pause // dan howell x reader

Chapter 38 - April

Your POV

You walk into the building where your weekly radio show is held. Somehow the people who run the building's air conditioning haven't gotten the memo that it's April. Your legs feel like they could melt off from the summer heat. Slowly, you dawdle to the elevator and press the button for your floor.

"Wait!" Someone says anxiously. A finely manicured hand clamps on the edge of the elevator door. The machine begins to open to reveal Polly, who's out of breath. She steps in and brings her phone to her ear. "Where was I?" She disgustingly glances over at you with her top lip curled on one side. "Oh yeah, did you tell the head of staff? I want to start working immediately."

Over the line you hear a muffled voice. You listen in trying to recognise it, but it's too quiet to make out.

"Okay, good. This call has probably cost me a fortune, so bye now." Polly hangs up quite brashly. 

Besides the low rumble of the lift, it's silent. Polly coughs and in the corner of your eye you see her glare at you. Up and down. A few more seconds go by and you're finally at the right level. You let Polly go out first and follow her to the recording studio.

"Hi everyone!" Polly says cheerily after pushing open the door. "Let's not waste anytime, shall we?" She smiles brightly, becoming a completely different person.

You look over to Dan who simultaneously looks over to you, him trying to hide his laughter. As you walk over to him, Polly stops you by tapping your shoulder.

"Hi Y/N, I just want to let you know that I'm officially taking you off activities." She beams with a clipboard in hand. You quirk an eyebrow at her. "You know, the activities segment where you three do a challenge. You are not doing that anymore." She half-frowns.

"Why?" You ask and she tilts her head to the side.

"I don't want you near-" She cuts herself off. "It's for the best." She gives you a reassuring look before glancing over to Dan. 

"Aren't you the manager's assistant? You can't do stuff like this-"

"Oh no. I am the manager." Polly corrects.

"Since when?" She ignores you, picks up a stack of papers and struts to her little observing room in the corner. You move over to Dan who's helping Phil with the sound equipment. 

"It's gone red, I've set off a bomb." Phil stresses. "Everyone's doomed."

"Red means it's working, it's on." Dan chuckles. 

An idea pops into your head, you walk past Phil and look up to the ceiling. Scanning your eyes around, pretending to be clueless.

"What's that mysterious ticking noise?" You say aloud. Phil turns around concerned. Dan also looks at you funny. You continue looking around for a few more seconds before shrugging. "I must be hearing things." You shake your head trying to conceal a smirk as Phil blinks at Dan.

"I need some water." Phil wipes the dampness off his forehead before walking off, contemplating his life. You send Dan a grin over your shoulder and he laughs in a low rumble.

"That was perfect." He goes over to you. "Your acting was so good, he looked terrified." 

Dan laughs again as you watch Phil gulp down water like an out-of-breath fish. 

"Poor Phil." You say with a smile before your eyes stop at Polly in her office. She's going over papers, looking at the live-stream setup - basically doing a million different things at once. When on earth did she become qualified for her job? Not that it's any of your business, you still find it curious. To go from a receptionist to a assistant then a manager in such a short amount of time is strange.