We Ended Up Together Read online

  Brad got tired too. He closed his eyes in defeat leaning his head on the door trying to listen for signs of anyone coming to their rescue. After hearing nothing, he turned away from the door as well. He looked at Chloe, who had his back to him. He looked beyond her and noticed her reflection in the mirrored wall. He saw that there were tears falling down her face.

  "Don't be scared. I'm sure we'll get out soon," Brad said, softly. Chloe wiped a tear from her eye and then turned around to face Brad.

  "I have to make a toast at a party in a couple of minutes, I-I…" Chloe whispered, before her voice was too full of tears to continue.

  "I'm sure they'll understand," Brad said kindly. Chloe started to smile a little. This man was so sweet, trying to calm her down. She couldn't look away from his eyes, again. He made her feel calm.

  Chloe eventually backed up against the elevator wall again. She then slid her back down the wall to sit on the tiled elevator floor. Brad remained standing, he paced as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.

  After what felt like hours, the elevator still wasn't fixed. Brad got tired of standing so he joined Chloe on the floor. They sat against the back wall of the elevator, Brad with his legs out in front of him and Chloe with her arms wrapped around her bent knees. She rested her chin on her folded legs.

  Brad took a deep breath to calm his nerves. Before speaking he cleared his throat.

  "We haven't properly introduced ourselves. I'm Brad DeMarco," Brad said as he held a hand out for her to shake. Chloe smiled at him then she let go of her knees with one hand. She reached across the space between them, taking his hand in hers and shaking it.

  "I'm Chloe Schwizter," Chloe said. Then she let go of his hand. Brad looked at the ground. An awkward silence filled the elevator.

  Chloe focused on the wall opposite her as she thought to herself for a moment. This man's name sounded so familiar to her. She wracked her brain trying to remember where she had heard his name before. Then it hit her.

  "You didn't by any chance grow up in Long Island did you?" Chloe asked. Brad turned his head to face her again.

  "Uh, yeah, I did," Brad replied with a confused expression.

  "Your name just sounds so familiar to me. Where did you go to school on Long Island?" Chloe asked.

  "Riverside High School," Brad answered. Chloe's eyes widened as she finally realized where she knew him. She went to school with him and his sister, Vanessa. That's why she remembered his name.

  "I went there too!" Chloe exclaimed. "You have a sister named Vanessa, right?"

  "Yeah," Brad answered. When he remembered who she was his heart skipped a beat. She was Chloe, Vanessa's best friend. How could he forget the cheerleader who had never noticed him? She was the popular girl with a heart big enough to be friends with Vanessa. If anything she'd only gotten more beautiful.

  "I can't believe this," Brad explained, excitedly. "You were friends with my sister, Vanessa. Now, like ten years later, here you are: stuck in an elevator with your high school friend's geeky brother."

  "It's such a small world," Chloe said with a smile. She wanted to say more but she didn't know where to begin. She was lost for words.

  The reunion was cut short when the elevator lights began to flicker once more. Brad and Chloe looked up at the ceiling their hearts pounding again.

  Suddenly the whole car trembled and dropped by a foot or two. Brad and Chloe had no time to react or even process what was happening in the time it took the emergency brakes to work. They brought the elevator to a stop within milliseconds of dropping.

  The elevator car shook with the force of the jolt, causing one of the giant mirrors on the wall to shake free. Brad acted quickly and reached over to grab Chloe. He quickly pulled her towards himself, out of the path of the falling glass. The mirror shattered on the floor sending shards flying.

  Brad and Chloe were both breathing heavily as they took in what had just happened. They both didn't move a muscle as they tried to make sense of what had happened in the past few seconds.

  After the shock of what had just transpired began to wear off, Chloe looked at where she had just been sitting moments ago. If Brad hadn't pulled her out of the way the mirror would have fallen on her.

  "A-are you okay?" Brad whispered, his voice shaking. Then his question was answered when he looked down at Chloe's legs. Three pieces of the mirror had cut her calf and there was blood running down her calf.

