Chapter 2

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Holly stood in line with her suitcase next to her and a ticket in one hand. She was barely able to contain herself. On one hand, she was blown away by the fact she had won a ticket to be on what was reportedly the best inter-galactic space traveling vacation ever created. On the other hand, she was terribly afraid of doing new things; and so, she felt a mixture of nervousness and utter excitement as she stood in line to board the massive space ship along with the other passengers. She gawked up at the huge ship, in awe of the scientific marvel that it was. She knew she could never understand all the science and math behind it all, but it nonetheless fascinated her.

After waiting for nearly half an hour to board, Holly finally stepped foot on the ship and she was able to get a better view of the inside of the ship. She understood why it was taking so long, as two stations had been set up to check in passengers and provide them with the necessary gadgets they would be using for the next four months. She shuffled forward every so often, dragging her suitcase on wheels behind her, and nervously played with the charm to her necklace while she waited.

A nonhuman stood near one of the stations and checked names off of a list on his pad, which was little more than a projection that came from the device on his wrist. When he was finished checking the passengers in, he handed a small device similar to a normal tablet and instructed the ecstatic family on where to go to wait for orientation.

He happened to glance up as Holly drew close, and his gaze landed on her. His eyes widened as recognition dawned on him, and he watched as Holly shuffled forward again. She curiously looked around while nervously rubbing her necklace, and eventually her head turned towards his direction.

Holly stopped dead in her tracks as she spotted Mabron. Her mouth nearly hung open, and her eyes widened. Her cheeks immediately turned pink, which only made him grin.

Oh my god, her mind screamed. Why is he here?

She hadn't thought she'd ever see the alien again, and the sight of him made her heart pound in her chest. Somebody mumbled something behind her, startling Holly, and quickly shuffled forward to catch up with the cue. She didn't like the way he was grinning at her, and she could already hear his smug voice in her head as she drew closer and closer. She finally reached his station, and Mabron leaned nonchalant against the podium, smiling down at her.

Now he was dressed in a smart looking uniform that seamlessly hugged his form, and Holly tried not to look at him as she waited to be checked in. He scrolled through the list for a moment until he found her name, and checked it off.

"My goodness, I never thought I'd see your pretty face again. How did I get so lucky?"

Holly sighed and rolled her eyes, feeling her cheeks burning. She nervously glanced around, feeling uncomfortable now. A part of her wanted to run off the ship and ditch it altogether. But, it was a once in a life time opportunity and the desire to travel in space and visit another planet won over.

"Neither can I," Holly responded coldly, and Mabron chuckled.

"Now... you're not unhappy to see me are you, Holly? I am hurt."

"Please," Holly whispered angrily, feeling flustered. "Not right now. I'm surprised you remember my name."

"Okay... okay... you're too easy to get worked up. I never forget a sweet face like yours. Here..."

Mabron handed her the tablet and instructed her on where to go. Holly took the device from his hands and, all the while avoiding eye contact. She quickly walked forward in the same direction that the other passengers were headed. She glanced down at the device, confused by all the buttons and banners on the display. When she reached a large hall looking area with a lot of seating, she found an empty chair to sit in. Holly was impressed and enchanted by the design of the whole spaceship, with its futuristic interior. She ran her hand along the smooth, white chair that hugged her butt and legs comfortably with its ergonomic design.

When all the passengers; which was a lot larger of a group than Holly had been expecting, were all seated, a voice suddenly spoke from all around them.

Welcome aboard, dear guests, to the Lavurna; a luxury space craft that has provided safe passage to neighbouring planets for over fifteen years. We strive to make your intergalactic travelling experience the most comfortable and relaxing event.

Holly listened intently to the female generated voice, and she didn't notice that Mabron stood off to the side with all the other staff members. He leaned against the wall next to his friend and work partner, a Cenasaur by the name of Rick, but his eyes were glued on the girl sitting nearby.

Mabron watched, a small smile on his lips as Holly attempted to navigate the tablet that he had provided her using the instructions that the intercom supplied. She stared down at the device, concentrating, as she pressed different buttons on the sleek glass screen.

