The Girl With the Half Beating Heart

"The Black Widow? Really?” Acacia asks Alex with a laugh, and he nods.
“Damn straight.” He replies with a smirk, and she pushes his shoulder. They’re walking to the cafeteria, so she can buy him the coffee she offered.
“You’re only saying that because she’s a babe.” She says with a slight eyeroll, pushing a piece of hair behind her ear. Alex shakes his head.
“Not true. Dude, she’s a bad ass. She has no superpowers, but she's a deadly trained Russian spy." He states matter of factly, and Acacia nods. “Plus, she is pretty bangin’.” Alex adds, his smirk appearing again.
“Shut up oh my god!” She laughs out, hitting his shoulder again. He chuckles with her.
“At least my favorite Marvel character isn’t Deadpool!” He says, grabbing his shoulder that just made contact with her fist.
“What? Dude, he’s amazing. He’s a mercenary, and a cynical genius!” She speaks, the smile on her face as wide as can be.
“He doesn’t even know who he is! And he breaks fourth wall, who breaks fourth wall?!” Alex exclaims as they turn the corner, entering the elevator on the 6th floor.
“That’s what makes him special!” She chimes as they step inside, the doors sliding shut behind them.
“Whatever you say. What about DC?” He questions, leaning on the wall beside him.
“Ah, hold on. I have to go to my room and get my wallet.” She mumbles, pressing the button for the 4th floor.
“Alright. Hey, what time is it?” He asks, wondering about his mom, and if she left or not. He hopes she did, because if she didn’t, she’d kill him.
Acacia scratches her head with a frown, and shrugs to Alex.
“I dunno. It was late when I left my room, so I’m assuming past midnight?” She answers uneasily, and Alex’s eyes go wide. “Why? Do you have to be back in your room?” She asks, praying that he doesn’t. They were having so much fun, and even though she practically saved his life, they still haven’t exchanged names.
Alex shakes himself. “No, just wondering.” He says with a smile, and she smiles back. Honestly, going back to his room was the last thing he wanted to do.
"Oh good! My dad is still sleeping, so I'm gonna sneak in my room.” She explains, and he shakes his head slowly. “He’s a heavy sleeper, so we’re okay. But if I don’t come out in under 2 minutes or if you hear talking, then leave, because that means he woke up.” She adds, and he nods, sure of the plan this time. She hopes her father stays asleep, because there’s nowhere else she would rather be right now.
“Is it just me, or is this elevator moving slower than usual?” Alex questions, and Acacia nods her head.
“Yeah, usually we’d be on my floor by now…” She gulps and looks to him, biting her lip. He looks to her with his eyebrows knitted, and right at the second, the elevator jerks. The both of them are knocked to their feet, swearing as they fall. The lights flicker on and off, and then a small safety light turns on.
“You okay?!” Alex asks, his breathes quick and unsteady. Acacia exhales, and pulls her feet into her chest.
“Yeah.” She breathes out, her voice barely audible. “You?”
“Yeah.” He replies, his voice shaking. He’s far from okay. His anxiety was already on edge, and now he’s trapped in an elevator, he’s probably going to explode. Not to mention his slight claustrophobia. But he doesn’t want her to know that.
She’s way further from okay. Her heart is racing, lub-lub-lub-lub-DUB, she can feel it throbbing in her ears. Her chest is tighter than it was before, and she feels like its getting harder to breathe. But she doesn’t want him to know that.
“Good.” She whispers with a smile, and he chuckles, showing off his famous lopsided smile.
“So… now what?” He questions, his eyebrows going up again. He does that a lot.
“Uh, I don’t have my phone, do you?” She asks, and he nods his head no. “Well, they’re bound to find us sometime, so I guess if we don’t freak out, we’ll be fine.” She says, trying to maintain her composure. She doesn’t want to scare him, so she doesn’t say anything about her chest.
“Alright.” He breathes shakily, and his body is starting to tremble.
“You okay?” She questions, her voice filled with worry.
“Me? Oh, yeah. I’m good.” He replies quickly, nodding, and smiling slightly. He looks the the ground, his eyes growing wide. It looks like the tiles on the floor are getting smaller. He looks to the wall, which is also closing in. He shakes himself, and shuts his eyes. He can’t see, but Acacia scoots closer to him.
“No you’re not.” She says, placing her hand on his shoulder. He jumps and looks at her, his eyes wider than they were a second ago He realizes its just her, and relaxes. "Okay, breathe. In and out, in and out." She cooes, rubbing small circles on his back. He does as hes told, his breathes eventually evening. "Breathe." She whispers again with a gulp, and he exhales deeply, looking to her with a small smile.
"Thank you." He breathes out, and she nods.
"No problem. I'm guessing you have anxiety?" She questions, and he nods.
"Ah. It's okay, I used to have bad anxiety when I danced." She says with a shrug, andlhe raises his eyebrows, again.
"You danced?" He asks, obviously shocked.
"Mhm. For 9 years. Stopped last year." She explains as she nods, and he nods as well.
"Nice. Why did you stop?" Hes really curious now. How can a girl with such a complex heart condition be a dancer?
"Because my condition got worse, so my parents made me. I didn't want to, I was gonna make my 10th year this year." She sighs, looking down and playing with a strand of her chocolate brown hair. Alex nods again.
"How did your condition worsen?"
"I'm really not sure. They think my hearts weakening with age, but I don't. I'm only 16. I think stress made it worse. It used to be manageable with a cocktail of medications, and weekly heart treatments and excersises, stuff like that. But now I'm a wreck." Acacia states, pulling her legs into her chest again. Alex looks to her with sympathetic eyes, and she glances at him again.
"Remember when I told you not to do that?" She questions with a slight laugh, and he shakes himself again.
"Sorry." He whispers, looking to the tiles which have returned to their regular size.
"Its cool." She replies nonchalantly. "You know, I still don't know your name." She giggles, and heat begins to creep up in Alex's cheeks.
"And I don't know yours." He replies, smiling like crazy.
"Tell you what, lets give each other a proper introduction, then tell our stories. Not of how we got in here, but all from the beginning. Only if you want to." She says, and he nods.
"Sure. You first." He replies, trying to spare his sob story, even though her's is probably worth shedding a few tears over as well.
"Okay. My name is Acacia Castillo." She spoke poshly, causing Alex to laugh.
"That's really pretty." He smiles, and she returns it.
"Thank you. So, what's your name, Mr. Anonymous?" She questions, and Alex gives her his lopsided smile.
"Alexander Gaskarth. But call me Alex." He replies, his smile widening again.
"Ah, Alejandro. I like your name. Very... posh. Sounds like it'd belong to a duke of sorts, not a 17 year old punk." She smirks, and Alex laughs.
"Shut up, Acacia." He says mockingly, and Acacia gasps.
"I thought you liked my name!" She exclaims with a slight giggle, throwing her hand over her heart.
"I do! It's just, not so fitting to a 16 year old 5"4' bully." He smirks, and she raises her eyebrows.
"First off, I'm not a bully, you're just a dork. Secondly, I'm 5"4' and a HALF!" She replies, hitting his shoulder. They both laugh together for a few minutes. When they finally catch their breath, they both sigh. Alex looks to her, his smile as wide as can be.
"So, Acacia, what's your story?"