All the glamour has gone out of being caught in lifts in this day and age

There was a power surge, and the lights flickered, once, twice, and cut out. We were between floors at the time, and a steely silence descended, just for a moment. The lift was full, about ten people, all of whom seemed to be alone. There was a long moment, where we all just stood around, isolated in the darkness, then suddenly the inside of the lift was lit - the power not having come back on, our companions seemed to have decided to create their own. Ah, modernish technology.

Let there be light, said the Lord. Let there be less of it, say the EU leaders of this hemisphere.

Just what is it about getting stuck in a lift that prompts people to call their families/ significant others? I swear one man was calling his limo driver, but my Japanese is sucky.
I ventured a quiet, "Joel? Is that you holding my hand?"
"Cupcake, is that you leaning against the door?"

Ah. We reshuffled. "Joel, was that man talking to his driver?"
"Aren't you claustrophobic?"
"Nope. Where did you get that from?"
"I'm going to be sick. Do you think we could prise the doors open?"
"Look, if you're claustrophobic just admit it. Anyway, thats quiiiiiite probably not a great idea. Aren't we between floors?"

"Have you got a swiss army knife?"

Because of course I carry small knives around with me all the time.

The inside of the lift was still dark, but there was a slightly suspicious scraping noise coming from the door.

"Joel! Stop that! Just sit and leave the door alone."
"I have to get out."
"Look, the last time you didn't listen to me, we almost got arrested. Remember?"
"Oh come on, there was no sign saying I shouldn't climb up the war memorial."

*shrugs* ADHD.

He went on."And who are you talk, missy? The last time I did listen to you, we wound up on a train to Fukuoka."
"Mmm. Well, even between us our Japanese isn't going to stop you getting arrested by the security guards for vandalising the elevator. And believe me when I tell you I won't even try to help you."

Another silence fell. "Um, Cupcake? Do you reckon they speak English?"
"Why, do you think that'd make you getting arrested as soon as the power comes back on any less socially awkward? Anyway, I think we're beyond that stage in our relationship now."

Someone giggled from another corner.

The lights came back on and the lift jolted back into motion; just after he'd started trying to persuade me to climb up onto his shoulders and look for a roof hatch. Or something. Movies do terrible things to a boys mind, don't they?

This mornings little adventure was considerably less exciting; possibly because it was daytime and my companions were all over sixty.

--------------

Now, I have a very important question. Do I go to Spain and learn Spanish, or Korea?

No. Not so much.

"What happened to the blonde?" Lewis asked me. I frowned at him for a moment as he sort of stroked clumsily at my hair, then decided to forgive him; he's moving to Dubai next week, and I anticipate something of a shortage of blonde locked girls.
"I haven't been blonde in weeks, love. But it had to go, it was rousing too much speculation."
"Like?"
"It was unfavourably likened to a mermaid. Oh, and I got called a sloane."
He laughed. The bastard laughed. "Let's look at this, shall we babe? I know your mummy has the pony thing going on, so I know you can ride--"
"--but I don't."
"--You had peroxide blonde hair, and you own a pashmina--"
"--that's not fair! You can't discriminate against me because of that! I defy you to find a girl who doesn't!" Slightly over wrought.
"You took your hair straightners to Yemen with you--"
"--Yemen. Not, ah, Rock."
"--and you went to public school, and are, safe to say, pretty much a Londoner."

I made a conscious effort to smooth out the frown lines. I refuse to turn into my mother.

"This isn't a bad thing though."
"And how, sir, do you work that one out?"
"I thought the blonde look was dead nice. *pauses* It reminded me, you know Phoebe?"
"Um. The one you hooked up with? The high jump champion who superseeded me when I was relieved of my position as Head Girl."
"Yep."
"The one who had ring worm?"
"Um--"
"--and announced her lesbian status at the end of year ball while on stage with the gym mistress?"

Ahh, high school friends. Much appreciated.