Connor left the house a little after 9am on Labor Day, hopped in the truck, and headed towards Bayside Landscaping for his interview. Julie had surprised him the night before with a new outfit, and he’d been too nervous to refuse it. He was wearing it now.

Connor wore a preppy button-down shirt, a clean pair of jeans that fit him tight in the butt, and a sturdy pair of work boots. He liked the boots especially. He saw himself wearing them again even if he didn’t get the job.

But he was totally getting this job.

Bayside Landscaping was 15 minutes away. It was bright pink house on the corner with some other small, residential houses situated behind it. A nail salon took up the left half of the pink building and the parking lot was next to it. Bayside was on the right and a big fenced in garden wrapped around the side of it and stretched into the backyard.

The place was definitely flashy. It stuck out like a sore thumb. There was a gray, somber cleaning company across the street and a trashy fast food restaurant next to that.

Connor scanned the area as he pulled into the lot outside the pink house. He parked and sat in the truck, looking anywhere but at the jungle of tropical plants spilling over the picket fence.

He was nervous and he fumbled with the bottom button on his shirt. He was early so he could afford a couple minutes to calm down. He sighed and tried not to think about the interview he was about to attempt. His mind wandered and he began to think about the situation at the home front. It was the only other thing on his mind, to be honest.

Things back at the house had been eerily normal. Greg didn’t seem to remember Connor punching him the other night and Julie and Nathan hadn’t mentioned it either.

All of Sunday, Connor had stayed in the guest room. He continued to avoid M – he was avoiding everyone – but he kept away from the blond specifically.

During meals were the only times they crossed paths, but Connor had planned accordingly. He only came down to eat once everyone else had started and he already had curt responses to the automatic questions the table’s occupants threw at him.

“I have a headache,” Connor said yesterday at breakfast and M had immediately offered to walk the dog.

“I’m just nervous about the interview,” Connor said at lunch and Jamie had been over by that point and she’d offered to walk the dog.

“I’m exhausted. I’m going to bed early,” Connor said at dinner. Greg was drunk again , and he was making a sloppy mess at the head of the table. Julie had served barbequed chicken and the loser was dripping sauce on the swell of his beer belly. It looked like dark blood and M was carefully facing away.

“That’s fine,” Julie said, watching Greg slop chicken into his mouth from the corner of her eye. Connor had noticed she’d forgone the inclusion of knives and he wondered if she was regretting that decision… “One of us will take care of Jack before bed.”

Connor nodded and quickly finished his meal.

He’d laid in bed that night, alone again, thinking and worrying about everything. His head was still reeling… M’s words that night after the block party, when Connor had asked him if he was human… “Not entirely.” M had said and Connor remembered his heart pounding.

It was beating out of his chest now, in the truck, in front of Bayside Landscaping. Connor clutched the steering wheel and took a deep breath.

This wasn’t helping…

He got out, went around to the front of the building and stopped on the walk. The nail salon was dark and empty. There was a little closed sign hanging in the window. Bayside was open of course, and he took a deep breath and approached. A bell tinkled merrily against the glass-paned door as he entered.

Cool air assaulted him immediately. A ceiling fan over the receptionist’s desk spiraled wildly as a red-haired girl looked up. Her fingers continued clacking on the keyboard. “Is there something I can help you with?” she asked sweetly.

“Interview,” Connor said quickly.

The girl smiled. “What’s your name?” she asked.

“Connor,” he said. “Flynn.”

“Just a minute,” the girl hopped up and went off into the back.

Connor’s eyes wandered. The room was colorful, cheerful. It was a tropical paradise.

Pictures hung on the walls with individual details on previous contracts. Paving work and driveways, lawn and garden design; even water features were presented as services. To the left, nestled between a leafy patch of ferns was a manmade pond. The little electric fountain drew his attention and he stepped over. Red and gold fish darted through the artificial reefs and river rocks.

“Enjoying the koi pond?” a voice broke into his thoughts and Connor jerked around, straightening up to see a burly guy in jeans and a Bayside Landscaping polo. He had a large beard, but it couldn’t hide his even larger grin. “Derek Burkett,” he said. “I’m the owner.”

Connor nodded jerkily. “Uh, good morning.”

Derek advanced on him, his large, hairy hand outstretched. Connor quickly wiped his hand off and held it out stiffly. Derek’s hand gripped his in a brutal crush, the guy was powerful and his dark eyes bored straight into the back of his skull. Connor felt his face getting hot, but he maintained eye contact and he didn’t stop squeezing until Derek was satisfied.

The red-haired receptionist slid back into her seat behind Derek and watched the two men with a dreamy smile. Derek finally released his hand and Connor folded it tightly into his stomach.

“This… is a nice place,” he said lamely, nodding at the numerous displays of luxury decorating the showroom.

“We try,” Derek smiled. “Come in the back, Connor. Let’s talk.”

He followed the guy past the beaming receptionist. A marble counter in the back separated the showroom from a narrow hallway. It was covered with different brochures and business cards. Derek whisked him down the hallway and Connor saw another glass door that looked into the garden, another to the right opened into a simple office.

“Take a seat,” Derek said as Connor followed him into the room. He turned and sat rigidly in the chair in front of Derek’s desk and peered around nervously.

There were two little aloe plants in the corner of the room and some files and a laptop on the desk, but besides that the office was sparse and clean. Derek took a seat in front of the laptop, his smile jovial. He looked at Connor for an unending moment and finally, Connor just bit the bullet and spoke up.

“So, I just got to town a week ago. I’m staying with my mom until I can get some money coming in,” he said. “I’m interested in the position,” he trailed off at the end, his mouth twisting into a nervous knot.

Derek gave him a once over and then he leaned back in his chair. “We pay guys on a sliding scale. We start the newbies at 14 an hour when they’ve got no previous experience.”

Connor frowned a little. “They only paid me $10.50 at Pizza Hut, but I usually got tips.”

“Are you afraid of hard work?”

“No,” Connor said carefully.

“And you can be on time?”

“Always.”

“You have a reliable vehicle...” Derek sorted through some of the papers, jabbing a specific spot with his forefinger. “Says here you do.”

“I’ve got a truck,” Connor shrugged. “I drove here alright.”

“And what do you know about landscaping? I’m sure you caught a little glimpse of the work we do around town,” Derek said proudly.

“The pictures out there?” Connor nodded back towards the front of the building and Derek’s grin widened. “Well, I know how to mow a lawn just fine,” he said and determinedly met Derek’s cheerful gaze. “I’m a good worker, a quick learner and I’m responsible.”

Derek chuckled. “You look like you’re in shape, so I’m not worried about your capabilities,” he said. “I’m going to pair you with Marcus because he doesn’t have a ride anymore. Some malarkey about an ex-girlfriend. You’ll have to ask him yourself.”

“Ah…”

“Marcus has been here almost three years now. He can train you up quick.”

“Sounds good,” Connor said awkwardly, but it made Derek smile.

“Do you know anything about plants native to Tampa?” he asked.

“I’m from South Dakota,” Connor frowned and the boss looked up, his eyebrows raised. “I mean, that’s an aloe plant,” he said pointing at the potted plants in the corner. “And that was some kind fern around the koi pond, right? I mean, I know what a dandelion looks like,” he said sarcastically.

Derek snorted with amusement. “Alright. I just had to let a couple guys go. They were slacking, taking long breaks, cutting corners,” he said. “Don’t be that guy Connor. I’ll start you off at $15 an hour. Prove to me you want to work and that you want to be here and maybe we’ll talk about a raise in 90 days. I need good workers,” he said.

Connor actually smiled a little. “When can I start?”

“Tomorrow,” Derek said. “After I run the background check. Did you bring in the two forms of ID?”

Connor’s smile froze, but he nodded. He’d been afraid of this happening… He took the wallet out of his back pocket and fumbled with it. He got his Social Security card out and then dropped the wallet when he was fishing out the second ID. He grabbed both cards, snatched his wallet up, and then snapped the cards down on top of Derek’s papers.

Derek raised his brows again, but he pulled the cards closer to the laptop and started typing. “So, how do you like Florida so far?” he asked.

Fucking small talk?!

“It’s warm,” Connor said.

“Have you been to the beach yet?” Derek asked.

“Not yet.”

Derek grinned at the computer and pressed enter. “So, South Dakota. Are you from there originally?”

“Yep.”

“Not much of a talker, are you?”

“Nope,” Connor said and Derek nodded. He scrolled down the screen, clicking on something and Connor waited with bated breath. His hands balled into fists.

“Alright,” Derek said after a moment and he pushed the cards back. Connor grabbed them up hurriedly. “You’re not a wanted felon,” Derek said cheerfully. “Congratulations!”

“Thanks,” Connor said and he shifted onto the edge of his seat, eager to leave.

“Hold up buddy,” Derek laughed and Connor tensed. “Before you run off, I’d like you to sign a few things,” Derek rifled through the papers on his desk. He produced a pen and pushed a document in front of Connor. “This just goes over the basic rules to the job. I’ll go over it with you and feel free to interrupt me if you have any questions.”

Connor grit his teeth and nodded. His fingers dug uncomfortably into the edge of his seat. Derek started talking and his deep, unhurried voice instantly sent Connor into a trance. He listened without actually paying much attention to the words. He couldn’t wait to leave. He just wanted to get out of here before he ruined Derek’s offer. He had the job damnit! C’mon!

“And if you agree to all that, I’ll have you sign and date down there,” Derek said and Connor snapped out of it. He grabbed the pen and jotted down his name and todays date.

“Welcome to the team,” Derek said with a smile and held his hand out for another handshake. Connor nearly groaned, but he tossed the pen down and stood up for another bone-crushing ordeal.

Derek sent him on his way after that. Connor left the office and rushed down the hallway. He passed the koi pond and speed-walked to the exit.

