FIONA
*squeal* OK! Yeah, I can definitely find some. :)
MALCOLM
Take her to get shoes. Pay for them and I’ll pay you back.
FIONA
This is so exciting.
MALCOLM
Yes, you guys will have fun.
FIONA
That’s not what I’m talking about.
I pocket my phone and smile into the dark.
29
Makenna
Malcolmaskedmetothe gala. It had crossed my mind when he mentioned it was happening, but I never dreamed he would ask me to go. How in the world does he not have a girlfriend or at the very least someone to go with him?
I sit up in bed, anxious to see Malcolm before he goes to work. I slept late, and now there isn’t much time before he leaves. I’ll be sad to go home and not see him every day. It’s crazy how important he’s become to me in such a short amount of time. And how just as quickly I’ll be gone and probably won’t see him again.
I get ready and go downstairs. Malcolm isn’t there. I check, and his car’s outside. I walk halfway up the stairs and see that his door is closed. How hadn’t I noticed that before?
I check the time. He needs to leave in less than an hour. I go to the cupboard and pull out eggs and bread. Maybe I can make him a breakfast sandwich before he leaves. I break and scramble the eggs, then slice the bread and get the pan ready. Still no sign of Malcolm. I wonder if he forgot to set an alarm.
I leave the food to cook later and climb the stairs. His door is still closed. I lean toward it and hear nothing. I knock lightly on the door.
No response. I knock again. “Malcolm?”
There’s bumping around inside the room, then the door flies open.
Malcolm sleeps shirtless.
Not that I’d wondered.
His hair is wild, and he’s breathing hard like my knocking pulled him from the depths of an intense dream.
“Everythin’ alright?” he asks when I fail to say anything.
“Everything’s alright with me. But you need to leave in thirty minutes, and I thought maybe you’d forgotten to set an alarm.”
“Ach! What time is it?”
“Ten twenty.”
He looks shocked. “I don’t know the last time I’ve slept this late. I couldn’t fall asleep last night and obviously couldn’t be bothered to spend any of the time I was on my phone setting an alarm.” He smiles. “It’s nice to see you first thing, though.”
Malcolm steps in and hugs me. What is happening right now? I’m pressed against his warm, moderately hairy chest. He must really be a hugger. It’s like we really bonded in the rain yesterday and now he’s free to be his hugging and affectionate self.
I don’t mind.
