I sat down on the breakfast table eating my food. I looked at everyone, again and again.

"What?,"Heather asked noticing my unusual behaviour.

"What what?,"I said.

She looked at me as if I were crazy. "Why at all are you looking at us like that?,"she asked. 

"Its 31st today! Last day of the year. Aren't we gonna do something?,"I shouted at her. 

"But we're going out. On a picnic, today," mom informed.
Why am I never told about the plans before hand?

 "With the Halters?,"I ensured,  grinning.

"Yeah. I called Eros and Kristine too." 

"OKAY!," I  shouted, overwhelmed."Let's pack the lunch boxes and picnic baskets!" 

Heather and mom looked at me, laughing. 

___*___

We placed our picnic baskets into the van, accompanied by the Halters. Blake was standing right beside me, helping me to deposit the baskets . 

Finally, after finishing the task, we began taking out seats in the van.

Mom took over the passenger seat , Mr and Mrs. Halter behind them, with Heather, Kristine and Eros on the last seat. Blake and I looked at each other. How are we supposed to fit in that much space?
 Krisitine laughed.

I went inside, shifting as much as I could. Blake came in.  We were practically sitting on each other.

"Are you okay?," he asked. I nodded.  

We were sitting so close. Kristine and Eros were staring at us, smiling. 

"What ?,"I said. They simple turned their heads and stared  out of the window. I sighed. 

We reached the place after an hour's drive. I looked around the place.

It was a breath-taking view. Trees covered the area, with birds chirping ,which was like music to our ears. The wind was blowing softly, and the sweet smell of flowers filled the place. We looked at the crystal blue water,  flowing from a stream. 

"It's beautiful,"mom said. 

"Yep," I agreed.

Then, we started taking out the picnic baskets from the van.

___*___

We sat down on the mat we'd laid. Eros, Kristine , Blake and me on one, and the others on the other.

We talked as we ate  our sandwiches.

"Let's play volleyball," Kristine suggested.
"Yeah, let's,"Blake agreed. 

"Okay," I said.

The teams were made just as I'd anticipated.

Eros and Kristine

Blake and me. 

We played for a while , with Kristine having a score of 2 and me of 1.

"We have to win,"I told Blake.

Just then Kristine threw the ball and it went right into my eyes.

"Ouch!,"  I exclaimed, holding my eye.  
"Are you okay?," Blake asked, holding my chin up, his face close to mine. I looked at him, blushing.

"I'm so sorry!,"Kristine said, running towards me. 

 "It's okay,"I whispered.

Blake looked into my eye. "It didn't hurt you that bad, thank god". He blew into my eyes. 

"Thanks," I said, getting up, after a while.

"No problem,", he smiled at me. 

"Ahem Ahem," Kristine teased. I shot her a look. 

"Lucy and Blake-," she continued.

"Shut up,"I said.

She laughed out loud. 

___*___

We sat on the rocks, by the streams, in each other's warmth. Even though the cold breeze was blowing, we happened to be comfortable. 

We were silent, staring at the beauty of the place. 

"We got to go now,"Mrs. Halter said.

"NO!," we all shouted in unison.

"Yes," she said, firmly.

We sighed and reluctantly got up. 

____*____

We got out of the van, and Eros and Kristine bid us farewell.

I turned to Blake. "Bye"

"Bye," he returned.

I went up to my room, standing by the window, staring at the sky. 

5 minutes for new year. I looked up at the sky and then to his room. He was standing there too.  Our eyes locked. I smiled at him.

Then, fireworks burst into the night sky. Shades of purple, blue, orange , yellow, and alot more colours  adorned it.

I received a text on my phone.

"Happy new year, Lucy," It said. Blake.

"Happy new year, Blake," I texted back, and looked at him. After  a while, I received another text.

"The first thing i thought about this year was...you.".

I smiled. Me too, Blake. 

______*_____