Alex slid through my door quietly, fortunately remembering the text I had sent her, which said to be quiet when she entered.

I waved at her from the couch, and she grinned sinfully at seeing Zesper asleep with his head in my lap. I glared at her, my face flushed.

She pointed at me, her face gleeful. Even without words, I knew she was gloating, and I glowered.

I pointed at Zesper, and then ran a finger down my cheek in symbolience of a tear. I shrugged my shoulders in a ‘what did you expect me to do?’ position, and Alex’s face sobered considerably.

My hand was lightly rubbing circles on his bare back, and Alex pointedly glanced at my hand. I stuck my tongue out at her in a show of extreme maturity.

Of course, Alex went to sit down, and somehow managed to trip over nothing and hit the floor with a loud, “OUCH!”

Zesper jerked off my lap, now wide awake. I ignored the sinking feeling I got when I was no longer touching him.

“What is happening?” He snapped his head from me to Alex, taking in the situation. “Ah, hello Alex. What are you doing on the floor?”

“I tripped,” Alex laughed at herself and got up with the help of Zesper, but when he sat back down, it was on the opposite side of the couch.

Was that intentional?

“Ok Zesper, I have a couple of questions.” Alex settled into a chair and got straight to the point, her face becoming serious in the blink of an eye.

“Proceed.” Zesper nodded his head.

“First off, do you have even the slightest clue how you got here? You had to arrive here somehow, and we could use that same way to get you back.” Alex pulled a notepad out of nowhere, and I got distracted wondering how on earth she managed to fit it into her pockets.

“No. The last thing I can remember before waking up on this couch-,” He patted the couch affectionately, “-was cooking I think? I am not sure. I know I was in our kitchen, and I was determined to do something. But that is it. After that, it is all blank.”

All three of us were sporting the same confused look, but Alex brightened and said, “Do you think someone erased your memory? Is that possible?”

Zesper frowned. “It is technically possible, but it requires a skilled doctor and technician, and it takes a lot of time and money. It is banned on my planet.”

“Do you have enemies? Is someone out to get you?!” Alex was visibly getting caught up in the story, and I shot her a look of warning.

“No, I do not. I was rather, what is your word? Introverted? Am I using that correctly?” I nodded my head and he continued. “I have not even heard of a person who would be able to erase someone’s memories.”

“Well, the only other explanation is that you blacked out up until you woke up on Felix’s couch. But we dunno how long that is.” Alex was staring at the blank notepad, and I watched as she wrote “MEMORY NOT ERASED” in large letters.

Good detective skills, Alex.

I cut in. “Yes, but he can’t just black out and accidentally wind up on a planet this far away. That doesn’t make any sense. Something or someone had to bring him here.”

Zesper nodded absentmindedly, but Alex’s face shone.

“That’s it then! All we have to do is find out how he got here, and that’s how we can get you back home!” The last part of this statement was directed towards Zesper.

“But his clothes were charred when he got here. I’m thinking he may have fallen through the atmosphere?” I threw out this suggestion halfheartedly. I wasn’t exactly sure of the chances of him surviving something like that.

“No way! No one could survive that!” Alex leaned forward in her chair.

“Actually, if I may-”

“You don’t know that! He’s not from Earth! He could live in temperatures as hot as the sun for all we know!” I hadn’t heard Zesper, and my sole target was now Alex.

“Well, you see-”

“You dummy! I meant falling from that great of a height! Also no one can live in the sun!” Alex got up from her seat, her hands braced on her hips.

“I can-”

I hopped up, not to be outdone. “It’s like you’re not even listening! We don’t know what he can do!”

Alex got in my face, all five feet of unbridled rage. “Yeah, well-”

“HEY! I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU!”

Me and Alex’s heads snapped to the side, and we both remembered who it was we were even arguing about. Zesper was standing now too, and all three eyes were narrowed. His tail was whipping rapidly back and forth, and me and Alex stepped away from each other at the same time.

I sat back down with my eyes lowered (mostly so I wouldn’t think about how cute he looked when he was angry), and me and Alex were both silent.

“I could have survived that sort of fall. But where I landed would have turned into a crater from the force of my landing.” He huffed and plopped back down onto the couch.

“Sorry,” I scratched the back of my neck and kept my eyes down.

You idiot.

“That’s our bad,” Alex didn’t look nearly as sorry as I did, but then again, Zesper didn’t look all that angry anymore either.

Am I making too big a deal of this?

You upset him.

He doesn’t seem upset anymore.

He yelled. He was angry. You pissed him off. It’s your fault.

“Felix? Did you hear us?”

I yanked my head up, my face flushing when I realized they were both staring at me, clearly waiting for an answer to something.

“Er, what?”

“We said he could have fallen, and then something somehow cushioned his landing.” Alex filled me in, and I tried to shake away my thoughts.

“I mean, that’s the most plausible thing so far. But still, how did you get close enough to Earth’s atmosphere to fall through it?” I shook my head stubbornly. “No, this had to be deliberate. There’s no other explanation.”

Zesper frowned, and his eyebrows scrunched together. “But who? And how? And why? I have not done anything to anyone that I am aware of. And to send me all the way to Earth? It does not make sense.”

“Didn’t you say that you were warned that humans are the most dangerous creatures out of like, everybody?”Alex got up and started pacing.

Zesper nodded. “Yes.” He paused, and it was deadly quiet. “Do you think someone may have sent me here because of how dangerous humans are supposed to be?”

A shiver raced down my spine. Everyone's faces were somber, and Alex voiced what we were all thinking, her voice wavering slightly.

“Yeah. I do. I think someone may have sent you here to die.”