It was almost midnight. These last two hours had flown by. We had been talking about everything and nothing. Not too serious, but the conversation was flowing. It was so easy and fun to talk to him. Once in a while one of Matt's friends came by to introduce themselves. They were all flirty and eyeing me up and down, making me squirm. I still thought this dress was too revealing. But if one of them got too close, Matt would tell them to back off. It was nice that he was there to protect me.
"We should probably get inside. You know, celebrate with the others." I suggested. We hadn't really been partying and since it was almost midnight there would be some major celebration.
"Nah, I kind of like it out here. I like the view." He answered. Yeah, the view was amazing. But when I turned to look at him, he wasn't looking over the city. His gaze was on me. Our eyes locked, just for a second, before I turned my eyes away. It gave me this weird feeling in my stomach. I really didn't know what it was.
"But we should probably go in though. When the clock strikes 12 you know. And I should probably find Melanie and Brody. I did actually come with them."
"If that's what you want to, then come on." He stood up and went out of my eyesight. I was just about to get up when I was grabbed by the waist and pulled me to my feet. I was so surprised that I let out a scream. And the way he just picked me up, like I didn't weigh a thing. I heard him chuckling when I tried to get my heart rate steady again. It really scared me.
He put his arm around my waist and we made our way back to the party. It was buzzing. Everybody was dancing, drinking, laughing, having fun. It looked like an amazing party. And Mel had been right. I had never seen anything like this before. And now I realized how isolated we had been. I was really sober compared to everyone here.
"Hey man, where have you been all night?" Someone spoke near us. I couldn't see who it was.
"Hey Alex. I've been busy."
"I can see that." Then the hottie came in in sight. He was even better looking in real life. Damn. "Hey gorgeous, I'm Alex."
"I know." I was kind of fangirling. I couldn't think straight. I just stood there looking at him.
"So are you gonna tell me your name, or are you just gonna admire my good looks? Or maybe you would like a picture."
"Oh sorry." I felt my face heat up. "I don't know where my manner are. Sorry. I'm Kate." We shook hands. I couldn't believe I was meeting him.
"Well nice to meet you Kate. I hope-"
"Honey, it's like 5 minutes left, we need to gather everyone, turn the music down, give them all champagne-"
"Calm down babe. We'll fix it." Dianna was freaking out. She wanted everything to be perfect. And then Alex stepped in to calm her. Like the perfect boyfriend. They were a cute couple. Really. And then they left again, leaving Matt and I alone again. His arm was still around me. And I liked it. But I was looking for my friends, and I couldn't find them in this crowded room.
"You want me to lift you so you can see?" Matt whispered in my ear.
"No, if I don't find them now, I'll just find them after. I don't think I'll be able to get through the room anyway." My face was so close to his, otherwise he wouldn't be able to hear me over the music, it was still blazing. I really didn't know what was going on, but I felt weird. The waiter came by, giving everyone a glass of champagne. It was all about to go down.
"10... 9... 8... 7... 6..." It was almost a new year, and I could feel it was gonna be a good year. A better year. "5... 4... 3..." I took a cleansing deep breath. "2... 1... HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
Everybody started hugging and kissing. I turned to the one person I knew in this moment, wanting to give him a hug. Instead our eyes locked and my stomach did a flip. Right in this moment, I didn't know what I was doing.
Matt reached up to my face, cupping my face with his hands. He started leaning in, searching my eyes for a reaction. He was hesitant, letting me decide. I just let go of everything. Stopped thinking, just for a second. I leaned up a bit our lips hovering close to each other. I guess I was teasing him a bit, but I just wasn't sure. He made it easier.
It was a sweet soft kiss. Nothing forced. It was a perfect kiss. It made my heart flutter. But I was so confused. I wasn't sure if it was right. Maybe it was just a right now thing. It was just nice to have someone there. But I really didn't know.
"Matt..." I pulled away from him, all kinds of thoughts running through my head. I needed to tell him about Harry. Of how I felt. I couldn't get too involved in anything. I couldn't do that to my heart again.
"I'm sorry Kate. It was just a spur of the moment thing. I really am sorry if I overstepped the line."
"No Matt, I wanted to kiss you." We were having this heart to heart, people walking past us, some to see fireworks others dancing. But we were just caught up in our little bubble right now. "I already told you this when we met." The music started blazing again, making it hard for us to talk. We needed to go outside again to our spot. And it was like Matt read my thoughts.
