When The Clock Strikes (ONC 2020)

5| The Exact Same Moment

New Year's Eve

"Please tell me you have one cute dress in here," Cam said as she perused through my closet.

I continued to stare at my bedroom ceiling as I laid back on my bed. She got back from her parents Christmas party in the Hamptons this morning and wanted to make sure I had something acceptable to wear tonight.

To be honest, I was completely dreading this whole New Year's extravaganza. After that day Adam called about the ring, he's been trying to get ahold of me again. I haven't told Cam about that phone call yet. I knew that if I told her, she would retaliate. After this whole New Year's thing was over, I decided to just give him the ring so I didn't have to deal with him ever again. Then I could tell her.

"Maybe I should just stay home," I said plainly. Staying home sounded so much better to me than being surrounded by thousands of people in the streets of New York City tonight.

I've lived in New York City my whole life, and not once have I gone to Times Square for New Years. Why? Because I knew how it was and I was not a fan of being in a crowd of sweaty people who were drunk and/or on drugs. Lord knew what could happen.

Cam popped her head out of my closet with an arched brow. "You can't. You promised. Besides, this will be good for both of us."

I snickered. "Yeah, right. What you meant to say, is that you are scared to be alone with bartender guy because you have real feelings for him."

She rolled her eyes and disappeared back into my closet. "That's not true at all! And his name is Kyle. I swear if you call him bartender guy tonight, I won't talk to you for a week."

I groaned as I sat up in my bed. I knew I didn't have a dress she would like. I also hated the fact that I knew she was going to make me go out and buy a new one. That meant socializing. With people. I did not want to deal with people right now. I was not the type to rebound quickly after a break up. Especially after my fiancee decided to dump me for no reason at all. I was more of the wallow in silence type.

Cam came out of the closet and crossed her arms over her chest. "You don't have anything to wear!"

"Told ya."

She tapped her foot. "I have to go run some errands but you need to get a new outfit for tonight. I mean it."

After she left, I tried to think of different ways I could cancel on her tonight. Even though it was nice to dream about it, I wasn't going to do that to my best friend. She was right, this was a big deal to her. Maybe this bartender guy, Kyle, was the start of something real for her.

Cam had never had a serious relationship before. She dated, and she dated frequently, but never a real relationship. She had always told me that commitment just wasn't her thing, but what the hell? Maybe people do change.

I glanced at my watch and begrudgingly got to my feet. Well, if I was going to do this, I was going to do it right. I grabbed my keys and headed out of my apartment. Time for the mall.

11:54pm

I let out a frustrated groan when I got Camille's voicemail. "Cam, why aren't you answering? You are the one who convinced me to come out here. Remember I told you I was having a string of bad luck? Well, it just got worse. My subway broke down and I barely have signal." I let out a sigh before I added, "Why is my life turning to shit? Anyway, I'll call you as soon as I get out of here. You owe me big time. I bought an outfit, put on makeup, and I even shaved my legs for fuck's sake. Call me."

I hung up the phone and slid it back into my pocket. I swear, when I got a hold of her...

"Bad year?" A man's voice asked.