The steel box lurched to a halt between floors. Amelia let out a little yelp, then clapped a hand over her mouth. Across from her, David chuckled. His teeth were impossibly white, his eyes crinkling at the corners. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting a sickly glow. Amelia felt a warmth bloom in her chest, a lightness that made her want to giggle.
"Well, this is cozy," David said, leaning against the back wall. His casual pose did something to her. She cleared her throat, suddenly aware of the way her blouse felt against her skin. "I guess so."
Every glance at him sent a jolt through her. She found herself fiddling with the silver chain around her neck, tracing the delicate pendant with her fingertip. The air grew thick, charged with something she couldn't name. He began telling a story about a misadventure involving a runaway dog. She listened, rapt, her gaze never wavering from his face. She thought the way the light hit his hair was just breathtaking.
Every creak of the elevator, every distant rumble of machinery, was a reminder of their shared confinement, a delicious torture. She found herself smiling, feeling the muscles in her face ache. Time seemed to compress and expand all at once.