Blake, furious, grabs Aaron by the shirt and pushes him against the van. "I'm not taking them anywhere or letting you take them untilI know where they're going." His fist bursts into flames.
"Interesting," Aaron says, unfazed.
"I'm not joking. I'll melt your head like a candle!"
An Euperian in the van, a slender blond man, grabs Blake's shoulder. "Please don't hurt him, sir," he says. "We appreciate your concern, but he really is trying to protect us. He's been paid to take us to California."
Blake releases his grip on Aaron. "That makes no sense. You'll never make the crossing through the Midwest, and even if you do, California is uninhabitable."
"That's what the UN wants us to believe, yes," the Euperian says gravely.
"My team and I have been smuggling Azhalians west for years now," Aaron says, brushing the wrinkles out of his shirt. "We cross into Canada and then head back south through the ice sheets in Minnesota. There's a navigable ice-free corridor there — we call it the Northwest Passage. We go through into Canada first because both borders are less well-guarded than the wall in Illinois."
Blake and Wally stand motionless, trying to make sense of what they've just heard.
"Now that we've gotten that out of the way, we're spending the night inside this warehouse. We have a dozen more joining us, and we march before sunrise."
Aaron walks to the van, gets in, and taps a number into his phone. "Sir, Blake is an Atiru," he says quietly. After a short pause, he replies, "Yes, I agree. Zec lives."
❖❖❖
"Mom, Dad, I'm heading out. I'll be back before dinner."
Jim Parker watches his son walk out and turns to Isabelle. "Is he going to meet up with Eva, you think?"
"I think so. He's been talking to her over the phone almost every night now."
"Finally, somebody he likes besides Amy," Jim says. "I was getting worried."
"It's never going to work," Olivia chimes in from the living room. "Eva is human."
"There's no reason to think that," Isabelle responds.
Olivia walks in and leans against the wall. "I don't know what planet you both live on, but humans don't want us on Earth anymore."
"Not all humans feel that way," Isabelle protests. "You're with Brady, and that's working out."
"That's because I'm just in it for the fun. Just like Eva, Brady thinks I'm human too. There's no chance of it ever working out in the long run."
"Wish I hadn't heard the 'fun' part," Jim says.
"Just keeping it real." Olivia grins as she walks upstairs.
❖❖❖
Zack waves to Eva as she enters the coffee shop. She gives him a hug and a kiss on the cheek that surprises him. They both order coffee and sit at an empty table. "Thanks again for helping me catch up with homework," she says brightly.
"Not a problem. Glad I could help."
They remove their tablets from their backpacks and start on their homework. They both laugh, talk about life, and what's next after graduation.
"You're a fascinating person," Eva remarks after a time.
"I wouldn't say that. I'm pretty boring."
"Oh, I don't know. You run into a burning building to save a girl, you stand up for Azhalians getting bullied at school, and who knows what you do after dark."
Their eyes lock for a second before Zack nervously looks away.
"Okay, I'm all caught up!" Eva exclaims. "I need to get going. I promised my uncle that I'd help him with something."
They pack up and exit the coffee shop. "So, how can I repay you for helping me out?" Eva asks mischievously.
Zack pauses, mustering the courage to look straight at her. "Let's grab dinner tomorrow."
"Are you asking me on a date, Mr. Heroic?"
Zack blushes. "Yes, if that's okay."
"Of course it is."
"Oh, hi guys," Zack says, looking over Eva's shoulder.
Eva, surprised, turns around and sees Amy and Emma walking toward them. "Hi, girls," she quickly says, and waves. "Grabbing some coffee?"
"Yep," Amy says. "Need that afternoon boost to finish our paper for our world history class."
"I can help with that. I'll send you my notes — I already finished my paper."
"That would be great."
"Well, gotta go," Eva says. "I have some errands to run. See you tomorrow, Zacky." Eva gives Zack a quick kiss on his lips, then walks to her car and drives off. He just stands there, frozen, as she walks away.
"Holy crap!" Emma says, breaking his paralysis. "'Zacky'? Zack, are you and Eva a thing now?"
Zack avoids looking at Amy. "I'm not sure, to be honest, but I'm taking her to dinner tomorrow."
"Oh, you're a thing all right." Emma jabs Zack's shoulder, flashing him a thousand-watt smile. "Look at you, coming out your shell!"
"I guess. I, uh, have to head out too. I have a shift at Dad's shop."
Emma stares at Zack as he walks away. "Is it me, or has Zack been hitting the gym lately?"
"I'm going in now," Amy says flatly.
"Don't think I didn't notice your expression when you saw Eva kiss him, young lady."
"Ignoring you now," Amy snaps. She stands in line and tries to remove the image of Eva kissing Zack from her mind, but she can't. Why do I feel so upset? she asks herself.
For the first time, she realizes she has feelings for Zack.
Chapter 16
Nima gets off the metro train pod and zigzags through the crowd to the exit gate. She places her right hand on the exit panel monitor and rushes up the escalator to the congested intersection at 42nd Street and Lexington. She stops at the crosswalk, and takes a moment to tighten the scarf around her neck; the wind has picked up. She looks up at the dark sky. Another storm is coming.
She anxiously waits for the light to change. She has to tell Ambassador Jabieko what she's just found out, and the information she has is too sensitive to deliver via an
