2:04 am
Holy shit. Holy mother of Jesus. We were free. Free! After being exactly 24 hours in an elevator with a total stranger, who is not really a stranger anymore, we were free. I wasn’t dead, I wasn’t going to spend my life in a metal box. Everything would be fine.
For a moment I just stared at the five mechanical workers that seemed to be just as surprised as I was that the door was open.
It felt surreal to walk over the threshold of the elevator on the ground floor of the building. I did it very slow, like I was afraid to tumble inside a volcano. But instead of lava stepped on the concrete floor. I let out a small chuckle when looking at my feet. I looked up to the mechanical workers and they were all laughing at me. Normally I would be grumpy towards them, but I was way too happy for that now. They just didn’t understand what it was like being trapped in there.
I ran to Dave at the end of the group and threw my arms around him in a hug. He wasn’t comfortable with it at all and awkwardly patted me on the back as a response. I didn’t care though. I was just so grateful. “Thank you!” I said and when I let him go I ran away from the group towards the bathroom. Like my life depended on it.
When I was on my way I certainly thought of the fact that I didn’t know where the bathroom was, so I stood still. Eventually I found a little sign that pointed towards the bathroom and headed to it. I needed to pee so bad by now. The bottle had been full for at least two hours now and Mike was the last one of us that had peed.
The relieve of getting rid of the pee in me, made being free more awesome. When I walked out of the bathroom door, I saw Mike walking out of the men’s room at the same time. Our eyes locked for a moment and it had been more awkward than ever. What the fuck were we supposed to do now?
Before I could figure out what to do, Mike had already walked passed me back to the mechanical workers. Okay, he didn’t want to talk to me. Which made perfect sense. Maybe it was for the best. To be honest I was kind of tired of thinking about it.
I sighed and walked behind him towards the elevator. Mike picked up his backpack from the floor, but I had nothing with me so I just awkwardly stood in between two mechanics.
“So, can we go?” I asked to no one in particular. Dave made his way to the rest of the people. “No, the police is just waiting outside the door and you both have to give a statement.” He said.
I raised my eyebrow. “Is it because there’s a chance that someone might’ve broke the elevator on purpose?” I asked and Dave nodded. “but then you don’t need me. I don’t know anyone who would lock me up in an elevator.” I said and grinned.
“Are you sure about that?” Mike said without emotion on his face. Suddenly it hit me what he meant. My dad. He wouldn’t go that far right? I mean make a stalker Facebook account, okay. But sabotage an elevator so I would get stuck in it? No he wouldn’t do that.
But what if he did it so he could see whenever I got out? That meant he would be here somewhere…waiting for me.
I suddenly got a little sick and I felt all the color drain from my face. I felt a hand on my shoulder and when I looked up I saw that it was Mike. I was staring directly into his brown eyes. “Are you okay?” he asked. The only thing that went through my mind right now was how sweet it was of him to be still comforting me after that horrible fight we had. After I turned him down.
I shot him a weak smile. To be honest my dad had already disappeared from my mind because of him. “Yeah, just a little light headed.” I said and he smiled back at me.
At that moment we heard the door of the hallway we were standing in open. We all looked up and saw that two police officers were walking towards us. “Mike Fuentes and Amara Carter?” The police men with the black mustache asked. Mike and I nodded at the same time. I guess Dave had told them our names. I wondered how long they had been here already.
They both walked up to us and then the other police man started talking. One with blonde hair, he seemed like he was in between my and Mike’s age. “I know that what you have been through is a big deal and you probably just really want to go home, but we really need a statement out of you. I promise it won’t take long and as soon as we are done here, you can go to your family and friends in the lobby.”
My eyes got big. “They’re already here?” I asked. At first I didn’t mind giving a statement to the police, but now I really just wanted to run towards Rosey.
Dave sighed. “I actually do keep my promises, guys.” He said and for the first time I felt bad for the way I have been thinking about him. He had actually been working hard to get us out. “I’ve called both Vic and Rosey eight hours ago. Rosey immediately came, she has been in the lobby since eleven pm.” Poor Rosey, three hours. Dave went on: “Vic and your band mates directly set off to pick you up too, but they got held up or something. They called me an hour ago about it. They can be here any time. And by the way, you were right. He couldn’t stop laughing.”
Mike threw his hands up and down. “I told you!” he said towards me and I grinned.
Then we both went with one police officer. The blonde officer took me to some sort of office on the first floor so we could be alone for a few minutes. Thank god it was on the same floor, though. I didn’t think I would ever take the elevator again.
