• “What?” I nearly screamed, “Luu’s here? No, it can’t be! School isn’t out!” I ran beside Roy, “You sure she's here? Not some random?”
    “Tai, I really want to meet her, why can’t I?” Roy smiled, chuckling under his breath.
    Christian casually walked to the corner of a wall, leaning his back against it like the night before.
    A knock rose from the door. “Uh, Tai? Who are you talking to, your mom?”
    I sighed. I didn’t want to deal with her, at least not with Roy and Christian around. She’ll get nosy, think I’m hooking up with them, and then tell them embarrassing moments about me as a kid. I did not want to go through that.
    “Tai, I know you’re in here! Wait! You better not be climbing down the balcon-” the door swung open, and her eyes were immediately fixed on Roy and Christian. She stepped towards me, keeping her gaze on them. “Why do you have them,” she motioned her head towards Roy, “in here? Do you even know who they are?” she whispered.
    I had a slight feeling she was going to call the police. I couldn’t let that happen. I was finally meeting to people that actually understood me, made me laugh, and had me dying just to see them again.
    “Luu, don’t, you don’t understand, they’re not as horrible as you think they are.”
    “I have no clue what you’re talking about, but they are surely not horrible,” She eyed Christian then looked back up at me. “Especially him.”
    I sighed; these two were not the ones to talk about cuteness, even if they were.
    “So…Luu, is it?” Roy chuckled, “it’s nice to meet a friend of Tai’s.”He walked over to her and grabbed her hand, kissing it.
    Luu blushed.
    I could tell Roy was enjoying this. Why was he so serious with me, but idiotic to her? He really frustrates me.
    “Roy, so…who’s the boy against the wall? Is he like your brother or something? You really do look alike.”
    “Yeah, we are.” He gently tugged her to the bed, sitting beside her. “In fact, were fraternal twins; both seventeen, one hyper, one not.”
    “Oh really?” a huge smile appeared on her face.
    I sighed and glanced at Christian, he hadn’t moved a single muscle. While Roy flirted with Luu, I snuck over there to him.
    “Christian, are you okay?”I whispered, trying not to sound shocking.
    He slid down to the floor and leaned his head against the corner, his eyes closing.
    “Christian?”I questioned my voice slightly higher.
    This time he pulled up his hood.
    “Christian, what’s wrong?”
    “N-nothing…”He finally looked up at me, his eyes revealing nothing but misery.
    “Christian, I know there’s something wrong; you wouldn’t try to be alone. Listen to me, sometimes if you speak to another person, you’ll feel better. I used to be like you, I understand how you feel.”
    “No you don’t!” he cried, “NO ONE UNDERSTANDS!!! NOT YOU, NOT ROY, NO ONE!” the tears fell, and his cheeks were nearly soaked. He stared at me intently, telling me to leave.
    But I didn’t.
    I slowly comforted him in every way I could, trying to realize that I used to be like this. I wouldn’t let him go as far as I did, never suicidal.
    His tears slowly stopped, and I let him rest his head on my shoulder. But he did more than just that. He wrapped his arms around mine and cuddled up against me, his own tears soaking my shirt.
    “Christian?” Roy called, stepping towards us.
    “Roy, what’s with your brother?” Luu asked, concerned.
    Roy took his brothers hood off rubbing his hair. He spoke to him in their native tongue, and I realized something.
    Why would the nations ever get rid of something so beautiful? These people, aliens, they had a whole civilization, plus a language like no other. Just because they were different doesn’t give the nations the right to command anyone. Whatever happened to equal rights?
    “Christian, you understand me; we’re the only ones who can stop this. Half of our people are dead. Some are captured, and some are too afraid to even move. Our own government left us stranded here, leaving us all to die. You must get through this; you’re the only one I have left in this world. We can’t just…” his eyes surfaced the wooden panels of the floor.
    “Give up.” I added, staring at them.
    “Yeah,” Roy said weakly.
    “Oh my gosh.” Luu said, backing away from us. “You two are those boys… That’s what you were talking about! They are dangerous! Tai! Get away from them!” she nearly trampled to the door, running down the stairs.
    Roy’s eyes widened and he rushed towards the balcony, scanning Luu’s outside garden.
    “Christian, there’s no time to lose, we have got to leave. Now.”
    I peeked at Christian who apparently hadn’t let me go.
    “You have to come,” he whispered softly.
    “I…uh…Christian, I…”
    I couldn’t think of anything to say, Christian revealing all these issues to me at once. I wanted to help him, but at the cost of leaving my whole world behind? The fame, the fortune…
    “Christian, now.” Roy mumbled, stepping out onto the balcony.
    I hurriedly thought through the decision, hoping that it was for the best. “Okay, I’ll go.”I pulled him up with me and walked to the balcony.
    “Okay, here’s the plan. We jump, we run, we hide. Then we’ll go to Aya’s house.”
    “You mean jump from here, which is about two and a half stories high?”
    “Yep, don’t worry though, you won’t break anything.”
    I stared down the edge of the balcony. I was in for more than I expected.