I’m also entering the world of COMICS this fall with talented artist Lloyd Ladera. You might know him from all the gorgeous character art he made for the past releases. He and I have been accepted in an anthology and we can’t wait to show you our work!<\/p>\n
A few other projects might see the light this year: AS WE KNOW IT, a UF novel with an SF twist has just finished its last round of edits and is ready to be queried. YELLOW! and THE SUM OF THINGS WE CANNOT KNOW are in the process of being developed, and A GAME OF BLOOD AND ROSES is still being drafted. Depending on the Interest, I might be willing to share a little bit about them…<\/p>\n
I also have my eye on other anthologies, and will potentially be working on graphic novels with Lloyd. I’m really excited to show you worlds beyond Starstruck, and I hope you’re willing to join me for the ride!<\/p>\n
And thank you… thank you for making 2017 the best debut year an author could have dreamed of. You’re the best fans I could ever want. I love you all! As a thank you, here’s the surprise: a look into Sally’s life in the years between the power plant explosion and Zander’s return. This short story is EXCLUSIVE and won’t be in print until book 5 hits the shelves! So without further ado, I present… STANDSTILL.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/seandersonauthor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Standstill-2-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u201c5, 4, 3, 2, 1…. Happy new year!\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
The club erupted into cheer, brimming glasses of colorful drinks held high as they started a warm round of auld lang syne<\/i>, which quickly dropped the beat and moved on to something with a little more oomph. The DJ was having the time of his life up there, clutching half his headphones to his ear and shouting something I couldn\u2019t hear, and soon could not see, as the balloons fell from the ceiling and a very affectionate drag queen threw confetti in my face.<\/p>\n
I sputtered as the small pieces of paper hit my eyes and stuck to my lips, brushing them away with my wrist. I shouldn\u2019t have been looking up like that, I shouldn\u2019t have\u2026<\/p>\n
Not everything was an emergency<\/i>, I told myself, taking a deep breath, this is nothing, why are you beating yourself up about it?<\/i><\/p>\n
The problem was that I was<\/i> beating myself up about this. About everything. Maybe I deserved it, because here I was on New Year\u2019s day, and there were two people who hadn\u2019t come into 2018 with me. Zander and Matt were not the only things I would miss from last year, though; having a job, and actually being happy were ranked quite high on the list.<\/p>\n
So far, this new year didn\u2019t look any more promising than the last. I had missed celebrating the last one, since I had been in the hospital because of the\u2026 Incident. One year and so far, no Zander in sight. Not a trace of him. It was, to say the least, very frustrating. He had promised he would come back, and clinging to the idea, to his promise, was probably the last thing keeping me from completely falling overboard.<\/p>\n
I eyed one of the pretty drinks thirstily and shook my head. Snap out of it, Sally Webber<\/i>. But I wanted it. I needed it. I needed something sweet to fog up my thoughts and push the bad memories under the rug for a little while.<\/p>\n
I forced a smile on my face and looked up again. The sweet drag queen with the confetti eyed me sadly, her face growing with recognition as she took me in. I had been getting a lot of looks like that, lately. Perks of having graced the national news after the incident. She gave me an apologetic smile, probably having to do with how unnerved I was looking.<\/p>\n
I turned to find Marcy, the only reason I had come out here tonight at all. But her face wasn\u2019t her face anymore: no, instead, latched on to her bright red lips were bright purple lips, belonging to the pirate queen herself, Dany. The woman\u2019s many golden earrings were catching the light from the club and blinding. She had lifted my small friend into the air, holding her up in a passionate embrace.<\/p>\n
My face turned hot, burning from the pure awkwardness if it all. My hands were shaking again, though I didn\u2019t know of that came from watching the very PDA make-out session or from forcing back my urge to drink copious amounts of alcohol. I stuffed them into my pockets and tripped as I realized my leggings didn\u2019t have any.<\/p>\n
What the hell was I even doing here? What was I doing with makeup caked on my face, a sequined shirt and shoes so high my knees were going to snap? I felt the unease growing in the pit of my stomach, the signals in my head blaring – I was about to break.<\/p>\n
