"You guys will not believe what happened to me last night," I told my friends the next day at school while we're eating lunch. "I saw Old Man Handy yelling and stuff when he saw his car smashed up. I asked him what happened, and he said, 'someone smashed up my car with his bare hands.'"

"What kind of nut does that," Pam asked.

"That's what Old Man Handy said," I continued. "Anyway, I volunteered to find this person that ruined his car. So I went into the forest and looked for any clues."

"And did you find any?" asked Amy.

"Yeah," I said, "I found some neat clues. I saw some footprints and this big boulder that was punched right through the middle. I knew no tool could have done that. So I went on further and I saw—get ready for it—a for-real alien."

Amy rolled her eyes. "Oh, c'mon. Not that again."

"I mean it!" I said excitedly. "I saw an alien. Actually, it looked more human than alien, because he had no antennas or tail, he had a human figure. And, oh my God, his face was so beautiful. Oh, and I forgot to mention, I knew he wasn't out of this world because his skin was green."

"Sounds like he's a hot alien," said Pam, jokingly.

"Yep," I smiled. "But then he picked up a taser and accidentally pressed the button and got shocked. I was so scared I felt my heart dropped. But I helped him anyway and he turned out OK."

"Did you talk to him?" asked Amy.

"No, I didn't get a chance. I was too nervous and I thought he was going to kill me or something. But I noticed a car pulled up and it was my mom. She was upset that I went out of the house and into the woods. I was telling my mom about what I saw, but she didn't believe me."

"What happened to the alien?" Pam asked.

"Well, it seems like he vanished out of my sight. I don't know if he's still in the forest," I said.

Amy said, "It could have been a prank or something."

"No, it wasn't. I actually saw a green-skinned, human-looking alien."

"Maybe someone was playing a joke. It could have been make-up," Amy commented again.

I sighed frustratingly. "Can you just believe me?! I really saw it! With my own eyes! Why can't you believe me?" I turned to Pam. "Don't you believe me, Pam?"

"Sort of," she said.

"Listen, you guys," I said, "I know it might sound silly or made-up, but I'm not making this up! I really did see an alien. You gotta believe me. Besides, you guys are my friends. Can you please believe me."

They stayed silent for a second, looking at each other, not knowing what to say. Amy looked at the floor thinking of some words to say to me. Then she said, "Fine, we'll believe you, unless you show us proof."

"I will," I said. "I'll try to get some real proof."

"Get a life, Kaley, and smell the reality," said a voice behind me. My friends and I turned to see who it is. It was Carmen: the blond-haired, red lipped, model figure, and "prom-queen-wannabe" girl. She always comes to my friends and me just to be mean. I could never trust blondes, especially Carmen. She always thinks she is so special, and that she should be in the spotlight of every event in our school, included valedictorian. She was a typical mean girl. We could never stand her.

"What do you want, Car-Man?" I said rudely.

"Oh nothing, really," she said. "It's just that I couldn't help overhearing your story as I was passing by. Do you take pills before you go to bed?"

"Why don't you just mine your own business, and go bug someone else?" I said.

"Oh, I could," Carmen said, "but picking on you is much more fun."

My friends scowled at her, she gave them and me a dirty look. "You're just as crazy as Old Man Handy."

"He's not crazy!" I screamed. "He is an innocent, nice old man, and no one should disrespect him." Half of the other students in the lunchroom were looking at me now.

"Oh," said Carmen, mockingly. "Have a crush on him?"

"Shut up, Carmen!" said Pam.

"Whatever," scoffed Carmen, giving her another dirty look. Then she let out a pretend yawn. "I should go now, I had my fun." She walked away from us. We stared at her angrily.

"Don't listen to her," Pam said, comfortingly. "You're not crazy and neither is Old Man Handy. Amy and I believe you."

Amy just shrugged.

"Thanks, guys," I said. "You're the best!" The bell rang and it was time to go to our next class. I felt very proud that I have two friends by my side.

