Mirrors |NH|

Chapter Fifty One

For the next hour or so, before the clock struck midnight, he danced with her.  They also snacked on a few hors d'oeuvres and took several more shots until they both were beyond tipsy but not quite plastered - just enough for Niall to decide he would use the ushering in of the new year at midnight as his excuse to kiss her. 

"What are you smiling at?" Edie asked, bringing him out of his thoughts.  They had sat down for a bit to catch their breath and regain a little sobriety.  But, due to lack of chairs, Niall was lucky enough to have her just sit in his lap.  She had one arm around his neck, while he had one arm around her waist, resting on her hip.

"Nothing really.  Just having fun, is all.  Are you?"

"Actually, I am," she smiled at him and he thought he could sense something different about her.  But just as he thought he had figured it out, she stood up.  She bent down to whisper in his ear, "I'll be right back."  He followed her with his eyes and watched as she made a beeline for the restroom.  How she got there in those heels, is beyond him.

A friend of his came over to talk to him so he didn't notice how long she had been gone until he saw some guy he didn't know, chatting her up.  She looked as if she was trying to be nice but wanted to walk away.  "Excuse me, a sec," he said before walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist.

She jumped a little when he touched her but turned when she realized it was him and smiled, "Niall!" She gave him a hug, "Save me."

"Hey, babe, it's almost midnight, thought I'd lost for you for a second," he said loud enough for the guy to get the hint and walk away.  Once he was out of earshot, Niall asked, "You okay?"

"Yeah, he was just making me a little uncomfortable."

"Do I need to say something to him?"

"No, just stay right here," she said grabbing his hand and holding onto it.  With her other hand she grabbed another shot off a tray and Niall did the same.  "So, are you going to be my first kiss of the new year?" she asked, her voice suddenly irresistibly sexy.

The way she said it, not the question itself, nearly caused him to choke on his drink but he managed to get it down his throat.  He hadn't expected that.  "I can be...if you want me to?" he asked, looking down at her.  Her eyes were a little glossy, and he could tell she was on the verge of being too drunk.  That was not how he wanted this to go.

"Isn't it some sort of tradition to kiss at midnight?" she asked.

"Well, yeah, but--"

"So, it's settled.  I mean, why not kiss the guy I came with, right?"

She pulled on his hand as she wound her way around the dance floor again.  She was about to grab another drink, but he stopped her, "Slow down a little, please."

She gave him a little pouty face but there was still a glint in her eyes that told him she would listen.  As she brought him closer to her, he got this sensation that something different was happening.  The way she was moving against him, the way she had spoken to him just seconds before, the way she was looking at him right now, was all different.  Maybe it was the alcohol, but he had this strange feeling that she was about to kiss him. 

But their moment was interrupted by someone grabbing his shoulders and pushing them outside where everyone was headed to mark the countdown and watch the fireworks.  Niall silently cursed the guy.

"Jesus, it's cold," she said as they walked outside and the cold air hit their skin.  "Keep me warm, Niall," she said as she laced her arms around him.  He ran his hands up and down her bare arms to keep some warmth in her skin as she rested her head on his chest.  The guy hosting the party clinked on his champagne glass to get everyone's attention.

"I just wanted to thank everyone for coming out tonight.  This year has been a big year and I see only good things coming our way.  I know it's about that time so let's all bid farewell to this year with one last drink, while we usher in the new year with one more!"  Everyone laughed a little as they all began to countdown from thirty seconds to go. 

Edie had turned around so that now she had her back leaned against him.  Niall instinctively wrapped his arms around her and rested his cheek on the side of her head before turning his head to lightly peck her temple.  He felt her shudder and wasn't sure if it was from his kiss or the cold.  He just slowly started swaying them both back and forth as it got to ten seconds.  He was nervous and giddy, but he was also absolutely petrified.  He was afraid this would be the wrong thing to do.  He didn't want to scare her away; but he couldn't keep spending so much time with her and trying to hide what he felt.

He softly began singing in her ear, "I-eh-I-eh-I need love, to hold me closer in the ni-i-i-ght," he paused for a second before whispering, "Just enough."

She had turned around to face him; an odd expression on her face that he couldn't quite read but something in the way she was looking at him gave him the chills.  As the clock struck midnight, everyone around them began celebrating and singing as fireworks went off in the background.  Edie and Niall, though, had stopped moving.  He didn't hear a thing except for the pounding of his own heart.  He saw her mouth "Happy New Year, Niall," as she wrapped her arms around his neck and came in for a hug.  He went into kiss her cheek, having chickened out, when she turned her head just enough so that his lips finally met hers.