Alpha Centauri

Two - Julian

The odd and beautiful stranger sits down across from me. She doesn't say a word. She just stares at me while I chew my apple. Jaden finally looks up.

"Can we help you?" she says with an atrocious lack of politeness.

I scowl at her, urging her not to be rude, because it's not every day a hot girl just decides to sit down at my table.

The girl opens her mouth to say something, but she's interrupted by Brandon Michel, the quarterback of the football team and world-class douchebag.

"Hey, babe," he hollers, slamming his oversized hands on the table. The force makes Jaden's milk to slosh out of her hand and into her lap. She drops the carton on her tray and glares at him.

Brandon doesn't even notice my fuming sister. "These punks bothering you?"

The girl screws up her pretty face, like she doesn't understand the primitive language of high school jocks.

"No, these "punks" are not, but your egregious lack of respect for your peers and vain flirting attempts are indeed bothering me."

We all stare at this girl, because something that sophisticated and formal should not have come out of a teenage girl's mouth.

Jaden is about to kick him in the balls, but I say, "You heard the woman. Beat it," after a moment of being dumfounded.

Brandon is reluctant to end his flirting session, but he motions for his buddies to leave.

"Teenage imbeciles," she mutters. "Thank you."

"Uh, no problem," I say, feeling nervous and weirded out at the same time. "My name's Julian and this is my sister Jaden, by the way."

"I know," the girl says with a strange smile. "I might hope you aren't attempting to flirt with me as well."

"Pfft. Brandon is just an egotistical jock who has no control over his penis. A guy like that is not worth your time. Don't confuse me with him."

Jaden snickers into her chicken sandwich.

She makes a face like ew and says, "Do not worry about me. I am certainly not here for anything involving that."

I chuckle and try to conceal my embarrassment.

"Wait a second," Jaden, who has probably been waiting to point out something off about her the whole time, says. "How did you already know our names?"

"I was waiting for you to ask," she smiles.