HAPPY TWO-THOUSAND-AND-NINE!

It was quarter to eleven pm and the Starlight Lounge was filled to bursting with guests of the resort, all dressed in their best for the black-tie New Year's Eve party hosted by the hotel. Isabelle had slipped on the stunning vintage cocktail dress her mother had purchased for her earlier that year making her look like a perfect little fifties vision. With a black shawl flung around her thin arms, Isabelle strutted confidently into the Lounge on a pair of adorable black stiletto pumps, smiling around and looking for friends. In the corner, a big band played joyously, fueling dancers on a wooden floor as they swayed to the jazzy rhythms. Isabelle spotted a few students amidst the dancers, and waved, her mood friendly as it had been since after the wrap-up party of White Christmas and the start of the break. On a massive flat-screen on the wall played the New York count down of the ball drop, and all around the room were waiters passing out trays of champagne.

New Year's Eve was always fun for a number of reasons. The resort party was always rockin', and swing dancing was good, clean fun. At midnight, you got to kiss somebody. Everybody got nice and dressed up. But best of all, the teachers also let up on the students, and let them drink champagne as long as they monitored themselves and didn't leave the resort premises after their first sip of alcohol.

Patting her dark hair, which was swept up in an up-do, Isabelle leaned casually against the bar, plucking a champagne flute off of a waiter's tray as he passed and taking a sip gingerly, trying not to smudge her lipstick. Holding it carefully by the stem as her father had taught her at political fundraisers, Isabelle watched the dancers with a small smile on her lips, her heavily-lined blue eyes bright in the dim lighting. It was going to be a fun night.

It was approximately ten to eleven when Ethan burst into the Starlight Lounge with a panicked expression on his face. Ethan had snorted at the thought of him wearing a suit, so he’d decided to go with the closest thing to ‘fancy’ as he could find. A white dress shirt tucked into a pair of black slacks along with a pair of black dress shoes that he was certain didn’t belong to him. He wore a panicked expression because he’d been in his room obsessively tuning his guitar when he’d looked at the time. And he’d looked at it wrong. Instead of seeing 10:50pm, he’d seen 11:50am, and had rushed to get ready before the big New Years shindig.

He’d promised Izz that he wouldn’t miss it, and now he was going to! So Ethan had hurriedly put on his clothes (and he was certain his shirt wasn’t tucked in at the back – he’d have to get Izz to check that out when he got there) and rushed down to the Starlight Lounge. And that’s when we bring you back to the present, where we see Ethan bursting into the Starlight Lounge with a panicked expression on his face. “Izz! IZZ! Tink!” he panted, coming to a stop in front of his best friend, “Holy crap. Am I late?” And then the colour drained from his face.

As he looked at the clock on the wall of the Starlight Lounge, Ethan saw that the time was actually 10:50pm, not 11:50pm. Ethan shakily raised a hand to his forehead to wipe away the sweat that was forming. His face was slowly gaining some colour, but it wasn’t the colour that he wanted. Instead of the normal, skin coloured colour his face usually held, Ethan’s skin was slowly turning a pale shade of pink. Of course it was pink. As if he wasn’t already embarrassed enough, his skin had to go and turn gay on him and turn pink! Ethan was not having a good New Years Eve.

Slowly he turned to Izz, a sheepish grin on his face. “Heh heh… hey Izz, would you mind checking out my shirt? I feel like it’s not tucked in at the back.” That’s the way, play it cool. Maybe she wouldn’t notice his currently homosexual skin.

Ethan was the first of her friends that Isabelle spotted in the large room, and ecstatically she greeted him, though he seemed incredibly flustered. Apparently he'd thought he was running late, but her large blue eyes simply needed to glance once at the clock before smiling along with her lips. Setting her champagne glass on the bar, she began smoothing the front of Ethan's shirt and undoing a button. There, much better.

"You're right on time, Peter, relax..." she said with amusement, turning him around and checking his shirt. It was tucked out a bit, and she shoved the leftovers back in his pants, completely unabashed at sticking her hand down his pants a little. Really- it was Ethan. The action couldn't have been less intimate if they were ACTUALLY flesh and blood.

"Happy New Year..." Isabelle said with a smile, taking a glass of champagne off of a passing tray and handing it to her best friend before picking hers back up and clinking it off hers. New Year's really was one of her favorite holidays; so glamorous, so exciting. Plus the concept of the New Year was one that appealed so strongly to her- the opportunity for a fresh start, to build a better you. It was all so wonderful and shiny and exciting.