\u201cSally?\u201d Marcy’s hand was suddenly on my shoulder, her voice calm and soothing, but her face was a bright red, even in this blue lighting. I turned to face her, her 2017 glasses slightly askew on her giddy face.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou alright?\u201d she asked, a hint of worry sneaking into her voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m fine,\u201d I lied, smiling back in a way I hoped looked convincing as I shoved everything down as deep as I could into my stomach, \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’re not singing or anything,\u201d she said, \u201cThat’s not like you. Have you had too much? Should I be\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s just a bit crowded in here,\u201d I replied, shaking her off with a wave of my hand. \u201c I swear I haven\u2019t had anything, Marcy. I\u2019m just going to step outside a few minutes. Or maybe I\u2019ll go home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can come with you if you want,\u201d said Dany, with that stoic voice of hers. It always sounded like she was making decrees when she spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cNah, don\u2019t let me bring down your evening,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPromise me you\u2019ll call an Uber?\u201d begged Marcy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m fine, Marcy. Really, I am,\u201d I insisted.<\/p>\n
\u201cOk, if you say so,\u201d She didn’t have time to finish her sentence. Dany scooped her up suddenly,\u00a0 <\/span>wheeling her off into dance. She laughed, happy, as she flew across the club, people making room for the two of them to waltz past. I watched them go, happy to see her so exuberant, yet my mind flashed back to the months before, when I had flown across that very floor, at the arm of Zander, the most incredible dancer I had ever had the chance of knowing. That night, I had literally been swept off my feet.<\/p>\n I had to get out of here.<\/p>\n I made a run for it, if you could call what I did in those shoes running. I found the back exit and threw myself out the door, breathing heavily as I leaned against the brick wall I found waiting for me. Anxiety attack? Panic attack? One of them was coming for me if I didn\u2019t get myself calm.<\/p>\n Breathing fast.<\/p>\n Heart pounding.<\/p>\n Weight on my chest.<\/p>\n Here it came.<\/p>\n I closed my eyes, counted the seconds as I breathed in, held the breath, and let it out again. I lost track of time as I did this, focusing only on the breath, on the calming voice of Dr. Shuman teaching me the technique ages ago.<\/p>\n In. Hold. Out. In. Hold. Out.<\/p>\n I had lost track of time when I finally opened my eyes, realizing then that I was actually cold. I had forgotten my coat, and of course this door was exit only. White fluffy snow covered the ground, my shoes crunching as I made my way down the thin strip of an alley. I shivered, watching my breath rise in front of my eyes. The steam rose in the night air, swirling mist in the dark evening. I watched it dance in a daze, my eyes unable to focus.<\/p>\n Shit. It was freezing out here.<\/p>\n I glanced up and down the alley, trying to remember my way out. But I was assaulted by yet another memory, this time of Matt taking my face in his hands and kissing me softly. My hands reached up and clutched my head. No, No, No. I did not need a replay.<\/p>\n That was the night he had told me to stop being friends with Zander. Why? The thought of our conversation made me feel weird. It hadn\u2019t before. But I didn\u2019t want to remember Matt as being possessive – I wanted to remember him as the sweet, gentle guy he was. I shoved those feelings back where they belonged.<\/p>\n I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and straightened up. A few feet back into the alley, near the dumpster, a form was crouching. It sounded like he was retching – another casualty of the party.<\/p>\n \u201cHave a bit too much to drink?\u201d I called out, approaching him.<\/p>\n They didn\u2019t answer. Whoever they were, they were dressed better for the weather than I was, with a heavy winter coat obscuring all their features. I couldn\u2019t tell anything about them from this angle.<\/p>\n \u201cYou alright?\u201d I crossed my arms over my chest against the cold. It wasn\u2019t helping much.<\/p>\n This time, the person heard me. They snapped upright like a jack in the box. Pop goes the weasel. Now that they were upright, they towered over me, a meter taller than anyone I had ever met before. A bundle lay on the ground before him, where I had expected to find barf.<\/p>\n What the hell?<\/p>\n The realization hit me like a brick in the face: a sharp, sudden thwack that stopped my heart for a beat and forced me back. The form at his feet was oozing, letting out a rotten smell I could not place and didn\u2019t want to.<\/p>\n Because I knew. Even before the form turned to show me way too many teeth. I knew that the coat wasn\u2019t a winter coat but dirty black rags like the reaper would wear. I knew that the smell wasn\u2019t puke.