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    I contacted the World Alien Alliance. I am looking for Zandor , I wrote. I have seen several signs of the alien invasion, including spontaneous amphibian replication. If anyone knows what I should do, please answer .
    “Ben! Open this door!”
    I quickly switched off my computer monitor. I didn’t want Mom and Dad to find out what I was doing. I knew they’d try to stop me.
    I got up and unlocked the door.
    “It’s open,” I called as I sat back down at my desk.
    Mom and Dad opened the door and stepped into my room. Dad cleared his throat. “Ben, what are you doing locked up in here?” he asked.
    “Nothing,” I said. “Just—um—listening to some music.” I tapped my headphones.
    “Ben, your father and I are worried about you,” Mom said. “Your teacher called. Mr. Kazaki. He told us that you insist on writing papers about aliens even when he’s asked you not to.”
    “You know how we feel about that, Ben,” Dad said. His usually mild-mannered face looked puckered and tense. “We don’t like this obsession of yours.”
    “I know,” I said.
    “We think it would be best if you just stopped it,” Mom said. “Find something else to do. No more aliens!”
    “Okay, sure.” I was just trying to get them to leave me alone. I stared at their faces, hard and tense.
    Was it just worry? Or was it something else?
    “No more aliens,” Dad said sternly. “No moretalk about aliens. No more searching for aliens. Just drop it. Drop it.”
    “Do we understand each other?” Mom added.
    I nodded. “I guess.”
    “Good.” They turned and made their way downstairs, leaving the door open. I stood up and closed it behind them.
    Why were they doing this?
    All sorts of crazy ideas whirred through my head.
    Did they know something about the alien invasion? Were they afraid of what they knew? Were they trying to protect me?
    Yes, I decided. They were probably trying to keep me safe.
    But why couldn’t they be honest about it?
    I switched my monitor back on. A light blinked on my screen.
    “Whoa.” I had an e-mail message.
    We are here. We’re looking for you.
    We don’t know who you are yet. But we will find you.

13
    I stared at the message, my whole body shaking. Who could have sent it?
    The aliens?
    Why would they be looking for me?
    I’d dreamed of this for years. But now I was terrified.
    This e-mail could be a joke, I thought. Some jerk in the chat room could have sent it. Or some kid at school. Anyone could have sent it.
    Still. A chill ran through me as I stared at the message.
    Someone knocked at my door. I quickly switched the monitor off again.
    “Come in,” I called.
    Summer threw open the door and walked in. “Get your shoes on!” she said. “We’re going ice-skating.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “The new ice rink is supposed to be really cool, and a whole bunch of kids are going.”
    “Summer, listen to me.” I grabbed both her shoulders and looked her straight in the eye. “An alien invasion is coming. The aliens are already here! I know it for sure now—”
    Summer clapped a hand over my mouth. “You listen to me,” she said. “I would like to spend just one afternoon without talking about little green men. Okay?”
    She lifted her hand off my mouth. “But I have proof—” I insisted.
    She rolled her eyes. “I’ve seen your proof.”
    “But—”
    “I’m serious,” she said. “You can tell me whatever it is you have to say after we go skating. But I can’t stand much more of this. It’s—it’s getting harder and harder to be friends with you, Ben.”
    My mouth fell open, but I didn’t try to say anything. Was she saying she wouldn’t be friends with me anymore if I kept talking about aliens?
    I needed her. If the aliens were here, I needed a friend. I couldn’t afford to lose her and Jeff.
    “All right,” I agreed. “I have something very important to tell you. But I will wait until after skating.”
    She grinned. “What a relief. Let’s go.”
    I threw on my