It wasn't more than a few gulps before Isabelle's champagne was gone and she was smacking her lips, her cheeks glowing rosy. She was a bit of a lightweight, and she reminded herself she probably shouldn't grab another for a while, but still the temptation to steal Ethan's and finish it off was too great. Well aware of what had happened the last time she'd had a little too much, Isabelle took Ethan's glass out of his hand before taking it and leading him onto the dance floor. True, she knew that he hated to dance, but it was really quite amusing watching him try.

"Come onnn Ethan, it's New Year's!" she said, smiling at his protestations as she did her best to lead him awkwardly around the dance floor, her hand pressing on his shoulder as his rested in the small of her back. Desperately she watched his feet- how could any person on the planet have that little rhythm? "There's this thing called a beat that you should be feeling right now... One, two, one, two..."

She was smiling at him. She was probably laughing at him inwardly. Well, whatever. She could laugh at him if she wanted. Ethan would get her back later. Without hesitation, Izz turned him around and tucked in his shirt. He was completely unfazed by the feeling of her hands down his pants. It wasn’t as if they hadn’t been down there before. No! Not like that, you sicko. Ethan had issues with tucking in his shirt, so Izz usually had to do it for him. They were so close it was just like she was dressing her brother or something. Although admittedly, Isaac dressed a lot better than Ethan…

“Happy New Year…” Ethan smiled, though it was still rather shaky, and clinked his champagne glass off Izz’s. He didn’t mind New Years. It was an excuse to party (even though Ethan didn’t like party as much as the people his age). But if he spent it with his closest friends, Ethan was fine. As long as he didn’t have to dance. But Izz usually forced him to. Ethan had never once won the ‘I Don’t Want To Dance!’ battle. And it was an epic battle. That Izz won. Constantly.

Ethan took a small gulp of his champagne, making a sound of protest as Izz took it away from him. Oh crap. Ethan knew what was coming. The look in Izz’s eyes told him everything. Immediately he planted his feet firmly on the floor, and tried to pull his hand away from Izz. He was too slow. Within seconds, she had his hand gripped tightly in hers, and was starting to pull him towards the dance floor. Ethan pulled back on his hand. “I don’t want to!” he said, rather childishly. “Come onnn Ethan, it’s New Year’s!” Ethan narrowed his eyes at Izz, though allowed her to drag him onto the dance floor.

Without saying a word, Ethan rested his free hand on the small of Izz’s back while she planted hers firmly on his shoulder and started to lead him around. “There’s this thing called a beat that you should be feeling right now… One, two, one, two.” Ethan stared as Izz as she counted to the beat. A look of confusion was evident on his face. What beat? He was honestly feeling nothing. “Don’t mean to burst your bubble, but I have two left feet”, Ethan said, glancing down at his awkwardly moving feet. “And I can honestly tell you that I’m not feeling a beat.”

It was hardly eleven o'clock, and the night felt young. Not quite as young as Darnell felt though. It was pretty amazing how things were going with Abi. Even though he'd been hanging out with her all day he still couldn't wait to see her walk in the room, and was a little disappointed when he didn't see her there already. They'd only split to change into their evening apparel, which for Darnie wasn't really so formal, some black jeans and clean grey button-up shirt. Button-up was about as formal as he got. He hated ties and tuxes.

Walking towards the refreshments table, Darnell found an open spot by the wall and leaned against it, waiting patiently and quietly. He scoped out his surroundings with little interest in anything in particular. The room was filling nicely, and he had a good view of everyone entering. The only things that stuck out to him were a group of three girls who kept turning looking and giggling towards him. He smiled softly, but didn't make eye contact. It was nice to know he could attract the attention, but he had no interest in it. He made a mental note to steer clear of the blonde chick with the glasses and blue hair streak. He wondered what Abi was doing... was she always going to take this long to get ready? Ten years from now, would he be standing by a wall waiting for her to enter a room? No... ten years from now, he'd be knocking on their bedroom door, yelling for her to get her a-- ready faster, and when she came out with that offended look on her face, he'd be laughing and locking her inside his apologetic embrace... yeah, that sounded right.

Abi wasn't exactly rushed off her feet at that point in time. She had only just finished her makeup and had put on some bright red heels and walk out in her red dress. Abi hadn't realised how perfectly it matched with her necklace from Darnell. It was almost eleven and upon wondering where Darnell was, even though she had seen him just a couple of hours ago, Abi spotted him leaning against a wall.

