Out Of This World (12 page)

“Oh I know that. Hollie has hundreds.” Sydney looked away when I frowned.

I definitely did not want her focused back on that she-devil so I took us down a different path. “How did we get on the topic of shoes anyway? Surely we have better subject matter to explore. How about if we talk about a plan of action for tomorrow?”

“I still have to meet Hollie for coffee. Nothing was settled tonight. It didn’t go well.” Sydney twirled her hair, which I knew was one of her nervous gestures.

Dang, that direction in our conversation backfired on me.

I reached for her hand and squeezed. Okay, now I was thinking that some kind of alien must have taken over my brain. I did not show anyone affection, except maybe my family, but that’s what we did in our family, hugs for everything.

“We’ll all take a hike when you get back. I seem to remember you enjoy all that nature crap. Maybe we can go camping or something. I know you were some kind of super girl scout.”

“I would enjoy learning about the flora on this planet,” Celeste interjected.

I had to hand it to her, she never broke from her belief in her alien origin.

“I think a hike is a perfect choice. I do my best thinking when I’m surrounded by the beauty of the mountains.” Sydney looked at me. “You would agree to camping? You know there are no electrical outlets for your hairdryer.”

“Everyone’s a comedian,” I grumbled. “That’s what baseball caps were designed for.”

Sydney slapped her hands together. “Perfect. I know just the spot.”

“Hey, I’m only agreeing to one night. That’s about as long as I’ll be able to keep from having to dig a hole in the ground. I refuse to…you know…I’d rather hold it. No coffee for me tomorrow.”

I did not camp, but if I wanted to cheer Sydney up, I knew I would have to agree to camping. However, there was no way I was going to defecate in the woods. That’s where my compromise ended.

Celeste was staring at the cheesecake. “Will we be able to taste this dessert tonight?” She smiled at me. “Did I use the correct name?”

Sydney opened a drawer and pulled out a knife. “Oh sorry. I almost forgot about the cheesecake. Yes, I believe a little sugar therapy is in order.” She cut the pie in thirds and reached into the cabinet directly above her head to pull out three plates. The slices were unusually large, but I wasn’t about to complain about that. The bakery did make the best cheesecake in the state.

“I’ll make the coffee if you show me where you keep the beans and the coffee pot.” Sydney pointed to the cabinet on my left and I found a bag of Pioneer Coffee from the local coffee house, a grinder, and a large French press. The teakettle was already on the stove, so I filled it with water and plunked it back on the burner. I filled up the coffee grinder, pushed the button, and the smell of fresh beans wafted into my nostrils, eliciting a sigh from me. I loved the smell of fresh ground coffee.

Sydney opened another drawer and retrieved three forks that she unceremoniously distributed on each of the plates.

I took the blueberries hidden in the refrigerator and placed them on the island for everyone to use as the perfect topping for the cheesecake.

Sydney’s eyes lit up while she pulled a large spoon out, dipping into the berries, and added a generous mound of the sweet fruit on top of each of our treats.

Neither of them waited for the coffee and plunged right into the creamy delight. Celeste’s humming began almost immediately. Sydney was moaning in pleasure and I was having my own little reaction to their obvious pleasure. I decided to delay my own gratification because nothing went better with dessert that a fresh cup of coffee.

Sydney must have noticed that I wasn’t eating and mumbled through a forkful of her dessert. “Mmm, aren’t you going to eat that?”

I pulled my cheesecake closer to me and placed my arms around the plate. “Mine. Don’t you even think about stealing a bite. I’m waiting to have this with my coffee.”

Sydney laughed. “I wouldn’t dream of it, Miss Possessive.” She raised her eyebrow at me. “You know, Mabs, I don’t know what’s come over you, but I like this more playful side.”

I blushed. “I kind of like it too.”

“Her energy was hidden at first, but I recognized the potential,” Celeste stated as a matter of fact.

“That’s our Mabs, still waters run deep. I think there’s a whole river of passion hidden inside her.”

It didn’t sound like she was joking and I blushed again.

“Is this the passion you described when you tried to explain love?” Celeste asked.

I shrugged. “Sydney’s interpretation of love and passion may be completely different from mine.” I grinned at Sydney. “Why don’t you try to explain love to Celeste?”

Sydney’s eyes bored into mine. “That’s a tough one. I guess to me the ultimate love is putting someone else’s needs above your own, and patiently waiting for the right time to tell the person you love how you feel. Even if you’re not sure they feel the same way, you take that chance because it’s worth the risk, but only when they’re ready to hear it, because you love them enough to make sure they don’t suffer any negative consequences from your confession.”

