"Hey Maci..."
She perked up from the snack she was making at the sound of someone calling her name. Alto was on the other side of the kitchen, not quite facing her and looking uncharacteristically uncomfortable. "Hm?"
"Does Kodiak not like me?" That got her to look up and face him completely. Alto looked worried. "Sorry if that was out of nowhere, it's just that he always vanishes around me, and if he's mad at me I figure you'd know since you're his best friend-"
Sensing an opportunity, Maci raised her hand and cut off his rambling, "Why d'you care if Kodiak likes you or not? You don't hang out."
"Yeah but I want to." Alto whined, slipping back into his more usual dramatic way of talking, "He's sweet."
She raised an eyebrow, "You just said you think he doesn't like you."
He threw a dish towel at her, "Doesn't matter! Just answer the question!"
Summoning up all the seriousness she could, Maci took a deep breath. "Alto."
"Yeah?" He looked hopeful.
"I say this with all the kindness in the world, you're dumb as a pile of bricks."
"Hey!"