Eclipsed Star

Chapter Fourteen

ROMAN POV

I slid into the passenger seat of Jake's car and inhaled the scent of leather.

"Jake this car is immaculate," I said when he got in.

He turned the key and brought the car life. "Thanks. I've been working on it for a while. It's a hobby. One of the few things I was able to do to get away from my Dad when I was homeschooled. When we get to my house I'll show you the garage. That's where I do most of the work. I'm rehabbing a vintage GTO right now."

I had no idea what a GTO was but assumed he meant another car. "Can I ask you a stupid question." I asked, running my hands down my thighs.

He raised an eyebrow and looked quickly toward me as he pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main street.

"All right, so don't laugh but in the sector we don't have cars, so I've actually never been in one before the bus yesterday."

"Seriously?" he asked turning him head to look at me.

"Yeah I have no idea how any of this works. Like, what are you doing there?" I pointed to the stick he had his hand resting on, between the seats.

"This is the gearshift. Elektra is a manual transition."

"Elektra?"

"My car."

"You named her Elektra?"

"After the Greek myth, not the crappy super hero."

I laughed, marveling at the way his mind worked. I would have never guessed either of those, even though I knew what he was talking about. I just assumed it was because of electricity.

"Anyway, most cars these days are automatic. But when I replaced the engine I put in a manual transmission. I like that so much better. You can feel what the car is telling you and how it wants to drive." His hand moved the gearshift and the car sped up. "It feels more alive I think."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I said laughing. My face hurt from smiling. Every word he said filled me with delight. His mind took twists in ways I'd never imagined and he never made me feel like... well like an alien for not understanding things.

"Did they teach you about engines in the sector?"

"Sure, we learn all about thermodynamics and aerodynamics and all that kind of stuff. They try to explain how our ship worked. We don't want to lose the technology even though we're not allowed to have any of it."

"That's so cool. I know nothing about that stuff. That's like physics and shit. We don't get anything like that until senior year."

"I wonder how different the engines are. When we get back to my place we can pop the hood on the GMO and I'll show you how it's works."

"I've already seen you pop your hood, buddy," I laughed.

He blushed and smiled shyly. So fucking adorable! I couldn't stand it. I wanted to lean over and kiss him but there were a lot of cars on the road and I knew he wouldn't be comfortable with that around so many people.

"Okay so this road up ahead is the easiest way out of town. If I turned right at the next light we'd head out to the sector but I'm gonna turn left and take 101 out to the reservation."

"Yeah, I remember from the bus the night we came to the beach. I try to keep my eye out and see everything I can so someday maybe I'll be able to find my way around."

He slowed the car for oncoming traffic and turned left onto a smaller road lined with tall trees. "Gloria said that if you manage to stay out of trouble this afternoon then maybe she'd consider letting all the Atrians stay after school and spend a little more time in town with the other kids. Or join after school activities."