As Always (drafts; on hold)

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE ♥ New Year

New years are always the best. They say it is a new start, a new beginning, a new chance. We can have our own new year. Not just every January One. It can be whenever in any date. Whenever we think we want to start something new and leave the past aside. Bygones be bygones.

In less than three hours, this year will be over. Dad and I spends New Years either at home or in Nanny's. I asked him several times if we could go to a New Year's concert party for amazing countdowns, he never want to. He is right about it not being a good idea. There are snatchers, injuries that can possible happen. He said I can go myself, but of course I don't want to leave him.

This year, it will be different. We will celebrate it on a square with bands, fireworks, and noises lots of loud noise from people. There is a mall beside the square where we had our last supper for this year. We also took bunch of pictures in every possible spot. Yes, I can call it family pictures.

Time pass and we were just sitting there waiting for the clock to strike twelve. I can see the sleepy in most people's eyes. Even Dad's or Alice's. I can also feel mine but we still have another hour to wait.

"I need to go to the comfort room." I say to Dad who has Dana in his lap. We are in picnic style like most of them here is.

"You know where to?"

I don't but I know how to check directions.

"I think it is better if Xander can go with you." He look up in the mention of his voice from Alice.

"Or I can." Dad offered. I love how he understands me.

"No, uhm, I need to go too." Xander said.

"Be sure be here before the countdown."

I glance in my watch, the one they gave me for Christmas: Eleven Fifteen. I nod. We walk in silence. Me, trying hard to remember where to go, and Xander who is following me. I found a hallway which I suppose where restrooms are, but it turned out to be fire exits.

"Do you know where to go? We pass this thing a while ago." He complains.

I give up and check the mall directory beside the escalator. "There is one in this floor, another one is on the third floor above us." I points to the spot on the next level.

"We're on the second floor?"

I nod. "We'll take the second floor." I follow the direction I've seen and finally saw the restroom sign. The door is locked and a board that reads: Under Maintenance. Sorry for the inconvenience.

I mutter a curse and go back to Xander who is waiting. "Why the hell would they close this kind of place in new year where they should expect a flash mob into the comfort room?" I told him and we go up to check the other restroom. Thankfully, it is available, the problem is the long line. I told him he can go back if he wants to but he said no.

After the agony of wait, I got my turn. I wash my hands and go out the comfort room. "Sorry for waiting." I said to Xander.

"It's fine. Come on. We still have a countdown to start." He smiles. We run to the elevator before it closes. He punch the Lower Ground button. He checks his watch, "Just twenty minutes left."

I double check mine. "Yeah, it feels unbelievable."

The elevator door opened and a guy about the age of my dad go out with two children. We are alone again. There are seven elevators in this mall so they never get full even in this kind of season.

Something clicked then a screeching sound. I gasp to Xander who holds me still, steadying me. "What was that?!" He said.

I expect the elevator doors to open but the movement just stopped and left us both in silence.