Page 19 of I Think I’m in Love with an Alien

Yes, this suffices as evidence that there are aliens among you.

“We’ll take questions now. Raise your hand if you wish to speak.” The expert who smells sickly-sweet recognizes a woman with spirals of brightly colored head fur.

“How did you attain this recording?” she asks.

“And how do we know it’s not fake?” someone shouts.

I’ve noticed that humans skew toward thinking everything is fake, probably because they swindle each other with shocking regularity. Like other beings I’ve known, humans are impulsive and difficult to govern. I collect that’s why their society has so many laws.

The anxious one replies, “We received the recording via an anonymous email.”

The other continues, “NASA has created sound files by changing digital data recorded by telescopes in space, allowing us to know how a star or a black hole sounds. While we can’t guarantee that’s the case, we suspect this must be something similar.”

A man in a cap waves a limb urgently and is recognized. “Respectfully, there’s no way. There’s an organized pattern in that file. It’s timed and it repeats. I’d be very surprised if it wasn’t intentional. Stars don’t sound like that at all.”

Clever human. He’s correct.

I wonder what they’d do if I gave them all the information they claim to desire. Chances are, they wouldn’t even believe me. I listen as people expound on theories and argue why those ideas are impossible. The experts provide context for their receipt of the audio file, but I’m more interested in who recorded it, and the how and why as well. It’s an interesting discussion in parts, but since I already know the answer to the central question they’re debating, it’s difficult for me to sustain any lasting sense of intrigue.

I find myself watching Jen instead, tracking minute shifts in her expression. The way she leans forward when a question captivates her. She’s far more fascinating than open discourse.

“Did you enjoy it?” she asks as the session ends.

Before I can respond, someone calls our names. “Jen! Tamzir! I was about to message you two! Have you found Stargazer or FFH yet?”

It’s Jaz, closely shadowed by Tad. I realize he’s the man in the hat who objected to the sound file as a natural phenomenon. I probably should have recognized him, but I was distracted, and I’ve never seen him in a hat. Also, he was sitting down, which disguises his impressive height.

“Not yet,” Jen says.

“This is the first thing we’ve attended,” I add.

“Where are you headed next?” Tad asks.

I glance at Jen. She’s supposed to be guiding me around. I have no idea what I ought to be doing here. In fact, it would probably be safer if I hid in my dwelling until it’s time for me to travel to the coast.

“Can’t decide between ‘Aliens in Hollywood’ and ‘Writing Fan Fiction about Aliens,’” she says, showing her phone to Jaz.

“Oooh, good choices. Do you want to write alien fan fiction?” Jaz asks.

Jen shrugs, but she seems a little embarrassed. “I don’t know. I just thought it might be interesting.”

“Question: Is the first one about the types of aliens in various films, or are they speculating which actors are actually aliens?” Tad asks.

“I’m interested in both of those panels,” Jaz says immediately.

“I think it’s the former,” Jen replies, skimming the description on her phone. “Yep, it compares some of the most famous aliens in various films.”

“We should go get seats,” I say.

Jen nods enthusiastically. “Good point! I hate entering a panel that’s already started. It’s so rude.”

I ask out of idle curiosity, “Did you two make plans last night?”

Tad shakes his head. “I guess we’re fated to be friends. I saw Jaz first thing this morning and we decided to check out this session.”

She nudges Tad lightly. “Let’s join them. I didn’t have anything concrete on my agenda anyway.”

“I’m flexible,” he says.