December 31, 2020
11:45 pm
———
Fifteen minutes before midnight, we were all slightly buzzed. Around eleven-thirty, someone changed the Spotify playlist from upbeat songs to slower love songs.
We all clumsily swayed to the music with our partners, waiting for 2021. Surely it would be better than this past year.
Ten minutes left.
Drew pulled me closer to him when the song switched. I don't know why, but I instantly felt suffocated. It became too hot in here. I felt like I was burning up. I tried to take a quiet deep breath, but my lungs wouldn't cooperate.
I needed to get some air.
"Be right back," I said, dropping his hand. I weaved my way through the small crowd. Drew just stood there, watching my retreating figure.
I went into the kitchen and unscrewed the cap on a bottle of water.
I chugged it and took some deep breaths, hoping that would do the trick.
When I felt composed, I glanced around the room. None of my friends saw my mini-panic attack. Good. I don't want them to worry.
I looked at the clock. Five minutes until midnight.
When I returned to the living room, Drew's eyes snapped to mine. I made my way back over to him.
"Sorry about that."
"S'okay."
He grabbed my hand again. We started to sway to the music again.
After a moment or so, he looked straight into my eyes. It was as if he was trying to look into my soul.
His lips parted, but he didn't say anything.
"What's wrong?" I asked, breaking our eye contact. It was making me feel uncomfortable.
Drew shook his head. "Nothing. Everything's perfect. You're perfect."
I blushed.
He took a deep breath, "Rebekah."
I raised my brows, prompting him to spit it out.
All around us, our friends started to countdown to midnight. I turned around and joined in.
"Fuck, this is not how I planned it," I heard Drew mutter.
5
4
3
2
1
Happy New Year!
I spun around to kiss Drew. He didn't lean down as I expected him to. Instead, he dropped my right hand but held on to my left.
He knelt to the ground, pulled out a ring, and said, "Marry me, Rebekah."
My eyes widened. I opened my mouth to answer him.
— — —
YOU ARE READING
Champagne Problems
Short Story(SHORT STORY) Rebekah and Drew were college sweethearts with two very different plans for New Year's Eve. Drew is ready to take the next step, while Rebekah is sort of happy where they are. What happens when Drew pops the question in front of all t...
