Page 30 of Her Alien Neighbor

“New movie?” I ask, not knowing what he’s talking about.

“Oh, that’s right,” he says, slapping the bar top. “You’re more of a hybrid-car-loving girl for commercials, aren’t you?”

I turn around and take a sip of my drink, hiding my reaction from Trevor. My eyes are hot with unshed tears, and it’s a struggle to get the straw into my mouth with the way my hands are still shaking.

“I think it is time for you to leave,” Axil says to Trevor, his voice low with a frightening edge to it.

Shifting in my seat, I turn to find Axil stepping into Trevor’s personal space. Trevor straightens his spine and puffs his chest out, though being several inches shorter than Axil, his attempt to look tough is rather comical.

“Is that right?” Trevor asks, shoving his hands into his jean pockets. “Why the fuck is this any of your business, bro? These two,” he says, pointing to me and Sam, “are old friends of mine.”

Friends. I’d laugh if I weren’t struggling to breathe.

Axil’s eyes bore into mine. He doesn’t look away as he says, “They do not seem happy to see you. That tells me it is time for you to go.”

Trevor doesn’t say anything; he just stares at Axil. Axil returns the glare, and the two of them continue their staring contest for I don’t even know how long. Then Trevor’s hand goes to his jacket, my eyes following the subtle movement. He pulls back one side, revealing the grip of a handgun shoved into the waistband of his jeans.

Axil’s eyes drop to the gun, but other than that, he remains perfectly still, his muscles bunched. Then he laughs. “You plan to use that tonight?”

“I will if I need to,” Trevor replies, leaning closer to Axil.

Men are so dumb when they behave like this. If I were an outsider, I would think Trevor was about to kiss Axil, but no, he’s threatening his life because Axil asked him to simply walk away.

Trevor tilts his head, his beady eyes narrowing. “Guess the rest is up to you, friend.”

Axil smirks. “You think that can hurt me?”

Sam and I exchange a puzzled glance. Bravado can only take a man so far. Is Axil actually implying that he’s bulletproof? That seems foolish.

Zev notices our reaction and steps to Axil’s side. “Let us rethink this, yeah?”

Trevor sends Axil a mocking smile. “Yeah, maybe listen to your boy.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Izzy shouts, coming around the bar then pushing through all three guys until standing in the middle of the group. “Take your penis-measuring contest somewhere else, ’K? There’s no fighting in my bar.”

Trevor quickly pulls his shirt over the gun, hiding it as he throws his hands up, trying to look like the victim. “Of course, Izzy. I would never.”

Izzy gives each of them a stern look before grunting annoyance and going back behind the bar.

“Should I make the owner of this establishment aware of your little toy?” Axil says to Trevor.

Trevor scoffs. “As if Izzy would actually believe you.”

Suddenly, I can’t feel my fingers, as numbness spreads through my hands and wrists. I try flexing them, but there’s nothing. My breath comes out in short pants as a wave of dizziness washes over me. I feel like I’m falling, or about to fall off this stool.

“Vanessa, what’s wrong?” Sam asks, concerned, as she grabs my shoulders.

“I,” I can’t get the words out. I want to tell her I think I’m having a heart attack, but I can’t get them out. “I––I, um,” I stammer, sweat soaking my hairline.

Then I’m no longer in the bar mere inches from the man who changed my life forever in a single night. I’m there. In the past, sitting in Officer Burton’s office, in one of his cheap, plastic chairs as he sits on the edge of his desk, looking at me in my torn prom dress as if I’m a bug he’s about to squish beneath his shoe.

“I understand, you know,” he says, his tone softer than I expected. “You’re kids. You’re at a party with no adults, and the booze is flowing. Things can get out of hand quickly. And, hey,” he says, putting a hand on my shoulder. I wince at the contact, being touched by him of all people is the last thing I want right now. “I’ve been there.”

He stands and strolls slowly around his desk, his head tilted back. “I know you’re a good kid, Vanessa. Your parents seem like nice folks. Maybe, now that you’ve sobered up a bit, you regret the choices you made with my nephew tonight.”

“No,” I quickly reply. “I didn’t even have that much to drink. I remember everything, and what happened.” A sob wrenches from my throat as I relive it. “I didn’t want it to happen. He didn’t listen. I said no and he didn’t listen.”

“Now, now,” Officer Burton says, putting a hand up as if that will calm me. “There’s no need to get so upset.” He hands me a tissue, but it’s clear by the look on his face that he thinks I’m overreacting. Or lying.

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