Alien or Alian

One by one students scurried into the lecture room, gradually filling the amber yellow and cardinal red seats and flocking together to get in their last minute study sessions.

Ozias had been the first one there, seated alone at the edge of the first row. Each time someone entered the room, he’d sneak a quick glance at the doorway to see if Ethen would show up. He had a feeling it wasn’t likely since he had last heard from Ethen through Ezra, who had gotten a text from his twin early in the morning informing that a critical sweep of the area was still ongoing around Brew For You.

Speaking of Ezra, he had accompanied Ozias to campus, but had parted ways with him before they reached the classroom so that he could take a brief tour of the school. It was Ezra’s first time being at a university, and the first time in a couple of years since he’s stepped foot in any kind of school. Ozias wanted to show him around himself, but after spending most of his first semester at the school doing nothing but studying in the same isolated spot at one of its libraries, he wasn’t too familiar with Belrynn’s campus either.

What if Ezra got lost? Ozias had gotten himself lost multiple times during his first month at Belrynn, and he remembered just how lost he felt roaming through the campus buildings, too pigeon-hearted to ask anyone for directions.

It’d be different for Ezra though, Ozias thought. Ezra would have Ozias to call if he did get lost... but then Ozias had a fearful realization — he never gave Ezra his phone number.

Dread suddenly swelled inside Ozias; his pen fell from his hand and clattered as it hit the desk; his gaze fixated on the side of the desk where his backpack sat on the floor, his cell phone tucked inside.

Without giving it much thought he skidded back his chair and stood up. He had to go find Ezra; no matter how much of the campus he would have to scour, no matter how long it took-

“Hey, Oz!” Ezra appeared in the doorway with a cheery smile on. “I had no idea this place was packed with all those restaurants. We gotta try that taco joint near the library later.” He sauntered over and shuffled behind Ozias to reach the seat next to him.

“Are you okay?” Ozias asked. He waited for Ezra to sit before he sat back down himself. “Did you get lost?”

Ezra laughed. “I’m fine, Oz. I did kinda lose my way at the library, but I just asked someone nearby and they showed me the way here.”

Ozias wasn’t as surprised as he was disappointed. Having someone, a friend, who relied on him for anything, was something he didn’t realize he yearned for until now.

“There’s still time right? Before the exam starts?” Ezra asked.

Before Ozias could respond, he caught sight of the wandering glances studying Ezra from around the room. Ozias couldn’t blame them. Someone who looked exactly like Ethen Knillimhyr had just waltzed in with a smile front and center, and sat right next to him, the most reserved person in the class, maybe in the entire writing program.

“Umm...you’re not staying for the exam, right?” he asked Ezra.

“Of course I am. Can’t let Ethen fail just cuz of my mess. And don’t fret, Oz. Ethen gave me his blessing to be here today as him, I just gotta avoid anything and anyone football related.”

Ozias did another scan of the room. Much of the watchful stares still hadn’t ceased. He had to think quickly before someone figured out the truth.

“But...can you really write this exam? You haven’t been to any classes.”

Ezra leaned back in his chair making it tip against the desk behind him. He slowly started rocking to and fro as a slit of a grin emerged on his lips. “You think I just zoned out for that entire study session yesterday? I bet I learned more from you in a day than anyone else here did in the entire course.”

“Uhm, but, what about your mom? She can’t be okay with this.”

“She wouldn’t be, if she knew anything about it. Luckily she thinks Ethen’s exams start next week. What’s with you, Oz? Do you not want me to do the exam?”

Ozias slumped back against his own chair. “It’s not that, not really. Just...don’t attract attention to yourself.”

“What are you talking about?”

Ozias just barely gave the room a once-over. “Haven’t you noticed?”

Ezra grounded his chair and finally observed his surroundings, but every pair of eyes aimed at him had averted as soon as he did. “What’s everybody looking at?”

“You. They think you’re Ethen, and because of that they’re all freaked out by you smiling and sitting next to me.”

Ezra looked baffled. “What’s wrong with sitting next to you?”

“I just mean...no one notices me, but everyone notices Ethen. Two kinds of people that’ll always draw a lot of attention if they ever interact in any way.”

“Wow. Of course Ethen is the lime of the light,” Ezra chuckled. “Seems like there’s a lot about school dynamics that I still don’t know.”

