9 Roxy Learns the Truth

Nine. Roxy learns the truth. I CAN'T STAND JUST SITTING HERE feeling lonely and sad, Harris thought. He decided to call Roxy to see if she could come over. A short while later, she arrived. "Why so sad?" Roxy asked, seeing Harris's expression. "It's Zeke," Harris said.

"Zeke? Is he alright?" Roxy asked, sounding worried. "No... I mean, yes. He's okay, but no." Harris stumbled over his words, getting more and more upset. "Okay, calm down and just tell me what's going on," Roxy said. "Zeke's going home," Harris said.

"Home? You mean to Tragas?" Roxy asked. Harris nodded. "His parents' research here is done." "Oh, wow. That is sad," Roxy said. "But, hey, we can go visit him in Tragas. I think it would be fun to visit another country." She was doing her best to try to cheer him up.

Harris looked away. He thought about how when Zeke arrived, he tried to prove that Zeke was an alien. Then he thought about how Zeke trusted him and told him the truth, and how he did everything he could since then to protect his friend's secret. He always felt bad about lying to Roxy. She was Zeke's friend, too, and she was Harris's best friend. They never had a secret between them, except for this one.

Well, that's about to change, Harris thought. He was sure that Zeke wouldn't be upset about him telling Roxy. Zeke trusted me, and I trust Roxy. "Roxy," Harris said. "Tragas is not a country... it's a planet."

"A planet?" Roxy asked, confused. "What are you talking about? Wait... you're not going to start with that 'Zeke is an alien stuff' again just because he's leaving, are you?!" Roxy asked, shaking her head. "I thought you were over that. You're his friend now!"