41: But Your Kiss?

Thank god I'm not a cheerleader. Peppy.

Imagine having to be bossed around by Ally. She'd hold her captainship over me every single day just to make me do whatever she wanted. Wow, did I escape a bullet there.

Seeing her hanging off of Oliver though, laughing and talking with him, touching him. That felt like a bullet all in itself. There was something burning when I saw the two of them. It irked me the wrong way.

I turn back to group right in front of me, everybody's staring at me expectantly. I ignore what I just witnessed, even though my stomach feels like it could puke itself out.

"So we getting drunk, or what?"

"Fuck, let's do it," Tyler agrees.

"Thought you'd never ask," Grayson smiles and pulls out a flask, "Part one of many," He states and takes a swig.

Everybody passes it along, each taking a long swig. At some point between swig two and three, Oliver makes his way over to us. He's alone, seemingly rid of Ally. He looks at me with a smirk but I can tell that the rest of his face is that classic stone cold face he loves to wear. He stressed about something though, it's obvious by his clenched fists that are turning his knuckles white.

I want to go ask him what's wrong. I want to go up and help him through this night with his father. If I remember correctly, later in the night the Grey family always has a toast where they have to stand and look like a happy family. That's yet to happen tonight, and Oliver doesn't look exactly pleased about drinking a glass of champagne by his father. I like to believe I understand what's going through his mind right now. If I had to even look at my father I could make dead to me apply to everybody.

I'm about to walk up to him and comfort him when Ally comes up from behind and wraps her arms around Oliver's. Oh, okay, she can comfort him instead, that's fine by me. Less moving on my part. My mind tries to justify what's happening, my gut is just pissed.

"There you are!" Ally laughs softly, "I go to the bathroom and then you're gone!" She hits Oliver's shoulder playfully.

Then, her attention turns to me, "Hazel the Prude? At the Grey Family Gala?"

I give her a small smile and ignore Oliver's gaze that's staring into me. I feel his blue eyes holding me. But I don't want to see his face. Mainly because I might do something rash if I do, I can't exactly trust myself when there's all these emotions in the pit of my stomach.

There's a chime from the front of the room that grabs all of our attention. Mr. Grey is standing at the front, a crystal glass in his hand. He's dressed in a tux and looks cleanly shaven. He was unrecognizable from the last time I'd seen him. He looks gentle, nice, friendly even.

Oliver huffs and walks off, it was his signal that he needed to play the good boy. Ally tags along side him, but he's able to shrug her tight grub off him as he makes his way onto the stage. Everybody is staring at him and his father. Mr. Grey smiles as though he's never done any wrong to Oliver, Oliver gives a weak excuse of a smile and takes the extra glass a server was holding.

"Welcome to the Grey Family New Year's Gala!" Mr. Grey begins, "My wife was the biggest fan of the holidays. I hope that this party can do her merry soul justice," He then looks to Oliver, "A few words, son?"

Oliver steps forward, bored out of his mind. From the back of the room he looks like he wants to throw the glass he's holding and maybe scream a couple hateful words. But no one else seems to notice his bad mood.

"Happy New Year's. My mom would've loved to be here."

My heart breaks as Oliver has to speak about his mom to hundreds of people he doesn't even know. I am still feeling that knot in my stomach. The pain deep down lessens when I hear Oliver speak to all these strangers though. It can't be easy, but why did Ally get to be comforting him?

"Alright," Mr. Grey speaks up again, "Thirty minutes until midnight!"

The chatter and music resumes. I turn back to the group and they're all already looking at me. I give them an awkward smile. Grayson puts my shoulder to get me to look at him.

"Ally's a bitch."

I laugh softly at his comment and nod my head. He didn't have to tell me that, I knew. I spot Oliver and Ally making their way back to us. The knot in my stomach becomes tighter and I really do feel sick this time. I excuse myself before the two of them make it to us, saying I need to pee.

"Hazel, wait up!" I hear Maddy yell to me.

I stop and let her fall in line with me.

"Are you okay?"

I look to her and then back forward. I can't even explain to myself how I'm feeling. I can barely even function right now. All I know for sure is that I couldn't stand Ally clinging off of Oliver like that. Acting as if they were a couple, best friends even.

Maddy takes my silence as an answer and helps lead me to the bathroom. Thank god because I really didn't know where I was going. I was walking aimlessly hoping I'd find something that resembled the restroom. Once we're inside she turns to me.