The office was simple and small with white walls and a brown desk. On the walls were hanging posters of music artists though. Which was contrasting with the pragmatic style the office had.
The officer sat down on the desk chair and I pulled up a chair across from him. He asked me about how I got to the concert and with who, at what time I left the show and why. I figured it was wise to tell him about my dad. I didn’t want to lie to the police and if he really was the person that tricked us, then I wanted him to get caught. Besides, at first it was just me in the elevator. Mike came running towards it when the doors were already closing. Which made me think it was rather about me than about him.
The officer told me that it wasn’t entirely sure yet that the elevator was deliberately broken, but it gave me a weird feeling that they even suspected it. Whether the elevator got stuck for me or for Mike. It meant that we were the victim of a crime and a hostage.
After ten minutes, the officer let me out and I was to wander the hall again. I looked around me, but Mike was nowhere to be seen. So he was either still being questioned or he was already in the lobby. I don’t know if I hoped to see him. Maybe saying good bye to him would only make things harder. Besides, I didn’t know if we were still mad each other. Judging from half an hour ago not, but there was still this thing we didn’t agree on. Even though I changed my mind all the time. Deep in my heart I knew it was better for us to not see each other anymore.
I asked Dave for the way to the lobby and he told me that it was to my second left. I found myself running instead of walking when I was heading towards the lobby. There was so much to explain to Rosey.
I entered a big room with a bar to my right and several black leather couches to my right. The walls of the room were of glass and I could see the dark night through them. I remembered this room, it was where we entered the building.
There was a redheaded girl seated on one of the black couches and she looked up to me when I entered the room. Relieve and happiness washed over her face when she saw me. She immediately stood up and ran towards me. I did the same and ran straight into her arms.
As she was hugging me, she said: “Omg, Amara, where have you been all night?”
I let go of her and was honestly never as excited to see her face. “I was trapped inside an elevator.” I said and shrugged.
“yeah I heard that.” She said and she rolled her eyes. “how did that even happen? Like huh?”
I laughed at her confused face. “Yeah, it was weird.” I said. “It’s kind of a long story and I already told it like five minutes ago. So can it wait?”
Rosey nodded and smiled at me. I admired her patience. I would’ve pushed me to tell everything. But I guess that’s why she was a perfect friend for me. Every impatience person needed a patience person to slow them down.
“Who is mystery guy though?” she said and she wiggled her eyebrows. I shot her a confused face. So she didn’t know I was trapped with Mike? What did she know?
Rosey sighed. “That Dave guy called me and told me that you were trapped inside an elevator with a guy. Did you meet him at the concert or something? Was that why you suddenly left? Because then I would like totally forgive you for leaving me all alone.” she said and she rushed her words, like she always did when she was enthusiastic about something.
I chuckled at her. “Nah, I met him in the elevator” I said and I hope Mike didn’t walk in or something. It would be so much less awkward and easier if he didn’t got to meet Rosey. At the other hand, she would get to meet one of her idols and she so deserved that.
Rosey’s eyes started sparkling and she shot me a cheeky smile. “Was he hot?” she asked.
I blushed and tried to avoid her look. But it was too late, she had already seen my red cheeks. “He was fairly attractive…” I said. I only just said it when she interrupted me and spilled me with questions: “Omg! Amara, did you get his number? Did you kiss him? Omg…you didn’t like hook up with him, right? In an elevator? Wow! That’s dirty!” she said and again, the words came out way too fast.
I became even redder, but laughed too. I should’ve known she would react like this. I opened my mouth to say something, I wasn’t even sure what yet, when the outside door of the lobby opened and three guys entered the lobby.
I recognized it to be the other guys of Pierce the Veil. But now they were all wearing winter coats and beanies. Little snowflakes were visible on the beanie of the shortest man. I knew now that he must’ve been Vic.
Rosey saw me eye the entrance and she turned around to see what I was looking at. When she did, her eyes got big and she was frozen at her spot for a few seconds. When she opened her mouth, I realized what she was going to do and I quickly put my hand over my mouth. I let her freak out in my hand for a while. Luckily the entrance was at the other side of the very big hall and the guys didn’t even notice we were here.
I let go of Rosey’s mouth when I trusted her to not make a total fool of herself. She turned around to face me and her face was still covered with shock. She started to violently whisper to me: “What the fuck are the guys of Pierce the Veil doing here? It’s two am in the morning! Can I please go to them?” She was jumping up and down now.
