Flipped Into Place

New Obstacles

Bryce's POV:

I've been obsessing over the ring Juli got me since it was slipped into my finger. It may not have been costly but the thought? Oh, it's there. It's unbelievable how we both got each other promise rings. We're gonna need it for the new year's obstacles of life. I have no idea why but a bad feeling had been placed in the pit of my stomach. The feels of the new year was... different.

Don't get me wrong, I'm doubtlessly pumped. It became more exciting since a whole bunch of my cousins are staying until after New Year.

It was nice to see my friends getting along with my relatives. Juli on the other hand, was really something. She and Riley were inseparable since Christmas Eve. I can't even steal Juli away from her.

I dreadfully sat on the round table along with my cousins playing board games when all I longed for was the attention of my girl who was laughing away, enjoying the moment with my cousin. If only I could just whisk her away somehow. But then again, we were playing our favorite childhood board game which was brought by Tyren straight from Ohio. I could never not enjoy this game. We even taught Daven the basics.

Still though, I couldn't help myself. After my turn was done, I went over to them. "Hey, beb, you good here?" I casually asked.

"Why wouldn't she be cuz? Are you worried she wants to spend more time with me?" asked Riley with full on sass mode.

Juli giggled. "Yeah, Bryce I'm fine. What's up?"

"Nothing, I was just wondering if you girls would like to join us?"

"Yeah, no. You guys are a bunch of sore losers. I remember last time when I won, Aiden threw a fit and cried the whole time, even knock the table over because he couldn't get over the fact that he lost to a girl. So, no. We're good. You may take your leave," she said as she shoo'ed me away, flicking her hand.

"Oh give it a break Riles, we were six. Besides, I know you're just scared that I'd ruin your standing position and beat you to it," I challenged her.

"Oh it's on," she stood up with her game face on and walked toward the table.

"You sure know how get into her nerves," Juli chuckled.

"Same old Riley. C'mon," I swung my arm around her and we made our way back to the table and to where I sat before.

The whole afternoon of bonding.

"Target locked," uttered a completely competitive Aiden.

"Not for long," said Riley with a brow up, returning that competitive spirit.

Needless to say, we had a fun day in our backyard. The parents are inside doing who knows what. They seemed to be having fun though.

I guess good moments do happen in a blink of an eye because the time soon came to welcome the new year. Again, we hosted a party, same place in the park. We spent the remaining time we had together with my cousins before they head back to the city.

We all yelled out a countdown as the hand in our watches stroke as each second passed by.

"Five... Four... Three... Two... One!"

And the noise began to rise in a clamor all in an instant. Oh, haven't I mentioned about our mini fireworks set? New Year is like an excuse to make a lot of noise in which no one could complain in. We might've taken advantage of that.

I guess it was tradition to make noise in welcoming the new year. The fireworks shot up to the sky to make an amazing display of crackled sparks, setting sparkles of amazing kaleidoscopic colors unveiling above the night sky. Pretty awesome actually.