WARNING*- Mature content, including vulgar language, talks/ attempts of suicide, and trigger themes.

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Christmas came and went and the ornaments that hung from the windows soon were replaced with the curtains that once flowed in the wind. The mixes of red, green, and white soon faded as the January wind picked up and the cold became harsh and cruel.

Finn's frown deepen as time went on and he didn't think anything would change in his life. Until one cold winter day when the doorbell rang. Something that hadn't happened in ages and made Finn confused to say the least.

But seeing Lydia standing at the doorstep with the blue jumper that Finn had given to her years ago wrapped around her small frame confused him even more than he originally was.

"Lydia? What are you doing here?" Finn asked warily with uncertainty laced in his voice.

"I wanted to say I'm sorry.  And before you say anything I want you to know this." Lydia paused before continuing as Finn leaned onto the door next to him.

"I'm sorry for saying all those things, I've never been in your situation and I had no right to judge you for what you decide to do with your life.  Finn, you're my best friend and I can't lose you so I'm sorry, and I'm also sorry that it took me so long to say it.  I don't even know why it took me so long to actually get up the courage to come knock on your door but the point is I'm sorry and I hope you can forgive me."

There was a long pause as Lydia sat and looked into Finn's eyes with anticipation.

And as Finn stared at Lydia he saw the little girl that loved her friend with all her heart and would do anything to protect him. Finn couldn't stay mad, he just couldn't do that.

"I know you meant well." Finn sighed with a pause, "and I can't lose you either," Finn smiled at the last part making Lydia grin in return.

"I knew you loved me," Lydia smirked playfuly making Finn shake his head with a smile and a small laugh.

"Nope, quite the contrary really." Finn grinned as Lydia's eyes widened in offense.

"That was cold Finn Owen," Finn stifled a laugh as Lydia giggled a little.

"To show that I'm truly sorry I got tickets to this festival that's down at the beach and it's also next to the carnival." Lydia paused to get out the tickets that were secretly tucked in the back pocket of her ripped shorts.  "I don't know if you want to go, but if you do I think it'll be really fun.  If you don't we can just go to a movie or something." Lydia sounded unsure as she trailed off and Finn smiled a little.

Finn felt giddy in that moment as he smiled with a nod.  Lydia giggled as Finn grabbed a hoodie before pulling the door closed behind him.  He walked next to Lydia with the sun beating down on their skin but the wind still blowing cold.

Lydia wore some flip-flops that Finn remembered her buying for only five dollars at Walmart.  The January wind that was cold and harsh soon died as they drew closer to the beach and the sun grew brighter and warmer as it fell into the ocean.

There was a small Jolly Rancher wrapper that stuck out of Lydia's back pocket with small amount of cash sticking out of the other.  Finn's hand were tightly snuggled in the pockets of his hoodie as he chuckled a little. 

The air smelt of grass and soon blended until it smelt of salt water and caramel.  Children laughed and played with Cotton Candy in their hands and ice-cream surrounding their mouthes.

The band set up their microphones with glitter canons and vibrant drums that splattered paint every time they played.  The carnival music echoed through the air with the smell of sex on the beach coming from the small bar off to the side that had a bartender that looked like a stereotypical frat boy.

Finn smiled anticipating what could possibly happen in the night to come.

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Lydia's toes were buried in sand of the beach that Finn and she stood on only meters away from the carnival. The small grains of sand surrounded her feet and Finn's smile couldn't leave his face as he watched her giggle at the small pieces of salt tickling her toes.

Music floated through the air with a tint of indie but mostly rock. It was heavy with electric guitar but had a little flare that made Lydia lean her head back with a small grin just enjoying the sound around her.

Lydia wanted to truly teach Finn how to be happy and to see the little things that made life beautiful. The music that people create with only a pen and some paper and the colors that swirl through the air of sunsets and neon lights that erupted from the carnival showed some of the most beautiful creations.

Lydia's long brown hair draped down her back with a glint in her eyes that said there was no where else she wanted to be. Finn's smile couldn't leave his face as he watched her dance to the music that laced through the air.

Her toes barely touched the ground as she jumped in the air. Her hair spun through the air with her eyes fluttering closed losing herself in the sounds around her.

The jumper that was too big on her body bagged up against her waist. It was so long that it covered her ripped jean shorts and made her look like she was wearing the jumper as a dress. Her feet were wet in ocean water with sand sticking to the sides of her feet.

Finn turned to the small shop that stood at the start of the boardwalk. The soft smell of caramel and apples floated through the air making his mouth water and his toes curl in his shoes.

Finn could still feel the sun after it set as the colors dripped into one another. The specks of freckles on his cheeks made the sand that sprinkled over his face invisible.

Lydia danced with her lips puckered and blue jolly rancher stained the tip of her tongue. Finn was in too deep, he didn't know how to handle himself around her anymore. He loved her. He loved her so fucking much.

And somehow they ended up closer to the mix of dancing and grinding people that stood closer to the bar. The air smelled of liquor and tequila and made Lydia a little woozy from the mere sent.

The bartender wore a muscle-tee and held a bottle of beer by the neck. He whistled in the air and Finn was pretty sure that he was down right wasted as he handed the guy a fake ID that so clearly looked fake. The man squinted at the card obviously having a hard time comprehending it before nodding at Finn and setting glass in front of him.  But it didn't matter because Lydia still smiled with a giggle before beckoning Finn to follow her.

Finn glanced at the bartender before taking a quick shot and grabbing Lydia's hand and following her through the crowd.

