How To Break Up With An Alien

by Magan Vernon

  Vrmphhhhhh. Vrmphhhhhh. Vrmphhhhhhh.

  My phone vibrated in my pocket as soon as I walked through the door of Senora Smith's class. It was actually a Spanish three class, but since there were only two of us taking Spanish four, they just threw us in with the lower class and gave us an extra paper.

  I took my seat toward the back and pulled out my phone, trying to hide it underneath the ancient wooden desk and away from Senora's site.

  Hey, how's the first day going?

  Ace. Of course he wanted to see how I was. I started to text him back, realizing I had missed at least five other texts from him. Lucky for him, he actually had downtime during the day.

  "Senorita Bianchi?" Senora Smith's high voice rang over the classroom. All the underclassmen were staring at me and even the other overachieving senior, Dale Michaels, stared at me like I had the plague.

  "Si, Senora?" I locked my phone and quickly slid it into my bag, placing it on the floor next to me.

  "Tu telephonica?" Senora held out her long, nimble hand.

  The class laughed around me. Crap, I didn't think she would catch me.

  "I just had to answer a quick—"

  "En Espanol," Senora chimed.

  I took a deep breath, blowing it out as quickly as I let it in. "Okay, Senora, lo siento, acabo de comprobar el tiempo."

  "El tiempo?" Her way-too-thin eyebrow spiked up. Obviously my excuse of checking the time wasn't a good one.

  "Si, el tiempo."

  She shook her head, obviously not believing me, but went on with the rest of class introductions. Thank God I was out of there after her class.

  "You sneaking out for a smoke Bianchi? Or maybe to call your girlfriend?" I cringed when I heard Gemma's gratey voice. I always thought if I ignored her she would just stop. So I kept walking toward the side door and to my car.

  "Hey, Wop, I'm talking to you." Gemma pushed her way through people walking past us until she was standing between me and the doors. Her bleached eyebrows arched like devil horns and a smirk was painted on her chapped lips.

  I huffed. "I have work release, Gemma." I dodged to the side of her."And for your information, I'm not a lesbian. I have a boyfriend."

  She cackled—yes, she had a genuine witchy cackle— putting her massive moose arms out in front of me so I couldn't go around. "What's his name?"

  I rolled my eyes. "His name is Ace. I met him over the summer at my internship."

  "What's his last name?"

  "Uh..."

  She laughed. Some boyfriend! You don't even know his last name. Or maybe he doesn't have one like Rocky or something."

  I didn't want to correct her that Rocky actually did have a last name because I was afraid of her bear paws. "Yep, that's Ace."

  I ducked under her arm and finally opened the door, welcoming the sweltering heat.

  "Great, can't wait to meet your imaginary boyfriend at the Fall Ball!" she yelled as I hurried to my car.

  Bring Ace to the Fall Ball? The thought never even crossed my mind. As if a possible intergalactic war and an impending marriage to an alien wasn't enough.

  ***

  Cuppa Java was right off Business 20 so everyone going past could see the glowing orange sign smashed in between the bank and Cost Cutters. I eased my car into the lot, cut the engine, and stared at myself in the rearview mirror.

  "You can do this, Alex. It's just a part-time job. You survived alien attacks for Pete's sake, you can survive making coffee!"

  I stared down at my phone again noticing another message from Ace.

  Haven't heard from you today. Hope you aren't mad about last night. See you after work?

  I rolled my eyes, even though he couldn't see it. I would bet my Feeble Weebles that I wouldn't see him after work. Must be nice to have free time to text, but not be able to spare a few moments at a reasonable hour of the night to visit me.

  Yep, see you tonight. Busy day, you understand I responded back, tossing my phone into my bag. "Stupid alien boyfriend. Texting me all day, but can't text me to tell me he'll be late."

  I looked around the parking lot. Luckily it was the middle of the day and no one saw me babbling to myself. I put on my black apron and switched from my flip-flops and into a pair of pink boat shoes, since I guess open toes were frowned upon in a place that served coffee.

