Stuck with You

Part 1

When I wake up I'm disappointed to find out that outside everything’s covered in a white thick blanket. It looked like it snowed all night.
Great, just what I needed.
I'm driving home to spend new year's with my family and driving all the way there. The whole 3 hours.
I turn on the TV only to find out that there's a snowstorm coming this way.
Well, I'd better get going before it actually gets here. It's not predicted to hit here until a few hours later so I have enough time to get there before it gets worse and they have to close the roads.
I hate driving in the snow. I'm already a nervous driver and this only makes my anxiety worse.
I grab the keys and run to my car so I don't stay long in the cold air. I'm still recovering from a cold, I won't risk it getting worse and making me miss new year’s. No chance in hell. This is one of my favourite holidays. There's just something about having a whole new year ahead of you. A whole new range of possibilities waiting to unfold in front of you. It's always so exciting.
My family goes all out for new years every year, we invite the whole family, get lots of drinks and even have a karaoke machine so we can finish and start the year embarrassing ourselves, which is always hilarious. But I can't deny that it became more fun to me, once I was allowed to drink, not that I like to drink until I pass out or anything like that, but it soucked always watching the adults have fun drinking while we had some nasty apple juice. I swear they did it on purpose, but now I'm on the other side of it and I get to witness my little cousins and nephews going through it. Poor kids.
I pull out of the driveway and hope I'm lucky enough to dodge the snowstorm coming my way.
The first hour of the drive goes really well. It hasn't snowed once. I have to dry a bit slower because of the snow on the road and I'll get home a bit later but that's fine. I still have time.
Half an hour later snow starts falling. At first I'm not  worried but then it starts snowing harder which forces me to drive even slower. But soon it's sbowing so much I can barely see the road ahead of me.
I keep driving, the roads seemingly empty. I guess I'm the only one who's crazy enough to drive under this storm.
It's all going smoothly until I turn and my car refuses to go any further.
I hit the pedal, the wheels are turning but it's still not going anywhere.
I try again. Then again. Then again.
Still nothing.
It’s stuck.
I hit my hands on the wheel frustrated at this whole situation. I just wanted to spend new year's with my family. That was it. It wasn't supposed to be this hard. But of course there had to be a snowstorm right before I even had the chance to get even close to my parent's house.
Well, I obviously can't get out of this one alone.
I get out of the car and scan my surroundings.
It doesn't look like there's much here.
I retrieve my phone from my pocket only to realize that I have no service here.
Thank God, the sun hasn't set yet. It would be scarier if it was darl already.
Great, just great.
Things just keep getting better and better.
I turn to my left and start walking, hoping to find someone, something that could help me.
After what felt like forever, but a quick glance at my phone screen showed me that it only took about five minutes, I finally see something.
It looks like some kind of establishment. Hopefully it is open and serving some warm food. My stomach can't stop growling and it's cold.
When I get close enough to take a good look at it, I realize that I ended up in a dinner. And it's open.
My prayers were answered. Hallelujah!
I quicken my pace and walk through the door, finally escaping the cold.
I don't know how further I'd walked but I don't think I'd get much further. At least not without freezing to dead as the snow keeps falling relentlessly.
I check my phone. Still no service. I just hope they have a phone I can borrow.
But first things first. I need to get some food in my empty stomach before it turns against me.
I sit down in one of the empty booths. There's a lot of options. I guess everyone was smarter than me and just stayed home.
Soon, the waitress is standing next to me. I'm starving and I don't know long it'll take before I'm back on the road so I ask for way more food than I should.
When she gets back with my steaming food, the delicious smell travelling up my nostrils and making my mouth water, I remember that I have something to ask her.
“Do you have a phone I  can borrow?  I don't have cell service around here and my car is stuck in the snow. I need to call someone to take care of that if I wanna get home today.”
She gives me a look that fills me with dread before she speaks. Whatever she's about to say, it can't be good news.
“Oh honey, I would do it in a heartbeat. But I'm afraid it's no use. The roads are closed.”
What? That can't be right. Everything was fine just moments ago.
“Since when?”
“Not long ago. The storm aggravated since you got here.”
It can't be that bad.
I haven't looked outside once since I got here.
And now I'm too afraid of what my eyes will lay on if I dare to even glance outside. But I have to.
I turn my head to take a look and damn, she wasn't exaggerating. I haven’t seen this much snow in ages. There's no way I'll be able to get on the road in the thick of this storm.
I turn to her.
She looks sorry for me. But it's not her fault. If anything is mine. I shouldn't have dared to step a foot outside of my warm house in this weather let alone get in the car.
“I'm so sorry honey, but it looks like no one here is going anywhere anytime soon. But don't worry, you're not alone. We'll give you anything you need. Just ask, okay?”
“Thank you so much.”
Well it could be worse. At least she's kind. And this place is warm and it has food. It could be worse. It still sucks. There's no way I'll be able to get to my family on time.
“You're stuck here too, huh? I hear a deep voice from behind me.”