"What are you staring at?" Rick teased, noticing Mabron was distracted. "Got your sights set on a poor victim already?"

"You see that woman over there?"

Rick turned his head towards the direction Mabron was referring to, and his soft blue eyes landed on Holly sitting nearby.

"Which one?"

"The one with the blue sweater."

"Oh, alright, I see her. Pretty little thing."

"Remember when I told you about that sweet little one nighter I had the other week?"

Rick's eyes widened, and he turned back to Mabron and punched his shoulder.

"That's her?"

Mabron chuckled, and he nodded.

Holly, sensing that somebody was watching her, lifted her head up and looked in their direction. When she found Mabron and the Cenasaur staring at her, she blinked for a second, and then frowned and looked away.

"Woah, seems like she's not all that thrilled to see you."

"She's a shy girl, easily embarrassed. But she made such lovely sounds when I was with her."

Rick laughed. He rolled his eyes and crossed his long, slender arms over his chest. The Cenasaur stood a good several feet taller than Mabron, who had to crane his neck to look up at the guy.

"Sounds like the exact opposite of what you go for."

"It usually is, but she surprised me…"

Mabron's eyes drifted back over to Holly, who had turned her back to them and was still fiddling around with her tablet like the rest of the passengers.

When orientation was finished, members of the Lavurna began walking forward and started guiding groups of passengers to their appropriate living quarters. Holly still sat on the bench with her head bowed, more interested in exploring the tablet. Only after the room was almost empty did she look up and realize she had been left behind. Mabron watched as she glanced around and then slowly stood up, still clutching her tablet.

"Come on then," Mabron started, and Holly jumped. "I'll show you to your room."

He watched, amused, as Holly eyed him suspiciously for a moment, not saying a word.

"What? You don't trust me?"

"I don't think I want you knowing where I'm sleeping," Holly responded, feeling her cheeks grow warm.

Mabron laughed, and he stepped closer. Holly stiffened as he slung his arm around her shoulders and began walking her off in the direction of her room. She didn't find it particularly funny, and had been slightly serious.

"Well, unfortunately for you I could find out whether you told me or not."

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Holly shrugged out of Mabron's grasp, but allowed him to continue guiding her through the halls of the Lavurna. It was a beautiful and sleek space ship, and she found herself mesmerized by its flawless design. Mabron glided down the polished black halls, and shot Holly a smile every so often while they walked, but Holly couldn't return it. She felt a lump rise in her throat. She didn't know if she'd make it the next month in space stuck with Mabron tormenting her every chance he got, and then another month coming back once their two-month vacation had ended in Dapurnatra. Even the thought of it gave her anxiety.

She had to admit that Mabron looked mighty attractive in his space uniform. It was sleek and form fitting, in the colors of light blue, black, and silver. She couldn't help but look at him while he walked, his boots making no noise on the polished floor. After a few minutes they arrived at a door that lay flush with the wall. It had no handle, and Mabron held up his wrist towards the sensor at waist height. A light blinked and the door slid open, revealing a cute little sleeping cabin inside.

"Wow," Holly breathed as she stepped inside. "It's bigger than I was expecting."

"Only the best for our passengers," Mabron responded, his voice low.

Holly took a moment to look around. Her suitcase was sitting on the floor near her bed, which lay parallel with a small window that gave a view of outside. The room held a small desk attached to the wall, a bookshelf, and to the left was a compact bathroom.

Mabron watched, amused, as Holly walked around, stunned by the simple things such as a sleeping cabin. It was terribly cute.

"You can stay in here while we depart, if you want. But most people will be in the hall to watch."

"Okay."

Mabron had a feeling she'd stay in her cabin, but was surprised when she began walking towards her door. Holly stepped into the hall and Mabron followed behind her, and the door automatically shut behind him. He was quiet, watching Holly as she glanced to the right and then the left. She turned to Mabron and looked up at him.

"Where is that, exactly?"

"This way," Mabron chuckled, and he turned to the left and began walking.

