Lilacs Forever

Chapter 5: That Would Be Wonderful

Delilah and Alyce headed towards the elevators as work ended. It was crowded and cramped. Looking around, Delilah could only see tired faces staring blankly at the walls. "Depressing, right?" She heard Alyce say. They both laughed.

"So," Alyce said as they walked through the parking lot, "you drive here?"

"N-no, I take the bus."

"That's good too, but this time I'll drive you, my treat."

On their lunch break they had looked at recipe ideas for a small gathering. Alyce suggested that they get ready made sandwiches but Delilah had something else in mind.

"Um, I was thinking we'd do some cooking."

"Cooking?" Alyce's eyes were wide with amazement. "I'm a horrible cook, and a lazy one too so I just get things ready made..." she laughed.

Delilah laughed with her, "that's alright, I'm sure you're not as bad as you think you are."

"You haven't tasted my cooking, trust me it's bad. So, you cook back at home?"

"Yea, I'm kinda excited about cooking for the gathering since I cooked big portions back with my family."

"You have a big family?"

"Yea, I mean I have a brother and a sister but I got lots of little cousins. And all my aunts and uncles live nearby, we have a lot of gatherings."

Alyce pondered for a minute. "Hmm... I think I'd like to try your cooking, I'm enticed."

"W-wait! Just because I like cooking doesn't mean I'm super good!"

"I bet you're a chef at a five star restaurant " Alyce winked. "Hey, I'll help you prepare the stuff, show me around your place."

"Sure!" This was the first time Delilah invited someone to her place, in the adult world that is. There were plenty of times she's been to sleepovers and birthday parties and going to her friends' house and painting their nails and talking about boys. Of course, she would be flustered because her mom would tell her not to be boy crazy and wait for the right guy instead. But this time, she was having a coworker at her new place and they were going to plan for an event inviting other adults. It felt... grown up.

—-

"H-here's my place..." Delilah's voice died down to a weak halt. She forgot, her place wasn't cool or interesting. It even looked boring. What was there to show her mentor at work?

"Delilah, is there something wrong?"

"I-uh... it's just..." Delilah looked down at her feet. "There isn't really much to show here, is there... I'm sorry."

"No, don't say sorry, you just moved in and I think your place looks very sweet, just like you."

"You don't have to make me feel better, I already know I'm as boring as it gets,"

"Well that's not something to be sorry about. As your mentor my first tip is, if you believe that you're not interesting or smart or good enough and all that stuff, your actions will show that. I know you don't want me to sugar coat it so I'll give it as it is and I won't say that what you think about yourself is not true, people are really going to see you as you see yourself."

"O-oh, then I guess I have to think of myself better, or I'll really be that bad."

"And that takes time," Alyce continued. "I don't know much about you, but your self esteem says a lot. If you've been thinking like this for years then it'll take a while to see results."

"T-thanks, I really have thought like this for as long as I can remember. Huh, I don't even know where to start."

"The next time you look into the mirror say 'I am enough'."

Delilah smiled. "Wow Alyce, I know you're saying this as my mentor but it's like I'm talking to an old friend, a friend I always had."

"Oh come on, Delilah. You're gonna make me cry." Alyce gave her a quick hug.

"Say, Alyce, you should stay for dinner. I'll cook."

"Oh really? You don't have to!"

"I mean, you helped me with my groceries, drove me home, and now you're here. I wouldn't let you leave hungry."

"Well okay. I can't help you cause I'll ruin your cooking but I can definitely help put the groceries away."

—-

And Alyce did just that. Delilah didn't know what Alyce liked, she didn't know if she was a fan of Mexican, as she grew up in, she didn't want her new mentor to get a stomach ache or eat food she didn't like. So she cooked pasta. The boxes of dried penne and elbow macaroni were on sale so they made sure to stock up. She was planning to make mac and cheese for the gathering anyway. As she added spices and garlic to the simmering sauce Delilah heard a stomach grumbling. Two, actually. Both she and Alyce were famished.

Finishing cooking was enough of an ordeal, but Delilah was finally done. It wasn't a masterpiece but it smelled good, her mouth started to water. She heaped a pile onto Alyce's plate. "Delilah, that smells amazing" she said as Delilah scooped pasta onto hers.

"I'm gonna start, okay?" Alyce took a bite. "Oh my god" she said with her mouth full.

"H-how is it? " Delilah asked. She wouldn't know how Alyce finds the food, a single "oh my god" could mean it was delicious or terrible. No, Delilah, she thought to herself, you have to stop thinking that everything you do is bad. She felt a wave of relief wash over her as Alyce took more bites, ravenously slurping the pasta.

"You're like a chef in a five star restaurant "

"No I'm not!" Delilah laughed. "You're being way too nice."

"Or maybe I'm that bad at cooking. If you think of yourself as average then imagine what kind of cook I would be." Alyce said in between bites.

Delilah took a bite. The tartness of the tomato sauce went well with the garlic she smothered with butter and olive oil. Her mouth salivated as she took another bite. The pasta was al-dente, with just the right chew. And the parmesan cheese, it was like it held hands with the spices she sprinkled in. She didn't like to brag, but it was safe to say that she took pride in her cooking.

When they finished their meal Alyce insisted that she wash the dishes. Delilah let her do that. "Say, Alyce," Delilah said, "do I look... out of place?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I think I stick out like a sore thumb. My clothes are very... I don't know how to explain it. I feel like I look more like I'm at knitting club or bingo nights than at work..."

"Hmmm... you're great the way you are but I think I see what you mean. How about this, this weekend let's go clothes shopping. I feel like getting a new pair of shoes," she winked.

Delilah smiled.

"That would be wonderful."