<\/p>\n A shudder went through me. This had to be some cosmic joke: I had just gotten myself through a panic attack and now<\/i> there were actual dementors? Where was chocolate when you needed it?<\/p>\n Oh. And magic wands. Please universe, if you\u2019re going to send me dementors, send me a magic wand, too.<\/p>\n The creature dropped its hood, and the demeanor resemblance poofed<\/i> out of existence. Pale, sickly white skin and a mouth completely round, hundreds upon hundreds of razor sharp teeth protruding from the orifice.<\/p>\n Well, that\u2019s not human.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you do to him?\u201d I asked. Shit, I probably should have said something a little more intimidating. Having met more than one alien before, I knew not to jump to conclusions, but the situation was looking grim, to say the least. It was a little hard to misread this<\/i>.<\/p>\n Could I outrun him? No, not in these shoes – I could barely walk. Could I fight him? What were two fists against a thousand teeth?<\/p>\n Crap. I was trapped.<\/p>\n The creature, of course, gave no answer, except for a sound somewhere between a hiss and a snarl. I wondered if my clutch could be a weapon, then frowned at the idea.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re on earth, learn to speak the language,\u201d I snapped, \u201cmy translator doesn\u2019t have a setting for \u2018asshole\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n The creature hissed again as if he had understood the insult. Oops. Or, maybe he was just mad I had interrupted dinner.<\/p>\n Shit! I was dessert!<\/p>\n Oh, hell no. I had just survived an exploding power plant, seen a friend die, and lost another one to interstellar travel and the annoying side effect of time dilation. I wasn\u2019t going to get eaten in a dark alley now!<\/i><\/p>\n I gathered up my wits, clutching my hands into fists, and with a shout I lashed my foot forward, kicking where I expected to find a groin. No such luck – my foot went straight through, and I toppled forward into the snow, my face gathered in the putrid fabric.<\/p>\n Ok, so floating alien murder guy. Happy new year, Sally Webber!<\/p>\n The creature swooped back, pulling the fabric out from under me. The snow was cold through my sequined top, and my fingers were starting to get numb, not to mention soaking wet. I pushed myself up on my feet just in time to dodge the thing, as it swooped down low.<\/p>\n Yank<\/i>. Even though he had missed me, I was now somehow flying backward in the air. The chain of my clutch had gotten tangled in his arm, and now I was soaring backward while the alien was struggling to shake me loose. I dug my feet into the freezing snow and tugged back on my clutch, but the alien was strong, pulling against me the other way.<\/p>\n \u201cLet go, dammit!\u201d I screamed, \u201cit doesn\u2019t go with your outfit!\u201d<\/p>\n He let out a gurgling hiss again, somehow sounding angrier now. He swooped forward, knocking me back on the ground with an oomph<\/i>. Winded, I tried to push myself up, but he was already on top of me, gliding through the air like it was nothing to him.<\/p>\n Sharp, razor-sharp shark’s teeth. With a long tongue, he licked his upper lip, which I guess could be considered his forehead.<\/p>\n I scrambled back, my hands burning in the fiery cold of the snow, but the creature was following easily, one long slender hand still wrapped in the chain of my purse. I couldn’t pull get up, I couldn\u2019t run. All I could smell was the odor of the beast\u2019s putrid breath, a metallic scent coating it all.<\/p>\n He was ravenous, hungry, fully intent on me. But I had no intention of being its next meal. I grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at the monster’s face, but it did nothing, sliding into his mouth like I had just given them pop rocks.<\/p>\n And then it was over me, on me, its leech-like mouth edging closer to my face –<\/p>\n Bang.<\/i><\/p>\n The creature fell on my chest, dead. I pushed it off me and crawled back, panting heavily. Its body had barely made any sound as it hit the fluffy snow. The hole through his chest was wide, wider than my arm, a clean cut right through its body. I scrambled to my feet in a jolt, trying to calm my breathing, my overwhelming shock. Someone had saved me. Someone had known what to do –<\/p>\n Silhouetted in the alleyway was a man, gun in hand, silent, not uttering a word. My heart skipped a beat: the build, the height, the gun – it was Zander.<\/p>\n He had come back for me.<\/p>\n But as I gathered my breath and my eyes adjusted to the gloom, I saw that I could not have been more wrong. It wasn\u2019t a man standing there, but nor was it a human. They were less muscular than Zander but still tall, and the hairstyle was so similar it had caught me off guard.