Chapter Four
Gendry
“Why are we out here?” Christian asks with a whine. He picks up another piece of trash, placing it into the giant garbage bag he’s holding.
“We are volunteering. We are helping the environment. Should you not be happy we are cleaning the Earth you so desperately wish to stay at?”
Christian narrows his eyes in my direction but doesn’t argue further. His movements are more exaggerated and irritated as he picks up a can from the ground and shoves it into his garbage bag.
“Aldo visited me yesterday.”
That catches Christian’s attention. His movements slow down. I pick up another piece of trash as he processes this information.
“Okay,” he says slowly. “Did he want something?”
“He welcomed me to the area with a sweet treat.”
“Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”
I tilt my head to the side. “What do you mean? There were no kids involved.”
“I.. no… Gendry,” Christian says, using his free hand to rub at the back of his neck. “That’s just a phrase people use when they jokingly mean you’re referring to sex.”
“Oh,” I say, standing up straight and dropping my garbage bag. I feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment. “No. That’s not what we did. There was no sexual relations or anything close. We simply talked and ate brownies.”
“I believe you,” he says right away. “I was just making a joke, it’s okay.”
I pick my bag back up, going back to cleaning up trash.
I have no idea why some humans think it’s okay to leave garbage out like this.
If this happened on my planet, Ghenie would pass out harsh punishments.
We’ve always believed it is our duty to take care of the planet that houses us, why do some humans find that so difficult?
Instead of dwelling on the frustration that comes with thinking about certain humans, I move my thoughts to a different human, one who’s thoroughly caught my attention. I turn towards Christian.
“I have a question.”
Christian perks up. “Yeah?”
“What does it mean when a human changes their hair color?”
I continue picking up garbage, ignoring the way his eyes are on me. When I finally look over, Christian has a small smile on his face. He nods his head.
“That’s a really good sign.”
“Really? But what does it mean? Is it some sort of camouflage technique or something to scare away predators?”
“No, no. It’s more like a mood indicator. Some of us have the ability to project our emotions with our hair.”
I narrow my eyes. That doesn’t sound like something humans can do, but who am I to argue with a native? “So what does bright pink mean?”
“Oh, Gendry, really? It was bright pink?” I nod my head and Christian’s face lights up. “That’s amazing. It means he has romantic feelings for you!”
My heart picks up speed and my skin tingles with delight. Aldo has feelings for me? He’s so beautiful and kind, while I am so large and alien. How could he possibly have romantic feelings for me?
“That can’t be. I’m an alien.”
“Some people look past the skin, even if it’s purple, into the man inside, Gendry. I think you should ask him to go on a date with you.”
“A date?” I think about the movie I watched last night.
It was a romantic comedy, or at least, that’s what the TV had called it.
It was about two women who fall in love during a medical tragedy.
I was expecting it to end in disaster but somehow, they both pulled through and were able to be together in the end.
I can admit, I shed more than one tear at the end because it was so beautiful.
During the movie, one of the women took the other on a date to see a movie and then walked through a park together.
At the end of the date, they shared a soft kiss.
My stomach swoops as I think about possibly doing the same with Aldo. Would he allow me to take him on a date? Would he allow me to duck down and press my lips against his own at the end of it?
I want to find out. I want whatever he’s willing to let me have, even if it will only last this year.
“You know what a date is, right? I guess you’re used to doing weird athletics to prove you can mate someone,” Christian says, his brows wrinkling.
“That mating ritual is so fucking stupid. What if someone is born with only one leg? Are they just supposed to be alone forever? You shouldn’t have to put on a fucking show just to be with the person you love. ”
Ghenie is my Toralleh but even I can see that our ways are outdated.
There’s limitations to how we prove ourselves to our mates, I agree with Christian.
I also know that it is not my place to question Ghenie’s leadership.
Timalah has brought these things up to Ghenie in the past and the two of them have talked about it at great lengths.
It wouldn’t surprise me if things are already different by the time I get back to my home planet.
Ghenie is our leader. It is his mission to speak with our Ancestors, to allow them to help him lead our people.
They will help guide him into this next stage.
