Born in prison, in love with a cliché.

𝚃 𝚆 𝙴 𝙽 𝚃 𝚈 𝚂 𝙴 𝚅 𝙴 𝙽

"so what are you going to do this first new year's eve since you were released?" Clara asks excitedly over the phone. "Zach has something planned apparently. We're first going downtown tonight to see the fireworks and after that, he's taking me somewhere else. I just don't know where yet. What are you going to do?"

"Just going to celebrate with some family and friends. You should join us next year." Clara proposes. "Next year," I promise her.

After our conversation, I look at the time. It's  8,  Zach and I have already eaten.

Just four hours before midnight. Next year will be my year. This is going to be it. In the last eighteen years, I was locked up. From now on I'm going to make it. I'm enrolled in college, I have a job to earn money, I have an amazing friend, a boyfriend, and a roof over my head. I couldn't have asked for more.

I throw on my white t-shirt with some jeans and my leather jacket. Zach said to dress casual so I'm not going to go all out. Not that I could, since the only dress that I have is the red one from Christmas and that's maybe a little over the top.

When it's almost eleven Zach and I get out of the apartment. "Why are we going so early? We have an easy hour before midnight." Zach just chuckles at my comment. "Davina there are people coming from all kinds of places to watch the new years show in Chicago. Downtown is really busy right now, it's going to take us a long time before we get there and find a spot to stand. Besides, I want to buy us a glass of champagne so we can toast once the clock strikes midnight. I don't normally do that but this is your first new Year eve. I want it to be cliché for you." He winks at me and I blush.

He doesn't normally do that. But he does now for me.

I turn my head away from him, hiding my smile. I can't help it. He grabs my hand and intertwines his fingers with mine. When we get in the car, it took us a rough minute before we got downtown. Traffic will be the death of me. After we finally got rid of the car we still had to walk a while before we got to Navy Pier.

When we get to Navy Pier, instead of walking on it like everybody else, Zach leads us away from the pier. "Zach, what are you doing?"

"Getting us first row tickets." Still holding my hand, he leads us to another pier. Much smaller than Navy Pier. We walk past the park to North Pier and I freeze in front of the fence. Unlike me, Zach decides to climb it.

"Zach, don't do that! It's obviously closed!" I shout whisper. Not like anybody will hear us but still. When he doesn't answer I try again. "Zach, I wasn't planning on getting arrested tonight. Quit it." He doesn't listen of course.

Instead, when he's on top of the fence, he reaches out his hand to me. "Come on, I promise it'll be worth it." I look at him and hesitate for a moment. After a while, I take a deep breath and start climbing the fence. We jump off the fence together. "If we get arrested you're bailing us out," I say stern before we start walking over the empty pier. On our left, we have a clear view of Navy Pier and behind us, you can see the city skylines a little bit.

A faint smile rests on my lips. Even though this is probably illegal, it is beautiful. When we get to the end of the pier, we sit down on the cold ground. Our bodies facing the Navy pier and when I look at Zach, I can't help but smile.

it's 5 minutes till midnight. "You're staring Gather." He states and I giggle. "Sorry, can't help it. I just really don't know how to feel right now." Zach turns his head to me. "Why's that?" I sigh and look back at the big pier in front of us. The Ferris wheel is lit up with neon pink lights and even from the distance we can hear the music playing and the people chatting. Sounds travel on water indeed.

"I just- I feel like you put a lot of effort into tonight, but on the other hand, I feel like this is easy for you. Not even a little trouble." I look at the reflection of the light on the water. It's beautiful. Now I think of it. This is the first time, I'm looking at natural water.