Teenage Alien Nation

Chapter 10

[YOUR EYES ARE NOT FOOLING YOU. THIS IS REALLY CHAPTER 10]

The Cheat Sheets

"Who's in there?!"

The lights in the hallway suddenly turned on.

I froze for a second. This isn't happening. It's not real. This is just like the first time I was here. Imagination. No. Stop. No!

"I said who's in there?"

No shit Sherlock.

My entire body was shaking, and I felt like throwing up. This can't be the end. I looked at Kim and Bas up on the rooftop entry extending their arms to reach down and get me. I don't know why I can't seem to move. I looked at Copter hiding behind a desk in the other room looking so frightened.

"Give me your hand, Tee! God damn it." Kim whispered.

"I'm alright, Kim. Just please go."

"What? Are you insane?" he asked while still reaching for my hand.

"I said go."

For a moment, he was shocked before realizing what I was about to do.

"What about Tammy?" he asked again.

I scoffed. "What about her?"

Bas looked really scared, and Tae, his stares are piercing through me. I don't know why, but he looked angry. Angry at me. I could tell he was gritting his teeth.

It's a little dark inside this room, and all I could see was the faint moonlight passing through the rooftop entry and the flashlight beams on the floor moving aimlessly. They're getting close.

Everybody is afraid. I am, too.

We did something stupid, and probably one of us has to pay for our actions. Screw this! Kim deserves to get into KU. Bas needs to prove to his parents that he can meet their expectations. Tae, he can't get in trouble. He won't be able to handle it. And Copter being the building owner's son, it's out of the question.

I, on the other hand, am no one. I don't really have to go after Tammy. Not anymore. I've known that for a long time now, but it's just tonight that I realized it. I can handle this. I am really sorry Ma.

I jumped down the table, looked around the conference room and found something that I could use as an alibi. On the desk next to the door, there's a laptop. I grabbed it briskly and looked up at Kim for the last time and said, "I got this."

Then, I walked slowly towards whoever is flashing their lights on me.

I made sure that they saw and would treat me as an intruder breaking in to steal anything of value.

"Stay right where you are. Slowly, put down the laptop!"

The security personnel yelled at me while drawing his gun from his side. I did what he asked me to then I remained standing immobile just waiting for him to cuff me. He walked around and grabbed both my hands.

The clattering of the handcuff echoed inside my head.

So this is how it feels to have metal against your skin.

The image of Ma hurt and crying feeling so broken after she finds out what I did, not what I really did, makes me want to drop to my knees. She deserves better.

The perp walk. Well, almost.

It's too early in the morning, still dark. Siren sounds filled the air. I took one last look at Copter still coiled up breathing heavily behind the desk before I got dragged by the security. I think I saw Copter shaking his head as if telling me 'don't do this'.