New Year

On their way to Lanie's apartment, no one dared to speak. Lanie's mind was in chaos right now, she wanted to speak and ask a lot of questions because she felt like her head was about to explode at the moment plus the tranquility inside made her uncomfortable not to mention that she still has a little but hang over.

Tyler was making her choose. What will she choose between the two? If Tyler is going to help her, the case will be solved and closed in a matter of time. But if she chooses to know the real Tyler, she can answer and prove her doubts and she doesn't want to anticipate the next thing that will happen. So, between the two what is the best choice that can benefit her more? Isn't it the help of Tyler? She wanted to leave as soon as possible.

Tyler parked his car in front of her apartment. Lanie unbuckled her seatbelt and looked at him. "T-thank you." he just nodded at her without looking at her. She sighed. She opened the door and went outside. She still did not close the door, the reason why Tyler looked at her. And there, he saw Lanie who was staring at him with that torn expression. What now, Kitten?

"Drive safely." she said before closing the car door and heading toward her apartment. Tyler just stared at her while she walked to her apartment.

Lanie decided to sleep again. At 8 o'clock in the evening, she woke up due to the continuous ring of her doorbell and banging on her door. She checked herself first and got her phone before slowly walking towards the door. Her phone suddenly lit up. She put it into silent mode before she slept. Althea's calling her. She stopped in front of her door and answered the call.

"Why aren't you answering my texts and calls?!" she scolded. "We're here in your apartment. Open the damn door. Where are you?" she added, slightly panicking. Lanie shook her head and brushed up her hair. So they are the one who kept on banging her door and kept on pressing her doorbell.

She ended the call without saying anything. She sighed as she opened the door revealing her two girl friends who really looked worried.

"OMG! We are worried as fuck to you because we don't have any idea what happened to you last night because we were drunk as fuck while here you are just woke up and didn't even bother to contact us?!" Althea said in an angry yet worried tone. Penelope and Althea entered.

"I was with Tyler last night." She said after they seated at the sofa. Althe looked at her, shocked. While Penelope didn't bother at all because she was the one behind that.

"I just got home and went to bed. I'm sorry if I didn't answer your messages and calls." she said. Althea slowly calmed down, relieved because she was with Tyler last night.

"So you two went here just to check on me?" she asked before heading to the kitchen to get some drinks.

"Yeah, but uhm, I am also curious to ask if our plan on holiday is settled or… not?" Althea said. They both looked at Penelope who just sighed.

"Of course. We will be having our new year's eve together." Lanie said. Althea quickly agreed with her. Penelope smiled at them, a smile that when you see you can feel that she was thankful and relieved.

"So, we were doing it… where?" Althea asked.

"If Penelope doesn't want to celebrate in their house then, my house is free and available." she kindly said and smiled at Penelope.

"Thank you." she said, quite teary. She was really thankful for the both of them for understanding her situation and for choosing to stay. After all, we all deserve that kind of friendship. A friendship that stayed and will stay.

After Lanie told what happened to her at Tyler's place, well, she didn't know everything, just a few details. She just told them that she can't remember anything when she woke up, which was the truth. She didn't tell them what she and Tyler talked about.

They spend the whole day preparing, organizing and shopping for their small party tomorrow night. New Year's eve.

The next day, the three of them were busy decorating Lanie's apartment. The balloons and sparkling things were scattered everywhere. There were also balloon letters that said 'HAPPY NEW YEAR' that they stuck on the curtain. Lanie and Althea were busy cooking while Penelope was arranging their table.

"Should we invite Mark?" Lanie suddenly suggested. Right, they forgot Mark.

"I'm gonna call him and ask." Penelope dialed Mark's number and put it on loudspeaker so everybody could hear it.

"Hello?" Mark answered in a bedroom voice.

"Yow, sleepyhead! Wanna come over here in Lanie's place? We're gonna welcome the new year here!" Althea said while mixing the spaghetti sauce.

"Come over here, Mark!" Lanie said next.

"Yeah, yeah. I will." He said before ending the call.

They continued their tasks. An hour later, Mark arrived with a bottle of wine and a box of cake. He also helped prepare things for the party. They were having fun while preparing. Each one of them felt ecstatic and elated. This is the first time they will spend the new year together. A friendship that was so mysterious but seems to understand each of their situations. A friendship that seems so breakable but strong. And a friendship that is full of happiness despite their dark pasts.

When the clock struck 11:30 pm. They all gathered together where they set the cozy and beautiful decorations.

They were all drinking wine while enjoying the party music as they waited for 12:00 o'clock.

"Thank you guys for everything." Lanie spoke as she smiled genuinely to the three people in front of her. They were stunned for a second because they saw Lanie smile so genuinely, a rare sight to capture.

"Well, uhm, I hope this new year will be filled with laughter and happiness for all of us and I may not know each other's story but I hope and wish to free your mind and yourself for all the things that made your heart heavy and things that hurt you. I wish for all of us to live and enjoy the life we always dream to have." Althea sincerely said that made their hearts flutter.

As the hour and minute hands aligned, they all raised their glasses and welcomed the new year with hope and courage as their new and another life began at zero o'clock.