Out of Orbit

“It’s ok, you don’t have to love me.” Celeste said happily. She always says it in a cutesy and cheery voice. “You can hate me if you want!”

I can’t blatantly say I do! Even if I do say it, that doesn’t mean I actually hate her. She doesn’t understand the entire Earth language and its chivalry, so I can’t blame her for not knowing. She barely knows Earth, she is literally out of this world from a different planet. “I don’t hate you. Sometimes you can…” What’s the word? “…be a bit… annoying.” That’s not right. “No. Well…” I ended with a disgruntled sigh, but I heard a hmm.

Her head tilted a little with a concerning frown. She thought for a good second. “Can I stop being annoying?”

What am I supposed to say? How do you tell an alien to stop being an alien? “We just need to make sure you act more human-like. Act like me.”

Celeste brightened, her eyes shifting a different color. She closed her eyes and her entire appearance shifted. Her hair grew shorter into my messy brown hair as her face turned into my chiseled look. She opened her eyes… green emerald eyes like me. She gave a pout and dumbly said, “I am John! I am a human!” Her voice even matched mine. She looked at me with hope.

“No.” My voice trailed into a sigh.

Celeste was laughing at my attempt to help. Then I heard the three knocks.

“Johnny?” The feminine voice muffled at the front door. “Are you home?” Three knocks echoed on the door, gentle yet terrifying.

Celeste looked out the bedroom door. “Coming!” She got up to leave. I lunged at her and made her fall.

“Be! Be there in a bit! Just let me… I’ll be there in a sec– minute! A minute!” I yelled back, holding my hands over Celeste’s mouth. I hunched over to whisper closely to Celeste’s ear. My ear? She still had my look on, this was already awkward enough. “Look, I’ll be back in just a minute. Stay here while I talk to my girlfriend. Got it?”

Celeste gave me a “Mhm” under my hands. I got off and let go of her mouth. “But why can’t I meet her?”

“You… ehh.” I started but I heard the three knocks again. “You two won’t get along! I already know.” I lied. I didn't want Julia to be forced into this mess like I am.

Her face disguised as mine frown in a guilty disappointment. This was a new emotion I’ve seen from her. “Really?”

“I’ll be back in a minute. Just wait here.”

I left the room, the alien stayed. At least she knew how to stay, unlike at the bar. I closed the door, one last look at the girl. She still had my appearance yet looked at me with deep blue eyes. I must’ve really hurt her feelings.

I closed the bedroom door and went to the front door. I opened to see my girlfriend, Julia. Her blonde hair draped elegantly, the breeze picking it up gently. Her outfit was fit for the cool autumn weather; a light scarf and a bag in her hand. “You took a while.” She started. “And sounded… panicked.”

“Panicked?” I tried to act cool. I leaned on my doorframe, my arm being held above my head. I felt a bit odd, but felt much cooler doing so. Julia’s concerned expression said otherwise. “Well, I was just doing something. Busy morning.” I played it off with a small chuckle at the end.

Julia’s face of concern blanked into an are-you-sure-? look… almost angry. “What were you doing?”

Of course, she'd ask. “Work. You know the boss likes to videocall me. Especially on the weekends.” I knew I told her that before. She would believe me after that.

Julia’s face turned into a surprised look. “It’s Tuesday.”

Oh.

I blanked. It’s Tuesday? I’ve been so caught up with Celeste since she arrived her. That was only Friday! “He still randomly called me today. I can’t just leave him hanging.” I chuckled again. Julia seemed convinced, at least to get off my trail of lies. “What brings you here today? You usually call to meet up somewhere.”

Julia shook the thought off and brightened. “I thought I’d stop by and give you some cookies I baked! The bakery had extra, plus I’m headed to my friend’s house anyways. I have some time to spare. Can I come in?”

“Not right now, still pretty busy.”

“The boss is still in on a call?”

“You know, that man just can’t shut up sometimes!” As I laughed, I heard a loud THUD followed with the sound of glass shattering. Goddamn Celeste. I can’t leave her alone for even a little bit. I looked back to Julia.

She obviously heard. And she was obviously upset. “What was that?”

“A cat!” I quickly added. Julia’s eyes widened in surprise. “Decided to get one for my mom! She loves cats, you know?”

Julia’s face scrunched into a confused look. “I thought your family was allergic.”

“Minor, but she still loves cats.”

“John!” I heard my name being muffled from the other room. My cover is being blown. I need to just shut the door.

“Who was that?” Julia’s voice turned urgent. She looked at me, her eyes beaming with anger. “What is going on?”

“Probably the boss’s wife. Look I really need to go, I’m sorry to bail this time. Call me tomorrow, I’m all for a lunch.” I quickly got off the frame and went to close the door. “Bye! Love you!”