Smiling and waving to Ethan and Izz, she walked over to Darnell. Passing a giggling group of girls along the way, she eyed them carefully as she passed until she reached Darnell. He looked smart in jeans and a shirt, it was a little different, she was so used to the casual wear that even what she was wearing felt odd. Flicking her hair behind her, she had curled it, it had taken a while but it was of course, New Years Eve! Hugging her boyfriend, it was still weird thinking that. It had been about a month and she had been loving every second, it hadn't been that weird at all. They hadn't had any fights, and hopefully they wouldn't ever. Abi couldn't see that happening, it wasn't as if there was anything for them to fight about.

Stepping away, she looked around, a fair few people were around. She didn't quite know where to look, mingle with their friends for a while? Or get on dancing? "New years eve! I can't believe it, it's gone so fast" Abi smiled, turning around to move next to him, standing by his side. Abi grabbed his hand, "Dance?" She winked, her eyes brushing over someone standing in the crowd. They looked like they were alone, a guy, fairly cute, sort of weird in that 'I'm watching' way. Ah well. Darnell was twice as gorgeous a hunk and hers, maybe the guy would be cool if he was less of a creep? She took a couple of steps away, beginning to pull Darnell with her.

Darnell was still scanning the other side of the crowd when Abi came in. She walked up and surprised him with her exclamation of 'New Years Eve!' It made him laugh a little, although part of him couldn't help feeling regret at not seeing her entrance. Just one of those things that came with being in love with the girl, he guessed.

He secured his fingers around hers when her hand met with his. "Let's do this," he smiled, following her line of sight for an instant and locking eyes for an instant with the loner guy, who turned away, a stupid patronizing grin on his face. Yeah you'd better beat it, Darnie thought to himself, re-focusing on Abi, who he pulled in close as the song changed from swing to something more contemporary. He kept his arms around Abi, pretty much always resting in the hip area, and watching how she moved, tried to keep up in whatever she did. Hah, he was paying absolutely no attention to anyone else in the world right then; not loner guy, inching around the dance floor, or blonde glasses chick, pretty much right behind him.

Abi smiled, pulling Darnell closer to her as some girl looked him up and down. They came a little closer, while Abi sped up the beat, concentrating on Darnell. It was a little unnerving having a stupid girl dancing right behind Darnell, and while she tried to ignore her, Abi found she was drawn to the guy staring at her - the same guy she had sen earlier. Dropping her eyes to meet Darnell she smiled again, and they carried on dancing. It was pretty crowded, or at least, that's what it felt like to her. She was focussing on Darnell, the way he was holding her and imagining just how long they would be together, and how she couldn't possibly imagine being anywhere else except where she was right now with him.

Except, all of a sudden. This girl was getting closer to them, moving around the side of her her blonde hair flicking around almost hitting Abi in the face. Abi frowned, Darnell dropped his hands from her hips and in a second they were on this girls. Scowling, she had half a mind to shove her aside, Darnell had hardly moved and that girl was throwing herself all over him. She took a few steps back, arms folded she was positively fuming. Darnell hardly noticed! Abi didn't knopw whether to be more annoyed with the girl that clearly needed her roots done and a good makeover to even be worth talking to at all or Darnell who hadn't even noticed the outrageous dance moves this girl was pulling. Scoffing, she glared at the two and stood on the sidelines.

Abi was royally pissed, thanks to that stupid girl. Muttering obscenities under her breath, she stared at them until she heard a voice behind her. "That your boyfriend?" She rolled her eyes, "He won't be for much longer!" Of course, Abi didn't mean it, but the look on his face and the excitement in hers, she was more than hurt. He walked up beside her, "I'm...sorry to hear that" She looked at him out of the corner of her eyes, he didn't look sorry. Turning back to the two, Abi shrugged. At least she wouldn't dance with the guy. "It's alright, he should notice soon if he knows what's good for him"

Parties are always pretty crazy, it wasn't really that unusual for someone to get on the dance floor with one person and leave it with someone completely different- but this was ridiculous. Abi and Darnie had barely been there that long and suddenly things were switching and changing before Darnell had a chance to even really notice. He was just dancing, turning around and jumping up and down and whatnot, figuring Abi was right there with him- his hands were around her after all... and the dancing was great- Abi seemed to be loosening up rather nicely- in fact... she seemed a bit more into dancing than he'd ever noticed her to be before... some of the moves were kind of un-Abi-like... no... definitely un-Abi-like... then he noticed the blue streak.

"Woah," He stopped dancing and looked at the glasses chick with a risen eyebrow, "You're not my girlfriend." No wonder...

