Beach City wasn't on any map that Reese could find. But to Reese, that meant this was exactly the kind of place worth finding. He had heard mutterings of the place in his travels, usually in passing and not much in detail. It seemed as though most people didn't truly know what went on in this mysterious city. He figured that, if he just drove until he found a beach, then he'd inevitably find this mysterious Beach City, would he not?

The skyscrapers and fancy hotels of Empire City gave way to the sprawling hills of the open road, with no trees in sight. Just open fields and grassy hills for miles upon miles. No other cars on the road, either, Reese noted. Just himself in his beat-up car that he may or may not have stolen. An open road like this wasn't normal, though he had been on a few once or twice before. But therein lay the issue; there was always at least a passing vehicle, or a truck - something that warranted the paved path being there. But here? Nothing.

The battered car groaned to a stop, its engine sputtering one last, half-hearted protest before falling dead silent. Great, now he was going to have to walk. He couldn't call - of course, he also couldn't pay - a tow truck, owning no cellphone to speak of. He sat there a moment, with frustration and a deep tiredness resting in his very soul. If nothing else, he considered, at least the view was gorgeous. And this far out, with little light to speak of, it was. Stars twinkled and gleamed in the sky, their light traveling thousands of lightyears and finally reaching Reese's eyes with no light pollution around.

He sighed and relented. He was going to have to walk. He gathered up what he could from the car in his beat-up backpack; a wallet with his driver's license and about forty bucks in cash and loose change; an MP3 player he had loaded with songs using the public computers at libraries he stumbled across; a water bottle filled with day old drinking fountain water; and an assortment of processed snacks, most of which were stolen from the occasional gas station. Finally, he popped open the trunk and grabbed his guitar case. He could never forget the guitar case. Reese popped in the cheap pair of earbuds and pressed play. The sharp chords of an electric guitar began to fill his ears, and he began his trek.

Reese wasn't entirely sure why Beach City called to him. Perhaps it was his natural curiosity, perhaps it was the mystery that seemed to radiate from the name, or perhaps he just needed a new direction to move towards. Beach City felt like it had answers, or at the very least, something to do or see. These days, all Reese had was just things to pass the time. Traveling state to state, taking refuge in whatever hovel he could find whenever he could no longer keep his eyes open on the road. Reading any and all books he could get his hands on, playing chess in open parks, and even occasionally busking for cash.

He assumed it would be no different in this mythical city.

Reese's steps faintly echoed throughout the still darkness on the side of the empty road. He could just barely hear the crickets over his music. With every step, the strap of his guitar case dug into his shoulder despite his attempts to readjust. It made his guitar case feel heavier than before, despite carrying the weight on his shoulders several times before. He had been carrying it forever, in fact, sometimes literally and figuratively. Sometimes, when he was busking, he enjoyed imagining that his guitar was more than an instrument. In many ways, it was both a weapon and a suit of armor, even a shield. Just a little something to make himself feel like more than a seventeen-year-old wandering aimlessly through the backroads of America.

He hadn't had a direction since the night he left home - or, more accurately, was shoved out of it. He had long since stopped replaying the arguments, accusations, and empty promises of better things. Reese quickly learned that some things don't get fixed, no matter what you change. He had spent many nights staring up at skies much like this one. Wondering if it was better to be out here with nothing or back there with something. Some days, he could convince himself of the former; other days, it was impossible to not envision a life of the latter.

He paused for a moment to properly adjust the strap of his guitar case - the digging pain was becoming almost unbearable for this length of time. Here, with nearly no street lights, the stars were even brighter, sparkling like shattered glass in the sky. He imagined what it would be like to be one of them - untouchable, unmovable, thousands of lightyears away from everything. They didn't have to worry about silly human matters like this - all they had to do was glow and shine for a few thousand years, and then - poof! Gone, to let the last of its light travel to distant planets before fizzling out.

The song in Reese's ears shifted to a slower tempo. He started walking again, the thought of staying still somehow worse than the effort of trudging forward. He wasn't even entirely sure that Beach City existed, he thought to himself. What if it was just another dead end? Nothing more than a sandy coastline? Or a town with no answers, and nothing waiting for him but the dull reality he already lived with? But he kept walking. Because maybe, just maybe, there was something different waiting for him at the end of this road. And if not, well, at least it would be a new kind of disappointment.

Reese hadn't even noticed the vehicle coming down the road behind him. So when it slowed to a crawl beside him, he was nearly startled out of his skin when a voice called out to him.

"Hey there!" Came a man's voice. Reese jumped and turned to look inside the vehicle. Inside was a couple; a salt-and-pepper-haired man in a pair of glasses, and the woman whom Reese assumed was his wife, a woman with hair that was similarly salt-and-pepper but was much grayer than her husband's, implying a non-insignificant age gap between the two. Reese returned the greeting. "We saw your car on the side of the road back there, are you heading to Beach City?" He asked, despite the whispered protests from his wife. ("Doug, don't you dare!")