“See you tomorrow?” the redhead spoke up and Connor almost tripped over the area rug in the center of the showroom. He’d forgotten she was even there.

“Uh, yeah.” Connor said and he looked around shiftily. “I got the job.”

“Then I’ll be seeing you,” she said with another dreamy smile and Connor noticed she had braces. The redhead suddenly looked like jailbait and Connor backed towards the door. He hated talking to girls… they were so fucking strange. Why was she looking at him like that?!

“Uh, alright then,” he said. “Bye.”

“See you tomorrow, Connor. You start at 8 am,” the redhead said, batting her eyes and Connor scurried outside.

He calmed down as he drove home. Slowly, his hands unclenched from the wheel and he breathed a deep sigh of relief as he pulled into Julie’s allotment.

The receptionist made him uncomfortable, but she wouldn’t be going on jobs with them. 15 dollars an hour wasn’t bad either and a raise after 90 days? Connor had worked at Pizza Hut for over 2 years and the only raise he’d ever gotten had been mandated by state law.

He wasn’t paying a single bill either. Every cent he made could be stashed away for later.

He was in a terrific mood by the time he pulled into Julie’s driveway. He was looking forward to telling everyone the good news.

He parked and went inside. He could hear humming from the kitchen, but otherwise, the house was silent.

“Hey,” he said as he came into the room.

Julie smiled from the stove. She was flipping pancakes in the skillet. “How’d it go?”

Connor couldn’t help it. He broke into a grin. “I got the job.”

“That’s great, honey!” She moved the skillet off the heat and then pulled him into a hug. Connor felt a horrible heat start in the pit of his stomach. Julie was slightly shorter and her head rested on his shoulder. She smoothed his hair back and looked up at him and Connor felt awkward, but her face was bright and cheerful. “How’d the interview go?” she asked.

He laughed nervously. “It sucked.”

“They usually do,” Julie chuckled and Connor hugged her a little tighter. He felt strangely vulnerable.

Suddenly, M strolled into the kitchen. Connor pulled away from his mother and glared hatefully at the little blond alien.

M’s eyes widened and he stopped on the spot. “Connor…” he said uneasily and Connor eyes narrowed. M’s Adam’s Apple bobbed nervously against his otherwise smooth throat. “D–did you get the landscaping job?”

Connor nodded tightly, but his gaze focused on the little bump on M’s sensual throat. He had this intense image of his tongue dragging a winding path up the heated length of flesh. M’s skin was salty and smooth, but Connor wanted more. He stretched up and sucked M’s supple lips into his mouth. The kiss was wet and delicious, and his cock grew hard and long as he drank down M’s sweet moans…

Back in the kitchen, M stared at him, a deep sadness brewing in his vibrant green gaze. Resignation flashed across his face and he looked away. “Well, I just walked the dog, so I’m gonna get a shower and get dressed for the day.” He backed out of the room. “I’ll be back down later, Julie.”

M disappeared and moments later, Connor heard him run upstairs. He rubbed the back of his neck. Was he being…too harsh?

“You should talk to him,” Julie said and Connor glanced at her. She stepped back over to the stove and turned the heat back on. “He promised to help Greg wash the Hummer yesterday at lunch,” she said and Connor quirked an eyebrow. “I–didn’t find the right time to tell him this yesterday, but… I should say this to you too, I guess.” She sighed, her back to Connor completely now. She looked out the little window over the sink just to her left and the silver strands in her hair lit up in the light. “Greg doesn’t remember what happened at the block party. He used to drink all the time, but now he just keeps it to the weekends. So, it’s better,” she said. ”He still doesn’t have much control, but–”

“He doesn’t have any,” Connor said through his teeth.

Julie’s back stiffened and she turned to the skillet and flipped the pancake. “He doesn’t remember what happened,” she said again. “Tom helped me get him home after you kids ran off. He ended up sleeping until morning. He said he didn’t remember anything”

Connor sneered.

“So, you don’t have to tiptoe around him.” she continued in a hurry. “M doesn’t have to worry about impressing him. He doesn’t owe us anything–”

“I haven’t talked to M in a while,” Connor said quickly.

“I know,” Julie said. “And I’m just telling you, you two didn’t do anything wrong. You don’t have to hide–”

Connor huffed violently, disliking the implication that he was afraid of a sloppy drunk.

“You don’t have to punish your friend, either. Because M didn’t do anything wrong. That was one of his triggers, right? He went into a seizure?”

Connor crushed his bottom lip between his teeth. “Yes,” he said as calmly as he could. “I grabbed him like that once from behind, just playing around…” He sighed and looked off into the kitchen, his body tight with emotional strain. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Julie flipped the pancake onto a breakfast plate. “I was making this for you,” she said. “I was pretty sure you’d get the job, but I thought we’d celebrate either way.” She slid the plate down the counter; there was already a bottle of syrup and a little dish with butter. “You don’t have to eat it,” she said.

Connor sighed and he went to get his breakfast. He’d been too nervous earlier to eat. He figured he might as well try now though, before everyone else started coming down.

He sat at the island and ate in silence. Julie went around tidying things up in the kitchen. She was preparing to make more pancakes it seemed, and she meticulously laid out the ingredients for more batter. Connor put his empty plate in the sink when he was done and took his happy ass out to the back patio. He wasn’t going upstairs, that was for sure. M was up there…

He sat by the pool for a while, browsing boredly through the news feeds on his phone and watching the boats drift by out on the bay.

It was getting close to noon when Jack wandered over from the grass and pawned at Connor’s knee.

“You want go for a walk?” he asked and he rubbed the dog behind the ear. Jack shook excitedly and Connor put his phone away and grabbed the leash.

They went much farther today than usual. Connor was in the mood for a walk. The path along the bay connected to a pedestrian bridge and the trail started again on the other side before it looped around back to Julie’s neighborhood.

Connor hadn’t attempted the full walk before, but there was nothing stopping him today. They took the first leg in under 30 minutes. The dog walked with his short tail sticking straight up in the air. Connor felt a burst of energy when they hit the bridge and he wound the leash around his hand and hurried them across. They passed an old couple in matching jogging shorts, but the dog stuck by Connor’s side loyally and didn’t give the old folks another look. When they reached the other side, he gave the dog some slack.

“Wanna race?” he said and the dog snorted in agreement. Connor took off running and Jack easily kept his pace. It seemed like he’d been waiting for this all day.

Connor understood. His legs burned initially, but as the pain faded and he stretched his legs and pumped his arms in a familiar rhythm, endorphins flooded his veins with relief. Fuck, his mood was bordering on euphoria!

They made it back to the neighborhood in 20. They were farther into the neighborhood than he’d anticipated, but he knew where they were and they kept jogging.

As they got closer to Julie’s, he spotted M a few houses down. The boy stood at the end of the driveway with a bucket. He was washing Greg’s Hummer by hand.

Connor didn’t trust the alien, but he didn’t like idea that he was being put into indentured servitude. He glared at the little blond, angry and not really sure what to do about it. He ended up avoiding the boy completely and he cut through the neighbor’s back lawn. He and the dog jogged to the porch and Connor scowled when he realized his backyard paradise had been commandeered.

Nathan and Jamie sat around on the pool chairs. Jamie was half dressed, as usual, and wore a pair of sunglasses. Nathan at least had a t-shirt on, even if it did say “Thug Life” in bold yellow letters.

“There he is,” Nathan called out. “Hey Connor! Mom says we can go to that party tonight if you drive.”

Connor paused on the edge of the lawn and glowered as he unleashed the dog and hooked him up to the post again.

“Look at that face,” Nathan said and Connor turned away. Nathan continued anyway, in an aside to Jamie. “You’d think he’s getting invited to all the best parties or something. What’s he doing that’s so important? Looking at his phone?”

“Nathan,” Jamie sighed.

“What?!”

Jamie shook her head.

Connor finished with the dog and approached the teens on the patio. “Let me guess, there’s going to be beer, right?”

“And some Mary Jane, too. I’ll buy tonight, we can pick that up first and then head over to the party,” Nathan said.

Connor grunted. He wasn’t interested in a high school party, but he was kind of desperate to get out of the house. The bullshit with Greg and the shitty way Julie handled it left an unpleasant taste in his mouth.

“M’s coming too,” he said quickly, before he could change his mind.

“The more the merrier,” Nathan said. We’ll take my car. Be ready by 6.”

Connor nodded and headed inside. He’d gotten the button down sweaty around the collar and he didn’t like the feel of the wet cloth itching the nape of his neck. He went upstairs and changed into a cotton tee.

He came down when he was freshened up. He was thinking he’d spend the next few hours on the couch, watching whatever bullshit programming they played on Labor Day Monday. He stopped in the front hall, though, hearing the spray of the hose out in the driveway.

He looked out of the little glass window high on the front door.

Greg straddled the front walk, the hose dangling down between his wide spread legs. It was on full blast and he was aiming clumsily at the Hummer.

Connor watched in confusion. Where was M? Greg stumbled a little and the water jetted off into the street. He almost dropped the hose, but caught it just in time between his legs. Then he bent down awkwardly, clearly lit off his ass, and grabbed a tall can of beer resting in the grass.

He chugged it down then threw it lazily towards the curb. “You keep missing this spot!” he yelled and finally, M ducked out from behind the Hummer.

The blond was fucking soaked! Connor watched with narrowed eyes as M crept around the large SUV, a drippy sponge in his hand. As soon as he started wiping down the back corner, Greg took aim and sprayed the blond with the hose.

“Not there!” Greg cried. “There!” He arched the spray of water toward the front bumper. M hurried to follow direction. He rushed to the front of the SUV only to get blasted in the face with another jet of water.

