Rusty's Secret

24. Happy New Year!

"Rusty! Wake up, it's New years Eve!" Dusty squeals, as she jumps onto Rusty's bed. "Huh..." Rusty groans, rubbing his eyes. "Wait...it's New years Eve? Already?" Rusty asks. "Well...yeah" Dusty responds. "Now get out of bed!" She screams.

Rusty walks into the bathroom, then into the kitchen, where his Dad was making breakfast. "Morni'n Rusty!" His dad greeted from the kitchen counter. "Hey, dad" Rusty said tiredly. Rusty sits down at the kitchen table and takes out his phone as he notices he has missed messages from Jack.

Jack: Hey Rusty! I'm having a New years Eve party at my house everyone's coming...are you?

Rusty: Oh uh....My family was supposed to come over today...I'll ask my Dad.

Rusty takes his eyes off the phone and looks up to Dusty is staring at him. "Did you tell him yet?" Dusty asks. "Oh...Uhm....No I just need more time...." Rusty said anxiously. "Tell who?" Thier Dad interupts. "His future boyfrie-"

"Tell you that Jack is having a New years party!" Rusty says, cutting off Dusty. "Oh really, and you wanna go?" His Dad asks, keeping his eyes on the meal he was making. "Yeah...I guess" Rusty replied.  "Today is supposed to be a family day. Go ask your mum" He says as he sets breakfast down on the table.

After brekkie, Rustys put his plate in the sink and walked into the living room to  ask his mum if he could go to the party. "Hey, uh...mum...uh what time does everyone come over?" Rusty questions. "Around 5:30, why?" She questions back. "One second" Rusty says as clicks on Jack's contact.

Rusty: When does the party start?

Jack: 5pm

Rusty: Ok

"Well, uhm, Jack is having a New years Eve party at five, and I kinda wanna go" Rusty explained hopefully. "Rusty, that means you'll only have a half hour at Jacks. Plus, everyone's looking forward to seeing you" his mum told him. "So is that a yes?" Rusty asked.

Mackenzie and Bluey arrive at Jack's house for the party. Jack opens up the door. "Hey Jack!" Bluey says happily. "Hi guys, come in" Jack with a smile. The three walk into Jack's living room. "So, who else is coming?" Bluey asked as she walked into the house. "I think Indy, Judo, And Pretzel. I don't know about Rusty, though..." Jack sighs. "What's wrong?" Mackenzie said curiously. "I was just really hoping Rusty would come...Nothings fun without him..." Jack explained as he started to blush. "Hey uh...Jack we have a question..." Mackenzie anouces. "What is it?"

Rusty's family had just arrived. After many, many hugs and kisses, Rusty felt exhausted. He escaped into his bedroom and closed the door. He falls into his bed and decides to text Jack as he looks up at his phone.

Rusty: Hey, I don't think I can make it to your party...My family's already here and I can't leave now...sorry

Jack: Oh...That's ok....

Rusty: I have to go now...bye

Jack: bye...

What's your question, guys?" Jack asked, tilting his head a little. "Oh...Uh...We just wanted to know...b-based off of how you act around him....D-Do you have a...Crush....On....Rusty...?" Mackenzie questions nervously. Jack's face turns a bright red. He was so surprised they'd ask such a random question now. It took a couple of seconds for him to answer.  "I...Uh....M-Mabye a little...." Jack stutters.

After a couple more seconds of silence, Jack admits. "Ok! I like him alot....Like alot alot....I just don't want to tell him..." Jack confessed. "Why?" Bluey questions. "Because I don't think he's into people like me....y'know... boys...since he dated Indy....and he's probably never felt anything romantic for a boy...I have no chance...." Jack says hopelessly.

Mackenzie and Bluey know that Rusty likes him back, but they don't think Rusty is ready. So they keep quiet. Their conversation comes to an end when they hear a knock at the door. "I'll get it!" Bluey said as she stood up. Bluey opens it up, It's Pretzel, Judo, and Indy. "Hey guys, come on in!" Bluey shouted happily.

"Rusty, come on! It's time to eat!" His mum shouts. "I'm coming!" Rusty groans from his room. He slowly walks into the kitchen, His family is sitting at the dinner table, ready to eat. He sits in between Dusty and His Dad. Everyone starts to eat as he sits down. Their Dad's side of the family was visiting. The only person on their mum's side was their grandma. Their mum side of the family was complicated.

"So, how's Dusty doing in school?" their Aunt asks. "Did Digger get his license yet?" Thier Uncle asks. "Does Digger have a girlfriend yet?" Thier Grandma asks. Digger almost spits out his water. "N-No, not yet, Mum..." Rusty's Mum responds. Digger starts to blush out of embarrassment. "How's it going with Indy, Rusty? Y'know, I met your grandfather  when I was eight years old. You're old enough to kiss her now" His grandma asked. "Grandma, we broke up...." Rusty answered as he looked down at the floor. "Oh right, right, do you have another girlfriend?" She asked again. "No grandma" Rusty responded shyly.

Everyone at the party is having a good time, except Jack. He's slumped onto his couch,  staring off into space. "Mackenzie notices Jack. "Hey Blue,  I'll be back in a sec" Mackenzie says. "Ok, Mackenzie" Bluey responded with a smile.

Mackenzie sits down next to Jack. "You ok, buddy?" He asked nicley. "Not really..." Jack sighs. "Y'know...I thought this would be the day I told him...The new year would have been the perfect time to tell him...I guess not..." Jack says sadly. "Wanna know something?" Mackenzie announced. "Yeah?" Jack responds. "I have a crush too...I haven't told her yet....I'm not ready either. It takes time...so....Just take your time..." Mackenzie said comfortingly. Jack gives Mackenzie a hug. "Thanks..." Jack says quietly. "I just wish I could be with Rusty..." Then an idea pops into Jack's mind.

He gets up off the couch and goes to ask his mum something. He walks into the kitchen where she was and whispers something into her ear. "Sure, I don't see why not. We still got a couple hours until New years" His mum agreed.

Rusty's family is gathered in the living room, preparing for the countdown. Rusty bordley sits on his couch next to Dusty. "Why do you look so bored?" Dusty questions. "What is there to do?" Rusty groaned. "Watch the pretty fireworks on TV?" Dusty responded. "Really? Fireworks?" Rusty says annoyingly.

Knock Knock Knock

"Who's at the door?" Rusty's Dad asks himself. "I'll get it, I guess..." Rusty announces as he jumps off the couch. He opens up the door. "Surprise!" Everyone shouts. It's Jack, Mackenzie, Bluey, Pretzel, Judo, and Indy. "W-What the hell are doing here!?" Rusty shouts. "We just felt sad that we were spending New Year without you, so we decided to come by" Indy said happily. "Rusty, who is it?" His Dad asks as he walks over. "It's just my friends" Rusty responds. "Hello, Mr. Kelpie" everyone said politely.

Everyone sits down in the living room and gets ready for the countdown. The countdown till new years begins.

"10"

"9"

"8"

"7"

"6"

"5"

"4"

"3"

"2"

"1"

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" Everyone shouts in unison.

The date was now January 1st, 2026. Dusty was spinning a multicolored noisemaker right in Rusty's ear. "AH! Dusty! Where'd you get that from!?" Rusty said as he covered his ears. "I just found it on the sidewalk in front of our house" Dusty shruged.

"Rusty" Jack said. "Yeah?" Rusty responds. "I.....Thanks for being my friend..." Jack says with a light shade of red on his face. "No problem" Rusty says with a smile. "Happy new year mate" Rusty says. "Happy New Year"