My Friend, Mal0 [Rewritten]

3 (Re-Written)

The bakery-esque smells filled Halley's snout as he stepped out of the bathroom. It was quite a pleasant break from the stuffy steam filled room he'd been in for almost an hour. As he stepped downstairs getting nearer to the scent, his stomach growled audibly.

Finally, something that isn't instant Ramen, Halley thought to himself, licking his lips. The steps creaked as he walked down them. The pleasant smell was at its strongest as he stood at the doorway of the kitchen. The skulled creature hummed to himself as he plated a few pancakes.

"Impressive," Halley spoke as he walked through the kitchen and to the laundry room. He dumped his old clothes off before going back into the kitchen.

"Thank you!" Mal0 said, his tail wagging. Halley reached to give him and pat on the head, which the creature accepted. The two then went over to the table. There was about four chairs situated around it, all of which had remained empty up until now. Halley was hit with a pang of sadness as memories of the friends he used to have washed over him. Sometimes a few would come over for dinner and the night would be filled with laughter and chatter. Those were the days.

"Why so glum, chum?" Mal0 asked, tilting his head.

Halley shook his head and forked a piece of pancake into his mouth. He smiled after, trying to ease Mal0's concern,"I just need to move on. I'll get no where living in the past." He tried to hold the smile as he said this, but it faded as quick as it came. He looked down and poked at his food.

"Something's obviously wrong." Mal0 reached over and touched Halley's hand. His touch was surprisingly warm. "You can tell me about it. You can tell me anything."

Halley sighed. "I miss people. People from my past. Which is why I said I'll get nowhere living in the past.." A puppyish whimper escaped from his lips. He covered his mouth and looked at ground, embarrassed.

"Hmm..Why don't you just try reconnecting with them?"

"What's the point. At this point we've grown so far apart. It would be so embarrassing to have one of them ask what I've been up to this whole time."

"I guess that's fair. Are you going to try and make new ones?"

"What other choice do I have. Even then, my social skills have dipped since I haven't been around others for a while. Put me in a room with some people and I'll have a heart attack."

"We'll you're making progress already! You've got one friend right here," Mal0 pointed to himself, grinning,",plus I don't think you're that socially inept. Not as inept as other people probably are...Gah, makes me cringe just thinking about it. Anywho, how about we go out later today to try and test the waters?"

"I-I don't know, that doesn't seem like a good idea. Plus, maybe I want to get to know you better. So I think we should stay home."

Mal0 gave him a nod of understanding. Halley let out a sigh of relief, glad that he wouldn't be forced to leave his comfort zone just yet. He partially felt like he'd never get the point where he could leave his house and live life again, but with Mal0 here, he felt like there was a little hope. He felt happy that he wasn't being judged either. There was another question he wanted to ask, but it was a little embarrassing.
He just pushed the thought our of his head changed the subject.

"What should we do next," Halley asked as they finished up breakfast,"It's almost the afternoon. If I were alone still I'd slept the whole day. Sadly so."

"Hmm..How about we just take a walk in the neighborhood if that's not too much? Get you out of this stuff old place. I want to talk more about you, too."

"O-Oh, really? Nobody has ever said that to me before, heh. Not that I'd have anyone around to say it..."

"So that's a yes?"

"I gue-""

"Woohoo! Let's get going then before sun goes down!"
Mal0 wrapped his skeletal hand around Halley's and tugged him out the door.