"So, like I said, I told you before. I just got through a tough breakup. And I know that you said it was just a spur of the moment thing, but since we are going on a date, I just wanted to make it clear. I really don't know if I-"
"Stop! Just stop for a minute. It was just a kiss. A New Years kiss. And I don't ask you to be my girlfriend. It's just a date."
"Yeah, I know, but I just thought I should be honest with you."
"I appreciate that." He pulled me into a hug. He was so unbelievably nice to me. "We'll just see how things go. Maybe things will happen, maybe they don't. Only time will tell."
The mood was lifted again. And we just stood there and took in the view of the fireworks. It was amazing. But it was getting colder outside. And instead of admiring the view I should really go find Mel and Brody. I hadn't seen them at all since we arrived. But I couldn't get myself to leave. I liked standing there with Matt's arms around me. I leaned into him a little more, trying to get some warmth from his body.
"Are you cold?" Matt put his head on my shoulder. We were acting like a couple.
"A bit. But don't worry about it." I shrugged. My feet were starting to hurt from standing. I loved the shoes, but they were killing my feet. I shifted my weight and as I did I almost fell backwards. Matt had disappeared from behind me. And then I felt something being draped over my shoulders. His jacket.
"I don't want you to be cold." He wrapped his arms around me again. I really didn't want to leave out of this moment. Right now I felt good.
"There you are! I've been looking for you gorgeous!" Melanie barged in on our moment. She was drunk. And loud. "Uh... You found yourself a boy toy. And he's hot! Why didn't you tell me?"
"Mel, you're drunk. And embarrassing." I grabbed her, to steady her. Christian was right behind her, but he was just as drunk. They were definitely having fun with a lot of alcohol.
"This is Matt. He saved me after you ditched me. We've been talking. Matt, this is Melanie and that is Christian." I introduced them, stepping away from Matt.
"You're like really, really hot! Now what are your intentions with my girl? Are you gonna treat her right? I will kill you if you don't!"
"Melanie, relax! We were just talking! It's nothing like that. At all!" She was really embarrassing me. And Matt was shifting uncomfortably next to me.
"Oh, by the way Christian is my boyfriend now. And I'm getting another drink. Come on!" And she was out of there, dragging Christian behind her. We hadn't even shared the 'Happy New Year', like we should. I would probably not be able to do that before the next day.
And I should really go sit down. My feet were going to die. So I went to sit on the stone wall again. Most people were inside again, dancing. Some were passed out on the terrace, some even in the garden. To be honest I was ready to go home. It had a good time, but I just wanted to go home. It was getting late.
"So..." Matt coughed next to me. He was still looking uncomfortable, scratching the back of his neck. "That was kind of hurtful."
"I'm sorry. She's really embarrassing when she is drunk. I don't know what to do about her."
"That wasn't what I was talking about."
I looked up at him in confusion. What else was going on? And why wouldn't he sit down with me?
"Then what?"
"What you said. You know with the whole 'it's nothing like that at all' ting. Then what have we been doing all night?"
"What? We have just been talking." I was somewhat confused. He had said it himself, there was nothing going on. Even the kiss. It was nothing. He sighed and, finally, took a seat next to me.
"We've not only been talking. Look, I know you said all about the breakup and that. But I like you. I like talking to you. And I would like to get to know you better. And maybe, just maybe, it could turn into something more. Like that kiss. For me it wasn't just a kiss. I felt something. I don't know about you, but yeah..." He was being so sensitive and honest. Again a huge contrast to his bad boy outside. And it made me think. It kept me silent for a while. Matt started squirming next to me.
"Please say something."
"Look Matt... Uhm... I-I don't know what to say. I... I do like to talk to you. And... I don't know what I feel, or how I'm supposed to feel... But to be honest. I did feel something as well. And it kind of freaked me out. I just-"
"Uhm, sorry to interrupt. But Kate I just wanted to tell you, that you'll be staying here tonight. Melanie is way beyond drunk. She's passed out." Dianna had walked up to us. She looked exhausted. I could only imagine how it would be to throw a party where everyone was going crazy. And this was actually perfect, then I could go rest right now.
"Oh, okay thank you Dianna. So where so I sleep? 'Cause I'm kind of tired and I would really love to lie down."
"We'll since most people have already taken off or passed out, we have some rooms upstairs. You just find one and sleep there. No problem."
"They have already taken off? What time is it?"
"It's half past 4. Most have gone somewhere else, but there are not many people left."
"Oh okay... Thank you."