"Are you okay?" She asks me again.

I shrug, "I feel a knot in my stomach and like I want to punch something."

Maddy let's put a laugh which makes my eyes shoot to her. She shakes her head before looking to me again with a serious face.

She points to me loosely, "You and Oliver are the same."

I furrow my eyebrows, trying to get my confusion through to her. Oliver Grey and I are complete opposites. We're not alike, it doesn't work that way. He's rich and gets the ladies. I'm poor and stay alone. At least that's what I thought.

"Come on, show Ally she doesn't scare you."

"Oh, she doesn't," I laugh, "I could knock her out if I wanted to."

"That's the spirit," Maddy smiles at me.

We make our way out of the bathroom and start walking back to the group. The big clock in the room says that there's only five minutes before midnight. The music has changed to only being slow dances that old people dance too. It's all very classy.

Once we're close enough I spot Ally all over Oliver again. It pisses me off that she keeps going up to him. Wrapping herself around him, latching onto is arm, talking to him. I want to be there instead. Laughing about how stupid some people's dresses are. I want to roll my eyes at him after he says a stupid comment. I wanted to be right by Oliver Grey.

We make it back to the group and I leave Maddy's side, who goes to Ryder and kisses his cheek. I make my way to Grayson's side and stand there between Grayson and the Ally and Oliver combo.

"You're staring, you know."

"I know, Grayson."

But I didn't stop. I didn't stop myself from letting that knot in my stomach grow. That knot that I've come to realize is jealousy. I'm jealous that Ally is pressed up against Oliver. And why am I jealous?

Because I think I like Oliver Grey.

My revelation to myself shocks me. My eyes go wide and when they do they lock with Oliver's. He's staring into my soul, his mind not paying attention to what Ally is talking about. He looks like he's about to say something, when Grayson speaks up.

"To the balcony, team!"

"T-minus two minutes, we move," Tyler adds making hand signals like they do on airplanes towards the stairs.

I furrow my eyebrows but shuffle along beside Grayson. He's leading everybody up some stairs and through some doors. As always, I'm lost in a sea of marble and wood. Grayson drops an arm over my shoulder and leans down a little.

"Ready for a New Year's kiss?"

I raise an eyebrow at him and he just gives me a wink.

"Usually, I'm all for cockblocking Oliver, but I've taken a liking to you."

"What about you, Grayson?"

"Oh," He laughs, "I'll probably jokingly kiss Tyler like I do every year. It's tradition."

I laugh at his words and nod, "I wanna see that."

Grayson gives my shoulders a squeeze before dropping his arm, "Not this year," He whispers in a barely audible voice.

Grayson opens a door to the balcony that overlooks the backyard. I walk to the edge and look down to see the fence that Oliver and I jumped over. A smile makes its way onto my lips. That day had been special, I realize.

"Ten, nine, eight," The countdown can be heard from the gala inside.

I turn around to find Oliver right behind me. He's staring at me intently, his blue yes shining even in this dim lighting. His hands grab onto my waist and he walks up close to me.

"Hi," He says simply.

"Three, two."

"Just kiss me."

He doesn't hesitate to do as he's told. He leans down, his arms wrapping tighter around me. His lips touch mine just as a loud 'Happy New Year' resounds from the inside. My eyes flutter shut and I wrap my arm around his neck, my fingers lost in his hair. The kiss is short, but passionate. It felt different than all the others we'd shared. This one felt honest.

Fireworks start behind us and the backyard fills with people from the gala. The group walks up to the edge of the balcony where we are. Ryder and Maddy are cuddled with each other. Grayson comes up beside me and gives me his goofy smile. Tyler and Ally are nowhere to be seen.

"Tyler and Ally?" I ask Grayson.

"Tyler thought he owed it to you to get rid of her."

"But your kiss?" I frown, sad that he wasn't able to live up to his tradition.

Grayson shrugs, "He did me one better," He laughs.

Oliver's jacket falls on my shoulders before his arms wrap around my waist. His chin falls onto my shoulder. The signature smell of vanilla and teakwood finally wrapping around me. I look to the side to make eye contact with him. He has a small, relaxed smile playing on his lips and I can't help but smile too.

"Happy New Year's, Oliver."

He looks to me when I speak up and smiles a little more. His eyes sparkle in the light of the fireworks. The fireworks cast different colors on his face.

"Happy New Year's, Haze," He whispers and takes the opportunity that we're facing each other to give me a quick peck on the lips.