Why Is There An Alien Princess In My Room? (ONC 2023 - Alien Romance - Complete)

24: Tristan Sets a World Record

Tristan Conway had never been a runner. Despite his father hailing for Jamaica, a proud nation of world-renowned sprinters, he'd made a sport out of avoiding running during gym glass in middle school, instead hiding in a storage cupboard reading National Geographic magazines borrowed from the teacher's lounge.

But as the alien beam shone down on Vyrsa, Tristan ran. He ran like he'd never run before. He ran like freaking Usain Bolt, probably setting a world record for nerdy guys on short distances.

Tristan didn't think before running. He didn't think of his own safety. He didn't think of his family back in Toronto. He didn't think of his friends at the university. He didn't even think of Bobby. He didn't think of any of the people he would be leaving behind back on Earth.

He only thought of Vyrsa and how he couldn't let her go. Not alone. Not like this. Not without him.

So he ran into the bright light of the alien beam, which was strobing stronger by the moment.

The world flickered between black and white when he reached her. It was like standing on a three-dimensional chessboard of light.

"Tristan!" Vyrsa called out upon realizing he was beside her. "You shouldn't be here. It's not safe. They will beam you up as well."

"I know," he panted, trying to catch his breath from the intense run. Stars fluttered by, disrupting his vision. He was unsure if they were part of the beaming ray or just his oxygen-deprived brain playing tricks on him.

"You need to go, now!"

Tristan shook his head. "No," he said. "I won't leave. I'm coming with you, Vyrsa, wherever you're going." Having recovered somewhat from his run, he pulled her close, uniting them in a whirlwind of swirling light from the intensifying beam.

Sparks flew as lips united in a blast of shining light. The campus disappeared as the beam honed in on only them. A pillar of light surrounded the embraced couple, making the air vibrate. Sound became colors and blended together into vast space. They were everywhere and nowhere at once.

"I love you," Tristan said while everything he'd ever known faded from view. "And I'm coming with you. Let's explore the stars together."

He'd always loved movies about space exploration, so the chance of being part of such an adventure himself was immensely intriguing. But also impossibly frightening.

At least Vyrsa would be with him.

"I love you too," she whispered, the sound becoming part of the cascading beam around them. It echoed in Tristan's ears and made tingles rise along his neck.

"Meow?" Bobby said while stroking against Tristan's leg. He looked down to realize an additional passenger had snuck along. How had she—

SCHLLLUUURP

The shining beam spirited them away, leaving the football field, university, and Earth behind.

The End (for now)

Thank you to everyone who has been reading this story! Your amusing comments and insightful feedback has been invaluable.

As you may have guessed, this isn't quite the end... I'm planning to eventually continue Tristan's and Vyrsa's story in a sequel (probably called something like "Why Is There a Human Nerd on Our Spaceship?"). But first, I'm going to finish my other ONC Novella First Frost (which is nothing like this story, but if anyone wants to check it out, that's always appreciated!). Then, I'm planning to extend and revise this story so it can be entered into the Wattys. But sometime after that, I will start the sequel! (maybe next ONC?)

I anyone is interested, I may write a bonus chapter to detail exactly Bobby came to follow along in the end. I actually hadn't planned for that, but she became such an important part of the story that it felt weird to leave her behind for the next story (and let's face it, her minions won't survive without her).