Page 39 of I Think I’m in Love with an Alien

Jeneticist: Do you want to stick around now? Or do you think you’ll always have wanderlust?

Seeker: That’s a difficult question.

Jeneticist: You said before you never fit in anywhere. And that you’re looking for something.

Seeker: Is it strange to say that when I communicate with you, it feels like I’ve found it?

Jeneticist: You’re flirting again.

Seeker: That was simple truth.

Jeneticist: ❤️😊

Jeneticist: Be really careful. You might get my hopes up with your sweet talk.

Seeker: Maybe I’m starting to hope for things too.

Jeneticist: I guess we’ll see if there’s a spark when we meet in person.

Seeker: Indeed we will.

Seeker: ⚡

15

Jennette

The RV park is small but well-kept, greener than I expect, bits of scrub bush dotting the landscape in the distance.

Overhead, the sky is heartbreakingly blue, not a cloud in sight. It will be a scorcher later, and it’s already hot enough that I can taste the shimmer of asphalt when I breathe. The office is a gray building and the bathhouse is nearby. Everything seems clean. The campers are all wedged in tight as a drum, not a single lot vacant. And the overflow area has tons of tents, but it’s not crowded at this hour. Everyone must be in town, prepping for a wild day at Space Con.

Poppy, Jaz, and Ravik are already present outside Tad’s pop-up trailer. I don’t know how comfortable it is, but it’s freaking adorable, and I don’t even like camping. He has a firepit and a picnic table, essential for an al fresco breakfast. I park behind Poppy’s car and hurry over to help with the food.

We’ve got containers of cut fruit, pastries, bottled water, and cold sandwiches. Not a gourmet breakfast, but I suspect they got what they could from the small supermarket. Local shops must make a ton of money during Space Con.

“This looks great,” Tad says, rubbing his hands together.

Poppy nods. “I’m so hungry I could eat at Arby’s.”

I laugh. “Classic Simpsons.”

I serve myself some nibbles while chatting with Tad and Jaz. It takes all my self-control not to drag Seeker away to find out what he needs to tell me. Based on our private chats, he might be ready to admit he can see us together. Like, dating. I hope. If he reveals that he’s got a thing for Jaz, I hope I can cover my hurt without wrecking our friendship.

Regardless, whatever it is, the news must be big. And private.

Be patient, I tell myself. Good things come to those who wait. Once again, Seeker isn’t eating. He said he had food earlier, but I’m concerned about him. He hasn’t looked away from me once, and I’m starting to get self-conscious. Does my costume look weird?

For Day Two, I put in a little more effort, as did Poppy, although Ravik is blue again, the exact same look as yesterday, and come to think of it, I don’t recognize what alien they’re representing. Which is unusual for me.

“You’re not from Avatar,” I say to Ravik. “The face isn’t right. But I can’t think—”

“I’m an ice planet barbarian,” Ravik cuts in.

“No way,” Poppy gasps.

“You must really love those books,” Tad says around a mouthful of food.

Jaz isn’t eating either. She’s tapping away at her phone. She glances up as if sensing my attention. “Sorry, I was just answering a question from someone in the orchestra.”