They will help him develop a new and better way to bring our matches together, I have no doubt.
“In a movie I watched, two people went to a theater together and then went for a walk. I could do something like that with Aldo.”
Christian snaps out of his terrible mood when thinking about our mating rituals, focusing on explaining different date ideas to me instead.
“As long as you’re spending time together, getting to know each other better, and having a nice time, that’s all that matters. Pretty much anything can become a date as long as your intention is to be with each other.”
I nod along as he explains. “That makes sense. So having brownies and talking could be a date?”
“Yes. But usually, it’s only a date when you’re both on the same page about it being a date.”
“A conscious decision by both parties involved,” I murmur. I reach down and pick up some more trash as we talk. “I am unsure what Aldo would enjoy as a date, but I could simply ask him next time I see him. He promised to play soccer with me.”
“That’s a good sign, that he’s promising to spend time with you in the future.”
Christian’s words fill me with warmth. There’s a chance this is going to work out. There’s a chance I might have a shot at wooing Aldo. My heart flutters pleasantly every time I think about him. It’s maddening and exhilarating all at once.
As we finish up and start to head to our apartment, I nudge Christian with my elbow. “Aldo mentioned he’s given up on wonder and whimsy because he has been burned too many times by human men in the past. Do you think I’ll be the same?”
Christian stops and looks up at me. He places a hand on my shoulder. “I think you’re a good man, Gendry. You would never do something to hurt someone on purpose. My only caution is remembering you’re not staying here forever. As long as you’re both okay with that, I vote that you go for it.”
“You’ve given me much to think about. Thank you, Christian.”
“Don’t mention it,” he says, starting to walk again. “Ever.”
I can’t stop myself from chuckling as I follow behind Christian.
My eyes dart around the streeting, taking in all the signs and shops as we walk.
Everything is so flashy and bright, so much more obscene than I’m used to.
On my home planet, we do our best to live a simple life but here, it’s so different.
I’m enjoying everything Earth has to offer, but I can admit I miss being home.
One shop has a glowing pair of scissors. It makes me pause, thinking about Aldo. To my surprise, when I look through the window, I find him standing inside!
“Christian! Aldo is inside!”
Christian slows down, following my gaze. “I think he works here.”
“I must go in and say hello.”
“You could ask him for a haircut while you’re at it. You have money on you, right?”
“Of course! I will pay him for his services. Would you like to come with me?”
“And listen to you awkwardly flirt? Absolutely not. I’ll talk to you later.”
Before I can argue, Christian turns and leaves.
I think about chasing him down for only a moment before I think better of it.
Christian has shown much of himself to me today through our conversation.
It’s best to leave things as they are before I push too much.
He’s not a very forthcoming man, but when he shows slivers of himself, it paints a wonderful picture of a truly caring man.
One just has to find it beneath miles of cynicism and grunts.
I step inside the shop, looking around in wonder.
Everything is so bright. There’s three stations with chairs, giant mirrors, and counters.
There are weird looking contraptions towards the back that look like a giant ball goes over someone’s head.
Terrifying. There’s also a seat that tips back into a sink which looks mildly interesting.
The walls are a lovely blue color with splashes and dots of a variety of colors. I instantly feel a smile stretch across my lips. This place makes me feel happy, I can’t describe why, but it does.
The smells however, I could really do without. There’s some sort of chemicals in the air that leave my head feeling light and my nose wrinkling.
Aldo looks over at me, a flash of surprise going across his features before he’s smiling.
“Hi, Gendry! I wasn’t expecting you!”
“Hello,” I say in English, hoping my pronunciation is okay. By the look on his face, I’m guessing I nailed it.
The woman in Aldo’s chair turns around. I feel her eyes slide up and down my body. When Aldo does it, I’m filled with warmth, but as she does it, I find that I don’t enjoy it.
“I didn’t realize I liked 'em big and purple,” she says to Aldo with a giggle.
“Hush,” he says, laying a piece of foil over her face and turning the chair around so she can’t keep staring at me. “One second. I’ll be right back,” he says to her before walking over to me.
“What’s brought you here, Gendry?”