T.W the Alien: Part One (rough draft)

Living in such a small town, almost the most asinine things are newsworthy. Gossip flows freely as soon as something happens, and the whole town can’t stop talking about it. Working at the liquor store, you had heard more than your fair share about the latest bit that’s taken over.  All anyone could seem to chatter about was the Grayside Estates.

“It’s weird though, isn’t it?” Your coworker, Faye, asked. “That place has been empty since, what, the big bust?”

“I think so,” you grumbled as you stocked bottles back onto the shelf. The store was basically empty, so the two of you had been talking when Faye brought it back around to Grayside.

Faye gave you a look after hearing your tone. “You’ve lived here longer than I have. What’s the deal? Surely you were around when the busts happened.”

You stood with an empty crate in your hand. “Yeah, it was a circus here for like three months. But I was basically a baby when it happened, I don’t remember much aside from parents complaining about the news people.”

“That’s all?” Faye pouted.

You shrugged and raised your hands. “For most of my life Grayside is just some big empty house where the teens used to go to drink and smoke pot. Whoever bought that place probably has a lot of beer vans to deal with and joints hidden in all the nooks and crannies.”

The door chimed and you turned to see who was coming in. To your shock, it was someone you had never seen before. This wasn’t uncommon, but the person who walked in was both someone and something you’d never seen before.

Faye stared with a gawking expression as the alien came walking in, looking around with perfectly round golden eyes that didn’t seem to blink. He turned and Faye grabbed your arm.

“What is that?” She spoke low and urgently.

You watched the alien go around the low shelves, looking for something and taking his time doing it. The two things you could tell right away was that he was taller than anyone needed to be, and he was purple.

Faye yanked your arm again. “You’re seeing him too, right?”

You gave her a scolding look. “It’s just an alien. We have a few in town.”

“None like that.” Faye marveled. She shook her head slowly as she looked the alien up and down. “He’s creepy, but he’s…hot.”

You gave her an incredulous look. “Just go to the back and load up the dolly. I’m not getting in trouble because you can’t control yourself.”

Faye frowned. “Oh c’mon!”

“No. Back.” You pointed and Faye grumbled as she walked off. Sighing and shaking your head, you returned to the front counter as a customer approached. They too seemed occupied by the big, purple alien who had come into the shop. Once they left, it was only you and him there.

You watched him for a moment as those unblinking eyes perused the shelves. His face didn’t seem real, and while it didn’t seem like a mask either, it was completely unmoving. The round spot of flesh tone in the center of all that purple felt off. It seemed creepy but cute, and out of place as it was placed upon a big, buff body. But somehow, and you couldn’t quite place your finger on it, he looked familiar.

You decided to be a good employee and you leaned out over the counter. “Do you need help looking for something?”

He looked up at you and those eyes bore into your. You couldn’t tell if it was a threatening gaze or just a normal, everyday glance. He looked back down, tapping his finger onto his chin. He looked back up after a moment and waved his hand to beckon you over.

Okay, so he needed help, you could do that. You stepped down from behind the counter and approached him. He was bigger up close, it looked like his hoodie was a size too small. Maybe humans didn’t make his size. He was wearing nice jewelry though. His pointed ears had golden hoops through the lobes, and a couple of extra studs along the edges. Then, sparkling from under the hoodie, you could see a fine gold chain.

“How can I help you today?” You said, maintaining that fake, perky customer service bravado.

He handed you his phone, which had the recipe for a mixed drink on the screen. “Oh! Looking for supplies I see.” You picked up a basket from the end of the aisle. “I can help you there. Let’s see here…” You looked over the list and moved a step to the side, picking up the first thing he must have been trying to look for.

“I see where you couldn’t find it. This is pretty low on the shelf.” You placed it into the basket, but before you could move, he took the basket from you. He then nodded  and gestured for you to move on.

You led him to the next section. “Are you having a party?”

He shook his head.

“Just for you?”

He shrugged, his face still hadn’t shown any sign of movement.

You looked away, wondering if he was capable of speech and you were just making an ass of yourself trying to make him talk. “Are you passing through?”

He shook his head.

“Oh, so do you live here?”

His eyes fell upon you and you felt you had said too much. He then nodded and the gaze didn't feel so dangerous.

“No wonder you’re buying alcohol. Not much else to do here.” You laughed then quickly clammed yourself up. “Okay, next piece to your cocktail!” You added a bottle to the basket.

Together you gathered all that he needed for  his cocktail, plus a couple of extras things he added along the way. He was silent the whole time, unblinking, and totally emotionless from what you could tell. When it came time to pay he pulled out this black card you had never seen before. Once he had the receipt he bowed his head to you and walked out the door.

“Have a good night.” You exhaled and scratched the back of your head. “Interesting.”