When they reached a different area of the spacecraft Mabron slowed down and allowed Holly to pass. She wore her same blue hoodie from their night together, but her shirt was black this time. She wore dark blue jeans and a worn pair of black boots that went up just past her ankle. Mabron waited until Holly had begun walking past him to join the other passengers as they mingled about, talking among one another. He couldn't resist giving her ass a light slap as she walked by. Holly jumped and turned around with a glare. She quickly walked up to him with her fists clenched, and Mabron held up his hands in surrender.

"Listen," Holly whispered angrily, her jaw tight. "You need to stop trying to embarrassing me in public. We slept together one time, that doesn't mean you can torment me forever."

"Okay, sheesh," Mabron responded hastily, but he was still smiling. "You don't have to get so worked up. Although... you're really cute when you're angry."

Holly frowned at him for a second longer, her cheeks bright pink, and then she spun around and went to join the other passengers. The room was filled with a mixture of species, but most were humans, particularly families and kids. There were a few younger kids that were running around being obnoxious, and their shouting annoyed Holly so she stayed off to the side, staring out the huge window. Below, people milled about, going about their tasks to help the spacecraft take off safely. After about twenty minutes, the voice spoke again, instructing passengers to please take a seat and buckle in. When everyone was seated, the Lavurna began to take off from Earth.

It was the most fascinating experience Holly had ever seen with her two eyes. She had a feeling that over the next four months she'd be saying that a lot, but it was true. She could barely believe that she was really on a space craft, that was leaving Earth's atmosphere and taking her into the great wide-open world of Space.

Holly and most of the passengers remained seated for a few hours. Refreshments were eventually provided, and the voice came back and informed everyone of dinnertime. Holly didn't really care, but she sipped on her glass of iced tea and continued to mess around on her tablet, trying to get to know it better. It had many features, one of which seemed to be an internet type service. She was able to get Facebook up and she logged on briefly, but Holly never really used it that much back home to begin with. She connected to a couple other apps and then finished her drink and continued watching their departure. It grew darker as they reached the new atmosphere, and it was a beautiful sight to be among the stars.

Mabron was nowhere to be found, but when Holly made her way to the dining hall later on she saw him standing near one of the counters, talking with the Cenasaur she had seen him with earlier. Not wanting to speak with him, Holly stayed near the other side and picked up a tray before moving over to the line waiting to get food. She hadn't been expecting such delicious options, and Holly settled on a hearty bowl of macaroni and cheese with a generous slice of soft garlic toast. When she had her food, Holly wandered over to a free table and sat down. She placed her tablet on the table beside her and browsed her Twitter feed while eating.

Mabron sat with some of the other crew members and Rick, but he could see Holly eating by herself. He had half a mind to go over to her, but decided to give her a break.

"Staring at her again are we," Rick teased, and Mabron glanced over at him.

"What can I say? She's peaked my interests."

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you're smitten."

Mabron simply shrugged, and took a swig of his drink. If he was being honest, he was interested in Holly in more than just a casual sex partner. He couldn't quite explain why she interested him so much, only that he knew he wanted to spend more time with her. But she was terribly awkward and shy in her interactions, which spurred him to tease her so much. He didn't think of it as a flaw, but rather a sweet part of her personality. Holly took him far too seriously.

After dinner, most passengers began returning to their rooms for the evening. Holly finished up her dinner and stayed seated for a while, content to read a few articles that she had saved earlier in the week. When she was finally caught up, she was one of the few remaining people in the Dining hall.

Mabron was there as well, for he had hung back, but Holly didn't see him at first. He watched as the girl finally got up from her seat and walked over with her tray to the drop off area. Then she walked over to the hallway and paused. He knew she didn't have a clue how to get back to her room, and so he strode over to her.

"Need help?" He asked, and Holly turned to him.

"Why do I have the feeling you're watching me more than I would like," Holly retorted quietly, and Mabron shrugged.

"I think you're just paranoid, dear."

Holly sighed, and then she turned back to the hallway.

"I don't want your help."

