When They Come
3

After class, the Saimiens left. They didn’t stay for any other class except the first one and then left in their freakishly silent ship. John caught up to Alex and barraged her with several questions.

“First, are you ok? Second, what happened? Third, what’s your plan?” John said quickly, shouldering his bag and walking with her.

“I’m fine. Nothing I wanna talk about. And what plan?” Alex replied, trekking to her next class.

“You know! The plan of getting back at Cassandra!” John said quietly. “She looked at you and got you in trouble. We have to get her back!”

Alex thought of Addir’s warning about not provoking Cassandra. He seemed really serious. But was he acting? Alex didn’t know what to do. She suddenly made up her mind.

“You’re right,” Alex said confidently. “We need to get back at her,” Alex didn’t know Addir well and he needed to gain her trust more in order to convince her to lay off of Cassandra. She trusted John way more than some alien! “So, what are we going to do?” Alex said with a smirk.

“Meet outside during lunch and we’ll talk!” John said and ran to his next class.

During lunchtime, Alex took her lunch outside to a secluded picnic table where no one sat. She saw John already eating there, so she parked herself on the opposite side of him.

“Alright, genius, any ideas on how to get Cassandra?” Alex said, trying her hardest to push Addir’s words away.

“Ok, so you know how she always wears those sneakers? Glittery gold high-tops? Well, the next time we see her, you’ll crash into her, spill all your contents on the ground and gather them up. Take your time because in the meantime, while she’s impatiently waiting for you to go away, you’ll tie her laces together. I’ll come up with an open Gatorade cooler and when she trips on her laces, she'll fall head-first into the bucket, humiliating herself in front of the entire student body.” John said, seeming that he had not taken a breath.

“Breathe dude!” Alex laughed. “But that’s not a bad idea. It might be out of the book, but it still might work. Of course, we have to need to keep in mind that Cassandra my not wear her prized shoes.”

“She always wears shoes with laces! Even her pumps! Which I’m surprised I even know what those are—it doesn’t matter! What matters is you tie any laces of hers you find and I get that cooler! Fortunately, I’m friends with the football team and they’ll be more than happy to help with our prank!” John said, smiling a devious smile.

Alex returned the smile. “I can’t wait.”

“Good. Our plan will be in motion tomorrow,”

Alex flopped on her bed that night. Tired and sore from PE. Her mind turned over all the events of today. The report. The plan. The brat. The alien. Alex had a sneaking suspicion that Addir was right. And he did say he’d have to punish her the next time.

Alex’s stomach twisted. Punished. By a Saimien. A beast bigger than her. With teeth as sharp as butcher knives. Claws probably honed to cut air. A tail to whip with. Would he find out? Why was the guilt now haunting her? Couldn’t it just leave her be?

Alex sat up and paced her room. There was no going back on the plan. She couldn’t tell John. He was too persistent and would never give up that easily. Especially when he liked his plan.

Alex ran a hand through her hair. She couldn’t break under the pressure. Couldn’t let the guilt hang over her like a grey cloud. But it did. It taunted her. Criticized her. Sighed at her poor decision making.

Her ears picked up heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. Her eyes widened and she spun around to her door. The sound tromped over to her door and everything was silent. Before the doorknob to her room turned. Alex watched with held breath as the door was pushed open and she sighed in relief as she beheld who it was.

“Oh, it's just you, Dad,” Alex sighed.

“Of course it’s me! Expecting someone else?” Her father said with a sly smile. “I wanted to tell you that dinner’s ready,”

Alex smiled and shoved down her building fear. “Great! I’m starving!”

Walking down with her father, Alex shook her head. She was being silly—Addir wouldn’t care to find she was planning on pranking Cassandra. He was not of her world and he would never be.

Alex sat down at the table and saw her mother setting all the food down on the table. The thought kept nagging her, so Alex just had to ask,

“So how was Inspection Day for you guys?”

“It was fine,” Her mom replied shrugging.

“We reported and they went on their way,” Her dad finished. “How was it for you?”

“It sucked,” Alex said deflated. “Cassandra made it seemed like I had done something wrong and I got a talking to by Addir. You’d never believe that he actually sounded concerned for my safety—it was shocking,”

“So, he talked to you? And didn’t hurt you?” Her mother said surprised, her blue eyes wide.

Alex nodded. “He said he knew what Cassandra was doing. He knew that the power of Scholar went to her head and that I posed a threat to her reign of brat-literature-teacher. He seemed genuine. But I don’t know whether to believe him or not.”

“I honestly don’t know what to say,” Her father sighed, shaking his head. “My Simien has never done that! She’s impatient and hot-headed.”

“Thanks for your amazing advice,” Alex said, winking at her father.

“Haha, my pleasure! I’ll be here all week,” Her father replied.

Alex smiled. She’d go through with her plan. No matter what Addir might have said or what he’d promised to do.

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