And just by coincidence, Elijah found Malcolm sitting on the stairs.
"Okay," Elijah started, making Malcolm lift his head to look at him. "What happened now?"
Malcolm didn't even know if anything worthwhile had happened- but his heart was breaking like he'd been rejected. This time? By himself.
"Amy hugged me," Malcolm said slowly.
Elijah blinked. "Oh."
"And I pulled away from her," Malcolm finished, making Elijah's eyes widen impossibly.
"You did what?" Elijah asked, incredulous.
Malcolm shook his head. "I know, I know- I should've enjoyed it, but I didn't." He paused. "I felt really uncomfortable instead."
Elijah thought for a moment before sitting beside him. "Do you still like her?"
Malcolm looked at him like he'd asked the most ridiculous question. "Of course I do!"
Elijah raised his hands in mock surrender. "I had to ask, okay?"
"So what now?" Malcolm asked, more lost than before.
"Now?" Elijah said with a cheeky smile. "Now I tell you all about my new boyfriend, Jason."
Malcolm turned sharply toward him. "Not one of the students."
"This is his last year with us, I promise!" Elijah said, looking ready to cry if pushed.
Malcolm studied him. "What's so different about him?"
"I love him," Elijah said without hesitation. He really did.
"Then let's meet this one-week love story of yours," Malcolm muttered teasingly, though he meant it.
Elijah had never dated anyone longer than a week. Well- maybe Malcolm's father, if convenient sex counted.
"He's different. You'll see," Elijah said excitedly, standing up and pulling Malcolm with him. "He's super intelligent, way out of my league, still closeted, and very- very-muscular."
Malcolm laughed. "And that's all it takes to be perfect for you?"
"Don't dwell on the attraction, Malcolm," Elijah said softly. "It's the emotions that count."
Malcolm paused. "I think I need to tell Amy how I really feel about the whole situation."
"I knew you'd figure it out," Elijah said, hugging him tightly before leaving.
Malcolm climbed the stairs with so much dread that he didn't even notice Ms. Nova calling out to him.
She grabbed his hand- and that did it. "Are you okay, young man?"
Malcolm smiled with an unfocused gaze. "Yes, I am. How's my favorite girl this morning?" he asked, slipping into his professional tone.
Ms. Nova grimaced. "Deception doesn't look good on you, son."
Another voice joined before Malcolm saw her. "He's interested in that girl next to your room, Nova," Ms. Jonah gushed.
"Oh, the rude girl with a speaker and boo-tooth?" Asked Ms Nova, annoyed.
"It's Bluetooth, but whatever," Malcolm said dismissively. "Why am I here, Ms. Nova?"
"I'm complaining to you about her!" Ms. Nova said. "Some people need their beauty sleep. Lord knows I didn't get much of it growing up"
Before Malcolm could respond, Ms. Jonah took Ms. Nova's hand, lacing their fingers together. "How about you sleep with me tonight?"
"There's Freddy on my floor," she added. "Imagine pranking him by keeping our lights on past curfew."
Malcolm blinked. "We have a curfew?"
"No," Ms. Jonah waved him off. "It's just Freddy's idea of paradise."
She turned to Ms. Nova. "So, what do you say?"
"Well… she could use some space," Ms. Nova said, softening, before turning to Malcolm. "Help her if you can. She's struggling with a lot. It may not be worth it- but she's hurting badly."
The two women escorted each other to the elevator.
Malcolm wasn't sure, but he'd heard the scandal concerning Ms. Nova, the greatest designer of her time, and her muse, Ms. Jonah.
People believed they were lovers. But in all the years he'd known them, he'd never once seen them intimate. Well, maybe that day with their fingers laced together like that.
Why did the world destroy someone's legacy and passion just because of a rumor? Beats him.