DSR - A Happy New Year

It was New Year’s Eve.

It was New Year’s Eve and Isabella Vega was at a crazy house party.

It was New Year’s Eve, she was at a crazy house party because someone convinced her to come so she could, as he put it, ‘have some normal people fun’.

It was New Year’s Eve, she was at a crazy house party because Aleks Vignali convinced her to go so she could have some fun, but she was most definitely not having any fun at all. In fact, she hated the situation she was in with a searing, burning passion. Izzy had planned on a nice, quiet evening spent in in her room sporting comfortable pajamas while passing the time with a good book. Some may consider that rather dull, but the girl had hardly time for herself anymore. What changed her mind you may ask? Well, the answer came walking into her house three hours ago, just as she was settling down.

The answer was Aleks.

Persuading her to tag along was an easy enough feat. It took less than ten minutes. All because of her ridiculous crush on the boy. And his ridiculous cute face, and his ridiculous warm brown eyes, and ridiculous butterfly-inducing smile, and his ridiculous way with words, and his ridiculous ability of making her unable to function properly around him.

Most of the night she's been following him around like a puppy. Wherever he went, she went. Part of that was not her fault nor choice. Nine times out of ten, if Aleks planned to move, he turned around, grabbed Izzy by the wrist, and dragged her along. And then he introduced her to anybody that he wasn't not sure if she knew. And then more often than not, he'd sling an arm over her shoulder creating a massive blush to bloom on her face and then not notice it. She wouldn't complain about the arrangement.

She wasn’t a fan of crowds of loud, obnoxious college students.

At this particular moment, only an hour before midnight, they were outside, where it was cold enough that everyone could see their own breath. A group of ten or so young adults were sitting in a circle atop of logs. Izzy was aware that someone was telling a story that involved some large hand gestures, but it might as well have went through one ear and out the other. All she could concentrate on was the fact that she was cold, her nose was red, she was fighting shivers, and she was split between two desires; going home and staying with him.

She came up with a compromise. Abruptly standing up, she turned on her heel to leave. “Be back in a sec.”

Aleks stood up and grabbed her wrist. “Where you going?”

“To get a drink,” Izzy said. “It’ll only take a minute.” Or ten. Or maybe twenty if she could stretch it.

He snorted. “You cold?”

“No. I’m thirsty.” She wasn’t entirely sure why she was lying.

Her effort was in vain. “I’m freezing, too. We can go in.”

She was in too deep. She couldn’t change her mind now. It was a matter of pride ... or something, she figured. “I’m retrieving a beverage. We’re coming back out, Aleks.”

He chuckled, his smile crooked and nose slightly crinkled in the most ridiculously cute way. “Whatever you say, Iz. I’m still coming. I need a break from the cold, if only for a moment.”

“Suit yourself,” the girl scoffed, turning on her heel and heading for the door.

The young man was quick to catch up, latching onto the hood of her coat so as not to lose her amongst the gobs of partygoers swarming in and outside the house. It took them a solid five minutes to reach the kitchen. Unfortunately, there was an obstruction blocking their way to the cooler. It appears an overly affectionate couple had positioned themselves right on top of the coolers she’d gotten a drink from earlier. She almost wanted to look away in embarrassment. The couple looked rather busy.

Izzy bit her lip nervously, awkwardness seeping in. “Excuse me, but you’re sitting on top of the refreshments.” They didn't pay her any mind or look up. “I'd like to get a drink,” she said, trying her best to sound assertive. Apparently it fell flat because they just kept going at it. “Hello?” Izzy couldn't help wondering how they were breathing.

“Get a room,” Aleks groused, earning sharp glares. “Sorry, but my friend here wants a drink, but I think she would prefer to have it before the new year.” Finally, the passionate lovers stood up and stalked away to find another prime spot, still glaring pointedly at him. All he did was flash them a smile before opening the cooler and pulling out a bottle of her choice of soda.