“That’s beautiful, Sydney, and brave.” I felt my eyes water with emotion. “All right, enough of this mushy stuff. Let’s get in our PJs and have an all night movie marathon or do whatever you do at a slumber party. I need to make a call to work telling them I won’t be there tomorrow and then, let the party begin.” I frowned because I still wasn’t comfortable calling in sick. “You know I don’t take nearly enough vacation and I don’t think I can lie, so I’ll just tell them I need to take a few days to take care of some personal issues.”

“I knew it. You can’t even tell a little white lie. I don’t know how all that goodness fits into your compact little body.”

I waved away Sydney’s remark and made the call to my boss who didn’t even ask any questions. I guess he figured since I never asked for much time off, it must be important to me. He told me to take a couple of weeks because I deserved a real vacation. I eagerly accepted his suggestion.

I knew our slumber party was just delaying the inevitable decision about what to do with Celeste and her desire to try out the stuff in my lesbian erotica. I still wasn’t sure what I really wanted. I knew what my body wanted, but my mind was a completely different kettle of fish.

We ended up staying awake until about two a.m. and then one by one we dozed off. Sydney was the first to leave the party and retire to her bedroom. I woke up needing to go to the bathroom and found an afghan draped across Celeste and another one tucked around my feet and shoulders. I knew that Sydney had done this before she went off to bed. She was definitely the most thoughtful woman I’d ever met.

I gently shook Celeste awake. “Come on, Celeste, we should head off to bed because I don’t think camping will be nearly as comfortable.”

Saved by the slumber party. I knew I wouldn’t be faced with any life altering decisions tonight. We were both groggy and shuffled off to bed. I did enjoy cuddling close to Celeste and, as she would put it, sharing positive energy. It didn’t take her long to fall back to sleep with her arms wrapped snugly around my body. Although it took me a few minutes to join her in slumber, I followed her lead and was fast asleep before my body could react to our relative positions to one another.

Chapter Six

It was late the next morning when a noise wrested me from my dream. This time I was dreaming about Sydney. God, what a dream slut I was. One day I’m having sex dreams about Celeste and the next night it’s Sydney.

At first I thought that Sydney was back from her
talk
with Hollie, but it didn’t quite sound like her Jeep. The hairs on the back of my neck seemed to stiffen all at once and I got this sixth sense that something terrible was about to descend on us.

I gently nudged Celeste and whispered, “Celeste, wake up. Someone’s here and I don’t think it’s Sydney.”

I didn’t even know why I thought we had uninvited company, I just felt all tingly like something was seriously wrong.

I heard the front door creak open and before I could rouse Celeste, the bedroom door flung open.

Greg was larger than life sneering at us from the doorway. “Well, look at what we have here. The little dyke librarian and her alien lover.”

I noticed the gun in his hands and pulled the covers up even though we were both in shorts and t-shirts. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that we were in deep shit and Greg was definitely not who he purported to be.

I called upon all the bravado I could muster. “What do you want, Greg? You can’t just kidnap her against her will. She doesn’t want to go with you, and unless I’m mistaken, you can’t commit her without cause.”

“I’m sorry, but my orders are to secure her using whatever means necessary. I’m afraid you are going to be collateral damage. I guess Celeste was violent after all. What a tragedy that she shot her friend during a psychotic break.”

“Please do not hurt Bella. I will go with you if you leave her alone,” Celeste pleaded. She scrambled out of bed.

“It’s too late for that.”

Although I am sure that what happened next only took a few seconds, it felt like everything was unfolding in slow motion. Greg raised the gun took aim and I felt a searing pain enter my chest. A dark purple blast of light shot out of Celeste’s hand and knocked him back against the door as I heard the gun clatter to the floor. Sydney came barreling into the room and before I felt an overwhelming heat enter my body, I registered the wide-eyed look on her face.

Greg began to rise from the floor, so I shouted, “The gun, get the gun, Sydney.”

Sydney had a moment of indecision, which was just enough time for Greg to retrieve his weapon from where it skittered across the floor. This time he took aim at Sydney.

I must have reacted to the scene unfolding before my eyes because Celeste calmly turned her head in Greg’s direction and once again I witnessed a dark purple light shoot from her palm. Whatever the light was it had laser like accuracy, and the gun turned a bright red color.

“Fuck!” Greg shouted as he dropped the flaming red object.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when the gun turned into a puddle of molten hot metal in the corner of the guest bedroom.

