Page 43 of The Bully Alien

"Nah. I think I know where he might be."

"Hmm." He nods slowly and then shrugs. "I can't compete with him, huh?"

"Excuse me?"

"He's all strong and muscular, and... I'm not."

"Don't compare yourself to him," I say with a laugh. It’s ridiculous for him to. Wyatt’s an alien, for crying out loud! Not that the guy knows that, though.

The guy grimaces. "Yeah, I'm a laughingstock compared to him."

"What? No! I didn't mean to suggest that. He's a freak. That's all. Like me."

The guy furrows his brow. "Why do you say that?"

"He's... He's a bodybuilder," I say, not knowing how axle to explain his size without the guy getting a complex.

"No, I mean you. You aren't a freak."

I grimace and look around. "I should—"

"You mean your scar?" the guy asks bluntly.

"Don't—"

He rolls up his sleeve to show off a port-wine stain the is massive.

"No one is perfect on the outside or the inside," he says.

I snort. "Easy enough to say when you're able to hide it so easily."

"Maybe, but... We don't know what anyone else is going through."

I tilt my head to the side. "You aren't an ass."

He laughs and then furrows his brow. "Wait, you act like every guy you've met here is an ass."

"Some have been."

"I try not to be an ass until we're friends and you're stuck with my ass," he jokes.

I burst out laughing. "I see."

"I'm Brain," he says, holding out his hand.

"Brain?" I repeat, shaking his hand.

"Brian but my friends call me Brain because I'm smart."

"Ah. Yes. I can see the connection," I say dryly.

He laughs. "Are you sure you don't want to give me your number?"

"To call if Wyatt comes around?"

Brain hesitates. "Or to maybe talk about anything and everything?"

I hesitate. "You seem really nice..."