Aftermath

32

"Hurry!" Matthew shouted excitedly from the couch, Cal was stumbling over her feet with two glasses sloshing champagne over the edges. When she made it back to the living room and scanned the TV, she saw the time, minutes away still.

"Mattie, I've made a mess all over the floor for no reason," she huffed handing him the glasses and going back to grab some towels to clean it up.

"I'm just so excited I can hardly stand it!" A chuckle escaped her lips, and she threw out the paper towels before going back to him.

"All good." Calpurnia pecked his lips, grabbing her glass from his hands as she did. His hand found her thigh and squeezed lightly, kissing her back. "Careful now," she teased against his lips, "we only have 4 minutes left." She moved and pressed her lips to his ear, "blink and you might miss it."

"You torment me," he muttered as she pulled away to look at the TV.

When there was one minute left, they ran wildly around the apartment, shutting off all the lights, and giggling like little kids. By the time they made it back to the living room they were breathless. Thirty seconds. Cal ran to the window in the living room and yanked it open as fast as she could and ran back to him. Fifteen, now.

Ten. she looked at Matthew. Nine. His smile was so big she could see the dimple dotting his cheek beneath his beard. Eight. He looked at her. Seven. She mouthed I love you to him. Six. He mouthed it back. Five. They cheered along with the people on the TV. Four. Three. Two. One.

He kissed her cheek before he could even kiss her mouth as if he was too eager to wait. She kissed back, gripping his hands around her waist and holding her steady. When she pulled back both of them were breathless.

"Happy new year, my love."

"Happy new year." she smiled against his shirt, a relieved sigh escaping her lips as they stood there together. "Come on!" she exclaimed pulling him to the window. She knelt gripping the window sill and he followed suit. "Ready?" He nodded and they both turned towards the window and screamed in unison.

"Happy New Year!"

...

Calpurnia was doing her best to keep her eyes off him. Rowan would notice if she didn't get it under control. But something about the childlike glee that filled him, even at 17, was mesmerizing. Rowan, luckily distracted by her current fling, laughed drawing Cal's attention to her. After a moment, she caught Cal's eye and nodded towards the stairs. She followed Rowan to the bathroom.

"This isn't going anywhere." She scoffed glancing over her appearance in the mirror.

"He seems nice, very polite."

"Yeah, too polite." Rowan didn't particularly care for nice guys, she claimed they lacked her sense of adventure. "But fun for tonight. Sorry that he didn't bring his friend." Calpurnia didn't care. She had no interest in being set up with anyone, especially someone she didn't know.

"No worries."

"Shall we?" Cal nodded to her, and they made their way back to the basement where they had the tv set up. Matthew and Oliver had some sort of game going on killing time,

Just before midnight, they all gathered in front of the tv to watch the ball drop. Squeezing together with glasses of bubbly waiting to shout. 3.2.1.

Calpurnia took a long sip from her glass, savoring the sting of the carbonation. Happy New Year's sang out around her. Rowan was pulling her date away from the group.

"Much better than grape juice, huh?" His voice was so close it startled her and he placed a hand at the small of her back as she steadied herself. All she could manage was a nod.

"Happy New Year, Calpurnia." his lips brushed her cheek gently, then more forcefully. She leaned her cheek into his kiss, savoring the moment for as long as it would last. Matthew cleared his throat, his hand lingered against her back just a moment longer, then he walked away.

Later, as she was about to gather her things to walk home, he came running out the front door.

"Matthew..." she whispered exasperatedly. He was pushing their luck.

"You left this." He handed over her cell phone.

"Oh, right. Sorry." Her hand settled in his, not moving to pull the phone from his grasp.

"Let me walk you home?" She wanted to say yes, desperately. But there was no way she could. Calpurnia shook her head instead of trusting her voice.

"It's only a short walk, I can manage." She pulled her phone and slid it into her pocket. He nodded, submitting to the refusal. "See you." Matthew's eyes met hers again and he offered a half smile.

"See you." She'd made it to the end of the driveway before she turned around, he was still standing watching her.

"Happy New Year, Matthew." His smile grew, and he waved her off.

...

"You were my first New Years' kiss." Matthew had fallen asleep an hour ago, but she couldn't bring herself to wake him, to break the spell that he cast around the night. Calpurnia lifted his hand in hers and pressed the skin to her lips then her cheek. Her eyelids grew heavy as she lay there. But she fought as long as she could before she couldn't stay awake any longer.

"Bedtime," she whispered brushing a curl back from his forehead. He stirred slightly, furrowing his brow, but made no move to get up. Calpurnia smoothed her thumbs over them until they softened, then tapped his nose lightly with her fingertip. "I love your nose."

Her finger ran softly down his nose to his cupid's bow and then his lips. "And your lips," he smirked. "Caught you," she whispered.

"Don't stop on my account." Matthew opened his eyes to look at her, lifting his hand to her cheek. "I was enjoying it, tell me more."

"Hmm, I love... let's see." She tapped her chin pretending to contemplate something seriously. "Oh right, you're sarcasm!"

"Okay, okay." he relented sitting up. "What time is it?" Cal shrugged her shoulders. He nodded and stood. "I'll make sure we are all locked up, you go on." She nodded and went to the bathroom to get ready for bed—a smile on her lips.