Something Changed

She looked up at the wall and stared, stepping back. "That's amazing," She said softly. "The colors are pretty, it looks... I don't know. Happy?" She smiled a little, looking at him.

---

He nodded. "It's one of the things I'm good at, so I chose something I enjoyed doing." He smiled a little. "We can sit if you're ready to eat," He said, coming behind her and getting the garlic bread and putting onto a plate.

She nodded a little and grabbed the wine from the freezer then carried it to the table and set it down, "So, do you have anything you'd like to do? Travel, or write a book?" she offered as she looked at him curiously. She really loved the idea of traveling but mostly she wanted to be content with life, she wanted what her sisters had - a good healthy marriage two or three kids and a husband she could depend on.

---

He looked at her then shrugged,"I just paint what I feel," he said to her smiling a little, "I thought about offering to paint the sides of buildngs for people, but don't know how to offer unless I show them my illegal work,"

She smiled a little at him. "Well we could take pictures of them, and say you're looking to do it for a job. You're really good you could do this for work and probably make a bunch. I'm curious to see what you can do on canvas because there are people who would pay lots of money for this," She nodded a little. "It's like abstract but I see things. It's not nonsense. Its talent."

---

"Yeah, maybe. I don't do a lot, I'm afraid I might bore you. I'm a pretty simple person, I like doing things I enjoy. If I did travel I'd want to go somewhere warm," He said, looking off before focusing and bringing the spaghetti to the table.

She nodded a little,"I like the idea of traveling but the act of it seems exhausting," she admitted with a sheepish smile, "I've always wanted to go to a vacation spot like hawaii or somewhere with pretty beaches - even thailand," she said as she thought about it.

---

He looked at her then shrugged,"I don't know why people would pay for it," he murmured seriously, "It's something I do because I enjoy it,"

"But isn't that what everyone wants? To do what you love and get paid for it? You're really talented, believe me. I can prove it to you too," She smiled a bit. She saw flashing lights and looked at him, her eyes widening slightly. "Do we run?"

---

"Yeah, something like that," He smiled sitting down. "I don't care for the cold much, even though it gets pretty cold here," He added.

He dropped the can and grabbed her hand, "Run," he said pulling her down the back alley and through the abandoned building her could hear the cops yelling at them but he shoved her into a closet with him and shut the door turning off his light and sighng a little.

---

She nodded,"I like it, maybe you just need warmer clothes?" she offered as she looked at him then poured them both some wine.

"Maybe, I don't really like lots of layers," He smiled. "But that's probably the case, my closet is kind of hopeless." He said sheepishly.

---

Her heart was pounding in her ears but she sighed, trying to keep quiet as she heard them walking through the building. She saw their flashlights from the outside and looked at him, smiling a bit. He looked stressed but she smiled a little, leaning against the wall. It was dangerous but it was what she needed, she had never even exper anything like it before.

She laughed a little then smiled, "It's not about layers, it's about the fabric - cotton is hopeless at keeping you warm, polyester and wool are better,' she said to him, "and jeans are hopeless, go for a mixed fabric or just some wool under clothing liners if its extra cold," she told him as she thought about it, "and splurge on good gloves and a beanie or five," she said - he'd look really good in a beanie.

---

He helped finger up to his lips and waited for the sound of them to leave, he heard them talking around the corner but didn't say anything. He heard them get back in their car then shook his head to her, "don't move," he said to her softly.

She nodded a little, pulling her mask down as she tried to catch her breath. She closed her eyes for a second and then looked at him. "Do they hang around?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

---

He smiled. "I could use you next time I go shopping," He laughed, handing her a plate with spaghetti on it. "I usually just buy what fits."

He nodded a little as he looked at her,"Always how i got last time," he murmured lightly then moved to sit down in the large closet.

---

She looked at him and nodded,"Sound just like my dad," she snorted a little, "I can help you out next time you go if you want, I don't mind," she offered as she took the plate he handed her, "Thank you,"

She sat down across from him and sighed, sitting cross legged. "Do you do this every night?" She asked softly.

---

He smiled. "I would like that a lot," He smiled. "It'll be cold soon, I could use more coats." He said to her. "You're welcome. I really hope you like it."

Hayden took a bite and nodded,"This is really good," she said to him as she sighed then licked her lips, "You're going to have to make this for me again one night," she said to him as she sipped her wine.

---

He sighed and shrugged,"Most nights," he said to her as he rubbed his hands on his pants then adjusted his respirator.

She nodded and sighed, pushing her mask down under her chin. "Do you live near here? Near campus I mean?" She asked curiously. She waited a second before sighing. "You know you can tell me if I bother you, I won't be offended."

---

"I'm glad you like it. I make great spaghetti, and even better ramen. But my best meal is cereal," He laughed a little. "I can't do much else."

He nodded a little, " I live close to campus with a couple of other guys," he told her, "They're not in school though,"

---

She smiled a little, "Oh? Well maybe one time I can cook for you then, I'm an excellent cook," she told him as she took a bite of the food. "Then maybe I can teach you how to make another meal?" she offered as she thought about it.

"We went to high school together do I know any of them?" She asked. "What is your major, if you don't mind me asking."

---

"Sure like what? I only know how to make good spaghetti is because it's my nieces favorite and I wanted to learn how to make it. Took me a few tries but I finally got it. Do you have a favorite food, I could try to make it for you." He smiled a little as he ate before taking a sip of wine.

"I really like steak, any kind of steak - salmon, beef, pork," she said to him, "All steak," she contnued to eat her food then smiled a little. "I bet you'd learn pretty quick,"

---

He looked at her, "I'm an art major but the teachers don't really like me," he offered with a laugh

She shrugged a little. "Did you offend them? Why don't they like you?" She asked curiously. "As talented as you are I can't imagine why they wouldn't."

---

"I like salmon, I can try to make that." He smiled a little. "Any special recipe?"

"I'm always late," he shrugged a little,"It's not my fault I'm bored - passing but bored," he huffed.

---

She smiled,"Anything savory, sweet dishes aren't my favorite but smokey and savory are my go to flavors,"

"Well what are they teaching that bores you?" She asked him. "And I mean, you could try to be on time," She nudged him. "You're late to the class we have together too, it's in the afternoon, how is that possible?" She laughed.

---

"I'll find a recipe and try to make it then, it usually takes me more than once to get it right though." He shrugged. "Who taught you to cook? How long have you been cooking?"

"My mom taught me how to cook but a lot of things I just kind of picked up on my own," she said as she looked at him then continued to eat her food, "Over time I had to make food out of nothing; starving college student diet," she told him laughing.

---

"Classical art - it's not interesting, everyone made the same art; none of it looked different or inspirational to me, it looked bland," he murmured.