Finn didn't know how he knew he was drunk but for some reason he didn't remember taking a drink before that shot. However, Finn didn't care because for once he was having fun, so he brushed off the smell of rum that filled the air and the taste of kettle corn on his tongue and followed Lydia through the crowd of people.

They skipped through the sand and somehow Finn's shoes were on his feet one moment and the next he couldn't remember the last time he ever wore shoes. Because now he danced with Lydia, long arms wrapped around her torso and flecks of paint flew through the air.

Finn couldn't even remember why there was paint anywhere near them, he couldn't even remember the time. He grew closer and closer towards the music and soon they were yards away from the stage.

The singer stood about a meter away as her long red hair whipped through the air, her voice sang through the microphone. Although, Finn thought it was more like screaming than singing.

Soon flecks of vibrant blue paint splattered over Lydia's face and paint that looked more like pink than red covered his old white t-shirt. Finn's hand laced with hers as he twirled Lydia and she did in fact, stumble a little, a true sign that she was wasted as well. But Finn's smile had still not left his face; he didn't think it ever would.

The dance reminded Finn of the Homecoming dance he had taken Lydia too in the ninth grade.  Lydia had said they were only going as friends but Finn couldn't help but think of it as more. 

He remembered knowing full well that the punch was spiked with beer that some kid found in the back of their parents fridge.

He remembered the dress that twirled with Lydia's body as they danced to A Thousand Miles.  It was pastels of blue and pink, the colors of dreams and cotton candy. 

Finn remembered she had done her hair up into a messy bun and wore navy blue converse because she wanted to be a least a tiny bit different but essentially ended up throwing her shoes somewhere in a corner anyway.

But it was nothing compared to this night.  No, this night was pure bliss and filled with something fucking magical.

Because in the distance the big wheel lit up the night sky making it harder for Finn to see the stars in the sky. But maybe that was just the alcohol clouding his vision.

Finn hadn't noticed the solo cup in Lydia's small hand before she threw it into a nearby trashcan and miserably missed. She giggled at her failed attempt making Finn giggle along with her.

The blue paint that was now dried and chipped slightly on her pale cheeks were still vibrant amongst the green and yellow flashing lights that erupted from the stage.

Finn's head was throbbing and he didn't know if it was because of the many cups of beer, the bright flashing lights, or the loud blaring music, but he never wanted this to end.  Finn and Lydia went on spinning and twirling with pure bliss in their eyes. And with pink stained cheeks and a smiles that started to hurt Finn's cheekbones.

But suddenly Lydia stopped. She stared into Finn's eyes with tequila laced in her irises and her lips puckered as the blue tint from her tongue spread into the opening of her pink lips.

The world seemed to blur around Finn and the music began to soften or maybe Finn just seemed to tune it out. Because suddenly her lips were on his and it was pure lust. Her lips were soft and silky and tasted of strawberry lemonade while she reached on her tip toes to meet Finn's height. The moment passed in what seemed like seconds but somehow it also seemed like time slowed and Finn didn't know how.

Finn knew they wouldn't remember the next morning but as long as he could, he would try. He would live in that moment until it was ripped from his mind relentlessly. Because Finn was afraid he would never feel that tingly sensation that erupted in his lips and traveled through his veins ever again.

The music died in what seemed like hours later and Finn ended up sitting on top of a small fence separating the boardwalk from the sand.

They sat towards the end about a mile away from the flashing lights. The music was distant and the only smell of alcohol was coming from his breath and Lydia's.

They sat on top of the fence with small pieces of wood poking at Finn's skin. A snow cone was tightly gripped in one of his hands and his shoes that he found a mile away from the party with green paint and tequila drenched around them. Lydia had promised to get him another pair to which Finn nodded drunkly.

Lydia sat beside him with an ice-cream cone gripped in one hand and bag of extra cheddar popcorn hanging from her left fingers.

The ice-cream dripped down her fingers and splattered onto the sand below as she licked the chocolate cream with rainbow sprinkles on top. There was a spot of sugary snack that stuck to her nose with a single pink sprinkle sitting on top.

Usually, Finn would wonder why they sat on a fence at two o'clock in the morning eating iced snacks under the stars but he remember vaguely that they were waiting for something. He couldn't quite remember though, so they sat in silence waiting for whatever Lydia said they were waiting for.

The truth was, Lydia didn't know what they were waiting for either. She just knew something would happen.

And right as Lydia finished with her ice-cream and about to make another miserable attempt at basketball the sound of explosions erupted in the sky.

Finn looked up with red rimmed eyes and a smile as he watched the explosions of light fill the air. Sure, the noise was making his ears hurt a little more than it should but the beautiful colors and lights distracted from it.

Lydia's lips parted in awe as the lights exploded through the sky. Colors of neon blue, red, pink, and every color ever sparkled in the night. The fire flaked out around them and at one point Finn thought it would hit him but soon realized it landed in the water a mile away.

The waves still splashed in the distance making Finn smile for no apparent reason. The white foam that washed onto the shore made Lydia giggle because it reminded her of soap.

And as one last firework erupted through the night with lavender specks reaching in different directions, Finn glanced at Lydia one last time before grabbing her hand in his.

He didn't know if it was the alcohol or the adrenaline rushing through his veins, but suddenly he was confident and he gripped her hand with a smile.

She glanced at their intertwined hands and slowly but surely she smiled back.

And suddenly Finn was happy.

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EARLY UPDATE! So this chapter was different... I wrote half of this chapter slightly different because I wanted to emphasize that both Lydia and Finn were drunk... :P

Anyways, hope you liked it!

~ moe