I hesitated for a brief second, feeling guilty for imposing on my friend. Part of me wanted to just camp out in the city or find a place similar to the out-of-towners shelter in my village. But I didn't want to walk another 30 miles tomorrow. Plus, this way, I wouldn't have to go door to door till I found Aaron's house. This would make my day easier. Plus, he offered.
I nodded. "Yes, please."
Aaron smiled and waved for me to come. "Hop in. We got a bit more to drive. I bet you're tired."
I shook my head. "Not really. I just don't want to... I'm kinda scared to... walk... in the dark."
As I walked up to the door opposite Aaron, I couldn't figure out how to open it. The tractors we had back home would just pop open when you pulled the door. Or you could climb over. I knocked on the window and looked inside. Aaron laughed, leaned over, and said, "I'll show you how the handles work later. My leg is almost out of juice, so I'm saving the power to make it to my car and not plug it into an external battery. I have the wireless charger in my car, but my boss is…" He glanced at something. "He's a good boss, but he doesn't want to spend the money to install disability equipment that isn't on the list."
I climbed into the seat and nodded. "I have no idea what that means."
The truck backed out slowly, and as we made our way towards the exit of the rest area, I couldn't help but notice how much more comfortable the seat was compared to the tractor back home. It was even more comfortable than the cars we had. As we approached a stop sign, the truck came to a near halt, and suddenly, something beeped.
"Oh, shove it and shut up!" Aaron grumbled, clearly annoyed.
"Excuse me?" I asked, feeling offended and confused.
Aaron laughed and waved a hand dismissively. "Not you, Eli. The... wonderful monitoring device my boss installed."
I raised an eyebrow, still not understanding, but decided not to press the issue. Instead, I turned my attention to the window and realized just how fast we were moving. Faster than I could ever have imagined. As we drove onto the bridge, I was captivated by the breathtaking view of the river and the cliffs. The sky was a beautiful twilight hue, though the stars didn't seem quite ready to make their appearance.
When the bridge ended, I looked over at Aaron. "This is amazing, and we're going so crazy fast!"
He snickered and pointed out the front window. "You ain't seen nothing yet."
I watched as we started driving up a hill, feeling the truck slow down slightly. My jaw dropped as we crested the hill, revealing an unimaginable sight: lights and buildings so vast that I couldn't begin to comprehend their size. These buildings—skyscrapers, really—were at least ten times taller than the tallest structures in my village. They were clustered together with smaller buildings and houses interspersed between them. Parks with ponds and lakes filled the spaces in between, and orbs of light floated around like mini-moons, illuminating various areas. We continued driving through fields similar to those back home as we got closer and closer to the city.
Aaron's laughter snapped me back to reality. "I'm so happy I got that on camera. This is your first time seeing a 'modern' city, right?"
I nodded, suddenly aware that my mouth was still hanging open. "Got on camera? What do you mean?"
He pointed to a small television showing what was going on behind the truck. Below it was a small black circle. "It's part of the dash-cam system. It shows what's happening in the truck as well as in the front, sides, and back. Boss sprung for the better system there... Anyway, I'll show you at home."
I was too mesmerized by the view to press him further. The city lights sparkled like stars, and the size of the buildings made me feel like an ant. My heart raced with anticipation.
As we got closer to the edge of the impossibly large city I sheepishly, I glanced down at my bag in my lap. "Um, I was hoping to find a shelter."
"Nah, man," Aaron replied. "I'm not putting you in the homeless shelter. I might consider you going to the hostel, but I'm not putting you with the drug heads, unplugged, and dregs."
I furrowed my brow, confused. "What do you mean? Don't you have a place for people from other villages?"
Aaron smirked. "We do. They're called hotels, or if you're a young person who does not mind bunk beds, hostels are great. But they cost money. Shelters are places people go when they can't afford anything. So it's the poorest and... well... least fortunate who go..." He trailed off, a sad expression crossing his face. I didn't know what to say, so I stayed silent. He sighed and said, "I've got a couch with your name on it. You're doing this 'cause I encouraged it..."
The thought of a couch was honestly more appealing than any shelter or hostel that sounded hostel. I'd never slept on anything other than a simple mattress.
