Niall's POV: 

I woke up with a great feeling, unlike the groggy feeling I used to always have in the morning.  My dark curtains kept the sun from being too blinding.  As I laid there, in my mess of blankets, I thought about Christmas night.  I wasn't even with her, yet it felt so much like it.  Now tomorrow is New Years Eve and I have to get there, somehow.  

When I step out of bed, I throw on a pair of sweats and don't even bother with a shirt.  I try to stretch out my muscles the best I can but all I can think about is talking to Maura about New Years.  I have to go downstairs.  

The problem is, my family expects me to go to my damn neighbor's party.  "It's a tradition, Niall James!".  Yikes, who cares!  I finally am invited to a REAL New Years party.  With girls, probably drinking, and kissing... Most importantly - my little brown eyed cutie, but you get the point.  It would probably be different if my cousins weren't all coming in too.  Of course this year they had to, it's freakin' shit!    

"Hey, uh-"

"Is this about that party again?" Maura says, cutting me off.

I fill a glass with orange juice and frown.  So yeah, I guess I'm being a little too clear I want to go.  

"Just this one year, yeah?" I try, "I'll see the cousins all day tomorrow!"

"The party is far away... It's not convenient at all, Niall." She tells me her usual answer and brushes my cheek.

I turn the other way and start drumming my fingers on my chair.  I don't wanna be in this house any longer.  I just want to go back to Brookwood.  

"Little Ni has been working out." Greg smacks my stomach.

Okay, I'm definitely sick of my family at this point.

I don't even know if what Greg said was sarcasm or not.  I probably don't want to know.

The side of my head rests in my palm as I scowl.  It's time for Brookwood, hurry up already.  

Grace's POV:

"Red solo cups?" Lyssa looks at a list. 

"Check!" I grin. 

She checks it off her party list and starts randomly twerking.  Our New Years Eve party is actually tomorrow.  I don't know what to expect at all.  But I do know my dad will be chill and either leave the house or get zoned into working.  A lot of people from Brookwood will be coming and that excites me.  We can party together, then go back to Brookwood on the 2nd.  

 Of course Niall can't give me a definite answer about if he's coming or not.  I'm trying to put it in the back of my head so I can stop worrying.  But I can't.  All I want to know is a yes or a no.  I know the truth is if Niall doesn't show, my night won't be the same.  Ever since he sent that gift, the feelings have been ten times worse.  In a good way of course.

 "What if no one comes, Lyss.  I'm afraid it's going to be incredibly awkward..." I worry.

"They'll come.  You know why?" Lyssa smirks, "Because we're the hosts, I mean..." 

I chuckle and shake my head, "But if there's some other 'big' party, people could easily ditch for that." 

"There won't be.  Ours will be ragin." 

All this day has been so far is literally decorating the basement.  We've put cool lights up and tested this disco ball type thing.  It's actually pretty crappy but looks awesome with the lights off and changes colors.  

"So any dudes I can hook up with?" Lyssa asks, "I'm joking and not joking at the same time." 

"Anyone but Nialler." I wink. 

"Damn it!  Because I was totally planning on that.  You know, since you haven't been talking about him AT ALL." 

"Shut up, Lyss."

"I'll be shoving your asses up to your bed because you guys are obsessed with eachother." 

I wouldn't mind that... Except it's my party so I don't think I should disappear off to my room.  With Niall. I get butterflies just thinking about doing that... I'm going to have to be THEE host though, Lyssa will be drunk and not helping at all.  Such an amazing cousin.

"Bang bang in Gracie's rooooom." She starts singing. 

She's singing it like that "Bang, Bang" song by Jessie J, oh god.  

"Horan bang bang all over youuuuu."  

Lyssa falls onto the couch laughing so hard and constantly singing that.  Maybe I shouldn't have told her so much about Niall.  Now I'm going to have to pay for it, in a funny way.

"I know you want it!  Back, backseat of Niall's car!" 

"I swear if he ever heard this..." I start laughing too.  

For some strange reason, this moment reminded me of Brookwood.  Chelle would be yelling something loudly and not caring, until Harry would walk in.  It'd always be Harry and he'd make a big deal.  But he walked into it!  I remember when guys walked into the girls shower room.  That's a great story...

When I turn, I see Lyssa on my phone.  A super ratchet voice in my head started yelling "awwww shit!".  

"Don't you dare!" I panic and practically jump on her back.  

"Good thing I'm a fast texter." She makes a cupcake face. 

Niall's POV:

This feels like middle school all over again.  My boredom got the best of me and now I'm with old friends.  Brady, who went to fear fest with me, his new chick, and Carson.  Carson's at Brookwood, yeah, but we're not as close as we used to be.  Bein' here now makes me feel like it.  

"That sucks, mate." Brady 'contributes' to the conversation. 

He's too busy impressing his girl while doing shit on his skateboard.  I keep playin' footie with Carson.  It's really coming back to me, I haven't played in so long.  I don't know why I stopped... I always loved this sport to bits.  

"Just sneak there with me.  It'll be worth it." Carson says..once again.  We've been talking about the party.   

"I'll think about it." I shrug and bring back old football tricks.

"That means you won't." Carson rolls his eyes.

I can't help but to watch as Brady pulls his girl in by her waist.  He whispers things and kisses her, making her totally swoon for him.  It makes me really jealous.  I want that so bad.  Can I do that to Gracie?  I'm afraid I'll chicken out or get all clumsy.  

I go sit down on the side of the street.  Everyone else is preoccupied, so I pull out my phone.  

"What the hell..." I whisper to myself. 

Gracie sent me a ton of weird messages.  

"BANG BANG xx"

"SLAYYY xx"

"YOU.ARE.ONE.SEXY.BOI. xx"

"YOU....xx"

"PLUS.... xx"

"ME.....ON NEW YEARS xx"

"*kissing emoji* xx"

I started blushing even though I knew it wasn't her.  It had to be Chelle or her cousin.  I've heard about her cousin and she seems pretty funny.  Since someone's sending texts though, Gracie must be talking about me.  Shit, all I can think about is kissing this girl.

Then I realized Carson was looking over my shoulder at my phone.  I quickly shoved it back in my pocket, embarrassed.  Is he going to think that's really weird?  I wish my face wasn't so red.  I can feel it...

"Uh, I don't kn-"

Carson hands me the football, "Yeah.  You're definitely sneaking to that party with me."