Faye came running in a second later, looking quite frantic. “You’re not gonna believe this!”

“I think I’m ready to believe a lot of things,” you murmured.

“That big purple guy, right?” Faye was basically bouncing as she revved up. “I was taking some stuff to the dumpster and I saw a limo parked out front!”

Your brow pinched together. “A limo?”

She nodded. “Yeah! There was another alien like the purple one in front of it smoking. Only he was like, small and green. But the purple guy got into the limo!”

“Who drives a limo to get liquor?” You asked, a bit confused. “He said he lived here too.”

Faye’s eyes almost popped out of her head. “You talked to him.”

You hesitated. “N-not exactly. He just responded to questions.”

Faye stomped her foot. “What’s going on here? When did we finally get something interesting in this town?”

“Just because they’re aliens doesn’t mean it’s interesting. He seemed…inwardly normal.” You tried to place those words as best as you could.

“That’s all you got? That he lives here?” She asked.

“Kind of?” The door chimed again and you both shut up quickly. The green one Faye mentioned walked through the door. He was wearing a suit jacket and jeans. He took something from his pocket and looked between you and Faye. He had the same mask-like face as the purple one, but his eyes seemed actually terrifying.

“Which one of you is the cute girl my friend mentioned?”

Both you and Faye exchanged glances. “It was her!” She ratted you instantly.

The green one held out a card to you. “My friend liked you. He wants you to text him.” he then held up a finger. “Do not call him. You text him.”

Faye’s mouth hung open.

“Uh-” You glanced down at that card just briefly enough to see a name a number, but not process either one. “I prefer testing.”

The green one clicked his tongue and looked you over. “He’s shy, so try not to spook him.”

“I thought he might be.” You weren’t sure what he wanted you to say.

He nodded, crossing his arms against his chest. “I can see how you’re his type.” He shrugged then left the store.

“What?” Faye said slowly behind you.

You turned and looked at her, wide eyed and in disbelief. “I’m not sure.”

Faye pointed at the card. “Text him! Text him now!”

“Faye, c’mon.” You lifted the card above your head to make sure she didn’t snatch it.

“I have to see what he says! Do not hold out on me, I am desperate for something. My mind is rotting since moving here!”

“You need help.”

Faye clasped her hands together. “Please! Message him!”

You lowered the card back down. It was a pretty basic card, white with some pretty filigree and stark letters saying ‘Color Me Entertainment’ then a business number and email, followed by T.W and another set of email and number.

“What makes you think I even want to?”

Faye stared at you like you were crazy. “Because some weirdly hot alien thinks you’re cute!”

You fiddled with the card. “I mean…that is kind of nice.” You took your phone from your pocket. “He does seem new to town. Maybe he just wants help learning about it.”

Faye’s grin turned wicked. “And maybe my vibrator is black, what does that have to do with anything? Message him!”

“Calm down, geez.” You stepped aside, leaning against the wall as you added this T.W’s number into your phone. You sent a message; “Hi, this is the liquor store girl. Your friend told me to text you.”

Faye watched then held up her hands. “Well?”

“I just sent the damn thing, give him a minute to-” Your phone dinged.

The message was from T.W. “Hello, liquor store girl. I like your name.”

Your cheeks burnt for a moment and Faye giggled excitedly.

“Not really my name,” you replied.

“Oh good, I didn’t want to be rude.” He sent his message with a purple heart.

You smiled and Faye grabbed your arm, shaking you. “Get it! Get it!”

The rest of your shift you texted on and off with T.W. It was the basic things, nothing too out of the ordinary. He mainly had some questions about the town, such as the best grocery store to go to, if there were certain shops around.

“There’s not much here. Most people go out of town to do anything.”

“That’s fine,” he replied. “I was looking for a place more quiet. Just needed to get away for a while.”

“Running away from something?” You teased.

“Wouldn't you like to know?”

You texted on and off for a few days. Each time it felt a little more flirty, or at least, you felt that it was.

“It’s been a while now, aren’t you going to need more drinks soon?”

“Admit you’d like to see me,” he said with another purple heart.

You bit down your smile as you looked over the message. “I can’t remember what you look like. You need to remind me.”

There was a long pause before another message was sent. It was late in the evening, and you were doodling on your tablet when your phone lit up with a new message.

T.W had sent a picture. You bit down on your stylus, looking over the alert that said ‘T.W has sent an attachment.’ You opened the message, seeing T.W posing with his fingers placed in a peace sign on his forehead. He was wearing a cute Pikachu t-shirt, which seemed a little stretched along his chest. His face held no expression, but his eyes glimmered in a charming way.

“Oh right! You’re purple.”

“Very funny. Now tell me you want to see me.”

“You first.”

He sent a string of laughing emojis. “Don’t play with me.”

“Do you not like to play?”

