The Way Things Change

New year, New Beginnings

The days between Christmas and New Year's passed in a blur of holiday gatherings, family dinners, and lazy afternoons. But beneath the surface of it all, my thoughts kept drifting back to Betty. Our kiss on Christmas Eve had felt like a turning point—like we were finally stepping into something new, something real.

I hadn't seen her since that night, but we texted constantly, talking about everything and nothing. There was no awkwardness, no hesitation—just the quiet excitement that comes with the beginning of something good.

New Year's Eve arrived, bringing with it the promise of new beginnings. There was a party at Marcus' house that night, the kind of thing everyone in our circle was going to, and Betty and I had already agreed to meet up there. It wasn't a big deal—just a casual hangout with our friends, ringing in the new year. But part of me couldn't help but wonder if this would be the night we made things official, the night we put words to what we were becoming.

By the time I got to Marcus' house, the party was already in full swing. The place was packed with people, the living room filled with music and laughter, a dozen different conversations happening at once. I squeezed through the crowd, searching for Betty, my heart racing a little more than I wanted to admit.

I spotted her near the back of the room, talking to a few friends. She looked effortlessly beautiful, her hair loose around her shoulders, wearing a soft gray sweater that made her stand out in the sea of people. When our eyes met, she smiled, and just like that, everything else faded into the background.

I made my way over to her, feeling the familiar flutter in my chest. "Hey," I said, trying to sound casual despite the excitement bubbling inside me.

"Hey," she replied, her smile widening. "I was wondering when you'd show up."

We fell into an easy conversation, the same way we always did. But tonight, there was a subtle difference—a new energy between us that hadn't been there before. Every time our eyes met, it felt like we were sharing some kind of secret, something that only we understood.

As the night went on, we drifted from group to group, chatting with friends, sipping on drinks, and laughing at inside jokes. But no matter where we were or who we were with, we always seemed to find our way back to each other.

Around 11:30, the party started to shift. People gathered around the living room, getting ready for the countdown, the excitement of the new year building in the air. Marcus was setting up a speaker system, and someone had brought out a stash of noisemakers and confetti poppers. It was chaotic but fun—the kind of night where everyone felt like they were on the brink of something new.

Betty and I found a spot near the back of the room, away from the crush of people but still close enough to feel the energy of the party. We stood side by side, our shoulders brushing, and I couldn't help but wonder if she was thinking the same thing I was.

Was this the moment? Were we about to step into something more?

As the minutes ticked down, I turned to her, my heart racing. "Betty... can I ask you something?"

She looked up at me, her eyes curious but calm. "Of course."

I took a deep breath, my words catching in my throat for a moment. But then I reminded myself of what we'd been through—how far we'd come to get to this point. If I didn't ask now, when would I?

"I know we've been figuring things out," I began, my voice a little shaky, "but I've been thinking... do you want to make this official? Us, I mean?"

For a second, I wasn't sure how she'd respond. The noise of the party seemed to fade into the background as I waited, the moment stretching out in front of me. But then she smiled—soft, sweet, and real.

"I've been thinking about that too," she said, her voice steady. "And yeah, I do. I want us to be together."

Relief and joy washed over me in equal measure, and I couldn't help but grin. "You sure? Because I'm all in if you are."

She laughed lightly, her hand reaching out to squeeze mine. "I'm sure, James. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."

I felt like my heart might burst from my chest, the weight of months of uncertainty finally lifting. We were here, in this moment, and it was real. We were real.

The room around us erupted into cheers as Marcus announced that it was time for the countdown. Everyone gathered closer, their voices rising in excitement as the numbers flashed on the TV screen.

"Ten! Nine! Eight!"

Betty and I turned toward the crowd, caught up in the energy of the moment. But even as everyone shouted and laughed around us, my focus was entirely on her.

"Seven! Six! Five!"

I could feel her hand in mine, warm and steady, and I knew that this was it. This was the start of something new, something real. We were stepping into the new year together, and I couldn't think of anything I wanted more.

"Four! Three! Two!"

The room seemed to pulse with anticipation, everyone ready for the midnight moment. I turned to Betty, and she looked up at me, her eyes shining with the promise of what was to come.

"One!"

The room exploded into cheers, confetti filling the air as everyone celebrated. But for me, the world had narrowed down to just the two of us. Without thinking, I leaned in and kissed her—soft and sweet, like a promise. And this time, there was no hesitation, no second-guessing. It was right. It was real.

When we pulled back, her smile was bright, her cheeks flushed with happiness. "Happy New Year," she whispered.

"Happy New Year," I replied, my heart full.

As the party swirled around us, the noise and chaos of the world continuing on, I knew one thing for certain: this was the beginning of something good. We had taken the long way around to get here, but we'd made it. And as we stood there, hand in hand, I couldn't help but feel like the future was full of endless possibilities.

Together, we could face whatever came next.