Hacking Alderson

//Chapter 3 // Instinct (PT1)

I kick off my heels and fall on the sofa. "What's up with you lovebug?" Darlene asks sitting on my back. "I'm tired." I answer. "From what? You legit sit on your ass infront of a computer all day." She replies. "Or were you?" She asks. "What else could I have been doing?" I ask. "Eyeballing Elliot yet again." She answers. "I don't have any feelings for him." I reply. "Then take him the sandwiches I made." She says pointing to some ham and cheese sandwiches wrapped in saran wrap. She gets up allowing me up. "Since when do you make sandwiches?" I ask going to the table. She shrugs. I change into a maxi dress and take the sandwiches over. Elliot opens the door and smiles. "Darlene made you some sammiches."  I say enthusiastically. "Sammiches?" He asks raising an eyebrow. He accepts the sandwiches. "I just like saying it." I eventually answer. "That's cute." He says. "Thanks." I reply blushing. I hear Darlene crack up from behind the door , "Did she push you up to this, to talking to me?" Elliot asks. "Yeah but it's not that I don't like talking to you. I think we have positive tension." I answer. "How." He asks eating a sandwich. "It's complicated." I answer. He pulls a chair to the door and sits down. "I'm all ears." He replies.

"So I'm a type A and you're like a type A.B." I explain. "Type A.B." He mentally notes. "Yup." I reply. Darlene squeezes by my chair. "I'm headed to Cisco's don't wait up." She says. I sigh. "Way to get out of doing the dishes." I say. She throws her hand up and continues. "I'll do them for you, if you want." Elliot offers. "You don't have to I can manage." I reply. "Really, I need something to do." He says. "If you insist." I reply. 

I watch Elliot scrubbing the dishes and holding them up to check their level of cleanliness. "You're really putting some elbow grease in it." I say. "That's the only way I know how to." He replies. "Well I do it a little differently." I say. I roll up my sleaves and show him my technique. "If you do a quick swipe, run through with some hot water, soak and run through again you don't have to scrub as much." I explain. "BUT I love your effort and results better." I say. He smiles. "Don't take this the wrong way but you and Darlene are complete opposites. I mean I love her to death but I can't even get her to soak the dishes let alone sanitize and immaculate them." I say. He laughs. I put the clean and dried dishes in the cabinet. I sigh. "What's wrong?" He asks. "I just realized that since I haven't cooked yet dinner will be takeout, and served on paper plates." I answer. "Or we could make a bargain." He offers. "I'm listening." I reply. "I'll wash the dishes after dinner for a helping." He says. "Deal." I reply. "But you won't have to do them alone and you get as many helpings as you want." I say.

I bring Elliot his homemade lunch. "Thanks. Dinner was great last night, but I mean you didn't have to make me lunch." He says. " Well I keep my promises and since I offered and you didn't accept I promised myself to do it." I reply. "You must really love cooking." He says. "I do." I reply. I see Gideon at my desk, "Gotta go." I say.