“Not when I’m waiting.”

You bit your lip, enjoying the back and forth. “How else would you pass the time? I sometimes do word puzzles when I have to wait.”

“How can I focus on a word puzzle when I’m talking to someone so adorable?”

You squealed and tucked your knees up into the chair. “Are you talking to someone other than me?”

“I talk to lots of people. But you’re the only cute one.”

You adjusted your glasses then tucked back your messy hair. “I’m not very cute right now.”

“Sure you are. You think I look good right now?”

Was he fishing? Or did he genuinely think he didn’t look good in that taut Pikachu shirt? Sure, he wasn’t the norm for good looking. But there was something sexy as hell about him, ad your banter only added to it.

“I think you look very good.”

There was another long pause between messages.

T.W replied. “Fine. I’m sick of waiting. I want to see you.”

You smirked. “And how soon can we do that?”

“How soon are you free?” T.W asked.

You checked over your calendar, wanting to go out on a day when you didn’t have work the following morning. “How about wednesday?”

“I don’t know if I can wait that long.”

“You can always come by the liquor store.”

Another long pause. “I know this may seem weird, and if it is let me know. But can I have a picture of you?”

Your cheeks burned. “Of me right now?”

“You don’t have to. I’d just like it.”

You turned on a brighter light and tried posing your phone so you didn’t look too awful. You sent him the picture and waited, and waited for him to reply.

T.W answered. “You’re even cuter than I remembered.”

You smiled. “Maybe we can meet for coffee before wednesday.”

“Maybe tomorrow?” T.W asked.

You bit your lip in excitement. “There’s a coffee shop in the grocery store next to the liquor store. We can meet there.”

“It’s a date.”

It was hard to sleep after that. You were so excited you tossed and turned most of the night.

The next morning at the coffee shop, you went to send him a text, but he beat you to it.

“I can see you.”

You looked up and saw him waving from inside. He was wearing his hoodie with the hood up and trying to keep himself from the morning crowd.

“Hi!” You said excitedly as you walked up to him.

He nodded and tucked his hands into his pockets. “Good morning.” It was the first time you heard him spoke. It was quiet, but there was a definite deep rumble to his voice.

“Morning.” You stood beside him as you got into line. “Do you like coffee?” It sounded so stupid saying it out loud, but you didn’t know what else to say.

T.W shook his head.

Your stomach sank. “Oh…then why agree to coffee?”

He took his head out of his pocket and held it out, reaching for your hand. You smiled, slipping your hand into his and letting his big palm wrap around your own.

As far as coffee dates go, it was pretty nice. You sat outside, away from the crowd, and enjoyed an intimate conversation. T.W was shy, so he didn’t talk much. But when he did, his deep rumbling voice gave you the good kind of shivers.

“Sorry I don’t talk much,” he messaged you.

“It’s okay. You’ll warm up eventually.”

“I promise I’ll be fun on wednesday.”

“You haven’t told me what our date is going to be yet.”

T.W sent a winky face. “It’s a surprise.”

“Uh oh, should I be prepared for anything?”

There was a long pause. “Well, maybe one thing. I’m not sure if you know this or not, you’ve not let on at least. But I used to be a celebrity as a kid.”

That wasn’t what you were expecting. “I had no clue! I know you work in production and stuff. But how were you famous as a kid?”

T.W sent an image of a kid’s show, and suddenly you realized why he seemed so familiar. You jaw dropped and you weren’t sure how to reply.

“That’s one reason I moved out here. I just wanted you to know.”

“I feel so dumb! I used to have a stuffed toy of you as a kid.”

There was a long pause again. “Well, you can hug the real thing now if you like.”

You smiled. “I might enjoy that.”

“My past is a little weird, but I hope that won’t cause too much of a bother.”

“Surely not.”

T.W sent a bunch of purple hearts. “I’ll pick you up from work on wednesday. I’m so excited.”

“Me too.” You sent even more purple hearts.

Work didn’t end soon enough on wednesday. The clock barely moved at all, and when it did it felt like not enough time had gone by. A few minutes before your shift ended, you went back and changed your clothes and touched up your makeup.

“I wonder if he’ll pick you up in the limo,” Faye seemed just as excited as you.

“I was kind of hoping for a normal car,” you chuckled.

Faye looked at the security cameras then gasped as she saw im step out of a car. “He’s here!” She pushed you towards the door.

You stepped out just as he was walking onto the sidewalk. You both stood there and your guts churned nervously. T.W held out his hand to you.

“Ready?” He asked.

You nodded, taking his hand. “So ready.”

T.W pulled you in close, placing an arm around you. Those unblinking eyes sparkled and he dipped down, kissing you softly. You felt electrified all over. You weren’t expecting a kiss so soon!

“Sorry, I couldn’t wait,” he whispered.