Excerpt #2 from "Kilroy Was Here"

I walk through the lobby of Corporate one last time and wave to Jerry and Dale as I stride toward the door. My steps feel light with the weight of my secret job off my back. I exit into the parking lot and prepare myself emotionally for my next stop. A honk from a car pulling up startles me. I turn and see the Cosmic VW Bus rolling to a stop. Marlene Hunter leans out the passenger’s side window.

“Hey, handsome,” she calls out to me. “Need a lift?”

I smile and walk to her. Her hair is pulled back in that ever present ponytail. Her eyes still sparkle. Her freckles still melt me. I look past her and see Clara sitting in the driver’s seat. She, too, wears her dark hair in a ponytail. She doesn’t smile and I’ve come to the conclusion she never does. It doesn’t change how striking she is.

“Hi, Marlene. Hi, Clara.”

“Word on the street is you’re leaving for college,” Marlene says.

“Where did you hear that?”

“I stopped by your house to see you. Your parents told me.”

“That makes sense.” I feel like I should say something significant and special here. “Yeah.”

“You’re gonna do great, Tony Pershing.” She reaches out, grabs my shirt collar, and pulls me to her. She kisses me.

The strength in my legs disappears and my knees buckle. I place my hand on her face and the softness of her lips causes my pulse to quicken and my stomach to flutter. We’ve shared many kinds of kisses during our relationship. There was the Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow Kiss after our dates. We also shared the Full Blown Sloppy Make-Out Session in my car. There was even more than a few Here, Have A Stolen Peck in the Hallway Before Class moments when we were in school. This kiss very much feels like a This Is the Last One You’re Going to Get, Buddy, So Make It Count kind of encounter. She pulls away.

“I imagined us going to college together,” I tell her. “It’s what I wanted.”

“Then you shouldn’t have backed out on prom,” she says with a wink and a sly smile.

“Touché.”

“Besides.” She holds up a white oversized envelope with the words NEW HIRE ORIENTATION PACKET printed on it under the Corporate logo. “Clara and I have new jobs."

“Let me guess,” I say. “Hunting alien scum?”

“Something like that. I believe our official title is Dynamic Tactics Facilitator.” She reaches out and takes my hand. Her fingers caress mine and she offers me a sweet smile. “You take care of yourself, Tony Pershing.”

“You, too.” I say. “Bye, Clara.”

Clara says nothing, choosing instead to nod in my general direction. The Cosmic VW Bus pulls away and with it takes the piece of my heart belonging to Marlene Hunter.