What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?

By:  Lara

 

Maybe it’s much too early in the game…ah, but I thought I’d ask you just the same…what are you doing New Year’s…New Year’s Eve?

“Right. Yeah. I know you’re having a party…but like six people I know are having parties, and I…yeah…I KNOW I skipped out on your birthday party.  Lara…yeah. Okay.  I’ll try.  Yes, my head on a platter. I know. Bye.”  Tammi hung up, out of breath.  “Sorry,” she apologized to Chris.

“No problem…just…can’t feel…my hands…” Chris stammered as he struggled to hold a painting up against the wall. “Here?”

“No…left…Okay.”  Tammi smiled triumphantly as she helped him guide the painting onto the hooks.  “Thanks so much, Chris.”

“No sweat.”  Chris wiped his hands on his jeans. “So, what are you doing for New Year’s?”

“It’s still four days away, but I never KNEW I had so many friends. Everyone I know but you and me is having a party.  Lara just called to yell at me, telling me if I didn’t show up at her and JC’s place, she’d have my head on a platter!”  Tammi laughed.  Chris laughed as well.

“Yeah, I got an invite to that, too. I dunno if I’m into a party this year. Maybe I’m too old,” he said.  She kissed his cheek.

“Well, if you decide to just crash at home, maybe I will, too.”

 

Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight, when it’s exactly twelve o’clock that night…welcoming in the New Year…New Year’s Eve…

 

 

“Okay…hide me.”  JC came running out of his house, colliding with Chris, who was coming in. 

“Whoa, Jayce, what’s…”

“Joshua Scott Chasez, get your sexy ass into this house this minute!”  They heard Lara scream.  “You are NOT done in here!”

“My God, it’s my mother!”  Chris exclaimed.  “Except she’s using your full name instead of mine.”

“Let’s go.”  JC made a beeline for Chris’ car.  “You thought she was the Christmas Nazi?  She’s worse at New Year’s apparently.”

“Josh…” Lara appeared in the doorway.  “Oh, hi, Chris.  You can stay and help JC finish decorating the family room.”

“I AM done,” JC pouted.

“Look, I’d love to, but we have a…thing,” Chris said, backing away towards his car.

“Yeah, a thing!” JC yelled from the passenger side.

“Joshua,” Lara said in a warning tone.

“See you after the thing!” JC screamed as Chris squealed out of the driveway.

 

“So…you coming to this shindig?” JC asked Chris over a huge platter of chicken strips and fries.

“I might make an appearance.  I hate coming without a date.”

“Lance won’t have a date,” JC told him.  Chris rolled his eyes.

“He and Cindy broke up AGAIN?”

“Yeah. I don’t know what she sees in him. He’d be SO hard to live with,” JC said, chewing on a fry thoughtfully.

“Hello, I don’t see how Lara lives with YOU.  You’re so damn anal retentive,” Chris teased.

“I’m not anal retentive.  I’m…”

“Anal retentive,” Chris interrupted.

“Structured,” JC finished.  Chris grinned and stole one of his fries.

“So…I wonder if Tammi will come to your party. I wonder if she has a date.”

“You wonder a lot about her. Why don’t you just ask her?” JC asked.

“She said she’s not sure what she’s doing.  I dunno if I feel like partying,” Chris said softly.  JC raised an eyebrow.  “What?”

“Nothing.  Ask her out, Chris.”

“Nah. We’re just friends,” Chris said, dipping a fry in ketchup.

 

Maybe I’m crazy to suppose, I’d ever be the one you chose, out of a thousand invitations you received…ah, but in case I stand one little chance…here comes the jackpot question in advance…what are you doing New Year’s…New Year’s Eve?

 

 

“Thank you, Tammi, for coming over,” Lara said, sighing with relief as the last piece of decoration was hung. “My party is tomorrow, and Josh is being a real dickhead about decorating.”

Tammi spit her iced tea all over the floor.  “Did you just call him what I THOUGHT you just called him?” Tammi asked, grinning.

“Yes!  I ask him to do one simple thing and…”

“Lara, honey, I love you, but when it comes to holidays, there is no “one simple thing” that you ask ANYONE to do,” Tammi said, pouting.

“Yeah, well, I want this to be special,” Lara said softly. “It’s our first Christmas together as a real couple, in our own place.  And I just…I want it to be special.”

“It will be,” Tammi promised her, giving her a hug.

“Is it safe to come in?” JC poked his head in the door. Lara frowned at him.  “I’m sorry. You just…got that look.  You scared me.”

Lara sighed. “I’m sorry, Josh. I just want it to be perfect. It’s the first big entertaining we’ve done here together.”

“And it will be great.” JC came in and hugged her.  Chris followed him in.

“Hi, Lara.  Tammi. Hi.”

“Hi, Chris,” Tammi said.  She saw JC and Chris exchanging looks.  “What?”

“Well, JC has something that’s gonna make the party even more special,” Chris said, beaming.

“What?  JC, what did you do to mess up my party?”  Lara screeched.

“If you think this will mess it up…” JC said softly, pulling a small black box from his pocket.  Lara whimpered and sat on the arm of the sofa.  “Lara…I love you so much…and I want this to be the last holiday season we spend as anything but man and wife. Will you marry me?”

“God…Josh…yes…” Lara sobbed as he slid the ring on her finger.  JC kissed and hugged her, and Tammi fought back tears.  She and Chris slipped out of the room and headed for the kitchen, giving the couple time alone.

“That was awesome,” Tammi said softly.

“Yeah. You okay?” Chris rubbed her back.

“Yeah,” she said, sighing.  “Jealous a little.”

“Well…” Chris decided to risk it all. “It’s not an engagement ring or anything…but I was wondering if you’d like to spend tomorrow night with me?  I know I’m lame, and I know you have invitations coming out of your ears…but I thought…we…we could have dinner at my place, then maybe come over here if you felt like it.”

“Really?” Tammi smiled broadly. “God, Chris, I thought you’d never ask.”

The End

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