“That was rude, Aleks,” Izzy reprimanded once they were out of earshot.

The brunette merely shrugged. “And whatever they were doing wasn't rude?”

She blushed again. “Rude isn't what I'd call it. Perhaps inappropriate is better.”

He handed her a cup full of fizzling liquid. “Well, no matter what you’d call it, they didn’t need to be doing it on top of the damn coolers.” He served himself a cup then took a gulp from his own. “Save that stuff for midnight at least.”

Izzy sighed. “I've never been kissed at midnight.”

Her friend quirked an eyebrow. “Really?”

Cue a blush, and a bright one at that. She hadn't meant to say that out loud. Why did she say that out loud? “Please, forget I just said that.”

“Awe, my poor pal, Izzy,” he cooed. “Never been missed at midnight. What a shame.”

Avoiding his eyes, she concentrated on the cupboard behind him. “It's not a big deal. It's just a kiss.”

He nudged her side. “I can solve that problem.”

Her blushed faded as her expression took on that of a grimace. “I do not want a stranger kissing me tonight, thank you very much,” Izzy deadpanned, looking down at the liquid swirling around the cup. “I am not so desperate or pathetic to allow myself to stoop to that level. There’s nothing you can say or do that will convince me to do something like that, Aleksander Vignali. Don't even bother.”

The young man laughed and held up his hands in defense. “Hey, who said anything about strangers? I’d never do that to you.” He put on a saucy grin and flicked his eyebrows up and down. “I was thinking more along the lines of … me.”

Izzy nearly dropped the cup in her hand and choked on the gulp she just took. “What?”

“I said me. I’ll kiss you at midnight.”

She was biting her lip again. “I don't think that’s such a good idea, Aleks.”

“Sure, it is,” he said reassuringly. “I'm not a stranger. Who better than me?”

“I--I don’t know.”

“Ah, don't freak out, Iz,” he chastised, laughing once again. “I'm not saying we go find a room or something afterwards.” Izzy flushed a rich shade of vermilion. That thought hadn’t even crossed her mind and she felt dirty after he said it. “It's an innocent kiss between best friends. That’s all, promise.”

“I still don't know,” she mumbled.

“C’mon, Izzy.” And then he unleashed the full force of those warm brown eyes on her. She was always utterly defenseless against those things. Resistance was futile. “What do you say? Help me help you.”

Her chin dropped to her chest in defeat. “Okay. You win.”

Aleks pumped a fist in the air. “Awesome. It's settled then.” He hooked his arm with hers then raised his red plastic cup in the air. “We kiss at midnight!”

Beside him, the poor genius smiled weakly and lifted her cup to meet his. “Yay.”

For the next half hour, Izzy was even more of a bumbling mess than she normally was around Aleks. On their way back outside, she tripped on thin air and spilled her drink, forcing them to venture back and serve her another cup. Once back outside, while she was sipping on her drink, some of it dribbled down her chin, consequently onto the scarf Aleks gave her for Christmas.  Because she was so cold, she kept rubbing her hands together. Then if someone touches her, she accidentally shocks them, and with a little more zing than what's normal. By that point, Aleks thought they should head inside. On the way there, she tripped not one, not twice, but four times on who knew what, each time forcing him to catch her from face planting into the cold ground. The night couldn’t get much worse, she thought bitterly as they stepped into the house.

Ten minutes before the New Year, she wanted a break from the humiliation and excused herself to the bathroom.

“I'll be standing right here.” He stomped his feet for emphasis. “Won't even move an inch.”

“Great,” she drawled.

Five of those minutes was spent inspecting herself in a mirror, giving a much needed pep talk and trying to fix any possible imperfections. There was not much she could do and she was not one for make-up, but Izzy suddenly had the urge to just look prettier. That was not something she was used to. Now she wished she had a make-up bag handy, and she was wondering if her hair was a mess, and what the hell did her breath smell like? By the time she left the bathroom, the countdown had begun. There was only a minute left of the current year, which meant there was only a minute left until she and the boy she’d been crushing on for far too long will bestow upon her a kiss. If Izzy was being perfectly honest with herself, she admit it wasn't technically a dream come true; she hadn't allowed herself to think this could ever happen. That thought kept her in there for another minute or so.

