UnEarthing Toroid

Part 13

Halfway across the United States, Declan and his aliens got ready to go to the mall too. So much shopping among them all! That's what happens when you're dropped off on a strange planet without any clothes.

The girls were ready by the time Declan got offline from the chat room, meaning that he had to rush to put on deodorant and change into fresh clothes himself. He still had the money to pay for their things, as well as the extra his mom had given him that morning, so he grabbed his wallet and headed out of his room.

His aliens were sitting in the living room, chatting in their intriguing alien language which Declan wanted so badly to learn. He was struck once again by how stunning they all looked, even still wearing the same clothes he had met them in yesterday. If he took them out in public, surely it would cause a scene. Though he didn't think anyone would connect the dots between ridiculously attractive = must be aliens.

He stood in a starstruck silence for a moment, then blinked himself back to reality. "Okay, let's go. I'll drive." He grabbed his keys from their hook by the door, then stepped into the garage.

The trio of space invaders followed.

"Drive?" Frifli spoke up from behind. (Or rather, she spoke to Tuanhai, who translated out loud.) "We're not walking?"

"No, it's way too far to walk." Declan shook his head. "It's easier if we just take my car." His was the only car in the garage right now, being that his mom was at work and his dad's was still parked at the airport. It was a dark blue corvette, 2018 model. He opened the driver's side door and slid in, the seat and steering wheel still set to his exact preferences. He ran his hands over the wheel and breathed a sigh of relief. He felt comfortable in his car. It was all his; he could go anywhere he wanted and do anything he wanted, just if he chose to.

"You have a car!?" Frifli exclaimed, in a tone that was both confused and impressed.

"Oh my god. You do have a car." Cyriel blinked in shock, looking over the glossy, sporty blue frame. "Fuck. That is a nice car." Her lips curled into a flirty smile. He really is super rich. A whole car like this, just for him? Holy shit. I have to get in good with him.

"It's pretty nice I guess." Declan shrugged. "My dad got it for me for my birthday last year." He rolled his window down halfway, waiting for the others to get in but not wanting to rush them.

Tuanhai got in first, sliding into the backseat. He didn't seem to take note of the car that much. "Not very many people have cars where we're from." He explained, leaning forward to talk to Declan. "We don't use them much. We have teleporters that can take us anywhere on the planet in a second, so...cars aren't really that helpful."

As Tuanhai spoke, Frifli and Cyriel also got into the car. Frifli territorially jumped into the front seat before Cyriel could reach it. Then she shut the door and flipped her hair in victory. So Cyriel rolled her eyes and slid into the back next to Tuanhai.

Seeing that all passengers were onboard, Declan shifted the clutch into reverse and looked over his shoulder, backing out of the garage without thinking about it. "It's the opposite here." He replied to Tuanhai, his eyes idly scanning the street behind them. "Well...In some places. The U.S., where we are, everyone has to use a car. It's impossible to get anywhere without one, unless you live in the middle of a big city. But I know in other places, it's easy to walk wherever you want."

"And you know how to drive it?" Frifli asked, twining a lock of hair around her finger, still clearly very impressed.

"I hope so." Declan shrugged as he turned the car out into the street, hitting the gas and taking off. "Otherwise we're about to be in a lot of trouble."