"Thank you," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. Aaron just nodded, his eyes still fixed on the road as we sped through the city.
The cityscape stretched out before me, reaching the edge of visible space in both directions, an endless sea of lights and towering buildings. I could hardly believe my eyes as we sped through the streets, modern, sleek-looking cars surrounding us like a swarm of futuristic insects. The sheer number of them was staggering, more than I had ever seen in my life, even on TV.
Billboards lined the road, their bright colors and strange messages capturing my attention for brief moments before disappearing behind us. I didn't understand most of what they said, but it didn't matter – the spectacle of it all was enough to keep me mesmerized.
"Almost done," Aaron announced, pulling off the highway. "I'm gonna drop off the truck, get my car, get some food. Then you can get some rest. Can't believe you decided to walk 70 + miles. You are crazy, my friend."
I nodded, still staring wide-eyed at the world outside. "I ate, so I'm not that hungry," Aaron smirked, clearly not believing me.
"We will see."
We drove into a part of town that looked like the garages for tractors back home, only much, much larger. Aaron slowed the truck and pulled into doors that automatically opened, revealing a cavernous room filled with trucks and cars. It was like stepping into another dimension.
"Okay, I am done," Aaron said, turning off the truck and clicking something on his watch. "Let's get going."
We got out of the truck and walked towards the smaller cars parked at the far end of the garage. They were different from the ones I knew in my village – sleeker, shinier, and altogether more advanced. It was like stepping into a science fiction novel Aaron gave me for my ebook, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and trepidation.
As we approached one of the cars, Aaron unlocked it and gestured for me to get in. My heart raced as I climbed into the passenger seat.
"Ready?" Aaron asked, starting the car with a smooth hum. I nodded, gripping the door handle tightly as we pulled out of the garage and back onto the bustling streets.
"Okay, let's get you some food," Aaron said as he started the car, and we pulled back onto the busy streets. I still couldn't believe how many cars there were. My heart was pounding from having so many things moving past each other quickly and by some miracle from above safety.
"Where are we going?" I asked, trying to keep up with Aaron's casual tone despite my nerves.
"Well, I don't feel like cooking, so I'm picking something up. Trust me, this place has the best pizza in the city," he replied with a grin. "You'll love it."
We drove for a bit, passing brightly lit storefronts and colorful signs that advertised all kinds of shops and restaurants I'd never even heard of before. A group of young people zoomed in the opposite direction of us on strange devices that seemed to glide effortlessly along the pavement. I couldn't help but stare, fascinated by everything I saw.
"Here we are," Aaron announced, pulling the car over to the side of the road. He looked at me with a smile. "So, do you want to wait here or come inside with me?"
I hesitated for a moment, remembering my father's scary stories about the dangers of the city. But then I thought about Aaron, who had been nothing but kind and patient with me since we'd met. "I'll go with you," I decided. Going with him felt safer somehow than sitting in a locked car.
We got out of the car and walked into a small restaurant that smelled heavenly, like something straight out of a legend. A heavy-set man behind the counter eyed me curiously before turning to Aaron.
"Yo, Aaron, your usual?" he asked gruffly.
"No, not today," Aaron replied, flexing his hand. "I want a fully loaded extra large."
"Who's the stray?" the man questioned, raising an eyebrow at me.
"Hey, he's not stray; he's my friend," Aaron defended me, his voice firm. The man chuckled, clearly amused by our exchange.
"Look at you, all green and naive," he said to me with a smirk. I just stared at him, unsure of how to respond. Aaron didn't hesitate.
"Are we gonna get our food or what?" he asked the man pointedly, his tone slightly irritated. The man glared at Aaron before disappearing into the back, grumbling under his breath. Aaron called after him, "You better not spit in our food either!"
I laughed quietly at the interaction, my nerves slowly dissipating. As we waited for our pizza, I continued to gaze out the window, taking in the vibrant lights and bustling activity of the city streets.
"Hey," Aaron said suddenly, drawing my attention back to him. "Do you want to eat at the lake or at home?"
I opened my mouth to answer but instead found myself yawning. My face felt wet, and I realized that I had been drooling without even noticing. Aaron chuckled at the sight, and I felt a bit embarrassed.