Greg started to move toward the bed and I could tell he was furious.

Finally, Sydney vaulted into action as she tackled him from behind and placed a well-executed elbow to his head as his nose met the floor with a sickening crunch. Sydney is a particularly adept fighter and, fortunately for us, her profession keeps her in tiptop shape. Using her knee to push him down again, she jumped up ready to do battle.

Greg was groaning on the floor and I took a second to look down at my chest. When I saw the spot of blood, I freaked out, and I imagine that my eyes rolled back into my head as I promptly passed out.

I don’t think I was out for very long. I felt a soft touch on my face and looked into Celeste’s beautiful lavender eyes. She looked concerned, but she also looked like she was ready to pass out herself. Her face was a ghostly white and her breathing was uneven. I looked around for Sydney and panicked when I didn’t see her, but then I noticed Greg still on the floor and he looked like he was unconscious.

I sat up quickly and asked, “What happened? Where is Sydney?”

“She went to get something called a zip tie.”
 

I touched my t-shirt where the stain still occupied a large section in a gruesome red hue. “I don’t feel any pain, but I was shot, wasn’t I?”

“I healed your wound because it was a mortal one. You should not feel any after-effects.” She could only whisper.

Five seconds later Celeste slumped on the bed. Her face was devoid of color and I feared for her life.

I scrambled from the bed to search for Sydney. I had a moment of clarity as I realized that what Celeste needed was an energy recharge from the sun, and if we were not able to get her outside as soon as possible, she might actually die.

Sydney came back into the bedroom carrying a fistful of zip ties. I must have had a panicked expression on my face because she asked, “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Celeste. We have to help her. I think she’s dying. We need to move her outside right now.” I could feel the tears slip down my face. I was so thankful that the sun decided to make an appearance. I’d listened to the extended forecast so I expected the sunshine to last for another few days. Not that the weatherman or woman got it right all the time, but I looked out the window after Celeste passed out and saw the clear skies.

“I need to secure Greg first. Just give me thirty seconds.”

Sydney was incredibly efficient as she rolled him over and secured his arms and his ankles together behind his back. I didn’t imagine it would be very comfortable the way she trussed him up, but it served the bastard right. I wanted to kick him as I passed him to get back to Celeste, but I tempered my urge to do some damage to his already marred face.

“You take her head and I’ll take her feet,” Sydney directed. “I have a hammock out back that gets full sun from early morning until late afternoon. It should be comfortable enough.”

“Okay,” I answered.

Thank God Sydney was a take-charge kind of woman, because I was certainly way out of my element.

†

In Sydney’s rush to get inside she had left the patio door open so it was easy to maneuver outside and get Celeste settled in the hammock.

I looked down at Celeste. She still looked sickly, but her breathing seemed to even out a bit. She appeared to be resting comfortably and I wondered how long she would be asleep. I made a mental note to ask her if the energy charge works better when she’s asleep. I didn’t want to wake her up if that was the case, so I walked over to the sliding glass door and Sydney followed me.

Sydney pulled me into a hug and then looked at my shirt. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, Celeste healed me. I think that’s why she’s sick. I think everything she did caused her to expend all her energy. You saw it all, didn’t you? We’re not crazy, are we?” I pleaded with her to tell me that I wasn’t dreaming or seeing things.

She nodded. “Yeah, I saw it all, and if you’re crazy, then so am I.”

“She was telling us the truth all along. I never should have doubted her. I hope she forgives me. Thank God it’s a sunny day. She has to get better and then we have to help her, Sydney.”

“We will, I promise, but right now we have more pressing problems.” Sydney looked away.

I could feel the guilt roll off of her in waves.

“How did he find us?” I managed to squeak out.

“I’m so sorry, Mabs. As soon as I figured it out, I rushed back, but I was too late.”

“Figured what out?”

“Hollie set us up. It’s why she was so desperate to have me talk to her last night. She needed to get me to lead him back to the cabin and then Greg could do his thing while we had coffee this morning. Fortunately for us, Hollie had to gloat a bit about Celeste heading back to the looney bin this morning.”

“I swear I’m going to kill her. I’m done being her personal punching bag. Now she’s hurt two people I care about. She has to be stopped.”

“I know, I know. In her defense, I honestly believe she thought she was protecting me.”

“Bullshit,” I declared.

“Look, all I know is that my cabin is no longer a safe haven. We have to find somewhere else to hole up until I can call in a few favors. I know I joked about the camping thing, but at this point, it’s really our only option. I’m fairly certain that Greg kept his superiors informed and others will follow.”

