'He could still show you know' Katie says as we finish doing our hair for the New Year’s party which was going to be held at a hotel.

'Maybe, I wouldn't blame him if he didn't come. He's still shaken up.’ I said as I put hair spray on.

'Have you talked to him?’ Katie asks.

'No, not since I texted him the other day and he didn't respond. He hates me.'

'He doesn't hate you.'

'He doesn't want to see me and I don’t blame him.'

'Oh hush! We need to head out soon'

'Okay let me put my heels and I'll be all set.’ I say as I walk into my room, I put my heels on and stand in front of the long mirror thats hanging on the wall for a few minutes. I take a few deep breathes. I grab my coat and head towards the living room.

I had bought a black sequin strapless dress and dressed it up with a white jeweled necklace. My hair was up in a high bun. I decided to go with a smokey eye and a red lip. It was something that I never tried before and I figured it was time for a change. New Year, New me right? Right. Katie wore a golden dress, also sleeveless and her hair was straightened and put in a high pony tail. She had also applied dark makeup which made her blue eyes pop.

'Ready ladies?' Adam says as he walks into the room with a tux on.

'Don't you look handsome?' I say as I give him a hug.

'Look whose talking. You two look beautiful.’ He said as he put his arm around Katie and kissed her.

'Thank you! Thank you!' Katie says as we head out.

This party was held at a hotel in South Boston. It was right on the waterfront which looked beautiful at night.

On our way to our table, we meet a few of the players and their wives.

'Who are these lovely ladies?' Brad says as he approaches our table.

'Emma? Katie? I didn't even recognize you guys! You two clean up well.' He says as he winks at Adam.

'And you wonder why I don't come to these things.' I say.

'Well that's what you get for ditching me last week...that chick was crazy!'

'The only thing she was crazy about was you. She said she had a blast and she's waiting for that ring' Katie teases as we both started laugh.

'Get on that Brad. She won't be single forever you know.' I said as he sits down, gives us both the stink eye. He examines the room. I look at him and he has his eyes set on something or someone I should say.

'Well would you look at that beauty?' Brad whispers as he looks over at the other table.

'Where?' I say as I look at him.

'10 o'clock. Don't look right away.' I slowly turn my head towards that direction.

'Aw she's sitting by herself. Go talk to her! '

'It won't be creepy?' He said. Aw he was getting nervous.

'Not at all! The table has been empty since we got here. Besides, she's been staring at you for the past 5 min. Go!’ Brad slowly gets up and makes his way over to her table and asks her to dance. She nods and gets up. He gives me a thumbs up as he passes by our table and heads to the dance floor.

'Why don't you two go dance?' I knew Katie wasn't getting up because she didn't want me sitting alone.

'Maybe later-' Katie says.

'Go!' She smiles as she grabs Adam and heads to the dance floor.

I feel a light tap on my shoulder. I turn around and saw Dougie standing by me.

'Would you like to dance Emma?' He said as he flashed his pearly whites.

'I would love too' I say as I grab his hand. It was a slow song so I'd figured it'll be a nice opportunity to talk.

'You look very pretty tonight Emma.'

'Thank you Dougie! You look dashing yourself. I'm sorry Lily couldn't make it tonight.'

'Yeah, I know. Its okay. She’s home and doesn't see her family often so I understand.'

'She said she had a great time the other night at the Christmas ball with you.' He blushes.

'She did? That's a relief. I'm starting to really like her and it's scaring the hell out of me.'

'That's a good sign Dougie! I know she likes you. It's okay to be scared, it's completely normal. If you weren't I’d be a little concerned’ I say as I chuckle.

'Thanks' he laughs, followed by a sigh of relief.

‘Anytime’ I smile.

'I'm sorry I let it slip that Reilly has a girlfriend the other night. I didn't mean to ruin your night.'

'No, not at all! I'm glad you said something.'

'He's a nice guy Emma. I've heard the way he talks about you...'

‘I know’ I give him a smile and exhale.

'Thank you for this lovely dance.' He says as he gives me a hug and we sit down.

'Emma?' Katie says as she nudges my arm.

'Yeah?'

'Look over there' I turn towards the direction she was looking at and that's when I see him. He was sitting at the bar and talking to this older man. He was looking like his normal old self, which was a good sign.

'Are you going to go up to him?'

