…

“So, yeah, the last thing that I remember before waking up this time was Thomas running towards me. Then, just black.”

Everyone was looking at me wide eyed. I just finished telling my story, and not once was I interrupted. There was a very loud gulp, and all of our eyes turned to Jasper.

“So, when you woke up in the middle of the night?” He started.

“I was scared.” I put my head down. “I barely opened my eyes, so that it would look like I was still asleep. There was someone I didn’t know. She was just sitting, staring wistfully into space. Then, I heard the thunderous sound of a phone vibration. I slammed my eyes shut as the woman turned to look at me. She sighed, and I heard the door open and close. I knew that it was my only chance to escape, so I took it.”

I am breathing hard. I feel phantom hands around my neck and handcuffs on my wrists. I can’t breathe. The room is starting to spin, but I feel a grounding pressure on my hand and waist. I turn to see Isabella hugging me, with her head buried in my side. I turn the other way and see a very concerned Thomas. I am safe. I am with people who will keep me safe.

I give Thomas a soft smile that he reflects, but the grip on my hand does not loosen.

“You went to the last place you felt safe, didn’t you?” I looked up towards a very worried Rex and nodded my head.

“Oh, Vi, I am so sorry,” Jasper sounds like he’s on the verge of tears. “This is all my fault. I just wanted to take care of you after you took care of me. I know that Mercury has the best doctors, I mean, of course, they have my Biff. I should have never taken you off Earth. I am so sorry. But, I knew that you could only get better here. I mean you got shot twice! But in bringing you here I got you hurt so much worse, I am so sorry!” Jasper was crying now.

I see that talking fast runs in his family. I almost didn’t catch a thing he said. “Jasper,” I croaked. “It is okay. I am okay.” I give him a smile, hoping to calm him down. It works; he’s breathing a little slower, and Biff has wrapped his arms around him.

Biff looks to me, giving me a soft thanks for reassuring his boyfriend. His eyes go wide when he sees the exhaustion in my face. Without letting go of Jasper, Biff shuffles his way over to me. Placing his hand on my forehead, I shut my eyes. I feel all of my strength leaving me.

“We need to let her rest,” Biff asserts to the room. “Go ahead and sleep, Vi, we’ll make sure that you’re safe.”

With my eyes still closed, I nod. Sleep comes fast, but before I fade out, I still feel the warmth of a hand around mine.

------

I don’t think that I have ever slept this much or this deeply in my entire life. Usually, I am awoken by the slightest of sounds, even crickets outside my window would keep me awake. I know that I must have been out of it, because when I woke up just now, it was Jared holding my hand and Jasper sitting beside me, fast asleep. Knowing that I am safe, I don’t stifle my stirring. Jared looks at me with a soft smile.

“How long have I been out?” I whisper, trying not to wake Jasper. He finally looks at peace after the wild ups and downs we had been through.

“About a day?” Jared didn’t seem so sure. My eyebrows went up. Had it really been that long? He looked at his watch. “Yeah, about an Earth day. Jasper was so worried when you didn’t wake up after a couple of hours. He was going to give poor Biff a heart attack with all of his worry.”

“I’m sorry,” I gently run my fingers through Jasper’s hair. “I didn’t mean to make people worry.”

“It was out of your control,” Biff smiled as he walked in. He came up to me and put his hand on my forehead. He smiled and nodded to himself. “Your body is still weak, and we exhausted you with our conversation. We really shouldn’t have pushed you so hard, but I think that we all needed to hear what was said.”

Biff walked around my bed to where he could whisper to Jasper. “My love,” he gently shook his shoulder, “she’s awake.”

Jasper’s eyes fluttered open, meeting mine. He closed them, as if he were going to fall back asleep. They then popped open once more and Jasper bolted up. “Vi! You’re awake!”

“Yes, I am awake! I heard that I worried you, I am sorry.”

“Please, don’t be. Biff explained that you needed sleep,” he gave Biff the biggest smile. I could tell how in love they were. So sweet. “I am just glad to be here when you woke up.”

Biff chuckled and pinched his cheek. “Yeah, sure, sleepy head.”

We all chuckled at that. I think Biff is probably the only one who could get away with calling the prince a sleepy head. Him and maybe Isabella.

“Biff,” I asked when the laughing died down. “When do you think I’ll be well enough to go home?”

“Well, uhm,” everyone in the room paled.

“What? Am I like, going to die or something?” Their faces are scaring me.

“Noooo, but-” Biff started.

“Everyone on Earth thinks that you died…” Jasper finished for him.

I couldn’t help but laugh. Being whisked to another planet? Sure, I could believe that. Being surrounded by other beings with great power. Okay, I witnessed it. But having a whole planet think that I’m dead? What is this, a soap opera or something? I expected them to eventually laugh with me, giving up the joke. But when I looked at them, they seemed too serious.

