Page 16 of I Fell for an Alien Popstar

“Please, come in.”

I walked past her into the suite, trying very hard not to brush against her. I heard her press a few buttons, and then the door whizzed shut.

Her dressing room was both exactly what I’d imagined and nothing like it. A couch sat against one wall, draped with discarded pieces of her stage outfit—chromeskin panels half-unfastened and a pair of boots that looked like they could break an ankle with one wrong step.

A vanity lined the opposite wall, its mirror ringed with warm lights. The surface was cluttered with small containers, brushes, and tools I couldn’t name. A low table held a tray of dew cakes and the same glittery drink I’d seen earlier. This time, I could see the label. It read Starlust.

“This is incredible,” I whispered, stopping and turning toward Zhari.

“It is, isn’t it?”

“I’ve been listening to your music for years. I’ve drawn your face more times than I can count. You are literally my favorite.” I was rambling. I could hear myself rambling. I couldn’t stop. “This is insane. You’re just standing here. You’re real. Oh my God, you’re real.”

“I’m definitely real.” She smiled and tilted her head.

“Wait, how do you know my name?”

“When your ticket is scanned at the door, your full profile comes up,” she said. “Name, species, planet of origin. It’s for security reasons. There were fewer humans at this show than at previous ones, so it was easy to find you quickly.”

“Okay, yeah, I kind of figured that.” I looked around the room again, taking in all the details I knew I had to draw later. “It’s just so high-frequency in here.”

“Vada,” she interrupted. “Can you come sit?”

She walked past me and sat on the couch.

“It’s temporary,” she said, gesturing around the room. “This arena, this room—wherever I go, they all blur together. They’re all the same.” She tilted her head, studying me. “But you—you’re not. You’re different.”

I swallowed, my brows furrowing. “I’d like to think so.”

She perched on the edge of the couch, pulling her robe tighter, then gestured to the other end. I sat, leaving a small gap between us.

“I need to explain something,” she said. “About why you’re here.”

“Okay,” I said. “I’m listening.”

I scooted back a bit and got comfortable.

She pulled at the sleeve of her robe, not looking at me for a second. “We Velans can see auras.”

“Auras,” I repeated. “Like colorful energy fields?”

“Not colors exactly,” she said. “More like frequencies. Patterns. Every living thing has one. Most of them are normal, just background noise. Unless you find your mate. Then their aura will be this… spectacular color show. Like a star going supernova in the galaxy. It has been the inspiration for this tours song list as I have yet to see one…"

She looked up at me.

“That is, until tonight.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, blinking. “I’m not really following. What does that have to do with me being back here?”

“Your aura—it’s not normal.” She finally looked up at me, her brows scrunched together. “Well, it is, but it’s not. Do you understand?”

“I’m trying to.”

“I have performed in front of millions of people, Vada. Millions. I have never seen an aura like yours. It was so bright that I lost my step.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

Of course I would be the one to cause my favorite famous pop star to miss a step and go blind the first time I watched her perform.