How NOT to end the world

.•° ✿Out of reach✿ °•.

RAFE

I kicked away an crushed soda can as we round the corner to the science rooms-the old windows were scruffy with a cloudy sheen from use. The science block were disconnected from the other buildings, like it wasn't quite meant for school use. But the peeled paint and scratched up wood told otherwise. Nostalgia curled in my chest. I tried using the old door knob, but it closed me off with a stubborn click. I sucked in a breath and rammed into the old door-

It swung open, throwing me off balance. I caught myself on the edge of a table, but my arm throbbed. Must of hit it on the way down. I push myself up.

Sitting against the back of the wall was the off coloured elevator. Empty pots littered the shelves near it, but squeezed in-between were unnamable objects. A small globe. A few dazzling rocks.

"So what did you want to show me?" Jules asked.

Looming danger sunk in. We're not here to admire how crappy everything is-we need to stop this apocalypse.

"We need to go down." I called back, tracing old marks on the ceiling with my eyes.

"No one goes to the basement level its broken-"

"No thats just what they say its not-Jules your in your thirties do you really believe what the kids tell you?"

"I mean my brother isn't usually a gossip-"

I walk away, absently rubbing my shoulder. I trained my eyes on the door, before the light of the far windows reflected something-

On top of the old style elevator buttons was a bright white slab of tech-it read 'keycard required'

"Bloody hell."

I say, energy sapped from me.

In the corner of my eye, I notice Jules pulls out a chair and sits in it, taking out his phone. I sigh, running a hand through my hair. God i need to brush it.

"Get off your phone mate its not the time."

I say flatly not looking up.

No response.

Anger spikes in my heart-

"Jules!"

I snapped, whipping around.

He looks up at me and smiles, pulling up his phone.

"Nihan still works at this school-if anyone has a keycard its my ex."

He laughed nervously, analyzing my face. I blinked dumbly.

"Uh I thought i would text him because i still have his number and you said the key card thing but i don't have to if you don't want me to and-"

"Shut up. Thank you."

***

JULES

I watched the time tick down on my phone as i rocked against the carriage. The familiar path picked at old memories. Rafe sat on the opposite chair, i could feel him staring. At least he's looking at me. At least we're talking.

"Its no big deal honestly."

I say, looking down at my hands. Last time I saw her, alcohol fuzzed the memory. But fists were thrown. We were much younger, and new to dating. It didn't help that I was pretty insecure about myself-and she knew that. We just weren't ready.

My train of thought jutted to a halt like the actual train did, we got up and raced through the heavy doors. (No mikis-the world is going to end anyways isn't it?) I lead my roommate through an alley, and step onto the familiar crates. We used to sneak in this way all of the time-even now i can feel her lack of presence more then the box beneath me.

We hop over the fence.

The door is wide open-laying on the concrete is a large tabby tom which blinks up at us blankly. I wave. Jules lands behind me. I walk around the cat and drifted into the house. I went up the stairs automatically, rounded the corner and looked before me.

The figure bent over eyes pinned on her phone. Despite her hair flowing down, it was tucked neatly behind her ear. Her head flicked to me, closing her phone with a click.

"Took you long enough. You could of used the front door."

She had her eyes pinned on me. I stiffened.

"Hi Han"

"You brang your friend over?"

She hissed, staring daggers into Rafe. He ignored her. She ran her hands through her curls, a habit with I picked up from her.

"Your still the art teacher at our old school right?"

There was a pause. The candle's fire flickered quietly.

"Yes."

"Well, I know its probably out of policy, and its after school hours because its Sunday but uh it would be amazing and super nice of you to lend m-us the keys to the science room elevator?"

I say, speeding up near the end. I think I rambled a bit.

She seemed to think about it, pulling her hands away from her hair.

"You look different."

She hummed, reaching for my face. Her hand is cold as she laced her hands to cup my face the way she always did. I kept my arms tight against my sides, discomfort hiding a warm feeling I wish wasn't there. No one talks to me, comes close to me like this. I didn't realise how much I wanted to feel connected to someone, until today.

"Yeah."

I breathed, trying to slip away. I didn't want her.

"I liked you before...you know?"

"Yeah."

She seemed to think over something. She moved her hands away, and sauntered over to a crisp notebook

"I can give you the password, if you do me a favor."

Thats why i broke up with her. I hate her 'favors'. Her lips curled into a smile, those same hungry blue eyes looked into me again.

"Look, I don't feel like doing that right now. We need that code. No games. Please Nihan?"

She looked into me, actually saw how I feel. She tossed the book to Rafe.

"This time only. Come back tomorrow though? To give back the notebook of course."

I pull out my phone and flick the book open with my thumb. The code was conveniently labeled. I took a photo and sent it too myself.

"No need."

I give back the book. I say goodbye, and we sprint down the stairs and out the door. I grab onto the tree and haul myself over onto the crates. I look back, the cat glances at me and nods.

I turn back to Rafe, but he's gone. The world slows down like I was walking through honey-bright dangerous red fills the sky. The place was getting smaller, further away, until I land in a metal box. I grab onto the elevator's handles. I don't really know what is happening, but deep inside me I knew it was over, that the only thing that is real right now is me and this elevator.