Chapter 2: Unexpected Visitor

I was sitting at my desk typing out an essay for my Music Appreciation class on the development of the symphony. College was rough, but I was making it through. It helped that I had a few friends to distract myself when things got tough.

I was just finishing when I heard a noise behind me. I turned around and nearly fainted. It was Billy! I jumped up, ran to him and gave him a huge hug. He hugged me back, but it was almost like he was hiding something. I dropped my arms and took a step back, seeing who it was that he was hiding. Cestria. Naively, I thought maybe she brought him back? He probably couldn't pilot the spaceship by himself.

"Hey Maddie," he said slowly, deliberately.

Once I could talk, I started to rapidly fire questions at him. "Where exactly did you go? How did you get back? Was it nice? What on Earth is Cestria doing here?"

The last one must have caught both of them off guard because they shared a look. I could easily read Billy's face; I always had been able to. They're together was all I could think.

"I'll answer those questions eventually, but right now I need to talk with you, alone."

I nodded and led him out into the brightly lit living room. Thankfully, Cestria didn't follow. We sat down on the threadbare couch and stared at each other.

"I don't really know how to say this," he started. "Umm, well, when I went to Aquitar, I was attracted to Cestria, but I thought I could handle it. I loved you and I wanted to be with you when I was able to return home. Well…" Billy trailed off and moved his gaze to the floor. His eyes studied the small stains on the carpet.

"You couldn't, could you?" I finished for him. All he did was nod.

"You fell for her? I thought…Billy, I loved you! Didn't you love me?" I asked, forcing myself not to cry. Crying won't do any good, it only makes you look weak I thought to myself.

"Mae," he started, using his pet name for me. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I didn't want it to, it just sort of did." Billy shrugged his shoulders as if to emphasize his statement.

"Don't call me that. I can't believe you! Here I've been, waiting…" my eyes watered and I unsuccessfully blinked back the hot tears.

"Maddie, just listen to me, would you please?" He pleaded.

"I'm done listening. You leave me here on Earth, go off and fall in love with HER and expect me to be okay with it? I really don't think that's going to be happening anytime soon." I was practically yelling at him now. I could see the hurt on his face. He really wanted me to accept this, but how could I?

"JUST LEAVE, ALRIGHT?!?! Leave! Go off with your new girlfriend and leave me the hell alone!" I stormed out of the room and ran into Cestria.

"And you! Don't you have any consideration for other people?? You stole my boyfriend! Do you have anything to say?!"

Cestria just looked at me until Billy walked in. "Cestria, I think we'd better leave now. Madeline needs to cool off."

"Cool off my ass! You need to leave and never come back. Do you hear me? I never want to see you again!" I could feel my eyes stinging with tears.

As soon as I heard the door shut, I collapsed onto the floor. I must have been lying there for 10 minutes when I heard a knock at the door.

"Go away. I'm not in the mood to talk to anyone right now." I wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand and felt my head begin to throb.

"Mad? I'd love to go away, but you and I both know that's not going to happen." A voice said from the other side of the door. I smiled at hearing my friends tenor voice.

"Adam, I really don't want to talk."

"I know," Adam said, "but just let me in. Maybe I can help with whatever is bothering you."

I slowly got up and opened the door to let him in.

"Mad, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Adam put his arm around me and pulled me close to his chest. After shutting the door, he led me to the couch and sat me down. Sitting down next to me, he took my hand in his. "What's wrong?"

I hesitated. "Well, Billy came back," I said sadly. I could feel my eyes begin to fill with tears again.

"Well, that's a good thing, right?" I laughed bitterly. "It would be, if he had come alone. And hadn't fallen in love with an alien while he was gone."

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me! He didn't! He was in love with you, wasn't he?" Adam stared at me. His eyes showed confusion.

"No, I'm not. It's one of the Rangers who saved our lives. Cestria."

"How could he do that? I don't believe him! I thought you both loved each other?"

"I thought we did." The tears that had threatened to fall began to drop softly on my jeans. "I guess we were wrong though, huh? Well, I'm through with him. I told him to leave and never come back."

"Oh Maddie, you didn't."

"What else was I supposed to do? I couldn't just say, 'Oh well, you stole my boyfriend, the man I thought I was going to marry but that's okay. You really didn't mean it. My heart isn't worth that much. Let's all have some tea.'" I laughed angrily.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Hey, why don't we all get together? Everyone: Tommy, Justin, Rocky, Kat, Jason, Tanya, you and me. All of us. Get your mind off Billy."

"Oh Adam…I don't know." "Please?"

"Fine. That would be fine." Adam smiled.

"Alrighty. Let's go call everyone and we'll meet somewhere."