Ball Drop

A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one Year and out the other.

December 31, 2017

"Eddie! You've been in there for 30 minutes! It's my turn," Patricia yelled through the closed bathroom door at her boyfriend of 5 years. Her thick accent echoed in their new apartment. They had moved to New York, not far from where Eddie's mom lives, over a month ago, but there were still a few boxes scattered here and there.

Eddie opened the door slightly, just enough so he could poke his head out. "It might be like 20 more minutes," he said in a teasing tone.

"Tough luck," Patricia scoffed as she shoved the door open all the way, only to reveal a dripping wet Eddie, with only a towel wrapped around his waist.

"You know, we could ditch this party and do something better..." He said wiggling his eyebrows.

Patricia rolled her eyes, "As tempting as that sounds, No. Amber invited us, so we have to go," she explained for probably the fiftieth time.

Eddie sighed, but didn't move from his spot.

"Well? Go get dressed!"

Instead, Eddie let a smile spread across his face, and Patricia knew something was about to go down.

"I think you need a hug, Yacker." He said quickly stepping forward and throwing his arms around her.

"Ew Gross!" Patricia yelled, trying to push him off, but failing, as she felt the water seep into her once-dry clothes.

"Doesn't that feel good?" He teased, finally stepping back.

"Absolutely not," she spat.

"Guess you have to take your clothes off now," he joked with a shrug.

She just scoffed before finally shoving him out the door and getting in the shower herself.

"Remind me one more time why we are here?" Eddie grumbled once again as they walked down the hallway in Amber's apartment building.

"You know exactly why! Amber's having her usual New Year's Eve party and everyone's in town for it this year," Patricia reminded him.

Usually the roles were switched, and she was the one complaining about going to parties. But today, she was actually excited to see her Anubis friends again, and Eddie, well she didn't really know what his problem was.

"What's the big deal anyway?"

"I'd rather spend time with just you," he whined throwing his arm around her shoulder.

Not that it was a lie, but he really just didn't want to see Ben again. Yes, they had made amends years ago when he left the school, but Eddie had mostly done that for Patricia. He had needed to show her he wasn't a complete jerk, even though it backfired because she ended up thinking he cheated on her.

Well, that and Eddie just couldn't bring himself to not feel jealous around the guy. He was always faster, smarter, and basically any other adjective you could think of.

"Ah come on! We're going to see all our old friends again, and watch the ball drop from Amber's terrace. Even I can't beat that Krueger."

"Patricia! Eddie!" Amber squealed as she engulfed the two in a group hug. "I can see your still going strong!"

"I can see you're still the same old Millington," Eddie chuckled when she finally let them go.

"Well we have a few hours until the ball drop, which we can watch from outside," she said gesturing towards the back door, "and most everybody else is already here! In fact, I think Ben and Piper just went that wa-"

"We can find them," Eddie interjected pulling Patricia away quickly. The last thing he wanted to do was hear about Ben.

For a second, the thought crossed his mind that maybe he was just being bitter, but it quickly went away when he continued to dodge the light brown head of hair he could see in the distance.

"You hungry Yacker?" Eddie asked after finally catching up with just about everyone, and meeting some new people among the hundreds at the party.

"Actually, yeah," She admitted as they made their way over to the food table.

"So, who have we not seen yet?" She brainstormed aloud between bites.

"Um... I think we've seen everyone," Eddie said, internally hoping she wouldn't remember Ben and Piper, even though he was sure she would. Piper was her twin for heaven's sake.

"Oh wait what about Ben and Piper? I think we should at least say 'Hi.' Where do you think they are?" She asked looking around.

"I don't know they aren't really night owls, they probably went home..."

"Eddie, you and I both know they didn't go home. What's going on with you?"

Eddie sighed and rubbed his face. He felt bed that he was in such a bad mood when she was so happy being reconnected with everyone.

"Nothing I just um, have a headache. We can find them after I finish my wings." He finally said, giving her a reassuring smile before making a mess out of his food.

Patricia nodded hesitantly and decided to let his odd behavior go, but she knew Piper would throw a fit if they didn't find them soon.

"Where are they?" Piper whined. She hadn't seen Patricia in months, and now she was having to wait even longer, seeing as her and Eddie were nowhere to be found. "Doesn't she want to see me?!"

"Of course she does," Ben reassured kissing her temple, hoping she would stop pouting soon. "They'll come around soon, don't worry."

"I just want to tell them the news!" She exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air. "I mean I always listen to her an-"

"Hey guys!" An all too familiar accent said from behind.

"Trix!" Piper exclaimed turning around and hugging her. "I missed you!"

"I missed you too," Patricia admitted, hugging back and laughing at Piper's usual affection.

Even Eddie couldn't stop the smile from spreading across his face at the sight. He mentally punished himself for being so selfish and practically running from Piper and Ben. It wasn't fair to her.

