Dating an Alien Pop Star

by Kendra L. Saunders

  *

  Okay, so it’s not exactly what I imagined myself wearing to a speech in front of aliens, but it’s better than the weird, unflattering uniform someone had helpfully dressed me in while I was unconscious after traveling across the known and unknown universe.

  I’m wearing a black, button-down shirt and snug, black pants, which miraculously fit my butt in a flattering manner. It’s boring, yes, but it’s actually a little bit rock and roll when you unbutton the top three buttons and rough your hair up a little—okay, a lot. And perhaps, most importantly, it’s what everyone else seems to be wearing, which drops the amount of stares I receive by maybe… I don’t know—two percent. In the case of a human on an alien planet, even that two percent makes a remarkable difference.

  Kammie somehow managed to find herself a loose gray skirt to match with her black shirt. The only clue she’ll give me of its origin is that Dev knows someone who knows someone.

  I hear a lot of scuffling outside the door of my room before I actually see Griffin. He walks into the room with a rather sheepish expression on his face, followed closely by Dev. Both of them are wearing black, military-style jackets and slim-legged pants, looking ridiculously attractive, so much so that I let out a little sigh of appreciation, echoed by Kammie.

  Griffin’s gaze bounces from me to Kammie and then back again, and he tugs at his collar with one hand, his other hand trailing down the row of shiny, gold buttons on his jacket. His hair has finally been tamed, and the boots he’s wearing make him look just a little taller.

  I’d really like to tackle him to the floor.

  “Our uniforms,” he says, “I know they’re boring—”

  “Boring?”

  Griffin casts me another nervous look. “Well, they’re not like what you wear on your planet.”

  “No, no, you’ve got that right. But right now, I want to plaster you to the wall because of that outfit, so you don’t have anything to worry about. You look incredible.”

  Kammie pipes up behind me. “Yes, you boys look delicious.”

  Dev’s smile is contrasted by Griffin’s confused look, but then we’re all ushered away by a few broad-chested aliens who look to be soldiers, and before I know what’s happening, I’m finally stepping outside into this place that might be my new home.

  Kalesstria, Griffin’s planet, feels colder than Earth, in a strange, tingling way that I sense more inside than outside, and the planet’s light source seems further away and smaller in the distance than our good old sun back home.

  And the air tastes disgusting in my mouth, heavy in my lungs, even before I start coughing.

  “Are you alright?” Griffin whispers to me, slipping his arm around my back and leaning in close.

  “Is the air always like this?”

  Griffin stares at me. “Well, it’s cleaner today than usual, if that’s what you mean.”

  “Oh. Great.” After a few seconds more of wild coughing, my lungs seem to adjust, at least a little.

  We’re joined by more soldiers as we walk, heading down a path, away from the massive capital building where we’ve spent all our time since arriving. I peer left and right, trying to catch glimpses at the world around me, but it’s hard with how fast our entourage moves. The ground seems to be covered in patches of ugly, gray vegetation that vaguely resembles grass. In the distance, I can see grand, minimalist buildings stretching into the sky, and pedestrians moving about their day.

  Around the back of the capital building, a crowd has gathered, and an empty stage waits for us, dotted only with something that appears to be a mic stand.

  “Big crowd,” Griffin says.

  “It’ll be just like when you talk on TV or have a concert,” I say and shrug, though my stomach twists with the very idea of having to stand in front of a crowd of aliens, even if Griffin’s the one doing all the talking.

  “My father’s given a hundred speeches up there.” Griffin lets out a few quiet breaths. “Sometimes, he has me stand on the stage, behind him, but I’m never the one speaking.”

  “You performed in front of a venue full of New Yorkers, Griffin. You’ll be just fine.”

  Someone calls out an exclamation that sounds urgent, and I turn my head just in time to see Griffin’s father marching toward us, dressed spectacularly in a uniform quite similar to what the boys are wearing. The older alien’s gray-brown hair is slicked back from his face, and several small pins and medals adorn his jacket. In the weak sunlight, he seems older than he did before, but certainly no less intimidating.

  “Begin,” he says to Griffin once he’s reached us.

  Griffin squeezes my hand just once before raising his chin and stepping up onto the stage. Dev follows close behind him, taking his place on Griffin’s left side. I follow somewhat slower and hesitantly step up to Griffin’s right side, with Kammie beside me.

