by Shelly Crane
“I think he likes you. I think that’s what he meant by ‘intense’ for him. I mean, think about it. He’s only seen human contact, he’s never touched a human, let alone a women, let alone the women he’s watched for years,” he dragged out the last few words for dramatic emphasis.
“He hasn’t watched me, it was you.”
“Yeah, but did you hear him earlier, he said ‘we are supposed to only watch our charge’. Supposed to. I think he watched you and I think he likes you.”
“Danny, that’s so ludicrous. Besides, I’m Plain Jane not Megan Fox. Aliens don’t come all the way here to fall in love with Plain Jane. Jerks do.”
“Well...I guess that’s my fault...and mom and dads, so wrapped up in our own crap to tell you how great you are. You are pretty, ya know. You’re a-”
“Oh! Shut up Danny!” I said playfully pushing his shoulder.
“I’m serious.”
“If that were true then how come the only thing I ever attracted was Matt?”
“Matt told everyone, and I mean everyone, about you and him. His work, my work, your work and he said you guys were getting married and threatened anyone who even talked to you.”
“What? Danny, please. He couldn’t keep every guy in Chicago from asking me out.”
“True, but almost every guy you came into contact with, did with him also. Where did you go besides work without Matt? I’m telling you, people were scared of him. He wasn’t exactly a small dude and he was a total crazy man when it came to you. I’m sorry I joshed you for dumping him. I didn’t know what was going on until much later. You should’ve told me what was happening.”
I didn’t want to tell Danny what was really going on with Matt. He would freak. He could never find out what Matt did so I skipped the whole last part of his statement.
“You’re not lying... What! Why would he do that? All this time, I thought...”
“It’s ok, sis. He’s not coming back...but Merrick seems...nice.”
“Danny, don’t you dare! I think you’re misinterpreting what Merrick is thinking. He’s not even human, I doubt he can even have those feelings. I promise you that wasn’t a face of “ooh baby I want you”, ok. You have no way of knowing.”
“You’re right...except I heard him say it in his sleep last night,” he said smiling smugly.
“What? You’re lying. You sleep through anything.”
“Am I lying? I got up to go to the bathroom and overheard him say some stuff.”
“What stuff?”
“Just ‘Sherry. I can’t believe I’m here.’ That was it but doesn’t sound like he hates you to me.”
“That’s what he said to me when I was under the drug. What does that mean?”
“It means, alien boy’s got it bad.”
“Shh! Danny! Ugh,” I whispered loudly and pushed him as he fell backwards laughing. “You ready to eat, brat?”
“Yeah, I heated up some soup in the microwave, but it’s probably cold by now.”
I couldn’t keep myself from bursting into laughter.
The next couple of days were spent assigning chores and getting to know each other. I tried to avoid Merrick most of the time, to make it easier on him. My favorite person still by far was Lillian, brownie girl. Michael and Mitchell, the husband and Keeper, seemed to be hitting it off rather well. They talked a lot. Lillian and I were on bed sheet duty and I was on night dish duty with Merrick as well this week.
Our first assignment would be tomorrow after dinner. I swallowed hard thinking about how he would handle this. I mean, heaven forbid our fingers touched as I handed him a plate. He’d drop it in disgust and feel the need to start apologizing again.
I usually wound up eating later than everyone else because I liked cooking when I wasn’t fighting someone else for the frying pan. Merrick and I had tried to get a variety of items but, not much room, so we have tons of eggs, pasta and soup. Merrick had snuck in a huge box of blueberry cereal bars, when I wasn’t looking.
I wondered if that was a coincidence or if it was because he somehow knew they were my favorite. With Danny’s bantering in my mind, I was starting to second guess my own thinking.
Later on I sauntered into the quiet kitchen and got the pan ready, putting in the butter and whisking the eggs, placing in a few tablespoons of water instead of milk, old family trick.
