Chapter Eleven – K is for Kill

I mean really – why was it always Six? Not that I wanted Sam to catch me "walking the dog" or fending off the advances of a drunken slut – but I would feel like less of a jackass if he caught me instead of her.

The girl pulled away from me and frowned. I stepped about half a foot back until I was against the wall, putting as much distance as I could between us.

"You're right. He's not Alex," Drunk said to Sober. "Alex doesn't kiss like a ten-year-old."

I felt my cheeks burn as Sober laughed. It was a loud obnoxious cackle. And worse than that, behind her was Six trying hard to keep a straight face though her laughter broke through anyway.

They could all go to hell. I did not kiss like a ten-year-old. And even if I did – Sarah Hart loved the way I kissed and hers was the only opinion that mattered to me.

Shit! That reminded me. That girl took a picture! What if it ended up online? What if Sarah saw it? She might think I cheated on her! I had to delete that photo. I concentrated on the phone and suddenly it sparked and made a popping sound.

"Ah!" Sober cried out, flinching to the side and dropping her phone to the floor. When she picked it up the screen was cracked and the display was black. Sober let out a stream of swear words and huffed off with Drunk following behind her leaving me alone to face Six.

I inhaled in preparation to defend myself against whatever Six was about to accuse me of doing. What happened was not my fault. It was a case of mistaken identity. Certainly she would understand that.

I exhaled now and walked toward her preparing to speak. She took a step forward as well, lips still curled in a grin.

"Sounds like someone could use some more practice," Six puckered her lips and made kissing noises at me.

"Ha Ha," I replied dryly crossing my arms over my chest.

"Who needs practice?" Sam asked as he joined in the end of our conversation.

"Apparently I do," I told him all while giving Six a cold look.

"He kisses like a ten-year old," Six told Sam.

"He does?" Sam looked at me then back at Six. "And how would you know that?" he asked her.

But in that brief moment Six disappeared again.

That's when Sam turned back to me and held up his fist. "Come on John," he urged when I didn't raise my hand. "Don't leave me hanging."

"What are you talking about?" I asked him as I raised my hand and fist bumped him.

"What do you think I'm talking about?" Sam punched my shoulder as he began to sing. "John and Jane sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G…"

"I didn't kiss her."

"Yeah sure you didn't," Sam winked at me. "Because I know how much you love Sarah."

"I do love Sarah," I told him.

"I know," Sam winked again. "And if Sarah ever asks me – that's what I'll tell her. But between us," he nodded in approval, "you and Jane are perfect for each other. I'm glad you guys finally realized that."

"WHAT!" I gasped through my whooping laughter. The thought of Six and I as a couple was completely ridiculous. Insane. Sam was a smart guy – I would have thought he knew better. I mean the idea of us together – hell even the brief daydream of it was down right ludicrous.

Although…

I mean, it had crossed my mind of course, Six is the only Lorien female I know – not to mention she is very pretty

No. Not Pretty. Let's be honest. Six is beautiful. Her eyes. Her hair. Her body… a quick flashback of her getting undressed jumped into my mind. Okay. I'll admit it. I am attracted to her. But I know it's only physical, probably rooted in some strange Lorien thing that I have yet to discover.

Sarah is the girl I love. Six is just… well, Six is just… Six.

Sarah is the girl I spent hours talking to about anything and everything. Six and I have never discussed anything that was not alien-related. I don't count the masturbating comments.

I let Sarah in. Let her see the real me. The me that not even Henri knew about. I cannot see myself ever doing that with anyone else. Especially Six. I just don't feel like I can really be myself around her. She consumes herself with the conflicts between our planet and Mogadore. She's obsessed with finding the others and uniting us. She wants to win the war. While I admire her conviction and her loyalty to our planet, I don't see myself ever feeling that way. In fact, I have no desire to return to Lorien. Not that it would matter now anyway. Henri told me that there will only ever be one love for me.

Sarah Hart is the girl I will be spending the rest of my life with. Right here on earth.

"So you "accidentally" kissed some drunk girl?"

"Actually she kissed me," I replied to Sam's scrutiny of the earlier events.

"And Jane saw the whole thing."

"Yes."

"I don't know, John. That sounds really made up."

So there you have it. My best friend Sam didn't believe me. He believes in aliens and government conspiracy but not that some random girl would kiss me. Thanks Sam Goode. Thanks a lot.

Another band had taken the stage. This time it was three women who had to be in their fifties. They were wearing matching animal print mini-dresses with black boots that came up over their knees despite each of them being at least thirty pounds overweight.

"I think I'm going to vomit," Sam yelled into my ear.

I felt a little nauseous myself. It didn't matter how good their music was, I would never be a fan of the band Cougars in Heat. But it seemed as though they didn't need me. They had plenty of their own fans. During their last song the lights dimmed and the crowd around us went wild. I wasn't sure if it was the song or the band or both that had everyone riled up. I turned to Sam for an explanation, but he shrugged unknowingly.

As the crowd jammed with the music we were bumped into, shoved and knocked around. I was able to handle it a little better than Sam but even so it was starting to get rowdy. I felt someone pressing against me from behind. When I turned around, I hit something or someone but the lights went dark and for a moment I couldn't see a thing.

A deafening roar rose up from the crowd complete with applause as the Cougars in Heat strummed the final note. And then the lights came back up.

People around us roared for an encore – but the band was being rushed off stage as the next band began setting up.

"That was interesting," Sam commented to me as he rubbed his left shoulder.

"Yeah," I agreed.

The announcer came back onstage, promoting "Scratch and Sniff" – the newest CD from Cougars in Heat. I didn't really know what to think about that. But very shortly the lights dimmed again as a band called Death by Conquest took the stage.

"That's a cool band name," Sam remarked. While I didn't think it was all that special – it was better than all the other bands in this contest – as least so far.

The red stage lights flashed once. Then twice. Followed by an eerie guitar riff as four dark-clad figures swayed onstage.

"Okay, this is creepy," Sam commented.

It was a tad unnerving. Like watching the part of a horror movie preceding someone being killed. In the darkness I felt something brush past me.

"Move over." A voice hissed into my ear. I looked beside me and there was no one there. "Move over," the voice repeated.

"Six?" I said aloud as I felt her body squeeze past mine toward Sam. She must have been saying something to Sam, his face grew tense. His brow creased with worry.

"What's going on?" I asked.

Sam was nodding and I noticed he had the truck keys in one hand and the other hand was pressed against his bulging front pocket. Then he pushed past me and out of the row, and took off running up the aisle.

"Sam!" I called after him as I stepped out to chase him. But then something cold, still and metal stopped me. The crimson light flashed through the darkness, I looked downward at the red glow next to me. It wasn't from the lights. It was one of the Mogadorian swords. I immediately looked at Six who was now visible. She held the blue sword that had belonged to Henri in her hand. She passed it to me.

Why the hell would she have our weapons out in the open like this?

I felt a lump grow in my throat as I turned back to the band. The four figures in overcoats stood at the edge of the platform looking out into the audience.

They weren't human.

I clutched the weapon in my shaking hand. This was not supposed to happen. We were supposed to find the others. Make a plan. I was not prepared to fight. I was not ready to ambush Mogs in front of an audience at a fucking concert.

"Showtime," Six grinned at me as she took hold of my free hand. The next thing I knew – I was invisible.