  When I stepped into Cuppa Java a little bell rang over the door, but I couldn't see anyone behind the counter. Lime green and pink polka dots decorated the walls. A fireplace flanked by two plush orange chairs and a few tables sat directly to my right. To the left was a long counter with different steaming machines adorning one end and a glass case with little pastries sitting inside just waiting to be eaten.

  My eyes ran over the far wall containing shelves displaying different coffees and coffee-related items for sale. I walked over and stared at the different labels. Who would ever think that something called Arabica would be appetizing to drink?

  "Be right out!" a high-pitched voice yelled from beyond a pair of saloon doors behind the counter.

  "Okay."

  A tussle of fiery red hair came through the door before the rest of her was even out. She looked over at me with dark navy eyes, rimmed like a raccoon, and smiled.

  "You must be the new girl." She put down her towel and walked around the corner. "I'm Simone, lead barista."

  She oozed coolness. From her high, melodic voice all the way down her skinny frame and into her high heels. I'd give anything to look that good as a barista.

  "Alex, barista-in-training." I let out a squeaky laugh. Could I have been any lamer?

  "Right, then." She nodded. "Kathy tells me you already had your online barista training, so it's time for the hands-on portion."

  "Okay."

  I followed her behind the counter, my mouth watering at the brownies and scones in the pastry case and wishing I would have picked up lunch before I came.

  "Hungry?" She arched a black painted-on eyebrow.

  "Uh, yeah, sure." Great, embarrass myself on the first day.

  "How about I show you how to make a Cuppa Java latte and then we can grab some cheesecake out of the back freezer?"

  "That sounds awesome." I beamed.

  The rest of the afternoon I learned how to make everything from Americanos to Soy Lattes and all things in between. But I really sucked at using the cash register, which didn't help when Gemma walked in with Brody. I almost forgot they were on-again-off-again whatever they were.

  "Hey, I didn't know you worked here." Brody smiled, but Gemma just huffed, walking alongside him.

  "Yep, just started today."

  "Okay, enough chitchatting can we just get our drinks? I have practice." Gemma hipped her way in front of Brody, looking up at the big menu that was posted behind the counter on a chalkboard. "I need something with lots of carbs, protein, and little sugar." She narrowed her big bug eyes. "Do you have anything like that?"

  "Uh..."

  "You can either do a whole milk peanut butter iced latte or some raw eggs." Simone slid in beside me. "Your call."

  Brody snickered until Gemma shot him the stink eye. "Whatever, I'll get that latte thing." She waved her hand, and then pulled her phone out of her pocket and feverishly typed away at the screen.

  "I'll start the latte. Alex, why don't you help out this guy and ring them up." I thought I saw Simone wink, but she turned too quickly and had way too much eye makeup on for me to tell.

  "Okay, Brody, what can I get for you?"

  He smiled and I noticed that his teeth looked whiter, like he'd got them bleached over summer break. "What do you recommend?"

  "Uh, about the only thing I'm really good at making is iced coffee."

  "Then iced coffee it is."

  Simone pushed to my side, placing two plastic cups on the counter. "One juiced up protein drink and an iced coffee." She smirked in Gemma's direction and headed back to the espresso machine to clean up.

  Gemma didn't even look up from her phone and took her drink."
Get this Brody and I'll meet you in the car."

  She turned, still not looking up, and headed out the front door.

  Brody frowned. "Sorry about her."

  "No, it's fine. It's not your fault that Gemma has been hit in the head with a ball way too many times," I said.

  He made a sound that sounded like a snort and then stopped as if he realized that he shouldn't be laughing. We stared at each other until Brody cleared his throat. "Yeah, so, how much?"

  "Excuse me?"

  "For the coffee..?"

  "Oh, right," I stammered. I attempted to press the correct buttons and prayed they were right. "Seven fifty-two."

  He handed me a ten dollar bill. Thank God it wasn't a credit card. I still couldn't figure that one out.

  "Keep the change." He smiled and walked away, while I stood there looking like an idiot, holding a bill with my mouth open.

  "Hey, your first tip, and he seemed to like you better than She-Hulk." Simone looked in my direction while I finished putting the money in the cash drawer and added the remainder to the tip jar.

