Elijah wasn't one to shy away from confrontation. He rolled his eyes at both of them.
"Why?" he said flatly. "So you can use me to get to Amy?"
Malcolm and April nodded at the exact same time.
"Plus, it wouldn't hurt to teach us some signs," Malcolm added.
Elijah pointed sharply at Amy. "She's right there. And if you really wanted to learn, you'd already be registered for an ASL class."
"Well," April sulked, folding her arms, "that was cold."
Amy, sensing the sudden shift, scribbled a note and handed it to April.
What's really happening right now?
April hesitated, then turned back to her. "My brother doesn't trust me," she said plainly. "And he's being a dick about it."
Malcolm jumped in quickly. "So- can I assign you two as supervisors in the media department?"
Elijah snorted. "It's a media department now?"
"I don't know!" Malcolm admitted, blushing. "This is new for me. I don't really know how any of this works, but the students want the program."
"You just want to use the genius of The Elephant in the Room to skyrocket your fame," Elijah deadpanned.
Malcolm frowned. "That's not fair."
"And not nice," April added, nodding.
Amy wrote again, curiosity finally getting the better of her.
How did you even know about me when I worked behind the cameras the whole time?
"That's on April," Elijah and Malcolm said in unison.
"Creepy girl with the internet," Malcolm added helpfully.
April gasped. "Excuse you! It was three years ago. We watched that episode on religion and humanity, and I got curious about the production manager. So yes- I kind of cyber-investigated you?"
Amy laughed, while April shrank slightly in her chair.
Was it that much of a shock when Elijah came out? Amy wrote and waited for the note to be passed around the table.
Malcolm was the first one to read it and cleared his throat but, looked away in the end before handing it to April.
April shifted uncomfortably on her seat before giving it to Elijah.
Elijah swallowed hard, suddenly wishing he were anywhere else.
Amy noticed immediately and signed to him, I can go.
Elijah shook his head, fast and firm. So she stayed.
"They were awful," Elijah said at last, his voice tight. "I was cast out by my parents. Nobody stood by me back then."
Amy's reply was immediate.
I'm sorry.
That was enough to make it all come back to him. Elijah broke, tears slipping free. Malcolm pulled him into a hug, and this time, Elijah didn't resist.
"Your show didn't just happen, you know?" April said softly, twisting her fingers together. Calming her nerves. "It brought us back together."
Amy felt something settle in her chest.
I'm glad something good came from it, she wrote.
Elijah sniffed and pulled away. "Great. I wasn't supposed to cry tonight."
"I know, right?" Malcolm said lightly.
They laughed- soft, tired, real.
Dinner was warm and loud and followed by ruthless trash-talking of the show, with Amy offering sharp, thoughtful insight.
She noticed how often Winnie's contributions had been sidelined in the production room. Knowing Winnie, Amy was certain the girl wouldn't hesitate to expose misconduct- especially within government offices and not directing- a what went well with the current government- special
Decision made.
Amy would buy a phone the next day, using the advance Malcolm had offered.
And she would call Winnie.
And maybe- just maybe- ask her to work with her again.