<\/p>\n And then, I realized I recognized them.<\/p>\n \u201cTaylor? What are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n They smiled as they lowered the gun.<\/p>\n \u201cSaving your ass, of course,\u201d they said, smirking, \u201cnow come on, you\u2019re soaking. We need to get you warm. How do you feel about pie?\u201d<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Taylor looked exactly the same as the last time I had seen them, except maybe for the beautiful blue trench coat and the lack of terror in their eyes.<\/p>\n They bent over the corpse, patting around the neck and chest, making sure the creature really was dead, before then going through the pockets of its long black robe. Finding nothing, Taylor slung the body over their shoulders with a low grunt, walked it over to the dumpster, and threw it in, slamming the lid shut. Then they were at the side of the victim, checking his pulse. They must have found one because they pulled out his phone and made a few frantic calls while speaking encouragement to the\u00a0man on the ground. I thought I heard my name thrown in there.<\/p>\n And I, like a dumbass, just stood there shaking in the snow.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, pie?\u201d Asked Taylor, slipping the phone back into their pocket. They took my arms and scanned the over, turning my hands up and down a few times until they were content. Their touch was warm, even through the gloves.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, sure, I guess,\u201d I stammered, taking my hands back, \u201cI thought you were never coming back here! Aren\u2019t you supposed to be changing identities? Aren\u2019t you supposed to be in hiding?\u201d<\/p>\n Taylor gave me a knowing smile, a very Zander-like smirk. They leaned down, picking up my clutch and handing it to me. I took it with shaking fingers.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine, thanks for asking,\u201d they said, \u201cthings have changed lately. You\u2019ll see in a few. I\u2019ve made an ally who\u2019s been really remarkable in all this: they\u2019ll meet us inside. And you? Are you alright? Last I heard, you and that Zander dude blew up a power plant.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t\u2026\u201d I shuddered: that was exactly what we had done. Though I hadn\u2019t exactly been the one to press the self-destruct button.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not in shock, are you?\u201d they asked, \u201cNear-death encounters can cause you humans to go into shock.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI’m fine, really,\u201d I said, shaking my head.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cActually, I just left the hospital a few days ago from that other interview with death. Late night talk show, so I didn’t stay long.\u201d<\/p>\n Taylor chuckled quietly under his breath, before giving me a warm smile.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, pie?\u201d they asked, grinning. And before I knew what I was doing, I nodded quickly.<\/p>\n The great thing about small university towns is just how close things are to each other. Across from Scintilliance, or at least a short half block down, was the Jitterbug, my favorite coffee place. And apparently, Taylor\u2019s pie place. And, miracle of miracles, they were open in the middle of the night on New Years.<\/p>\n We sat down in one of the cozy booths as Mona, the only staff here tonight, came over with the menus. Taylor got Apple Pie. I got cherry. Three coffees were ordered. Mona brought us the order then went back to playing candy crush on her cell phone, giving us a little privacy.<\/p>\n \u201cI keep expecting you to start sobbing or something, but you seem fine,\u201d Taylor remarked casually enough, between ravenous bites of pie. \u201cThat interview<\/i> with death, so to speak, must have been pretty bad for you to be so calm right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was,\u201d I nodded. \u201cSurviving explosions does that to you. But I think it\u2019s the fact I\u2019m soaking wet and exhausted that makes me realize there\u2019s nothing left to panic about, anymore. I mean, this is my life now. Aliens in alleyways. Aliens coming to my rescue. Everywhere I look, extraterrestrials are trying to screw up my day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOr buy you pie,\u201d Taylor slurped at their coffee.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy are you back here, Taylor?\u201d I asked again, \u201cNot that I\u2019m not happy to see you again. I am. But I thought you had left for good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI had,\u201d they replied, putting the mug back on the table, \u201cbut I\u2019ve had an interesting few months. And I honestly wanted to check up on you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou did?