"I could be," she laughed, throwing her arms around his neck and moving in. While flattered, Darnie was no fool. He gently pushed the girl away and turned around looking for Abi. Then he spotted her- he grit his teeth- and loner guy.

"Abi!" He hopped out of the crowd and ran over to her side. He made a point of shoving past loner guy, "You mind?" He growled in his direction, making a point then also to place an arm around Abi's shoulder. "What happened? Why'd you leave?" He asked Abi, only too aware of the fact that loner guy was still hovering their general vicinity, and it was working his last nerve. "You know that guy?" He glared at him for a second, then returned his attention to his girl.

"How're you finding Harriman, how long have you got?" Rob asked.

Abi nodded, "I'm enjoying it, I've got one more year left!" She smiled, while he nodded back at her. Almost shoving into her, the guy she was talking to was moved aside while Darnell came up to her. "I didn't leave!" She shook her head, "I was shoved out of the way, practically" Abi rolled her eyes, seeing that girl follow Darnell. Why did she had to follow her boyfriend? She was still ticked off, it had taken a while for him to realise. In that time, Abi had gotten to know Rob while Darnell was off dancing. He seemed an alright guy once they did get talking, at least no one came along and interrupted them then.

"Rob?" Abi tilted her head, was that jealousy she was hearing? She raised an eyebrow and shrugged his arm off, "We got talking while you were off with her" Abi gestured to the girl behind him, she couldn't help the bitterness in her voice. It hurt seeing them together, someone else instead of her "I'm sure you enjoyed yourself, but he happens to be taken!" She glared at the girl, this party was turning out well. Abi didn't know whether to grab Darnell and just walk away or stand there and sulk. It seemed no one else wanted to move, so she took the liberty of staring at the girl, wondering how Darnell couldn't notice the difference as soon as she had left. Abi moved away from Darnell, he could at least apologise to her!

Darnell hadn't even noticed glasses chick follow him when he'd gone over to find Abi and really he couldn't have cared less- except for the fact that it was bothering Abi and what was bothering Abi always bothered him too. Now things were getting WAY out of hand.

"Rob?" Really? Five freaking seconds and this loner freak was moving in on his girlfriend? No- no- no. "Well that's nice." The sarcasm was flooding out now. Darnell was particularly irked when Abi let his arm slide away. He replaced the shoulder grip with one by her waist. "Thanks for watching my girlfriend for me, Rob." He began to walk both of them away, paying no mind at all to the glasses chick, when,

"Hey- I was talking to her."

Oh. Ohhhh. Ooohhhh no. Darnell turned. "What?" This was the beginning of the boiling of the blood.

"Abigail and I- we were-"

"I'm wearing my good shirt today. Don't make me fight you in my good shirt." He was serious, this was his good shirt.

"Oh, so now you're the big bad boyfriend? Looked like five seconds ago you were just fine with that other girl. Real heroic."

In what seemed like an instant Darnell was in Rob's face. The two were about the same height and build and all that, maybe Rob was a bit taller, bit thinner- Darnell was sure he could take him. "Rob- let me give you a piece of advice. Don't be a f---in' idiot, and stay the hell away from my girlfriend." This was don't-mess-with-me Darnie, and boy was he fired up. Turning away, he grabbed Abi's hand and began to pull her further away.

Abi winced when she heard that tone. Yes. That seemed to be his name. Why did he have to say it like that. She had heard that tone before and it was the 'wtfh' tone, Abi sighed when he started on the sarcasm. Could the floor just eat her up right now? Darnell wrapped an arm around her waist, Abi still didn't know whether to cuddle up to him or not. She ended up, just standing there, half-listening to the conversation going on between Rob and Darnell and keeping the image of her slapping that girl right across the face alive in her head. They were beginning to walk away, Abi really hoped that would be the end of it. Rob was just some guy she was talking to, it wasn't exactly turning into best buds.

Instead, Rob had to open his mouth. Not a step further, Darnell froze and turned around. Abi would've died if she were on the receiving end of the look he was giving Rob. She had no idea that it looked that serious to Darnell, in all honesty it was just a conversation. He was going all off on one, but he had danced with that GAH! Abi felt like carrying out the image replaying in her head right now. Darnell was talking about his good shirt? He wasn't fighting because of what he was wearing? Abi did have to agree, it was his good shirt though. It seemed seconds past, Darnell had walked up to Rob talking right in his face, Abi folded her arms.

