𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍. . . New Year's Kiss
❝ No one could ever tame us! ❞

  CHRISTMAS EVE WAS a hectic day for Charlie Gilmore. Finn had met her in Stars Hollow, accepting the gift of a beanie that read 'I HEART NEW YORK CITY' and a Hershey's chocolate bar. He repeated the phrase 'I love them!' nearly fifteen times, but Charlie knew he was exaggerating.

  There had been a rather awkward interaction when Charlie stopped by Liam's to give him a new football and a copy of Archie's Comics she'd found hidden in the Star's Hollow bookstore, and Liam questioned why a boy waited patiently for her on the sidewalk.

  She dodged an answer by claiming he was a stalker.

  The teen had driven her mother's jeep all the way to Hartford and was so tired when she got to her grandparent's Emily sent her straight to her room for bed.

  Christmas morning was, to put it lightly, magical. The house had been decorated beautifully, snow was floating gently from the skies, and there was a small mountain of presents under the tree.

  Emily loved the Chanel bag Charlie had gotten her. The teen found it at a second-hand shop, not that anyone could even tell, and it had been on major discount. Richard was overjoyed when he opened a new fountain pen and a book on '100 places to travel after retirement'.

  Charlie now had an abundance of expensive dresses she'd never wear, a new leather notebook, and one present that shocked her into silence.

  "Well, do you like it?"

  "You got me a guitar," Charlie spoke in awe of the instrument, it wasn't a cheap one either. The girl could tell it was real wood, the strings were brand new along with a new tuner and picks. "You got me a guitar?"

  "I'm glad you know what it is," Emily nervously spoke, "But do you like it?"

  "I love it," Charlie finally breathed out, pulling both grandparents into a hug. Much to their shock. "Thank you, guys."

  "Merry Christmas, Charlie," Richard laughed, patting the girl on the back before she pulled away.

  "Merry Christmas."

  Emily didn't hide her shock when Charlie tested out the guitar. The girl had never played music in front of her grandparents before, but on that magical day, when she felt more comfortable in her grandparents' house than her own, she pulled a few tunes from the stiff strings and Richard openly complimented this, but somehow Emily's silent smile was the highest praise of all.

↬

  The teen swore the week had come and gone in a matter of seconds. She'd spent most of it finding her favorite spots on the Gilmore property and starting (never finishing) new songs. Charlie officially loved the balcony attached to her room, the pool house, and the swing in the backyard that hadn't been used. . . ever.

  "I expect you to be back here by noon tomorrow," Emily reminded Charlie as the teen finished curling her hair in the bathroom, "No later."

  "I promise." Charlie made eye contact with Emily in the mirror, "No later than noon." The teen shut off the curling iron, running her fingers through her hair before stepping back. She'd thrown on her only viable option for a rich boy's New Year's Eve party; a gold dress her grandmother had gifted her days prior.

  "You look lovely," Emily smiled, joining Charlie at her side, "I'm very glad you spent the holidays with us."

  "Me too, Grandma," Charlie smiled, resting her head on Emily's shoulder as they remained facing the mirror, "Me too."

  "When are you getting here, love?" 

  Charlie shifted slightly so her shoulder was pressing her closer to her ear as she turned on the Jeep's blinker, briefly glancing at the printed out directions laying on the passenger seat.

  "I'm almost there," She was at least thirty minutes out still, "Don't worry."

  "Not worried, I know you can handle yourself," Finn explained, "I am getting bored, though."

  "Isn't Colin there?"

  "Sure am!" Charlie laughed hearing the boy in question shout.

  "I'll see you soon."

  "All right—"

  "We love you, Lottie!"

  "Love you guys too," Charlie managed out between her laughs, on the other end Finn and Colin were yelling over each other trying to get the last word. Colin won, by rushing his words out and smashing the 'end call' button.

  "Who was that?" The blond boy threw his arms around the accented teens, "Some girl you're trying to get in bed with?"

  "No," Colin laughed, "Well, I can't speak for Finn." The boy shoved Colin, "No, she's his new best friend."

  "Ouch!" The boy laughed, "Well, I want to meet the girl that tamed you two."