Julia tried to talk more but the door closed and cut her off. I heard a “Love you too!” muffle from the door. Oh god, she’s going to ask tomorrow. I can’t risk Celeste’s identity being revealed though. Not until I can let her leave. Maybe it’ll be better if I shut myself off and help repair the ship in the meantime.

“John?” I jumped at the sudden boom of my name. Celeste was right behind me. She had brown long hair with green eyes. She must’ve looked at the picture of me and my sister again.

“What did you do? You couldn’t wait just a minute?” Of course, I was angry. She looked down to avoid looking at me directly in the eyes. I sighed and looked down as well, there as an abnormal color on her skin. A cut on her arm was bleeding a blue color. like oozing beads in plasma. The skin around the cut wasn’t the pale skin I told her to use as a disguise. It was blue with a speckled pattern around it. “Celeste? What happened?” I held her arm and she winced in pain.

Celeste looked guilty at the cut. “I wanted to see a picture on your dresser, but the drawer broke underneath and I fell.” Of course, she loves the photos I have lying around. It’s freaky seeing her morph into people I know, even me! My sister isn’t even alive, yet Celeste morphs into her and freaks me out. “I just need some Lurela. Do you have any?”

“Lurela? What’s that?”

“I don’t know the terminology here. Lurela is a… healing agent… we use.”

“A healing agent? We have some sprays and band aids. We can use those.”

“You will not.” I heard an angry feminine voice come from the right. I looked up to see Julia’s angry expression mixed with tears streaming down her face. “Who is she?”

Oh god. “No! Please, Julia. It’s a crazy and long story. I just…” I let go of Celeste’s hand. “It isn’t what it looks like.”

Julia’s eyes were filled with tears, her face turned into a sobbing mess. “You told me you wouldn’t do this again.”

“I’m not! I swear! It’s complicated, truly!” I started walking to Julia, but she dropped the cookies down. She stomped off my steps. “Wait. Wait! Julia!” I rushed out, but she wasn’t stopping. “Julia. If you just come in, I can tell you. Besides, that’s just my sister!”

Julia snapped around. “You told me your sister died in a car accident.” She looked at me, angry as ever. I’ve never seen her like this. Not like the first time, at least. “Were you lying?”

I was speechless. I couldn’t make up a death like that. And Julia, out of all people I know, she knows me better than I do. “Just, let me explain.” I tried to reason. Julia wasn’t having it, she shook her head and walked away. “Julia, please!” I took her hand, but she forced it away.

“Julia!” I heard Celeste’s voice call out. Celeste’s voice was gentle, almost charming to hear. She came to my side and yelled louder. “Julia!” Julia turned back, disgusted by the new girl.

“You love her. Huh?” I can tell, Julia had to fight tears to break that sentence out.

Celeste looked at me with a concerned expression. “It’s ok, you don’t have to love me.” Oh my god. I looked back to see Julia frustrated with the situation. Her sorrow lashed into anger. Celeste looked to Julia, “You don’t have to love me either!” I could tell Celeste was smiling. Julia did not take like to this.

Julia looked at me with an open mouth. “You are disgusting, Johnny.” She turned and started walking away.

I stayed back, knowing I lost her at this point. The first time, she gave me a warning. This is not a warning anymore. This is it.

Celeste walked up and grabbed her hand with the injured one. “Please, give us a chance.” Julia stopped in her tracks. She froze for a second, almost like she became stone. Then she collapsed. Like she folded on her knees and fell on her face. Celeste didn’t stop holding her hand. She, instead, looked back at me with a smile. “I got her!”

The injury on her arm, was gone. It was like my pale complexion. Was Julia dead? What happened? I looked at the limp body on the ground and Celeste’s happy smile. I couldn’t wrap my head around this. I looked around at the other houses. Anybody could be watching. Anybody could've seen it.

I hurried to Julia and picked her up like I would to bed. She felt cold, freezing even, but I could feel her heart pound quickly. “Open the door.” I hurried as much as I could, just to get out of anyone's sight.

Celeste went to the door and opened, obedient as she is. “Is she okay?”

“You did this! How are you not sure?”

“I’ve never seen a Jucon collapse like that though. I only borrowed her Lurela.”

“Celeste!” I enter the house and placed Julia’s body on the couch. “We are human! You can’t do that to humans!”

“But-”

“Let’s just help Julia. That’s all that matters.” I sat on the floor since Julia took up the entire couch. I couldn’t leave her in this mess, I didn’t want her to enter it in the first place. “I’m here for you Julia. I’m right here.” I held her hand, feeling a sense of warmth with hers. At least I can feel her warming up.

At least.

Start time: 8:14 PM on 4/7/19

End time: 10:00 PM on 4/7/19