  "No, it's definitely not like that with Brody. He's just a nice guy." I turned toward the espresso machine. "And besides, I have a boyfriend."

  "Really? Or are you just saying that so I don't think you are coming onto me?"

  "What?" I blinked. I didn't think I was sending out lesbian vibes. Gemma's opinion of my shoes being a dead giveaway that I liked girls aside, I was definitely hetero. I mean I was with Ace and even though he was a different species, and really made me mad sometimes, he was definitely male.

  But then why would she think I was? Maybe she was and was coming on to me. I made a mental note not to wear my boat shoes into work anymore.

  "Relax." She hit me lightly with a rag before placing it in the sink behind her. "I'm just giving you a hard time."

  "Oh." I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding in. "Right."

  "So, if Mr. Soul Patch isn't your guy, then who is he? Anyone from around here?"

  I shook my head. "No, he lives in Arizona. I met him over the summer while I did an internship."

  "Ah, long distance." She nodded. "I did that once. Didn't work out so well."

  "Oh." I didn't know how personal we were getting, so I didn't ask, but she offered anyway.

  "Yeah, he up and joined the Army and then I didn't hear from him. I actually heard from his mom that he met another girl where he is stationed at." She kept her eyes down, but I swear I saw something wet slide down her raccoon liner.

  "Ugh, that sucks."

  "Tell me about it."She looked back up, running a finger along her eye. "Thought I would be with him forever and now I'm living in a one-bedroom apartment and slinging coffee for a living." She looked up. "But, I'm only eighteen, so I guess we've got our whole lives ahead of us, right?"

  "Right."

  Sure, she had her whole life ahead of her. My life was already planned out for me. College and then marriage to an alien. Some normal life.

  Chapter 4

  Day two of my senior year and I already had homework. Mrs. Huff assigned a reading from one of our worn-out textbooks about Persephone. I had to write a one-page review on top of my already full day of work and school. I even had to quit my blog, the one thing that I had that was constant in my life. In fact it was the reason Ace said he picked me for my job at Circe, because he followed my blog.

  But with everything else going on between school, work, and dealing with crazy aliens I had no time for any of it. So by the time that Ace got to my room, the last thing I wanted to do was keep an eye on him so mom or Brian wouldn't notice he was there.

  "Why does this creature stare at me?" Ace was crouched down on my bed, glaring at my Siamese cat. She blinked, swinging her tail back and forth while she curled up on my pillow.

  I turned away from my computer, hoping I didn't have to jump from my desk to save my cat. "Leave Snickers alone."

  Snickers hissed as Ace slowly inched forward. "She would probably make for a divine meal."

  I whipped around in my chair so fast that my neck muscles cracked. "You will not eat my cat!"

  Ace stopped with one hand clawed in the air above Snickers and his lips lurched back so that his teeth appeared fiercely white.

  I quickly picked up Snickers and set her on my lap, then turned back toward my computer.

  "I was kidding…"

  I heard Ace stand up. My bedsprings squeaked underneath him. The warmth of his hand grazed my shoulder. "I wouldn't eat that thing. It means too much to you."

  I blew a strand of hair out of my face, setting Snickers down on my desk and turning back to Ace. "Sorry, I guess I'm just frustrated with work, homework, and trying to spend time with you. You finally get time off work to come see me and now I have work."

  "It's fine." He bent down, his hand moving from my shoulder to my cheek before he leaned in and his lips trailed to mine.

  A study break couldn't hurt. I pulled him deeper into the kiss while he lifted me off the chair and onto my bed. My mouth was hungry for his and the feeling of his cold skin on mine sent shivers in all the right places.

  "Awex?"

  Crap.

  Elijah knocked at the door. I pried myself away from my Ace and motioned for him to climb off me. "Yeah, El?"

  "Can I come in?" he yelled.

  "Uh…" I raised my eyebrows as Ace slinked off me and rolled under the bed. Quickly I made my way back to my desk and smoothed out my hair. "Yeah, that's fine."

  He jiggled the handle. "It's locked!"

