BRIGHT (Larry Stylinson AU)

Chapter 8

Louis~

I walked Eleanor all the way home, and I enjoyed every second of it, not. She lived on South Cedar, about ten blocks from the high school. Her father was a computer salesman, and she told me they moved around a lot.

"Too much," said Eleanor with a wistful look that got to me. One of the really nice things about her- she was practically unconcious about how pretty she was. I completely understood her feelings about moving.

Louis is gorgeous! I wonder if he would maybe ask me out? She thought as we stopped in front of her house. What the hell? I'm not straight, what was she thinking. I can't ask her out thinking she's just an old 'friend' of mine. It disgusted me but I didn't show it, maybe I should just respect her because hell! I don't even know. I think she casts some spell out of me and made me think I like her.

It's okay, Louis. Go for it, I heard Eleanor thinking. Wishing.... encouraging.

I smiled, and felt a little light-headed, actually. News flash: I had never had a date with a human girl, you know why. So I'd never actually asked a girl out before, just boys... but Eleanor seemed so regular and nice, plus I'd just read her mind and she was interested in me. Still, I was afraid.

"Why don't we go to a movie, or maybe explore Glendale sometime?" I finally blurted out. Our hands grazed as I gave her bag.

"Okay," Eleanor said. "The movies, whatever. That'd be great. Good. You know what I mean."

She started up the stairs at her house, then stopped and turned back. Her eyes settled on me.

"Were you really looking for the library?" She asked.

I forced a smile and said, "Nope, I was looking for you."

"Good answer," she said, then disappeared inside.
And no, I didn't create Eleanor Calder, in case you're one of those people who like to look ahead in a story.

~

I came through the front door of my rental house, checked everywhere for trouble, then collapsed on the couch. I knew high school was going to ba a change of pace, maybe challenging, maybe anxiety, but I wasn't expecting boring- everything except Eleanor, anyway.

After a while, I managed to peel myseld up to start dinner. I didn't want to go too crazy, so I settled on a rosemary-crusted rack of lamb with truffle -spiked potato puree. As I cooked, I listened to a music, a band named Fall Out Boys. These guys are not of this world, and I wondered if they maybe another alien.

I've had the same thoughts about Secondhand Serenade, Paramore , and of course, The Vamps, though I barely know them.

After dinner I put on a fire and lay in front of it reading Blood of Olympus, heck! I had read it billion'th times. Ten minutes later, I put the book down, unable to concentrate the way I usually can.

I thought about Eleanor.
I thought about Harry, my dream boyfriend.

Should I feel guilty? I didn't think so. I hadn't even kissed Eleanor, or even had sex, it kinda disgust me when I think of it.

I finally got up and made myself a pot of coffee. Then I cracked my knuckles and opened my laptop. The same one I'd found near the house where my parents were killed. Nothing better to get your mind off Harry than thinking about aliens. I'm so confused.

I brought up Ergent Ed's file and read it over again.

Alien: Ergent Ed, Number 5
Human Alias (es): ? Changes names on an as-needed basis often hourly.
Area of Infestation: LA and Orange County, California. Central City, East LA. Arizona. Nevada. Mexico. South and Central America. And still branching out.
Illegal Activities: Drug dealing, mass murder, abduction, torture, mind control and possession. Did we mention MASS MURDER?
Planet of Origin: Gorto 02
Alien Species: Vermgypian Sheeranitous (see footnote).
Current Danger Level: Extremely high. Ed's goal is to depopulate Earth, then colonize it with his species. This violates every moral and ethical code extant .
Special Abilities: Telepathy, extraterrestrial Level 10 speed, Level 8 strength, shape-shifting, cunning, general viciousness.

The Level 10 strength concerned me. I was maybe a 5 on my best day. The slug in Portland has been a 7. I read the footnote next. Vermgypian Sheeranitous were beyond strange. No one knew what they looked like beneath their demonic-appearing, armored, containment suits. They were best known for the lethal nerve gas they emitted. If you were exposed, your cells started to melt. Then you rotted from the inside out. It was an extremely painful way to die.
Extremely.