"Uh, yeah, actually, I am. I don't, uhm… have a phone so I couldn't call a tow truck or anything…"

"Want us to give you a ride? It'll be a lot quicker, trust me. And we can see if we can get Bismuth out here to give you a tow and fix the car up." ("Doug, no!")

Reese weighed his options. He had hitchhiked in the past a couple of times, usually with disastrous results. The people that they let drive the trucks… He shook the thought from his head. Doug and his wife didn't seem like axe murderers, and even if they were, frankly that was better than some of the people who had picked him up before. "Sure, if it's not too much trouble. But I wouldn't want to cross any boundaries with your wife…"

"See? He doesn't want a ride from us. So sorry to disturb you." The wife turned back to her husband, silently ushering him to keep driving. The car didn't move. What followed, Reese could only describe as a silent debate, watching silent gestures and eye movements from the two as they seemed to argue over the issue. Reese was just forced to stand there silently, watching this odd exchange take place. After a minute or two, the wife sighed, turned to Reese, and said hesitantly. "You may enter the vehicle."

Reese nervously fumbled with the door of the car, sliding in his guitar case first, followed by the rest of him and his bag. As he shut the door and the car began moving again, Doug looked up at the mirror and said, "My name's Doug, and this is my wife, Priyanka. What brings you to Beach City?"

"But you will refer to me as ." said bluntly. Her sharp tone carried the same precision as a scalpel.

"Yes ma'am, ," Reese responded. He had been raised in the south, and had manners more than the average person; never would he disrespect a doctor unless they deserved it. And so far, the good doctor did not. "I'm just on a sort of… road trip, I guess you could say. Heard some folks talking about Beach City on occasion and I've just been driving to find it. Doesn't seem to be on any map I could find. Oh, and I'm Reese, by the way."
"That makes sense. It didn't establish itself as a proper spot on the map until a couple of years ago. We've grown the past twenty years, but before that, it was a small seaside town." Explained Doug.

"Is there anywhere cheap I can get a room for the night?"

"There's a hotel in Little Homeworld where you can stay. Free of charge, too."

"What's Little Homeworld?"

Right as Reese asked this question, he saw it. A huge hexagonal tower, rising high into the air with a strange whirly-bird-like structure spinning on top of it. At its base, a sprawling wealth of buildings big and small stretched out, surrounded by beige colored walls and the greenest, healthiest hedges he's seen. The buildings were all sorts of shapes and sizes, made of so many different materials. Some even sparkled in the moonlight, as if made from some kind of precious crystal. Reese had always been one for the city, and always appreciated a good view of the lights and hustle and bustle of a busy city. And Little Homeworld, despite its relatively small size when compared to other cities, outshone them all.

In the near distance, he saw a classic red barn. Steaming in front of it was a bustling field of corn, pumpkins, watermelon, and every other kind of plant he could think of. He could see figures tending to the crops with focus and dedication. Across from it, at the other end of the town that sat in the middle, at the top of a hill was a lighthouse, its large spotlights spinning for the distant boats to let them know that the city was there. As they curved the road into Beach City, they passed the "Welcome to Beach City" sign, underneath which was a small scrap metal sign that read "And Little Homeworld!" in what seemed to be black paint.

"...Wow."

"Yes, the Gems worked tirelessly to grow Little Homeworld into what you see before you. Though frankly, it would save space if they expanded up instead of out…" said the last part under her breath. They weaved their way through the roads of the main town, passing neighborhoods and businesses that one would expect to see in any suburban town. With it so late, most of the city was dark save for the street lights.

Doug parked on the edge of "Little Homeworld," where pavement gave way to a strange crystalline texture that faintly shimmered. Cautiously, Reese stepped out of the vehicle, his boots lightly slipping on the smooth surface. His gaze darted between the intricate structures - some resembled polished gemstones carved into the shapes of buildings, while others had a mix of organic and metallic designs that felt more alien than anything he'd seen before.

"Here we are - Little Homeworld!" Doug announced, spreading his arms in a showman-like fashion. "Yep, the Gems built this place when they settled here so long ago, and they've been slowly expanding over the years."

"Wait," Reese interrupted, turning to Doug and . "Gems? What, like jewels?"

"Oh, right. Even after all these years, I suppose no one outside of Beach City knows about them." to Reese. "Not exactly. They are… well, I guess there's only one word for it. They are aliens. As in, space aliens."

Reese didn't even know what to say to that. Aliens? Seriously? He looked for some sort of indication that was joking, and there was none. Besides, in the thirty minutes Reese knew her, she didn't seem like the prankster type. "You're serious, aren't you?"

"Always."

"We'll walk you to the Zircon Hotel. Come on." Doug gestured with a grin. Reese reluctantly followed, confused and unsure about this new development. Aliens? Surely not. He explored the other, more likely options in his head; that the Maheswarans were just crazy. Was she even a doctor? Maybe he did get into a car with a couple of maniacs.

As they walked further into Little Homeworld, though, Reese got a good look at the residents of this strange settlement. Almost everywhere he looked there were humanoid figures of impossible proportions and impossible colors, from strangely angular and bright pink to short and crystalline, with limbs that bent in impossible ways. They waved at the three as they passed, unwavering smiles intact.

