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Doyle stretched his arms up high, groaning as a wide smile stretched across his face. His first Saturday off work, and he was not going to waste it. Milo enthusiastically agreed to show him some of the best hidden gems around the galaxy, which, of course, devolved into the rest of the troupe wanting to tag along as well. After the chaos that was the Hands Across the Universe Dance, a weekend away from the school was just what the earth boy needed. (And spending some time with Aimee was always a plus, though he would never let her know that).
But the best part of it all? No Beef.
“There he is!”
Doyle looked up, smile wide as he spotted Milo’s many hands from waving across the hallway. He quickened the pep in his step and eagerly rushed to join his friends, ready to get this show on the road. “Hey everybody! We ready to get this-… wait.” Doyle furrowed his brow.
Everyone one was there, but…
“Where’s Aimee?”
He should’ve noticed it sooner; Creep was without an owner. Speaking of the perverted flying creature, Creep gave a melodic moan as he swung his empty leash.
“We haven’t seen her at all. Booey went to go check on her ten minutes ago, but hasn’t come back. Maybe she got lost.” Wendy said with a roll of her eyes. “Yeah, what a buzz kill.” Gilda chimed in.
Doyle huffed. This wasn’t like Aimee at all. To flake out on her friends? Just like that? No warning or heads up? Something had to be wrong.
“I’ll go check her room. You guys wait here in case she and Booey come back or something.” He waved them off, sprinting back down the hallway. Milo grabbed Creep’s leash, halting the buggy alien from following.
Approaching Aimee’s dorm, Doyle was surprised to see it was already open; just by a crack. He pressed himself against the wall, peering closer as he heard voices from within her room.
“B-but you seem sad, Aimee!”
“I’m fine, Booey, honest!”
Doyle peeked his head around the corner.
Aimee sat against her bed, a stuffed animal held tightly against her chest. She looked tired; maybe a little melancholy. Booey sat next to her; the bobble alien’s hands on the girl’s knee. “I was just a little down about the dance last night, but that’s it! I think I just need some time to myself…”
The earth boy tilted his head.
Down? Why would she be down? She got out of being Beef’s prom queen and she’s down?
Booey seemed to share his thought, parroting almost the exact same question.
“But you got out of being Beef’s queen for the dance! And everyone’s faces were priceless!” Boeey couldn’t help but fall into a fit of giggles, before tilting her head. “Right?”
Aimee laughed at Booey’s slip of memory and nodded. “Yes, I did. I just… I guess I was happy there was a planet that would actually vote for someone like me!” she hugged her plushie even tighter, resting her head on the plush belly. Doyle almost gave himself away right there, but controlled his outburst.
Booey gasped. “B-but Aimee! You’re so great! And smart! And so nice! Why wouldn’t people vote for you?” she gestured around her room, pointing to the various achievements tacked up on the walls. Scholarships, honor roll certificates, and photographs with friends from across the galaxy. Aimee nodded with a smile that didn’t match her eyes.
“That doesn’t matter on Earth, Booey…”
She sat up, pointing to a lone, framed photo on her nightstand. Doyle had to squint to get a better look, but he instantly recognized the framed portrait. It was Doyle and Aimee, posing in front of their old high school with the student body behind them. A large sign hung from above the school rafters that read GO DOYLE! and scribbled under it in rushed, shaky handwriting, read and Amy. Most of the collective student body was huddled around or behind Doyle. Football members and cheerleaders all cheered him on, while Aimee stood beside him, alone, with a small, polite smile.
“They didn’t even spell my name right.” Aimee sighed, looking away. Booey frowned. “Oh Aimee…”
The human girl glanced back at the photo, staring at the stark difference between Aimee’s empty side and Doyle’s packed congregation of friends. “Back on Earth, Doyle was the hotshot, the big star. And me? I was the mousey bookworm who got asked out as a prank and left out of student events. If anyone put me in as a vote for prom, it would’ve been as a joke…”
Doyle couldn’t take it anymore. He stood up, standing in the doorway with his arms crossed. He cleared his throat. Aimee and Booey looked up with a squeak of surprise; the earth girl’s face flushing a dull pink. “Doyle! What are you doing here?” Booey asked. He shrugged. “Wanted to see what the hold up was. Hey, Booey? Could you head back to the others? I wanna talk with Aimee before we head out.”
Booey flashed a giddy smile, instantly jumping up. “W-why of course!” As she passed Doyle, he heard her mumble to herself. “Wait ‘til Gilda hears this!”
He rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to the human girl curled up against her bed. “Hey Aimee. Forget about today or somethin’?” Doyle stepped into her room, shutting the door behind him. She didn’t respond. Aimee tossed her stuffed animal on the other side of the bed, hugging her knees. “What’s going on, Aimee? Don’t ignore me again.” He zipped over, jumping onto her bed with a thump as Aimee tumbled from the sudden weight shift into his side with a shout.
“Careful blockhead, careful!” Aimee smacked his arm as she struggled to untangle herself from his arms. He didn’t let her, holding her against him for a few moments as he stared into her teary amber eyes. “What did you mean a few seconds ago? About the prom stuff?” he asked, squeezing her shoulders. She sighed and looked away. “You know no one would’ve shown me the same attention on Earth as they do here, Doyle. Fat chance I would’ve been close to be your prom queen.” A few tears spilled down her cheeks.
