The Art of Loving

[53] Midnight

Because the weather was awful, when it was nearing midnight group gathered in the living room, having the balcony as another option if someone felt like going outside. They had a bunch of drinks, and a few empty bottles already, but Ellie and Brian weren't drunk. They had agreed on that beforehand and they had stuck to that plan surprisingly strictly. Not because they had to prove anything or had any particular plans, but because they wanted to spend their first New Year's Eve together in a way that they would remember it and not be embarrassed by that memory. On top of that, they had plans with Brian's parents the following day, so they couldn't afford a bad hangover.

"Do you want to go outside?" Brian asked Ellie quietly, stepping up behind her and gently placing his hands on her waist.

Ellie turned to face him before she glanced outside. "Isn't it still raining?"

Brian looked out of the window ans well and shrugged. "Well, yeah, but the balcony is under a roof, and the others probably won't be going outside, at least not for very long," Brian pointed out and kissed her cheek.

"That's a good point," she agreed. The idea of privacy was appealing. "Alright, but we should put on jackets because while I'm up for us going outside, I'm not up for us getting ill," she told him firmly, gently rubbing Brian's arms. She didn't want him to catch a cold or something worse.

"Yes, okay. Wait here, I'll get everything," Brian said, gently rubbing her sides before he kissed her cheek and went out into the hallway to get their jackets and scarves.

Ellie watched him walk away with a growing smile on her face, sighing softly in happiness. He really was wonderful, such a sweetheart. She knew how lucky she was to have him care about her, she only had to make sure that Brian was aware of that. She couldn't let him continue to think that he wasn't worthy. And she wouldn't, she would change that.

Everyone else was busy chatting among themselves, so Roger's girlfriend Jo was the only one who had noticed their little moment together. She smiled a genuine smile at Ellie which Ellie returned, before Brian who came back into the living room caught Ellie's attention again. It was impossible not to have your attention captured by him.

He was carrying their jackets and Ellie's scarf and hat, smiling when he realised she was looking at him. "Here you go, my dear," he said and tried to elegantly give her her clothes, but he struggled a little with that, so Ellie helped him.

That only made her smile. He was so adorable, and he meant so much to her. He was wonderful. "Thank you very much, you're the best," she told him, making him smile. It was a start, she only had to convince him she really meant that. She put on her jacket, just like him, and that didn't go unnoticed by their friends.

"Are you guys leaving now?" Freddie asked, trying to get up without falling over.

"No, Fred, sit down before you break something," Brian told his friend, looking worried. "We're just going out on the balcony, but it's cold so we're putting on our jackets."

Freddie chuckled. "I bet it's rare that you put on clothes to be alone with each other."

Ellie glanced at Brian who was shaking his head a little. "He's not exactly wrong, Bri, is he," she pointed out.

"No, he's not," Brian admitted with a sigh. "Sometimes I still wonder why I'm friends with these people."

"I think sometimes it's better not to think too much, Bri," she told him amused and put on her hat. "C'mon, let's go before they get the crazy idea to follow us," she told him, holding out her hand.

Brian mumbled his agreement and took her hand, but Freddie didn't let them go without another comment. "Please keep your clothes on out there. We don't need to see that."