Derek glanced up at the ceiling, and looked at the emergency lights. "I wonder how long those lights will last until we're plunged into darkness." He mused.
Stiles' eyes grew larger as he thought about the possibility of sitting in the complete darkness for who knows how long.
"Do you have a cellphone?" Stiles asked, urgently, as the lights above them flickered briefly. He frantically searched his own pockets, but Stiles realized he must've left his phone in the jeep. Derek pulled out his phone, and opened it.
"No service." He said, snapping the phone shut. "Damn." Derek slid down the wall, until he was sitting on the grimy carpet, his long jean-clad legs sticking out in front of him.
"We could use your phone as a light source, if the lights die." Stiles told him.
"Yeah," Derek said. "That's true."
Derek patted the carpet beside him, and looked up at Stiles. "Sit down, Stilinski."
"How –how do you know my name?" Stiles asked, surprised.
"That's what your mailbox says. Stilinski." Derek explained. "I saw your name in the mail room the other day." He said. Stiles sat down beside him.
"So, you live with your sister? Older or younger?" Stiles asked, trying to pass time.
"Younger. Do you live alone?"
"No, I live with Scott." Stiles said. "We just moved in a few months ago."
"Boyfriend?"
"Best friend." Stiles corrected.
"Okay." Derek said, playing with his phone.
"You dating anyone? I was dating a girl last year, but we broke it off." Stiles absently picked at the carpet as he talked, trying to pull the wads of gum off the floor.
"No, I'm not dating anyone. "Derek glanced at him. "Please stop, that's disgusting." Derek said with a grimace, watching him pry up the gum. Stiles stopped, and put his hands on his leg. He jiggled them, restlessly tapping out a rhythm.
"Stiles, stop moving." Derek said, annoyed. "Your fidgeting is moving the whole elevator."
Stiles tried to suppress his movements, instead focusing his attention to tapping his foot.
"If we're stuck between floors, then if we move around, we could get the elevator to drop enough to reach our floor. Then you can pry open the doors, and get us the hell out of here." Stiles said, taking in the man's broad shoulders and arms straining in his thin Henley. "You look pretty strong."
"Yeah, or we could plunge to our deaths." Derek said, grimly. He stared up anxiously at the lights again.
"Are you afraid of heights?" Stiles asked. Derek looked at him, raising his eyebrows.
"Yeah. But right now I'm also worried we'll crash to our deaths." Derek said.
Stiles resumed his tapping. "What time is it?" He asked.
Derek checked his phone. "Five thirty. It's been half an hour." He said.
"Really? Feels like longer." Stiles said, surprised.