SERENA

PART II: Chapter 8 - Just a Guy

It's been two Earth weeks since Serena last checked her crash site to see if there was any sign of Nolyn, and she decided that she needs to find a way to get to Elementia. She has no idea how, though, because she doesn't know anything about how to fix spaceships, and the people from this planet probably don't even have the same type of technology her spaceship uses. Not to mention that she can't just go around telling people that she came from another planet and needs to find a way to get there.

Alison has heard her concerns and says she wants to help, but she also doesn't know how, especially because even if she knew what to do, she couldn't truly fix the spaceship by herself.

"Maybe I could tell David," she suggests.

Serena frowns. "Who's David?"

"Just a guy from my class," Alison says, but she's smiling.

"Just a guy from your class? Do all guys from your class make you smile like that when you talk about them?"

"I wasn't–" She doesn't even finish the sentence, because she must realize it was an obvious lie. "Okay, fine. He's cute."

"You want to tell David I came from another planet and need help fixing my spaceship just because he's cute?" Serena asks. "I'm not sure that's a good idea."

Alison leans forward. "Not just because he's cute. He's nice. And pretty smart. Maybe together we could figure out how to fix it," she says. "We've done a couple group projects together and he knows his stuff."

"He knows Earth technology."

"He's a fast learner."

"And is he trustworthy?"

Alison sighs. "Yeah, that's the part I'm not sure about. I don't know him that well yet. But I really don't know how to figure it out by myself."

"And you don't have to. This isn't your mess to fix Alison," Serena replies. "I'm so thankful for everything you've already done for me, but you don't need to keep helping me. You have your own life to take care of."

She shrugs. "I don't really have much of a life, actually. Meeting you was definitely the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me. And getting to learn how a spaceship from another planet works? That sounds incredible! I'm doing this for myself as well."

Serena smiles. "Okay, that's better, I guess. And you really think this David guy could help you figure it out?"

"I really do."

Next Tuesday, which is when Alison has one of the classes with David, she waits for him to get to the room and then follows to sit next to him.

He looks up from his backpack, where he was taking his notebook and pen from, to Alison. "Oh, hey there."

She smiles. "Hi."

That's the only thing she says, but she keeps looking at him, trying to figure out how to tell him everything else. It's not an easy thing to just spring on someone. Hey, I met an alien, and she needs help fixing her spaceship. Wanna join me?

David chuckles. "You're staring."

"Sorry. I just... There's something I wanna talk to you about."

He sits up straighter. "Okay. Spill."

"Not here. Too many people around."

"Intriguing."

She leans closer to him to whisper, "you have no idea." Then, she gets up and walks toward Diana, the girl she usually sits next to during this class. Hopefully this will leave David wondering what she wants to tell him.