Jordan backed out of the room, grabbing his jacket. It was getting chilly at night. Normally his mom would have yelled something about it, but right now things weren’t right. He still didn’t know where she even worked. The car in their driveway caught his eye immediately. It was immaculate, without even the hint of a scuff or pollen on its ebony finish. The windows were tinted such to be impossible to see through as well.

This didn’t feel like a car that belonged in this neighborhood. It didn’t feel like a car that should have been anywhere. It was closer to that you’d find in a movie. Which only made him more curious. He turned away, not wanting to provoke anything. Instead, he turned to the sidewalks, going down. He planned to walk the neighborhood once or twice, then see if the car was still there.

“Hey JoJo!” TJ’s voice echoed across the empty streets.

Mostly empty, Jordan corrected himself, another car racing past. Looking he found his redheaded friend. The two met up, bumping fists.

“What’s got you out this late?”

“Just restless,” he said. “Needed some fresh air.”

TJ laughed. “Yeah, that trip’s got you nervous. I get it! You’ve never really been away from Granbury, have you?”

That gave him pause. “I guess not.” His mom would talk about riding the countryside in her youth, but ever since he was born this was all he knew. That wasn’t why he was out here, but it’d be better to let TJ think that it was.

“Want to go for a race?”

“You’re on.”

The two ran, laughing. TJ was easily faster, though Jordan had more stamina for marathons and laps. By the time they finished, Jordan coming in a distant second, the last strands of twilight made themselves known. They dropped to the ground, struggling to catch their breath.

“You think Gia likes me?”

Jordan stared at TJ. The question was abrupt and, from his perspective, out of nowhere.

“I guess?”

“Like, you’ve got Steph, so I was thinking,” TJ said.

“I don’t have Steph.”

“You have Steph. I was watching her today. She’s stalking you like a lion does a gazelle. It’d be kind of hot if it weren’t creepy.”

Jordan’s face screwed up. “I don’t want Steph. I never asked for that.”

“Dude, you really don’t understand how women work.”

“They’re people. They’re not any different.”

TJ rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Well Steph’s got it bad for you, and when she confesses you better not turn her down.”

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“Even though I don’t feel anything for her?” Jordan plucked some of the grass.

“Nothing at all?”

“She’s,” he stopped. “I don’t know her.”

“Then get to know her!”

“Why should I?”

“She likes you, idiot!” TJ laughed. “You could try to meet her halfway.”

Jordan grumbled. “I guess.”

“Now, about the more important matter. Me and Gia. What do you think?”

Jordan shrugged. “We’re too young.”

“We’re thirteen, Jordan.”

“You are,” he pointed to his friend. “My birthday isn’t for another month.”

“We’re thirteen,” TJ insisted. “And come on. She’s cute. I think so, at least.” The boy’s already ruddy complexion went a few shades darker.

“If you like her, you might as well ask her out. I think that was your advice, right?”

“Don’t just parrot stuff. Do you think we’d work as a couple?”

He genuinely didn’t know what to say to his friend. “I guess?”

TJ punched him lightly. “You’re a lot of help.”

“I don’t know what else you want me to say. I don’t get this whole thing.” Jordan looked back towards his house. The car was gone. He never heard it leave. “If you love someone, you want to be with them. Does it matter what other people think?”

“Oh! Now you have something insightful to say! God, you’re the worst.” TJ’s face was beet red. “No one said I was in-I might likeher. Might! Come on, JoJo.”

“Whatever. If you do, do something about it.”

“You won’t mind?”

Now Jordan was utterly lost. “Why would I?”

TJ’s laughter didn’t help. “Don’t worry about it. You’re a good dude.”

Jordan looked at the darkening sky. “What do you think about the S.U.N.?”

It was his friend’s turn to look confused. “That’s random.”

“My mom was talking about the cartoon again.”

“Ah.” TJ clicked his tongue. “I dunno. I guess they’re the good guys, right?”

“Where humanity calls, we go,” Jordan said quietly.

“Yeah, and they’re the ones who beat those bugs. Whatever other aliens have shown up over the years. So, I guess they’re good? My dad doesn’t like ‘em though.” TJ looked back to his own house, down the block. “Something about them encroaching on territories or something. I don’t know political stuff. But my dad doesn’t like much.”

“How’s he doing since the docks closed?”

“I don’t know. Grumpy. He was grumpy before then. It’s hard being around someone so angry all the time.” TJ sighed. “It’s better to be on your own.”

“Maybe.”

They didn’t say much after that. The two sat there for a while until the stars shone bright in the sky. A heavy voice called out TJ’s name, echoing across the street. Only silence called for Jordan. TJ frowned before waving him goodbye. He didn’t immediately get up to leave. He couldn’t say he wanted to.

He’d say he didn’t mind being alone if anyone asked. No one was asking so he didn’t bother. He sat there for a while longer. Minutes, hours, he couldn’t be sure. Until the lights of the neighborhood dimmed and all that was left were the streetlamps. He thought. Pushing away the cold and the night, he thought. The world slowed as he retreated into himself.

Why would he care if his mom were gone already? What did it matter? They weren’t going to do much more tonight. Because she promised to be here in the morning. Why did that hurt? Because it was her. Why did that matter?

He didn’t know. He shouldn’t have expected better from her. That he knew. He stood up, ready to come home.

Devon Chambers and Steph flitted through his thoughts. They didn’t seem so important now. The trip wasn’t as interesting. The shadows of homes filled with complete, happy families vanished into the cover of night. He looked back to his own, catching something fleeting out of his eye. Something gleaming white.

Standing atop a hill behind his house, a figure stood within a moonbeam. They were ethereal, beautiful, glimmering. He blinked.

They were gone. His breathing hitched. Was he seeing things? The moon, the hill, all else remained. Only the ghostly form was gone. Another wild delusion of a young imagination? His throat was so dry. Exhaustion creeped over him like a blanket. Maybe it wasn’t real. It couldn’t have been.

Jordan walked home. The car was gone. He opened the door to darkness. No fight, no struggle, nothing exciting. Nothing disastrous. It was what he expected to find.

Darkness and the loneliness of an empty home.

He shut the door.