"...Friendly bunch." That is all Reese could muster up to say. His attention was pulled upward as a small, beetle-like machine flew past, zipping through buildings and passersby before settling into the shoulder of a… "Gem," with flowing, multi-colored hair. The Gem smiled, their eyes glowing in the dark.

"They are!" Doug smiled. "You'll warm up to them if you're here long enough."

"So, uh…" Reese began. He wasn't quite sure how to phrase it. He didn't want to piss off the space aliens, or even worse, be a slight inconvenience. "They're just out and about like this, all the time?"

"Of course. Why would they not?" replied. "This is their home, as Earth is our home. Their presence here is as natural as ours."

Reese wasn't sure if "natural" was the word he'd use.

They finally arrived at a dome-shaped building. Its walls sparkled, and a faint warm glow came from within. From outside the transparent doors, Reese could see what he assumed to be the lobby; a cozy interior with decorations that were… mostly human.

"You'll be able to stay here for the night. The Zircon is the best hotel this side of Delmarva!" Doug looked upon the building satisfied. Then his face fell as if remembering something. "Just so you know, Zircon can be… uptight. But she's a kind-hearted Gem. If she gives you any trouble about getting a room just say you're a friend of ." ("Doug, we are not friends with this vagabond.")

"Thank you. For the ride, I mean." Reese said, his voice soft.

"No trouble at all. Oh, and here's Bismuth's shop!" Doug quickly scribbled something on a piece of paper. "That's her address. She can help you get your car fixed up. Bismuth's always up for lending a helping hand." Doug turned back towards his car, leaving with Reese for just a moment.

"Be careful." Said . Reese just said a quick "Yes ma'am" in response.

Reese approached the hotel doors. They slid open automatically, leading into a spotless lobby, the polished floors shimmering from the chandelier that hung. On one side of the lobby, a single television mounted on the wall was playing reruns of Judge Judy, an old show from nearly forty years ago that Reese was surprised was even still around.

Then Reese got his first proper look at a "Gem." Behind the front desk was a figure with olive green skin. Her yellow hair was styled into two points, one small in the back and one large in the front. She wore a yellow suit complete with a necktie, a singular yellow jewel embedded in it.

This figure - Zircon, Reese could assume - looked up from a tablet in her hand. Her sharp eyes narrowed, and Reese was suddenly all too aware of his demeanor and behavior. "Welcome to the Zircon," Zircon said, her voice crisp and formal. "Do you have a reservation?"

Reese hesitated, suddenly caught off guard. "Oh, um, no… no, I don't. But I was told to tell you that I was sent by ?"

Zircon's eyes briefly darted to Reese's guitar case and backpack. Her lips pursed in thought before she sighed. "Yes, 's… acquaintances are always welcome. Come."

Zircon led down a narrow hallway, Reese trailing behind just far enough to feel awkward about the distance. The walls had simple but elegant decorations; paintings - primarily, it would seem, of courtrooms, almost all of which were signed by a "Pearl" - and fancy vases and tables, each holding plant life unfamiliar to Reese. Zircon eventually stopped in front of a door, marked by the number "204" in gold lettering. Zircon produced a keycard from almost nowhere with a flick of her wrist and handed it to Reese.

"This is a standard room. It comes with a bed, bathroom, and basic amenities. Breakfast will be served from six AM to precisely eight AM sharp. And please…" Zircon eyed the guitar case again. "...keep the noise level to a minimum. We strive for a peaceful environment here at the Zircon."

"Sure. Thank you, uh… Zircon, right?"

"Correct." Zircon gave a curt nod. "If you require anything, the desk is staffed twenty-four hours a day. I hope you enjoy your stay."

The room was small but immaculate. And just as Zircon described; to the immediate left of the door was a bathroom, across from which was a closet supplied with hangers and a safe. A TV sat on a stand across from the bed, and on the far wall was a large window that overlooked the rest of Little Homeworld and out into Beach City.

"So… aliens, huh?" Reese said to no one after he finally put his things down. He sank into the bed, processing this new development. He knew that this revelation should be a bigger deal, but he just seemed to be… accepting it, for some odd reason.

And as he dozed off, laying in the first bed he'd been able to sleep in for a long time, a smile formed on his face. This was the safest he'd been in a long time. And it was amongst a bunch of aliens. Literal aliens. The absurdity of it all made him laugh. It was weird, it was odd, it was…

Imperfect.

As he had this thought, memories of two months ago entered his head. Shouting. The argument. Ten minutes to grab his shit and leave.

"You think you can just do whatever you want? Like this family doesn't matter to you?!" His father had spat, with words sharp enough to cut. Reese had tried to respond, tried to explain, but the words caught in his throat. How could he make them understand something he didn't even understand himself?

He reached for his guitar. He took it from the case and held it close to his chest. He held it gingerly but held on for dear life. He dared not grip it too tightly. He arranged his fingers and softly played his favorite chords; G, B7, E minor, C.
"I know we'll never grow old together.

But you'll never grow old to me…"