He Comes in Peace

.Eventually and nervously, Skye and Tay arrived at the nearest strip mall, dressed for the semi-cold weather outside (Skye had lent Tay her oversized hooded jacket).

She had tied a bandana around his neck, and pulled his bangs to the side.

“Why?”

“Like a disguise, Tay.”

“Oh. All right.”

He had reluctantly slipped his feet into flip flops; he felt uncomfortable with them on his feet, but when Skye raised an eyebrow and said in a sing-song voice, ‘ECI…” he sighed and put them on his feet.

“What are these?” he asked, holding up a pair of Skye’s socks, dirty and discarded by the front door.

“Socks. They go with shoes.”

“Can they go with these…Floppers?”

With a giggle, she corrected him. “Flip flops. And no, they can’t.”

“Why not? They seem to keep your feet warm, no? And it is autumn, if I am not wrong.”

Skye sighed. How would she be able to explain fashion to him? “It…It doesn’t look very good together. That’s why.”

Kartayon frowned. “May I try them on?”

Skye let out a huff of breath again. “All right, but I’m telling you, you’ll look dorky.”

“Is ‘dork’ not the term for a male whale’s appendix?”

Skye whitened. “That information wasn’t necessary.”

“But it is true!” Tay argued.

“All right, all right. Come on; it’s darkening already. Let’s just go…And you can’t put on the socks because I need to wear them.”

“Why? Your feet shall be covered already.”

“Why, because my feet will stink like crazy if I don’t put on socks. And they will hurt, too.”

“Okay.”

Tay put the sandals on his feet, standing up.

“You’ve got the left one on your right foot.”

“Does it matter?”

Skye laughed and nodded. “Very much.”

-x-

On their way to the strip mall, Skye had told Tay their cover story if anyone was to ask them any questions.

“Okay, your name is Taylor Macey, you’re my mom’s aunt’s grandson, visiting from New Jersey. All right?”

“All right. So I am related to you?”

“Oh wait, that’s not a good idea. Your complexion is too different from mine.” Skye thought for a moment before saying, “Okay, you’re my mom’s aunt’s friend’s grandson, still visiting from New Jersey.”

Tay laughed slightly. “Would it not be easier if we were friends from a summer program you participated in last year?”

Skye blinked, then grumbled. “Fine. Make it a boring story.”

After the number of hold-ups and questions and debating, and ‘why not’s?’, they were standing together in Winners, browsing through the guy section.

Skye already had a pile of fifty percent off clothes in their cart, and was waiting in a chair in front of the changing rooms when the three people Skye least expected to see showed up through the front doors.

“Crap,” she hissed, shrinking back in her chair.

Karoline Monroe, Hailey Simmons and Jesse Carson, the three bitchiest girls in her grade.

They caught sight of Skye almost immediately. Karoline smirked and walked towards her. Despite her deep hatred for the three girls, Skye couldn’t help but feel a small prick of envy at their figures.

“Hey squirrel…What’s up?”

“Karoline…Hailey. Jesse,” Skye said in a monotone voice.

“Buying bargain sales?” Hailey smiled.

“Yes, actually. And what are you three doing here?”

“Camping.”

Skye almost choked on her own breath. “Camping?”

“Yeah. We’re camping near Harrison Hot Springs. And I suppose you’re here at your cute little lake house?”

“Mmhmm.”

Jesse caught sight of Tay’s feet underneath the stall. “Who’s in there?”

“A friend of mine.”

“Not that dork Lynette,” Karoline said, looking at Skye pathetically.

Skye’s mouth twitched when she remembered what Tay had told her. She kept a straight face and answered, “No. Taylor. You don’t know him.”

The three girls snorted. Hailey leaned against the next change-room stall, the neckline of her shirt dipping down way too deep. “The squirrel doesn’t have a boyfriend, does she? Not another loser!”

Jesse laughed. “Oh, I bet he’s such a looker, don’t you think so Karoline?”

“Of course!” Karoline hitched her skirt up higher and leaned down to whisper in Skye’s ear. She shuddered at the close contact.

“Let’s see him, Squirrel.”

Just then, at the worst possible moment, Tay stepped out of t change room wearing a graphic Hurley t-shirt and a pair of fitted skinny jeans. He blinked at the four girls staring at him.

“Skye…?”

The three girls immediately changed their personalities from bitchy, to nice and slutty.

“Taylor, hm?” Karoline pretended to adjust her shirt, only pulling her v-neck down even lower. Skye felt a retching impulse coming on.

“Yes. And you?” Tay was being his normal polite self, Skye knew that. But for once, she wanted him to be utterly rude.

“Karoline. But you—” She placed a finger at the center of his chest. “—can call me Kary.”

“Oh. Hello…Kary.”

She giggled, rubbing his shoulder. “I haven’t seen you at school. Where are you from?” she asked, stepping closer and letting her other hand graze his stomach.

“New Jersey.”

Jesse and Hailey were no better. Soon, all three of them had themselves draped over Tay, Skye sitting there in the seat hopelessly.

Kartayon looked like someone being backed into a corner, but his manners would not allow him to brush the three girls off. He fidgeted slightly and pulled himself away when Karoline’s hands started wandering. For once, he was speechless.

Jesse giggled, whispering to Hailey, “God, he’s so fricking hot.”

She whispered back. “I know…I just want him in be—”

Skye coughed, fighting back the sickening feeling in her stomach.

She watched him closely, and his eyes started lightening in colour. He was getting freaked out, and she was pretty sure five holes would be punched in the t-shirt he was wearing unless she said something.

“Hey. Hey. That’s enough. Stop harassing him.”

Karoline turned around, her hand placed on Tay’s ribcage.

“Piss off, Skye; it’s not like he’s protesting, is he?”

Skye stood up. “Back off, Karoline.”

The girl laughed, leaning closer to her. “If it were his choice, I’m pretty sure he’d choose one of us over you, all right?”

Skye saw the faintest flick of Tay’s ears. A look of sharp realization crossed his face, and he extracted himself from their arms.

He stepped forward and took Skye’s hand, pulling her against him. His arms wrapped securely around her. She felt a low vibration between his ribs, and Tay smiled gently down at her before placing a soft kiss on her forehead, then her cheek.

“Excuse us, we have somewhere to go,” he said politely.

Karoline had a look of disbelief on her face. Hailey and Jesse looked like they had just been slapped.

“You and her?”

“Yes. Please, it seems like Skye does not like you very much.” Tay swiveled his gaze from Karoline to Hailey and Jesse, still holding Skye. “Nor you two. It would be polite if all three of you left.”

After a moment of stunned silence from the three of them, they left the change rooms, scowls on their faces.

When they were out of sight, Tay carefully pulled his arms away, but not before giving Skye a brief hug.

“Skye?”

“Yeah?”

“I believe I have just been…’hit on’.” He paused slightly before adding curiously, “Do these clothes suit me?”

Skye let out a shaky breath before laughing. She placed a hand carefully on his shoulder and nodded. “Yes, they do.”