\u201d my eyes went wide, \u201cwhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou made global news, hon,\u201d Taylor insisted, \u201cfor not dying. I had to see what was up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat was weeks ago.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have a lot on my plate,\u201d they sighed heavily. They waved Mona over and got a second slice of pie, thing time peach cobbler.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnyways, lucky escape.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was,\u201d I replied. \u201cI’m not sure how or why I survived, I\u2019m just glad I did.\u201d<\/p>\n I returned to my pie, unable to really taste it, as Taylor tucked into the cobbler. A long awkward silence went by, neither of us wanting to say anything.<\/p>\n Finally, with my pie done, I felt like I had to do something. This was Taylor, for heaven\u2019s sakes. Taylor was back. And aliens were still as real as they were last month.<\/p>\n \u201cYou said you have a friend coming,\u201d I said, pointing to the extra mug. Taylor nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cJust stay cool, ok?\u201d they said, a weak smile on their face, \u201cShe doesn\u2019t know I\u2019m\u2026 not from here. We\u2019ve been helping each other with things. She can help you, too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHelp with what?\u201d I asked, but at that moment the door opened, and speak of the devil, in stepped the stranger.<\/p>\n She was beautiful. Tall and slender, she wore a smart navy blue pantsuit that only made her seem taller than she already was. Her hair sprang out in every direction, a burst of magnificent black, perfect curls surrounding her gorgeous face. Her bright brown eyes were alert, on fire even, locking onto mine as a smile grew on her face.<\/p>\n \u201cAh! Sally Webber, I take it?\u201d she said, marching towards me, her hand already outstretched to shake mine. I stood, feeling quite suddenly like I was at a job interview.<\/p>\n \u201cSally, this is James Felling,\u201d said Taylor, \u201cFelling, this is Sally.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou look quite calm for having just met a Leechin<\/i>,\u201d said Felling, suspicion crossing the dark features of her face, \u201care you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just shock, Felling,\u201d said Taylor, \u201csit down, your coffee\u2019s getting cold.\u201d<\/p>\n Felling slid into the booth, taking the spot that had previously been Taylor\u2019s. She picked up the coffee with relish, smiling as she breathed in the scent. As she moved her arm, I caught the bulge of a sidearm holstered under her breast. I shuddered.<\/p>\n \u201cJames?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a bit of an\u2026 odd name, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s complicated. Have you given her the talk, yet?\u201d she asked Taylor, who shook their head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I thought you\u2019d want to do the honors,\u201d Taylor then glanced at me and gave me a quick wink.<\/p>\n \u201cOk,\u201d Felling put down the coffee and crossed her hands on the table before her. She leaned forward, drawing me in. \u201cI\u2019m going to be perfectly honest with you. I think you deserve the truth after what you\u2019ve been through, and Taylor here vouches for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cO\u2026 Kay?\u201d I replied, confused as ever. This was starting to become my default setting.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty big,\u201d she warned, \u201cLife changing. Your world will never be the same.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou sure you want to do that to me?\u201d I asked, and Taylor rolled their eyes. I hoped this wasn’t going where I thought it was going.<\/p>\n \u201cYou deserve it,\u201d Felling insisted. \u201cAnyway… the creature that tried to kill you tonight? We call them Leechins<\/i>. And they’re \u2013 they’re aliens.\u201d<\/p>\n My eyes went wide. Taylor was barely containing their laughter at this point. They grabbed their mug and made a fuss of drinking the coffee.<\/p>\n \u201cAliens\u2026?\u201d I muttered, feeling my eyebrows ascending my forehead like they were a part of an alien abduction themselves. Or maybe because they wanted to be anywhere but here.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve seen them myself,\u201d Felling nodded slowly. \u201cI know it sounds preposterous. But after what you\u2019ve seen tonight? You can\u2019t deny that that creature was not of this world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight, so taking what you\u2019re saying is true,\u201d I said, feigning ignorance, \u201cWhat did this so-called Leechin want with me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe call them Leechins because they\u2019re so much like leeches,\u201d she explained, \u201cLeechins are pretty common, and are always nasty. They’re scavengers, you see, much like vultures. Wouldn’t go back to their home planet even if they had the chance. Anyways, probably found the victim passed out and went in for an easy meal. You threatened it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt started it!