Free Aliens Are Real: Part 2 by Sabrina Sumsion

verdict.
    “Who’s Alex?”
    “The girl who had me over for movies, remember?” Jasmine was annoyed at her father for forgetting already.
    “Oh, yeah. Do you have homework?”
    “Yes, but I have four days to finish i t.”
    “That’s right ! Thanksgiving is tomorrow. Crud. I need to buy groceries. ”
    “So can I go to Alex’s?” Jasmine persisted.
    “Just a moment. I’ll be right there. ”
    “What?” Jasmine worried that he thought he needed to pick her up from school or something.
    “Not you Jasmine. That’s fine. Have fun at Alex’s house. Be home at a reasonable hour. ”
    Like you would know , Jasmine thought.
    Like I would know what? Again, Yumi responded to Jasmine’s stray thoughts.
    Sorry, that wasn’t meant for you. I’m still not used to this.
    Jasmine returned her attention to her father. “K. Dad. Thanks. ”
    “Bye. ”
    She stuffed her phone back in her bag.
    “Well?” Alex asked.
    “Yeah. I can come over.”
    “Sweet. You can give me a ride home, then. ”
    “You mean, this was all a ploy to get a ride home?” Jasmine said .
    “Naw. It’s a fringe benefit. ” Alex said then winked as she walked around the front of Jasmine’s car.
    Jasmine unlocked the driver’s side door, opened it and hit the unlock button on the panel. Alex jumped in the car , and they drove to Alex’s house. Jasmine only needed a couple reminders on the directions. One of her freak abilities was remembering directions. If she were a superhero, she would be the side-kick navigator. She only hoped she was funny enough to be the comedic relief. Otherwise, she would just be lame.
    When they walked in the door at Alex’s house, a wonderful smell welcomed them.
    “I’m home, mom!” Alex dropped her backpack by the front door. “Where are you?”
    “Back here.” Alex’s mom responded from the back of the house.
    Jasmine’s heart contracted. She missed the days of running inside the house and calling to her mother. Not the time or place , she reminded herself as tears welled in her eyes. She followed Alex back to the kitchen.
    “ Hey sweetie! ” Mrs. Sinha beamed when Alex entered the room. Alex walked over to her , and gave her a little kiss on the cheek.
    “ Jasmine!” Mrs. Sinha walked over to Jasmine and gave her a little hug. “I’m happy to see you again.”
    “Thanks Mrs. Sinha. I s it okay that I’m here ? If it’s an inconvenience I can go ... ”
    “Nonsense! I love it when Alex’s friends come by.” She smiled warmly.
    “Wh at smells awesome?” Alex look ed around the kitchen.
    “I made cookies!” Mrs. Sinha beamed.
    Jasmine sighed. Homemade cookies? She hadn’t had those in a while. Making them without her mom sucked. They never turned out right. She took a bite out of the cookie handed to her , and marveled at the taste. The texture was perfect. She felt as though her heart were mending and breaking at the same time. Maybe Mrs. Si nha would adopt her ... It was something to consider. The aliens would be leaving soon , and she would need somewhere else to stay so she didn’t have to move again.
    The doorbell rang . Alex jumped up and ran to the door. Jasmine followed her and saw Tasha and Abigail entering . A smile spread across her face. A real girl’s night . Even though she wasn’t normally a girly girl, she couldn’t wait for anything this group had in store for her.
    * * *
    It wasn’t long after the girls had had their fill of cookies that they had broken out the nail polish and were decorating their digits. As Jasmine clumsily dragged the brush across her right pinky , she started to wonder if she was cut out to be a girl. The red polish ended up more on her skin than the nail. She pursed her lips , and growled at the offending finger .
    She put the lid back on the bottle , and pushed it away from her. “I give up.”
    Tasha looked up from her sparkly purple toes. “What?”
    “I’m a failure at this! ” Jasmine showed her red pinky that looked better fit for a