Connor didn’t think, he opened the door and stormed outside. He walked up behind Greg and grabbed the hose out of the grass. He yanked it, hard, and the metal nozzle ripped out of Greg’s hands and whipped down between his legs.

“What the fuck!” Greg hunched over his nuts, yelling with pain. He looked around wildly and Connor gave the dickhole a piece of his own medicine. He hosed Greg down and the drunk idiot yelled again. He slipped in the grass and fell in a tangle of fat limbs on the ground.

“M!” Connor yelled and in an instant, the blond rushed to his side. The sponge was still in his hand. “C’mon,” Connor said and he slapped the sponge out of the boy’s grasp. “You’re done. Let’s go.”

They went inside, neither of them acknowledging the drunk, dripping mess as they passed him. Behind them, Greg cursed and slipped in the mud, struggling to get up.

Connor took M by the arm and led him up to their room. He pulled the boy into the bathroom and shut the door. “Take those off,” he said, gesturing to M’s wet clothes.

M’s cheeks filled with red. The blush was an interesting shade against the golden glow of his skin. Still, he didn’t hesitate to start stripping. His clothes fell to the floor one at a time and Connor turned away at last. He started the water in the shower and waited until M was naked. “Rinse off,” he said and the blond stepped under the water. Water cascaded down his body, washing away the remnants of his first attempt at car washing. Grass and suds circled the drain and M cleared his throat. Connor looked up, meeting the hesitance in M’s gaze.

“Am I clean?” the boy asked. He bit his lip and wet hair slid into his face. He pushed it away, casting his gaze down shyly.

Connor waited a few more seconds and then he reached around M and killed the shower. He left the boy shivering in the stall and went to grab his towel. He came back with the fluffy cloth held awkwardly in his arms. He opened them up, inviting M in.

The boy looked at him carefully.

“Come here,” Connor said and M walked into his arms. Connor rubbed M down. His thin body trembled under Connor’s touch. They were practically hugging; their bodies were so close to one another, Connor could feel a damp warmth drifting off the little blond. “What the fuck happened out there?” he asked to break the silence.

“I’m sorry, I just thought…” M trailed off, looking up at Connor from under his pale lashes.

Connor gently rubbed the towel through M’s dripping hair. “What?”

“That…if I could do something nice for everyone, you wouldn’t hate me as much,” M said.

Connor gave up drying the boy and hugged him tightly. M buried his wet head against Connor’s chest and Connor reached up to tangle his fingers through the locks. “I’m sorry,” he said, sighing.

“For what?”

Connor shook his head. “For throwing you to the wolves,” he said. “Don’t go around Greg anymore. And you don’t need to be nice to anyone. Greg touched you…”

M whimpered a little and Connor realized he was squeezing the blond as he thought about the fat drunk downstairs.

“Sorry,” Connor said again, roughly, and he let go of the boy. He pushed the towel at him and M started drying off on his own. He scrubbed the towel through his hair again, a bit harder than Connor had done previously.

“No, I’m sorry,” M said intently and Connor rolled his eyes. I’m sorry, you’re sorry, we’re all fucking sorry! “Connor!” M snapped and at once, he looked up at the boy. M looked strangely powerful standing there, naked and shaking with determination. “I’m sorry I lied to you… I’m sorry I didn’t tell you who I was or why the agent’s after me.”

Connor’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Well, now we’re talking about something completely different.”

“Let’s actually talk about it, though,” M said quickly. “Don’t shut me out because I’m finally begin honest.”

Connor scowled and looked away. He felt trapped in the steamy room, but M was right.

“Fine,” he said. “Then what’s the latest space news from the mothership?”

He was just being sarcastic of course. He even glared at M, daring him to respond in kind, but the blond touched the patch of skin just behind his ear and his eyes ghosted shut.

“I haven’t talked to her in a few days,” he said. “I haven’t had any privacy.”

“Uh,” Connor scratched the back of his neck.

“Don’t worry. We’re safe,” M said and when Connor immediately scoffed, he continued. “The last time I spoke with mother, she’d intercepted a message from Home Base. They’re in communication with the agent, now, but they’ve told him a number of times to stand down. To bring me in for briefing if and only if, I come willingly and I’m not going anywhere,” the boy said easily. “If you see him, just stay away from him. He can’t do anything.”

“Oh, we’re totally safe!” Connor said sarcastically. “C’mon, M. Did you consider your race has bigger plans than stopping a single romance? Maybe they don’t want to blow their cover to snuff us out, but I’m not safe. Not if there are aliens fucking watching me and tracking my every movement!”

“Connor, it’s not like that–”

“It’s not! Good, because it sounds like you guys are planning a fucking invasion!”

M shook his head. “No, we’re not–” Connor grunted with disgust. “We don’t invade. We integrate with the native species and live amongst them–” Connor scoffed again, loud and disbelieving, but M pushed on regardless. “The agent’s a leftover from the first wave. I’m part of the second. I’m the only one who made it out of cryostasis.”

Connor fidgeted uncomfortably. “This is weird, M.”

The blond smiled. “You wanted to know.”

“Oh yeah, I could wait to find out you’re an alien,” Connor sneered.

M sighed and he dropped the towel on the floor. Connor watched him walk out. The boy’s round little ass bounced with his steps and Connor’s gaze was drawn to the perky sight.

He followed the blond into the bedroom and stayed in the doorway while M selected something dry from the dresser.

“So, I don’t understand, what went wrong with the alien invasion?” Connor asked.

M ripped a pair of shorts out of his drawer before slamming it shut. His shoulders were tense and he didn’t turn to look at Connor as he spoke. “It wasn’t an invasion,” he said. “My species is a peaceful race–”

Connor was shocked into laughter. “I’ve never heard that before.”

M started to get dressed. He didn’t look at Connor, but everything about him screamed his disagreement. His movements were quick and jerky. His careful, blank expression was stiff and forced.

Connor zipped his lips and waited for M to finish dressing.

“Everything was abandoned, Connor,” M said, grabbing his brush off the top of the dresser. He ran it aggressively through his damp hair. “There were a hundred of us to start. Within a year, half of them were lost to their human hosts. The memories took over, the human brains rejected the foreign bodies and both were killed in the process. Home Base was already sending hundreds more for insemination, however. Communication… isn’t always the best. Home Base is far from Earth.”

Connor swallowed, feeling goosebumps popping up along his arms and the back of his neck. M had calmed down though, and he set his brush aside.

“I’ve been in suspended sleep for almost 50 years,” M said. “Mother has a nice little hiding place on the dark side of moon, but she’s been circling the Earth a lot more lately, so she can keep an eye on us.”

“That’s… nice?”

M grinned. His teeth, just slightly askew, were rather adorable when paired with his insane ramblings about space and secret alien plans.

Connor really didn’t know if he believed any of this…

“Listen, I’m trying to avoid any more confrontations with the agent. I’m not supposed to be awake. I’m not allowed to be here,” M said. “Mother’s only instructions were to stay hidden and to keep all passengers in cryostasis. But she didn’t do that.” The boy looked fondly off into the distance. “She’s AI. She gets bored.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“She found me a body and made my dream come true,” M said and his green eyes shone with gratitude. “But still, I begged to be let off the ship… She told me everything she could about humans. She showed me all the research…” Connor froze at the mention of research, but he didn’t dare ask for more clarification. “But it wasn’t enough. I wanted to know what it was like, walking around under the hot sun.” M closed his eyes and his sunburned cheeks glowed with pleasure. He sucked in a deep breath. “I love being here.” He opened his eyes slowly and Connor was suddenly caught up in a sensual staring match. “I love being here with you,” he said, his gaze heavy lidded and full of desire.

Connor swallowed again and nervously adjusted his stance. “I–I know you do,” he said lamely.

M giggled softly and he stepped closer.

Connor was still in the doorway between the two rooms and he reached up to clutch the doorframe with a trembling hand. He watched M approach, his mouth drying up with nerves.

“I miss being with you though,” M said as he came to a stop just a few inches away from Connor. He looked up and his eyes were so beautiful and full of fragile little feelings, Connor couldn’t take it. He grabbed M by the front of his t-shirt and pulled him flush to his body.

M gasped and Connor immediately wrapped him in a bear hug. M squirmed in his arms. He put his hands on Connor’s hips and pressed his thigh between Connor’s.

Connor squeezed him tight again, aroused and a little horrified, too, by the sounds of pleasure coming out of the boy. He didn’t know what else to do though and he held M to his chest. He was basically raping a boy named Michael while M, a 50+ year-old alien tried to convince him to do it!

There was soft knock on the door.

Connor looked wildly over M’s shoulder. “Someone’s at the door,” he hissed.

M sighed and he backed away. Connor went to answer it.

Julie stood out in the hall. Her expression was haggard and her perm wasn’t in its normal neat state. Connor felt his heart fly up to his throat and he didn’t even bother to speak. He knew he’d probably spit the damned organ out if he did.

“So, Greg went to the car wash,” she said. “He’s probably going for more beer as well.”

Connor started in disbelief. “And?”

“And you two should probably clear out of here before he gets back,” Julie said. She stretched her hand out and Connor had to focus his gaze a little before he saw a black Visa card.

“What?” Connor asked.

“You’re not in trouble,” Julie said and she shook the card. “Nathan said you were going to that party tonight. Take everybody to dinner first. Just… please, Connor–”

Connor snatched the card from his mother. “Thanks,” he said. Nothing but blood money, he thought and he pushed past the woman without care. “C’mon M,” he called behind him and they left Julie standing there in the shambles of her domestic bliss. Alone, just the way she should be.

“Where are we going now?” M asked.

“Who the fuck knows,” Connor sighed. He slipped the Visa into his back pocket and went through the living room. He spotted the teenagers out on the patio. “Hey,” he called as he opened the sliding glass. Jamie was still busy texting and playing with her phone, but Nathan floated lazily in the pool. He had a noodle under his ass.

