An Alien Love B. 02

Hi all. I'm moving and I just left my house. I know that's not a reason not to write, but the internet has been spotty as we travel. Right now I am a homeless vet! Ha! I feel like I should go to a street corner and hold up a sign that says "anything helps" on old cardboard. Maybe I will just end up selling a ton of my Ice Era Chronicles and become rich. LOL. Anyway, here is my next chapter for Sloan! I hope you enjoy.

~M. From C.M. Moore

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*Chapter 20*

Elijah's apartment.

Two days of travel was enough to make anyone dizzy and exhausted. By the time Sloan got off the plane to meet Elijah, he could barely keep his eyes open. Everything he ate made him feel full to bursting, and he'd only finally settled his stomach by eating raspberry smoothies.

Drinking a smoothie, he found Elijah's car outside beyond the baggage claim. Carrying his backpack and new suitcase, he waved when his friend jumped out of a new sedan.

"You're back!" Elijah hugged him and then hopped into the driver's seat. Sloan tossed his bags in the backseat and got in. "I have lots to tell you."

"What did I miss?" Sloan sucked down his smoothie and rolled down the window. Sunshine warmed his face.

"You got fired."

"Figured."

"And we got evicted."

"Sounds about right for me."

"Was it worth it to jet off with a hot rich guy to a tropical island?"

"It was." Sloan smiled picturing how far from the truth that comment was.

"Well don't worry about any of it." Elijah pulled into traffic. "The Learning Institute got us a sweet apartment. You'll love it. And JP is great. At first, I was worried that this wasn't on the up and up. You know, the Learning Institute seemed too good to be true, but I got a great price on rent and all I have to do is put these little pads on my neck and forehead while I paint. JP said he loves my brain and wants to study it."

"Cool." Sloan gulped down the rest of his smoothie as they drove. He glanced around the new car. "And you bought a car?"

"I borrow this from the Learning Institute. I can use it whenever I want. Great, right?"

Sloan nodded. Octnavin was probably trying to make up for what happened. He wished he could tell the alien he didn't need all this shit. He was fine. Another wave of dizziness hit him, and he inhaled. Fuck it. He could use a break right now.

They didn't drive for long. They were in a better neighborhood than where they used to live. Elijah pulled up to a three-story corner brick building. The front stated on glass windows that this was some type of art gallery. They drove around back and into a parking garage.

"What're we doing here?" Sloan got out of the car as Elijah grabbed his bags.

"This is our new place." Elijah grinned.

"We can afford this? You work at a coffee shop. What are you doing? Blowing guys on the side?"

"I got fired too." Elijah laughed. "I work at the art gallery on the first floor. My place is on the second floor and yours is the top."

"I have my own floor?" Sloan shoved his empty smoothie cup into a trash can. Even the trash receptacle seemed too fancy for him. "I'll never be able to afford this." The words died on his lips. His motorcycle was parked in the spot next to the car. The bike was his, and it wasn't. Someone had put the machine back together, but a hundred percent better than it was. His motorcycle now looked like mostly new parts. The one reason he knew it was his bike was because of the skull and crossbones on the fuel tank.

"My bike?"

"Yeah." Elijah headed toward an elevator. "JP said Octnavin promised to have it fixed. He came through in that alley. I owe Octnavin my life. I owe JP too. After JP got me out of the trunk, he did all this."

"I remember." Sloan smiled. "Octnavin did say he would take care of my bike. He's a real honest... guy."

They got into the elevator and Elijah pulled out a business card. "JP said I should give this to you when you got home. You can get a job here."

Sloan looked down at the card. "Dager Gym for cutting edge health?"

"Yeah." Elijah pressed a button. "Really a gym is a better job for you anyway. I saw the place. It's not far from here. It looks new and they have kickboxing classes and all sorts of stuff. It's your kind of place."

When they reached the top floor, the elevator opened to a small hallway. Elijah took out a key and opened the only door. He stepped to the side for Sloan to pass.

"Here it is. Home sweet home."

Sloan entered his new place and froze. The area was enormous. There was floor to ceiling windows on both sides. A kitchen opened into a living room and he spotted a bed on a platform with wide screens around the edges. To his left was gym equipment. Everything was top of the line. On the counter sat a helmet for his bike. Sloan spun around. He'd never lived anywhere this nice.

As he shrugged out of his leather jacket, he walked to the bed. Beyond the mountain of blankets was a huge bathroom. Next to that sat a closet. The closet was filled with clothes.

"Are you sure this is mine?"

"Yeah, but you gotta get a job and pay rent." Elijah waved to the card still in his hand. Sloan placed the card next to his helmet and then sat on his couch. He yawned. The traveling had done something to his head. He needed a nap.

"Okay, okay." Elijah laughed. "You don't have to fake yawn to get me out of here." He paused. "You know, you do look worn out, and it's good you have your gym stuff again. It's like you gained ten pounds eating and fooling around on the beach."

Sloan glanced down at his belly. His brow wrinkled. He did look like he'd put on a few pounds around his middle.

"I'm not fake yawing. I want to catch up but..." Sloan yawned again.

"We can talk later. I want to hear all about your rich beach hook-up, but yeah, later. I'll come by tomorrow night and we can have Chinese. I know a great place."

"Cool." Sloan nodded.

"I'll see you tomorrow night." And then Elijah was gone.

Sloan stared at the work out equipment and then at the bed. He got up and flopped onto the mattress. The apartment was perfect. The open floor plan was modern with an industrial look. Not a piece of pink fabric insight. He toyed with the idea of getting a pink blanket.

~Octnavin?~ Sloan hunted for even the tiniest sliver of a connection. Maybe he could just thank him for the new place.

~He's gone,~ a little voice whispered back.

Sloan nodded. At least the little voice made him feel better.

~It's just me, myself, and I.~ Sloan thought.

~And me?~

Sloan laughed and closed his eyes. ~Okay... it's me, myself, and I... and me again.~

The little voice laughed.

Sloan got up from the bed. This was what he wanted. Home on Earth. He wanted to be here, and this place was a killer. He would call the gym and get a kick-ass job. He would enjoy his new apartment. Hell, he'd earned it. He saved the Ruler of the Dagerstanteens.

~That's right.~ The little voice cheered. ~You deserve it.~

"Fuck yeah." Sloan smiled.