I reached up the spice rack but couldn’t reach the seasoning salt. I tried once more, pushing myself up on my tip toes, using the counter as leverage and barely touched the edge of the rack when a hand from behind grabbed it for me and I turned startled.
Merrick was so close to me, but quickly stepped back, holding out the spice bottle for me.
“Thanks,” I said taking it from him, wondering why I felt like I needed to catch my breath. I also wanted to bury the hatchet so I made him an offer of nicety. “Hungry? Want some eggs?”
“Sure,” he said without hesitating.
“I have to warn you, I don’t cook them the way most people do.”
“I know how you eat your eggs, Sherry,” he said matter-of-factly walking across to the counter to face me, leaning on it with his elbows.
“Yeah...that’s right... So, you’re ok with it then?”
“Whatever you do is fine,” he spoke so soft, so meaningful.
I squinted my eyes, scrutinizing him, trying to find another meaning but he just stood there, looking handsome and innocent.
“So, I guess you haven’t seen me much the past few years, huh, except when I’m driving Danny to and from work.” I have to get to the bottom of this, so I probe, conversationally.
“Mmmm. Some...but yeah, not much.”
Lie. Hmmm. Could Danny be right? That doesn’t make any sense though. Why would he watch me if he hates me? I continued to stir the eggs and watch him from the corner of my eye. He was watching me too. Best to not call him on his lies, he never clears them up anyway.
“Since you’ve only been here a few times, have you ever even had scrambled eggs before?”
“Nope. Never.”
I reached up to grab plates, praying I could reach, I hate having to constantly be in need of assistance, but I reached them and divvied up the portions.
“Bon appetite,” I joked, handing him his plate. “Hope you like them. They are my second favorite food.”
I watched him as we stood at the counter and eat, opposite each other. He took his first bite and his face looked pleasantly surprised.
“This is really good, Sherry. Thanks.”
“Your welcome.” I took another bite. “Are you ok? You aren’t your normal...chipper self,” I said grabbing two glasses and pouring milk into them.
“Just tired. It’s hard to get used to being here, in this body.”
“You keep saying that. What do you mean? Earth?”
“We don’t have needs where I’m from. These bodies seem like they constantly need something. Food, drink, rest...companionship.” He clears his throat. “It’s a little hard to adjust.”
“I’m sorry I was so hard on you before. You could’ve just explained it to me.”
“I told you, don’t apologize to me...and I didn’t really know how to explain it then,” he said softly and I noticed he was looking at my lips.
“You seem to be doing a pretty good job to me.” I smiled at him, still feeling strange about Merrick’s indifference to me.
Drama, drama. This couldn’t be the final ending for him to just come here and not like me right off the bat. I couldn’t allow it.
“Thanks. And thanks for the eggs, I didn’t mean to bother you. I’ll leave you alone now.”
“If you know so much about the way I eat my eggs,” I started so he won’t leave yet, “you must also know I don’t like to be alone in a...silent...dark lonely kitchen. Silence is my nemesis.” I chuckled.
“Yes. I know. I just...don’t know what to do. I don’t know what you want me to do, Sherry. I’m very confused right now.”
“We’re all conf
used. This is pretty strange stuff, even for you, right? I can see... It’s ok, if you wanna talk, ya know. I may not understand all of it, and I may not be the one you want to talk to, but I’m a good listener.”
“I know.”
He smiled and chuckled a little before walking out of the kitchen into the dark hall.
Well that conversation cleared absolutely nothing up. It may have even made it worse for my understanding. I felt like banging my head on the wall.
As soon as he was out of sight I threw my hands up in the air in frustration. Why was I letting him drive me so crazy? So what if he didn’t like me? Maybe he felt like I got in the way of his watching Danny, being so bossy and protective with him all those years.
I had to stop this and follow my own advice. We we’re stuck down here together but before I could think about getting over it, in walked Bobby, which didn’t bother me but I wasn’t really in a courting mood.