Words were said and finally, he grabbed her hand and walked away. Glancing at him, she shook her head, "You were off dancing! It was a conversation and you had to go and do that?!" Abi was so mad right now. "You didn't even notice me gone, and thought I had purposefully left when I had!" Abi wasn't happy, not happy at all, a scowl on her face, arms folded, her voice low. "She was all over you!" Abi growled. Spotting some of their friends, Abi directed the both of them away, they needed to talk.

Finding an empty corner - probably one of the last, as she lead her boyfriend towards it she ran through what she could possibly say to him. Why did that girl have to do that?!!?

Now that the creep was finally done with, Darnell was completely focused on Abi, and he couldn't believe what he was hearing! How had this turned into his fault? He'd been dancing with her! It wasn't his fault that the other chick pushed in and that Abi hadn't said anything about it! She hadn't been like 'hey' or 'wait' or 'Darnie' or anything! She'd just walked away and gone and talked to Rob, pft. Her choice wasn't so smart.

"I can't believe you're mad at me!" He exclaimed. "How was I supposed to know you'd gone?" He'd walked past a refreshments table and grabbed up a very obviously alcoholic beverage someone'd brought in under the radar, of course. It was a beer. And Darnell felt he was going to need it. He wrapped the end of his shirt around the top and popped the cap off, which he stuffed in his pocket. He liked bottle caps... and somewhere inside of him he was considering on using it to make Abi another bracelet... but he was still mad. "She? Who is she? I don't even REMEMBER a she, that's how little she means to me. I don't even know her NAME!"

Now they were in their own little corner, arguing. If Darnie hadn't been so heated, he might have been a little nostalgic about this... it was their first REAL argument as boyfriend and girlfriend. Their last had been before they were officially together...

Abi shook her head reeling back, "Of course I am! You should notice, since she happens to look nothing like me! She is nothing like me!" That tacky highlighted hair was still in her mind, along with the look she received, that girl was happy. Right in the corner, by the refreshments, Abi couldn't even be bothered to pull the bottle of beer away from him. Abi blinked, she was hurt, how could he not realise? They were beyond the normal volume for any party, shouting over the music and at each other.

"She? Who is she? I don't even REMEMBER a she, that's how little she means to me. I don't even know her NAME!"

Abi scoffed, "I'm sure she's not thinking that. She loved every second of it, and it looked like she knew you pretty well" She looked down at the table, beer and punch, she knew which she preferred. Taking a cup full of punch, she took a long drink. "You have no idea how angry I am at you right now!" Abi didn't want to be, she loved him too much, but seeing that. She couldn't forget that. Seeing him happy, with someone else that wasn't her. It hurt deep. Her face was probably red, she shouting at him, her voice almost hoarse, "Do you have any idea how much that hurt?" Abi yelled.

She couldn't understand why Darnell didn't think he was at fault at all. How was any of it her fault? It was a conversation! As if Rob was at fault! Taking her cup, she moved out from the side of the refreshments table, "I-I can't talk to you right now" Abi stuttered, her breathing shaky. She wasn't sure what to do right now.

Darnell lifted the bottle to his lips and took a long sip; this was unreal, this argument.

"Hey! Hold on a minute!" He didn't care what the other girl looked like. Of course she was nothing like Abi. No one was anything like Abi, that was why he loved Abi and no one else! That was why he couldn't care less about glasses chick! Why must Abi keep bringing the da-- girl up! And why must she look so hurt?! "Oh yeah, we know each other SO well and I enjoyed dancing with her SO much," he scoffed, "that's exactly why I'm over here, yelling at you, that I don't give a sh-- about her!" He was losing tact, fast. The next swig of the drink he took wasn't helping either.

Then she played the hurt card. It sliced right through his chest. He let the beer bottle hang by his side. Now she was going to leave?! "Hey! No! Talk to me! Yell at me!" He reached out and grabbed her arm. His voice was faltering from anger to desperation, but he wasn't making it easy to tell. He didn't like it when Abi walked away from him. He much preferred her nearing. Much preferred her smiling, much preferred everything except what was happening right now. "You're going to talk to me- right now- let's go- I'm your boyfriend, so talk to me!" He didn't mean to come off so dictatorial; it just came out that way.

Abi frowned, she really didn't want to talk to him when they were like this. His beer probably wasn't helping things, "Yell at you?!" She shook her head, "I don't want to yell at you!" Abi grabbed onto her arm, tightly, she tried to shake it off. When had it turned into an argument between them? The girl was to blame for the most of it, and she was getting angry at Darnell. She was getting angry at Darnell because he was the only one standing around with her.

