Banner by Beautiful-Fire.

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Chapter 29: Beers with Peers to Cheer in the New Year

I had been awake for about an hour, just staring at the tiny bumps on my ceiling. At one point, I started counting them. It was a mindless deed, the numbers sort of just spilled out of my mouth. When I finally realized what I was doing, I lost track of the numeral I was on. I felt like a zombie, but with my feeling shrouding me, injecting poisonous confusion. I had done something dangerous, detrimental to my health. Unknowingly, I had let the boys into my heart without caution. It was as if I had surrounded my heart with iron bars and they, being slithering snakes, slinked right through them. They had been cunning, charming, and I had welcomed them in. I thought I was being careful, careful not to actually let myself grow attached to them, but I did. That wasn't the first mistake nor the last I would make throughout this game. The first mistake was acknowledging the game, but it wa nearly impossible not to. The second was accepting it. The third was taking the challenge.

My feelings were real, but I couldn't not talk to them. I'd be a sad, bored loner who just stayed home and updated my news feed. I wasn't really doing anything with my life, no hobbies. I was a couch potato who ate, well, potatoes.

I was terrified of what I felt and what this could lead to. I was definitely more vulnerable to them now, which was something that I wanted to avoid altogether in the first place. I had inadvertently fell for them, not all the way, but I was no longer in the airplane. My parachute had opened and it would only be a matter of time before I reached the ground that was my death. Not only for social reasons could I not cut out contact, it'd be extremely suspicious. They, especially Ian, would never give up. I had to finish what I started. I had to graduate with my innocence intact.

Tyler was sweet in his own little bad boy way. Sure, he was a real jerk most of the time, but who wasn't? We had this connection that wasn't replicable. It was unique to any relationship I've ever had with anybody. It was almost this need that we were both grateful for. We connected on an entire different level than just classmates who had a "thing" for each other. I knew that the time we had spent together, the emotional parts anyway, were real.

They all had an overactive sex drive, but Ian's really shined through. His personality oozed sex appeal and pick up lines. He was troubled, not as much as Tyler, but there was definitely a heart in him that I never thought existed, let alone get a glimpse at it. As much as I didn't want to admit it, the majority of his jokes and perverted lines were humorous. And his nickname for me, "kitty," was somewhat endearing. I didn't think he had given anyone else a pet name, but then again I wasn't exactly paying attention. He was probably pulling out all of his best moves.

And Luke. I didn't even know where to start with him. Even if I did, I wouldn't know what to say. Our friendship was bouncing off walls, but it remained stalemate or moved a couple of steps back. It was frustrating and confusing and I couldn't even comprehend my feelings towards him. Part of me was still blazing with animosity for what he had done, but I had to accept it because I couldn't turn back time and prevent it all from happening. My love for him was fizzling out, but I couldn't forget the reasons I fell for him in the first place. As much as my heart yearned for him, I knew nothing romantic could happen to us. I would end up getting hurt if anyone were to transfer and he started chasing after her, like what happened with Hannah. It was unlikely that would happen, but I couldn't take the risk. I couldn't have him toying with my heart. Not to mention that the thought of him only wanting to take my virginity would be lingering in the back of my mind. Our situation was that of a stupid Facebook relationship option; it was complicated.

***

It was seven o'clock on December 31st, New Year's Eve. Ian was throwing one of his infamous Eve bashes. He threw the most extravagant parties, especially when the holidays came around. Using his generous supply of cash, he went all out. He decorated ceilings with disco balls and he made sure there were plenty of mistletoe underneath each archway, even if it was no longer Christmastime. Of course, the descriptions were based off of word of mouth. I never attended them, but this year was different. I wasn't considered as someone in the "in crowd," but I was getting invited to more partie thanks to my current Ian association.

Ian invited me to come by early to help him set up. I was surprised that he wasn't having his numerous servants doing it instead. He wasn't exactly the most ambitious guy out there. When I got there, he had a good portion of it done.

"This looks great, Ian," I said, looking around.

Ian had an ear microphone. "No, I said I wanted it above the mantle." He saw me, kissed my cheek briefly, and winked. "Sort of like you." He proceeded to scrunch his nose in disgust. He let out a growl of frustration. "It's all wrong!"

I rested my hand gently on Ian's shoulder. "What are you talking about? This place looks amazing."

"It doesn't even hold a candle up to last year."

"I wouldn't know."

He sighed. "It looks like a kindergartener threw it together. I need something bigger, better. It's my senior year, Charlotte. It needs to be spectacular."

Jokingly, I suggested that he have fireworks.

He considered it. "I did think about that," he mused, "but everybody does that."

"Why not just have bigger and brighter ones?"

"Isn't that illegal?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

Ian nodded. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's illegal. I think you have to have a license and be a certain distance away from buildings and people."

That sounded legitimate to me. "Why didn't you just hire somebody famous to come here?"

"Because then everyone wouldn't be partying. They'd be swooning over the starlet."

"Then...I don't know." Coming up with brilliant ideas weren't my forte. "Where are your parents?"

"Mom might be at one of her fancy spas."

"And your dad?"

He shrugged. "Don't know, don't care. As long as he doesn't interfere with my party plans, we're good." He began ranting and I hoped it was into the microphone. "No, no, no. I didn't want regular old banners. I want shiny, metallic ones. I want people to fall down because they're so reflective and hypnotizing. I don't know where you would get them. Can you one-hour deliver something online? I don't care if you have to strip down some aliens. I want it done." He glanced at me and mouth, "I'm sorry."