I just stare and shake my head. 'He's talking to someone'

'We can go to the bar and get a drink' she says as she winks. She looks back and quickly turns around. She continues.

'He left…I’m sure he'll come over eventually.’

I had lost all of my appetite. I kept staring down at my plate. A few moments later Lily calls me.

'I'll be right back.' I tell Katie.

I step away a few feet from the tables to a quieter area so I can hear her.

'Hey! How's the party?!’ She says.

'Good! Its good! Your boy asked me to dance earlier which was so sweet. He also said something along the lines of he really likes you and that’s scaring the hell out of him, you know nothing major.'

'He said what?! Don't lie to me Emma.’

'I'm dead serious.' I said as I laughed.

'I can't breathe.' As she took deep breathes.

'Please don't die. You aren't suppose to know, I thought I'd make your New Years a little better.' I said as I sit at an empty table facing the water.

'Thank you! I definitely needed that.'

'Anytime love!' I say as I chuckle.

It was then that I started hearing the song that was playing. I had heard the song multiple times before but for some strange reason this time was different. My heart was beating out of my chest. I immediately turn around from my chair. It was then that I see Reilly walking through the dance floor towards my direction.

'Lily, I’m…going...to have...to call you...back' I say as I slowly put down my phone. I stand up and slowly start walking towards him.

'Reilly...' I say as my eyes start tearing up. Keep it together.

'Hey' he says nervously, not sure what my reaction was going to be.

‘Hi, How are you feeling?' I could barely get the words out.

'Much better.' He says as he smirks.

‘Good, good’ I say quickly.

'I'm sorry I didn't reply to your text a few days ago. Everyone has been calling and texting, I couldn't deal with it so I ignored my phone all together.'

'It's totally fine. I understand.' I say quickly as I smile.

'I just didn't want you to think that I was ignoring you...'

'No, not at all.’ He wasn’t ignoring me. My eyes were starting to filled with tears. I cleared my throat.

'Well I'm glad you're feeling better. I should get back' I didn't make eye contact.

'Excuse me' I say.

Head towards the bathroom before you explode.

He takes a step to the right to stop me from leaving. I step towards the left and so does he. I close my eyes.

‘Please’ I whisper. He slowly pulls me into a warm embrace. I could tell his right arm was still sore since he barely moved it. My body starts shaking from the silent tears streaming down my face. I quickly wipe them before it ruined my makeup.

‘Sh, It's okay'

'I'm so sorry-'

'Why are you apologizing? You haven't done anything wrong.'

'Yes I have. I've been such a bitch to you lately-and I hate myself for it.'

'I deserved it.’ He says

'No you don’t-‘ He cuts me off.

'Emma, Would you like to dance?'

'I'd love too' he grabs my hand and we head to the dance floor.

'You look breathtaking tonight.'

'Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself' I said smiling as my cheeks blush.

'Well obviously.' He says as I shake my head, as he continues laughing. His fingers glide against my rosy cheeks. I rest my head on his chest as we move to the song.

'How did you know?' He says as I lifted my head from his chest.

'Know what?'

'The song. When I told you the other day you seemed clueless.'

'I was. After all, it is my favorite song, it just hit me as soon as I heard it playing. I don't know how to describe it, it's weird.'

'This song has gotten me through a lot of difficult times.' I nod my head.

'Yeah this is my first time hearing it in months.' As I look to the side. Don't cry. I couldn’t listen to this song before, it was too hard.

'You mentioned it on our first date so after everything happened, I heard it on the radio and knew it was special.'

'I love that you remember that.'

'I remember everything about you.' I look up to him and he mouthes along to the song

'All of me loves all of you. Love your curves and all your edges. All your perfect imperfections.' Those words made my heart melt. I put my hand over my mouth as eyes tear up.

'Please don't make me cry.' I say as I laugh.

'Okay okay. I'm sorry' he chuckles as he wipes my tear and cups my face and our foreheads touch. He kisses my forehead.

So many thoughts were running through me mind, mainly Bethany.

After a few minutes, ‘Want to go on a walk?’ He nods and I grab his hand as we head outside near the dock. It was freezing that night. He noticed that I was shaking so he took off his jacket and put it around my shoulders.

'Thanks'

'I heard you came by at the hospital, Bethany told me'

'Yeah I did...I wanted to see how you were doing.'

'Why didn't you wake me?'

