December 31st, 1954. 11:32 pm, The Winter household

"Come on, Vi! One shot!" Justin hands me a glass.

"No thanks," I shake my head. "I'm already pretty not sober,"

"One shot! It's your last new years of high school! C'mon!"

I look to Buddy.

"I'll take one if you do," he smiles.

"Deal!" I grin.

Justin hands Buddy one.

"One," I count.

"Two," Buddy replies.

"Three!" We both say as we down the liquor.

"Oh god, Justin do you have a chaser?!" Buddy coughs.

Justin shakes his head. "Nah, deal with it!"

"That was straight vodka!" Buddy frowns.

"Yeah, what about it?"

"You sneak,"

"What else is a clear liquid that I would hand you in a shot glass?"

"I dunno, oh Jesus I need some punch or somethin'," Buddy walks away, still coughing.

I giggle. "Can't take vodka!"

"You, Violet, are ridiculous. You know that?"

I raise an eyebrow. "Why?"

"You take straight vodka shots and don't even bat an eye, it's ridiculous. You can handle your liquor,"

I nod. "Yeah, I know, it's getting out of hand,"

"Why?"

"I can't function unless I'm tipsy," I laugh. "I'm going to quit drinking in the new year,"

"Fair enough," Justin smiles as he runs a hand through his jet black hair. "Let me know if you need help, I'll always help, no problem,"

"Thanks, Justin. You're really like a brother to me. I mean, I'd say like the brother I never had, but Vincent is a thing,"

"Vincent is the only reason we know eachother," he grins. "I don't think I woulda met you if he wasn't in the picture,"

I shrug. "You know Buddy,"

"Yeah, I've known him since we were five. He's always been talented. Can I tell you something?"

"Go ahead,"

He leans in. "I've always been jealous of him..." he says quietly.

"What's that?"

"He's always been so naturally talented, you know? He's always gotten so much attention and I wish I had that,"

"I understand,"

"He's always had a way with girls, too. It's ridiculous. Always had his pick,"

"Wait, I think Adalyn and I talked about this. She said he's had his pick and I should be lucky that he picked me,"

"Well Vi, it's true. I remember girls arguing about who got to sit next to him on the bus. We all used to live out of the city lines, actually."

"Really? Why?"

"Yeah, most people at Lubbock High used to or still do live out there. It was the great depression and it was way cheaper to live outside of the city. It was a 45 minute bus ride from our bus stop to the schools. Buddy used to bring his guitar and he'd play and sing,"

"I didn't know that,"

"Yeah, he never seemed to realize how popular he was. Still is, really. Especially now that you're in the picture,"

"What? He said he was kind of a loner before I was here,"

"I think he meant that he didn't have any really close friends. He had a ton of friends, but none that were like you. None that he really could trust, I guess,"

"Do you think I should talk to him about it?"

"I dunno, you know him better than I do."

"I know more about him now. You know way more about him as a kid. He never really talks about it. Then again, neither do I."

"What do you guys even talk about?"

"Music, life, eachother, inside jokes, just normal relationship stuff,"

"Ah," Justin replies as Buddy comes back.

"That was rough," Buddy laughs. "Not doin' that again without a chaser, wow."

"That was pretty funny," Justin chuckles. "Your face was priceless,"

"Man, I should have taken a picture!" I say.

"Speaking of pictures, I'm gonna go find Vincent, he's probably has his camera out," Justin says as he turns and walks away.

Buddy wraps an arm around my shoulders. "Holy shit, Vi. You're freezing!"

"I feel okay,"

"That's because you have alcohol in your system,"

"So do you!"

"You're the one who taught me that alcohol makes you feel warm on the inside, even if you're freezing,"

I nod. "I forgot, yeah,"

"So, are we gonna do the stereotypical new years kiss?" He looks down at me.

I raise an eyebrow. "Of course!"

"Just makin' sure, doll."

"I think I'm done drinking for tonight," I set down my glass. "I'm done,"

"Yeah, me too, that shot killed me,"

I turn to face him. "You're so much taller than me!"

"So you've said three times tonight. I'm always this much taller, Vi."

"Hey! I'm like...5'6."

"You're 5'5 and a half. You're just in denial." He grabs both my hands.

"Whatever!" I grin.

"D'you even know how tall I am?"

"A damn giant!"

"I'm only 6'2!"

"Exactly, a giant!"

He rolls his eyes. "Not even,"

"I love you, giant!"

"I love you too,"

11:59

"FIVE, FOUR, THREE," everyone chants.

I pull Buddy down for our super cheesy new years kiss.

"TWO, ONE! HAPPY NEW YEAR!" Everyone around us cheers.

We pull away. "Here's to another year, doll," Buddy hugs me.

I wrap my arms around him. "Another one!"

"Glad I'm headin' in with you,"

"Me too," I smile. "Hey, can we like, go up to my room. It's too loud down here. I only stayed for the count down."

He nods. "Yeah, of course. It is super loud,"

We head up the stairs and into my room. I collapse onto my bed.

Buddy shuts the door. "Are you tired?"

I shake my head. "Not really, are you?"

"No," he replies. "I think I'm sobering up.

"Me too," I nod. "I wasn't really that drunk. More tipsy."

"Yeah?"

"Mhm. I told Justin I was going to stop drinking because it's out of hand."

"I'm really proud of you, Vi. I know it's hard."

"I have a problem." I state. "And I'm going to fix it."

He sits next to me. "That's my girl,"

"Thank you for helping me realize that I had issues,"

"Of course, babe. I want you t'be happy and that wasn't makin' you happy."

"I am sorta getting cold," I mumble.

"Yeah, you're freezing."

"Should I change into pajamas?" I ask.

Buddy shrugs. "I mean, I brought mine."

"Because I told you to!"

"Well...yeah."

"I'm gonna change, whatever. I'm done with the party, anyway. You're free to go back down, if you want."

He shakes his head. "No, I wanna stay up here with you."

"Good enough for me." I stand up and undo the belt around my waist. "This dress is way too big," I frown. "It used to fit!"

"You've lost a lot of weight, Vi."

I shake my head. "Nah,"

"You have,"

"Shhhhhh!" I frown. "I don't wanna think about it."

"Okay, okay, sorry," he says, standing up and grabbing his bag from my vanity chair. He pulls outnight pants and a t-shirt

We both change and sit back on my bed. I grab my throw blanket and wrap it around myself. "I'm so cold!"

"I know,"

"Hey, you're cute." I smile.

"No, you are!"

《《《》》》

We go on talking for what seems like hours. Mindlessly chattering and joking.

"Hey, are you pretty sober now?" I ask.

He nods. "I feel normal,"

"Me too,"

"Why?"

"Justin said you were really popular in school,"

"I dunno,"

"He said that you weren't a loner, just didn't have close friends,"

Buddy nods. "That part is true. I had friends but no one I could really talk to about my issues,"

"Oh,"

"Why?"

"I was curious, I'm sorry,"

He puts a hand on my thigh. "No, it was no big deal, it was just random."

"I'm really glad we're together."

"Me too," Buddy grins widely. "I love you,"

"I love you too!"