Secrets Revealed and Friends Kept

Jude didn't waste any time, he ran as fast as his feet would take him, occasionally looking back only to see Zeilia sitting on the bench, arms crossed. He finally arrived at the Lemon, panting. "Guys…I…. gotta…tell you something."

"What is it Jude?" Jonsey asked.

"It's about Zeilia."

"Hey guys watcha talkin' about?" Zeilia inquired, although she already knew.

"You know exactly what we are talking about."

"So? It's not like they'll believe you anyway."

"Why don't you just tell them? They wouldn't think any less of you."

"What are you talking about Jude?" Caitlin asked. But she was ignored while the two went at each other's throats for some unknown reason.

"I'm not worried about them!" Zeilia continued, "It's everyone else! I don't want it to spread around. And I can't exactly stay calm with Jonsey around!" Said person looked at her with confusion. She looked at him and said, "Nikki told me about when you sold her out for plastic wrap."

"Zeilia just tell them!!!" Jude exclaimed.

"Fine!" Zeilia took a seat. "You know how I disappeared right before Zink did, and reappeared right after she left?"

"Yeah?" The group said in unison.

"Well, that's because we're the same person." They all stared at her in shock, and Jude, just grinned. "And one more thing……I'm from Venus." Everyone's jaw dropped. Except, of course, Jude's.

"No…way."

"It all makes sense now." Jonsey mused. They all looked at him with surprise, expecting him to say something intelligent, up until what he said next, that is. "I mean, all foreign girls are supposed to be hot," he said matter-of-factly, and then continued, "so a different planet should count right?" Zeilia shot him a look, but he just winked at her. Causing her to roll her eyes.

"That's all?" Zeilia asked. "No 'You're a freak'? No 'Never talk to us again'?"

"Zeilia?" Caitlin interrupted.

"Yeah?"

"You need a shopping spree. My break is in a few minutes."

"Cool."

"Looks like Nikki will be getting one of Zeilia's infamous mega-tips." Wyatt teased. Nikki grinned.

"I might actually have to work!?" Nikki said with mock surprise.

"Awww, poor you." Zeilia joked.

"For an alien, you sure have mastered English, let alone sarcasm."

"Well, Venus is really the same as Earth, except for the always cloudy days and everyone having powers. And I'm not an alien; I'm a species variation of humans."

"Okay?" Wyatt said.

"Break time!" Caitlin chirped. She removed the lemon from her head, jumped out of the stand and dragged Zeilia to the Khaki barn, Nikki in tow. She did want to get that mega-tip after all.

***

Caitlin was running all around the store getting different clothing items for Zeilia, and at an admirable speed. "Why doesn't Caitlin try out for the track team?" Zeilia asked Nikki.

"Because there would have to be a cashmere sweater or a cute guy at the end of the track."

"I'm guessing there's not?"

"Mmmm-hmmm"

"Zeilia come here! I found some stuff I think you'll like!" Caitlin yelled from the changing rooms.

"My tailor awaits." Zeilia said as she strode towards the dressing room.

"What are you, a princess on Venus?" Nikki asked.

"No, Venus is a democracy." Zeilia replied. Leaving Nikki to stare, open-mouthed. As she walked over to Caitlin. "Alright Caitlin what do you have for m__ Who are they?" Zeilia pointed to three almost identical blonde girls, except for their hairstyles.

"This is Chrissy and that's Kristen and Kristen. Nikki calls them the Clones."

"Ohhhh. So you're the three girls Nikki calls evil. I expected oh I dunno like tentacles or something evil looking. You guys just look well not evil."

"Uh, thanks?" Chrissy said.

"So, what do you guys have for me?" Zeilia asked.

"Well," Caitlin said, "I found these three outfits, since you don't really need that many." Zeilia elbowed her. "Ouch. Anyways, I think they are just your style c'mon, go try them on!" Caitlin shoved the small pile of clothes into Zeilia's hands, pushing her into a changing stall. Minutes later, she emerged wearing a long-sleeved turquoise shirt, a purple vest with a fur collar and jeans. Zeilia smiled, happy with Caitlin's selection. She went back in and emerged later with a gray T-shirt that said, 'I'M A STAR' and dark blue jeans with silver stripes. She came out a third and final time wearing an exact copy of Caitlin's outfit: a pink tee and sky blue skirt. Caitlin gave her a thumbs up, but Zeilia just shook her head. Nikki checked out the first two outfits.

"That'll be 35.15." Nikki said, handing Zeilia her clothes in a bag.

"Here you go." Zeilia said, sliding a $50 across the counter. "Keep the change."

"No fair!" Came a whiny voice from behind them. They all turned to look; it was one of the Clones. Which of them it was Zeilia wasn't sure. /Identity crisis much?/ "You never work and now you're getting a $14.85 tip!!!" / Ok, it's the leader Chrissy. This is like some sick joke, the "alien", as they call it, and the leader. Ugh!/

"How do you know how much my tip was?" Nikki asked.

"Darth is here shopping for his girlfriend." She pointed to a nerdy-looking kid with a black cape.

"Oh. Well so what if I actually worked? I earned it! And I decided to work today because my friend here," she gestured towards Zeilia. "is shopping here for the first time. DEAL WITH IT!!!"

Chrissy was glaring at Nikki. Then she turned to Zeilia and said in a sickly-sweet voice, "Zeilia since Caitlin has already made her choice of friends, you can either be with the losers," she gestured towards Nikki, "or us." The three girls smiled expectantly.

Zeilia just stared. Then she turned to Nikki and Caitlin and said, "You guys wanna rent a movie? We can watch it at my place. Besides, Wyatt and Jude are the only ones, with jobs, who haven't gotten my infamous tips yet."

Nikki and Caitlin just smiled and nodded, and they all headed over to underground video.