I saw the bassist, Jaime glance over to us, see Rosey and shoot us a confused but amused look. I laughed awkwardly at him, which made Rosey look around and freak out more.
But before she could do anything, I saw Mike walk through the door, straight to the group of boys. Vic’s lips started twisting, he was obviously trying to contain his laughter.
When Mike reached the group he looked to Vic and pointed to him. “Don’t you dare laugh.” He said threatening, but he smiled at the same time. I guess he saw the funny side of it too.
It was weird, since I was out of there I found all of this kind of hilarious too. I couldn’t laugh about it too when I was in the elevator, but it was a little bit more serious then. Back then we had fears of starving or not getting out of there.
Vic let out a chuckle. “Dude, you passed out drunk and then got locked up in an elevator and I’m not allowed to laugh?”
“WAIT WHAT, YOU WERE LOCKED IN THAT ELEVATOR WITH MIKE FUENTES?! WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY SO?!” Rosey suddenly shouted out. I was on my way to cover her mouth again, but I was too late. Like usual I had to handle the uncomfortable situation that followed Rosey’s blurt out.
All four of the guys were staring at us and I’m sure Mike was laughing at me. I shot them an apologetic smile, took Rosey’s shoulders and shipped her away to a corner of the lobby were we’d have a little more privacy.
We sat down on a couch and Rosey demanded that I told her everything. Although I was kind of pissed at her because of her blurt out, I told her everything anyway. I told every single detail, but forbid her to tell anyone about it. She squeaked and smiled a few times during the story and she sighed when I told her about the fights we had. When I told her about the shirt with the autograph, she almost screamed again.
After I had told her everything she looked at me with her mouth slightly open. Then she closed it and shook her head. “Okay wow. So I take you to a concert, I had to force you to come by the way, and you get locked up with my idol. You fight with him, then become friends and then have intense make out sessions with him. Do you know how lucky you are? And the guy wants to hang out with you after all of this for Christ’s sake and you decline!” she said.
I sighed and rolled my eyes. “You have to understand Rosey that you see him as a rock star and I see him as just a guy. It wouldn’t work out.” I said and attempted to look at Mike. I saw that Mike was talking with his bandmates. When he saw that I was looking at him, he looked at me and smiled. My insides turned to putty.
I realized suddenly that this might be the last time I’d ever see him. I would maybe see him on social media or something but that would be it. No useless fights anymore, no weird jokes, no poker games, no kisses and no falling asleep on his chest. Of course things had happened in that elevator that I won’t miss, but for most part I would look back at this day with a good feeling.
“Well, something tells me that he isn’t just a guy to you anymore too.” She said as she saw towards where I was glancing.
I shot her an angry look out of desperation mostly. “He is not my type, Rosey. Besides, I won’t see him a lot, because he’s constantly touring.” I said.
“All excuses, Amara.” She shot at me. “you’re afraid he will hurt you, like all those people that have hurt you in your life. But you can’t live your life in fear. You have to meet a few down points before your meet the love of your life. Who says it’s not him? You haven’t tried, so you don’t know. And about that ‘type’ thing, we both know that attraction and love don’t work like that.”
I sighed. I knew she was right. My defenses just wouldn’t come down. They were too stubborn to fall. “You’re just saying all this because you want me to be together with him, because he is from your favorite band.”
She grinned. “I’m not gonna lie. It would be so awesome if you’d date him and I could actually be friends with him and talk to him.” She said and her eyes got big of wonder. I chuckled at her. “but what I just said, I said as a friend.”
I looked over to the group again. The group of men were discussing something and regularly looked our way. “He probably hates me now anyway.” I said, my walls were throwing the last pieces of defense into the argument.
I heard Rosey grin again. “Well, from what you told me, I kinda think he doesn’t. He seems to care a lot about you. Apart from that, I can imagine musicians have a hard time maintaining relationships. If he wants to try to date you, then you must be special to him.”
I hadn’t looked at it that way. All this time I told myself he probably didn’t care about me, just to keep me from the pain that normally followed when I trusted people. But maybe he really did care. I had no idea why, I’m not that special. But hey, he wouldn’t be the first on who my eye would fall in a group of people at first. But right now, everything about him intrigued me. It was just a thing that had grown on me.
Rosey sighed and suddenly stood up. I looked up to her and she handed her hands to me. “Come, we’re gonna go to him. You need to at least say goodbye to him”
I yanked my arms away. “What? No!” I said. How awkward would that be? I also had this nervous feeling about going to him. A feeling that I hadn’t before. It probably was because we suddenly were in a way other setting as in the elevator, the only setting we had seen each other.
