" Come on CJ, it's almost midnight and unlike you, I have fans to see tomorrow " William smiled smugly while rolling up a joint.
CJ looked over to his mentally exhausted friend with an somewhat incredulous expression. It didn't matter that they were two teenage boys sitting in the middle of a private park with a telescope looking up at the stars. Or that they could get caught at any moment by a security drone on it's routine sweep. Nope, when William wanted to smoke, he smoked, consequences be damned.
" Yeah, well the cheerleaders and all the other girls aren't going to disappear if you don't show up on time for once " he shot back jokingly.
He continued to carefully drag his pencil across the current page of his sketch pad. He'd spent the last three hours meticulously crafting each line as to capture the night sky as best as he could. He did this every other night after each new moon. It was only when the moon wasn't visible in the sky that he could truly see all the stars. His watch started to buzz and it caught his attention.
" Ah man, okay let's go home. If I'm not back by eleven thirty my mom is going to lock me out tonight " William blew out a cloud of smoke that hit CJ like an gust of miasma and set up.
CJ grabbed his telescope and put it in it's case. He was as careful as he could be. His mother would kill him if he broke it. She's always telling him to be responsible with his belongings because if they broke she wouldn't replace them. Even though his younger brother broke many of the thing she brought him, but he guessed she just didn't notice.
" Alright man. Thanks for coming out here with me, I know you think astronomy is boring "
William put his gym bag over his shoulder and gave CJ his usual winning smile.
" I'm sure It's not boring " he says.
" But It just doesn't interest me " he says just before he starts to check his messages.
They were half way out the park when he found one that made him laugh. CJ just shook his head already knowing who it was from.
" That was a text form Sofia Bulgaria wasn't it. Since when did you two start texting each other? " William never looked away from the watches screen.
" Since she asked me out. She has gusts and doesn't take no for an answer, unlike someone I know " His sly tone said everything and CJ already knew what he meant.
" I've tried to ask Cassandra out before. She just keeps saying..."
"No", William says cutting him off.
" Man, I don't know why you continuously choose to go after a girl that's completely out of your league. But..it sure is funny to bear witness to your failures. Why don't you ask out Katherine, I'm sure you'd like her? "
CJ ignored him and guided his bike. He had nothing against Katherine. CJ just wasn't interested in being set up on a blind date. Especially when it's by one of his best friend's.
" Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, same time as always " William nods yes as he replies to Sofia least text.
" Unless Sofia wants to meet up and go down " CJ shook his head again and William made a funny expression as he rolled off.
When CJ got home he immediately collapsed onto his bed. He figured he'd try to get a little sleep before his mother got home. He knew it wouldn't be quite for to long. He bearly had time to close his eyes when he heard a boom. Everything around his room fell to the floor and he raced outside to see what had happened. All he found were his panicked neighbor's.
After about five minutes of pointlessly looking around. Everyone went back inside of their homes seeing no immediate danger. CJ shook his head and went to the kitchen to get something to drink when he saw what looked like smoke in his back yard. He ran outside to fine a girl laying in his back yard, unconscious and nearly berried in a three foot crater. There were plomes of smoke billowing from her limp frame.
His first thought was of just how bad this was, and if he wanted to get involved. She was wearing a black strapless bodysuit. She had beautiful tan skin and short wavy black hair. She was very well built, but not at all stocky. There was a silver tattoo of a ball of fire on her chest that immediately drew my attention. But as curious as he was about it, moving her was more important.
She was so heavy. For such a slim girl, she weighed a ton, maybe more. CJ struggled to carry her to his room. She was so heavy he thought his arms were going to give out as he made his way up the stairs. He heard a few squeak as if they were going to give out underneath him. Luckily for him, no one else was home. He'd hate to have to explain why he had an unconscious Indian looking girl in his room, or just in his bed. He got an wet rag in a couple of first aid supplies to clean her up.
" The benefits of a nurse for a mom " But as he looked her over he couldn't find any kind of wound.
Her cuts were already gone. She still had a few bruises but that was all. It was as if her body was healing itself and not in the natural way. He spent the night in his desk chair. When he woke up the next morning she was gone and his bed room window was wide open. He hadn't been able to get her face out of hid mind. So after he filled the hole in his back yard, he grabbed his sketch pad and headed to the roof to draw her. It had taken the rest of the morning to finish the picture but he'd done it.
" Not bad, are you a professional artist " His head swung from left to right but he didn't see anyone.
" I'm up here, above you " he looked up to find her floating thirty feet over his house.
She looked beautiful in the sunlight. Like the sky was made for her. Her emerald gaze had trapped him.
" So I wasn't imagining you. You are really real " she descended to the roof with her hands out to her side.
" And apparently you can fly " she gave him a shallow smile.
" You were kind enough to take care of me last night " she says giving CJ a hug that threatened to crush him.
" Cant... need, breath " was all he was able to say as he gasped for air.
" Sorry, forgot how strong I am " she'd said releasing him.
When he landed back on his feet he stumbled. He hadn't even realized she'd lifted him from the ground to begin with. After catching his breath, he noticed she changed her clothes. She'd taken a thin short sweater, a pair of leather pants and boots. They were his little sister's clothes and for the first time, he could actually say he liked them.
" Mine were all tattered and ripped so I borrowed these " She smiled at CJ then explained.
" Your sister has great taste. I promise I'll give them back, eventually " she crossed her arms.
He noticed she seemed stand off-ish. As if she wasn't trying to get to close to him.
" So...are you going to tell me why I found you in a crater in my backyard? Or are you just going to leave " he tried to sound neutral but he couldn't hide the concern in his voice.
" Look, your obviously a good guy and I don't want to pull you into my crazy life. Thanks again for helping me but keep your distance, please " She turned from him and looked towards the sky.
He could see her feet begining to leave the ground and moved to grab her hand. But he was to slow. She'd taken off into the sky like a car down a road. Leaving him with a few unanswered questions.
" Next time then " he said still starring at where she had been.