Ozias counted Ezra lucky. Not having a clue about how most school social systems worked was a blessing he wished he still had.

“Ethen!”

Ozias released an audible sigh. Ezra flinched, then gawked at the person in the doorway.

The look Rebeca Madden had on was one of unyielding desire, and it was pointed right at Ezra. She twirled a few strands of her cinnamon brown hair as she strutted towards the two boys.

“Hey babe, study well?” she asked, a sensuous tone dancing around her words. “I was up nearly all night cramming for this thing, barely had time to eat anything this morning. Maybe later you and I could-”

“No,” Ezra interrupted. His cheery air had been replaced by a gruff exterior. It made Ozias wince.

“Well it wouldn’t be like a date or anythi-”

“No.”

“I know the perfect spot where we could-”

“No.”

“Fine,” Rebeca huffed, “be that way.” She looked over and finally realized Ozias’ presence. “Who is this?”

Ozias quickly stuttered out, “oh, my name — Ozias, it’s Ozias.” He didn’t much care for Rebeca Madden in general, but the ravishing double major suddenly talking to him for the first time was still a nerve-wracking experience.

“He’s my study partner,” Ezra added, rigid and aloof.

The look on Ozias’ face was one that was a mixture of being both astounded and touched. It was nothing like the expression Rebeca had; distraught and spiteful, much of it directed at Ozias. If Ozias had to guess, ‘study partner’ must’ve had a certain venereal connotation when it came to a school setting.

“Oh,” Rebeca started, “that’s...interesting.”

The door flew open once more, and a young woman with frizzy red hair strode in with a stack of booklets and sheets of paper. “Okay guys, Mr. Halton is running late but the exam is still gonna start as scheduled. So put away your books, grab something to write with, and spread out.”

Chairs crashed and clanged against the floor and desks, and notebooks shuffled and slapped close as students dispersed to get to a seat.

“Maybe, call me later…” Rebeca muttered despondently. She didn’t wait for either Ezra or Ozias to respond, and hauled herself away to a seat further in the back rows.

Ozias watched for a moment as she did, then turned back to Ezra. “You really just became Ethen. The voice, the bluntness, shutting down Rebeca Madden — all of it.” Ezra chuckled again. “When Ethen called earlier he mentioned that I might see that Rebeca girl, so he told me all I needed to say in case I did.” He fumbled around the pockets on his sweater and his jeans for a few seconds before he realized he didn’t have anything to write with. “Darn. Hey, you gotta pencil or somethin’ I could borrow, Oz?”

“One sec.” Ozias had whipped out a sapphire graphite pencil and started scribbling something on a corner page of his notebook. He tore the piece off when he finished and handed it to Ezra following the pencil.

“Nice! I love blue,” Ezra said, taking a moment to admire the pencil.

It’d been a long time since he had seen a simple writing utensil. They used specially equipped pens while out in space instead of regular pens which became weightless so they caused abnormal ink flow, and pencils which were too risky to use since the wood, graphite and rubber created combustible dust that wouldn’t fare well in zero gravity.

“And what’s this?” He thumbed over the torn piece of paper placed in his hand; a phone number written in ornate cursive.

“For future reference,” Ozias smiled. “You know, if you ever desperately need a friend.”

Ezra beamed his infamous smile right back at him, but he felt something was different about it this time. It was warmer, much more vulnerable…

“Hurry to your seats everyone! The exam will start soon,” called the frizzy haired woman.

Ezra was thrusted back into reality and immediately stood up, but then hesitated as he stared between the vacant seat next to him and Ozias.

“Don’t fret, you can give me your number later,” Ozias said reassuringly.

Erza nodded. “Definitely.” First he’d get the exam out of the way, then he would have the rest of the day to spend time with Ozias.

Ozias set his pencil down and marveled at his work: a handful of definition questions, several short answer questions, and then the final grand essay question. Every second of the ninety minutes was used well. He placed his sole worksheet inside the booklet and closed it, just as the red haired teacher’s assistant passed by and scooped it up into the stack in her arms.

There was a distinct, strained sigh, and when Ozias looked over he saw Ezra tipping his chair back yet again, running a hand through his hair. The longer Ozias stared at him, he noticed tiny beads of sweat dribbling on the side of his head.

