Free How to Marry an Alien by Magan Vernon Page A

stepped out into the
hallway, taking Ace's hand while we made our way back the way we
came, with nothing still answered.
    "Do you want me to see if I can get a Circe
vehicle to take you back to the dorms?" Ace asked once we left the
officer's quarters.
    I let out a long breath. "Not really."
    I didn't want to have to go back to my room.
It had been a long day and since nothing had been solved with
Riley, I didn't want to have to walk back in there, alone, to stare
at the girl that pointed a gun to my head.
    "Does this mean you want to stay here?" He
arched a brow, looking down at me.
    "Only if you want me too…" I looked down and
back up at him, blinking slowly while letting out a hint of a
smile.
    "Princess, the joys of having you in the same
bed as me are comparable only to a Caltian sunrise," Ace said,
squeezing my hand.
    I laughed. "I have no idea what you just
said."
    Ace steered me down a hallway. The
temperature dropped another few degrees. Caltian quarters. "It
means that I would love to have you spend the night."
    As much as I wanted him earlier that day,
with visions of Riley and guns running through my head, the last
thing on my mind was getting busy. But I'd take any chance I had
not to go back to my dorm room.

Chapter 14
     
    Ace was able to get a Circe Jeep early that
morning to drive me back to my dorm. I got a better feeling of the
term 'walk of shame' when I walked in the lobby with my bed head
and clothes from the night before. I was greeted by the same
pink-haired girl at the counter and a crowd of eager band kids
gathered near the elevator.
    Ugh. I stepped in behind a guy with a giant
tuba wrapped around him, looking up at the floor numbers. At that
rate, I wouldn't even have time for a shower before classes—way to
make an impression on the professors.
    Once I got to my room door, I thought about
knocking and hoped that Lucy and Riley weren't doing the thing that
Ace and I definitely weren't doing. But I didn't hear anything, so
slowly I unlocked the door and opened it as quietly as I could.
    I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Lucy
curled up in bed, alone, only snuggling with her comforter. I went
to my dresser, quickly wrapping my hair into a bun and tossing my
books into my messenger back before darted out the door and to my
classes.
    I practically ran to the communications
building with just enough time to spare to grab a bag of chips for
breakfast from the vending machine. I followed another
sleepy-looking kid in the classroom where Professor Johnson smiled
at me all-too-brightly. Ugh, I did not want to be the teacher's
pet.
    I found the same spot I had sat in the last
two days and plopped down, putting the chip bag up to my mouth and
scarfing the remaining chips in the bag. I didn't have to appear to
be a lady in front of the class. Not like I cared what they thought
of me. I was still in the clothes they saw me in yesterday, so they
either thought I was just unclean or knew I probably didn't go home
the night before. I didn't have time to change and it was too dang
hot to throw on a hoodie over what I was wearing.
    "Alright, class." Professor Johnson clapped
her hands together. She was in prime form with her swingy
boho-style dress and red hair pulled into a tight braid. She
actually looked like a college professor instead of someone from
another planet.
    "Since some of you will be doing your first
speeches on Friday, I thought today we could work on your speech
outlines. I would like you all to get into groups of three and give
input on each other's work. Afterward you will all have some time
to work on your own assignments.
    Crap . I reached into my messenger bag,
pulling out my communication folder. The day before, Professor
Johnson gave us a fill-in-the-blank outline that we were supposed
to work off to prepare for our first speech. Not only was mine
still blank, but I was also one of the students who got the brunt
of having Friday as my speech day.
    Double crap .
    Slowly, I picked my bag