“Did you finish washing the Hummer?” Nathan asked and Connor looked down to see M’s curious face peeking under his arm.

“No. Your dad attacked me with the hose,” M said cheerfully.

Nathan laughed. “He used to do that to me when I was a kid.” He rolled off the pool noodle and swam to the edge. M slid out from under Connor’s arm and went out to join the teenagers.

“I was just trying to help,” M said. He looked over Jamie’s shoulder at her phone, and she turned to show him whatever she was doing.

“You’re too nice to him,” Nathan said as he pulled himself out of the pool. “He sees that shit and takes advantage of it. You’d be better off trying to avoid him.”

“That’s what I said,” Connor said, but a quick glance showed that M was much more interested in Jamie’s phone over a group conversation about the drunk asshole they’d just defeated.

“I’m not worried,” M said vaguely and Connor gaped at the kid. M looked up as if he’d sensed Connor’s frustration. “Connor saw what your dad was doing and he came out and attacked him with the hose,” he said, grinning, and Nathan started to roar with laughter. “As long as Connor’s around, I’m sure he’ll always protect me.” He winked at Connor after that and Connor looked away, flushing with embarrassment.

“Wait, so… what happened?” Jamie asked.

M started to explain, but Connor cut him off. “I fucking hosed Greg down. Big ass deal.”

“Where’s my dad at now?” Nathan asked between large gasping laughs.

“I don’t know,” Connor said. “But mom gave me her Visa card and told us to clear out for the night.”

“Which Visa card?”

Connor sighed and yanked the plastic out of his back pocket. He held it loosely between his first two fingers.

“Gimme!” Nathan lunged for it, but Connor had been expecting that. He slid it back into his pocket and gave the teen a smug look.

“Mom gave it to me,” Connor said.

“What did you do, man?” Nathan folded his arms and tried to look unconcerned, but his dark eyes gleamed with jealousy. “I haven’t seen that card since we went to the Bahamas three years ago. It’s got a dope ass credit limit.”

“Besides being responsible?” Connor snorted. “I might have caught Greg in the balls too when I ripped the hose out of his grubby meat hooks.”

Nathan started laughing again.

“Let’s get out of here,” Connor said. “I don’t care where we go, but I’m sick of this place.”

“For real!” Nathan slapped Connor on the shoulder and then went to grab his Thug Life shirt off the back of his pool chair. He put it on without a care; the cotton stuck to his wet chest and stomach. “You dudes hungry?”

Connor shrugged while M sang out a happy: “Yes!”

Nathan snorted and shook his head. “Weed first. Then food. Then we can head to the mall and I can get that new PS4 game–”

“No,” Connor said.

“Fuck you. My dad owes me big time.”

They all went back through the house, grabbing their shoes in the front hall. The house was quiet, and Julie was nowhere in sight so they continued outside and headed towards the Toyota.

Nathan yanked the set of keys out of his pocket and Connor cut in front of him.

“I’m driving,” he said.

Nathan frowned, but Jamie gently touched his hand before she slid into the back. “C’mon Nathan,” she called. The dark-haired teen scowled and spit with anger, but then he climbed into the back and shut the door.

Victorious, Connor climbed in the front, unsurprised when M went around to get in the passenger side.

“Keys,” Connor said, holding his hand out.

Nathan sighed and smashed the keys into Connor’s palm. “This is bullshit,” he muttered.

Connor started the engine and they idled in the driveway while he flipped through the radio stations. Sweet, Bon Jovi was on.

“Ugh,” Nathan groaned from the back. “Can we go already.”

“And where the fuck are we going? Do you already have the homies waiting on us?” Connor snapped.

“They’re always ready,” Nathan scoffed. “That’s what they do. Sell.”

Connor rolled his eyes. “Jamie, directions, please.”

“First, back up,” Nathan said in a high pitched girly voice. “Then, turn the wheel so your angling to leave the neighborhood– OW!”

Connor glanced in the rearview mirror. Jamie pinched Nathan in the side and the huge baby cringed and shrunk into the door.

“Ow! Owie!” Nathan cried. “Stop!”

Connor smirked and shifted the car into reverse. Jamie quit pinching the little asshole once they got to the end of the block, but Nathan looked like he was close to tears. He folded his arms and looked grumpily out the window.

Nobody was unduly bothered by Nathan’s silent treatment. Jamie gave excellent directions yet again and she and M talked about some girls she knew from school.

“You’ll meet everyone tonight. It’ll be great,” Jamie said. “Oh, and Nathan needs to stop at the ATM first. On the corner, there.”

Connor pulled up so Nathan could get his money out.

“We still have to pick up some wraps,” he said as the machine spit a bunch of 20 dollar bills into his hand. He collected the card and the receipt then rapped on the top of the Toyota. “Let’s roll.”

Connor cringed, but he pulled out of the bank without saying anything.

“And I want a Red Bull,” Nathan bitched. “You got me a Root Beer last time. I hate Root Beer.”

“What a huge baby, you are,” Connor snorted. “Just come in with me and pick what you want, retard.”

Nathan folded his arms across the Thug Life shirt and pouted.

They got the weed 40 minutes later and then drove to Chick-fil-A, because Nathan continued to bitch and complain about every other option Jamie suggested.

They ate in the car and filled the inside with skunky smoke. Jamie continually rolled the window down, muttering darkly about the contact high. She wasn’t smoking anymore apparently and Nathan complained about that as well. He didn’t want Jamie to let the smoke out and he kept giving her the evil eye every time she so much as cracked the window.

“Nathan!” Connor snapped after the third or fourth time the bratty teen complained about his buzz. “She’s pregnant. Stop being a complete asshole!”

Nathan mouthed something and then continued to pout.

They went to the mall after that, because Connor wasn’t going anywhere Nathan didn’t suggest. That’d be about as productive as shooting himself in the foot.

Lucky for them, M and Jamie were busy talking. Jamie seemed to have given up on her boyfriend completely; she wasn’t even looking at him.

When they arrived, Nathan took over the directions and forced Connor through row after row of cars in front of JcPenney’s because that was the closest route to the GameStop.

Connor was embarrassed. He’d never spent longer than 5 minutes with a kid this bratty and this was his brother.

When they finally found a spot, Nathan leapt out and rushed for the entrance. Connor and the rest of the group followed him at a much slower pace. It seemed Jamie was dragging her feet on purpose and M, the socially awkward alien, was totally falling for it. He lagged behind with her, chatting about the other high school girls like he actually knew them. It seemed he did, somehow. He and Jamie were talking about some girl she knew and the on-and-off again relationship she had with a senior from another school.

“M, you’ve got your phone, right?” Connor asked.

M and his little girlfriend looked up in surprise.

“Of course,” the blond said and he pulled it out of his back pocket to confirm.

“Cool,” Connor sighed. “Listen, you guys go do whatever. I’m going to talk to Nathan.”

“Good luck,” Jamie said with a laugh while M gave him a cheery smile.

Connor left them inside JcPenney’s. Nathan was nowhere in sight so he weaved through the aisles, looking for a way out. Near the jewelry cases, the store opened into a wide hallway that led to the other stores. He stormed past the bright shops, his body tightening as he got deeper into the crowd.

He passed a group of girls getting their hair straightened at a booth in the middle of the hall. They were laughing and touching each other’s hair. Ahead, a woman with a cluster of small children came out The Gap. Two little blue eyed boys were fighting over a plastic bag and the smaller one started to scream his head off. The woman, a tired lady with her hair in a bun, seemed to be deaf because she didn’t even look at the yelling toddler.

Connor’s shoulders sloped inwards and he balled his hands up. He hadn’t seen GameStop yet, but he did see a map ahead between two benches and a small potted tree.

Suddenly, an Arab guy with a corny smile on his face stepped in front of him. Connor stopped immediately, drawing back sharply in surprise.

“Hello sir,” the Arab started politely. “Are you happy with your current cell phone provider?”

Connor glanced at the cell phone stand beside him. He hadn’t noticed it. He sneered and easily sidestepped the guy. He heard some colorful, Arabic words behind him, but he didn’t care to turn around.

He made it to the map and quickly scanned the list of stores. GameStop was… He leaned around the map. Fuck! There it was…

He hurried to the store and spotted Nathan inside. He stood in front of a Mario Kart demo game and stared blankly up at the screen. There were a few other teenagers in the back, but they were taking the only employees full attention. Connor breezed past the new releases and a wall of pre-owned games and approached his younger brother.

“Nathan,” he called.

The teen didn’t turn from his Mario session. He shrugged a shoulder in acknowledgement.

Connor glared at the brat. “Does that mean you’re listening?”

“Uh-huh,” Nathan grunted.

“How about actually looking at me,” Connor sneered and Nathan’s eyes flickered away from the screen for a moment. He glanced at Connor and then he turned back to Mario. It was like he’d assessed the importance of Connor’s request and he’d found it be severely lacking.

“Just let me play for a minute,” he said.

Connor grabbed the back of the teen’s neck. “No. We need to talk,”

Nathan stiffened up and he dropped the controller. “Bro, why are you grabbing me?”

“Because you’re being an arrogant dickhead and I’m about to call you out on it,” Connor growled low in the back of his throat. “Do you want me to do it right here?”

Nathan wind milled the arm closest to Connor and he shifted awkwardly out of the partial hold. “Screw you, Connor. Who the hell do you think you are?”

“We are so not doing this here,” Connor hissed through his teeth and he latched onto Nathan’s bicep and yanked him bodily out of the store. Despite his little show of power, Nathan followed docilely and when Connor shoved him down a side hall to the toilets, he turned back to look at him with another epic pout on his face.

“What the fuck?” Nathan bitched.