“Wait. You aren’t joking?”

Jasper shook his head and looked down. Biff and Jared couldn’t meet my eyes.

“Well, why do they think I’m dead? I’m not dead already am I?” I am touching my face and everything around me to make sure it’s all real.

“No, you aren’t dead.” Biff spoke up. “But, you were. Jasper and Jared were with you in the back of the ambulance on the way to an Earth hospital. You flatlined, and Jasper called me, bawling. He said that his hero died on him and that I had to help. Who was I to say no to him?” He gave a soft sigh.

“I am so sorry, Violet-Rose. I saw you die, and I just couldn’t let that happen.” Jasper was crying. “I used my power to convince the authorities to let me take you, but with that, they had to keep the assumption that you were dead and that you’d stay dead.”

I was at a loss for words. Everyone thought that I was dead?

“What- what about Chris?” I stammered.

No one would look at me.

“She- she thinks I’m dead too?” I couldn’t help but cry. Chris had been like my mother.

“What? No?” Jared moved his hand from mine, sliding it up to my shoulder. “Well, at first at least.”

I gave him a very confused look.

“She wanted to have a funeral,” Jasper started. “When she went to the hospital to, uh, collect your body, she was surprised to find that your body no longer existed. She said that there must have been some mistake. Dave was still on Earth doing some damage control, and he convinced her that you were cremated. She accepted that for a while and held your funeral.”

“Oh Vi,” Rex had come in when Jasper had started to explain. He must have been right outside my door. He came and gave me a kiss on the head. “So many people attended your funeral. We could tell just how loved you are.”

Jared, Biff, and Jasper all nodded.

“You all went to my funeral?” I was shocked. I had a funeral.

“Yes,” Rex nodded. “We wanted to pay our respects to your life on Earth. Plus, it would be weird if we didn’t go. You were always so kind to us at the tutoring center. And, we were all there when you got shot.”

“There were hundreds of people who came by to pay their respects. A lot of them said they were your past students.” Jared added.

It made my heart feel warm that my students would come by. It broke my heart that they thought that I was dead.

“When we were there,” Jasper plowed on, “we were confronted by Chris.”

“She was calm, but more like the eye of a hurricane.” Jared added.

“She knew that Jared and I were with you in the ambulance. She apparently is very convincing when angry.” Jasper chuckled. I couldn’t help but chuckle also. That sounded so much like Chris. “She had gotten the medics to tell her what they knew. And she connected it back to us. Like I said, she can be very convincing when angry.”

“So?”

“So, we told her.” Jasper looked down again.

“Told her what, exactly?”

“About everything. Well, everything at the time.”

“And she didn’t freak out?” How would Chris respond to the fact that aliens existed?

“No. She seemed totally fine. Just angry that she thought that you had died. And she was a bit angry at you for interfering with a shooter, but honestly, she seemed more proud than angry.” Jasper seemed so embarrassed. But that is exactly how Chris is.

“So, she knows that I am alive?” I was hopeful.

“Yes. At the time, you were still in very critical condition. We promised that we would call her as soon as you woke up.” Biff informed me. “Buuuuuuuuut, then, we couldn’t find you…”

“Chris was mad as hell,” Rex said. “She took it all out on me. She blamed me for a lot of things, actually. I think that she mistook me for someone else?”

“Why you, Rex? Why wouldn't Jasper be the one to contact her?”

“Well, there’s something in me that tells me that I have to stick up for you.” Rex was blushing.

“Thank you.” I grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze.

“Let’s just say she is really ready for a face time with you.” Jared laughed.

I brighten up at the prospect of getting to see her face.

“We wish that you could meet her in person, but, we can’t really let her come here, nor can we let you go back to Earth.”

“Why?”

“Well, everyone on Earth thinks that you’re dead…” Jasper started.

“And we are in deep shit with both the Earth and Mercurian governments for taking you here without permission.” Jared finished.

“Oh, uhm. What does that mean for my future?” Out of the pan and into the fire.

“Well, we can let you have limited communication with Chris,” Jasper reiterated. “And, if you’d like, you can finish your degree at a university here. I know for sure that your credits will transfer over.”

“Plus, I’d love it if you’d continue to be my teacher!” I hadn’t even noticed Isabella’s entrance to the room. She had brought Thomas along with her. “And, I know that you still have so many stories to share with me!”

“Yeah, Darlin’, I have so many lessons to learn from ya.” Thomas winked.

I sighed. Looking around the room, everyone was giving me soft, encouraging smiles. These people were my friends. These people care about me. It may not be the life that I had expected, but right now it seemed like a good one.

“Well, if you’ll have me, I’d love to stay.” A smile grew on my lips.

They all vigorously nodded, giving me bigger smiles than before.