PoV: Skizz

Silence.

For a moment all of us are left glancing around at each other before Jevin dumps his bag of food on the floor and pulls out his phone.

‘Beef? Hi Beef. I quit. I’m stuck in an elevator and I’m hungry so I’m eating the food delivery. Bye.’ He hangs up, sits down, and starts eating, appearing rather content with the situation.

‘What… just happened?’ I’m next to speak.

‘I just got a new personal best in job speedrunning, man. And I got food for it.’

‘I’m guessing this wasn’t the surprise you were expecting, eh Skizz?’ Impulse steps over. I let out a frustrated sigh.

‘I’m never taking the elevator again,’ I decide. ‘Especially not when we need to get somewhere quickly… I’ll leave a message that we’re running late for the other people involved in the surprise,’

‘Of course!’

I find my phone in my pocket, texting Tango.

Stuck in elevator with Dippledop. Try and keep the guests entertained.

But, as I type, I become more and more aware of Oli peering at the screen. I try to move it away, but he’s speaking before I can.

‘Oh! Wait! I remember now! That’s the name the people were singing a happy birthday to on the 28th floor where I got a lovely shower of confetti and almost a present, before they realized I wasn’t you! Happy birthday!’

‘Are you KIDDING ME?!’ I turn on Oli, dangerously close to punching him for ruining everything. ‘You jerk! Why would you say that?!’

‘What do you mean?! I wanted to wish Impulse a very happy birthday and you’d be confused if I just said it out of nowhere!’

‘Do you have any idea how long I’ve been planning this party for?!’ I question, before taking a deep breath, my anger faded quickly to numb disappointment. Oli still just looks confused. ‘Why? Why would you say that? You just ruined 2 months of planning by doing that.’

‘Wait, you threw me a surprise birthday party?!’ Impulse turns to me.

‘Well it’s not a surprise anymore! It’s just a stupid birthday party that's 2 weeks too early. And now we’re not even going to get there at a good rime because of those JERKS AT CONCORP!’ I turn to where I assume the camera is. ‘Who got us stuck in an elevator!’

‘Hey, Skizz, calm down,’ xB puts a hand on my shoulder. ‘I know this sucks, and it’s not what any of us were expecting, but we can still have fun here, can't we? We won't be here for that long. And you can always though another surprise party later.’

‘That’s… not how it works…’ I mutter back, sinking to the ground. ‘Go and talk to the other people in here. I need a second.’

‘Oh, of course.’ xB steps away, starting to chat with BigB. Impulse joins in.

I’m half-listening to the other conversations in the elevator as I sit there thinking and messaging Tango to say the surprise was ruined. Apparently, xB was heading to a board game competition at his friend Keralis’s house, and BigB’s going ‘nowhere suspicious’. Jevin’s still eating the meal he’s no longer delivering, and making me hungry for the pizza we were planning on making at the party. Even though Zedaph’s planning to make it a gamble of whether you'll get good ingredients or not. Oli’s properly setting up his keyboard, even getting out a little stool for himself, which takes up far too much of our already limited elevator space.

‘A toast! To the birthday boy!’ he shouts as he gets it all set up, playing a couple chords to silence everyone. ‘And a song from the great OrionSound! Happy birthday to yooouuu…’  We all, with varying levels of exasperation, join in. It sounds just as bad as a normal happy birthday, except with the added annoyance of it only happening because we’re late to the surprise birthday that was also spoilt.

‘Happy biiiiirthdaaaaay Mr Impulseeeee! Happy birthday to yoooouuuuuuuuuuuu!’ Oli finishes.

‘Thank you, Oli.’ Impulse smiles. Oli beams back.

‘And now, the amazing Great Adventure song!’ A couple buttons and some pre-recorded trumpet sounds fill the room. Oli starts playing some chords over the top. ‘Sing along if you know the words… Great Adventure! Oli’s Great Adventure! It’s the Great Adventure! BigB’s Great Adventure! Up the lift and down the lift! With xB, Jevin, Impulse and Skizz! Great Adventure tiiiime!’ Oli stops playing. The others politely applaud. And then he starts playing again, repeating the song over and over with more instruments added in, including drums that are both simple and out of time. I check my phone. Only 15 minutes have passed. It feels like an hour. I stay sat against the wall of the elevator, stomach growling with hunger.

‘And now,’ Oli declares as he actually stops ‘I’m going to devise a second verse about getting trapped in here, and talking to God!’ He sits down, testing chords and lyrics, apparently oblivious to the rest of us stuck here and my growing headache.

‘I’m going to kill him.’ I mutter  ‘I’m actually going to kill him. This guy is driving me insane.’

‘He’s trying to cheer us up, Skizz.’ Impulse insists. ‘Come on… I don’t mind it.’

‘How are you so calm about this?! We’re stuck in an elevator with an idiot who’s refusing to shut up, and your surprise birthday party was ruined!’

‘I was surprised in here when Oli mentioned it.’

‘That’s not the point! And I’m hungry. And Jevin’s not making that any better.’

‘I don’t know how long we’ll be in here for,’ he protests. ‘I’m hungry, I have food, and I’m not letting it go off.’

‘Well good for you, homey buddeh, but the rest of us are hungry and annoyed, and bored, and get surprise birthday parties that took ages to plan ruined by one idiot who won't stop playing piano!’

‘I’ve got pizza?’ xB offers.

‘What?’

I turn.  Sure enough, xB’s holding a stack of 3 pizzas.

‘And I’ve got a pack of Uno cards… anyone up for a round of Uno?’

‘The Trapped Adventure! Uno Trapped Adventure!’ Oli plays. ‘Yes I would like pizza and to plaaaaay!’ He stops playing piano.

‘Awesome! Anyone else? Skizz? Impulse?’

‘I’m in,’ BigB decides.

‘Sign me up.’

‘I’ll play! Skizz?’ Impulse turns to me. I sigh. Playing Uno will be better than just standing around doing nothing. And I can't be the only one refusing to play or I’ll seem like a jerk.

‘Fine. I’ll join in.’