  I went over to the door, unlocking it, and saw Elijah staring up with his big blue eyes that were the same color as his footie pajamas. "Why would you lock me out?"

  "Sometimes a girl needs privacy, El."

  He stomped into my bedroom and threw himself on the bed. I tried not to screech, hoping he didn't squash Ace underneath.

  "Why do you want pwivacy from me?" he cried, always the drama queen. He gets it from our romance author mom.

  "El..." I carefully sat down next to him, hoping the mattress didn't smother Ace. "Sometimes we all need to have some alone time."

  I smoothed the hair out of his tear-stained face. "Your sissy has to get her homework done, so she can be ready for college."

  "Okay." He sniffled. "Can I watch you do your homework?"

  "Uh, well—"

  "Please!" he begged looking up at me with those big puppy dog eyes.

  I glanced to the floor, hoping Ace wouldn't be too mad. "Okay, but just for a little bit."

  "Yeah!" He hopped on my lap and stayed there while I typed my assignment. The rhythmic tapping of the keyboard put him to sleep.

  "Is he out?" Ace whispered, poking his head out from underneath the bed.

  I put my finger to my lips and nodded, then slowly stood up and carried Elijah down the hall to tuck him into his bed. I turned on his choo-choo train nightlight and the sound machine, and then closed the door before heading back to my room. When I returned Ace was sprawled across my bed, his hands behind his head, a devious smile on his face.

  "What if it wasn't me that came into the room?" I shut the door and curled up in bed next to Ace.

  "Then someone would probably wonder why there was an alien with a very stiff back in your bed."

  I playfully hit his shoulder. I knew it wouldn't hurt him the second my palm touched his toned biceps, but that was what a girl was supposed to do when a guy made a stupid comment.

  "Anyway, sorry about that, he is a bit dramatic. Sometimes I think my mom needs to tone down her writer voice in front of him."

  He shrugged. "It happens. Did you complete your assignment?"

  I yawned. "Yeah." I looked over at the clock. "Geesh, it's almost midnight. I have to be up in a few hours."

  "Oh." Ace's face fell. He came to spend time with me, and I ignored him for my little brother. "Do you want me to stay here tonight?"

  "Er, I wouldn't want Elijah to wake up after a nightmare or something and find you in my bed
."

  Ace nodded and slowly sat up. "I understand." He got off the bed and put his hands to his side, ready to beam back to Circe.

  "Wait!" I reached out and grabbed his hand before he could leave.

  "What? Change your mind?" He smiled.

  I let out a deep breath. "I wish, but there is something else I was going to ask you."

  "And what is that? Need help on an American History project? Maybe prove to your science professors that aliens do exist?" He arched an eyebrow.

  "No, nothing like that." I stood up from the bed and intertwined both our hands. Someday I would have to share him with the world, and I knew someday I would have to explain how anyone with such dark eyes and such a wicked past could take my breath away. But love didn't need any explanation. Or did it?

  "Then what?" He dipped his head down so our foreheads touched.

  "Will you, um, go with me to my school's Fall Ball?"

  "A dance?"

  "Uh, yeah, a dance."

  He pulled his head up, furrowing his eyebrows. "You want me to go to a human high school dance?"

  "Yeah. It will be fun. You can actually meet mom, Elijah, and even my stepdad. We can pretend to be a normal couple and hang out in front of everyone instead of this sneaking around thing."

  "When is it?" he asked.

  "The last weekend in September. You can come in for the football game. I'll tell my mom you are visiting from Arizona. I'm sure she'll let you stay here. You can actually come visit me without having to hide under my bed." I was trying not to get too excited, but it was secretly what I'd dreamt about almost all my life. A guy who would want me as his date to a dance. A guy who would meet my family and show the world that I wasn't just some lonely girl.

  "Well you do know that September is hurricane season, so we do get an influx of work with all the new ships landing at Circe."

  I looked down. "Okay, I know, it's stupid. Forget I even asked."

  How could I forget? He had an actual alien life and job that didn't include me. One that would never make our relationship normal.

  His fingers crept under my chin, lifting it up until our eyes met. "It's not stupid. And I promise you that I will do everything I can to be there for you."