The Skin I'm In

Chapter Nine: New Years Eve and Midnight Kisses

Spring's P.O.V
Exams were over, meaning I had two weeks to lay in my bed and read my never ending collection of books. I didn't like breaks from school, it made me have time to think about stuff. Some good, while others made me wanna be antisocial even more than I already was. I spent the first week home by myself re-reading The Maze Runner series and making plans with my sister to go see The Death Cure the day it came out. After exams it was relaxing to be at home and alone willingly, now it was old news. It was December 31st and I, Spring Evermore was so bored I could feel it in my bones. The front door of my house opened and slammed shut, my hands trembled and I slowly opened the door to see my sister, Nia.

"Spring, I'm home!" She said in a sing-song tone.

I ran out of my room and hugged my sister, "Nia, you didn't tell me you were getting off earlier today!"

"Well, I'm getting off early today and Tammy is coming over for us to go bowling then go to the beach to see fireworks. Am I the best sister or what?"

"Wait, you convinced mom and dad to let me go out with you and Tammy on New Years Eve?"

My parents were Caribbean Jehovah's Witnesses who hate any holiday and don't get me wrong, I loved them, but they were a little strict at times. They just wanted me to be safe at all times. I was excited to see Tammy,who was me and my sister's childhood best friend and we've been close ever since.

"Yeah, I'm awesome. Get dolled up, we're leaving in an hour."

I walked upstairs to my room and got leggings with a Marilyn Monroe sweater and I put my thick curls up in a puff and laid my edges with a tooth brush, sitting down at my vanity, I began doing my makeup; foundation, highlighter, eyeliner and of course, lashes. I finished up spraying my face with a random setting spray and ran downstairs into the kitchen with my phone and wallet in hand. I looked through the pantry and grabbed a handful of 'Cheez itz' before I heard the doorbell ring. I set down my snack in a bowl and opened the door to see Tammy.

"Hey, Spring!" She screamed, attacking me in a hug.

"Hi." I laughed in her arms.

Tammy was there for everything. Surgeries, birthdays, literally everything. I see her as a sister because she never let me down and she understood me and that's what sisters are for. I shouted Nia's name and she came down the stairs like she thought there was a fire.

"Tammy!!"

They hugged each other tightly as I went back to my Cheez iItz',eating them whilst scrolling through my explore page on instagram to see pictures of the people I followed, stumbling upon a video of Harry and his girlfriend French kissing at what seemed to be a party. His facial expression was lazy as the blonde girl smiled against his lips. I pressed my home button, leaving the app and swiftly shutting off my phone. I turned my attention towards the girls who conversed loudly.

"Can we go?"

They nodded and I grabbed my stuff, pushing up my glasses as a way to make sure I had them on. We all loaded into my sister's car and drove to the bowling alley, conversing naturally about school and the things we wanted to accomplish in the new year.

What do you wanna leave in 2017?" My best friend asked.

He appeared in my thoughts and I immediately said his name.

"Harry."

My sister and her glared at me.

My sister spoke, "Wait, isn't Harry the kid that came over to the house when you had that project?"

I nodded.

"What'd he do to you?" Tammy asked.

I explained to her everything that happened, not including when we argued about the project because I didn't wanna relive hearing him say all those horrible things.

"Here's where you went wrong: letting him take you out to eat and liking him."
My sister chimed.
It was true but I'd never liked anyone in my life. I never thought I was capable of liking someone because of my physical differences but something was there with him, maybe I didn't even like him. I liked the thought of having someone like him in my life, but let's be real here. Nia pulled up to the bowling alley as she parked we unbuckled and unloaded out of the car into the bowling alley. Colorful lights flashed in the room as the sound of balls hitting pins sounded repeatedly, walking to the front of the area we paid for our centers. We all ended up ordering fries for each other and began the game.  It was Nia, Tammy, then me. I scoped the area repeatedly until my eye landed on a familiar mop of blonde hair, Niall. We hadn't seen each other lately with exams and winter break, I didn't wanna embarrass myself and go tap his shoulder or something. He caught my eye and I immediately looked somewhere else, but I'm not the best when it comes to shaking things off.

"Spring!" Niall's voice rang across the room as I winced.

"Is he talking to you?" Nia asked.

"I think so." I said with a strained voice.

"Well, brace yourself because he's walking over here." She laughed.

My eyes opened wide and I broke out in laughter as I turned around to see Niall walking over with a smile. As he got closer  he opened his arms and I hugged him.

"How are you?" I asked him.

"I'm good! Happy New Years Eve!"

"Thanks."

"Who are you here with?"

"My sister and my friend. What about you?"

"Some of the boys from the football team. Come, lemme introduce you to someone."

I told my sister and walked over to where he lead me. I was trying to get use to socializing, so maybe this is good for me.

"Spring, this is Harry, my best mate."

I blinked once, twice as he smirked at me.

"We know each other, mate."

Harry looked me up and down with a smirk, licking his lips in a manner I couldn't decipher. I looked away and smiled at Niall.

"Where you headed after this?" Niall asked.

"The beach to see fireworks."

He nodded, telling me he was heading to the beach as well and we made plans that we'd meet over there later in the night before the New Years.  I walked back over to my center where Tammy sat.

"Who is that?"

"This guy from school." I informed as she raised her eyebrows at me in a suggestive manner.

"He's meeting me at the beach." I smirked, going along with it.

"Ooh did you bring protection?"

"I hate you." I said with no expression as she cracked up.