“Yo! Izzy!” She looked in the direction that her name was called, and sure enough, there he stood, hand waving over his head. “What took so long?”

A sudden foreign feeling flowed through the girl. Maybe, just maybe she had a chance with him after all. Aleks was the one that brought her there. He really wanted her to come. The guy practically begged on his hands and knees until she agreed. And he personally talked to her parents into it. That had mean something, right? But most importantly, he was the one that insisted on the kiss at midnight. She never even fathomed the seemingly impossible idea. Now that has got to mean something.

However, she did not for one second believe this is a date. Even if he and Tess were on the outs, nothing led her to think the invitation to the party could possibly be a date. But the kiss … his willingness to touch his lips to her face – lips or, more likely, cheek – it gave her hope. A hope she hadn’t let herself feel. Despite all of her doubt, maybe she had an inkling of a chance with this boy, the boy she loved. Or if not him, maybe someone like him in the future.

For once in her life, Izzy was feeling truly confident.

The countdown reached its final stage. Everyone was pumping their fists in the air to punctuate each number as their shouted.

Ten.

Nine.

Those familiar butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She grinned in return. "I'm coming as fast as I can!"

Eight.

Seven.

"I know you can go faster than that!"

"Not with the crowd," the girl shot back.

Six.

Five.

Almost there. Just a fairly large clump of students blocked her path. Determined to get to Aleks in time, Izzy had to start shoving people, apologies spilling out of her mouth the whole time. She looked over at him and he was pretending to be impatient, foot tapping, arms crossed, lifting a hand to check his nails.

“I'm waiting,” he announced sardonically.

“I'm coming!”

Four.

"Growing old here!"

"Shut up!"

Three.

Finally she broke through. Three strides separated them. He was about to call her name again, she could almost see her name on his lips, but he was cut off before he had the chance.

“Aleks!”

His head snapped away from his approaching friend, to his right. He was clearly startled and his body visibly palpitated. “Tess?”

Izzy halted in place.

No.

Two.

“Aleks, there you are!” Suddenly, a mass of long blond hair threw herself at the young man and his arms instinctively wrapped around her waist. “I've been looking all over for you!”

“Tess, what are you doing here?”

No, no, no.

One.
Her arms curled around his neck and Tess merely giggled her perfect trilling, girlish laugh in response. Aleks opened his mouth again to say something, to ask the same question, but she rose on her toes to move their faces closer. His next words were garbled and muffled by a kiss. Izzy saw his hands move from her waist, up to either side of her face to hold her there. And it was impossible for Izzy to miss the joyous smile that broke out as he continued to kiss his girlfriend.

No …

Happy New Year.

Cheers erupted all around. People jumped into the air, hooting and hollering in celebration of another year gone by. Drinks were toasted. Confetti was thrown. Couples kissed. The couple Izzy could not stop gawking at kept kissing. And kissing. And kissing some more. She couldn’t tear her eyes away as if the scene were a car wreck. Honestly, there wasn’t much of a show. It wasn’t an explosive, passionate kiss. It was just …

That was supposed to be her kiss.

Her face fell into her palms and she groaned. “How did I not see this coming?”

That was the only thing that she had to say. She didn’t step forward to remind them of her presence. She didn’t feel some gut-wrenching emotion in the pit of her stomach. And she didn’t want to bother the obviously happy pair.

After watching for a minute, she turned and left.


“Oh! Happy New Year, Izzy!”

“Oof!”

She had just made it into the main room of Thea HQ the next afternoon when she was suddenly being smothered by red hair. Ah, Susan. The girl pulled away to beam up at her with her usual sunny smile. “How was your night? What’d you do to celebrate the New Year? Did you get a kiss at midnight?” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively on the last part.

