“Aubrey, this steak is delicious!” said Melanie, in a loud, conversational voice. “Did you use the new seasoning? I think it really helps pull out the flavor. Mmm, and so spicy!”
“Malcolm…” Tapestry frowned. “Maybe we should talk about this later?”
He nodded, afraid that if he said anything else he’d only prolong the awkwardness. The timer went off on the oven, and Tapestry stood, pulling her apron back on along with a pair of thick oven mitts. She pulled out a pan of perfect oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and set them on the cooling rack.
The rest of dinner was a slightly tense and mostly silent affair. Malcolm felt as though it was somehow his fault for knowing the truth. The food was delicious, however, and he was still able to appreciate the first home cooked meal he’d had in a very long time.
“That was excellent,” he said. “But I can’t eat another bite.”
“Will you take some cookies with you?” asked Tapestry. “They’ll go to waste otherwise. Melanie doesn’t do sugar.”
“Sure,” he said.
“It’s dark out,” said Tapestry. “I’ll give you a ride home.”
He nodded, heading back into the living room as Tapestry cleared the table. Melanie walked up next to him, hugging her arms across her chest and frowning.
“She’s really lonely, you know,” she said.
“What?”
Melanie shrugged.
“She doesn’t have friends, Malcolm,” she said. “I mean sure, there’s the girl Morph, and what’s his face, the doubling dude. But they’re more like coworkers.”
“I’m technically also her coworker,” said Malcolm.
“It’s different with you,” said Melanie. “She likes you.”
Malcolm stared at her, and again, got the sense that Melanie had just revealed something that she shouldn’t have.
“That came out wrong,” she said, quickly. “I mean, she thinks that you’re a good person. And easy to talk to. I think it’s why she was so reluctant to tell you the whole truth behind her age and her powers. She wanted you to see her as who she showed up as.”
“I get it,” said Malcolm. “And I think she’s a good person too. And I’m not going to get weird around her just because-”
“Malcolm?” Tapestry walked into the living room, and Malcolm almost jumped with surprise. “Are you ready?”
“Sure,” he said. “Totally.”
The first minute of the drive was totally silent and more than a little uncomfortable. Malcolm kept trying to think of an easy way to start a conversation, but second guessed every idea.
“It’s hard…” said Tapestry. “Being young again.”
“I can imagine,” said Malcolm. “I mean, so much has changed since your heyday. You must walk around with a constant case of future shock.”
“Hey!” said Tapestry.
“I’m kidding,” he said. “Well, kind of. What was it like using the internet for the first time?”
“It was… interesting,” said Tapestry. “I never realized just how perverted men were, deep down inside.”
Malcolm laughed.
“Truer words have never been spoken,” he said.
They were silent for another few seconds.
“I’m serious, though,” said Tapestry. “My body is young again, but so is my mind. I have all of these memories, and it almost seems like they belong to someone else.”
“What do you mean by that?” asked Malcolm.
“The emotions don’t match,” said Tapestry. “I feel the emotions, the impulses, of a twenty-year-old.”
They’d reached his apartment, and she pulled to a stop on the street alongside it. Malcolm looked over at her.
“I don’t see you any differently,” said Malcolm. “And I don’t feel like I have any right to. You didn’t treat me like a stupid kid when we first met. Well, not really…”
“So this really doesn’t change anything for you?” asked Tapestry.
“Of course not, Tapestry.” He smiled at her.
“You can call me Aubrey,” she said. “Sometimes. If you want.”
“Aubrey.”
Malcolm leaned in closer to her, not even fully sure what he was doing, or why. She was looking at him, her green eyes reflecting the illumination of the street light outside.
Tapestry’s phone rang, ruining the moment. She looked down at it and rolled her eyes.
“Melanie wants me to pick up more seltzer on my way back,” she said. “Sorry, I should probably… get going.”
“You don’t want to come up? We could watch some TV or something?”
Aubrey started laughing.
“Does that work on the women of your generation?” she asked. “Like, ever?”
Malcolm shrugged. He grinned at her, feeling a strange mixture of emotions.
Nothing’s changed between us. And everything’s changed. And I like it.
“Anyway,” said Tapestry. “My powers are going to take some time to recharge. I’ll need to take tomorrow off, and possibly the next day for them to recover to the point where I can use them again.”
“Alright,” said Malcolm. “I’ll see you the day after tomorrow then. Aubrey.”
“Malcolm.”
He almost leaned in close again. She was looking at him, and the air felt hot and alive with tension. There was a tiny smile on her lips, and it took Malcolm a minute to draw his eyes away. He got out of her car, nodded to her, and closed the door.
Tapestry drove off slowly, and Malcolm watched her round the corner before heading inside. He unlocked the door to his apartment and flicked the light on.
“Hey,” said Rose.
CHAPTER 24
Malcolm stared at her, not sure what to say. He hadn’t honestly been expecting her to come back, but there she was, sitting on his couch, an amused smile on her face. Part of him wanted to run over and hug her, but he forced it down, taking off his shoes and staying where he was.
“Hey,” he said.
“I would have called or texted, but the whole being a spryte thing gets in the way of paying a monthly phone bill.” She crossed her legs. “So… was that the blonde champion who dropped you off?”
“Yup,” said Malcolm.
“The two of you were out there in the car for a while,” said Rose. “I take it you got at least to first base.”
Malcolm felt his face heat up a little bit.
“What? No!”
“It’s okay,” said Rose. “In case I didn’t make it clear, I’m not the jealous type. In fact, I encourage you to get involved with all the normal girls you want. Just don’t bring around any other sprytes.”
“Wow,” said Malcolm. “I’m not even sure what to say to that.”
Rose shrugged, looking nonplussed.
“What’s in the bag?” she asked.
“Chocolate chip cookies.” He frowned a little, noticing her in detail. She was wearing the same clothes she’d had on when he’d first found her, a sweatshirt and yoga pants, but they were dirty, and rough around the edges. “What happened to you last night?”
Rose shrugged.
“I found a place to hide out,” she said. “It was kind of hard to get down into. The basement of an abandoned house. Thanks again for what you did, by the way.”
Malcolm walked over to the couch and sat down next to her.
“I didn’t really have a choice,” he said. “We would have both been fucked if they’d found you.”
“It still means a lot to me,” she said. “I can’t remember the last time someone went out on a limb like that for me.”
“Didn’t you say you have amnesia?”
Rose rolled her eyes.
“Is it… alright?” she asked. “Me being back here? I wasn’t sure if you’d be waiting with open arms, so to speak.”
Malcolm nodded.
“It’s fine,” he said. “Here, do you want to take a shower? You look like you could use a chance to unwind.”
“That sounds divine,” said Rose.
Malcolm brought her a towel and some of his clothes, which would be big on her, but were still better than what she currently had on. She headed into the bathroom, and Malcolm listened to the sound of the shower while considering his situation.