Abi Branning was looking forward to going into the new year with her boyfriend of just over a year, Ben. The past year certainly hadn't been easy for Abi and she was determined to make 2016 different. It was a new start for her and Ben, a chance to start their life together. She couldn't be more excited.
She'd had it all organised for weeks new. A romantic, candle-lit dinner for two at the Mitchells home. Abi had already made sure that everybody would be out so they wouldn't have to worry about being interrupted. After that they'd head over to The Albert for a few drinks with their friends and then watch the fireworks in the square when the clock struck twelve. Then they'd start the new year of with a bit of fun in the bedroom.
Phil had insisted that the boys worked today despite the fact that it was New Year's Eve so Abi was alone as she got ready for the evening. She pulled on an off-the-shoulder jumpsuit that was a bright shade of orange to match her nails and teamed it with a pair of black stilettos. Her hair was curled and pushed to one side so it fell down her left shoulder. Now all she needed was Ben...

Jay headed back to the Mitchell's. It was getting on to ten and he'd been at The Albert ever since he'd left off work with a few of the lads so he thought it was about time he cleaned himself up and changed into something different before they headed off for the clubs. He knew that Ben and Abi had something planned tonight and he hadn't seen them at The Albert yet so he assumed that they were still at home. Not wanting to interrupt their romantic evening, Jay went through the back door instead. Although he needn't had bothered.
Abi was sitting at the table in the kitchen rather than in the living room like he thought she'd be, and Ben wasn't with her. He looked down at his ex-girlfriend who hadn't noticed him come in yet. Her head was in her hands and it looked liked their food was uneaten. He attempted to shut the door quietly, as not to disturb her, but failed.
"Ben," she started. "Oh, it's you."
"Nice to see you too," Jay retorted but he was only joking.
"Sorry, I thought you were-"
"Ben?"
She nodded, a sad smile on her face.
"Do you know where he is?" she asked.
"You mean he hasn't been here all night?"
"No. I haven't seen him since this morning. He was at work, wasn't he?"
"Yeah, we left off at the same time."
"And he came here?"
"Saying that, I stayed to lock up. I didn't see what direction he headed in."
Abi nodded again. "I didn't think I'd be stood up by my own boyfriend on New Year's Eve."
"I'm sure he hasn't stood you up."
"Where is he then?"
"Maybe he got held up with Phil or something."
Abi shook her head. "Phil and Sharon were here a couple of hours ago. They said he hadn't seen him either."
Jay watched as Abi stood up and pulled a bottle of champagne out of the cupboard.
"Well, it would be a shame to see this go to waste. Do you want one?"
"Actually Abi-"
"You have plans, don't you? Sorry, I didn't think. I'm keeping you from something."
Jay pulled a chair out and sat opposite to Abi. "Go on, we've got some time before the fireworks."
Abi smiled and poured the champagne into their glasses.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"And will you give me an honest answer?"
"Of course."
"Ben, he's sleeping with Paul."
Jay froze, not sure what to say. He wanted to protect his brother but he had been on at Ben for months to tell Abi the truth. He didn't like Ben lying to her and he didn't want to either.
"That wasn't a question," he said taking a sip of champagne.
Abi shrugged. "Yes or no?"
Jay sighed. "You shouldn't be asking me this. Ben needs to tell you the truth himself."
"That's a yes, isn't it?"
Jay nodded. "I'm sorry, Abs."
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Jay. You tried to tell me before, didn't you? All of those months ago."
"I didn't like the way he was treating you."
"That's ironic, considering that you done it too."
Jay went to argue his case but realised Abi wasn't being serious when he looked up at her.
"Are you going to break up with him?"
"I can't."
"What do you mean you can't? Abi, he's been cheating on you for months."
"I know he has, but Jay, he's all I've got now."
"That isn't true."
"Yes it is. Everybody has gone now. Mum, dad, Lauren, and I know that it's my fault that they have but I don't want to be alone. Ben might not need me but I certainly need him."
Jay hated to hear her talk like this. So much had changed in her since they had been together and it had only been a little over a year since their split. He knew for a fact that if it had been himself that had cheated on Abi for months on end like that she wouldn't have had any of it. He would have been out the door straight away without a second glance and he would have accepted it too because he knew how much Abi despised people that cheated. She might have seemed like a textbook nerd to everybody else but he always knew not to get on the wrong side of Abi because she had the Cross' feistiness in her genes. But now, look what had happened. She'd lost it, she'd lost her fight. She was broken.

A few glasses of champagne later, the pair were still sitting at the kitchen table. Jay knew that he ought to get off to meet the lads, he hadn't even text to tell them where he'd go to, but he was actually having fun spending time with Abi. It had been a long time since they had done anything like this and he hadn't realised how much he had missed her until now. One thing he hadn't forgotten though, was how terrible Abi was at handling her drink.
"Whoops," Abi slurred as she knocked the empty bottle of champagne of the table and it fell to the floor. It smashed into tiny pieces and Jay quickly stood to clear it up before Abi ended up cutting herself.
He knelt down and picked up the shards of glass and found Abi was knelt opposite him. She wasn't moving, wasn't attempting to clear up the mess she'd made, she was just staring, staring at Jay.
He looked up smiling. "What?"
Abi shrugged and shook her head at the same time. "Nothing."
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because I think I kind of still fancy you."
Jay paused, not sure what to say. "What?"
"You heard me."
Jay didn't know what to think. Abi had had a lot to drink and he didn't know whether to take what she had said seriously.
"Abs, don't say things like that when you don't mean it."
"I do mean it."
Jay raised an eyebrow.
As if to prove her point, Abi leant towards Jay but he quickly pulled away.
"Don't Abi."
"What?"
"Don't do something you're going to regret in the morning."
"What makes you think I'll regret it?"
"Because you spent the first twenty minutes of this evening telling me how much you loved Ben."
"I said I needed him, I never said I loved him."
"What's the difference?"
"There's a huge difference."
Abi paused and Jay wanted to say something to fill the silence but he had no idea what.
"Jay, it isn't Ben I love. It's you. If you do this with me tonight, that'll be it. I'll break up with Ben. It'll be finished for good."
"You really mean that?"
"You give me something else to live for, Jay Brown."