Abi rolled her eyes, Darnell wasn't going to order her around like that! "I'm going to talk to who I want to talk to! I don't want to talk to you right now!" Abi tried to pull his hand off her arm, "Just because you're my boyfriend shouldn't be the only excuse for talking!" She didn't care if people were staring, she wasn't exactly focussed on them, Darnell was in front of her telling her what to do and Abi wasn't going to take any of it. "Let go of me!"

This wasn't turning into an exceptional party, it really just sucked. Her first argument with Darnell, and funnily enough alcohol was in the mix too. "We both need to calm down. So.. I'm walking away, right. now." Abi said slowly. She really didn't want a repeat of their last argument, it was difficult being the calm one when she really felt like wacking him on the head.

If there was one thing Darnell was sure of, it was that his night was pretty much over now. There was nothing good that could come of an Abi-less New Years. Which reminded him… it was New Years… and now he had no Abi to bring it in with. Wow- depressing. He knocked back the rest of his beer and walked in a fairly straight line toward the table for another. On his way, he, of course, bumped into glasses chick- or rather- she jumped onto him- his back- it was not cool.

"Woah.” Darnell grunted under the weight.

”Hi cutie! Where’s your girlfriend?”

"Somewhere- mad at me…” he groaned- she’d slipped off and he’d grabbed another beer- the cap of which was befriending the other in his pocket.

”Oh… that’s too bad.”

"It’s your fault.”

”Oh…”

"Yeah, oooh…” He mocked. "I think you should go away.” The drinking wasn’t stopping and that wasn’t exactly going to do wonders in this situation.

”Oh, you don’t mean that. Guys back home say I’m quite the catch…”

"I never was one for sports.” Gulp, gulp, gulp, and the world began to spin away. The no-Abi sadness blurred. Some matter of time later, he heard,

”It’s almost midnight!”

He was lying behind a couch, a third bottle of beer in his hand, and then suddenly there was pressure on his chest- which he realized was glasses chick- somehow the name Rachel popped in his head- anyway, her hands as she leaned over- and then she was kissing him, and then- since his head was ages away, his mind was picturing Abi- he was kissing her too. This wasn’t making sense. Darnell wasn’t thinking about sense though, unless the sense was the sense of touch, which he was definitely feeling- hand on Rachel’s back- and then- wait… Abi… ABI! With absolutely no thought for the Rachel chick, he pushed himself up and set into search mode.

Abi didn't want to fight with Darnell, much less have a full blown argument over someone who had just walked away. It wasn't worth it, so, she turned around in search of someone she could talk to instead. It was busy, crowds of people pushing past all here for new years, it was supposed to be a great night. Abi sighed, taking a long drink of her punch, while she watched the people in front of her dancing. The couple was having a good time and that was how they were supposed to go, how could it have turned out like that in a matter of minutes?

Now, Abi couldn't really see herself finding Darnell in time for midnight, he might go back to his room early. He wasn't exactly happy with her leaving. Abi was upset, but she didn't know who she could take it out on, already she had done that to Darnell and really wanted to turn around and walk away. Now, there was no one. Abi was sat on a chair in the corner, slumped over, staring at the floor, hardly looking like she was having a good time when she heard that voice again.

"Thought I lost you earlier"

Abi could only shrug, she wasn't in the mood for talking with anyone, her evening was ruined. "I was having an argument with my boyfriend" She said, lifting her eyes to meet Robs. He was staring at her, holding a beer bottle in one hand. "That's a shame. Someone like you deserves someone better than him" Abi rolled her eyes, as if. It didn't get better than Darnie. At least, that was what she had always thought, taking another sip of her punch she wondered how long she had been drinking it. It made her feel funny. "Darnie.. is as good as it gets"

The guy pulled her up, Abi stood over him frowning. "I'm so much better" She shook her head furiously, hearing people begin to count down to midnight. Her eyes blurry, she tried to blink, then saw Darnell? Darnells hair had gotten darker, but Abi was sure it was him. Sure enough, it reached midnight and he told her happy new year when his lips met hers, it certainly felt like him. His arms around her, while Abi wrapped hers around him, kissing him back. Then her eyes flashed open, this guy wasn't Darnell! Abi tried to push him away, where was Darnie! Finally, he let go, frowning at her. She was confused, but she was hardly drunk, wasn't that just plain old fruit punch. She looked around trying to find Darnell, and trying to focus at the same time. Rob began saying that the punch was a little strong. Strong?!!?

