Together for a Day

Today’s the big day. I’m finally presenting my idea to the boss and I’m so excited. NOTHING can go wrong today. 

“ You got this.” I smile at myself in the mirror. 

I grab my keys and head out the door. As I’m pulling out of my driveway my neighbor’s daughter, Reese, rides by with her bike.

“ Have a good day at school Reese.” I shout after her.
“ You too, Gabby.” she says back.
I continue out of the driveway and drive to go to the only place I ever get my coffee, Phoebe's Cafe’.

When I walk in, I’m greeted with a smile from the barista and she doesn’t skip a beat before she says, “ Hey Gabby. The usual, right?” 
I laugh. “ Christina, you know me so well.” I joke.
She just giggles and shakes her head. Within five minutes she has my black coffee with two creams and no sugar ready. 

“ Have a nice day.” She says, as I walk out of the door. 

I hop back into my car and drive to the office. Once I’m in the parking lot, I see the perfect park right at the front door. I’m about to take it but before I get there, this huge red truck swerves into the park. I honk my horn at the truck in anger. 
The driver of the truck gets out and it’s no other than Dylan Sanders, the company’s golden boy. He’s the CEO’s son so he hasn’t had to work to earn his place in this company. He’s just able to be promoted whenever he feels like it. He looks back at me and rolls his eyes. Then he walks into the building. 

I can  admit that I’m angry but I won’t even let him ruin today for me . I go find another park and get out of my car. I head into the building. 

“ Good morning Gabby. Are you ready for the big day?” Asks Phyllis, the receptionist. 

“ Good morning Phyllis.” I say. “ I sure think I am.” I smile. 

“ Well, have a great day today.”

“ You too.” 

I start to walk toward the elevator and press floor number seven. I sigh. I’ve been dreaming about this day since I got here. If this goes right, I could be getting a promotion. The elevator doors open but I’m not on the seventh floor yet. I’m on floor three. Dylan gets on. The doors close. 

“ Can you push floor eight.” He says. 

I reluctantly push the button and try to stay quiet. Then we hear a snapping sound and the light on the elevator goes out. 

“ This can’t be happening!” I yell.
“ Woah, no need to scream cupcake.” Dylan chuckles.
“ This must be so amusing to you.” I groan.
“ No, it’s actually unfortunate,” he says.
“ Like anything can be unfortunate for you.” I mutter under my breath.
“ What did you just say?” he asks.
“ Nothing.” I look around and try to find a way out.
He notices. “ There is no way out.” 
“ How would you know?” 
“ Because I helped my dad decide how the elevators would operate,” he sighs. “ There’s also no cell service.” Then he sits down in a corner of the elevator.

I decide to sit in the corner diagonally from where he’s sitting.I put my head in my hands.
“ How could this have happened today of all days!” 
“ What’s so important about today?” Dylan asks.
“ Like I want you to know.” I replied.
There is a moment of silence. Then I sigh.

“ Fine, I had a great presentation planned today to show your da...um..Mr.Sanders.” 
“ Oh,” he motions. “ You must be Gabby Wallace.” 
“ Yeah, I am.” I answer back.
“ My dad is always talking about you.” Dylan grins.
“ He is?” 
“ Yeah, you’re his favorite employee.” he replies. “ He’s always going on and on about how if he had a daughter, he would want her to be like you.” 
“ Wow, I’m flattered.” 
“ You should be.” 
“ Why is that?” I ask.
“ Because he’s right.” Dylan shrugs.
I’m glad that we’re in the dark because I blush at Dylan’s comment about me.
Did I just blush at Dylan Sanders? What happened to my standards?

“ Do you like working for my dad’s company?” he asks.
“ Yes, I do very much.” I say.
“ But?” 
“ But nothing. I love this job. Why would I give it up?” 
“ Because you deserve better,” he says.
I’m left speechless because I know he’s right.
I finally work up the courage to change the subject.
“ What about you, huh?” I ask. “ Aren’t you tired of only being known as Dalton Sanders’ son?” 
Dylan laughs. “ That’s not the only thing I’m known for.” 
“What else are you known for then?”
“ Uh..” Dylan hums. He’s silent for a long time. Obviously because he was thinking really hard. 
He sighs. “ I actually don’t think I have an answer to that question.”

“ Then I was right then.” I giggle.
“ Hey don’t get too happy.”

I laugh. 
Then I hear another elevator cord snap and the elevator shakes. I grab on to the hand rails next to me. Then I hear heavy breathing. 

“ Dylan, are you ok?”
“ I’m..fine.” He answers.
But I know he isn’t.I start to crawl my way over to his side of the elevator. When I look into his face, I see panic. His hands are shaking rapidly and he’s sweating a lot.

“ Hey,” I say. “ We’re going to be ok.” I place my hand on his back and rub it.

He’s breathing starts to slow down and he places his head on my shoulder. We sit like this for what feels like ages.

Then he says, “ Thanks,” he lifts his head.

“ I know what it feels like to have a panic attack out of the blue.”

“ It’s not really out of the blue.” He says. 
I look at him.

“ I’ve had a fear of heights since my mom died from a plane crash.”

I nod. Tears start to form in my eyes.

“ I’ve been having panic attacks ever since then.” 

“ Wow,” I say. “ I had no idea..”
  
Then we hear a crack and the elevator doors fly open. 

“ They’re right here.” Says one of the firemen that opened the door. 

“ Are you two alright?” Asks the other one. 
We both nod. They helped us out of the elevator and as soon as both of us were off it, the last cable snapped and it fell. Me and Dylan look at each other and just laugh. 

“ Gabby!” I see my friend Meghan calling for me. I walk towards her. She pulls me into a hug.

“ I’m so glad that you’re ok!” She says. 

“ Yeah, I am too.” 

“ And you survived staying in the same room as Dylan Sanders.How was that?”

I look back at Dylan and he looks back at me. 

“ It actually wasn’t that bad.” I answer. 
Dylan Sanders, the guy I used to hate, is actually a great guy.