"Hey Milly," Ben finally broke the silence between the two while Patricia and Piper quickly caught up.

"Hey, Ben. How've ya been?" Eddie said reaching out to shake his hand.

"Good. You too yeah?"

Eddie simply nodded as Patricia returned to his side, and Piper to Ben's. He immediately wrapped his around around her waist, and to his surprise, she didn't pull away.

"You guys," Piper started excitedly, "we have big news!"

"Yes..?" Patricia asked.

Eddie, on the other hand, knew what was coming, and his thoughts were confirmed when Piper stuck her hand out to show off the new ring on her finger.

"We're getting married!" She exclaimed, while Ben nodded and beamed down at his soon-to-be wife.

"Piper that's great!" Patricia said hugging her once again. "Congrats you two!"

Eddie nodded but quickly excused himself to 'go to the bathroom.' He was actually full of jealousy. He couldn't help it, he was just raging on the inside.

Ben had beaten him to something once again. Eddie had known he was going to marry Patricia for a while now, but every time he tried to bring it up she would just change the subject. 5 years together and she didn't want to marry him? It didn't make sense.

He was so worked up he didn't realize he crashed right into Fabian, spilling the plates he was carrying.

"Fabian I'm so sorry!" Eddie sputtered while helping him clean the mess up from the floor.

"It's ok, I'll just get some more. Amber's got plenty," He said with a wave of his hand.

"Hey, is everything okay?" Fabian asked, noticing how distressed Eddie looked.

"Yeah... I'm fine," Eddie said forcing a smile and turning to leave, but Fabian stopped him.

"Let's go outside and you can tell me, yeah?" Eddie nodded. Fabian was always sort of like a brother to him.

When they reached a quiet spot on the terrace, Fabian listened to Eddie's dilemma, and quickly tried to ponder it all.

"Eddie she definitely wants to marry you, and Ben and Piper's relationship should have nothing to do with yours alright? The right time will come for you guys too. Now it's almost time for the ball drop, so I gotta run, but don't think about it too much ok?"

Eddie slowly nodded as Fabian gave him one last pat on the back and took off. He was definitely right, Eddie was probably overreacting, and he needed to get over it.

Patricia stood on the edge of the terrace, leaning on the railing and looking out on Time Square. Even she had to admit it was a beautiful sight, but she was wishing Eddie was next to her. She didn't even have a clue as to where he ran off to.

On the screen down below, the clock began to countdown from a minute, and all the respective couples scooted close together, ready to kiss when the clock hit zero.

Patricia couldn't stand the sight, but maybe she could if Eddie was doing the same to her.

But he wasn't, and Patricia was starting to get mad. First, Ben and Piper announce their marriage, and then he just disappears. He hadn't done something like this in years, and it brought her thoughts back to senior year at Anubis, when he was acting suspicious all the time.

She tuned back in to the countdown as it was getting close to the new year.

"5...

4...

3...

2...

1...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

The phrase chorused from everyone around her, and she huffed as she still stood alone amongst a bunch of couples.

"There you are!" She heard someone say. She turned around to see a smiling Eddie. "I was looking everywhere for you!"

"You were looking for me? You're the one who ran off," she spat turning back around.

Eddie sighed, She was right. "I know Patricia and I'm so sorry. I just... I just had something to take care of..."

"Sounds awfully suspicious, if you ask me."

He sighed once again, trying to find the right words to say. "Look, I don't want to start the new year off fighting okay? Just... Please forgive me?"

She looked up at his pleading face, and couldn't help but crack a smile. "Fine, but only this once. Consider yourself lucky, Krueger."

Eddie felt relief wash through him, as he wrapped his arms around her and they looked out over the city.

"Although, I am surprised you missed your opportunity to kiss me at the beginning of the year, considering you wanted to so badly before we came here," she teased, looking up at him.

"Well we could do it now..." Eddie suggested, with his signature smirk.

"Nope, the moment's ruined," she smirked back, returning her attention on looking back out over the railing.

Eddie chuckled. "New year, same old Patricia. So, Yacker, got any new year's resolutions?"

"Yeah... but I'm not telling."

"What why not?!" Eddie said, pretending to sound hurt.

"Because nobody needs to know but me," she stated simply. "What about you?"

Eddie looked down at her left hand, fourth finger to be exact, and smiled. "I sure do, but I'm not telling either. You'll find out eventually."

Hey guys! Welcome to Through the Course of a Year, my new 12-chapter story, that's holiday-based! I hope you liked that first chapter, and make sure you review even if you didn't! I need to know what you guys think. Next Chapter will take place on Valentine's Day.

And shout out to MusicalWheaten, TrixieKrueger, and others who started Ben/Piper pairing. It's wonderful :)