216 |𝐛.𝐚| (hiatus)

𝙽𝚎𝚠 𝚈𝚎𝚊𝚛'𝚜 𝚂𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚕 »

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LUCY RATHAWAY groaned as her boyfriend dragged her hand into the West Household. It wasn't like Lucy didn't like Joe and Cecile's house, in fact, she loved the place. But you know what Lucy didn't like? Going somewhere on New Year's Eve.

The last thing Lucy wanted to spend her last few hours of a year was around a bunch of drunk, high people in a crowd that are trying to find someone to kiss. And then afterward she would have to go home and have to get comfortable when she could have been already in sweats hours ago while watching Netflix!

For the past years, Lucy has either spent New Year's, by herself, with Genevieve or with Hartley but all in the comfort of her own home. So when Barry convinced the kids to want to go to Joe's house for a get-together, even if it was only friends and family, Lucy was still timid to go. But Barry knew that and decided to tell the kids which in return would make Lucy go because she was sure as hell that she couldn't stand the four pairs of doe eyes staring at her.

Barry smiled at his girlfriend, "C'mon, it's just Joe and some friends,"

Lucy huffed, "I know that I just don't wanna go,"

Barry stopped in his tracks, "And why is that?" He asked.

"I just don't want to!" Lucy whined. Laughter rang from behind the couple as Genevieve, Peter, Aspen, and Penny ran ahead to the front door where Joe greeted them. After the kids ran in, Joe turned to give Barry and Lucy a confused look.

Barry waved him off and then looked to his girlfriend, "Do you wanna go inside?" He asked.

"No," Lucy stated before she started walking to the front door where Joe held out his hands for a hug which Lucy gave. Barry chuckled under his breath and followed the redhead into the household while shaking his head. This was gonna be a night to remember, that's for sure.

After coming into Joe and Cecile's house, Lucy did the usual things you would do at a New Year's Eve Party (given that it didn't change in the time Lucy stayed home). Talk and mingle, eat, talk some more, play some games, mingle with friends, talk, mingle, talk and minge and eat and somehow participate in one of Cisco's games all at the same time.

Barry caught up to Lucy later in the night (precisely fifteen minutes to 2020 if you asked Hartley who tagged along per Penny's request) to check-in.

"Hey," He said, getting her attention, "Do you know where the kids are?"

Lucy nodded and gestured to the couch where Aspen and Penny were leaning on each other, trying to stay awake while dozing at the same time. Joe had put on The Avengers which was only one of many movies he had to entertain the kids when Lucy and Barry went on vacation and it was too long of a time for Peter and Genevieve to care for the kids. On the same couch were Genevieve and Peter, Peter was on his phone with his attention between the movie and his text messages and Genevieve was just intently watching (even though it was her seventh time seeing this particular movie).

"Okay," Barry stated, "We'll leave after we watch the ball drop and put the kids to bed,"

There was always a ball drop in Starling City, funded by the Queen Family every single year. They would build it somewhere in the Glade on a random property (owned by Queen Consolidated) and drop it as it turned New Years for that particular time zone. Barry had even gone to watch with Oliver and Felicity for one year. It was a family tradition so even when the ownership changed, Felicity kept up because it brought in good publicity and good money from tourism.

Lucy wrapped her arms around Barry's neck, "I'm happy I came with you," She stated.

Barry's eyes lit up and a smile grew on his face, "You are? Really?"

Lucy returned the smile, "Yeah. I don't know if Aspen and Penny will feel the same way when we have to wake them up long enough for them to get ready for bed,"

Everyone's attention turned to Joe as he placed one of his legendary vinyl's on his record player. A nice Jazz song. No words, just a nice slow beat. Opposite of what Cisco had linked up to the BlueTooth speaker earlier in the night and Cisco's taste in music was already bad enough when he was sober and in the right state of mind. Barry might be a hero, but when Caitlin wrenched that BlueTooth speaker from his tight grasp as he ran around the West household singing along, she was greatly appreciated and thanked by all.

And then she was tasked with taking Cisco to his apartment to lay him down to rest and putting a few aspirins on his nightstand for the morning. Nobody was really surprised, Cisco always flipped a coin each year for whether he would stay up or get horribly, horribly drunk to the point where he would fall asleep as soon as he hit the pillow. And it was usually either Barry or Caitlin that would take him home when he flipped tails.

That is until Barry met Lucy and they started dating. Then Barry had somewhere better to be on New Year's Eve even if it would only take a few seconds, he was not gonna move his spot from the couch when he was being pinned by Penny and Lucy on either side of himself.

As jazz music played, Barry grabbed Lucy's hand and led her into the dining room in which the table had been put against the farthest wall.

He wrapped his hands around Lucy's waist as her hands stayed around his neck and they swayed together and slow danced to the song. Nearing the end, Lucy rested her head against her boyfriend's chest and his own head found its way on top of her head.

They were only interrupted when Hartley poked his head into the dining room, "Not to interrupt Barry romancing my big sister, but the ball is about to drop and Penny and Aspen were really looking forward to it,"

Lucy giggled at Barry's apparent blush and followed her little brother into the living room where the whole room was staring at the Livestream set up by Cisco earlier in the night when he wasn't intoxicated. Lucy went over to the couch and nudged Aspen and Penny who were sleeping.

"I'm awake!" Aspen yelped as her eyes shot open.

Penny whined, "Not so loud," She brought her own hand up to her face and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

"The ball's about to drop," Barry told them as he gestured to the TV that popped out of the mantle once the picture was removed from above the fireplace.

Everybody's eyes were glued to the screen as the ball count down started. And this was no ordinary ball drop that would just slowly lower as the night went on, oh no. That was boring, nobody wanted that. No, no, this ball drop would drop from seventy feet up in the sky and would break open like a sliced orange that would display a hologram of the New Year. Yeah, they went all out in Starling City.

"5," Rang through the room as friends and family counted down together.

"4,"

"3,"

"2,"

"On-"

"Uno!" shouted a half-asleep Penny. Everyone chuckled at the girl as she continued to mumble Spanish and then finally switching into English.

"Gotta earn my language credit somehow,"

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Okay, guys and gals. Sorry, this one has literally no plot whatsoever and is my least favorite part of this entire book. I think I may take a break from this book after the first season is over and work on TERRAIN which is a new concept that I'm thinking of. Although, you guys are really liking 216 and I would hate to not provide you with content. Anyway, leave more questions of the Q&A and vote and comment if you liked the chapter.

BTW, which do you think is more effective? Author Notes at the beginning of the chapter or the end?

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