“So how’d it go?” Ozias asked him.

Ezra groaned. “What kind of exam was that?”

“What kind of exam did you think it was gonna be?” Ozias chuckled.

“...I don’t know. I’m just glad it’s over. Ethen might have to retake it though…” Ezra paused, realizing what he said. He peered at Ozias through the corner of his eye to see if he had offended him by possibly defaming Ethen. But, Ozias was laughing. Ezra had fully turned his head now, cherishing the soft sight.

After a moment the laughter calmed, and when Ozias turned his head, he instantly locked eyes with Ezra. Goosebumps ran across his skin, his cheeks warmed, and something in his stomach fluttered. But strangely enough, he wasn’t panicking.

It just felt...right, Ozias thought.

The two stayed like that, even as each of the other students gathered their things and wandered away, even as the teacher’s assistant secured the booklet stacks and took them with her before leaving, even for a few more moments when they were the only ones left in the room.

Ozias was the first to break his gaze, permitting some of his self-consciousness to at last cut in. “We should get going. Don’t wanna end up in a long line when we get to that taco place.”

“Yeah,” Ezra chuckled as he finally withdrew his line of sight. “Good point. And hey, I’m buying, as thanks for all the studying we did yesterday. I won’t accept no for an answer.”

“Fine, fine.” With a smirk on his lips, Ozias covertly rolled his eyes. While neatly packing away his pencil case and notebook into his backpack he asked Ezra, “so, what are you getting on your taco?”

A moment went by. And then another. Ezra didn’t respond. Ozias zipped his bag close and turned to face him, only to see Ezra staring bewildered at something else. He followed Ezra’s gaze to the front of the class, where a zombified-looking Mr. Halton staggered at half-speed towards the boys.

“Mr. Halton...you’re here. We finished the exam already,” Ozias tried to explain.

The man stayed completely quiet as he continued to move, and the closer he got the more his void mien became apparent to the two. His eyes seemed to be trained on Ezra, almost examining him; Ozias couldn’t ignore the apprehension crowding his senses.

Ezra slowly pushed his chair back and stood from his seat, the entire time matching Mr. Halton’s stare with an intense one of his own. He could hear Ozias calling to him — alarm rising in his voice, and he wished he could turn to him at that moment and tell that everything was going to be fine. But he couldn’t risk it now.

And then it happened. Mr. Halton lunged at Ezra, leaping onto the desk and reaching out to violently grab the collar of his hoodie and shirt. Where the skin of his hands rasped against Ezra’s neck and collarbone, Ezra practically convulsed at his bitterly cold touch. The harrowing attack was suddenly all too familiar. He seized Mr. Halton’s arms and tried prying them off, but was soon already regretting the decision as he felt early sensations of numbness in his fingers.

Through barbarous grunts, Mr. Halton managed to lowly utter, “...yoouu...meee...you become with meee…”

“W-what?” Ezra could barely get the word out. He was beginning to feel a frigid chill throughout his whole body.

“Yooouu...not humaaann...me feeell it...you become with meee…”

Before Ezra could say anything more this time, something sharp flew into his peripheral vision, and was jammed right through Mr. Halton’s arm. He was able to narrowly glance over to see Ozias, kneeling on top of the desk next to Mr. Halton, while clutching onto one of his sapphire pencils that he had driven through the man’s flesh. Blue blood gradually began to drip from the end of the pencil and onto the desk.

Mr. Halton hardly flinched, though. He careened his head to lour at Ozias, growling out more incoherent noises, giving Ezra an opening. He forced through the chilled immobilization of his digits, tightened his grip on Mr. Halton’s arms, and wrenched him forward to deliver a sharp headbutt. The blow seemed to stun him and sent him lumbering back a few steps; Ozias released his hold on the pencil as he did.

Ezra didn’t waste a second. “Come on!” He vaulted over the desk then quickly shepherded Ozias off as well. Ezra didn’t look back as they bolted for the door hand in hand, but Ozias did.

A lump of something black and chunky looked like it spilled from the back of Mr. Halton’s head, and was temporarily suspended in-between his flesh and midair. Just as soon as Ozias caught a glimpse of it, it sling-shotted itself back into the professor’s head.

The odious sight was all he had time to see before the two were through the door and charging down the empty hallway.