  "She didn't tame us—"

  "No one could ever tame us!"

  "Alright, alright," He laughed, "What's her name?"

  "Lottie—"

  "Charlotte—"

  "Lottie." Finn glared at Colin, "Lottie Gilmore."

  "She's coming tonight?" He questioned, sipping the drink in hand.

  "Course she is," Colin nudged him, "Everyone's coming."

  "Everyone that matters," The blond corrected with a smirk, "I can't lie, I'm excited to meet my replacement."

  "No one could replace you, Logan!" Colin grinned at the boy, the trio retreating back into the living room.

  The party was in full swing by the time the tan Jeep pulled upfront. Charlie suddenly felt underdressed, despite her golden sparkles that twinkled in the moonlight. Everyone was dressed like they were going to a gala, maybe this was a gala and Finn had simply forgotten to tell her.

  It wouldn't be that surprising.

  "So, you're Lottie."

  The teen whirled around, coming face to face with a boy that looked her age. He was taller than her, not like Finn who towered over her, but noticeably taller. His blond hair was messily styled, but Charlie could tell he put effort into it, his collared shirt that had two buttons popped open had the same effect.

  And he had to admit she was gorgeous. Even with a keychain and bedazzled phone shoved in her hands instead of a clutch— maybe especially because of this. She was dressed up for the occasion, and yet, he found himself loving how perfectly casual she looked.

  But, of course, this was Finn's girl. Maybe not in all ways, or not entirely, but by friend rules, she was his.

  "It's Charlie, actually," The girl nodded, "Finn thinks he's hilarious."

  "And no one can tell him otherwise," The boy grinned, "Oh," He pulled a hand from his pocket offering it to the girl, "Excuse my manners, I'm Logan."

  "Oh, the Huntzberger," Charlie nodded, shaking his hand, "Nice party."

  "Well, when Finn and Colin told me they had a friend I had to go all out."

  "Are you two chatting about me?" Finn grinned, sauntering up to the duo and wrapping an arm around Charlie's shoulders, "Only good things, I'd hope."

  "We wouldn't have anything to talk about," Charlie teased, smiling when Finn feigned hurt, "Is Colin here?"

  "Why do you always doubt me?" Colin sidled up to the girl's left, "Now, are you ready to party with the big kids?"

  Charlie grinned, "Are you ready to party with me?"

  They were not. Charlie Gilmore hadn't cared much for parties, but when she was in the mood, she was the life of the party. The girl had since danced with each of the boys, Logan was by far the funniest one simply because he had no idea what to do and let Charlie grab his hands and tug him around.

  She'd been up on the karaoke machine, Finn was beside her as they'd decided to sing a duet of 'Summer Lovin' from Grease (per Charlie's request) and he was shocked, to say the least. Neither Finn or Colin knew the girl could sing, which resulted in them and Logan bragging on her the remainder of the night.

  At 11:59, the majority of the party was in the living room. Finn, Colin, Logan, and Charlie were front and center, facing the crowd instead of the TV. Logan had his arm around a nameless girl and Charlie was giddily holding onto Finn's arm as the countdown began.

  "Ten!" Charlie smiled at Colin, then at Finn. "Nine!" She was eternally grateful to her grandmother. "Eight!" New Years in Stars Hollow wouldn't have ever lived up to tonight. "Seven!" Her mind wandered briefly, what were her Mom and sister doing? "Six!" What was Luke doing? "Five!" What was Jess doing? "Four!" Jess— things had still been strange so she never even said goodbye, "Three!" Perhaps it was childish to remain that angry for that long, "Two!" She'd fix it when she got home. "One!"

  Charlie let out a cheer, along with the rest of the party. It was a new year, and many couples were welcoming it with long, messy kisses. Finn gave her a look, to which she simply pecked him on the cheek.

  "That wasn't a new year's kiss!"

  "It was the best you'll get."

  "I'll try again next year."

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
These 4 are literally my
favorite friend group to
write omg-- I hope you
all are enjoying the rewrite!
Some chapters, such as this
one, don't have much changed
because I really, honestly,
love them so much there's
nothing to change