Learning to Be Human (FREE READ)

Chapter 10: Forewarn

"Hi there," Detective Syrus- I mean Lustine said.

"Heheheh," I nervously chuckled, "Lustine."

She squatted down and there was less than usual clothing underneath that cloak! I had to divert my eyes away, and she leaned forward and whispered in my ear, "I see you're still up to no good with that man."

Damn it!

The last time we saw each other (which was not too long ago) was when we had a lethal ice cream experience. I did not need her to see us at a strip club right now!

"I- uhhh," I choked up.

She then flashed the money fan Hiram had offered her and showed it to the DJ who then announced that she wouldn't be available for further performance on stage, "Looks like we might have some ballers in the house tonight! Front end group has bought out our top gal!"

Lustine carefully slid off stage and pretended to sit on my lap.

"So... do I call you Lustine?" I awkwardly asked.

"In this environment sure," she responded, "But I wanted to forewarn you."

"About what?" I asked, trying to focus on the part that she was in her underwear on me!

"I've been watching you two, and every time I blinked, something miraculous happened," she continued, "I don't know what it is... but I will find out."

"It's not like we killed anyone," I awkwardly tried to defend myself.

"Not yet at least," she corrected.

"Detective Syr-,"

"Lustine," she corrected me again.

"Sorry. Lustine," I apologized, "We are not doing anything wrong here."

"I don't know, that man just came in without ID and somehow appeared in the mall's camera view for a split second... don't you think that was odd?"

Shit!

She got all that information in such a short span of time! I totally disregarded it when Jay teleported to me. I carried on like something like that was completely normal! It was not!

I had to do better.

But talking to her one on one made me queasy, it felt not only extremely awkward, but violated?

"Uhm, anything else?" I asked.

"Just put a $5 in my bra to end the dance, but I wouldn't trust him completely. I'll be watching you," she said before getting up from her dance.

I shakily tucked a $5 bill which indicated a tip for her service. She swayed her hips and disappeared behind the staff point. I made sure she was gone before grabbing onto Javon.

Ms. Terri was surprised about the abruptness, "Is everything okay?"

"Jay!" I urged, "We gotta go... now!"

"Burrrrtttt we juzzz got here," he mumbled.

"Yeah," Ms.Terri fondled his dimpled cheek, "He's such a fun person," she looked at me, "Don't be a party pooper."

"We need to go now!" I repeated and tugged on him.

"Hiram," I turned but only realized that he was gone.

I scanned the room and didn't see him anywhere! Nonetheless, we had to go home now. I was hyper focused on getting away from this place, especially when Jay didn't seem comfortable with Detective Syrus.

"We gotta go," I forced him to me.

Ms.Terri got off from him and pouted in the opposite direction. I looked at Jay whose eyes were not coherent. He stumbled and almost fell onto me.

"Jay! If we both fall to the ground, we both might not be able to get back up. Now's not the time for a life alert commercial. We gotta get out of here!" I pushed him back onto balance.

"Katie," he stumbled, "thenks firr taking me here, wee should go more oftennn."

"Yeah, yeah that's great," I pulled out my phone.

I started calling for an Uber. Luckily we could see that there was one just outside the establishment!

"Okay the driver has accepted the ride let's head out," I guided Jay by grabbing his wrist.

Luckily, he obeyed and did his best to follow me.

Oh what a night tonight has been!

But where was Hiram?

I can't think about that right now, Hiram is a grown man who can handle himself. I will text him tomorrow.

"Uber for?" the driver asked.

"Katie," I answered.

"Come on in," the man signaled.

I buckled Jay in and proceeded to put my seat belt on. The Uber driver began his trip.

"Looks like one of you was having fun," he gestured at the giggling drunk man named Javon.

"A little too much," I joked.

I didn't want to reveal too much about what happened, I just wanted to get home.

"So is he your boyfriend?" he asked.

What is up with everyone asking that damn question?

"No," I simply replied.

"Oh," he got the message, "Just thought we could talk, since the ride is a bit long."

It was a bit from where I lived. But I've heard of some creepy Uber drivers trying to be a candidate for fake taxi.

"So what do you like about being an Uber driver," I attempted to sway the conversation away from a potential topic.

"Well, there's someone to talk to... depending on if they wanted to. You will hear some bizarre stories that keep life interesting," he expressed with glee.

"What would be something that you hated the most?" I asked.

"Well... sometimes when I drop female clients their boyfriends think that I was her side meat. Sometimes they can get aggressive even if they were in the car with them too," he sighed in defeat, "Sometimes I want to help rescue the vulnerable ones from predators. But it is not my place."

"That does sound crumby," I offered sympathy.