  Chloe was snapped out of her daze by his voice near her ear. She realized she was in some pain. She followed Brad’s gaze and looked at her leg.

  "I'm okay, it could have been a lot worse," Chloe answered, referring to where she had been sitting mere minutes ago.

  "We need something to stop the bleeding," Brad said. Chloe pulled herself off of him to sit next to him. Brad was able to move to look at her leg. He carefully stood up and crouched by her feet. He then took off his sweatshirt. "This will have to do," Brad said.

  Brad looked at the wounds to make sure they had no glass in them before carefully wrapping his sweatshirt around her calf. Luckily, they didn't look too deep. Chloe winced a little but couldn't help slightly smiling at the way he gently took care of her.

  "There," Brad said. Then he looked at Chloe's face, "We need to get you out of here. You need a doctor."

  Brad stood up again. He decided to try the button for the phone again, but again there was no answer. He then pressed the button to try and get the door to open. To both Brad and Chloe's surprise and relief, the door opened about a foot.

  The elevator car was stuck between two floors. The floor of one of the building’s many levels was a few feet up.

  "Hello? Is anyone there? We're trapped in the elevator and we can't get out!" Brad yelled out of the opening between the doors, panicked.

  "Yes. We're right here. How many are in there?" A man's voice called back.

  "It's only me and one other. Listen, the elevator car dropped and a mirror fell and cut her leg. She needs medical attention," Brad explained.

  "An ambulance is on its way," the man answered. "I can help you two but the opening is too narrow to fit through. If you can try and push the doors open from the inside I'll try from the outside," the man said.

  "I can do that," Brad answered. He then placed his hands in the opening to push on the doors. The man also placed his hands between the doors.

  "1, 2, 3," the man, counted. Brad pushed with all of his strength and the doors began to slide open a few more feet. Both the man and Brad stopped for a moment to catch their breath. "Can you climb out now?" the man asked breathlessly.

  "I think so," Brad replied, panting. "I'm going to help Chloe out first. When I lift her up, help her out of the elevator. But be careful, her left calf is hurt," Brad explained.

  "Okay, whenever you're ready," the man responded. Brad turned back to face Chloe.

  "I'm going to help you out. Can you stand?" Brad asked.

  "Yeah, help me up," Chloe responded. She was so pleased that Brad was being so caring and heroic. She felt safe with him. Brad bent down and grabbed both her hands pulling her onto her feet. As soon as she was upright he wrapped an arm around her waist. He helped her stand with most of her weight on her one good leg.

  "Okay, I'm going to lift you up and that man will pull you up," Brad explained. Chloe nodded. Brad then wrapped one of her arms around the back of his neck and crouched a little bit. Chloe used his bent leg like a step and stood on his thigh. When she was standing Brad gripped her waist from behind and helped her balance so she could grab the floor above them.

  The man helped them by grabbing Chloe's arms so she could climb out of the elevator. When she was safely out, Brad pulled himself up out the opening. The man helped Brad climb out as well.

  Brad stood up and dusted himself off. He then shook the man's hand while saying thank you. Brad walked over to stand beside Chloe. He put one of Chloe's arms over his shoulders and supported her around the waist, helping her keep weight off her injured leg. A mainte
nance worker came to join them.

  "Are you folks alright? The power went out and stopped all signals to the elevators," the worker explained.

  "We yelled for help. Why couldn't you hear us?" Brad asked with irritation.

  "We were rushing around trying to get the power on. We must not have been paying attention," the worker explained.

  "You didn't think people could be in the elevator?" Brad argued, his temper rising.

  "Brad it's okay," Chloe whispered, putting a hand on his chest to calm him down.

  "Listen, I'm fine, but Chloe's hurt," Brad said gesturing to Chloe, who still had the sweatshirt wrapped around her leg.

  "The paramedics will be here any minute," the worker explained.

