Sequel: Pawn Shop Blues ›
Heavy Heart
I mean I really think you like me
“To the new year!”
For once, it was Daria’s turn to toast, standing in a cluster of her closest friends near the bar of the party, people swarming around them. Olivia was right at her side, Poppy and Litzy across from them, all with beautiful layered drinks in their hands. They grinned at each other with wide, ecstatic grins, overjoyed to be reunited so unexpectedly.
Harry flew Daria home that day, an invite to Cara’s New Year’s party downtown coming through with her name on it and a promise to admit anyone Daria brought along.
“Do you mind if I join?” her bright, slurring voice came from behind Daria. She turned to see Cara, beautiful as ever, standing with a shot in her hand. It was all Daria could do to keep from breaking out in the widest, most ridiculous smile – instead she wrapped Cara up in a hug and invited her into the circle.
“And to new friends,” Daria added, nodding in Cara’s direction. The lithe blonde’s smile only grew.
“To new friends.”
The sense of completeness that came with being back in London was next to indescribable. Stepping off the plane at Heathrow was like walking through her front door, the rest of her familiar new homeland ready for the taking. And even in the unfamiliar setting of the rented rooftop banquet room in the swankiest hotel in town, Daria felt at home. All the people she loved were surrounding her, and that was what mattered. That was where she belonged.
“Guys, hurry!” Eleanor called from a few feet away. “You’re going to miss midnight!”
In a fit of laughter and scurrying limbs, they hurried over to Eleanor’s side. The penthouse floor was complete with a wide, entirely pretentious balcony, overlooking the whole of London from the rivers edge. The stream of water glittered under the lights of the city, everyone awake and waiting for the big moment. A crowd of people had already gathered to watch the fireworks, a drunken Louis promising that he was watching the time for the countdown.
Eleanor took her by the arm, guiding the troupe across the balcony to where the boys stood. Daria’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of Harry, the way it always did. He looked ridiculously dashing in his dark blue jeans and crisp white button down, smile and emerald green eyes only for her.
“Hey,” he greeted, catching her up in his arms with a kiss. “Where’ve you been?”
Daria stole a glance at her girlfriends, laughing with Cara over something Olivia had said. A small smile crept onto Daria’s lips, nuzzling her head into Harry’s chest.
“Getting ready for a new beginning,” she hummed softly, the glow from the fairly lights strung around the banister illuminating her mood. Harry gave her a squeeze.
“I like the sound of that.”
“Twenty seconds!” Louis cried at the top of his lungs, Eleanor shaking her head at his side. The mood on that balcony was electric, the magic mood of the New Year lighting a fire in everyone’s spirit. And with every fiber of that spirit, Daria couldn’t wait to spend the New Year with Harry.
They’d had their time to start over, to put their best foot forward. While accompanying the boys on their travels during winter break, she got to see the beauty of the American interior, shimmering with light and bound with a hope she’d never really known before. It was the hope of a new beginning, of a new hope. It was the beginning of her and Harry, for real this time.
The countdown began in a resounding sound, everyone on the balcony shouting together in a drunken excitement. Daria exchanged a round of fleeting kisses with her girlfriends as they cried in each other’s ears, not quite caring how loud they were being. Daria couldn’t help but think she could not live another moment and would be perfectly okay – because for the first time in a long time, she was happy.
“Happy New Year!”
And as the sky ignited with fireworks in all colors imaginable, Harry took her in his arms and gave her one of those magical kisses that only Harry could deliver. She melted into him, met with the whooping cheers of her friends – aside from Olivia’s whose lips were rather busy with Niall’s – feeling more at home than ever before.
And when they pulled apart, she couldn’t help but smile.
When she was with him, her heart didn’t feel so heavy.
For once, it was Daria’s turn to toast, standing in a cluster of her closest friends near the bar of the party, people swarming around them. Olivia was right at her side, Poppy and Litzy across from them, all with beautiful layered drinks in their hands. They grinned at each other with wide, ecstatic grins, overjoyed to be reunited so unexpectedly.