I smiled timidly, swinging my arms back and forth as I paced around the living room.

"Are you enjoying yourself?"

I averted my focus away from the decorum on the walls and to the man looming over me. It was none other than Mr. Jameson, who intimidated me to no end. I gave a curt nod. "Yes."

He chuckled almost challengingly. "You don't have to be so quiet." It was as if he was daring me. I didn't like the feeling.

"I'm sorry."

"There is no need to apologize, Charlotte." The look in his eyes reminded me of that of a hungry predator before it snatched and devoured its prey. The hard gaze startled me and I was unable to break the stare. I felt like my life was on the line, and if I looked away from the unspoken competition, I would die.

"Okay."

"I wonder how much this festivity will cost me," he snickered. "It's usually a small fortune, but anything for my beloved son."

Beloved son. The way Ian talked about him didn't particularly portray the image of his father believing he was his "beloved son." But then again, saying and believing were two completely different concepts.

"Will you be staying for the party?"

"No. I'll probably go uptown to visit my wife."

"How dutiful of you."

"I love my wife."

"How sweet."

I sensed that Mr. Jameson had the urge to glare at me but didn't for fear of being called "unprofessional" or be seen as "mean." A part of me wished he would have, but the other part felt like I would have peed my pants if he had. If the Jameson family was a bird, he would be a vulture, Ian would be a peacock (and a proud one at that), and his mom would be a hummingbird. She was a petite yet pretty woman. The thought of a vulture and a hummingbird managing to reproduce caused a laugh to get stuck in my throat. Was that even possible?

"I should probably get going. It was nice seeing you again."

"The pleasure was all mine."

He nodded once more before slipping Ian a wad of cash. I didn't understand why he needed hard money when he had a credit card, but the world of the rich was complex. It seemed like an easy lifestyle, but you had so many options that aren't available to the less fortunate. The wealthy had to be really skilled in the decision-making field.

Once Mr. Jameson disappeared from the room, I asked Ian what the exchange was all about. To which he replied with, "It's nothing. He was just giving me extra party money."

"Why?"

"Why the interrogation, Charlotte?"

"I was just wondering."

"How much mistletoe should I put on the ceiling?"

I shrugged. "I don't care."

He sighed heavily, pulling me down onto the couch next to him. "Charlotte, you're upset."

"I'm not upset."

"I don't understand you girls," he breathed.

I stood up. "Don't you have some decorating to do?"

"It won't take that long. He was just giving me some more cash."

"I just don't understand."

"You don't have to understand everything, Charlotte."

I knew I was a busy body and I knew it wasn't such a good quality to have, but my curiosity had always been stronger than my intuition of when to stop. My attempt to stifle that side of me wasn't going so well.

"I know."

At this point, my stubbornness was making me want to leave and be a loner on New Year's. Dad might be home, but then again he might be out having a beer with his buddies or something like that. If Luke wasn't here, then he'd be at some other party. Same with Emma. And while my bullheadedness put up a good fight, my yearning for companionship, even if it was with Ian and a billion of his closest friends, won out.

"See? There you go again. You don't know, Charlotte. You don't know anything."

"Excuse me?"

He flailed his arms about. "You are so aggravating. I know you're supposed to be that whole innocent virgin thing, but cut the crap, Charlotte. Your true colors are shining through and sometimes they're not all that pretty. You're too sensitive."

I didn't deny it because I could see his point. I wasn't going to apologize either, though; I was still me. "I am."

Exhaling, he clapped his hands together and said, "Well, I'm glad that's out in the air."

"I'm not," I mumbled.

He lifted my chin up with his index finger, our eyes meeting. "Cheer up, Kitten, A new year is coming. Fresh start, remember?"

I wrinkled my nose. "You suck."

"I'd love it if you would."

I groaned. "Whatever. What else do you have to do?"

"We have a lot of work cut out for us, but trust me, Charlotte, it'll be worth it.

***

It was 11:57, three minutes until midnight. All three boys were here, some vying for the first kiss to ring in the new year. Ian had given me plenty of previews throughout the day. I had briefly talked to Tyler, but he didn't mention anything about liplocking. After Luke made his flashy debut with his aluminum-foil inspired attire, he whisked me away to one of many rooms. He grinned, squeezing me tight.

"Dying, Luke."

He let go and apologized half-heartedly. "Whoops."

"Did you just bring me in here to hug me?"

"Yeah. Although if you had something else in mind..."

I hit his chest. "You're becoming more and more Four-ish every day."

"I don't know if I should take that as a compliment."

"You shouldn't."

"But I will."

Glancing around the room, I saw none of them. The second hand was ticking. The quiet tick blaring against my ears, or rather my eyes. I didn't care about kissing anyone when the clock struck twelve, but I didn't want to be grabbed by some random stranger and have their tongue shoved down my throat.

11:59.

Ian had an obnoxious clock installed for the sole purpose of a five second countdown. He could've switched on the television and tuned into the Time's Square ball dropping, but he was too good and too rich for that.

Sighing, I took a gulp of my drink. I sidestepped my way through the crowd of sweaty bodies in hopes that Ian was one of them. To my frustration, I didn't see the perverted pig anywhere. When the clock read 11:59:47, I gave up and planted my butt in one of Ian's comfy chairs. If I had known that I wouldn't be doing anything when midnight came around, I would've carried around another handful of cookies from Ian's caterer. They were delicious, and if there were any leftovers, I would be taking them home with me.

"Five!"

"Four!"

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!"

And then my lips were smothered by someone else's. They tasted like beer, but in the spirit of New Year's, I kissed them back.