“You’re being intolerable,” Connor snapped, poking a finger at the teen. “You’re being a huge fucking brat!”

“So?”

“So? So?!” Connor cried and his voice bounced around the narrow hall. “What are you trying to prove, Nathan? What’s the fucking point?

The teen glowered at a spot just over Connor’s shoulder. “Jamie wants to tell her parents about the baby,” he said glumly. “She wants to do it this weekend, after the first doctor’s appointment.”

Connor glared at the irritating teen. “What, are you scared?”

“Fuck you, no,” Nathan said, his face twisting up. “I’m not allowed to be, anyway. It’s all my fault.”

“Well, it sort of is,” Connor said.

“She told me she was on the pill,” Nathan frowned. “I was fine buying condoms. She actually liked sucking my dick when I got the flavored ones.”

Connor struggled for something intelligent to say. “Um, she didn’t try to trick you. Did she?”

“Naw,” Nathan sighed. “She’s been going to Planned Parenthood with her friend since last Christmas. We’ve been good up until now.”

Connor looked around the empty hallway, wishing they weren’t talking about this particular subject in public. Or at all.

“I’m just saying,” Nathan continued. “That isn’t all my fault.”

“Well, I doubt telling Jamie’s parents will go as badly as it did last week,” Connor said easily. Fuck, he just wanted this to be over.

Nathan laughed humorlessly. “You don’t know her parents.”

Connor rubbed his neck.

They stood in an awkward silence as an old couple meandered down the hall past them. They split up so they could use the separate facilities and Connor watched the hunchbacked old lady shuffle into the women’s room before he attempted to speak.

“Listen, I don’t know what it feels like to get a girl pregnant,” he said and Nathan snorted. “Fuck off,” Connor sneered.

“Have you always been gay? Or is it just recently?” Nathan chuckled. “I thought mom said you had an ex-girlfriend back in South Dakota?”

Connor glared at the teen. “As I was saying,” he started again, completely ignoring the questions. “I’m sure you’re scared and shit, but you and Jamie are going to need a lot of help. If you’re worried about something, you need to talk to mom, or me,” Connor said uncomfortably. “Being a total brat may have worked for you before, but it’s getting old really fast. You can’t be a parent and throw tantrums at every opportunity. It’s not going to work anymore.”

Nathan gave Connor a long, measured look.

“Don’t say anything,” Connor said. “I know I’m right. You need to be on your best fucking behavior if you and Jamie are going to do this,” Connor grinned wryly. “You’ve got 9 months to practice.”

“6 months,” Nathan said and he sucked in a deep breath. “She’s 9 weeks now.”

“Alright,” Connor said. “So, are we done here? Can we go find the others?”

Nathan looked down the hall towards the GameStop. “I really did want to get that game,” he said wistfully. “All my friends have it.”

Connor rolled his eyes. “Before you get something for yourself, what about your pregnant girlfriend?”

“Jamie?”

Connor gave the idiot a long-suffering look. “Do you have another girl knocked up already?”

“No,” Nathan laughed.

“Well?” Connor stared the kid down until Nathan looked away and down at the floor. It actually looked like the retard was thinking…

“Nobody believes we’re really engaged,” Nathan said and Connor fought with himself not to start laughing at the look of sorrow on the teen’s face. Connor pressed his lips together and kept his face serious.

“Ok?”

“I saw a ring I liked,” Nathan said. “It’s not the biggest diamond or anything, but it’s really pretty and I can get her another one when we get together for real.”

“That’s… not a terrible idea,” Connor said. “Where’d you see it?”

“Out there, in the middle of the mall,” Nathan said. “It’s $400.”

Connor cringed. “You weren’t planning on using the Visa, were you? Because I can’t let you do that.”

Nathan huffed. “No, dick. I’ve got enough in my savings account.” He met Connor’s eyes and they swirled with seriousness. Connor raised an eyebrow. “But I really do need you to pay me back for some of this weed,” he said. “I’m gonna be strapped for a while. No joke. This is going to suck.”

“You don’t have to get her a ring,” Connor said casually. “You could just stop being an asshole all the time.”

“Nope! I’ve already decided.”

Nathan ducked around Connor and went back into the mall. Sighing, Connor followed after him.

The ring Nathan had chosen wasn’t half bad. It was small, but it would look nice on Jamie’s petite hand. The chick behind the counter was helpful. She guessed Jamie’s ring size based on Nathan’s description of her and a picture or two off Facebook.

“Don’t say anything to her,” Nathan said after he’d made the purchase and they waited for the jeweler to put it in a velvet box. “I’ll give it to her tonight at the party… fuck, this was a good idea. I am so getting laid tonight!”

Connor shrugged. He had his phone out and he sent a text to M, asking where he was.

“Thanks,” Nathan said as he accepted the gift box from the jeweler.

“You boys have a great day,” she said with a wink.

They started off towards JcPenny’s as Nathan put the ring in his pocket. Connor’s phone buzzed and he checked the screen.

We’r 1n the same store, M said and followed it up a smiley face. Connor smiled and sped up his pace.

They found Jamie and M in the swimwear section. Jamie was looking at a hot pink bikini, explaining the differences between the brands to M. The blond was enthralled. It was actually kind of cute.

“Hey,” Nathan said and he charged ahead and threw an arm around Jamie’s little waist.

“Did you get Mario Kart?” Jamie asked without looking away from the bathing suit.

“I got something else,” Nathan said and Jamie tisked.

“Whatever. Now, can we get out of here? Brandie said they were heading to the party now.”

Nathan gestured towards the exit and Jamie tossed her hair over her shoulder and stalked off. Nathan fell into step behind her, but M and Connor hung back a bit.

“What happened?” the blond asked.

“He bought Jamie an engagement ring,” Connor whispered.

M quirked an eyebrow. “That’s good, right?”

“Well, it was better than him blowing money on a game, I guess. He can’t go around saying he’s going to marry Jamie if he doesn’t get her a ring.”

“That’s good then,” M said with a nod and he started to follow the other two. Connor walked with him. “Jamie was complaining about that the other night when we were alone. She’s really worried about how her parents are going to react to everything.”

“That’s what Nathan said,” Connor agreed. “But I told him to stop being a brat. How are we supposed to be there for him when we’re sick to death of his face?”

M laughed and finally, they exited the mall and walked across the lot. It was very warm out still, but it was getting close to 7. The sun was making its way across the western half of Tampa’s skies, turning the thick clouds on the horizon beautiful colors of flaming red and burnt orange.

Things improved on the ride to the party. Jamie warned Connor it was a far drive. It was on the beach and technically it wasn’t within city limits. She said they’d have the place to themselves though, although Connor wasn’t sure how they knew that.

“It’s going to be a blast,” Jamie said. “I heard they’re going to set off fireworks when it gets late.”

“And there’ll be beer!” Nathan cheered. “Lots and lots of beer.”

Connor took a puff off his rollie of weed before handing it across the seat to M. He watched the boy take a careful drag from the corner of his eye.

A night with alcohol and weed already sounded promising, but add some fireworks over the water and Connor was pretty sure he was going to get laid tonight too. M glanced at him and their eyes met as the blond released the sticky smoke from his parted lips.

Connor blushed and looked away. He wasn’t sure how he’d get M alone, but it had been far too long since they’d tried to experiment. The revelation M was an alien was prettying shocking, but he still looked damned good….

Fuck it.

Connor was going to get some tonight.

***

Two hours into the party and Connor had a terrible headache. The event was about as lame as he’d imagined. They started a bonfire and someone had backed their van into the sand. It pumped loud music out the back hatch.

There was beer of course. It was everywhere. Several different coolers were around the bonfire, and they’d even set up a keg in the sand. Everyone was drinking something, and a lot of the teenagers were hitting the pipe too. Well, not literally. Some white kid with cornrows weaved around the party-goers selling little joints for 10 bucks.

Nathan had loaded Connor up already, though, so when the cornrow’ed kid had tried to entice him with his baggy of drugs, Connor glowered and waved him off distractedly.

He wasn’t in the mood for this…

The music was way too loud and well… rappy. And the crowd of energetic teens made him feel very out of place.

Nathan had ditched the group immediately upon arrival. He’d been mingling with his homies ever since. Connor could see the douchebag now. He was surrounded by a couple different people and he was adding his own lyrics to the rap song blasting from the van. He threw his hands up, brandishing gang signs and what-not, and got the other kids cheering him on. Connor didn’t even wonder if he was any good, he knew he wasn’t.

After Nathan had abandoned them, Jamie and M led the way to a cluster of half-dressed girls. They were all in different stages of beach dress. Three of them had bikinis on and the other two had short-shorts and little t-shirts, but all of them looked like mini whores, really.

Jamie had introduced M to the girls first and he was instantly accepted into their ranks. It seemed he’d already met some of them at some point, or talked to them at least through Jamie. Connor got the awkward feeling that between the two of them, M and Jamie, this group of teenage girls probably knew most of their private business.

Connor was already burning with embarrassment when Jamie began to introduce him. She said: “And this is Connor,” she winked, she fucking winked! “He’s M’s you-know-what…” She trailed off and Connor felt the eyes of 5 different teenage girls turn to him. They eyed him curiously, smiling conspiratorially amongst themselves.

“Um… You weren’t joking. He is hot,” some blonde chick said, and the girls broke into nervous giggles.

Connor was sure his face was bright red. It was all he could think about. Jamie gave him a sympathetic look. “C’mon Brandie,” she started.

“What? M’s got good taste,” Brandie said, looking Connor right in the eye as she said it. “I approve.

“Thanks! And he’s mine,” M sang cheerfully. “Eyes off.”

That made the girls start laughing again and all Connor wanted to do was disappear. Hannah had used to do shit like this to him too. But in front of a bunch of teenagers?! Hell, no.

