my food, sit at a corner of some lonely and deserted table, sneak a few suspicious glances here and there, waiting for the opportune moment to sneak off, which tends to happen almost immediately upon sitting, dump edible parts of lunch in the bag and casually leave as if I had not done what I just did. The plan works every time. There's a plus side to not getting noticed; no one sees you when you go.

  I'm relieved to see today that our pizza came in a triangular plastic container. I smile. The universe is rooting for me. Maybe it's trying to make up for giving me such a rotten morning. Grabbing an apple, and some silverware I pay the cashier and leave the line, heading straight for the furthest table.

  I'm so intent on my destination that I don't see the body until it's already bumped into me, knocking the slice of pizza backwards.

  "Oh, I'm so sorry! I guess I wasn't watching where I was going. I- hi, Kenna!" I look up after assuring that my pizza is okay.

  Seeing who it is, I smile. "Hi Lenora."

  "I'm glad I bumped into you," she beams. "Girls," Lenora waves to the group of admirers behind her "this is Kenna Parker. Kenna, this is Holly Jenns, Grace Spots, Madison Shine, Arianna Lee, and Bree Rose Whitmore!" She grins excitedly. "Bree has three names!"

  I'm not sure how to respond to that last bit of fun fact. "Cool." I try to sound enthusiastic. She notices the tray in my hands.