"Maybe we should just go home," he suggested kindly. "You look exhausted, and we can explore more when you're feeling better."
"Sounds good to me," I agreed, grateful for his understanding.
The man behind the counter returned shortly, carrying a box that emanated an aroma so tantalizing it immediately made my mouth water again. "One extra-large, fully loaded, sans spit. Chip?" he announced with a wry smile, setting the box on the counter.
Aaron stepped forward, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the pizza. "Yep, that's that's gonna hit the spot," he confirmed. He casually extended his arm and touched his watch to a small device on the counter.
"Thanks, man. You coming to the show?" Aaron asked, friendlier than when he defended me.
The man's smile broadened. "You know it. If I'm not mistaken, I'm in the booth across from yours," he replied, his voice tinged with excitement.
"That's awesome! See you there," Aaron responded, taking the pizza box from the counter. He handed it to me, and I took it carefully, the warmth of the box seeping into my hands.
Aaron held the door open for me as we left the restaurant. "Don't drool on the food," he joked with a laugh. "We've got a few minutes to get home."
Aaron held the car door open for me since my hands were occupied with holding the precious cargo of our dinner. I settled into the passenger seat, the smell of the pizza filling the car and making my stomach growl in anticipation.
I lied to Aaron. I was hungry.
The drive to Aaron's home seemed to pass by in a blur. My eyes darted between the passing scenery outside and the giant screen on the dashboard that displayed a map of our route.
As we pulled into the parking garage beneath his building, I marveled at the sheer size of it all. People were everywhere. I saw more unique faces than I have in my entire life.
"Okay, here we are!" Aaron announced as we arrived at his apartment. He led me through a series of hallways, up an elevator, and finally to a door that opened into a living space that was roughly the size of my family's first floor back in the village. A massive television screen adorned one wall, a couch, a number of bookcases full of stuff, a few paintings, and an assortment of other knickknacks.
"Go ahead and wash your hands in the bathroom," Aaron instructed, pointing to a doorway off to the side. "I'll get us some drinks and plates. How old are you again?"
"Thanks," I replied, still feeling slightly overwhelmed by everything. "I'm 20, turning 21 soon."
"Ah, close enough," he shrugged, opening the fridge and grabbing two beers. "Just don't tell my parents I'm corrupting the youth."
I chuckled at his comment and headed towards the bathroom. When I returned to the living area, Aaron had already set out plates and popped open our drinks.
As I sat down on the bar stool, I felt a little out of place. Aaron handed me one of the beers, and I hesitated for a moment before taking a swig. The taste burned my throat with a mix of carbonation and a smidge of alcohol. It was undeniably better than the grog we used to brew in secret back home. I coughed, eyes watering, as Aaron laughed.
"Careful there, Eli!" He said, grinning. "Don't want you choking on your first city beer."
I managed a weak smile and took another cautious sip, this time bracing myself for the burn. Meanwhile, Aaron opened the pizza box, releasing an intoxicating aroma that made my stomach rumble. The sight of it alone was enough to make my mouth water. I'd never seen anything like it – all those toppings piled high on a golden crust. It made the pepperoni cheese pizza I loved back home look like a pauper meal.
"Dig in," Aaron urged, already reaching for his second slice. Not needing any further encouragement, I took my first bite, and the explosion of flavors nearly knocked me off my seat. Every taste bud in my mouth seemed to awaken, eager for more, and I quickly devoured the rest of the slice. As I reached for another, I noticed Aaron flipping through something on the giant TV screen. But I was too focused on this culinary marvel to pay it much mind.
"Man, this is amazing," I said between bites. "Better than anything I've ever had – even at the festivals."
Aaron smirked. "Told you you'd like it."
After we finished eating, Aaron cleared the plates and put them into some sort of box. "That'll wash 'em," he explained. "You can take the first shower while I get the bed ready for you."
"Um," I hesitated, feeling sheepish. "I'm not sure how to use your shower… and where am I going to sleep?"
Aaron laughed. "Don't worry, man. I'll show you how it works. And you can take the couch. No offense, but I'm not sharing my bed with a dude. Not judging."
"Judging what?" I asked, confused.
"Never mind." Aaron waved a hand dismissively, then grabbed towels, blankets, and pillows from a closet.