Connor was mentally transported back a million years, back to high school, back to when all the kids in his grade had found out he’d touched Rick’s dick. A lot of cute girls had laughed at him like this. They were always in fucking packs, laughing at him!

“Stay here a minute, M,” Jamie said and she took pity on Connor and led him back to the bonfire. She directed him to a lone beach chair in the sand, positioned perfectly for views of the fire and the ocean. “I’ll grab you a beer, ok? Just sit tight.”

Connor really didn’t like being taken care of by this little girl, but he allowed it. Because he was fucking uncomfortable.

He’d been sitting here ever since.

M and Jamie took turns bringing him beers and checking on him. Connor didn’t run into Nathan again because the dark-haired teenager was apparently the life of the party. He went from group to group, chatting with everyone, making people laugh with his loud voice and his dumb jokes.

Connor followed his brother around with his eyes and stared at him enviously over his can of beer. It was maybe his 5th, maybe his 6th, fuck, Connor couldn’t remember. His head continued to pound though, and he suspected it was the weed. It wasn’t as good a grade as last time. Connor was sure he was smoking sticks.

“Hey Connnnnor!” M sang and Connor’s eyes snapped to the boy standing in front of him.

M swayed gently from side to side and his face was red. Not from embarrassment mind, Connor could see the flush of intoxication all over the boy’s face, hell, he could smell the alcohol wafting off him.

“You’re drunk,” Connor said bitterly.

“So are you,” M said. He stuck out his tongue as an afterthought and giggled.

“So, that’s what you’ve been doing over there?” Connor said darkly, nodding towards the gang of girls M had just emerged from. The girls were clustered together on beach towels and though most of their faces were lit up by their phones, Connor spotted Jamie and her little friend Brandie watching them with anticipation. He scowled at them, but neither girl seemed to mind. Jamie gave him a little thumbs-up signal and Connor was highly affronted.

What the fuck did that mean?

“Whatdaya mean?” M slurred cheerfully.

Connor scoffed and waved M off too. “You here to ply me with another beer?”

“Huh?”

Connor just about lost it. “What do you want?!”

M shrank back, the look on his face full of pain.

Connor deflated. “Um,” he started. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Yes, you do,” M sniffled. “You hate me.”

“No,” Connor sighed and he stood up so he could enclose the blond in his arms. As soon as M sank against his chest and Connor’s arms went around him, a gale of cheers came from across the bonfire and Connor looked up just in time to see Jamie and Brandie celebrating their fucking hug!

Connor didn’t say anything, but he did push M away gently. He didn’t mean to put M off or anything, but he wasn’t enjoying the spectacle they were making. M looked up at him with teary green eyes and Connor sighed.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m being an asshole.”

M smiled a little. “It’s nothing I’m not already used to,” he said and Connor felt a spike of guilt lance through his belly.

“I’m really uncomfortable,” Connor said suddenly. “I don’t like parties. Or crowds. Or strangers.”

“I know,” M said. “But I’m glad we came. I’m having fun… and if you want, maybe we can go find a private spot down there.” M gestured over his shoulder, further down the dark beach. “They’re going to start the fireworks soon. Maybe we can have fun by ourselves now.” The blond winked at him and Connor hurriedly bent down to grab his beer.

“Ok,” he said and M broke into a huge grin.

“C’mon!” The boy latched onto his arm and together, they headed off down the beach. White sand spread out before them and to their left, the waves crashed in a slow, hypnotic tempo against the shore.

M let go of him and ran ahead. He splashed into the water and squealed with laughter when the waves rushed up to meet him.

“It’s trying to pull me in!” he cried.

“Don’t go any deeper, dummy,” Connor called to him. M nodded, but he continued to explore the shore. The water tugged on the blond’s baggy t-shirt and Connor kept an eye on him to make sure he didn’t stumble into the surf.

He was still carrying his beer. He’d completely forgotten he’d even had it. He finished the drink in a few gulps; it had a nice layer of foam on top now. When the can was empty, he smashed it in his fist and chucked it out into the waves.

“M,” he stopped and waited for the blond to look at him. “Where are we going?”

They’d walked for only a couple minutes or so, but already they’d put some distance between them and the party. The bonfire glowed merrily on the horizon, but the beat of the music had been lost to the rush of the waves.

“To watch the fireworks,” M said with a smile. His eyes were hooded and he looked strangely alluring in the half light.

“Where were you and those girls talking about all night?” Connor asked suddenly. “They were looking at me and shit.”

M’s face was instantly sympathetic. “Sorry.” He sloshed out of the tide and came closer. An errant gust of sea breeze tossed his hair and a few strands of blond fell into his eyes.

Connor bit his lip. He couldn’t help himself, he wanted to touch M’s face. He reached up and stroked the boy’s soft cheek, brushing his hair back gently. Connor felt his heart clench. His fingers began to tremble. M’s eyes gleamed with passion and desire for him and Connor was having a hard time keeping his hands gentle. He wanted to tear through the boy’s clothes so he could touch his body. He wanted to own him in that moment. He was so fucking beautiful.

“What were you doing all night?” he whined. “You let me sit there alone for two hours.”

M’s eyes flashed with amusement. “I didn’t think you’d miss me.”

Connor let go of M’s face and grabbed him roughly around the waist. The boy gasped and arched his hips and pressed his cock to Connor’s. Layers of clothes separated their skin, but Connor felt so naughty and drunk, the sensation zapped him like an electric shock.

“I-I was getting sex tips from the girls,” M said and Connor watched with pleasure as red embarrassment bloomed across his cheeks.

“Did they tell you to practice on a banana?” he snorted.

“I did yesterday,” M said and Connor laughed. “What! Jamie said it was a good way to practice!”

“I guess,” Connor chuckled. “You could have just asked me. If you wanted to practice, that is,” he finished awkwardly.

M rolled his eyes. “Yeah right. When? You’re always in such a great mood.”

Connor smirked. “You could always try blow jobs. They might improve my attitude.”

“I was planning on it,” M said and Connor’s smile fell away. He felt very serious, all of a sudden. “I asked Jamie and her friends where we could get a little privacy. They said I should take you on a walk…”

Connor looked around quickly and spotted a tall patch of beach grass nestled at the base of a sand dune. His heart pounded away in his chest, and excitement gripped his body tightly. He was trembling inside, shaking with the urge to touch and taste and feel…. “Let’s go over there,” he said hurriedly.

He cleared a path through the tall reeds and stopped just before the swell of the dune. He thought M was right behind him, but when he turned around the boy had his foot caught in a sand trench.

“Crap!” M tumbled into the tall grass and rolled onto his back at Connor’s feet. He giggled and smiled goofily and Connor dutifully attempted to help him up. He grabbed the boy under his arms and started to lift him. M refused to get off his knees though. He wrapped his arms around Connor’s waist and grunted in protest. He shoved his face into Connor’s crotch next and giggled some more.

“Nooooo. Let me stay down here,” he whined.

Connor straightened up. He was immediately and intensely aroused by the pretty picture M presented. The disheveled blond rubbed his face back and forth over Connor’s slowly responding erection. He hummed with approval and pressed his hand down between his legs.

“Can you take it out for me?” he asked sweetly, and Connor unzipped his fly and fished his hard dick out of the flap in his briefs. The boy smiled hugely and gently wrapped his hand around Connor’s cock. He stroked Connor slowly, staring with an intense interest at the thick length before him.

Connor groaned, deeply turned on by the look on M’s face. He was concentrating hard, and his little pink tongue was sticking out between his lips. The boy alternated his grip, switching between firm strokes and light teasing presses of his fingertips. The sensation was divine.

Suddenly, M looked up at him. “I’m going to suck it now, ok?”

“Yeah, alright,” Connor groaned.

“Here I go,” M said and he guided the tip of Connor’s cock into his waiting mouth. He glanced up again, Connor’s hard dick hanging partway out of his mouth. M started to suck and his tongue did a strange, but very hot, little roll in his mouth. The muscle danced against the sensitive underside of Connor’s shaft and M made eye contact with him the whole time.

Connor sobbed; he’d never wanted to fuck someone so badly before. He carefully cradled M’s head between his large hands and his fingers slipped clumsily through his hair. M hummed deep in his throat as he bobbed his head. His eyes slid shut and he gripped the base of Connor’s cock, using his fingers as a placeholder as he mapped out Connor’s entire length with his hot mouth.

Connor panted hard. He kept a firm hold of M’s head, mostly because he was afraid he’d lose his mind to the intense pleasure at any second and start fucking the shit out of M’s face. M was going so fucking slow, but he acted like he knew what he was doing. He inched Connor down his throat like a pro. He took a little more into his mouth each time and then he pulled back to lick and polish the leaking nob.

It was like he was getting his bearings, warming himself up, because once he had 8 inches of cock flesh down his throat, minus an inch or two for his clenching fingers at the base, he swallowed around the obstruction like it was no big deal.

Connor’s head felt light as he cried out with pleasure. He was dizzy and off-kilter too. He groaned and shook as M sucked his cock even deeper into his mouth. The restraint of M’s hand fell away at last, and he reached down to rub his own needy erection – Connor could see it poking out of the boy’s jean shorts. His eye was drawn to M’s sexy, half-lidded gaze thought, and he watched as M milked his thick shaft with his lips and his tongue.

The explicit sucking sound mingled harmoniously with that of the waves breaking out on the shore. M sucked him with total abandon. His lips went all the way down now and he kissed Connor’s dark pubic hair with every downward bob of his head.

Connor was so close to cumming he couldn’t stand it anymore. M knew what he was doing, some-fucking-how, and he was going to take advantage of it.

The first time he thrust his dick into M’s hot mouth, the boy grunted a little, but then he moaned and fluttered his beautiful eyes up at Connor in encouragement. In fucking encouragement!!!

