Most people are uncomfortable around strong emotions, whether it’s their own emotions or someone else’s. At least, that’s true among humans. These aliens hadn’t shown much emotion, so I wasn’t sure how they would react if I burst into tears.

I knew how I would react: I would turn into a crying mess and become useless until the next day. I don’t like my strong emotions, either.

I sniffed, trying to clear my nose without being too noisy. Then I took a drink from my mug to distract myself from the tight feeling in my chest. Fortunately, everyone gave me some time to calm down.

“So now what? You can’t take me home, you don’t want me to go with you, and you won’t let me do anything. Am I just supposed to sit here until we get … where are we going, anyway?”

Kial replied, “As mentioned, we are going to our homeworld.”

“Yeah, but where is it? What’s it called?”

He looked a little uncomfortable. “It is difficult to pronounce—“

“Then teach me!” I said with more force than I intended. “I study German at school, and maybe I’m not very good at it, but I still can try. You said you want to do something for me; let me learn something! We have all this time before we get there, so why not?”

Kial definitely looked uncomfortable now. I could see the others shifting in their places around the room, as well. Strong emotions, you know?

I took a deep breath and kept talking. “Since you won’t let me go back home, that means I’m going to be living in your — on your planet, right? Shouldn’t I learn a few things before I get there? At least how to ask where the toilet is?”

There might have been a twitch on Kial’s face, but I didn’t stop. “How am I supposed to live? Where am I supposed to live? Can I — I mean, am I able to get a job or something? Keep going to school? I haven’t even graduated yet! And sure I didn’t have a college picked out, and for sure I don’t know what I want to major in, but I have to think about these things, you know?”

I couldn’t stop the words pouring out of my mouth. I didn’t usually talk so much, but this was a special occasion. 

“You said you came for Willie Joe and that you were going to teach him everything he didn’t know, right? Well, why can’t I study with him? You wouldn’t have to come up with an extra curriculum or anything; I’d just learn the same things. I mean, I’m almost an adult, you know? I have to get a job and an apartment and maybe a driver’s license and a car, and to do all those things I have to know how your city, your world works, right? So it’s the same stuff Willie Joe’s got to learn, right? So just let me do that, please!”

Kial had his hands up, either to request I stop talking or in surrender, I’m still not sure. In either case, I finally got my mouth to stay shut and let him say his piece.

“Patty, I’ve already said that you cannot see the prince again—“

Remember, I didn’t actually like Willie Joe. I barely knew him; our school was pretty big. But at that moment, I had no one and nothing familiar to hold on to, and desperation leads to choices we wouldn’t make if we were thinking straight.

“What am I going to do to him? I can’t fly this space ship. I don’t know anything! What harm would I do to him?”

When I think back on this moment, I can recall that all of the people in the room were pretty upset. Of course, I was the only one losing my head, but it was obvious that we were all feeling some level of embarrassed.

Kial clapped his hands together once. “Miss Patty, please control yourself. This behavior is precisely why you cannot be allowed near his highness; he cannot be encouraged to act like a child!”

That really hurt my feelings, so much that I truly stopped talking. I also started crying, which was even more humiliating. I wasn’t acting like a child! My response was completely reasonable under the circumstances. I told myself that several times.

Movement distracted me. Someone was next to my knee, crouching on the floor. It took me a moment to realize that it was Lyraan and that he had a concerned expression on his face. After another moment, I realized he was trying to give me a tissue.

No help for it: I was a sobbing mess. I managed to nod my head in thanks and take the tissue. Except it wasn’t a tissue like I was used to, but something more like a handkerchief. I didn’t allow myself to think too much and used it to wipe my eyes and nose. Crying is very messy.

Kial muttered something I didn’t understand before switching back to English. “I believe we have done enough for now. We each have much to consider, and rest will also be useful. I will leave you to your staff.”

I was too busy emptying my nose into the hanky to reply, but it caught my attention that he had called the three people with us “my” staff. Since when did a kidnapping prisoner get staff?

All I could do was nod my head and hide behind Lyraan’s hanky. Kial stood, bowed with some hand motion I didn’t understand, and spoke quickly to Draxar. Then he left.

Lyraan stayed by my chair, awkwardly patting my knee and speaking gently. Draxar came over and took my mug to refill it. Since I didn’t have any better ideas, I let them make a fuss over me and drank my drink. By the time I finished it, I was feeling sleepy and followed Xandria back to the bedroom without any complaints.