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“Asalways, glad to be of service.”
There’sclanging and banging as the first responders do whatever they’re doing to get the elevator doors open.Thenoise is almost as scary as being trapped in here forever is.
“Jackson?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanksfor being human.Thiscould have been really terrible.”
“Beingtrapped in an elevator fearing for our lives wasn’t really terrible?”Hesqueezes my fingers, andIknow he’s joking.
“Well, you got to spend it with me.Sothat was a silver lining for you.Idon’t know howIsurvived this long with you.”Isqueeze his fingers back so he knowsI’mjoking, too.
“Afew hours in an elevator with you has done wonders for my ego.”
“You’rewelcome.”
“Selena?”
“Yes?”
“Thanks.”
Thenthere’s a screeching noise and the elevator drops.Butonly a few inches.Andthen the doors open.Firstan inch, then another, and then another.Untilthe elevator doors are halfway open.We’retrapped between the lobby andP1, but it’s only a couple of feet up to the lobby.
“Wewere this close to the lobby this whole time?Itfelt like it was a million miles away.”
“Lookslike.”Jacksonsays next to me. “Youready?”
Inod, and thenIrealize thatIactually need to say the words.We’reboth staring straight ahead of us into the big lobby.It’sfull of countless first responders staring back at us.Thelobby is a little above my waist, so we’re staring right at their knees.Fromoutside the glass lobby walls,Ican seeTVnews trucks and flashing lenses.Lensesaimed at us.Well, aimed atJackson.ButI’mstanding right next to him, so they’re aimed at me, too.
“Asready asI’llever be.”
Jacksonsqueezes my hand again.Thenhe walks across the elevator, presses his hands down on the lobby floor, and in one smooth motion pulls himself up to the floor above.Insteadof standing up and washing his hands of me, leaving the milling first responders to haul me out,Jacksonturns around and holds his hands out to me.
“Comeon,I’vegot you.”
“Areyou sure?”Ibite my lip and look over his shoulder at the flashing lights outside.Thiswill not be graceful.Andthere are so many cameras out there.Icould just hide out in here untilJacksonleaves and all the cameras follow him.
Jacksonglances over his shoulder. “Sorryabout that.Itcomes with the rest of it.Butdon’t worry about them.I’vegot you.Trustme.”
Nodding,Istep forward assess the distance up to the lobby.Jackson’slegs have to be at least a foot longer than mine, so this step up was a heck of a lot smaller for him.
“Mr.Waters, maybe you should step back and let us evacuate her.”
“We’reall good.I’vegot this.Thanks, though.”
“Selena,I’mgoing to pick you up, if that’s okay?Justpress down with your hands and then get your knees up on the floor whenIpull you high enough, okay?”
“Maybewe should leave this to the professionals…”Imutter, staring at the distance between the floor of the elevator and the lobby.
“You’veknown me what?Sixhours.AndhaveIever let you down?Evenonce?”
Ilean in as close asIcan get to him. “Actually, there was that time you wouldn’t do the dance.”
Henarrows his eyes at me. “Youget out of this elevator, and maybe we can talk about it.”
Igrin up at him. “That’sworth bailing and letting the paparazzi take a picture of my vagina.”