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just amazing you lasted long enough for Taylor to show up,\u201d said Felling, \u201cI\u2019m glad you\u2019re alright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, thanks,\u201d I muttered, and picked up my coffee mug as well. This was really awkward. \u201cSo you do\u2026 what, exactly? Shoot down aliens from outer space?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLeechins are pests,\u201d she said, suddenly solemn, \u201cIncredibly dangerous to the human population, but dumb as heck. No longer any intelligence, no full brain capacity. Of course, we try to keep them under wraps, but the taste of human blood makes them dangerous, almost insane. If they do take a human being as a snack, we have to put them down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, wait, don\u2019t say it!\u201d I wanted to laugh. Holy hell my night was weird. \u201cYou and Taylor are part of a shady government conspiracy to keep humans safe from aliens. Am I right? I have to be right, this is just like on TV. The way you\u2019re dressed, it\u2019s too perfect! So who do you work for? FBI? CIA? Secret government task force?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait, I know you,\u201d said James, \u201cYou\u2019re that girl! The one from the Grisham case!\u201d<\/p>\n I groaned internally. Or maybe out loud, judging by the looks I got.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d I said, \u201csorry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFuck,\u201d Felling leaned back, taking her arms off the table and angling herself over to Taylor, \u201cyou didn\u2019t tell me your friend was her<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t exactly planning on calling you over here tonight, James,\u201d they said, \u201cI didn\u2019t want you turning her into another one of your cases.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut she\u2019s already a case,\u201d Felling insisted, glancing over in my direction. \u201cShe became a case when she fully recovered from third-degree burns overnight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry about that,\u201d I muttered. I started planning my escape route – how fast and how far could I run before this agent pulled her gun on me?<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s my friend,\u201d said Taylor, blankly, \u201cshe saved my life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you just saved hers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow we\u2019re even!\u201d I said, \u201cMazeltov! Felling, are you going to take me in or something?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would I do that?\u201d she asked, finally turning back to face me.<\/p>\n \u201cYou just said that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLook,\u201d Felling rolled her eyes, \u201cright now you\u2019re being hailed as a medical miracle. I\u2019m sure someone has already told you they want to monitor your health to see if the explosion did any lasting damage to your body.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d I nodded, \u201cand something about subterranean radiation bullcrap.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell that\u2019s the extent of their interest,\u201d she shrugged, \u201cyour case landed on my desk. I thought nothing of it. There\u2019s nothing to it, is there?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d I shook my head, \u201cNothing to it. How do you know all this? What do you mean by cases?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not at liberty to say.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell James about your friend?\u201d Taylor asked, making urgent motions with her face, \u201cplease?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat friend?\u201d asked James.<\/p>\n I shrugged. \u201cSome of my friends are aliens. Well, one of them \u2013\u00a0 <\/span>both of them are aliens, his sister doesn’t seem to like me very much. So not exactly a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou’re kidding,\u201d James whistled, glancing at Taylor nervously, \u201cYou’re just making fun of me, aren’t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI’m serious!\u201d I nodded, and Taylor nodded too. \u201cThough I don\u2019t know why I\u2019m telling you this. Taylor?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrust me,\u201d Taylor said, \u201cthe two of you need to be on the same page.