Izzy all but glowered at the rapid fire questions. “My night was … okay. I went to a stupid party. And no, Susan, I did not get a kiss at midnight.” Of course she didn’t. Why had she even let herself think she would?

“That’s too bad.”

“It’s no different than the other seventeen New Years.”

“So what are you doing here?”

Izzy shifted her weight from foot to foot. “I need to check the systems.” And avoid someone. Not that he’d notice her absence anyway. Not after last night. “I haven’t done it in a couple of weeks and I want to make sure nothing’s happened over the holidays. I'll be here for a long while. On my tablet. Checking the systems. Which is best done in silence and solitude. Um … what are you doing here?”

“Forgot something here from that Christmas party I threw,” Susan admitted.

“Do you need help finding it?” Izzy offered.

Susan waved her hands. “No, no. You go do your thing and I’ll check you later.”

And so Izzy went and settled herself in the computer room. Planted in her favorite uncomfortable chair, she got to work immediately, concentrating purely on the technology in her hands. Everything seemed to be running smoothly. No viruses, no one trying to hack their files, no surprises. The girl was almost sad there was nothing urgent happening that could’ve spent a few hours on. She could’ve use a distraction.

"Jesus Christ, Izzy! Where the hell did you go last night?"

No, no, no!

Aleks had managed to silently walk into the room to stand over Izzy. The sound of his voice nearly caused her to jump and hit the roof. She could somewhat see his reflection on her tablet. Confusion marred his expression, a frown set on his lips and a crinkle in his brow.

That was when it finally her after stewing overnight. First it was the utter betrayal, yet it wasn’t really betrayal because he wasn’t her boyfriend, he was completely oblivious to her affections, and he actually had a girlfriend. Yet that did not mean it hurt any less. At the same time, she felt totally guilty; for leaving the way she did last night, for feeling the way she did about him, and for hurting her friend. And on top of all of that, Izzy felt so stupid. Stupid for thinking, hoping, believing a guy like Aleks could ever consider liking a girl like her. Of course he wouldn't. This was all her own doing.

A fierce blush was already coloring her cheeks, her ears, her neck. Izzy had to bite her lip to keep it from quivering. It took a lot of effort to breath without a shudder. And were those tears prickling at the corners of her eyes? Pathetic, she thought shamefully. She ducked her head to wipe them away with her sleeve, pretending to scratch her eyes.

"Hello? Iz? Did you hear me?"

“Um …” Her voice cracked on the one syllable. She coughed to rid herself of the lump lodged in her throat. “Sorry about that, what?”

His eyebrows were drawn in concern. “I called and texted you last night, like, a million times, but you didn't answer me once. Jeez, you really had me freaking out. I know you can take care of yourself, but I was worried.”

Just pile on the guilt. “Oh … sorry.”

He leaned against her workstation, arms crossed, head cocked ever so slightly. “Is everything alright?”

She swatted at the air in dismissal. “Yeah, yeah. Everything’s great.”

“Then why'd you leave without telling me?”

She hesitated for a moment. “Oh, you know …” She trailed off, but she could tell that no, he did not know. Izzy sighed. “Look. I’m sorry for worrying you. It’s just … Tess showed up and--and I didn't want to interrupt and I just really wanted to go home so I left. I turned off my phone so I could sleep in this morning.”

He didn't like that answer. “I was supposed to take you home. I told your parents--”

“I told them you drove me,” she interjected.

His frown deepened. “Thanks for the save, but I would've taken you home.”

Izzy shrugged. “Running is faster than driving for me.”

“That's not the issue here.”

She was biting her lip and playing with the end of her ponytail. “I know, but you had Tess with you and I didn't want to be a … party pooper by interrupting your moment with your girlfriend. It was New Year’s Eve. You should've been spending time with her anyway, not me.”

