Page 77 of The List of Things

“Everyone grab your champagne! The countdown is about to start!” Sienna shouts not only to us but to everyone around us.

Everyone flocks over, and Bellamy grabs two plastic champagne flutes from the counter and nods his head toward the living room. I follow him and take my champagne flute from him once we make it into the back of the living room, a perfect view of the TV, and a perfect escape route to his bedroom right behind us.

Everyone starts to filter in, and then it starts. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6….5….4…..3….2….. Bellamy looks at me, and it’s not the new year. But this is new. Everything happening right now, tonight, the past week. It’s all been new... And everyone around is cheering, kissing, and drinking. They’re all celebrating a fake sense of new. But I’m staring at the real thing... I’m staring at Bellamy. Everyone cheers around us, and we both drink our champagne before turning to each other.

I have always dreamed of a New Year’s Kiss. Because of my parents, because of the aspect of how romantic, and cheesy it might be. I know it’s fake. Due to the list, and the fact that it’s June, but I still feel butterflies swarming inside of me.

“Ready?” I furrow my brows.

He takes my champagne out of my hand and sets it on the table next to us. I look at him, empty handed, and he grabs me, and flips me to his other side, dipping me down so quickly that it makes my stomach drop. It’s not a dramatic dip, my back isn’t arched, and my leg isn’t thrown in the air. But my hair is falling over my shoulders, and his lips are on mine, and I’m fully in his grasp, all the control in the palm of his hands. I laugh, a smile breaking through the kiss. He’s smiling too, and I know it’s not a real new year. But if it was I know I’d wish for the feeling in my chest to stay forever. It feels that good. He stands me up right and we break the kiss.

“Straight from a movie,” I boost his ego more.

“Really? Was it everything you imagined?” He asks, and I smile.

“To be completely honest I didn’t think this part of the list would happen...” I’m standing close to him, my hands on his chest, his arm still wrapped around my back to hold me to him.

“I told you I would be doing everything.”

I tilt my head, “What about doing something that’s not on the list?” My nerves are shooting every which way.

“Like what?” His eyes are looking down on me.

“Like continuing what we started in the bathroom,” I press closer to him.

“That wouldn’t be very romantic, would it?” He doesn’t sound like he’s opposed to the idea at all.

He seems wary to mess up, I know that’s what it is. He wants to make the list perfect for me, and I get it.

“It’s not either of our first times anyway… We don’t have to… I just...” I shrug again.

“You want to?” His face is still as he looks at me carefully.

“I do...” I look up at him and see his eyes casting down on me.

He’s thinking as he stares at me, and my stomach is a big ball of nerves.

“Is that a bad thing?”

“For the sake of the list, it is,” He looks at me for a second longer, and then he sighs, looking away.

He runs his hand through his thick hair, and shakes his head, “God dammit Kamryn...”

He bends down and picks me up, the party still happening around us. He throws me over his shoulder, and I squeal out, not expecting the sudden manhandling.

“Where are you going?” Sienna yells.

“To sleep!” Bellamy yells over his shoulder

“That’s a weird word for se-” Lawson starts, but Sienna covers his mouth with her hand.

“Be safe!” Jade yells.

“Lawson! Don’t let Sienna drive!” I yell to my friends and Sienna gasps, looking offended.

“I’m not even that-” Lawson is covering her mouth now, stopping her from lying about just how much she’s had to drink

“I wasn’t planning on it. Archie, don’t forget a cond-”

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