Chapter 10
Nick’s point of view
“Who were you talking to, Jen? I heard you talking to
another guy!!” I interrogated.
“It was….. a friend! On the phone!” she blurted out.
Nick: She’s lying!
AJ: Gee, ya think?
“Don’t lie to me! I could hear his voice as clear as
crystal! He was in this room!” I yelled.
She didn’t reply, but just turned her back on me, obviously
trying to come up with an excuse.
“Are you cheating on me?” I asked mercilessly.
AJ: Yeah – with an alien.
Ha ha, Nick, you loser!
Nick: Huh? Why’m I a loser?
AJ: Cause she’s cheating on you with an alien. You must be a pretty damn sucky boyfriend.
Nick: Hey!
“No! I’d never……” she began to reply.
“How do I know you’re telling the truth? You’ve already
lied to me just now!”
“Nick, you’d never believe me. You’d just freak out!!” she
claimed, tears forming in her eyes.
“Just tell me!” I pleaded, my harshness diminishing.
She opened her mouth to speak when an angry growling behind
me interrupted us. Jen peered behind me but showed no apparent fear.
Brian: *as Jen* Nick, meet my dad!
I looked around myself and jumped back in shock.
A creature, that looked half wolf and
half lion, was stalking us, and growling in the process. Its glare was
concentrated on me! I realised it was blocking the door to stop us from
escaping. Whatever this thing was, it didn’t come from Earth! It was some kind
of alien creature!
Howie: *shrugs* It sounds
like the Beast. You know, from Beauty
and the Beast.
Nick: *snorts* You’ve seen Beauty and the Beast, Howie?
Howie: Sure. Like you haven’t?
Nick: Well… yeah, I have… but only cause Angel made me!
Brian: Suuure, Nick, you know you enjoyed it.
Nick: Did not! I hate that
movie!
Julie: Hey! Beauty and
the Beast rules!
Backstreet Boys: *stare at Julie*
Kevin: Hey… who are you?
Julie: Uh… I’m Kaz’s friend… I’m writing this MST.
AJ: Well, you’re not supposed to be in this MST, are you?
Julie: Uh… well… no. Good
point. See you all later! *disappears*
Nick: That was weird…
AJ: So is this story.
Howie: Yeah, but that’s what makes it good! Let’s keep reading; I wanna find out what
happens!
Nick: Hey, guys? What’s an
MST?
Howie: Ni-ick! Shut
up! We’re trying to read here!
Nick: *pouts*
“Tohja, no!” Jen shouted, as she held
my arm.
Brian: *as Jen* That ‘thing’?! Ex-cuse me!
That ‘thing’ is my father!!
AJ: Sic ‘im, Daddy!
“You want an explanation? This is part of it. Sit down,
Nick.”
She signalled for the alien to come and join us. I shifted
nervously across as the creature sat next to me.
“This is Kar’Tohja. But just Tohja is fine,” She
introduced. Tohja waved casually, and I did likewise.
Brian: *snorts*
AJ: *waves* Howdy ho!
“He’s a Kindorian, an alien from the planet Kindor. Sorry
if you got the wrong impression before, but he’s very protective. We have to
look out for each other.”
Howie: Ha, I knew he was an alien!
AJ: Yeah, D, I think that was made pretty clear with the whole ‘it
was some kind of alien creature’ line.
Jen’s point of view
I sighed at the blank expression on Nick’s face. I waited
until the information had sunk in.
“Tohja, will you get Nick a glass of water or something?” I
instructed.
AJ: What is he, your servant or something?
Tohja nodded and disappeared into the kitchen. He was, as
usual, quiet around strangers. But then he didn’t want to stand out.
Brian: *sarcastically* Yeah, I could see how that would be a
problem, seeing as how he looks like a half-lion/half-wolf thing.
“So, what’s the deal then?” Nick whispered.
“On Kindor, there’s a civil war. It’s not safe there so….
Well the only other inhabited planet nearby is this one,” Jen explained.
“Poor guy!” he commented.
“Yeah, it’s been really hard on him. We’ve both been hiding
for five years now. He was 10 when the war started and had to leave. And since
he doesn’t really trust humans, he has to stay indoors all day and only go out
at night. But that’s still dangerous. If you heard, someone nearly ran him over
on his way back.”
AJ: Hehe, Nick.
“That was you?!” I exclaimed, my eyes widening. “Don’t tell
him about it. He doesn’t trust you much to start with. Anyway, I’m sorry I’ve
been hiding this but it’s very important to make sure no one finds out.”
“I’ll bet. I understand, and its OK,” Nick reassured. He
thought about everything he’d just been told and something hit him.
“15?” he blurted out.
“What?” I asked, puzzled.
“Tohja’s 15 years old! But he’s tiny! He’s only half my
height!” Nick pointed out.
Kevin: *rolls eyes* Nick,
showing off his intelligence yet again.
Did you ever stop to think that maybe Kindortions or whatever they’re
called don’t grow to the same size as humans do?
“Oh, that’s a Kindorian thing. Kindorian’s don’t grow much
until the teenage years, then between 15 and 18 there is a large growth period.
A Kindorian grows to about human adult height and stays roughly the same for
the rest of their lives.” I explained.
“Why is my head hurting?” Nick asked, rubbing his forehead.
“Too much information?” I suggested.
AJ: Most likely. That
happens all the time, right, Nicky?
Nick: Yeah… hey!
Nick’s point of view
Tohja returned from the kitchen with a glass of water and
handed it to me. I wasn’t very thirsty, so I just put it down on the coffee
table.
“Shouldn’t you be asleep by now, Lil’ Guy?” Jen asked Tohja
as the Kindorian sat down next to her.
“Not really. I go to sleep when I want to!” Tohja
protested.
“So you do talk!” I exclaimed, a bit surprised.
AJ: Yes, and English too.
Tohja frowned, “Of course I can talk!”
“Yeah, but he didn’t before because he’s…too…shy!” Jen
grinned as she enveloped the small creature in a tight hug. Much to my
surprise, she gave the alien a kiss on his furry cheek.
“Aww, Jen! Not in front of Nick!” Tohja moaned, trying to
wriggle out of Jen’s hug as she ruffled his hair. “Hey, you’re messing up my
mane!”
Howie: Hey, isn’t that a line out of “Lion King”?
AJ: *stares at Howie* How would you know?
Howie: *shrugs* I dunno…
AJ: *laughs* You watch “The
Lion King”, D?
Howie: It’s a good movie!
AJ: *rolls eyes* Whatever floats your boat.
I, meanwhile, sighed. “Oh, I see what’s going on here!”
They both looked at me.
“I get it! If you two are that close, I won’t get in the
way!” I told them, my voice showing clear disappointment mixed with anger.
I stood up and headed for the door, but Jen followed and
put her hand on my shoulder.
Nick: Oh no, don’t tell me she’s cheating on me with a
fifteen-year-old alien!
“Oh, Nick, it’s not like that!” she smiled. “Didn’t I make
it obvious?”
“What?” I frowned, turning around.
I made no reply. I was in shock.
Jen continued, gesturing to Tohja, “He’s my brother.”
Nick: Ohh… well okay then.