Scrambling to his feet, Darnell scoured the room, until he saw her. At first it was just this rush of relief at having found her- and then- instantly afterward, it was fury. She was being kissed by that Rob guy. She was really being kissed. Like a bullet Darnell was headed their way, and without slowing at all in a moment, he was sure he’d bull-dozed the guy over. He was so infuriated- not even with Abi- not with her at all at the moment- it was all this guy. The fact that his hands had been on Abi... it wasn't even just that Abi was Darnie's girlfriend- it was that Abi was Abi and no one so slimy should ever touch her ever. Flat on the ground, a series of punches to the gut and face were delivered most eloquently, before he was pulled back by some other guys and forced to take comfort in the result of his work. He’d managed to paint some nice blacks and blues on that Rob with his fists. It was like finger painting- the high school kind.

"Get near her again and you die you f---in’ idiot.” Wiping at the blood on his mouth- the guy had gotten one good right hook in- but that was all- Darnell turned and looked at Abi. Suddenly the flames of fury changed direction. This is all your fault, he thought, unable to let the words leave his mouth, though. With that, he was dragged out of the party and thrown outside into the cold. Apparently, fight winners earned no prizes at this place.

Darnell stumbled onto a curb and sat down, placing his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. He spit some blood to the side and shook his head. How had the night turned into this? Way to start off the new year... in the cold... outside... alone...

All of a sudden Rob was pulled away, Darnell almost running into him as his fist flew into him. Shock overcame her, seeing Rob trying to defend himself while Darnell was pulled away by three guys. Abi stared, it couldn't be happening, no way would Darnell do that! She heard the threat he spat out, and as Darnell turned to stare at her she felt something in her just...break. Before Abi could drag Darnell away and explain, he was pulled away by three of the guys that had been holding him back. Rob slowly got up, but Abi wasn't looking out for him.

Quickly on Darnies tail, she saw him spit out some blood on the curb, head in his hands. She sighed, taking a deep breath as she walked out into the cold air and dropped down beside him. "I am.. so sorry Darnie" Abi looked at him worriedly, she was so sure that was him and it only made sense that it was Rob but that didn't even occur to her at the time. Abi had sobered up, at least, she didn't think she needed to much. Apart from so it was easy to identify who her boyfriend was, she didn't know what to say. Staring at him, she couldn't help lifting a hand to his lip, "Looks sore" Abi muttered, her hand dropped to reach out for his hand.

"I thought it was you" She shut her eyes, "It was midnight, and I swear I thought I was kissing you" Abi repeated. She didn't want Darnell angry at her, least of all seeing how the roles were reversed. Although, Darnell hadn't kissed that girl, at least he had some self-control.

Aside from the fact that the lower portion of his jaw was throbbing with alcohol-dulled pain, and a major migraine felt as though it was coming on, Darnell felt pretty much like crap. This whole night was taking him back to ninth grade- when he'd really been a that short-fused jerk with the chip on his shoulder and beer in hand. He felt like that little jerk of a Darnell- and it sucked more than anything else. He'd given that up to come to Harriman- he'd cleaned up- he wasn't supposed to be doing this.

And Abi... He didn't look up at first, just breathed, listening to her apology with little shown interest. His eyebrows furrowed over his eyes and his breathing stopped for a moment at her touch. Was it supposed to make him feel better? Show that she cared or something? That fat lip was for her... and yet... he was so mad at her. He didn't want to be angry with her... and he felt his breath pick up as he silently argued with himself over the matter. Her hand was reaching for his... he saw it out of the corner of his eyes. Would he take it?

Yes. And then, he pulled her toward him and kissed her deeply for a minute. When he pulled away, he looked away- but still held her hand. "That's me kissing you," he clarified, since it seemed it was necessary. Adding somewhat disgruntedly, but softly nonetheless, "might do some good to remember that..." He couldn't help that he was still a little angry... but he had kissed someone else too... should he tell her?

At least he took her hand, kissing her but he couldn't quite look at her. Abi frowned, "Some good? She rolled her eyes, "Might have done you some good to have noticed I wasn't dancing with you anymore!" She knew he was angry, but what good was it going to do now? "Happy new year" Abi muttered, as if she could ever forget Darnell. She was confused, couldn't he just understand that? Surely he'd been confused at some point? "I'm sure the same's happened to you some time in your life! You know better than me how it feels, so don't go saying that!" Abi glared for a moment, the word hypocrite coming to mind.

Guilt filled her, she knew how he was trying to get over the drinking and it would be difficult for him to get over that, why did she have to bring it up? Abi sighed, her head dropping as she pulled her legs in, resting her head on her knees she pulled her hand away and wrapped her arms around her knees. She didn't care if it was childish, Abi just didn't want to see Darnell like that, she didn't mean it! What more could she do? "I didn't mean it!" At least they were alone out here, there was no need for anyone else around to distract them now. "If I could take it back now, I would" Abi looked up at him.