Liar, Liar, Pants On Fire
Chapter 7
“Hey, you make me some too, girly?” he said and I flinched slightly at the ‘girly’, but he had a wide grin in place.
“No, sorry, didn’t know you were interested in any.”
“Oh, I’m always interested,” he drawled and winked.
“Well. Sorry. Goodnight.”
“Now wait a minute.” He grabbed the sleeve of my shirt, not hard but enough to make me stop in my tracks. “How come every time I’m coming you’re going, huh? I just wanna talk to you.”
“I know, Bobby, but I also know what you want to talk about. I’m just not...interested right now, ok. We all have enough going on right now than to be trying to date someone. I’m sorry, I just-”
“You seem to be plenty happy with Merrick,” he spat out angrily, taking me by complete surprise.
“What are you talking about?” I rebutted in my most surely shocked voice. What was with this guy? “Merrick is just...my brother’s Keeper. He talks to me because he has to. What’s wrong with you?” I spoke softly trying to soften the blow of my words. “I don’t even know you, Bobby. We just met.”
“Nope. Sorry, not buying it, and you cooked him eggs and not me so, I think you know what’s going on here.”
I’m sure I wasn’t hiding the utter disbelief on my face but I couldn’t help it. I tried to shake off his hand on my sleeve but he tightened his fist.
“For one thing, he was in the kitchen with me already, I was being polite. For two, cooking eggs for someone doesn’t constitute courtship, and for three, it’s none of your business who I cook eggs for. Merrick is nice and he’s my...friend, and you and I are barely acquainted.”
“Uhuh. Well I say he likes you, girly. And you like it that he likes you.”
“Maybe I do and stop calling me girly. It’s not your concern, Bobby. My last boyfriend treated me like he owned me, and I’m not about to get involved like that again.” I felt his grip tighten on my sleeve. “Please stop, you’re hurting me.”
“Fine,” he said, dragging me by my arm a little closer. “You go date your alien. Fine by me, just don’t lead me on anymore,” he said through his gritted teeth, making me recoil but not getting far.
Then I saw Merrick standing in the doorframe, arms crossed and face tight but blank.
“Bobby. I think you should let her go, now.”
Stunned, Bobby turns to look at him but didn’t let go of my arm.
“Frankly...this is none of your business, Keeper.”
“Actually, she is my business. Go,” Merrick commanded firmly and my heart skidded at his words.
I am his business? Did he really think that or was he just saying that so Bobby would leave. Why! Why was I developing a crush on this guy, this guardian? I had to stop this letting my heart beats go nuts whenever he spoke.
Bobby released me so forcefully I had to catch myself on the counter. Then he stalked out, turning on his heels, but not before turning to look at me once more. He didn’t even look angry, he looked like this wasn’t over, a challenge now that he had competition. Oh great.
“You ok?” Merrick asked, not coming any closer.
I breathed slow and long, my hands shaking. Why did everyone think they could manhandle me?
“Yes. He didn’t do anything really, he’s just persistent,” I said embarrassed and straightened imaginary wrinkles in my clothes.
“Ok. Well, maybe you should head to bed. If you’re ok I’ll go-”
I cut him off before he can finish. I knew he was gonna leave and I wanted him to stay for a minute. I needed to settle down.
“Why do guys do that? Why do they think they have to act like they own us? Does Danny act like that to his girlfriends?”
“No, Danny‘s a good kid. No, all men don’t treat women that way. Tell me if Bobby keeps messing with you. I’ll... Well, I’ll talk to his Keeper about it.”
“Why do guys have to be jerks with me? I don’t really get it. What did I do to make them think that I’d like that?”
“I don’t think...I don’t think you see yourself very well, Sherry. Your nice and...pretty. Men like that. One day you’ll meet someone not like Bobby, a nice guy, as you put it.” He smiled a little, surprising me.
It seemed as if he was trying to actually joke with me.
