CHAPTER 25:

When I arrived home after the funeral of coarse Nicole was furious but I didn’t care and neither did Edward. She gave us a speech and all but we just walked past her and towards our rooms. I went straight to bed that night. For the next month that’s how it was work then home to bed. The boys were on vacation so they spent and extra two weeks in Miami to make sure I was alright. Christmas was terrible, it was Lucas’ 20th birthday and two days later it made a month since his death. Today was New Year’s Eve and luckily the store was closed today so I didn’t have to work. Edward came into my room earlier and told me that the boys called cause they were in town and they wanted us to go with them to a rockin’ New Year’s Eve party. I really didn’t want to go but Edward insisted that it was time for me to take a step out into the world. For the past month I haven’t been out anywhere except to work. I haven’t seen Peyton or Ariel and I’ve only spoken to them twice since the funeral. I dragged myself to change into descent attire for today. I slipped on a pair of black (skinny) dress pants and a nice white shirt. I put on a pair of black high heel boots and my long grey coat it was kind of chilly outside. I put on a bit of eyeliner, dark smoky eye shadow and left my hair loose in wavy curls.

“You ready?” Edward asked as he walked down the steps into my room. He was wearing black dress pants and a black dress shirt. His hair was nicely tied up in a ponytail.
“Yeah let’s go” I replied as I grabbed my bag and followed him up the steps.

The “family” wasn’t “home” so we dodged the whole twenty-one questions. We got into his camaro and drove to the party. It was a couple blocks away from the hotel the boys were staying at. The party was at a beach house. The boys had just arrived when we got there.

“Hey Is” Kevin greeted me as he hugged.
“Hi Kevin” I hugged back.
“Bells!” Joe yelled as he hugged me once Kevin stepped away.
“Hey Joe” I giggled.
“What’s up guys?” Edward greeted as they gave each other hi fives and all those things guys do.
“So who’s house is this anyways?” I asked as we began to walk towards the front door.
“An old family friend she’s throwing a party but my parent’s couldn’t make it so they sent us alone.” Kevin explained.
“Frankie got sick, poor kid. They had to stay with him but they’ll be here tomorrow” Joe added.

We entered the house it was full of Disney kids. It was one of those rockin’ New Year’s Eve things they do every year in New York Times Square. This year they all got together and convinced the head of the whole corporation to host it here in Miami on the beach where we could see the fireworks clearer, and the boys’ family friend had just the right spot for it. The house was huge and behind it was a big deck with a pool and a slide. Just on the side was a couple steps that lead to the big stage where everyone was going to perform. Below the deck were steps that lead to the dance floor and the big open beach that was lit up with tiki torches where people danced as well. They introduced us to the owner of the party shockingly it was someone famous I had seen in a Disney movie not long ago. Hillary Duff. Apparently the Jonas’ family and her family were close friends. After she gave us a tour of the house and gave us access to anything we wanted I went to sit by the tiki bar out by the beach. It wasn’t as chilly as I thought it would be so I left my jacket in the car luckily I wasn’t wearing a long sleeve shirt. Joe was talking to Edward near the pool and Kevin was walking towards me.

“Wanna take a walk?” he asked me.
“Uh sure why not?” I replied.

He reached for my hand and I gladly gave it to him as we walked down the lit beach. The waves were calm and the sky was clear and beautiful. The stars were so visible tonight and the moon shined as bright as ever over the dark blue water. He let go of my hand and bent to pick up a shell. He handed me a beautiful pearl white shell and then slipped his hands into his pant pockets as we walked side by side.

“So how are you?” he asked breaking the silence.
“I’m okay I guess” I said simply.
“How you holding up?”
“I’m making it through you know day by day” I replied.
“I heard you haven’t been out much” he stated.
“Where did you hear that?” Okay I knew but still. “I’ve been out to places” I added.
“Work doesn’t count” he stared at me.
“Okay fine I haven’t gone out big deal” I said as I stopped walking and looked at him.
“That’s not good you have to get out Is you have to try to move on” he explained.
“I can’t I’m not ready” I sat on the sand and stared out at the ocean before me.
“No one ever is but it’s part of the healing process look we’re going to be here for the next week and I promise I’ll take you out at least to get some fresh air you need it” he offered.
“I don’t know Kevin” I began.
“Please I want to help and plus I promised your parents and Lucas that I would help take care of you” he begged. “Let me help you”
“We’ll see okay” I replied and he nodded.
“We should start heading back it’s almost midnight and we have to perform” he informed me.
“Without Nick?” I asked.
“Nick’s here he arrived not long after we did. He was with Peyton so he came afterward in a taxi” he explained.
“Oh alright then let’s go” I said as Kevin helped me to my feet.

We walked back to the party and Miley was performing. I greeted Nick and then went to hang out with Edward while the boys got ready to perform next. Miley sung her hit ‘Breakout’ and then the boys were up. Everyone sung and danced around the stage while they performed ‘Burning Up’. They got their round of applauses and then they came to join us once again. Nick left right after because he wanted to be with Peyton when the clock struck twelve so Kevin and Joe let him go. Taylor Swift was up on stage next and she began to sing ‘Crazier’ from the upcoming movie Hannah Montana in which she was making an appearance.

“Want to dance?” Joe asked as she began to sing.
“Alright” I agreed as he stuck out his hand for me to take.

We walked to the sand on the beach and began to dance. I never knew Joe knew how to slow dance. He pulled me closer to him and really swept me off my feet. We stared into each other’s eyes as we moved together to the sound of the music. We didn’t know the song ended until she began to talk. We were in another world. It was just the two of us.

“Alright everybody I believe it’s time for the countdown” she yelled into the mic and both Joe and I came back into reality. We smiled and then turned to face her on stage. A screen came down from behind her and Times Square appeared on it. There was thirty seconds until midnight. Joe held my hand as we began to cheer with the crowd. Edward and Kevin were close by the pool shouting the countdown.

“Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one” I cheered beside Joe. “Happy New Year whoo!” I yelled as I giggled at how much fun this was. I turned to face Joe and he turned to face me.
“Happy New Year Bells!” he yelled.
“Happy New Year Joe” I replied and he pulled me in a tight hug.

Everyone around us was jumping up and down cheering, drinking, or congratulating one another. Some people even jumped into the pool. Joe pulled away from me stared into my eyes and smiled. He brushed my hair back and moved closer towards me. Then before I knew it his lips were on mine and I was kissing back.