Yesterday

"I... don't think this is going to work out."

Silver stood still as Blaze looked at him expectantly. For a moment, he was deaf. Done with sound altogether, just... nothing. The loud bass of the party they'd escaped from, the whistle of the wind by his ear... Not even the thud in his chest could snap him out of his thoughts.

Work out? He thought. What does she mean by not work out—

"Silv, please say something." She said. Her voice was so weak and fragile, and thin too; just like the ice slowly creeping up on the sides of the house.

He glanced to her, her large amber eyes glassy and welling with tears. "I still want to be friends." She said quietly. "We always have been friends and it would be a huge hole in my life if you weren't there. I don't think I could bear it."

"And you still wanna break up?" He asked quietly.

She blinked a few times before nodding. "I think it's for the best." She murmured.

She was right though.

There was a loud chant heard from the house. The familiar numbers just about to be called out and the same excitement and tension that came with them. However, between these two, in the dark of the night, it wasn't the countdown to a new beginning, it was a countdown to a chapter's end.

Blaze held her gaze to him, looking expectantly. "Silver?" She asked.

"If you think it's for the best, then I do too. I've always stood beside you and I will forever. This may be for the best." He said, holding himself together.

Blaze bowed her head from his vision, her hands knotting together inside the folds of her jacket.

Unstrangely, with this end, he found himself still wanting her. Still needing her comfort, her touch, her love, her and everything that came with her demanding, independent, stubborn and prideful self. He found himself opening his mouth and reaching out for her as she began to walk away.

Ten.

"It's almost midnight." He called. Blaze turned around and glanced at him. He froze and pulled back. "I just thought that we could... You know, you always say goodbye before..."

Nine.

Blaze walked back over to him and took his hands. "How about this?" She proposed, her gaze slowly trailing from his hands up to his golden eyes. "Every new year, we remain each other's new year's kiss? I wouldn't want to break our tradition,"

Eight.

Every year since they had been young, Blaze and Silver had spent New Year's together. Through their meeting as high school parties, university exams, college practicals and demanding jobs, they had always had a moment together. Always in that moment, they had shared a kiss, be it quick or... longer than expected.

Seven.

Silver quickly nodded. "Yes!" He said excitedly before clearing his throat and nodding. "I'd like that."

Six.

Blaze gave him a soft smile, holding his gaze. "Shall we?" She asked, nodding to the echoing voice from the home. He nodded before beginning the countdown. "Five."

"Four." She said.

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

"Happy new year." They said quietly in unison. She gave him a sad smile before shutting her eyes. Slowly, their lips met and Silver found himself holding her tightly. They could hear the cheers from the house as they broke into Auld Lang Syne, welcoming in the New Year.

Silver ignored them, instead focusing on the fact that this was the last moment he would embrace Blaze. The last moment in a long while. He kept his eyes shut as she broke their embrace. When he opened his eyes, which were clouded by tears, he saw Blaze disappearing back into the house. She turned back for a brief moment, giving him a solemn wave.