Doyle blinked.
“….my prom queen?”
Aimee’s head snapped up, the sudden action knocking Doyle back onto his elbows. “I-I meant…! Well…” she pointed over to the framed photo. “You obviously would’ve been prom king. That’s what I meant.” She ran a hand through her tangled hair, breaking apart the knots and tangles.
Doyle smirked. “Uh-huh, sure.”
Aimee’s cheeks were flushed red. She glanced back over to Doyle, who’s cheeks were also a rosy tint. “I just guess I wanted to feel like you did, even if it was with… Beef.” She gagged at that last part, earning a chuckle from Doyle.
“I feel so selfish, though… Did you see the look on Ms. McBrain’s face? She was so, so happy… I shouldn’t be feeling like this! I shouldn’t be jealous of the nicest teacher I’ve ever met! I shouldn’t want to take something from someone who deserves it.” Aimee started tugging at her hair, slapping the sides of her temples.
“Woah, woah, woah! Cool it Aimee!” Doyle quickly pried her fingers off her scalp and held them tight in his hands. “It’s not wrong to want something. I mean, you were going to be queen. You were! And if Beef and his gremlin friends hadn’t tampered with shit, Milo would’ve probably been your king. I voted for him, at least.” He added with a shrug.
Aimee looked from her hands, which were still held tightly in his, to Doyle’s face. “And… who did you vote to be queen?” she asked. As soon as she said it, however, her hopeful gaze dropped. “Wendy. You probably voted for Wendy.” Aimee rolled her eyes and started to pry her hands away from his. Doyle scrambled to keep her from walking away.
“No, no, no! I voted for you! I… I voted for you!” he screeched out. Aimee stopped her escape and looked back to him.
“I voted for you too, Doyle.”
Doyle’s cheeks flushed. He suddenly realized just how close the two humans were to each other. His eyes flickered down to her lips.
Aimee seemed to notice. “Imagine us… king and queen.” She laughed to herself. Doyle sighed. “Milo deserved it more than me. He always works so hard.” He said. Aimee shot him a sly smile. “It’s not wrong to want something, Doyle.” she snickered, parroting back his previous lecturing back to him. Doyle rolled his eyes. “Guess it’s not, huh?”
He scooched a little closer on the bed; their thighs pressed together.
“Would it be wrong if I wanted to kiss you?”
Aimee’s breath hitched in her throat. She scanned her eyes across his face, searching for any foul play or joking intent behind his eyes. For the first time since she had met Doyle, she saw nothing but honest, sincere eyes staring back at her.
“No, it wouldn’t.”
She leaned in, clasping his hand as she finally connected her lips to his. She saw his eyes flutter shut, and she did the same; their faces slanting to mold their lips even closer together. A brief flicker of panic crossed Aimee’s mind, trying to remember if Doyle closed the door, but it was quickly washed away when she felt his hands tangle into her hair and pull her closer.
They slowly pulled away; face flushed.
Snapping out of her trance, Aimee couldn’t help but start to giggle. Doyle blinked, watching as she descended into a fit of laughter, and couldn’t help but join in. They both laughed with smiles wider than the galaxy, brushing tears from their eyes.
“So,” Doyle finally mustered out, wiping more laughter-induced tears from his eyes. “Will you come out with us? With me?” He squeezed her hand. Aimee took a deep breath, fighting away another spout of giggles.
“Only if we go as a couple.”
Doyle’s eyes widened.
“Are you, Aimee Brightower, asking me out?” He asked with a teasing grin.
Aimee shrugged. “I guess I am!”
Doyle scrunched his brow, feigning contemplation. “Hm… I don’t know. I’d have to turn down all my other hot alien babes, but I think I could make it work.” Aimee quickly gave him a playful shove. “Don’t be an ass when a girl is asking you out, dweeb.” She added with a roll of her eyes.
He laughed. “I’d love to, Aimee.”
Pulling her up, Doyle gestured to the door. Aimee nodded. “Yeah, let’s not keep them waiting anymore… I’m sure Booey and Gilda are already blabbing to the whole school by now.” She started to walk towards the door, but noticed Doyle was fumbling around in her desk drawer. “Doyle? Why are you looking in my craft supplies?”
He grinned back, holding a sheet of yellow construction paper and scissors.
“And then Doyle told me to leave him alone with Aimee!” Booey gushed, before pausing. “Or… was it… Aimee… wanting to be left alone with… Doyle?” she asked, her fingers running through her pink ponytail. Milo rolled his eyes as Gilda pressed the ditsy alien for more details. “Does it matter?- Oh, hey. Look!” he pointed his many arms down the hallway.
The rest of the group followed the direction of his arms. Doyle kept a brisk stride down the hallway, hand-in-hand with Aimee. On her head was a yellow paper crown.
“Introducing the queen of the Hands Across the Universe, Aimee Brightower!” Doyle loudly exclaimed, raising her hand high in the air like she had won a boxing match. Her cheeks flushed as she tried to hide from Doyle’s praise.
Their friends cheered with teasing shouts and smiles as the two humans finally caught up to the group.
“Took you long enough!” Milo teased and rolled his eyes. Doyle shrugged, giving a squeeze to Aimee’s hand.
“Some things are worth waiting for.”