“God, Sydney, I didn’t mean to get you involved in this mess. I’m so sorry.”

Sydney shrugged. “Eh, what are friends for if you can’t get them involved in your drama.”

“What are we going to do with Greg?”

“Good question. I know some particularly remote places that we can dump him, but I’d be afraid that the stupid bastard wouldn’t be able to find his way out. I don’t want his death on my conscience. For now, we can leave him tied up until Celeste is ready to travel. Maybe she has some alien trick she can use on him.”

“Maybe.” I smiled for the first time that morning. Celeste really was an alien and Sydney was on our side.

I thought about our discussion on love and it suddenly dawned on me that everything Sydney was doing demonstrated her love for me. Maybe she didn’t love me in the same way I loved her, but she was a true friend. I was lucky to have her in my life and I knew I needed to make some changes to let her in a lot more than I had in the past.

Sydney rewarded me with one of her dazzling smiles and touched me on arm. “Come on, let’s go check on our prisoner.”

“I can’t believe boring ole me is in the middle of this impossible situation,” I mumbled.

†

Greg was awake when we went back inside and he looked mighty pissed. He was pulling hard on the zip ties, but they looked like they were just cutting into his skin. The harder he struggled the more painful they became.

“You have no idea who you’re dealing with. You should have stayed out of this. She is far too valuable to us for them to worry about who gets hurt in our attempt to retrieve her and bring her to the lab. They won’t stop until they find her. You have to know how hopeless it is to try to hide that thing. We will find her.” Greg was spitting.

Sydney smirked. “You know, keep talking and where we choose to drop you off will get more and more remote. Right now, I would be more concerned with what Celeste might choose to do to you. I’m not so sure the laws on our planet extend to her.”

Greg’s tone immediately became placating. “Look, if you cooperate with us right now, I’ll see what I can do to get you some kind of deal.”

“You must think we have stupid tattooed across our foreheads,” I interjected. “In what dream world would you think we would have one single bit of trust in anything you have to say?”

“Why can’t you realize how important this discovery is to us? This could mean access to advanced technology that would enable the United States to regain our status as the supreme world superpower.”

“From what I gathered from Celeste, her people are a peaceful lot. I wouldn’t expect any type of military advantage with their technology. Isn’t there enough war and violence in the world without you exploiting any knowledge you might acquire from Celeste?” I shook my head.

Sydney touched my shoulder. “Mabs, why don’t you check on how Celeste is doing while I watch this POS.”

“Pose?” I scrunched up my face in confusion.

“Yeah, piece of shit.”

“Oh, I’ll have to remember that one. Is that internet or texting slang?” I asked.

“Both I think. I learned that one from my nephew. It could also mean, parent over shoulder.” She laughed.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay watching the POS?” I had to try out the new lingo. It was fun and it rolled off my tongue like I was some kind of expert at internet slang.

“Ooh, look at you, using internet abbreviations like a pro. Yep, I’ll be fine. Zip ties are more secure than handcuffs and since I’m not really into—well you know, that kind of kink—they were also more available to me.” One corner of Sydney’s mouth lifted in a lopsided smile. It was endearing.

I didn’t really know what Sydney was and wasn’t into, but it didn’t hurt to squirrel that little piece of information away.

“Okay. I’ll check on Celeste and I hope she has a few tricks up her sleeve, because honestly, we’re in kind of a pickle here and I don’t like our odds.”

I left Sydney with Greg and went to check on Celeste.

I’d forgotten about Gizmo. She must have hidden somewhere after she heard the gun go off. She hated loud noises and didn’t particularly bond well with men, so I suspected she gave Greg a wide berth. Once I’d left the bedroom, I spotted her tail peeking out from beneath the couch. She must have slipped under the furniture in an attempt to hide from danger. What a pussy—pun intended.

I made kissing noises and attempted to coax her from her hiding place. “Come on out pretty girl. I won’t let the bad man hurt you. Come on pun’kin. I’ll bet Celeste would love to have you jump up and join her in the hammock.”

Her tail swished back and forth once and then she turned around and her little nose peeked out from under the couch. I squatted down and gently rubbed her nose. That was enough to lure her from her hiding place. She crept out and I picked her up to cradle her in my arms. I knew that Celeste had bonded with her so I thought she would be a welcome surprise for when she woke up. Petting Gizmo was always very comforting and healing for me, so I’d hoped it would be for Celeste. Armed with my own brand of calming energy, I walked out to the back yard.