"I love you" She bit her lip, unsure of what she should do. He was so angry, and Abi didn't know how to handle it. She turned her head, looking straight ahead. If there was anything she could do to make it better, she would. This was the s--test party she had been to in a long time, and the people were the worst.

Oh. The dancing thing. Brought up again. Yes, this was going to be a long night, and technically, a long morning since it was past midnight. It was the first day of the new year, and what a way to bring it in! A crap load of arguing mixed with some mixed signals, bitter words, a little bit of blood and a whole lot of wrong. The sarcastic 'Happy new year" wasn't helping matters, either.

"I'm sure the same's happened to you some time in your life! You know better than me how it feels, so don't go saying that!"

This made Darnell look over, meeting Abi's angry gaze for only an instant- but more than long enough. He hardly heard the next few things she said- his mind still going over that sentence, over and over... her tone when she'd said it... no matter what she said- she'd meant that.

He stood up- practically jumped, and just started pacing- he wasn't sure why. This was the last time he was going to drink... how many times had he said that to himself? Too many. But this time he meant it right? How could he now? After hearing what he'd just heard... from Abi...

Now he wanted to leave. Just walk away. He wanted to run somewhere- really bad- suddenly his legs were aching to run somewhere, but there wasn't anywhere he could go that would have been plausible. Everywhere was cold tonight- and he was tired of acting like a total and complete idiot. Even though... he was mad enough to. Fuse shortening, and anger still flickering around inside of him, Darnell realized he was still holding the beer bottle. Taking a couple of quick steps forward, he flung it as far as he could, and watched it fly through the air until it hit somewhere in the snow. A shatter would have sounded much better...

Then he turned, chest pulsating, he was exhausted all of a sudden. He ran a hand through his hair and turned his eyes toward Abi. She'd been right... "I'm... trying..."

She felt him brush past, his steps along the ground. "I need to shut up" Abi muttered to herself, hitting her head against her knees. She regretted opening her mouth, there was no way she meant any of that, it just popped out. "I know!" Abi jumped up, to walk over to him, "I didn't mean it" She looked at him softly, "It's just.. I got angry, I don't kick or punch, I just say stuff I don't mean" Abi desperately wanted to turn back time, Darnell was the best thing that had happened to her, he was her life and that was crumbling down before her. "This... sucks"

Abi watched him carefully, "As arguments go.. this one is the worst ever" She said sadly. Taking another step closer to him, "I don't even know what to say to make it better" Abi shrugged, she was so close, reaching her arms out she wrapped them round him tightly, resting her head on his chest. "I just... want to stop" Abi looked up, "Arguing with you. It's dumb" She gave him a soft kiss, eying the swollen lip.

She didn't know what he would do, if he would forgive her. If he had seen him kissing another girl, someone like that girl, someone not even worth giving the time of day to, she would be furious. She would've slapped her, more than slapped her, scratched her eyes out and thrown her off the face of the earth. She would've killed her. Abi didn't know how Darnell felt, he was angry, sure but would it get any better?

When Abi came near him, Darnell felt the anger beginning to dissolve. He agreed with what she was saying mostly... he was still a little unsure on whether or not she'd meant what she'd said, but she was right in comparing it to kicking and punching. It'd been worse. And that this whole thing sucked? Definitely. The only thing he could do was not say anything, though... he wasn't completely okay yet...

Then her arms came out around him, and Darnie knew that the fight was ended. Slowly, he brought his arms up and around her, and in that position, he stayed.

"I just... want to stop- Arguing with you. It's dumb."

"Okay..." He said simply, grateful for the kiss. His hand rose to cup the side of Abi's face. Just five seconds ago he couldn't have been angrier with her- and yet that didn't keep him from thinking of how amazingly beautiful she was- and how lucky he was to have her. To feel this adoration in combination with everything else, no matter what was going on... that had to be love. Darnie couldn't explain the hurricane of emotions any other way. And he didn't want to.

His free hand rested at the small of her back, he pushed her toward him, enclosing what little space there had been between them. His lips were over hers, but not touching. He tried to smile, but was a little too out of it to do it properly- his mouth twitched, hardly upward. "I love you too... I'm sorry I yelled." His hand moved from her face to stroke through her hair. "And I'm sorry I danced with the other girl..." He rolled his eyes toward the lodge door and he chuckled, "I'm not sorry I tried to kill Rob."