You and Me, Always.

The Lift

Janette had received the same email and had been thrilled to have been accepted onto the cast. She had packed her suitcases and prepared herself for the rehearsal bootcamp. Her best friend Karen had also been accepted, news that she was more than happy to see. Karen's boyfriend and his sister, Kevin and Joanne Clifton had also made it onto the cast. It was going to be amazing, Janette thought, and then remembered that there has been one more name on the list - Aljaž Škorjanec. She could vaguely remember him, the nervous but sweet guy whom she had been partnered with in the cha cha. He was a wonderful dancer she thought.
Tossing a pile of clothes to put in her hand luggage, there was a faint knock at her door. "Can I come in baby?" said the muffled voice from behind it. It was Jason, her boyfriend.

"Yeah babe, come on in. I'm just packing some of my stuff up," she answered, "Don't trip over the suitcase behind the door!" With that, Jason pushed the door slightly too hard, stumbled a little on the suitcase Janette had been warning him about, and ended up on a heap on the floor. Janette ran over and shouted "Are you okay hun?" Whilst attempting to stifle a snort. Jason pretended to be in pain, "Oh, I think I've broken... ALL MY BONES... I'll need cuddles to fix it!" He mock moaned. Janette helped him up and hugged him tight, before he kissed her on the head and they both laughed in each other's company. Jason suddenly jumped up and mumbled something about being late and went to get Janette's phone and charger.

Aljaž lugged his last suitcase down the stairs of his apartment and assembled it by the door. Checking he had everything, he took one last look around before stepping outside and shutting the door to his apartment behind him. He rolled his suitcases down the corridor to the lift and pressed the button, frantically tapping his foot. He felt nerves gradually overtaking him, but also glints of excitement. He was seeing Janette again and that was making him happy.

The lift doors rolled open and a nasal recorded voice shouted "Doors opening, going down." Snapping out of his thoughts, he stepped in, piling his luggage beside him. Pressing 'G', he hoped nobody else called the lift. He managed to get to level 4 before the lift stopped and the familiar nasal voice started up again. He tried his best to compact his luggage 'stash' but failed, instead knocking a bag that was already precariously balancing, off the pile. Grabbing it mid-fall, he hoped that nobody else with copious amounts of luggage got on.
The doors slid open once more, and to his surprise, he saw, among the dreaded numerous suitcases, Janette.

He stepped out of the lift and grabbed her bags, piling them on top of his own. He then let her attempt to cram herself into what little space was left in the lift. "Sorry I have so much luggage!" He said, with Janette laughing and answering with "That makes two of us then!" Aljaž looked at her and joined her in her giggling. They were so close that they were nearly touching noses, due to the extreme lack of space. It was then that Aljaž noticed how beautiful Janette's laugh was, and how you couldn't help but join in upon hearing it.

The lift came to a halt at the ground floor and Aljaž took Janette's bags off the top of the pile and placed them outside. He then did the same with his own and then held out a hand for Janette to climb out of the lift herself. She grasped his fingers and weaved in and out of the now merged and consequently larger pile of luggage. "Aljaž Škorjanec? I'm John, your taxi driver!" Called out a man waiting at the main desk. Upon hearing this, Janette muttered something that sounded like "Damn I forgot to book a taxi!" Aljaž, overhearing this, pitched in. "Why don't you come with me?" He looked at her hopefully, wanting her to say yes. Janette looked around, considering the offer, before accepting. A smile crawled across her face. Aljaž went over the the driver to ask if Janette could also come with them. The driver answered with "Of course your girlfriend can come." Before either could protest, the driver walked off, somehow juggling three suitcases in his hand successfully. Aljaž looked over to Janette and shrugged, who winked back before following the driver. Aljaž thought to himself - What did the wink mean? He picked up the remaining luggage and joined Janette and the driver in the taxi, deliberating the idea in his head.