'I didn't stay long and you needed your rest...' I said quietly. He nods. Just ask him.

'She seemed really nice, Bethany' I nod.

'She is' He replies.

'She couldn't make it tonight?' I swallow hard. It was like pulling teeth.

No answer.

'Alrighty then' I say as I laugh nervously. Nothing. I take off his jacket and hand it to him as I head towards the doors to get inside. He walks in-between me and the door and puts his jacket around my shoulders once again. He gently raises my chin and says,

'It's over Emma...'

'How come? I mean she was perfect for you.'

'After I woke up at the hospital, I saw her sitting right beside me. I thanked her for being by my side but I had to be honest with her. I couldn't drag it any longer, it was not fair to her. She figured it out as soon as you left that day and said she understood.’ He cups my cheek and continues.

'She was a great girl but there was one problem, she was not you. I thought that I had lost you after I came to your apartment that night but then I heard your voice at the hospital. I thought I was dreaming or hallucinating when you started saying that you were sorry…’

I nod my head. 'You heard that?'

'Of course I did.' Silence.

‘Is that all you heard?’

‘No’ He says softly. I don’t say anything.

'Did you mean it?' He asks slowly. 'I know that when people are hurt and vulnerable, others tend to say things that they don't mean because they feel bad-'

'Yeah, I have heard that' I chuckled, 'But that was not the case...' He smiles.

'We should head inside.' I say as I head towards the door.

'In a minute' He grabs my hand and pulls me towards him.

'I've missed you' he says as he kisses the top of my head. I tightened my arms around his waist. I closed my eyes and took it all in. I had missed his scent so much, his warmth, everything at that moment felt so familiar, as if nothing had changed.

'So, are there any boyfriends that I should know about?'

'Way to kill the moment Reills' I said as I started giggling. ‘But now that you mention it, there are a few that you should be aware off' as I bite my nail trying to keep in my laughter.

‘Thanks for the heads up. Who should I beat up?’ he says as he smirked and looks around the room.

‘Slow down there tiger, you're injured’ He laughs as he makes a grr sound.

It was almost midnight and everyone was at the dance floor.

'I don't think I've ever slow danced as much as I have tonight. I was the one who usually avoided school dances.’ I say.

'Why is that?'

'It was never my scene. I wasn't always the life of the party, you know.’ I said as I laughed.

He starts laughing.

'I know. I know, it's hard to believe.'

He hadn't stopped laughing.

'Its wasn't that funny!' I slapped his arm, I didn't realize it was his right arm.

He made a face as if he was in pain.

'Oh no! I'm sorry! I totally forgot.’ I started panicking.

He had a smirk on his face.

'I forgot how abusive you are' he says as he starts laughing out loud. I stood there with my mouth opened.

'Wow. You're lucky you're still recovering.' I grabbed his chin and my fingers slowly slide off. Both of our smiles start to fade as we make eye contact. I break eye contact when Katie calls us to head over since it was almost midnight.

'Emma, will you be my date for the rest of the evening?'

'I mean, I don't have anything better to do-'

'That smart mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble one day' he says as he chuckles. He cups a side of my face with his left hand as his thumb strokes my cheek.

'Let the countdown begin!'

10! 9! 8! 7! 6! 5!-

Reilly hadn't broken eye contact with me. He leans closer and so do I. Our faces are inches apart. The anticipation was killing me. Our foreheads touch and I whisper 'I love you'
He lifts me up, tightens his grip around my waist to secure me and I lean in and kiss him. This kiss felt different from the others. Full of passion, love, It left me gasping for air and more. I could hear the countdown in the background.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The whole room was filled with laughter and excitement. He slowly puts me down as he pulls away.

'Happy New Year's Emms' he whispers.

'Happy New Year's Reills' I say as a massive smile appears on his face.

'You know, people usually wait until after midnight for the kiss.' He says as his arms are around my waist.

'I know...I wanted a perfect ending and a perfect beginning.'

He kisses me again and spins me around.

'You should be more careful because of your arm.' He nods.

'I've missed this so much.' He says as he cups my cheeks and our foreheads touch. He kisses my forehead. I wrap my arms around his waist.

'Me too.'

Notes

Hey lovelies! Any thoughts on this chapter?! I hope you guys liked it! Thanks again for all of the support! It means a lot! :)

Love,

R