“A nice guy. Hmmm. Tell me when you find one that likes lame cooking and muddy brown out of control hair and a lack of style,” I said self consciously twirling a piece of hair.
“There’s plenty.” He looked down at the floor as he spoke.
“Thanks, Merrick. Did you hear...what Bobby said?”
“Uh...no...not really. I just got here at the last second,” Merrick lied.
“Ok. Well, thanks. Goodnight,” I said but didn’t call him on his lie.
He knew by now I could tell if he was lying but he still chose to lie anyway. He must have a reason.
“Goodnight, Sherry.”
I touched his arm as I walked out and said my thank you again, quickly, I just felt the need to reiterate the thank you. He sucked in a slow quiet breath, keeping his arms crossed but didn’t completely freak as our eyes locked for a mere millisecond. I closed my eyes and laughed under my breath at myself as I walked away.
I shouldn’t have done that.
Danny’s theory still carried no merit for me. Merrick couldn’t like me and hadn’t been watching me without Danny in the picture. I would just try to keep my distance, try to make it easier on him and definitely not touch him or brush against him in any way.
However, the next day as I rounded the corner to the kitchen, I saw Susan hugging him and crying, her gray wavy head on his shoulder. He didn’t seem tense at all. In fact, he was even hugging her back, rubbing her shoulder to comfort her. I wasn’t upset about Susan, though she was the closet thing to an ‘enemy’ I would have in this place, I was upset because he wasn’t hyperventilating, no shaking, no recoiling. It was just me he hated then! Gah!
He looked at me and I could only imagine my face, twisted in confusion. I turned to stomp off and start lunch. I decided to make lunch for all three of us. Danny, me and Merrick. I couldn’t let this go. What had I done to him?
Somehow, I had to make this better. People could not stay mad at me, especially for something I had no control over, being human. That was the only explanation I had and it made no sense at all.
I saw him walk in shortly after and stop in the walkway, propping his hands up in the door frame. I fought it but the corners of my mouth twitched with frustration. I only glanced his way and of course, he was staring at me. Probably trying to decide what the heck was wrong with me. I must seem crazy to him. I heard it then in my head, his voice.
Sherry. She felt bad and wants to apologize to you. She started crying and...hugged me. I’m sorry, I know you were angry with her. I’m not taking sides.
“I’m not angry with her. I don’t care about that,” I all but shouted.
The others in the kitchen look at me, and I realized to them I was having a conversation wit
h myself. I shook my head. One more thing for these people to be disgusted about. Not only was I bossy, but looney. He tried again.
Sherry...
“It’s fine,” I mouthed this time, knowing he could at least read that on my lips.
I am so confused. I don’t know what you want me to do.
That was the last thing he said wordlessly before turning and leaving, shaking his head. I wanted to crawl under the table. Why was I such a spaz?
I managed to pull myself together long enough to finish the pasta I started. I felt like a masochist but I couldn’t help myself for going after him. No matter what his reaction might be, I had to know why. People can’t be mad at me.
I took a bowl to Danny, who pretty much confined himself to our room, unless Celeste was seen wondering around. I took a bowl to Merrick then, who I found in my hiding spot, the basketball court.
“Peace offering,” I said, extending the bowl to him, careful not to let our fingers touch on the side of the bowl.
“Thanks.” He took it but didn’t look up to my face.
“I don’t care that you were hugging Susan. Why would I? And I’m not angry with her. When you put different people together, they are going to clash a little. I just don’t understand why...” I sucked in a breath and bit my lip, deciding how to word it.
“Yes?”
“Why don’t you flinch or get so...bothered when anyone else touches you but me? Why am I so...so...bothersome? Repulsive? Please tell me so I can stop doing it and we can just be normal with each other.”
His twisted expression was somewhat a shock to me. I fully expected him to stare at the wall as usual when something was brought up that he wasn’t interested in answering. He put his bowl aside and got up on his knees, scooting closer to me on the floor, catching me off guard.
