Now You Know

Aaron was stretched out on his bed, going half-crazy from the ticking clock on the wall. Even so, it was better than silence. He sighed. He'd slept most of the afternoon. He didn't know why he was so tired. Maybe he really was depressed. 

He glanced up at the clock. It was probably dark outside by now. He didn't figure Sam would actually show. It was nice to pretend, but there was no way she'd...

His thoughts suddenly halted at the knock on the door, followed by Sam's entrance. He couldn't help the look of surprise on his face. It was quickly replaced though as he cocked his head a little. She looked different tonight. Much more casual. As if she were off duty. A slight grin emerged but he withheld any comments about her cuteness. She'd probably slap him anyway.  

Slowly he sat up then stood, automatically reaching for his crutches. "Okay..." He really wasn't sure how this was going to work, but he might as well see. He couldn't get in more trouble than he'd already been in. 

Once in the break room, he silently sifted through the sack of food, then turned the oven on. Still quiet, he dared to lean his crutches against the wall and stood at the counter, balancing on his good leg, while resting just the toe of his other boot on the floor. He reached up in the cupboard and found a frying pan, then reached in the sack to pull out the potatoes, and scrubbed them in the sink. He'd been in here enough times, he knew where the utensils were, and retrieved a knife. He held it over the first potato for a moment before glancing at Sam. Why on earth was she letting him do this? He had a perfect weapon in his hand right now, and she didn't care? She wasn't afraid?

He still hadn't said anything as he started cutting the potato in thin slices. "Grab the olive oil," he suggested. "And find a bowl." Once he'd sliced up the potatoes, he directed her to pour some oil over them in the bowl and stir them around, then added a little parmesan and garlic powder, and lastly some seseme seeds. He found a cookie sheet and had Sam spread the potatoes out and put them in the oven to bake. 

"We can check them in a few minutes, and as soon as they're crisp, they're done." He wiped his hands on his jeans, and moved on to the apples, starting to cut them up in small pieces. "Melt some butter in the frying pan," he directed next. "We can make these while the chips are baking." Once the butter was melted, he laid down the first tortilla and added some apples and shredded cheese, then folded it over and fried it in the pan as a quesadilla until it was brown on both sides and the cheese was melted. After making a couple of them, he put them on a place and cut them in to slices, then it was time to take the potato chips out of the oven. It only took a few minutes for them to be cool enough to put in a bowl. 

"Now you know how to make apple quesadillas and garlic parmesan potato chips." Aaron shrugged and nibbled on a chip. They'd turned out well. "Wanna take it all up to the roof?"