"Fine," Mabron crossed his arms over his chest. "I won't help you then."

"Good."

"Good."

Holly watched as Mabron strode away from her, and began walking down the hall. She watched him for a moment, and then let out a sigh and rubbed her eyes. She was ready to lay down, but first she had to find her room. She had been too stubborn to let Mabron help her, and now she had to find it herself.

If her tablet held the answers, Holly hadn't gotten the hang of it yet, and had no idea how to look. She wandered around for a while, and she managed to get back to the main hall where they had first gathered for orientation. Holly tried to trace her steps back from there, but at the time she had been paying more attention to Mabron in his uniform than every left and right they had taken.

Curse his athletic hide, Holly thought to herself with a small scowl.

She rounded the corner and ended up back in the seating area where they had all gathered for takeoff. Holly let out a frustrated sigh and walked over to the sleek glass window, feeling her motivation leave her. She stared out the window for a few minutes, feeling overwhelmed. Perhaps it was because she was so tired, or that she had had so much social interaction for the day, but it was enough to get her emotions going. She was done, and wanted to curl up and sleep.

A few tears welled up in her eyes, and Holly blinked, forcing them to stream down her pale cheeks. She continued looking out the window, sniffling softly.

"Do you give up?"

Mabron's voice scared Holly so bad she jumped. He watched as she began wiping at her eyes, but she remained facing the window. He frowned.

"Why are you crying?" He asked softly.

"I'm not," Holly retorted quickly, and she hastily rubbed her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater; but Mabron wasn't fooled.

He stepped forward and gently grasped her shoulder, forcing Holly to turn to him. Her cheeks were pink and she avoided looking into his eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"N-nothing," Holly whispered firmly. "I'm just... tired."

"Come on."

Holly allowed Mabron to take her hand and lead her back towards her room. When they arrived, Holly went in first, and Mabron followed behind her. She didn't know what to say, and her eyelids felt heavy, but Mabron took the lead. He slipped her sweater off her shoulders and placed it on the back of the chair resting in front of her desk.

"What are you doing," Holly mumbled, and she yawned.

"Would it kill you to let someone help once in a while?"

Holly was silent, and Mabron sighed and tugged at her shirt.

"Lift your arms up."

Holly lifted her arms up and Mabron swiftly took her shirt off. He put it on the back of the chair behind her and then made quick work of her bra clasps. He tugged it off of her, and Holly shivered, unsure of how to react to him undressing her.

Mabron didn't waste time. When he had finished removing her bra, he knelt down on the floor and began tugging at the laces to Holly's boots. Holly sucked in a deep breath and leant with one hand against the chair as Mabron freed her foot from one of her boots and then started on the other. After he had them both off Mabron reached up with his long arms and tugged at the button to her jeans. When they were undone he pulled them down to her ankle and Holly stepped out from them.

Holly quietly waited as Mabron moved over to her suitcase and opened it. When he pushed back the flap, he glanced inside for a moment, and he let out a small laugh. Almost half of the suitcase was filled with books.

"Did you bring the whole library?" He teased, and Holly shrugged.

Holly watched as the alien rifled around her clothes for a moment. She felt like she should say something, or do something, but she didn't know what. So, she kept standing there, wearing nothing but her panties, and waited for Mabron to finish what he was doing.

"What's this?" He asked after a moment, holding up a light blue nightie. "Do you sleep in this?"

"Yeah," Holly whispered.

Mabron stood up and balled the nightgown with both hands. He put it over her and Holly shoved her arms through the proper spots as Mabron let the material fall down to just past her butt. Then he led her to her bed and pulled the covers back. Holly climbed under the blankets and laid down, still feeling confused and in a daze.

When she had settled down and was resting on her side, facing him, Mabron tucked the blanket around her shoulders and leaned down. Her eyes were closed, but Holly could feel his lips as they softly kissed her cheek.

"Sweet dreams," he whispered quietly.

Holly's eyes opened just as Mabron was leaving her room. The door slid open, and he took a step forward.

"Goodnight," Holly called after him.