Harry flew Daria home that day, an invite to Cara’s New Year’s party downtown coming through with her name on it and a promise to admit anyone Daria brought along.
“Do you mind if I join?” her bright, slurring voice came from behind Daria. She turned to see Cara, beautiful as ever, standing with a shot in her hand. It was all Daria could do to keep from breaking out in the widest, most ridiculous smile – instead she wrapped Cara up in a hug and invited her into the circle.
“And to new friends,” Daria added, nodding in Cara’s direction. The lithe blonde’s smile only grew.
“To new friends.”
The sense of completeness that came with being back in London was next to indescribable. Stepping off the plane at Heathrow was like walking through her front door, the rest of her familiar new homeland ready for the taking. And even in the unfamiliar setting of the rented rooftop banquet room in the swankiest hotel in town, Daria felt at home. All the people she loved were surrounding her, and that was what mattered. That was where she belonged.
“Guys, hurry!” Eleanor called from a few feet away. “You’re going to miss midnight!”
In a fit of laughter and scurrying limbs, they hurried over to Eleanor’s side. The penthouse floor was complete with a wide, entirely pretentious balcony, overlooking the whole of London from the rivers edge. The stream of water glittered under the lights of the city, everyone awake and waiting for the big moment. A crowd of people had already gathered to watch the fireworks, a drunken Louis promising that he was watching the time for the countdown.
Eleanor took her by the arm, guiding the troupe across the balcony to where the boys stood. Daria’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of Harry, the way it always did. He looked ridiculously dashing in his dark blue jeans and crisp white button down, smile and emerald green eyes only for her.
“Hey,” he greeted, catching her up in his arms with a kiss. “Where’ve you been?”
Daria stole a glance at her girlfriends, laughing with Cara over something Olivia had said. A small smile crept onto Daria’s lips, nuzzling her head into Harry’s chest.
“Getting ready for a new beginning,” she hummed softly, the glow from the fairly lights strung around the banister illuminating her mood. Harry gave her a squeeze.
“I like the sound of that.”
“Twenty seconds!” Louis cried at the top of his lungs, Eleanor shaking her head at his side. The mood on that balcony was electric, the magic mood of the New Year lighting a fire in everyone’s spirit. And with every fiber of that spirit, Daria couldn’t wait to spend the New Year with Harry.
They’d had their time to start over, to put their best foot forward. While accompanying the boys on their travels during winter break, she got to see the beauty of the American interior, shimmering with light and bound with a hope she’d never really known before. It was the hope of a new beginning, of a new hope. It was the beginning of her and Harry, for real this time.
The countdown began in a resounding sound, everyone on the balcony shouting together in a drunken excitement. Daria exchanged a round of fleeting kisses with her girlfriends as they cried in each other’s ears, not quite caring how loud they were being. Daria couldn’t help but think she could not live another moment and would be perfectly okay – because for the first time in a long time, she was happy.
“Happy New Year!”
And as the sky ignited with fireworks in all colors imaginable, Harry took her in his arms and gave her one of those magical kisses that only Harry could deliver. She melted into him, met with the whooping cheers of her friends – aside from Olivia’s whose lips were rather busy with Niall’s – feeling more at home than ever before.
And when they pulled apart, she couldn’t help but smile.
When she was with him, her heart didn’t feel so heavy.
♠ ♠ ♠
and that's all folks.
thank you to everyone for reading, subscribing, recommending, and commenting.
if you're interested in more of my stuff, please check out the companion to this story Only Bones (Liam), my new story Witness (Harry), an almost complete To Be Alone With You (John O), my original fiction Cheat.
and because it is certainly worth saying, my heart goes out to anyone with ties to Boston today. all my friends and family in the city are fine, and I'm praying that yours are too.
thank you to everyone for reading, subscribing, recommending, and commenting.
if you're interested in more of my stuff, please check out the companion to this story Only Bones (Liam), my new story Witness (Harry), an almost complete To Be Alone With You (John O), my original fiction Cheat.
and because it is certainly worth saying, my heart goes out to anyone with ties to Boston today. all my friends and family in the city are fine, and I'm praying that yours are too.