I looked down at my phone when I got a message, and froze when I saw who it was from. I gulped, knowing deep down this wasn’t a message I could ignore, but wishing I could anyways.

Let’s talk. Meet me at the usual place. 5 pm

Okay.

I checked the time. It was 3, which meant I had about an hour before I had to get ready. If only it was a year instead.

I don’t know how, but the hour seemed to fly past as me and Alex taught Zesper more common phrases. Before I knew it, it was four, and I needed to get ready.

I stood abruptly. “I have to go somewhere, but I’ll be back at like six.” Alex immediately knew what, or who, I was talking about, but Zesper looked confused. I didn’t bother explaining. I only walked to my room to get dressed.

Button-down. Check.

Lint rolled dress pants. Check.

Remove metal from face. Check.

Fix hair. Check.

Wish for death. Check.

I walked out of my room, my hands in my pockets and my head hung low. Alex only cast me a pity-filled glance, and I didn’t look at Zesper.

God, I hate when I look like this.

I paused as I was halfway out the door, not turning around as I said, “I’ll be back by six.”

A slammed door followed my proclamation.

~~~

“I am very confused.” Zesper looked at Alex, concern written across his face.

Alex sighed. “It’s not my place to tell you, or uh, Felix wouldn’t want me to tell you. But I will tell you that Felix and his dad have a really toxic, I mean bad, relationship.

What just happened is that Felix’s dad did what he usually did, which is that out of nowhere he’ll tell Felix to go meet him somewhere. Or uh, with no warning. Did you catch all that? Dammit, I mean did you understand all of that?”

Zesper nodded slowly, saying, “Is that why Felix looked like that?”

Alex nodded morosely. “His dad wants him to look a certain way when they meet.”

“That sounds terrible.”

“It is. I’m going to go ahead and warn you, when Felix gets back, he probably will be in a terrible mood. So, don’t take it personally if he gets a little, er, mean.”

“I see. Is there any way I can help?” Zesper tried on a pair of jeans, frowning. “Also, I do not like these pants, they are very tight.”

“No, just be understanding if he gets upset.” Alex took back the jeans Zesper handed her. “Here, try these. They’re called sweatpants.”

~~~

I sat at the table, tapping my foot impatiently. Of course, he was late. He was always late. I fiddled with the buttons on my shirt

“Hello, son.”

Speak of the devil.

My head snapped up. In front of me stood an abnormally tall man, with salt and pepper hair. He was wearing a tasteful dark grey custom-made suit, along with a shark’s grin.

He sat down at the table.

“You know how it gets when you’re busy at your job. Oh, wait. You don’t have a job.” He bit into a breadstick, and I fantasized him choking on it.

Wasted no time to start digging into me, huh?

“Crazy of you to say, especially since I’m the one who does the actual work for your job.” I gave him a shark’s grin right back.

He narrowed his eyes at me. “Give me the papers.”

I rolled my eyes and retrieved the folder from my seldom-used briefcase. “Here. Are we done, yet?”

“Come on, enjoy some time with your old man.”

I wrinkled my nose. “As amazing as that sounds, I have friends waiting for me. Email me the new files.”

I almost got up, until I had a sudden idea. “Actually, I have a question.”

“If by friends you mean that girl, then I see no reason you should have to hurry. But what is your question?”

He took a sip of wine.

“Do you know any astronomers or astrophysicists? Or anyone that works with space stuff?” I ignored the gib about Alex.

He wrinkled his face, and I took a moment to appreciate how stupid he looked when he was confused.

“I’m sure I could drudge up some contacts. Why on Earth would you need them, however?”

I shrugged, maintaining an offhand look. “Call it a fascination. It’s become a new hobby of mine.”

He frowned. “I’ll see what I can find. The papers this month better be the best, though.”

I stood and said, “Deal.”

“It’s been a pleasure as always, son.”

I started walking away. “We have different definitions of ‘pleasure’.”