We kept the television on in the connecting living room so we could hear and see Dick Clark for the countdown. At 11:55 p.m., we decided to get up and move in to the living room. We all stood watching and waiting for the ball to drop. Two minutes later we heard a key in the door and in came Marcie.
“Hey everybody! I made it just in time!” She exclaimed.
She made it in time for what? Why is she here? Why isn’t she at her party downstairs?
She dropped her purse on the end table, walked around saying hello to everyone and stood next to Jameson at the far left end of the living room. Ten seconds left. Everyone starts counting down.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I turn to my right to hug and kiss Jameson and just as soon as I do that Marcie pulls at his elbow turning him to her. She grabs him in a hug. I stood there, completely in shock. I look around the room. Bevan and Lily are hugging and kissing. Karolyn and Joe are hugging and kissing. I’m standing in the middle of the living room with no one.
After what felt like an eternity Jameson pulls me in to a hug and whispers Happy New Year in my ear. I didn’t respond. I couldn’t respond. I was in complete shock as to what just happened. The night was so perfect. How did it just come to such a horrible crash landing?
I turn the other way and see my four friends just standing there with their mouths gaping open, understanding the bullshit that just occurred.
“Let’s have a toast!” Marcie exclaims and exits the room.
I just stand there looking down at the floor on the verge of tears.
“Dude. What the fuck?” Bevans says to Jameson. “What?” Jameson asks with a confused look on his face. “How could you not just realize the bullshit that just happened? What your mom just did pulling you away from Hillary at midnight. That’s fucked up dude.” Bevan tells him in a whispered tone so Marcie doesn’t over hear.
He didn’t even notice. Lily was right. This is never going to end. I feel a tear drip on to my cheek. I don’t want anyone, especially Marcie, to see so I excuse myself to the bathroom.
I step in, close the door behind and sit on the toilet lid. I rest my forearms on my legs, hang my head down and take slow deep breaths. If I can control my emotions, the tears will stop. I don’t want to cry. I’ve seen my over-emotional mother cry all too much. It’s a weakness and I am not weak. I try to reason my emotions. It’s just a countdown to the New Year, that’s all. Why is it such a big deal that she snagged his attention away when he should have kissed me, as is tradition? Am I being melodramatic?
I hear a quiet knock on the door and in peeks Karolyn and Lily. The looks on their faces tell me “here comes the sympathy, but we’ll be honest too”.
Karolyn kneels down in front of me, her hands on my knees. “Maybe she was just excited and it’s not because she’s evil and hates you?” I try my hardest to stifle a laugh but the suggestion is all too unbelievable.
“Oh come on Karolyn. We’ve all seen how much Marcie has changed since they got engaged. She’s so mean to Hillary, so callous. That was fucking intentional and we all know it. I just don’t understand how Jameson didn’t realize it.” Lily ponders.
There’s another knock on the door. This time it’s Jameson. Karolyn and Lily both stand up give me a hug and kiss on the cheek. “I think we’re gonna get going. Call me tomorrow okay?” Lily mentions. “Joe has to work at nine so I better get him home.” I give my two favorite girls another hug goodbye. I follow them out of the bathroom to say goodbye to Bevan and Joe as well.
Bevan rises and envelops me in a hug. He puts his lips close to my ear. “Call me if Jameson doesn’t get his head out of his ass,” he whispers to me. It makes me happy to know that someone else is looking out for me and sees the bullshit going on. Jameson and Bevan have been close friends for a while. They can talk straight up, no bullshit and get shit aired out. If I tell Bevan Jameson is being a dick and Marcie is being a manipulative twat he’ll bring it to Jameson’s attention.
As our friends exit the apartment I turn to head towards Jameson’s room and I see Marcie walking out of her bedroom with a towel in hand. She looks at me with squinted eyes and a sour look on her face. She goes in to the bathroom, closes the door and starts the shower. I don’t look back at Jameson. I keep marching forward toward his room. If he’s behind me, fine, if not I’m closing the door.
As I walk through the doorway, I pause, look over my shoulder and he’s not there. I sulk, then close the door behind me. At this point I don’t even want to talk anyway. I change into my pajamas, grab the TV remote control and get under the covers. After about four minutes of flipping through the channels I stop on Sixteen Candles. An absolute favorite classic of mine. Oh-my-god, when Jake shows up at the church, and when he opens the door for her to get in the car. My heart just melts. I love a happy ending.