\u201d<\/p>\n I swallowed heavily. If Taylor thought the James chick was to be trusted, then I was going to take the chance. Taylor had saved my life, after all.<\/p>\n There was a tap on my foot – Taylor. I look up to meet their gaze, and they gave me a halting look. Now, this was getting confusing. So I was meant to tell Felling about Zander\u2026 but not everything.<\/p>\n I guess?<\/p>\n How much can you really tell from a foot tap?<\/p>\n \u201cFine, then: he came from outer space, and I promptly ran him over with my car,\u201d I explained.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe lived in my spare room for two months, correcting sci-fi movies and books. He integrated our culture, we worked together. Then his sister came, they blew up the plant, yada yada yada, and now, now he’s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDead?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust\u2026 away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got a serious problem,\u201d she said, leaning back and crossing her arms over her chest. I could only shrug. \u201cTaylor, what\u2019s this shit?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would I make that up?\u201d I sputtered, \u201cTo impress you? To make fun of you? I just met you, I\u2019ve got no reason to lie to you. This is the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n I slammed my hand down hard on the table, making our dishes jump with a loud clang<\/i>. My hand tingled from the collision – that was not a smart idea.<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t believe you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Zander and Blayde were pretty unbelievable in the flesh as well.\u201d<\/p>\n At the sound of their names, she froze, petrified, as if she had turned to stone. She stared at me, eyes wide with shock, unable to speak, glancing at Taylor, who nodded, then back at me again.<\/p>\n \u201cZander and Blayde?\u201d she urged, her face a dazzling smile, \u201cYou did say Zander and Blayde?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you knew them?\u201d she asked, \u201cAnd Zander lived at your house for two months? This is impossible! I\u2019m actually speaking with someone who has met Zander and Blayde!\u201d She looked uneasy, excited, nervous, all at once, glancing at Taylor for support.\u00a0 <\/span>Her face ran hot and red, his hands trembling slightly.<\/p>\n Taylor looked quite smug in all this. \u201cYou see? Told you.\u201d<\/p>\n I pulled out my phone, scrolling through the camera roll as Felling waited. I picked a good selfie, one Zander had taken accidentally as he was trying to use my phone as a mirror. My heart got tight as I looked at it. I wasn\u2019t ready to see his smile just yet.<\/p>\n Breathe. Just breathe.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s him, right there,\u201d I said, and Felling stared, his eyes somehow becoming wider as he recognized the face.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s him\u2026 it\u2019s really him,\u201d she muttered, almost a whisper. Almost a prayer. Taylor shot me a wink. I didn\u2019t think my night could get any weirder than this, and now\u2026 now I apparently met one of Zander\u2019s fans.<\/p>\n \u201cSo,\u201d I said, clearing some pie from my throat, \u201cHow’s this connected to Zander? You know him or something?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe’ve noticed him,\u201d said James, leaning in conspiratorially, \u201cAs we looked through old frescoes and paintings and such. Always the same man, accompanied by the same woman. Always. There are representations of him scattered throughout human history. We even found a written record of him in the original tale of Sir Arthur.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe once mentioned meeting him,\u201d I agreed as if that was the most casual thing in the world. It was odd, the things I had gotten used to with him as my roommate.<\/p>\n \u201cWe discovered their names in the journal of Maria Theresa, Queen of Hungary \u2013 Marie Antoinette’s mother. She called him Zander. Then Blayde showed up in the records of Louis the XIVof France’s court: they called her \u201cLame<\/i>\u201d which technically means Blade in French. Totally different meaning in English… but anyway. We’ve been trying for years, calculating out the probabilities of him appearing in certain sports, gathering information from different sightings of him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait, you can predict where he\u2019ll jump to?\u201d I found myself sitting up taller in my chair. My heart was pounding, this time from excitement, not fear. \u201cHow does it work? And has it worked?