The Alien Within

Chapter 10: The new boy!

It was another day in school , yet it felt like the day she just returned from the quiz competition.Tessa's cheeks burned with an intensity that could rival the sun.

Being surrounded by her classmates was one thing, but now, every single teacher seemed to have turned into a fan.

The praise was endless—everywhere she went, someone was trying to congratulate her, offer a hug, or give a little speech about her brilliance.

"Tessa, you're a marvel!" one teacher beamed.

"An intellectual prodigy! You'll make history!" said another, pulling her into a bone-crushing hug.

Her body was flexible, but using a few tricks Ms Caldwell had taught her, she could manipulate her bone density just enough to mimic a human's.

Ms. Caldwell, ever the vigilant guardian, was having a tough time keeping the enthusiastic teachers at bay. "Alright, alright, let's give her some space," she would say, though she couldn't quite hide her own smile of pride. After all, this was Tessa—her Tessa—taking the school by storm.

The problem, though, was Tessa's face. She wasn't used to this kind of attention, and the mix of emotions swirling inside her was overwhelming. Embarrassment, pride, shyness—none of these were things a Kaelrian was taught to navigate. She'd always kept to herself, blending into the background as much as possible. But now? Now, she was the talk of the school, and her alien instincts were screaming at her to find a dark corner to hide in.

She was someone who was usually ignored, nobody cared for a quiet, and calm girl who always minded her business, but now, the entire school is singing her praises, literally.

The press is writing about her- almost daily, her name is everywhere.

Be it a academics or sport, she is the most talked about girl in school. She became the envy of many girls, the adorable desire of ....well quite a few boys, only James had the balls to make his desire known.

Or so she thought, I mean, all the winks and stares can't be misunderstood right?

Then, as if the universe knew exactly when to turn her day upside down, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and saw James' name. Heart racing, she opened the message.

"Tessa, I have to say it. You're amazing. I've never met anyone like you. You're smart, kind, and… well, I really like you. Like, a lot. Can we talk?"

Tessa stared at the message for what felt like an eternity. She had been on Earth long enough to know what this kind of message meant. But how was she supposed to respond to this? I mean he sent one love text the other day, now he sends this one today, as if he was asking her out again, is his memory okay or is something else involved.

Her confusion wasn't helped by the fact that she barely understood human relationships in the first place. Friendship? We actually talked just yesterday right? Or .... Sure maybe it's friendship. She got that. But this? This sounded like… well, something else entirely.

"Tessa? Are you alright?" Ms. Caldwell's voice broke through her thoughts.

Tessa quickly stuffed her phone into her pocket, trying to act natural. "Yeah, just... a lot to think about."

Ms. Caldwell, always perceptive, gave her a knowing look. "You know, it's okay to feel overwhelmed. You don't have to figure everything out at once."

Tessa nodded, grateful for the reassurance but still feeling the weight of the situation. She was an alien living a double life, trying to stay under the radar, and now she had feelings—or at least, someone had feelings for her. This was far more complicated than acing math quizzes or bending physics to her will.

But the day wasn't over yet, and as if things couldn't get stranger, a new boy had arrived at school.

She had heard the echoes from the gossips around her, but she thought it was just girls nosy talk, but ever since that presence entered the school, she knew something was up.

She remembered the scent of Mari, he smelled like plum blossom, she also remembered the scent of Kion, he smelled Ike the morning dew, but this new individual, he smelled like fire, literally like fire.

He was tall, with sharp features and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through her. The moment Tessa laid eyes on him, something stirred deep within her—a feeling she hadn't experienced in years.

He was one of them. A Kaelrian.

Adrian also looked straight at her. It was like a gps system coming to life. He didn't make a sound or admit her existence, he just walked right by her with a nod so as not to draw attention. Funny enough, they both looked similar in body structure, with blue eyes.

Nobody else seemed to notice, though.

The boy moved through the school halls as easily as any human. His name, she learned from the whispers around her, was Adrian. But Tessa knew that wasn't his real name.

It couldn't be.

Kaelrians always adopted human names to blend in, just like she had. Would he also adopt Kael as his last name, if he did, it might just complicate things.

Aaarrghh just when things were settling down a bit, you just had to come and ruin everything.

She watched him from a distance, trying to figure him out, but there was nothing to give him away—no signs, no mistakes. He was flawless.

But Tessa could feel it. The same energy that radiated from her body radiated from his, subtle but undeniable. It was like finding a piece of home in a world that was completely foreign. For a brief moment, her heart leapt.

She wasn't alone.

However, she had no idea if Adrian even knew who she was. Or worse, if he was a threat. Kaelrians were complicated. Some, like her, had chosen to live peacefully among humans. Others… well, they weren't so peaceful.

Ms. Caldwell, who had noticed her staring, gently nudged her. "New boy, huh? Quite a stir he's causing."

Tessa snapped back to reality, her mind racing. "Yeah, something like that."

But there was something unsettling about him, and it wasn't just that he was Kaelrian. The more she observed him, the more she realized he was being just a little too careful. Almost like he was hiding something big, something that even Tessa hadn't figured out yet.

Later that day, Tessa tried to shake off her worries about Adrian and focus on the more pressing issue—James. His message had opened a floodgate of emotions she wasn't prepared to deal with. She had to confront him eventually, right?

As luck would have it, James found her first. He cornered her by the lockers, looking every bit as awkward as she felt.

"Hey," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Did you, uh, get my message?"

Tessa swallowed hard. "Yeah, I did."

"And?"

There it was—the question she didn't know how to answer. How could she explain to him that she wasn't just some normal girl, that she was an alien from another world who didn't even fully understand human emotions?

"I... I don't know James," she admitted. "This is all really new to me. We talked the other day right, just be patient with me"

James smiled, looking more relieved than disappointed. "That's okay. I just wanted to tell you how I feel. No pressure or anything."

You said this the other day, literally, is he under a forgetful spell or something? Tessa bit her lip, unsure of how to proceed. "I think we should take things slow," she said, trying to sound as human as possible. "I have a lot going on right now."

James nodded, his smile never fading. "Yeah, sure. I get it. But just so you know, I'll wait."

With that, he walked off, leaving Tessa standing there, feeling more confused than ever. What had she just agreed to?

By the time she returned home that evening, she was emotionally exhausted. Ms. Caldwell, sensing something was off, gave her a gentle smile. "Rough day?"

"You have no idea," Tessa muttered, collapsing onto the couch.

Ms. Caldwell chuckled. "Teenage years are tough enough without, well, everything else you're dealing with."

Tessa nodded, appreciating the understatement. "Do you think it's possible to ever feel normal?"

Ms. Caldwell sat down beside her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Normal is overrated. Besides, who's to say what's normal for someone like you?"

Tessa sighed, leaning back into the cushions. "I just wish things were simpler."

But life as a Kaelrian, especially one hiding among humans, was never simple. And now, with James declaring his feelings and Adrian's mysterious presence, things were about to get a whole lot more complicated.

For now, though, Tessa allowed herself a rare moment of peace. She didn't have all the answers, and that was okay. She had Ms. Caldwell, who had become both her teacher and her adoptive mother, guiding her through this strange world. And maybe, just maybe, she had a friend in James.

But Adrian... well, that was a puzzle for another day.