  After being brought down the stairs to the lobby, Chloe received a few sterile strips and bandages from the paramedics to cover her cuts. Her wounds were not serious enough to have to go to the hospital or get stitches, so Chloe gave James a call to pick her up.

  "Hello?" answered James' voice in Chloe's ear.

  "James, I need you to come pick me up from Oliva's. I got stuck in the elevator and I got cut by a falling mirror. Please just come and get me," Chloe pleaded. Chloe heard James impatiently sigh from the other side of the phone.

  "I'll be there in a few minutes," James answered.

  "Okay, bye," Chloe said.

  "Bye," James replied before hanging up the phone.

  A few of Chloe's friends came downstairs from the party after news of Chloe's injury had reached them. Brad just watched from the other side of the lobby as Chloe explained to them what happened. Brad couldn't stop observing them as they consoled Chloe. Her friends were so different. It seemed like they all said goodbye before they returned to the party.

  Brad saw Chloe become quite relieved when they left. He walked over and sat on the bench beside her.

  "Thank you for everything," Chloe said, when he sat down.

  "Anytime, Chloe," Brad said sincerely, making Chloe feel warm inside. He looked down at her leg.

  "I'm sorry I ruined your sweatshirt," Chloe said as she realized she still had it in her hands. She promptly handed him the blood-covered material.

  "Chloe, don't apologize," Brad replied, as he took the sweater. He then tossed it into a nearby trash bin.

  "Brad, how can I make this up to you?" Chloe asked.

  "Chloe I don't want you to feel like you have to do something for me. The only thing I think you should do is give Vanessa a call. I'm sure she'd love to see you again," Brad answered.

  "I'll try," Chloe replied. Brad told Chloe Vanessa's phone number and Chloe put it in her phone.

  An awkward silence filled the air. Neither of them really knew what to say. Chloe thought of Brad. She wondered how could she not have seen what a kind person he was while she was friends with Vanessa?

  Brad noticed Chloe's strange expression.

  "Is everything okay?" Brad asked, feeling uncomfortable.

  "I was just so panicked tonight. That was scary," Chloe said, the incident being fresh in her mind, besides her other thoughts.

  "It was wasn't it?" Brad responded awkwardly.

  "Why did you help me?" Chloe asked curiously. "I ignored you through high school. You remember that, don't you?"

  "Chloe I don't care what happened back then. This was the right thing to do," Brad replied. Chloe opened her mouth to say something in reply, when James walked into the lobby of the building.

  "Chloe. Let's go home," James called.

  "That's my husband. I have to go. But, Brad, thank you, again," Chloe said, sincerely. Brad suddenly felt an insane amount of jealousy as he realized she had a husband. But why was he jealous? Chloe was not even a friend. He barely knew her.

  "Please remember to call Vanessa," Brad responded. Chloe looked into his eyes and nodded. Then she closed the distance between them and gave him a hug. Brad hesitantly wrapped his arms around her, and his jealousy melted into sadness.

  "Bye," Chloe whispered against his chest. Then she pulled out of the hug.

  "Bye," Brad said. He watched as Chloe turned and joined James. Brad kept watching until they walked out the doors of the building. Brad felt alone once more.

  Would he ever see Chloe again?

  Chapter 3

  Chloe carefully walked out the front doors of the building. She warily ambled down the stairs and saw James’ car parked in front of the apartment. She opened the car door and eased herself into the passenger seat of James' Mercedes. James got into the driver side and soon started the car. He pulled away from the curb, leaving the party behind.

  James and Chloe sat in silence for quite a while. James didn't even ask if Chloe was all right, which she was quick to notice. James just kept his eyes on the road as they made their way through the city streets.

  The air in the car was filled with tension and rigidity. Chloe always felt odd around James; that was just how their relationship had always been.

  James gripped the steering wheel tightly causing his knuckles to turn white. He then let out a deep breath. Chloe could tell something was wrong. After a few more minutes of silence she got her answer.

  "So, who was that guy?" James asked curiously, as he kept his eyes on the road.