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot yet,\u201d she grinned, as if slightly embarrassed, combing her hand through her thick black hair. \u201cHad to teach myself statistical physics to try and interpret the data, but he seems to appear in places at random. It\u2019s like we\u2019re missing something: jumps that weren\u2019t recorded, or a dimension\u2026 no matter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo it hasn\u2019t actually worked yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUrm, no.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut you’ve met him!\u201d the woman said, leaning in, \u201cThere’s so much you can tell me about him!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t know how much I should say…\u201d I glanced at Taylor for support, but this time, they only shrugged. I guess Zander\u2019s identity was up to me. \u201cHe is a real person, a friend. He deserves some privacy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThink about it,\u201d she said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out her card. She scribbled a number quickly on the back before handing it to me. \u201cHere\u2019s my number. Call me day or night. I just want to know a little more about him. Why he pops up throughout history. Why he never changes. I just\u2026 I just want to know his deal.\u201d She stood now, nodding to both Taylor and I. \u201cI have to go. I have to be in Alexandria in the morning. Taylor, you have her from here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about us,\u201d said Taylor.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat,\u201d she said, \u201cSally, please do think about calling me. Or texting. Whatever. I can be a formidable ally if you want me to be.\u201d<\/p>\n And with that, she turned into a whirlwind and flew out the door. Taylor scooted to take her empty seat, eyeing me through fully.<\/p>\n \u201cSooo,\u201d they asked, \u201cwhat do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf her?\u201d I wanted to laugh, \u201cTaylor,\u00a0 <\/span>what\u2019s going on? You\u2019re helping a human deal with alien cases? It\u2019s adorable!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStop it,\u201d Taylor insisted, \u201ccut it out! I\u2019m not a child.\u201d<\/p>\n I let out a girlish giggle. My evening could not get any more weird, but here I was, in a coffee shop, chatting about crushes with an alien I hadn\u2019t seen since we\u2019d escaped abduction together.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry I dragged you into this,\u201d they said, \u201cI needed to give Felling something she wanted. Now she owes me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut who is she? What is she?\u201d I asked. \u201cLike\u2026 FBI? Are you her lone gunman?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs that an X-files reference?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah? Taylor, is she Mulder?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not allowed to say,\u201d Taylor replied, grinning conspiratorially.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere are you headed?\u201d I asked, getting up, \u201cit\u2019s the middle of the night. You have a place to stay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was heading for a motel,\u201d she shrugged, \u201cspotted a nice one on the way into town.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou could just stay with me,\u201d I said, \u201cI\u2019ve gotten in the habit of inviting aliens into my spare room.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOr maybe,\u201d said Taylor, \u201cmaybe it doesn\u2019t have to be your spare<\/i> room.\u201d<\/p>\n And that\u2019s the story of how I took Taylor home on New Year\u2019s day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Happy 2018, friends! I hope your year is as exciting as mine. I think it’s time to tell you a little about what to expect from S.E. Anderson in the coming year… First of all, I have a special STARSTRUCK surprise for you down below. So stick with me, here. Next, we have TWO Starstruck […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":322,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[11,34,53,57,58,59],"class_list":["post-321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-aliens","tag-funny","tag-s-e-anderson","tag-short-story","tag-standstill","tag-starstruck"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/seandersonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/seandersonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/seandersonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seandersonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seandersonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=321"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/seandersonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/321\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/seandersonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seandersonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seandersonauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}