"But!" he jolted me in my seat, "I also like to tell myself that I am fulfilling my dream doing this."

"What is your dream?" I tilted my head in curiosity.

"To have the map of the world in my head," he nodded in response, "I mean, I love to travel, why not work a bit and remember some routes along the way?"

"That is a good way to put it," I agreed.

"I know that sometimes we have dreams that are unachievable..." he sighed again, "But the point is to try to get as far from where you were, at least."

He was right.

"I guess there's a pro and con to everything," I scoffed at myself.

"It's just really sad that we focus on the weight of the cons most the time," the driver added.

Touche.

We slowly came to a stop and I just realized that we were home!

"Alrighty, hope you enjoyed your ride and stay safe," he bedded farewell.

"Thank you," I bowed and helped Jay out of the seat.

This man was heavy!

Maybe it wasn't just his weight and had to do more with the fact I don't go to they gym or exercise, but he is indeed heavy!

Now we came to the part where we had to go through a flight of stairs, because miraculously the elevators were not in service. Again.

"Ughh," I groaned and plopped Jay's arm over my shoulder.

I tried my best to guide both of us without losing our balance.

"This is enough cardio for a while," I huffed up the stairs.

What seemed like forever came to a halt. We have made it to my apartment.

"We are home," I announced, scrambling for my keys.

"Guuurdd night," Jay's body slammed through the door, and he landed on the floor.

"Oh my gosh!" I exclaimed.

I rushed over to him, "Are you okay?" I checked his head.

He was breathing, but he was out cold!

Thank goodness.

I dragged him by the arms and did my best to plop him onto the couch. His legs were extended past the measurements.

"I need to get a bigger couch!"

Or a bigger apartment.

Jay continued to snooze away, and I couldn't help but replay what Lusti- I mean Detective Syrus said to me.

Why would she forewarn me to becareful with him? What does she know that I don't?

More importantly... she was a stripper?!

That information hit me like a train. A train of cringe.

I don't doubt she was beautiful, but she really took those lyrics "By daytime she's a clerk, by night she turns stripper".

I shook away those club thoughts. That has ended, but now I am the sober friend who has to worry about their passed-out drunk friend.

I don't ever recall getting drunk, it messed me up when I drank just a bit. I wanted to be socially accepted, not knowing the consequences it had on my health. I never want to drink again.

But everyone was having fun, even Hiram, who was all gay. He definitely took me out of my comfort zone tonight.

But Detective Syrus really took me out of the ballpark when I saw her.

I wonder if Jay even noticed.

I looked over at him while I sat on the edge of my bed. Would things have been different if he hadn't get drunk? Besides tonight, he had always been in such a serious way that I was surprised no one found it offensive.

It must be the good looks.

I don't know what it is like to be in his shoes. To be a bit oblivious to others around him. I have developed an unhealthy amount of low self esteem issues these past few weeks.

It seemed like everything was revolving around this man. Now, I don't resent him... but he was someone who did absolutely nothing to receive praises.

Okay, now that sounded like I was despising him, I should stop.

But why?

Why did she forewarn me about him. The coincidence of Detective Syrus just happening to be a stripper is going to bog my mind. And once again, she was beautiful.

Must be tiring being beautiful.

I sighed and plopped my laptop on my well... lap.

That blinking vertical line was still on page one of my biography. It has been almost a month and I still haven't typed in one word. What was I going to talk about? How an unnatural phenomenon happened, and the sky tore apart like buttcheeks. Or the fact that an alien had possessed the mind and body of a man who was supposed to be dead? Or the fact that this man had locked powers and slowly regaining them?

What was there to talk about?

That was sane at least.

I did not want to start my biography off by saying: Oh I was an orphan girl in my orphaned world.

I didn't want people to feel sorry for me, I just wanted to spread a little awareness. But, what use is that when I am barely aware myself. I'm getting to know Jay, but I do not know the alien's real name at all.

Am I just part of his chapter for him to get his powers back? What's going to happen if his ship has been refueled? I know it is in our best interest that he leaves, but will I ever see him again? I know this sounds pathetic but having anyone speak to me, even if it is assuming he is my boyfriend... made me feel human.

No, no no...

I shook those thoughts away. Even if Jay was just a part of my chapters, he hasn't caused me any harm. If anything, he has helped me more than I've helped him.

Some part of my gut did not want to trust the detective. This was going to be something I would learn or find out about... Some time from now. I can only hope it will be a long time or not at all.

I yawned and felt the need to rest my thoughts. I hate that I overthink too much about things. Usually things get blown out of proportion whenever I do this, but tonight I just want to sleep. I know I am going to feel extremely sore tomorrow or like leg day, 2 days from now.