Among the Stars (BoyxBoyxBoy)

Chapter 02

Kicking a pebble, I walked home to my small apartment that held nothing in it except for a bed.

I wasn't stupid. I knew things were heating up with the whole alien takeover type thing, but this whole ordeal wasn't official. There was always a chance that nothing would happen and I didn't think it was a good idea to get all paranoid over something that hasn't even happened. 

That just wasn't the right way to live. 

I know, I know. I shouldn't be talking like that seeing as how I hate my job and my life, but I'm building up. This isn't forever. There are a lot of opportunities waiting for me and once I get the chance, I'll take it. An opportunity just hasn't presented it quite, yet.

I felt a single drop on my head and groaned aloud.

"Are you kidding me?" I wrapped my thinly covered arms against myself and prepared for the onslaught that would occur in 3...

2...

I felt the full force of the thick drops and my shirt quickly stuck to my skin. One of the parts of being a bartender is having a less than casual attire, if you catch my drift. 

Here, I'll just say it. Small silky long-sleeved shirt, and tight black jeans. And believe it or not, it works. You dress a little skimpy or in clothes that cling to every curve and all of a sudden you have twice as many tips. 

I started a running-jog to my apartment building and ran into the dimly lit building. The brick of the foundation was deteriorating and there was a security code to get in the building, but that was broken before I ever moved in.  I think the second we got to further explore space and outside life, we kind of forgot our own planet. Nightlife was booming in the eastern part of the city and different species were already smoothly transitioning to becoming full-fledged citizens. For all our faults as a planet, we accepted other life forms rather quickly once we realized their intelligence. 

The low hanging light from the ceiling swayed slightly as the tall door slammed shut upon me entering. The complex had seven floors, with me being on the fifth. That meant after a long night of work and finally switching bartenders at 2 in the morning, I get the chance to get in a little exercise that I can't fit into my schedule. 

By the time I make it up the winding creaky staircase, I'm out of breath and practically grappling for the railing in fear of falling over. 

I reach into my pockets that only have enough room for my keys and jiggle it into the hole. I slammed my shoulder into the door twice before it rushed open and caused me to lose my footing a bit. 

The apartment consisted of a small kitchenette and a living space that contained a bed. That's it. 

I didn't have food in the fridge; I preferred the Disco Cafe down the street. A species of Galteurs owned the place and used these fairy bobbing lights that floated around the room to light the space. (Hence the "disco" part of "Disco Cafe")

It was way more enjoyable than having to cook my own meal, but tonight I was just too tired to even think about food; the thoughts of the possible invasion weighing on me now that I was home. 

I moved to my bed in the center of the floor. When I tell people that all I have in my apartment is a bed, they picture a thin, stained mattress that had seen better days, but no. If I'm going to have one item, I'm going to make it count. 

The bed was made up of soft, furry material, and a shit ton of pillows. The bed frame was 3 inches off the ground and was pushed against the wall adjacent to the door. 

I started unbuttoning my shirt and pulled down my pants, not pausing a second. I felt a soft swish against my leg, my biggest shame. 

A long, floor-length tail.

I might have forgotten to mention my alien ancestry. My father came to Earth on a trade route and met my human mother. Per Qtr traditions, I was left to fend for myself at 15, at the height of my puberty. 

It's not like I was bitter about the experience. I was expecting it since I was young. The entire point of parenting is to see your child to their fullest potential and raise them to adults. 

It's just younger than eighteen for Qtr. 

What also comes with being Qtr is the tail. I hated it. It showed all the emotions that I couldn't hide. I had absolutely no control over it.

I rolled back the blankets, now fully naked as the day I was born, and groaned at the silkiness of the sheet contrasting with the softness of the heavy blanket. On the Qtra planet, the entire ground is full of lush, long, lilac-colored grass that is later made into all sorts of furniture. Couches, chairs, beds, and whatever other furniture that requires material. It's one of my biggest dreams to be able to own something with the grass, since I've only heard about it from my dad, and the Qtrs treasure it on their planet.

Maybe if I had lived there, I would have liked my tail. 

Nah. 

I snuggled deeper into the blankets and left out a breath of comfort, wishing I could do this everyday.