Sophie's Life

Chapter 42: New Year Comes With A Triangle

The New Year's Eve party was in full swing, with lights strung everywhere and laughter filling the air. People were dancing, talking, and gathering around for the countdown that would mark a fresh start. I couldn't help but feel the buzz of anticipation—a mix of hope, nervousness, and a bit of nostalgia as I looked around at everyone.

James was across the room with Ayla, laughing at something she'd said, while Daniel was nearby, talking to Aiden and Jules. I'd spent most of the night mingling with the others, but every time I glanced over, I found myself catching Daniel's eye. And occasionally, James's too, as if he were checking in on me from a distance.

The countdown to midnight was close, and the words "the person you're with at midnight is the one you stick with for the next year" kept echoing in my mind. A little silly, maybe, but I couldn't shake it.

Around 11:55, Daniel broke away from his group and walked over to me. "Hey, you doing alright?" he asked, leaning in so I could hear him over the music.

I nodded, feeling my heart skip. "Yeah, it's just... New Year's, you know?"

He chuckled, "I get it. A whole new year waiting for us, all the unknowns and whatever else."

We were standing close, and for a moment, I wondered if he was going to lean in, if this would be the start of something new. But then, from the corner of my eye, I saw James approaching, leaving Ayla with a polite smile as he made his way toward us. My heart raced as he came closer, his expression unreadable.

"It's almost time for the countdown," he said, looking between Daniel and me, his gaze lingering on me just a moment longer.

Suddenly, I was torn. Here were the two people I'd spent most of my year caught up in—Daniel, who'd been there with honesty and comfort, and James, whose presence in my life was more complicated but impossible to ignore.

10...9...8... The countdown had started, and my heart was racing, my mind spinning. Who would I be standing with when the clock struck 12?

As the numbers dwindled, I felt Daniel's hand graze mine, his touch warm and reassuring. James was watching, his expression unreadable, and something in his eyes told me he was waiting too. I couldn't tell if it was jealousy, concern, or something else entirely.

3...2...1... The room erupted into cheers as midnight struck. I glanced up to see Daniel looking at me, his expression soft, with a hint of a smile. But when I looked over, I saw James's eyes on me too, full of questions he wasn't asking, emotions he was keeping to himself.

I smiled at Daniel, a silent acknowledgment that this year, he was the one I'd stood with at midnight. But in the back of my mind, I couldn't shake the feeling that things between James and me weren't settled, that maybe the line between friendship and something more was still blurred.

As everyone exchanged hugs and New Year's wishes, James found me and leaned in close. "Happy New Year, Soph," he said softly, his voice carrying a weight I couldn't quite place.

"Happy New Year, James," I replied, and even as we pulled apart, the look in his eyes stayed with me. And as Daniel took my hand to lead me back to the group, I couldn't help but wonder what the next year would hold—who I'd be with, who I'd hold onto, and who I might be brave enough to let go.