chapter four
1077 Words
The Elevator Truce That Lasted 12 Seconds (and Ended Badly)
Zara made a decision that morning.
A serious one.
A life rule-level decision.
“I will not engage with Room 9B today.”
She repeated it while brushing her hair.
While making coffee.
While tying her shoes.
It was going to be a peaceful day.
A normal day.
A Noah-free day.
Unfortunately, Skyline Heights had a sense of humor.
The Elevator Incident (Again)
Ding.
Zara stepped into the elevator confidently.
Empty.
Perfect.
She exhaled in relief.
“Finally,” she muttered. “A win.”
The doors started closing.
Then—
“Hold it.”
A hand slid between the doors.
They reopened.
Zara’s eye twitched immediately.
“No,” she said out loud.
Noah stepped in casually like he hadn’t just ruined her emotional stability.
“Good morning,” he said.
Zara stared at him.
Then at the ceiling.
Then back at him.
“I don’t believe in peace,” she said.
Noah pressed the elevator button. “Noted.”
Silence.
The elevator descended.
Zara moved as far away as physically possible.
Noah noticed.
“You always stand like that?” he asked.
“Like what?”
“Like I’m a contagious disease.”
“Depends on the day.”
He nodded slowly. “Fair.”
Another silence.
Zara crossed her arms. “Are you following me on purpose?”
“No,” Noah said. “You just have a very predictable schedule for someone who thinks she’s mysterious.”
Zara turned sharply. “Excuse me?”
“You leave at 8:42,” he continued calmly. “You come back around—”
“Stop talking.”
“—6:17. Sometimes 6:30 if traffic is emotionally unstable.”
Zara stared at him.
“…Are you spying on me?”
Noah shrugged. “Observing.”
“That’s spying with confidence issues.”
“Call it what you want.”
The elevator dinged.
Lobby floor.
Doors opened.
Zara stepped out first.
Too fast.
Too determined.
Noah followed.
“Hey,” he called.
She didn’t stop.
He caught up easily.
“Zara.”
She kept walking.
Noah sighed. “Do you always ignore people you dislike?”
“I don’t dislike you,” she said immediately.
That made her pause.
So did he.
“…That came out wrong,” she added quickly.
Noah smiled slightly. “So you like me?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You implied emotional complexity.”
“I implied nothing.”
“You’re walking very fast for someone who’s neutral.”
Zara stopped abruptly.
Noah nearly walked into her.
She turned slowly.
“I am not emotionally involved in you,” she said firmly.
Noah nodded. “Good. Me neither.”
A pause.
Too long.
Then—
“Great,” Zara said.
“Great,” Noah echoed.
They stood there.
Awkward.
Neither moved.
The elevator behind them dinged again, like it was judging both of them.
Finally, Zara spoke.
“So we agree.”
“Yes.”
“We are nothing.”
“Correct.”
Another pause.
Then Noah added:
“…Weird nothing.”
Zara narrowed her eyes. “Don’t start.”
“I’m not starting anything.”
“You always start something.”
“That’s not true.”
Zara pointed at him. “Yesterday you started a wall war.”
“That was mutual tapping.”
“You initiated tapping.”
“You responded aggressively.”
“That’s called defending myself.”
Noah smiled. “So you admit it was a war.”
Zara froze.
“…I hate you.”
“No you don’t,” he said automatically.
That made her pause again.
She hated that he said it so easily.
Like he had evidence.
Like he knew something she didn’t.
She stepped back.
“Goodbye, Room 9B.”
“See you later, Zara.”
“I won’t.”
“You will.”
She walked away fast.
Noah stood there watching her go.
Then muttered to himself:
“She’s definitely coming back later.”
Later That Evening
Zara came home tired.
She had successfully avoided Noah all day.
A personal victory.
A rare win.
She entered her apartment carefully.
No noise.
No tapping.
No elevator trauma.
Peace.
“…Finally,” she whispered.
She dropped her bag.
Walked to the kitchen.
Opened the fridge.
Empty.
She sighed.
“Of course.”
Then—
Knock knock.
Zara froze.
“…No.”
Knock knock.
She walked slowly to the door.
Opened it.
Noah stood there holding a small box.
Zara didn’t even react anymore.
She just stared.
“No,” she said calmly.
Noah blinked. “That’s new.”
“I’m pre-rejecting whatever this is.”
He lifted the box slightly. “It’s food.”
“I don’t trust you.”
“It’s not from me.”
That made her pause.
“…What?”
“It’s from Mason.”
Zara’s expression changed instantly.
“Absolutely not.”
Noah sighed. “I said the same thing.”
“Then why is it here?”
“Because I lost the argument.”
Zara narrowed her eyes at the box like it might explode.
“…What kind of food?”
Noah tilted his head. “Mysterious food.”
“That is not reassuring.”
“I agree.”
She sighed deeply.
“…Why are you here then?”
Noah paused.
Just slightly.
Then said:
“Because Mason said you’d think I ate it if I didn’t deliver it.”
Zara blinked.
“…Why would I think that?”
Noah shrugged. “You seem like someone who assumes the worst of me.”
Zara didn’t deny it.
That was worse.
She took the box reluctantly.
“Fine,” she said. “But if I die, I’m haunting Room 9B specifically.”
Noah nodded. “Noted.”
She started to close the door.
Then paused.
“…Wait.”
Noah looked up.
Zara stared at him.
For a second too long.
Then:
“Why are you still standing there?”
Noah thought for a moment.
Then said:
“Habit.”
Zara frowned slightly.
“…That’s dangerous.”
Noah smirked. “Tell me about it.”
She shut the door.
Slowly.
Leaning against it afterward like she had just survived something she didn’t understand.
Outside, Noah didn’t leave immediately.
He just stood there for a moment.
Then turned and walked away.
And for the first time—
The silence felt different.
Like it was waiting for something to break it again.
- Writer