“Hey, wait a second.” Aleks’ arms uncrossed and his hands clasped the table on either of his waist. “I brought you to that party in the first place. You wouldn’t have been interrupting. Yeah, she’s my girlfriend, but you’re my friend, my best friend. I would've hung out with you both.”

Words came spewing from her mouth without her consent. “Oh yes, because I find it a thrill being the third wheel,” Izzy muttered darkly.

“Third wheel?”

The moment she realized what she’d done, she clapped a hand to shield her lips and prevent it from happening again. Izzy knew she just made things worse. “I--I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that--”

He was still frowning, but it was a different emotion in his eyes. “Did I really make you feel that way?”

She waved her hands frantically. “No, Aleks! I swear!”

“Did I do something wrong?”

As much as she wanted to answer with the affirmative, she knew that would be a lie. “No. No, you didn't.” Could she feel anymore guilty? “I didn’t want to feel like I was interrupting a private moment. And honestly, I just really wanted out of that crowded place. Get some fresh air, y’know? It got a bit … overwhelming. Parties like that just aren’t my thing.”

His shoulders drooped. “I'm sorry, Iz. I shouldn't have pushed you into going. I have to make it up to you somehow.”

She stared down at her tablet and sighed heavily. “Shouldn’t you be, I don’t know, with Tess or something? You two looked like you made up last night.” She so badly wished she had put some venom in those words, so she wouldn’t feel like a moping child, but it just wasn’t possible. The words came out sad, defeated, and pitiful. “It's New Year’s Day, Aleks. Go be with her.”

“No, I need to make things up to you.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Yes, I do.”

A groan came out this time. “Not today,” she said. “Today you should be with Tess.”

“But I want to be with you, Izzy!”

Jac and Julian had come in the exact moment Aleks spoke those words. Both stopped walking and their eyes met for a split second. The woman attempted to walk closer, but the man grabbed her by the forearm and pulled her out of the room. Much to everyone’s relief.

“Excuse me?” Izzy gasped. Her heart hammered in her chest. Was this really happening? Was she imagining this?

“W--wait. Hold on. Th--that did not come out right.” This was the first Izzy had ever heard her friend stumble with his words. “I didn’t mean it like … like that. I just, y’know, want to hang out with you. Especially if you had such a crappy time last night. I want to make it up to you and that’s it.” And if she would just look up, she would see him blushing cherry red.

The hammering stopped, the action replaced with cracking and shattering. “I know, Aleks,” she mumbled. “We’re just friends.”

The girl also missed his frown and his cringe at those words. “And--and we always will be,” he added on awkwardly. “Just, y’know, friends. Awesome friends and stuff. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Izzy stood up abruptly, too abruptly, causing her chair to fly backwards. But it didn’t hit the ground. Because he caught it. As always. Like he was always telling her to control her speed. She started packing up her things, unhooking wires from her tablet, and discreetly wipes her nose and eyes.

“Now where are going?” he moaned.

“You win,” she said with a forced grin. “Pick a place and text me. But first …” She needed to breathe. “I have to drop some things off at home.”

“Alright …” he agreed slowly. “Are you sure you--?”

“Don’t want you to drive me home?” Izzy finished for him. “No thank you, I'm fine.” She rushed for the door. The girl couldn't hold this in much longer. “Just pick and choose. Okay? Okay, I'll see you later.”

“O--okay.” The boy was lost, but decided against arguing with her. “I’ll see you later, Izzy.”

Her name wasn’t even out of his mouth before she’d left the room to dive into the nearest elevator.

Deep, measured breaths were all she could manage in that moment because all she wanted to do was cry. Cry and weep and bawl and sob and cry some more. She wanted to throw herself on the ground and kick and scream like a toddler. Never had she wanted to do that! However, she knew it would for naught. It wouldn’t change anything; it wouldn’t make Aleks love her, it wouldn’t make her any better for him, and it wouldn’t take the pain away. All of this inner turmoil over of a stupid crush on a boy! Izzy truly hated herself for putting herself through this.

