A/N: I'm supposed to be getting ready to head out of town for new years, but I figured I'd post this instead. There is nothing coherent in this. But hey, who needs independent clauses, or a story that makes sense? Exactly 500 words. Because I can.

Serena clings to the man beside her; both arms wrapped around one of his, her head pressed into his shoulder. His name is Sam or Victor. She shouldn't get those names confused, but she does. She met him in London last week and decided to bring him along. He talks like Hugh Grant and he looks like a blonde gangbanger wannabe.

He's like no one from her past. He's like no one she cares about. He's nothing she's ever wanted.

He could be no one and she'd never notice.

It's La Fiesta di San Silvestro and they're standing outside the Piazza del Duomo. 2015 is only minutes away.

The square is packed. Families and couples jostle her from all sides. Or maybe she's swaying into passersby.

They can't be heard over the noise around them. People laugh and shout. Glasses clink and toasts are made. She's glad, because she has nothing to say anymore.

She finds she likes Milan as much as she liked London. And that is not at all.

It's not the cities' fault, really. They are beautiful and fun and once she would have fallen in love with the buildings and the men, the fashion and the art. She barely sees the buildings and the men; she sees the fashion and art only when they pay her to.

The cities loved her well enough. If it wasn't the epic romance the Upper East Side and she shared, well they tried their best, but she wasn't just playing hard to get.

She wonders if the fireworks have already started, because the stars are bright and her vision is blurry. The wine is the only thing familiar. The only thing she can love without it turning to ashes on her tongue.

When the clock strikes twelve, she'll be nowhere she wants, with no one she wants, and a bottle she needs.

The thought gives her a little pleasure. Because the city she loves holds the couple she hates. Because the person she wants won't have her either.

Andshe'll cling to a boy she doesn't want too.

And she'll need the glass in her hand more than Serena needs the bottle in hers.

The countdown starts and Sam/Victor isn't looking over the cathedral where the fireworks will start. He's smiling down at her. He's honey brown eyes and nothing else she can bring herself to see.

Three!

And she smiles back at him, because other honey brown eyes don't smile at her anymore.

He doesn't notice that her smile isn't infectious.

Two!

She lies love with her eyes, because honey brown eyes lied love to a man with even darker eyes.

He thinks her eyes are the brightest he's ever seen.

One!

She kisses him as if he's the only thing in her world, because honey brown eyes destroyed her world with a man and an altar, a lie and a kiss.

He sold his world for her kiss and had never heard of caveat emptor.

Happy New Year!