Skylar flicked through a children's encyclopedia of weird Earth animals. John sat at his desk, texting Hannah.
"So, why did going to the movies become a date thing?" Skylar asked.
"I don't know." John spun his chair around. “We spend so much time talking about human culture I'm curious about some of yours. First, do Qwortarians have a... favorite body?"
"Yes." Skylar pushed away the encyclopedia. "What you first saw was the saving energy body." Skylar crouched on the floor. "But my favorite form, is this."
Skylar's eyes closed. Hair started to shrink back into the body, which started to sag. Their feet became longer, bit mostly wider and flatter. Their beak returned as well as their one eye, and their arms and legs became tentacles. Then their skin became clear, and the blinking bright light of the translator made John turn away again.
"I enjoy this form best." The translator, once again sounded as if the speaker was underwater. Considering John could see the metal device still lodged in the neck area when he turned, it wasn't surprising.
"Why?" John walked around Skylar, spotting the little green phenogland tucked up against the translator, metal filaments connected to the top and bottom of the spiral.
"In the area of Qwortar I live, it has a lot of rivers, ponds, and these feet act like your snowshoes in the winter too." Skylar waddled out of the pile of human clothes. "It is also pretty easy to maneuver and I can have more or less tentacles without tripping over them."
“That’s pretty-” John’s words stopped when he heard the front door open. “Change back!”
“John! Skylar!” His mother’s heels echoed on the staircase.
“It might take too long.” Skylar’s voice was more wobbly than usual.
“Then hide!” John opened the door to the Jack n’ Jill bathroom and pushed Skylar inside. His hand nearly enveloped by the clear and elastic skin before he pulled back. “And lock the other door.” He hissed.
John’s mother poked her head through the partially open bedroom door just as John turned away from the shut bathroom door. “Everything okay?”
“Yep!” John nodded and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Skylar just got into the bathroom.”
She tucked a strand of curly blond hair behind her ear. “Anyway, your father and I ran into Emily’s parents, and they extended an invitation for dinner tomorrow if you don’t already have plans.”
“Sounds great.” John smiled.
“If you need anything, I’ll be using the stationary bike in the basement.”
“Thanks mom.”
“Door shut or open?”
“Shut please.” She nodded and shut the door silently. The bathroom door creaked open and Skylar’s voice was quiet.
“Hey John, can you pass me my clothes?” John blushed as he picked up the pile of clothes and passed it behind him without looking. “Thank you.”
“That was close.” John sighed. “Maybe you should avoid any transforming while you are on Earth.”
“Sounds good.” Skylar came out of the bathroom. "Close calls are terrifying."
Word count: 500