  With more than a little surprise, I realize Griffin’s dad is standing behind us. Behind!

  Griffin clears his throat and steps up to the mic stand. He speaks in his native language, and though I can’t understand what he’s saying, I note the way his jaw seems too tight and his hands keep curling into loose fists.

  I just wish I had some idea what he’s saying.

  “Listen,” Griffin says, or I think he does, but he’s still speaking to the crowd, his words unintelligible to my ears. “Listen closely. Remember…”

  Wait, is he talking in my head again?

  I’m confused, but I attempt to ‘listen closely.’ At first, I have no idea what Griffin wants me to do, but the more I meditate on the rise and fall of his voice and the unfamiliar words falling from his mouth, the more it all molds into a somewhat recognizable shape.

  “…You have only my humblest promise to become worthy of the title I will one day take, the role my father has held for countless years with strength and honor. As for what took place on Earth… anything I did that might have been seen as courageous was matched or exceeded by the bravery of Daisy Kirkwood,” he says, turning his head in my direction. I feel dizzy, maybe from nerves or maybe from translating his words with our mental connection, but I manage somehow to glance out at the silent audience.

  Am I supposed to say something?

  Before I can react, someone raises her hands over her head and claps twice. Another person does the same thing, and then another and another, and soon, everyone in the crowd has followed suit.

  “Is… is that good or bad?” I whisper to Griffin, unable to tear my eyes away from the alien audience.

  Griffin doesn’t say anything, but a smile lifts his lips and his eyes shine a bit brighter than usual when he looks at me. Must be good, then.

  “Say something,” he whispers, nudging me.

  My life sort of flashes before my eyes, all the worst stuff jumping out in batches, especially the embarrassing high school memories, but I force myself to step closer to the mic. Griffin slips his arm around my waist, as if he knows how unsteady and nervous I am.

  “Uh, hello,” I say, and then look at Griffin. “Will they understand me?”

  He nods and motions toward the audience. “We’re a vastly superior race, Daisy. We understand almost all languages, unlike your people, who struggle with only one at a time.”

  I want to punch him, but it might not be a good time to do so.

  “Thank you for allowing me to visit,” I say, my voice shaking. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be here, but it’s an honor to see your planet.” I glance at Griffin and take a deep breath. “Griffin cares about all of you more than you know. I’ve seen how annoying he can be, but I’ve also seen how loyal and loving he is. He talked about all of you in a generous and respectful manner while he was far away and none of you could hear. I offered to let him stay with me on my planet and continue to be pampered, spoiled, loved, and adored by… well, by me and by all the people on my planet who fell in love with him. But he turned me down, because he knew he couldn’t abandon his responsibility to you.”

  Griffin’s
arm tightens around my waist. “You could talk about yourself, you know,” he whispers. “They want to hear about you.”

  About me? Now I feel like I’m at a job interview and some suit is smiling across a desk at me, asking for three adjectives to describe myself. What should I even say?

  “I… I love music,” I say. “I love it so much that I quit my job and followed a band around the country for a while. My country, back home, I mean. And my mom thought I was insane, and she actually told my aunt that I had a psychotic break. But I loved it. I loved ending up in some really scary hotel rooms with sinks that barely worked. I loved waking up in new cities. I loved eating at all these places I’d never eaten before and always trying not to run out of money before the next tour stop.”

  Everyone’s staring at me, and I’m pretty sure none of them have any idea what I’m talking about, but I go on anyway.

  “I’d never felt more let down or disappointed than when the tour ended and I had to go home again. A return flight is just the most depressing thing ever. And then when Griffin visited my planet, I experienced that all over again. I’ve been putting off saying goodbye to him since the beginning, I think, and… I’d like to put it off a little longer. I don’t want the return flight yet.” I take another deep breath. “I don’t just mean from him. I mean, I’d like to stay for a little while, if you’ll let me.”

  At first, there’s no response, which is probably the most nerve-wracking thing that could ever happen to someone who’s visiting an alien planet, but then a few of them clap for me.

  Somehow, I don’t really feel like I need them to. I’m proud of myself.