The elevator opened and her trek home was spent bumping into what felt like every human in existence on the sidewalks while also shocking them. Citizens might have noticed a high number of people with hair standing on end in the city that day. And it was all in the wake of a girl they could only described as a blur.

“Isabella?” her mother called as she entered her home.

“Yes.”

The woman walked in. “Oh good, I need you to--”

A ping interrupted her and Izzy took out her phone, much to her mother’s annoyance. It’s just as she suspected.

[Aleks] meet me at our café

Foot tapping made the girl look up. “I am talking to you, young lady,” Mrs. Vega scolded. “Don't you dare answer that message before I finish.”

“It's Aleks.”

Shocker, her mother beamed at the name. “Oh, your charming little friend. Is he coming over? I’ll prepare something for you two to nibble on.”

“No, he wants me to meet him at a café.”

“Have fun then,” she said sweetly. “Be sure to tell him hello for me, Isabella.”

When her mother turned her back to leave, Izzy pinched the ridge of her nose and squeezed her eyes shut. Whatever happened to boys being distractions? The one time she needed her mother to make restrictions, she didn’t. Figures. “Alright.”

[Izzy] Be there in a few minutes.

And she was, literally, of course, standing outside the window, hands fiddling with her recently washed favorite scarf, looking inside at the couch in the corner she, Aleks, and their friends from class usually sat when they came to study. But the sight brought back the urge to curl up in a ball and bawl in a corner. She actually had to take a step back from the glass. “How did I not see this coming?” she groused.
Aleks was sitting on their favored couch, but he had company. That company being Tess.

“No, no, no,” she muttered under her breath, spinning around to run off. “Of all the rotten luck. I cannot deal with this anymore. I said pick and choose, this wasn’t what I meant, but he clearly chose her. I should just take myself out of the picture before this gets worse than it already--”

“Iz!” She let loose a string of curses internally before facing him with a smile stuck on. It almost faltered when she saw her by his side. “I snagged us our favorite couch.”

“Great, Aleks.” She nodded at the blond. “Tess.” Izzy couldn’t help but think all of the pictures she’d seen of her didn’t do her any justice. The girl was even even better looking in person. She was drop dead gorgeous.

Aleks smiled sheepishly. “She just walked in, like, a minute ago,” he explained.

“Is it okay if I join you?” she asked politely.

“Yeah. Of course, Tess,” Izzy started to back away, dumb smile still plastered on like a mask. “Are you sure you don’t want me to leave? I mean, she got here first, making it almost like a date. I'm fine with it. Really, I am. So I can go. If you want.”

Aleks firmly grasped Izzy’s wrist. “You’re staying, Izzy,” he deadpanned.

She did but didn’t want to go. “Okay. Fine.” The hand on her wrist was fogging her mind.

He nodded. “Good.”

“Good,” she repeated.

“Good.” He still hadn’t dropped her wrist. His eyes were locked with hers.

Then Tess cleared her throat. They jumped, retracted their hands, and faced the blond beauty. Not a hair was out of place on her pretty little head. Those blue eyes were flawless. And her smile was gleaming. It’s almost too perfect though. Like she knew something. She held out a perfectly manicured hand to Izzy. “It's nice to officially meet you, Izzy. Aleks has spoken highly of you.”

“And he has of you.” Most of the time. Not really.

Tess eyed Izzy. “He never told me how pretty you are,” she gushed.

“He always told me how pretty you are.” Really.

“He said you were super smart though.”

“Yeah, he said you were very smart as well.” Really.

“He'd go on about you for hours.”

“He'd go on about you for days.” Really.

Her hand hadn't moved. It still hung in the air between them. Finally Izzy accepted it. She couldn’t help noticing how much daintier they were than hers. Only another reason to like Tess more than her.

“Ow,” Tess hissed, pulling her hand back. “You shocked me.”

Izzy at least had the decency to blush and look apologetic. “Whoops. Sorry.”

That was the only fun she had all day.