Connor waited until M drew back. The boy had been watching him and he fucking knew exactly what to do!

M puckered his lips around Connor’s leaking dick head, and sat back on his heels, stroking his dick leisurely between his thighs. Connor groaned. He was going to fucking explode, but first… he fucked his cock between M’s full, wet lips. He did it over and over, and oh god, the feeling was incredible… M’s slippery, pink tongue made for a delicious sensation. His firm lips caressed Connor and Connor, afraid he’d kill the boy in his enthusiasm, took great care in holding M’s head still while he drilled his cock deep into the boy’s mouth.

“Oh, my fucking… Shit!” Connor gasped and bit his tongue hard. He fucked M’s velvety mouth in quick short bursts. The boy swirled his tongue around the pulsing shaft and a bit of saliva trickled from the corner of his mouth. Connor groaned. He looked down into the boy’s brilliant green eyes and he came hard; he was pretty sure he screamed out loud, but he didn’t fucking care.

M pulled back as his mouth was filled with cum. He choked a little, but swallowed it down and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Then he beamed up at Connor.

Connor was on him in an instant. He crawled on top of the blond and laid him out flat in the tall grass.

“How did you know how to do all that?” he growled as he shoved his hand between their bodies. He grabbed M’s cock and smirked when the boy gasped in response.

“It–It’s a memory,” M said and he sucked in a deep breath. Connor quirked an eyebrow in confusion. He started to stroke M firmly.

“A memory?”

“The human… Michael, he’s knows how to do that,” M said and his eyes fluttered shut as he moaned. “Was it good?”

Connor chuckled. “Um, is Michael a fucking whore or something?”

“What’s a whore?”

Connor ignored him. He was pretty sure he’d answered his own question anyway. He felt pretty weird about doing it, and he kind of felt like someone was watching them, but he wasn’t sure he cared.

He leaned down slowly and ghosted his lips across M’s. The blond gasped; his breath came out hot against Connor’s lips and Connor couldn’t resist. He kissed M passionately. The boy opened his mouth without a moment’s hesitation and Connor tasted his salty come on the boy’s tongue. M whimpered and arched his hips. He fucked Connor’s hand and cried out sweetly.

There were no restrictions; it was a perfect kiss. Connor fell into the boy and they laid in the moonlit sand as they made love with their mouths.

Suddenly, there was a hiss and then a sharp pop. Then another and another. A loud barrage of crackles and bangs erupted in the distance and Connor raised his head.

“Look!”

M sat up a bit and he looked back towards the bonfire.

Red and green fireworks exploded across the night sky. More shot up. They looked like little glowing rockets. They zipped up to meet the receding red and green lights before they popped and brightened the sky with brilliant and shimmering blue and silver.

“Wow!” M cried.

“Oh, they don’t have fireworks where you come from?” Connor asked with a grin.

“I’ve never seen anything like that before!” M said excitedly. Connor squeezed his dick, hoping to catch the boy’s attention again, and M groaned and flopped bonlessly back down on the sand.

“I’ve never had my cock sucked like that before,” Connor said and he stared into M’s gorgeous green orbs until the blond’s face filled with color and he closed them. He marveled over the boy’s sensual beauty, but didn’t comment… he wondered what the alien really looked like.

He moved down M’s body. It didn’t matter what he looked like now. He was a beautiful blond boy, hard and aroused in the sand. Connor gathered the blond’s cock in his hand and held it firmly as he lowered his mouth.

“Oooh, Connor!” M moaned softly and he sat up and watched as Connor took his cock into his mouth. Connor wasn’t as skilled as Michael the prostitute, but Connor thought he did alright. M cried and whimpered into the night and Connor was glad the beach was empty and that the distant fireworks and the roaring waves would drown everything out because M was being loud.

The boy arched his back and tried his hardest to get every inch of his needy cock into Connor’s mouth. Connor easily controlled how much he took with his hand though and M wasn’t nearly as big as Connor was, thank god.

M’s breath hitched sharply. “I’m gonna explode!” he said. He sounded pained and his face was screwed up tight.

Connor worked M’s cock into the back of his throat and he did the trick with his tongue M had just taught him. He played with M’s hard little cock and sucked on it like he would a popsicle and after a few breathless gasps, M cried out shrilly as he came. He squirted his sweet juices onto the back of Connor’s tongue.

Connor shyly admitted to himself, as the flavor filled his mouth, that he preferred M’s cum over a popsicle any day. And so what if that made him gay… Connor didn’t fucking care anymore.

M laid back in the sand, his breathing ragged. Connor carefully tucked M’s spent penis back into his shorts and zipped him up. He did the same to himself and started to get up.

“C’mon,” he said, holding his hand out.

M groaned, but he took Connor’s hand and let himself be dragged to his feet. Connor put his arms around the boy and steadied him. M fluttered his pretty lashes and smiled coyly.

“I think we should drink more often.”

“Yeah?” Connor snorted. He reached up to tousle the blond’s hair, shaking sand from the silky locks.

“Yeah,” M said. “When I drink or smoke, Michael’s memories don’t overwhelm me. I didn’t have a seizure, right?”

“Um no.”

“I think it dulls Michael’s senses. He can’t react as strongly,” M said. “But I still see some things... “

“What did you see?”

M swallowed. “Michael shows me a lot of terrible things…” he said. “But this time, he showed me something else.”

“How he sucks dick?” Connor said.

“Yeah,” M said. “But he didn’t like the guy he was doing it too. He was just trying to make it end quicker. So, he did his best to make him cum.”

Connor stroked M’s smooth face. The boy’s eyes were shadowed.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he said suddenly, and he looked helplessly into Connor’s eyes.

“Let’s not,” Connor agreed, and he shivered a little. It got kind of cold at night in Tampa… when the sun went down for the day. He looked back towards the bonfire; the fireworks had ended sometime during M’s orgasm and the flames glowed dimly in the distance. “We should head back,” he said and M nodded.

They walked back to the party, close, but not quite touching. M was lost in thought and Connor was both curious and not, about what ran through the blond’s mind. He didn’t ask though. He’d heard enough for one day.

As they got closer to the bonfire, the dark figures of the partying teenagers stood out against the flames. One of the figures broke away from the group and rushed at them.

Connor tensed up, but as the figure got closer, he realized it was Nathan. Connor put a scowl on his face, so not in the mood for whatever his brother wanted.

“There you are!” Nathan said. “Jamie said you guys went on a walk. I didn’t think you’d be back in time,” he laughed, and Connor grit his teeth.

“So?”

“I wanted you to be here for this part!” Nathan grinned stupidly and Connor quirked an eyebrow at him. Nathan didn’t bother to explain though. “C’mon!” he said and then turned and rushed back to the party.

Connor shared a nervous look with M, but there wasn’t anywhere else they could go but back to the party.

Nathan yelled for attention as Connor and M approached the fire. Connor groaned. Fuck, what was this idiot up to?

“Everybody! Listen! I’ve got some news to share,” Nathan said in a loud, ringing voice. He had to do it twice though because everybody was drunk and involved in their own shit. Someone killed the music on the van though, and the high schoolers, there was maybe 20 of them total, turned to face Nathan and his super important newsflash.

“First of all, I just wanted to say I love all you guys and you’re like family to me.” People started chuckling and Nathan yelled for quiet. “Fuck guys, let a playa talk, would ya?” The laughter started again and Connor rolled his eyes. They were going to be here all fucking night at this rate! “Ok, so, you all know me and Jamie here have been an item since sophomore year.” He put his arm around the petite brunette and Connor caught the look of annoyance on her face. Suddenly he remembered the $400 ring Nathan, the douche, had bought earlier and he perked up with interest. Maybe this wouldn’t be some lame end-of-the-night speech after all.

“Well, now I’m ready to make it official.” Nathan said and he grandly pulled the little velvet box out of his back pocket and got down on one knee before Jamie. The crowd of people started hollering with excitement. Jamie’s group of friends were swooning all over themselves. Brandie, the blonde, had her hand over her heart.

Jamie stared down at Nathan. Her expression frozen between disbelief and surprise. “What are you doing?” she asked softly.

Nathan smiled up at her. His face, for once, looked genuine. “Jamie. Will you marry me for real?” He opened the box and Jamie gasped. She was speechless, but the kids around her all started whooping and cheering. Nathan took the ring out and slipped it on Jamie’s finger. It fit perfectly. The lady at the mall had known what she was on about, it seemed.

Jamie jumped into Nathan’s arm, laughing. “We’re pregnant!” she cried and the cheers grew louder.

Connor grinned over at M, surprisingly cheered by the show Nathan and Jamie were putting on. The boy didn’t smile back at him though. He wasn’t even looking at Connor. He was looking somewhere over his shoulder…

Out of nowhere, a booming sound came from the sky overhead. Everybody screamed in fear and Connor looked up.

He spotted a light in the sky. A little dot. Then a brilliant shaft of lightning erupted from it. The bolt streaked down and hit the van.

Sparks flew off the vehicle and little flaming bits of metal peppered the surrounding area. People close to the van scattered, shouting and panicked.

“Shit!” Connor cried. He and Nathan met each other’s eyes over M’s head. Jamie clutched Nathan’s arm, her eyes wide with fear.

The freak lightning attack was over though and when Connor tried to look for the spot of light in the sky, he couldn’t find it.

“He’s here,” M whispered beside him, and Connor shot a look at him.

“The agent?”

M nodded.

The party broke up after that. Everyone was spooked.

“Fucking weather, man,” Nathan said. “Shit’s crazy in Tampa.”

He and Connor stood around by the Toyota as they waited for M and Jamie to say goodbye to their friends.

“I hope god wasn’t trying to smite me or something,” Nathan said nervously, and he looked at Connor with intense eyes. “You don’t think that was god, do you?”

