I'm writing this on the way to Mississippi with a friend of mine (You can check my twitter to see!) So I'm sitting in the back of our convertible with my computer in my laptop, letting my girl be the DJ!

Oh yeah. I have a CG picture of Rika up on deviant art if you all want to see it.

. username ~LilahJae if the link doesn't work or doesn't show. It needs a little fixing here and there but it's a good start. She's wearing her home planet's battle gear (explained slightly in the author's comment on deviant art) as well as her casual clothing (shorts and top) Let me know what you think either with a comment on here or a comment on there!

ooo

"Keys…"

"Don't tell me you lost the damn keys, Alien Boy."

I shook my head. "No, they're right here. I have to put them on the ring…"

Rika gasped. "Don't I get the spare? Isn't that how it works?"

I laughed. "Right. Where would you possibly go when I'm gone?" I pushed the door open, the smell of fresh paint and new leather swirling around us.

"I don't know! I might make friends!!!"

I laughed again. "Not with that skin color you're not. As long as you look the least bit otherworld-y you're not leaving this house without me."

"Oh, Ben Tennyson, I feel so safe around you. What would I ever do if you weren't here? I might just have to stay inside all the time…," she swooned sarcastically, falling onto my side, laughing.

"All right, all right. I understand that you can take care of yourself, but being out in a world full of irrational humans isn't all that safe. One look at you and the FBI will be on both our asses."

Rika groaned, running over to the new couch. It looked quite comfortable, covered in micro-suede with plush cushions. The welcoming feeling pulled you to it. However, I was more interested on what kind of bed I was going to be sleeping on. If it hurt my back, I might just have to invest in a new mattress soon, and that would dip into what little savings I have left.

"I have to go get a job as soon as possible."

"Aww, Ben. So you're just going to leave me here alone all day?"

"Well, I'll be here all night…"

Rika laughed. "Yeah, as if that's any consolation to you. The night time is just a time to sleep, right?" she grumbled.

"Look, I don't know where your mind is, but if you're going to argue with me about how stupid, ignorant, and blind I am, go buy a cat and take it out on him." I opened the fridge, finding a note inside. "Fill me!" it said.

I set the note on the counter and shut the fridge.

"A cat? Is that like a llastoj?"

"Which is…," I dragged out, opening each cabinet individually.

"Big ears, big eyes, makes a screeching sound no being should ever want to hear…"

I smiled. "Well, you got the first half right. But a cat's meow can be quite comforting to some people. I don't know if you could compare it to… whatever that thing is you just said."

"Oh… Are they furry?"

I nodded, opening the dishwasher. I soon closed it, running it on a full cycle to test it out.

Rika laid back on the couch, her hands behind her head. "Hmm…"

I turned the kitchen light on, then off. Dining room light on, then off. I was testing everything in the apartment. I call it OCD, a bit of a tick of mine. Everything was in working order. "All right, good."

"What's up, Alien Boy?"

"Everything's working. How's the couch?" I asked.

Rika sat up. "Come see for yourself."

I sat down next to Rika, leaning my back against the couch. "Nice…"

"Homes on Cryogaus are similar to places here… Except we have access to our roofs. It's almost a tradition that every time the second moon appears, we all go and sit on our rooftops and watch until the sun rises."

I looked over toward her. "We as in you and your brothers?"

"The entire planet."

I blinked. "Seems like a pretty forceful tradition…"

"My mother started it, and it caught on. Everyone has since followed it," she shrugged.

I smiled.

Rika sat up. "So… what is there to do on this hum-drum planet?" she asked curiously, her voice picking up slightly in pitch.

"It's too late to go anywhere right now, but tomorrow, I have a few things I need to do myself," I sighed, standing up. I stretched out each of my limbs one by one.

Rika groaned. "Damn… Well, what are we doing tomorrow?"

"We? No, I meant me. You have to stay here until I can figure out how to hide you in plain sight."

She groaned again.

"I'm sorry, Rika, but that's how it has to be," I told her, walking off to what looked like the master bedroom. Surprisingly, Rika didn't follow.

I left the door cracked open only so slightly before heading into the bathroom. One toilet, one shower-tub, one sink and vanity. Perfect. I opened the empty medicine cabinet, wishing I had everything I needed with me.

My hand was drawn to my wallet. Mom had insisted on lending me extra money for necessities, as well as the apartment itself. I would go shopping tomorrow… after I asked Kevin about Rika's little problem.

I turned around, flipping the bathroom light off as I left. I looked toward the bed, then out of the window. The sun was barely just setting, but I was tired. No. Exhausted. The upcoming weeks were going to be tough. I would have to be on high alert, wondering if someone's tracking me, or if someone's going to try and over-power me and take me back to jail.

I sighed, falling back onto the bed. "Home…"