Rosey grabbed my right arm and started dragging me. I stumbled to my feet and started walking. Every time I tried to take my arm back, Rosey tightened her grip on my arm, which hurt quite a lot. The girl was a kick boxer so she was very strong.
“Rosey let go of me!” I hissed at her, but it was too late. We had already reached the group of boys. I hadn’t realized it though, until I looked up and stared right into Mike’s eyes.
I felt Rosey let go of my arm. “Uhm. Hi.” I said awkwardly and I wanted to punch myself for those two words.
Mike chuckled. “Hi, I guess.” He said smiling at me. Damn it, that looked so attractive. “This is my brother, Vic.” He said and he pointed towards the boy with long hair and a snapback on my left. I awkwardly smiled and shook his hand. “And these are my best friends, Jaime and Tony.” He gestured to a guy with spikey hair and one with short hair and a lot of tattoos. I also introduced myself to them. They seemed pretty nice. I had always found it weird that you could notice if someone was nice from the first time you met them.
I heard Rosey cough behind me, trying to let me know that she was still here. “oh yeah, uhm this is my best friend Rosey.” I turned to Rosey and shot her a warning look. “Rosey. Behave.”
The guys all laughed. I wondered what Mike had told them about me already. They probably already knew that Rosey was a fan and I wasn’t. Otherwise they wouldn’t have laughed at that.
Rosey took a deep breath and then nodded to me with a big smile on her face. She shook the hand of all the boys and she remained surprisingly calm. I did saw her hand shaking a few times. I was actually quite happy for her that she had met her idols now. I knew how much their music had meant to her.
“So you’re the girl that was stuck in an elevator with my brother for twenty-four hours?” Vic asked me grinning.
I sighed and shook my head. “unfortunately yes.” I said.
I felt Mike giving me a soft push against my arm. “Hey! It wasn’t that bad, right?” he said and I rolled my eyes.
“No, we heard that it was actually quite fun.” Rosey said and she wiggled her eyebrows. I knew exactly what she meant and so did the rest, because Tony, Jaime and Vic busted out in laughter at her comment. I just went red and from the corner of my eyes I saw that Mike got a slight red color too.
“Very mature, guys.” Mike mumbled. I looked up to Mike’s cute grumpy but embarrassed face. I giggled because of it.
When the guys were done laughing, Jaime said: “You guys wanna hang out with us sometime if we’re in New York again? Judging from Mike’s stories, you seem pretty cool.”
I didn’t really know if I should be happy about the fact that Mike spoke so good of me or sad about the fact that I had now not only Mike to let down, but also the other guys.
After a short silence, I opened my mouth to say something, but Mike was first: “she doesn’t want to. Right?” He looked at me with an emotionless face, but there was a spark of hope visible in his eyes. My stomach started turning. I could cry right now. I really didn’t know what to do.
I looked away from Mike, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to say what I was going to say. “It just seems like the best way to not both end up disappointed. We had a nice time in there and I learned a lot from it. I will cherish it, but in my memory. We will force whatever this is too much if we deliberately see each other after today.”
It was dead quiet in the lobby. I don’t think I had ever said something so close to my heart with so many people listening. I looked up to Mike’s band members and they looked disappointed, but they seemed to understand.
I heard Mike sigh and he dragged his hand over his face. “Maybe you’re right. You probably are. I just think it’s hard to say goodbye to you forever.” He said.
Beside my Rosey let out a gasp, the ones she always let out when she was watching a romantic comedy and something romantic happened.
“Okay, well let’s not make it any harder for you, man.” Tony said. He put a hand on Vic’s and Jaime’s shoulders. “Guys, let’s give them some space to say goodbye.”
And then the guys walked off, followed by Rosey who shot me a pitied smile.
Suddenly it was just me and Mike, standing across from each other. I looked at my feet, I didn’t really know what to do now. I had never said goodbye to someone that wasn’t dead.
“Maybe this goodbye isn’t forever, you know.” I said, still looking down to my feet. “Who knows, maybe we will bump in to each other someday…maybe Rosey will force me to go to another concert of you.”
Mike chuckled. “We will see. I just want to thank you for everything. For keeping me sane in there. For cheering me up after my girlfriend had broken up with me. For listening to my stories.” He said.