  "I, um, knew him from high school. He helped me tonight," Chloe replied. James didn't respond, he just continued to focus his eyes on the road. Chloe awkwardly looked away from him. She stared out the car window. Then she looked down at her hurt leg and began to let her mind drift.

  She thought back to how she used to treat Brad in high school. She wished she could have taken a second out of her oh-so-important life to notice how kind he was. She remembered the way he treated her a few hours ago and found herself smiling.

  She remembered the way he had smiled at her when he realized who she was. But the image that stayed stuck in her mind was when his eyes lit up as they talked. She didn't know why he was so interesting, but for some reason she couldn't get his gentle, brown eyes out of her memory.

  Chloe eventually felt the car come to a stop. She realized they were home. She quickly opened the door and carefully followed James into the lobby of their apartment building.

  James began to walk towards the elevators. Chloe followed him but hastily stopped a few feet from the elevator doors.

  "Um, James, could we maybe take the stairs?" Chloe asked, nervously. She just didn't feel ready to go back in an elevator after what happened the last time.

  James turned to look at her. He didn't respond. He just nodded before turning and walking towards the stairwell.

  After a painful trip up the stairs, James and Chloe arrived at their apartment and walked inside. Chloe pulled off her shoes and decided to put them away in her walk-in closet. Chloe decided she needed to get some rest; after all she had had a stress-filled evening.

  As Chloe put her shoes away and changed into her pajamas, she wondered why James was acting so strange. James entered the room and interrupted her thoughts.

  "So, this guy, was he an old boyfriend?" James asked, suspiciously. He had just entered their bedroom door.

  "No. Why would you say that?" Chloe questioned. She walked to stand on the opposite side of the bed and put her hands on her hips.

  "Well, it was just the way you hugged him when we left and how you were smiling while thinking about him in the car," James replied.

  "I-" Chloe stammered before James interrupted her.

  "Save it Chloe," James said, as he held up a hand. Chloe was shocked and infuriated.

  "What is wrong with you? I didn't do anything wrong," Chloe shouted.

  "That's the problem Chloe. I don't know what you do when you're out at these parties. How do I know that nothing happened? You and that guy were a little too friendly for my liking," James explained.

  "What do you want me to do James?" Chloe all but yelled.

  "I don't think you should go to parties alone anymore," James said. Chloe looked at him with her mouth agape.

  "Well you certai
nly don't come with me anywhere. What am I supposed to do? Sit here and wait for you to come home?" Chloe argued. "I'm alone all of the time. I need to get out of the house."

  "You can't let something like this happen again. What if someone had seen you tonight? Do you know what that would do to me if someone thought you were cheating?" James asked. Chloe didn't know how to respond. James was being so unreasonable.

  Chloe just watched as James left the room. She felt angry tears come to her eyes and she quickly wiped them away. Then she walked over to her computer.

  Chloe opened up her email and decided to write a message to her email friend. She needed a friend to vent to so she could cool down.

  Sorry it's really late, but I don't know what to do! James was so rude to me tonight. He's actually telling me I can't go to parties anymore! He wants to keep up this image and yet he doesn't trust me going to parties to do exactly that. I'm so frustrated with him.

  Chloe hit send and then leaned back in her desk chair and pressed her fingers to her temples. She was about to log off when her friend sent her a message.

  How many times do I have to tell you? You shouldn't be with James.

  Chloe smiled at her friend's comment. It seemed like nowadays that was all he had to say to her. Chloe knew he was right but she couldn't bring herself to leave James. She didn't know what she would do, how would she afford anything? She was trained in nothing. It's not like she could divorce him, move out and get a job.

  Chloe decided to answer her friend.

  And how many times do I have to tell you that it's too complicated. Not only that, but my dad would flip if I left James. I just can't do it. But, enough about me, how did your night with Kathy go?

  Chloe almost immediately got a reply after sending her message.

  Well we're officially getting a divorce. It's going to be weird not being married anymore!

  Chloe smiled as she replied. She had given him the advice to end his relationship with her.