I turn around as he gets up from his booth and stands next to me.
“Mind if I join you?” he gestures to the seat in front of me.
I shake my head. “Go ahead.”
He takes a seat across from me. He looks around my age. He’s tall, broad-shouldered with brown hair.
“We're really clever for traveling in a storm like this, aren't we?” he chuckles.
He has a nice smile too. Maybe being stuck here won't be so bad.
What am I even thinking? I just met him. Literally.
“To be fair we were supposed to be in the clear for a few more hours,” I say.
“Can't argue with that. Who would've thought that weather forecast isn't the most reliable thing in the world?”
Oh, he has a sense of humour too.
Damn it, I think I like him already.
“So were you headed before you got stuck here?” I ask.
For some reason I'm really curious about this stranger.
He probably was meeting his girlfriend.
“Do you always ask strangers such intrusive questions?” he asks, humour in his eyes.
“Do you always ask to sit with girls you just met?” I return.
He smirks. “Only when they look like snow angels.”
I can't help the laugh that escapes my throat.
“But answering your question, I had some new year's plans with some friends. Looks like they'll have to have fun without me.”
“I feel you. So you're from around here?” the words leave my mouth before I can stop them. Maybe I went a bit too far. “I'm sorry. You don't have to answer that.”
I hope I didn’t make him uncomfortable, it was just genuine curiosity. Nothing more.
He waves his hand dismissively.”It's okay. Don't worry about it. I am from around here.” He turns his body to me, giving me his full attention. “Okay, my turn. Where are you from and where were you headed?”
“I'm from around here too, at least I am now. And I was driving back home when my car got stuck in the snow. I was supposed to celebrate New year's with my family. We always spend it together but it looks like I won't make it this year,” I sigh, looking down at the table, frustrated with this whole situation.”This sucks.”
“It could be worse,” he says, his voice deep.
I lift my eyes to find him staring at me, a glint of something that I can't recognise in his beautiful eyes.
I swallow the lump in my throat. “It could,” I agree.
His stare is so intense I have to drift my gaze from his, my eyes finding the napkin in my hands.
“Do you think we'll spend the new year's here?”
He glances out the window and I do the same. The storm doesn't show signs of slowing down anytime soon.“I think that's probable,” he says, in a relaxed tone.
I have no hopes of getting back home today, but I would like to at least make it to my house.
“You don't seem upset about that,” I remark.
I don't mean to pry, but if he wants to say something about it I'll listen. It's not like we're going anywhere soon. And also I find him very intriguing, so I'd like to get to know him a bit better in the time that we're here.
“I'm not,” he admits without a trace of hesitation.
“How so?” I ask cautiously.
“Well, my ex-girlfriend will be there and I don't really feel like seeing her, so, honestly, being stuck here might be for the best.”
I guess that explains it.
“Oh, that sounds rough.”
“Yeah, we have the same friend group so that definitely makes things a bit harder.”
“I get what you mean. I've been through a break up recently too. We don't have the same friends but we work in the same place, which isn't always easy “
He gives me a sympathetic look. “I'm sorry to hear about that,” he says, his voice soft.
I shake my head. “Don't be. He was an idiot. Only cared about himself.”
“That sounds like my ex.”
“Maybe they should date each other,” I joke.
“Maybe.”
He laughs and his laugh is so contagious that I have no choice but to join him. His laugh warms my chest. I could get addicted to that sound.
We soon start talking about trivial things, like our favorite shows, hobbies and we find out that we have a lot in common. We finally learn each others names. We both love watching true crime shows and playing tennis. We both are also the youngest child. We also talk about our respective break ups and we're convinced our exes were made for each other.
And I don't if it's because of the drink that I've just had, but he looks even more attractive now that I've spent some time with him.
And when we realize that there's absolutely no way for any of us can get out here for our new year's plans we call our friends and family to warn them and tell them we're okay.
I surprised myself by saying those words and actually feel them. Because I'm okay. And I'm okay with the fact that I'm stuck here. And it's all because of him, because he made it okay. I'd be miserable, just moping around if it wasn't for him.
Alex jokes around a lot to the point that I'm laughing so loud my stomach hurts.
Before we realize it it's almost midnight. We soon start counting down with all the people that are stuck here with us, which are mainly employees.
I glance at him, thinking about how I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I miss my family and our traditions but I really enjoyed getting to know this guy.
“Happy New Year!” everybody screams when the countdown ends.
Some people start kissing each other.
He gets closer and I feel his fresh breath tickling my skin.
“Would it be too much to ask you for a new year's kiss, Laura?” he whispers in my ear.
I turn slightly to face, my lips only bare inches from his.
“Since you asked..”
The words have barely left my mouth when his lips meet mine and his hands find my waist.
At first, I thought he might want a peck, but he went for a real kiss, a long sweet kiss, the kind that leaves you wanting more, making feel all the fireworks that I was so sure I would miss. I definitely need more of that.
Who knows? Maybe kissing him might become my new new year's tradition