“No,” Connor said quickly. He spotted M and Jamie approaching and he relaxed a little. “We just need to get out of here.”

“I guess,” Nathan said, but when Jamie walked up the two of them quickly got in the back. M gave him a loaded look over the roof of the Toyota, but he got in without a word. Connor followed him and started the car.

Jamie gave directions back to the house. The road was dark and empty and Connor wondered where all the other high schoolers had gone, where everybody had gone. It was just past 11 and the highway was completely abandoned.

M was silent beside him. He stared out the window into the dark landscape. It was pitch black and strangely eerie out, and Connor felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He didn’t feel safe.

“That was a pretty lame way to end the party,” Nathan bitched from the back seat. He had his arm around Jamie, though, and he didn’t look that disappointed.

“That was scary. Tyler couldn’t even start his van,” Jamie disagreed.

“Whatever. He’ll be fine,” Nathan waved it off. “I’m wondering what we can do for the next couple hours though. We’re not supposed to be home until 1 am.

Connor rolled his eyes. “I’m taking us home. I’ve got work tomorrow and I’m fucking tired.”

“Tired?” Nathan scoffed. “C’mon! The party just started!”

“He’s right, Nathan,” Jamie said. “I’m tired too, and we’ve got school tomorrow.”

Nathan huffed. “Lame!”

He and Jamie continued to argue about school. M stared blankly out the window. Connor tightened his knuckles on the steering wheel and looked straight ahead. He didn’t care what anyone said, he wasn’t going anywhere but home.

Connor turned up the volume on the radio, hoping to drown out the sound of the teenagers bickering. A lone car passed on the opposite side of the road and Connor followed it in the rearview mirror. The highway was creepily empty, and he didn’t like the feel of it.

Metallica came on the radio and Connor tried to relax. Everything was fine. He was still buzzed, but the crazy alien lightning attack had kind of ruined it.

“Fuck first period,” Nathan snapped from the back seat. “I don’t care about Trig.”

“Well, you’d better. You need the credit if you want to graduate,” Jamie said. “You can’t sit in study hall all day.”

“Mr. Bartco gave me the dopest schedule. Every class gets a study hall. I have ‘ample’ time to complete my homework,” Nathan chuckled. “That guy’s such a dildo.”

Connor rolled his eyes. Even Metallica couldn’t trump Nathan’s obnoxious voice. He turned up the volume a little more.

“Dude, kill the Metallica,” Nathan complained.

“It’s better than listening to you,” Connor grumbled.

“What’d you say, bro?”

“I said, listening to Metallica is a hell of a lot better than listening to you,” Connor said much louder than before. He enunciated clearly, as well, for the retard’s benefit.

“Fuck you, Connor.”

“Fuck you too, Nathan,” Connor said cheerfully.

“Nathan–”

“Stuff it, Jamie!” Nathan yelled and he then he lunged up front, jabbing the power button on the radio. Connor grabbed his wrist and wrenched it back and Jamie started screaming.

“Stop it!”

“This bastard thinks he’s better than me!” Nathan roared. He struggled to free himself from Connor’s tight grip. “Get off me!” he yelled. “Don’t touch me, faggot!”

“You’re the faggot!” Connor shouted. “You’re such a fucking pussy, Nathan. Grow up already! Shut your fucking mouth!”

Nathan released himself at last and fell back into his seat. Connor turned the radio back on and cranked the volume all the way up, just to piss Nathan off.

“Shut it off!” Nathan yelled. Connor could see him in the mirror. He had his hands over his ears and Connor grinned, pleased with himself.

Little baby Nathan can’t stand the noise? Fucking little pussy… little bitch ass faggot!

Connor yelled wordlessly into the clashing noise of the metal. He fucking hated Metallica. It was overplayed to the extreme. But this song, tonight? He couldn’t have picked a better song to blast.

Sleep with one eye open!

Gripping your pillow tight!

Exit: light

Enter: night

Take my hand

We’re off to Never-Neverland!

Connor gripped the steering wheel in a white knuckled grip. He stared straight ahead at the road, angry and afraid.

“I hate you, Connor,” Nathan screamed from the back, and he folded his arms poutily over his chest.

Connor laughed at him. He didn’t fucking care… However, he thought to glance over at M, wondering how the blond was faring. He didn’t give a shit about Nathan, but he actually felt bad about breaking everybody’s ear drums.

M stared straight ahead at the road, too. His face was pale.

Connor turned back to the road just as Jamie cried out from the back seat.

“There’s somebody in the road!”

A dark figure stood just head. It straddled the yellow line and as the Toyota bore down on the person, the headlights washed over the face. A face with a set of black sunglasses and a fucking hat!

Static blasted through the speakers and Connor screamed and covered his ears. It was tearing up his brain! The sound shot pain through every single one of his nerve endings!

“Watch out!” Jamie screamed and Connor yelled helplessly. He looked up. They were going to hit the fucking agent! He grabbed the wheel and tried to steer out of the way, but the static crescendoed dramatically and he slumped forward, totally subdued by the sound.

The car swerved and everybody screamed over the sound of Enter Sandman.

***

Someone was shaking him. A muffled voice broke through the darkness…

“You could have killed us!”

That was Nathan, Connor though vaguely and he opened his eyes slowly to assess the damage.

Connor lay on the side of the road with M crouched beside him, rocking back and forth hypnotically.

“Connor,” M sighed with relief when he saw Connor’s eyes flutter open. He launched himself into Connor’s arms, burying his face against his firm chest. Connor felt little beads of moisture forming on the front of his t-shirt, oh god, M was crying.

Connor put an arm around M’s shoulders and patted him on the back soothingly. Still, he tried to distract himself from the sob fest and he looked over M’s bowed head, at Nathan who was pacing back and forth, muttering angrily to himself and at Jamie, who had a bit of blood leaking down the side of her face, but otherwise looked fine.

On the other side of the road, Connor saw the Toyota twisted in the guard rail. The front end was smashed and smoke billowed from under the hood. The driver’s side was wedged against the metal. Both doors on the passenger’s side were open and Connor could see glass littering the seats.

“What happened?” he asked quietly as he started to sit up. He winced and fell back against the pavement. His head hurt. Like, really bad.

“Don’t move,” M said as he sat back and looked at Connor. He reached up to touch Connor’s forehead, but then thought better of it. His eyes were filled with tears; they shimmered in the moonlight like the glass that had spilled out onto the road.

“Oh, he’s awake now?” Nathan snapped. He’d stopped pacing. “Good.” He stalked towards Connor and M, his fists clenched at his sides. “I’m gonna pound your ass, bro. You wrecked my car!”

“Nathan!” Jamie called after her boyfriend, but the angry teen shoved M out of the way and grabbed Connor by the front of his shirt. Connor fought weakly. Pain stabbed through his brain…

And then M threw himself against Nathan. The little blond tackled the teen to the ground and climbed on his chest. Nathan grabbed M around the throat, but M wasn’t having any of that. He fucking headbutted him!

“Stop!” M shouted and he and Nathan fought for control. “Stop it!” M managed to grab both of Nathan’s wrists and he threw all his weight into it, pinning the teen to the ground. Nathan flopped back against the asphalt, screaming with rage. He thrashed around underneath M, but somehow, he couldn’t seem to shake the little blond.

Red and blue lights flashed in the distance.

“That’s the cops!” Jamie cried and she got to her feet. She stumbled over to the boys, squatting beside Connor. She shivered and Connor got a closer look at the blood on her face.

“What happened?” he whispered.

Jamie glanced down at him with pity. “Someone was in the road,” she said. “You tried to avoid them, but…” Her face screwed up. “You fell over the wheel. You were screaming in pain.”

“That sound,” Connor hissed. “Didn’t you hear it?”

“Metallica?” She smiled wearily. “Yeah, I definitely heard that.”

“No… that horrible sound. The static,” Connor said. “It was coming through the speakers. It was like nails on a chalkboard times a hundred.”

Jamie shook her head. “I don’t know what you mean.” She turned back as the cop car, followed by two ambulances rolled to a stop a few paces away. “The guy in the middle of the road vanished though,” she said vaguely.

“Is it… always deserted like this out here?” Connor asked quickly. “Where was everybody on the road tonight?”

Jamie sighed. “I don’t know, but it was a probably a miracle. We ended up on the other side of the highway. Nathan and M helped get us out. I don’t remember hitting the guardrail.”

“Fucking get off me already,” Nathan bitched and Connor saw that M was being removed from the teen by a pair of medics. Two more were approaching him and Jamie.

Connor laid back and resigned himself to a night of medical treatment. The medic was saying something to him. The guy’s voice was calming, but a stab of fear lurched through his body.

Up in the sky there was a twinkling light. Just a pinprick dotting the heavens, blending inconspicuously with the star speckled visage.

He wondered if it was friend or foe watching them now. Or if it really mattered. Connor picked his head up. M and Nathan were being examined separately. The blond had a female in front of him. She shone a light into his eyes.

M didn’t seem to be affected by the shock of concentrated light. He stared past the medic and met Connor’s eyes.

Connor didn’t know what the look meant, but he decided that the alien didn’t know what he was talking about.

They obviously weren’t safe and the man in black clearly wasn’t afraid to fuck with them.

“Ooh, that looks like it’s going to require stitches,” the medic said. He touched Connor’s temple and Connor winced and yelped with pain. “Sorry buddy. There was a bit of glass in there.”

Connor glared at the medic but kept silent. He looked back at M and saw the boy was being led into one of the ambulances.

Connor wanted to save him. He wanted to intervene, to act, to do something, but there was nothing he could do. He had to let this happen.

He leaned back as the medic continued to prod at his stinging temple. The UFO had ducked behind a cloud or something. It was gone.