|Zahaire|
After meeting with Braylon at the library, he says to go ahead and wait for him. He seemed preoccupied and in a hurry. I meet up with Aduree in the computer lab. She is with some guy who looks like a complete himbo.
I pull her aside and into the hallway outside the lab.
"Audree...what is he doing at our secret and discreet alien meeting!" I shout in a low whisper with emphasis on the secret and discreet part.
"Oh relax we were just chatting. I was going to send him away."
She shrugs me off and returns to the lab. I let out a deep sigh and follow her.
Audree signs to the man and he signs back with a coy smile across his face. His eyes lock on her, soft and caring.
Wow never thought I'd see Audree's ASL classes come in handy. And poor guy...he looks head over heels for her. Hope she isn't on her "hot girl summer" tip with this one.
I walk up to them and Audree introduces me.
"So this is my friend Zahaire. And Zahaire, this is Sean!" She lays a hand on his muscular arm.
"Hey--I mean...sorry-" I wave at him instead of speaking.
Sean looks amused and laughs. He begins to sign at Audree.
"He says: its okay he can read lips...but he's not an expert so go slow with him."
He then winks at me. I chuckle and let out a sigh.
"Thanks for the date Sean and this hook up! You're the best." She signs and speaks simultaneously.
They both hug and he walks over to me. I extend my hand out for a hand shake. But he grabs it and pulls me in for a bro hug, then walks off.
"Wow he's so soft yet so...sculpted."
Audree looks at me with an eyebrow raised.
"You catching feelings?"
"WHAT? NO! I can't just appreciate his admirable physique?" I asked.
Audree bursts out laughing. I begin to feel embarrassed.
"I'm just pulling your leg, chill." She rests a hand on my shoulder. "Real talk though, have you ever found yourself attracted to a guy?"
"Ummm...no. I mean. I've thought about what it would be like. It's just not for me...what about you?"
"Me? Oh yeah I LOVE men. You couldn't tell?" She smirks at me.
I scoff and lightly push her.
"You know what I mean."
"Well yeah. I think some women are sexy as hell, but I've never done anything...I don't know. I guess it has to be the right time-right moment kind of thing."
"We should probably go outside just in case Braylon comes..."
Audree nods her head and we both walk outside the computer lab.
Right as we do, Braylon is walking towards us.
I raise my eyebrow confused, and I look at Audree who is doing the same thing.
"Why are you dressed like that?" I asked referring to Braylon's oversized hoodie and sunglasses.
He has his hood on and head is hanging low.
"I read online that you guys wear baggy clothes to seem less...suspicious?" Braylon looks confused. "Pretty absurd if you ask me!"
I glance around us and tilt my head to the side.
"Let's go,"
Audree hands him his ID.
We walk inside the computer lab and get three computer spaces to sit in.
I login on my account for Braylon and then Audree logs into her friends account for me.
She then sits down and logs in on her computer.
I click open a new tab and go to Nike.com.
Audree is on Coolmathgames and Braylon's screen is loading into something.
Once I glance back to his screen I see him scrolling down.
UFO SPOTTED
SUDDEN INCREASE OF DEATH-
Victims show trend of sawed off crown with their brains missing.
Braylon scrolls deeper into the website and an image of one of the victims pops up.
I immediately look away as memories of that night resurface. That lifeless body...a body that was stolen and hosted by an alien for who knows what?
"Dude, you're gonna get yourself kicked out looking at images like that here. How did you even get here? This site looks wayyy sketchy."
"This is the work of the Vasari...my people."
"What? How many of you are out here!?" Audree chimes in.
"I cannot say for certain...but I think there is at least a fleet."
"A fleet!? How big is that?" Audree shouts, disrupting the whole room.
Now all eyes are on us.
"Sorry. Me and my friends were rehearsing our lines...we'll go now." I let out a nervous chuckle as one of the staff scowls at me.
We all walk out to a back alley between buildings.
"Ever since you came here you seem like you've been on some secret agenda. First you meet us at the party and know exactly how to dispose of the body, then you need a fake ID to access the computer lab--oh and let's not forget that you were super fidgety before you came here. And now THIS!" I say.
"I know how this has all been an inconvenience bu-"
"Inconvenience!? I've been having nightmares about that night non stop. This isn't some shit that you write off as an inconvenience." My voice cracks as I start to get emotional.
Audree grabs my hand and comforts me.
"Zahaire...how come you didn't tell me?" Audree looks up to make eye contact.
"Because you were so fine afterwards...I thought...maybe I was just overthinking it."
Audree looks at Braylon with unusual seriousness.
"Okay Braylon. It's time we got answers."
———
YOU ARE READING
The Secrets Among Us
Science Fiction"W-what is it?" I ask, too afraid to look at the body again. "Look!" He wretches. "I was hoping you'd tell me..." I whimper and slowly turn towards the body. The muscles all over the body are all contracting and twitching. -- The art for the cover i...