When school ended, and I rode my bike towards home, I notice a man in a trench coat talking to Mr. Handerman. He was taking some notes in his notepad too. I went over to Mr. Handerman to see who that man was and what was going on.

"Hi, Kaley," Mr. Handerman said. "How's school? Anything new?" The man in the trench coat glared at me.

"Not much, really." I said. I pointed at the man in the trench coat. "Who's this guy, Mr. Handerman?"

"Dean Jackson, I work for the government," he said, flashing his badge and ID in my face. "Don't you have some homework to do?"

"That's not your business," I snapped. I didn't know what it was exactly, but deep down, I felt like I couldn't trust him.

"Kaley," Mr. Handerman said to me, "I was just telling Mr. Jackson here about the alien I saw last night. I even showed him my beat-up car. Oh, and I heard that you saw the alien too."

"Really?" said Dean, turning towards me, notepad ready. "Did you really see anything strange in the forest?"

My heart started to pump fast; I was getting nervous again. I couldn't trust him by telling him what I saw. If I told him, he would probably send an army to search the whole town. And if they found the alien, they might harm him or use him like a lab mouse. I didn't want any trouble. I had no choice but to lie.

"Actually, I didn't see anything," I said. "I don't know what Mr. Handerman is talking about. I never saw anything strange, must be some stupid rumor going around town."

Mr. Handerman's eyes widened with shock. He actually thinks that I lied to him. The look on his face told me I hurt his feelings. I had to tell him quick before he distrusts me.

"OK," said Dean, handing me his business card. "Let me know if you do see anything strange. I'll be around, so you can call me if you need me." He shook hands with Mr. Handerman, and then shook hands with me too. But his expression towards me was unpleasant. He looked at me as if he wanted to shoot me. I gave him a look that meant I don't want to see you again. He went into his car and drove away.

"What happened?" Mr. Handerman asked me. "You told me that you were going to find the alien. I thought you believed me. Why did you lie to me?"

"I didn't," I said. "I was protecting my secrets about the alien. If I'd told him the truth, then the FBI or the army will be all over this town with no rest until they find it. I didn't want to start any trouble."

Mr. Handerman nodded, understanding my explanation. "I see. I gotta say that man kept giving me suspicious looks. Gave me the chills. You know what they say, 'Never trust a book by its cover.' By the way, are you still looking forward on finding the alien?"

"Yes," I said. "I still want to take pictures of it. The last time I saw it, I tried to take a picture, but my hands shook so much from being so nervous. I accidentally dropped my camera, and when I picked it up, he was gone. Pretty strange, isn't it?"

"How did you lure the alien?" Old Man Handy asked.

"I didn't lure him," I said. "I found him picking up metal things, but he didn't see me. How do I lure him if I want to see him again?"

Mr. Handerman told me to wait a moment. He went into his garage, looked through his storage that might lure the alien. After he looked through his treasures, he brought out a TV satellite dish that looked decades old.

"How can a satellite dish lure an alien?" I asked him.

"It will lure the alien," Handerman said proudly. "Everyone knows that aliens like unusual things. They say that they mostly like the satellite dishes. I read about it in books. They say that aliens think that satellite dishes are the key source to intergalactic communication. They really like them, that's what I heard. They find them fascinating. Here, try it and see if it will work on the alien."

He gave me the satellite dish to me. I examined it, looking at its rustiness. Mr. Handerman's idea lit up my mind, exciting my curiosity. I thanked him and promised him I will try my hardest to get some proof.

"Oh," he said suddenly, "make sure you get that cleaned up."

I nodded and headed home. I was so excited for the weekend to come; I was so ready to see the alien since I had the satellite dish with me. My mind couldn't stop thinking about the alien. Man, how excited I was! I was finally going to show proof if I catch him. I would show everybody: the whole neighborhood, the whole town, heck, the whole world even. I would even show it to that snobbish Carmen. I might be more popular than her. Soon, very soon, everyone will believe me.