Caught Between Two Blue Aliens - Celia Kyle Page 0,1
I think on their home planet their women marry two of them, at once. One woman, with two husbands.”
And this was bad because…?
Jenna kept her lips sealed and reached for her usual lip gloss instead of the bright lipstick that called to her. Natural makeup was the way to go because she didn’t want their attention at all. Right?
“Right.” Bea agreed with her.
Dammit. Jenna really needed to get ahold of this talking out loud thing before her evening at Drokten Main. Normally she was much better than this, but her nerves were shot with the anticipation of the night to come. Now that the day had arrived, she was antsy, restless, and overthinking the situation. Even the usually simple act of putting on makeup and making her hair presentable made her feel nervous. Eep!
“Eep is right!” Beatrice cut in. “Eep! That they want you to sign your life away before you go to work carrying drinks and snacky-snacks.”
Jenna sighed. She was totally gonna get fired if she didn’t get her motor-mouth under control. “It’s hor d’oeuvres, which you know, and it’s a standard contract for working at Drokten Main, Beatrice. Everyone has to sign stuff like that before they go there.”
Her little sister snorted. “Uh-huh.”
Jaded little shit. My sister, folks, fourteen going on forty.
“Can this wait, Bea? I’m trying to get my hair done for the gig tonight.” And not have her heart pound out of her chest at the same time. Blood and adrenaline thrummed through her veins as she stood in front of her own reflection, attempting to finagle her hair into some kind of elegant updo. Though that was easier said than done, considering she’d somehow misplaced her brush and…
“I’m giving this to you under protest.” Beatrice waved the missing brush in the air.
Jenna snatched it from her sister. “As long as you’re giving it over, protest all you want.” She only hoped Bea hadn’t gone so far as to create picketing signs. “You’re a lifesaver.” Jenna took the brush and ran the teeth through her tangled strands. “I think we’re just gonna go for a regular ponytail with a few curls. What do you think?”
“About your hair or signing your life away for snacky-snacks?”
Jenna rolled her eyes. Beatrice was fourteen, but her sister had the wisdom and soul of an elder. Sometimes that was a good thing, unless she turned that crotchety persona on Jenna and then… not so much. Her sister was quiet and contemplative—the kind of girl who listened far more than she spoke and noticed the little things people overlooked. She was so much like Dad, it broke Jenna’s heart. Dad had always been so serious too.
Jenna paused and tipped her head to one side as she pursed her lips, deciding to let Bea have her say. With a huff, she put the brush down and leaned against the bathroom counter. “What else are you upset over, Bea? Bea? Let it all out.”
“Oh, sorry,” her sister blinked, as though breaking herself out of a trance. “I’m worried.”
“About what?” Jenna went back to taming her hair and grabbed a chunk, struggling to scoop it into the ponytail she was forming with her other hand.
“You have to sign your life away.”
“Here we go again,” Jenna grumbled.
“I’m serious, Jenna. It’s a contract. A legally binding contract,” Bea lamented. “And you won’t just be signing your name but also placing your handprint.”
“Yup, I know.” Jenna nodded, hand atop her head and hair all gathered prettily. “That’s standard for this kind of event, Bea. Now, can you hand me that black scrunchie from the jar on the counter?”
Beatrice sighed and handed her the circle of velvety black fabric. “I just don’t think you’re taking this seriously enough.”
“I’m putting way more effort into my look than usual. I’m taking it seriously. I promise.” Jenna assured her with a cheeky grin. She finished tying up her hair and then took the curling iron to the long wavy strands and added some nice big curls, making them shine in the bathroom’s dim light. She turned to Bea and gestured proudly at her handiwork. “See? I wouldn’t do this for any old catering job.”
Bea was unamused. Spoilsport. “It’s pretty, Jenna, but you’re missing the point. I read the entire contract.” —See? Fourteen going on forty.—”There is some really biz-biz-biz-weird, misleading wording in there. I don’t like the sound of it.” Beatrice harrumphed and crossed her arms over her thin chest.
“It reads differently because the event is at the tower at Drokten Main.