I looked at him and he seemed sad. His face seemed to mirror mine. “It was no problem at all. Same goes for me. Thank you.” I said and I meant it. He had helped me with a lot and I had learned things that I would take with me the rest of my life.
He shrugged. “it’s nothing.” He said. “Good luck with your dad and with your work. I hope I’ll see you again someday.” He smiled at the last words.
I smiled back at him. “I will certainly give in a little easier when Rosey is dragging me to one of your concerts again. And you to by the way. Good luck with touring and I truly hope you will find a girl that gives you the love you deserve.” I laid my hand on his arm. I was sure I saw a hint of tears in his eyes, but he covered it up pretty good.
He just responded by dragging me in a hug. He had his arms around my shoulders and I had my arms around his waist. I laid down my head on his chest as we just stood there for a while. Now it was my turn to try and push the tears back. I had only met this guy yesterday, but it seemed like I had known him forever. Although I hated saying goodbye to him, I knew it had been the right decision to let him go. I was too broken by my past relationships and I needed to heal from them before I saw anyone else.
After what seemed like forever, but still felt too short, I let go of Mike’s waist and looked him in the eyes. “Goodbye.” I said.
“Goodbye.” He said back.
We stood there staring in each other’s eyes for a while until I broke eye contact and walked in Rosey’s direction, who somehow managed to get the guys of pierce the veil to make selfies with her. “Can we go now, Rose?” I said with a lot of impatience. I didn’t want to see Mike’s face anymore, because that would make it only harder to leave.
Rosey shot me a comforting smile and nodded. We quickly said goodbye to Vic, Jaime and Tony and then walked out of the building.
The night was pitch dark as we started silently walking the street of New York. I felt a tear roll over my cheek as we were walking. I wasn’t able to hold it anymore. It was so weird to cry over a stranger like this.
We had only walked to the end of the street when I heard running footsteps behind us. “Amara!” It was Mike. I shouldn’t have been so happy to hear his voice again. I turned around and indeed saw Mike running up to me.
He didn’t say anything as he just walked up to my, cupped my face in his right hand and pushed his lips on mine. At first I had no idea what was going on, because this all happened in three seconds, but then I put my arms around his waist and kissed him back. I didn’t care that Rosey stood beside us, or that we were in the middle of the street. I just wanted to get lost in this kiss. It was like all our left over passion and sadness was mixed in this kiss. Like we needed to let it out one last time. I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I said that this was the best kiss I had ever had.
I had no idea how much time had passed when our lips parted again, but I immediately felt empty when it happened. Mike looked at my shocked expression. “I just needed to do that one last time.” He said blushing.
I couldn’t find the words to say something back. I was still a bit blown off my feet, because of the kiss. I just nodded and smiled at him. He smiled at me and then walked off, back to the venue.
I stood frozen on my spot on the street for a while. A mixture of emotions washed over me. Maybe I was hoping that if I’d stay on this spot, that the wonderful moment we had shared a few seconds ago, would come back.
But after a few seconds, I had peace with the situation. Like I had already said, I would cherish these few hours forever. It had been beautiful, funny, intense and revealing at the same time. I would never look at things the same again and that was enough for now.
If we were meant to be together, then we would. After today, I believed in faith. And otherwise we would move on and both be happy, but look back at this day and smile.
I chuckled at the thought for some reason and turned around to head back towards the car.
When I was laying in my bed that night, I realized that the fairytale of snow white had gotten another meaning for me. For years I had seen myself as the grumpy dwarf, but within twenty-four hours Mike had me made me feel like I was snow white. My heart had been poisoned by an apple, but he healed it by his kiss. He was the prince in this case. The tattooed, pierced, drumming prince.
Or story might’ve had an alternate ending, but it wasn’t necessarily a bad one. I realized that a happy ending didn’t particularly needed to include the prince and princess ending up together. Sometimes it was enough if both parties had changed for the better.

Notes

Okay guys...this was the last chapter...Holy shit.

So what did you guys think of this story? Tell me about it! and btw DON'T UNSUBSCRIBE YET. I have yet to update a short song list of songs I have used in this story and...uhm...
I wanted to ask you guys an important question: Do you guys want a sequal? I will maybe update an athors note soon to ask it again, but if you already know the answer, Comment it please. Just be honest :) if you guys think this story would be better without a sequal, then I totally understand!

soo yeah, this was it. Thank you guys so much for giving this story so much love! I don't know what I did to deserve you guys! you are awesome and I love you so much <3

xxxx

Nicky