Honesty is the best policy

"I'm here to fix the elevator. The super said it had been acting up, and wanted someone to come down and take a look at it." You said hesitantly, since Phoebe didn't seem convinced.

"Oh, okay, but the elevator is at the end of the hall, why are you knocking on my door?" She asked, and you mentally cursed.

"Oh um, I need access to the basement, but the super didn't give me a key. They told me to just get a key from one of the residents here. You're actually the first person to open their door for me." You said, which was technically honest since you hadn't knocked on anyone else's door.

"Oh okay, I mean I can walk you down to the lobby, but there's no basement on this building." Phoebe pointed out as your face fell.

"No basement huh, then maybe I can access it from the roof?" You asked, all the holes in your story leaving it tenuously standing.

"Same story I'm afraid. You have to access the roof through a door, the elevator doesn't go up there, so I don't think you can access any part of it from the roof. Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Phoebe replied, and you could practically feel the sweat rolling off of you.

Deciding that the jig was up, you decided to change tactics. "Not really, I actually just got this job. This job is really over my head, but the big man upstairs said it was best for me to learn on the job so here I am." You improvised.

Regardless of the validity of your statement, this seemed to be the right thing to say as Phoebe's face lit up in understanding. "Okay, now I understand. Sorry man, I wish I could help you, but I have a date I need to get ready for. But if you need anything, I can leave you my spare key?" Phoebe offered, and for the first time it settled in what time period you were in. In the modern era, better known as Post 9/11, someone would never leave a spare key to their house with a random stranger, paranoia had permanently tainted everyone's mindsets, however you were in the mid 90s where people were more trusting as evidenced by Phoebe's willingness to leave a key to get into her place of residence with you, someone she had just met.

It also caused a thought to bubble up in your mind, you were at the pinnacle of omnipotent, it was well within your capabilities to prevent 9/11. And while your previously human mind leapt at the idea, a smaller part provided a counter, should you, by what authority did you have to tamper so heavily with history, regardless of the cost of letting it happen. It reminded you of a question one of your History teachers had asked once, 'If you could go back in time, and prevent the Civil War from ever occurring, would you do it?' This would bear further thought at a later time.

"Thanks, and I hope you have fun on your date." You said as Phoebe slipped you a small metal key, and shut the door as you returned back down the hall, creating a set of tools for your use as you went to work attempting to fix the broken elevator.

It felt like years later when Phoebe exited her apartment, but was maybe an hour and a half, dressed to impress in a black dress that left enough leg visible to tantalize as well as utilizing the off the shoulder design to give a delicious peek of her cleavage. Her hair was set in some intricate bun, and a pair of two inch heels completed her look.

"Wow, lucky guy getting to have your company for the evening." You flirted, although the words felt strange in your mouth, they still brought a smile and light blush to her face.

"Thanks, I like your casual worker look as well." Phoebe replied and you smiled back.

"Well, you know what they say, if the girls don't find you handy, then they should at least find you handsome." Phoebe's giggling laughter echoed back to you as she began her trek down the stairs to the lobby.