So I've had a really sad idea. Kinda morbid. Kinda ehh. I have to incorporate it, though… Not this chapter. Maybe not the next. I don't know.

ooo

Rika giggled. "Home! Oh good. Home… I'll be right back! I'm going to change."

I laughed at the complete randomness of her statement, watching her run off. I looked at the clothes in my hand and sighed. She'd make me wear them if I didn't put them on now, so I might as well. I stepped off to my bedroom, setting the bag on my bed. I stood opposite of the clothes, watching them closely.

They were foreign. New. They were change. I never liked change…

I didn't have a choice, though, so I changed into the pants first. I sat down on the bed, looking at my legs. "Eughh…"

Then, I pulled off my old shirt, tossing it aside. So many memories in that old shit. I'd grown attached to it like the black and white shirt I wore that entire summer vacation. Gwen burned that shirt, though, so I was forced to move on. But this was another change. I'd have to get used to it, though. I can't wear the same clothes for the rest of my life. Not only is it nowhere near hygienic, but they're bound to fall apart at the seams at some point.

I grabbed the green shirt sitting next to me, threading my arms through the holes. The last time I remember wearing any sort of button-up, or even collared shirt, was to a wedding when I was ten. I cringed at the memories of stuffy tuxes and crunchy hair gel, and Gwen in a dress…

"Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew. These clothes are too stifling!" I could hear Rika complaining from down the hall.

"Get used to it, Rika! There's no chance in hell I'm letting you wear your other outfit again."

She sighed, walking into my room. "Why? Because you can't help yourself, or because no one else can?"

"Both— Er… The second one…?"

She laughed, tugging at her shirt. "It sticks to my skin…"

I began buttoning my green shirt. "That's the style here, though."

Rika turned around, poking at her shorts. "They're weird… Earth people are weird…"

"If you wanna see weird, I'll take you to get some chili fries. You can never get that craving out of your system, trust me," I laughed.

"No thanks. I get enough weirdness at home from you, I don't need it from the rest of the humans too," she sighed, turning around.

I smiled, straightening the collar. However, the collar was quite short and didn't want to lie down, so I left it to do what it wished.

"So, what else are we doing today, Alien Boy?"

"Well… First, I need to figure out what all we need to buy. This place doesn't have a TV, so we should probably get a set. Then we need food…"

"Fruit too!"

I smiled. "And bathroom necessities… What else?"

"Uhm…"

I stood up, walking off to the living room. The best way to figure out what we needed was to go around, sitting in various places and assessing what was missing.

Rika followed me silently, chewing on her thumbnail.

I sat down on the couch, looking at everything in my view. TV came to my mind first. A small plant might lighten the room, but it doesn't matter. "Hm."

Rika leaned against the wall, watching my every move.

I walked over to the kitchen, resting my palms on the counter. Another plant in here would be nice, but nothing else seemed to be missing.

"Anything interesting, Alien Boy?"

I shook my head. "Not really…"

"Hmm…"

I walked over to the strange desk attached to the wall in the living room, sitting down in the strangely plush, small chair they provided. "So we need a TV…"

"Mhmm."

"And a few plants, maybe?"

Rika nodded, walking over to the part of the wall opposite of the desk, leaning against that now.

I rested one arm on the desk, the other in my lap. "Maybe a cheap yet functional computer…"

She nodded again. "Hey, Ben. Question…"

I looked up, watching her expression changed from pleased to devious. "Oh no." I blinked.

Her smile grew. "So Ben… Tell me something…" She walked forward, resting the palms of her hands on the desk.

"Should I be afraid…?"

"Tell me that that kiss in the jail meant nothing."

I laughed. "Is that all?"

"Look into my eyes and lie. Tell me what you're trying to make yourself believe."

…

"What's your point, Rika?" I asked her, trying to avoid my nervous tick, which Rika already knows.

"My point is, you're lying to yourself. You can't help yourself."

I raised a brow.

"Ben, you dolt! I'm trying to prove a point and your stupidity is wrecking it!" she growled, pinning my right arm down on the desk. Trying to escape whatever it was she was doing, I lifted my left arm and tried to stand, but she had me almost immobilized. Leaving the desk meant a broken arm.

Before I could try any other escape, Rika kissed me. When she pulled back, she folded her arms across her chest, looking at me with a satisfactory smile.

"…Point proven." I blinked a few times, hoping to regain focus. I ran my fingers through my hair once, trying to figure it all out.

Rika laughed. "I win," she smirked, walking off to the front door.

I let out a short breath, replaying the situation in my head.

She won. I laughed in disbelief. There was no way she could've lost.

ooo

Sorry it's short. I'm drawing a little something for everyone anyway. And a cheesy little drawing of Ben's tattoo is up on my Deviantart.