  Dev kisses my cheek, Kammie hugs me, and Griffin nudges me toward the steps so we can leave the stage, but Griffin’s father catches my arm in one of his hands. His grip is both insistent and a little scary, so I halt immediately and turn my eyes up to his to find out what he wants.

  “Thank you,” he says to me, and then releases my arm.

  Before I can say anything else, he’s pulled Griffin into an awkward, stiff hug that looks incredibly uncomfortable for both of them, arms looped around his son at a strange angle. Griffin’s arms hang limp at his sides for most of the hug, but finally, he raises them just enough to pat his dad on the back once.

  Griffin’s dad quietly says something, something I can’t understand, but it sounds almost… encouraging?

  And with that, he steps away from Griffin and turns back into the big, bad Emperor President, his lips pressed into a hard line and his eyes emotionless. He walks away from us without another word, leaving Griffin to stand with his mouth hanging partly open.

  “Well done,” Dev says, breaking the silence that falls over us. “Come on; let’s get back inside, Griff. You haven’t had enough rest yet. The medic said you need more sleep before you’ll be back to your usual antics.”

  Griff allows us to coax him inside, never saying a word. He seems to have gone into some kind of post-hug shock, and I can’t help wondering if his dad’s ever hugged him before. Of course, you don’t want to ask something like that out loud, as it’s a little insensitive, so I just determine to ask Dev about it later.

  “You were wonderful out there, Daisy,” Dev says, flashing me one of his toothy smiles as we make our way through the royal home. A few members of the staff descend upon us and sequester Griffin for questions and a bit of fussing, so Dev, Kammie, and I follow a few paces behind.

  “Oh. Thanks. It seemed to work out a little better than my project in sixth grade, at least. Red-eyed tree frogs didn’t turn out to be a compelling subject for a ten-minute presentation, no matter how many cute pictures I included.”

  Dev raises an eyebrow. “Red-eyed tree frogs?”

  “Never mind, long story.” I glance ahead at Griffin, who has both hands in the air, motioning animatedly while he speaks. He seems to have recovered from his shock. “Anyway, how long do you think Griffin’s dad will let me stay?”

  Please say at least a couple of days. Just a couple of days.

  “I’m not sure, but I know you’re not allowed to leave for at least a few weeks of your time,” Dev says. “The paths aren’t safe to travel right now.”

  “Paths…?”

  “We travel through doors, a bit like your flight patterns, I suppose,” Dev says with the patient tone of a teacher. “Sometimes, the paths are closed, or they’re too narrow to travel through safely, due to natural causes. Sometimes, they’re occupied by others traveling in the same direction.”

  I think about this for a few seconds. “Are other aliens going to my planet…?”

  “Oh, I don’t believe so, because Griffin’s father shut down any paths to your planet a long time ago, in case we needed to go back. He didn’t want anyone else to beat us there and try to colonize you or something, and most everyone forgot about you after a while. Nothing to worry about, Daisy!” Dev looks between Kammie and me. “But you won’t be able to go home for a few weeks. Will that be alright, ladies?”

  Most of me thinks, Yeah, of course that’ll be fine! After all, I want some more time with Griffin, want to explore this weird world he’s from, and want to learn about aliens and the universe. But a small part of me can’t help feeling anxious now that I know returning home isn’t a possibility.

  “So, not even if I wanted to?” I ask.

  “No, I’m afraid not. It’s quite dangerous at the moment, but it’ll be open for travel again in no time.”

  Kammie reaches for my hand, briefly entwining our fingers. “Will you be alright, Daisy?” She must sense my hesitation, because she pulls me into a hug.

  “Well, I just… I guess it would have been nice to tell my parents where I was going, and maybe to have gotten a few of my things.” For some reason, I think of my teddy bear, Jagger. My roommates, at this point, might be ready to rent the room out to someone else. Ugh, that would mean all of my clothes would probably end up in some weird secondhand shop in Queens.

  “Do you think your mom will freak out?” Kammie asks, still hugging me.

  “Of course. The level of freaking out will be in proportion with how long it’s been since I answered one of her texts. By now, she might not have called the cops, but give it a few days…”

  Griffin calls for Dev and our little group spins back into action, leaving me to push worries about my mom into a little box in the back of my head. For now.