I stood in the corner of the room and watched the nearly amusing display of drunkenness displayed before me in various forms. Naruto had taken his pants off and tied them around his neck, Sakura was currently trying to make out with him, unaware that the person she was kissing was not me (thankfully), Kiba was running throughout the house making airplane noises, the rest were either passed out or god knows where.

"Looks like I have my work cut out for me." A sigh was heard from next to me.

I looked down to the small girl next to me without even having to. It was Hinata. She looked forlornly at Sakura's apartment that she had promised earlier to help clean up. I was nearly a hundred percent sure that she would be the one doing all of the work.

She smiled up at me, "You don't seem to be having such a good time, Sasuke. The new year's in about a half hour." Her grey eyes crinkled when she smiled. I wonder if she knew this.

"Absolutely not. I always find drunks extremely enjoyable to watch, especially when I could be doing something much more important." I answered, the sarcasm painfully evident in my voice. I hadn't meant to be rude, I knew that Hinata had tried very hard to plan this party. I winced at her hurt face and grabbed her wrist, "Come on, let's go onto the balcony."

She followed my lead, her skinny wrists slipping out of my grip to entwine her fingers with mine. I wasn't really sure what was going on between us, I knew I liked her. A lot. Ever since Christmas I had seen more of her and she had flirted with me like crazy—which was so out character for her—almost like she liked me back. She would keep doing things like this, simple hand holding, hugging instead of a simple thanks, curling up to me when she was cold; it was driving me insane.

I don't think that if she did like me it was like most of the other girls' infatuation. It was uncertain and almost reluctant at times. A couple of days ago when we had joined Sakura and Naruto for lunch in a café she had sat as far away from me as possible and jerked her face away when I went to wipe away a crumb that had strayed on her cheek. To say I was confused would be considered an understatement.

I had been surprised when she had given me that hug on Christmas, she had been so sincere about what she said that I didn't think that her hug was in anyway lustful. That's not to say I liked her purely for her personality either. She had a killer body that didn't go as unnoticed as she would've like by the other guys—slim and curvy. Her soft looking indigo hair was no longer cut short, it fell just past her shoulders and had light grey eyes that gave away her true feelings. As much as I liked those attributes too, I'd have to say my favourite were her plump bright red lips, I always find my vision absentmindedly straying to them. What can I say? I'm just the same as any hormonal driven guy my age; I just happen to hide it better.

"Sorry you were dragged here." She leaned back against the balcony ledge and bit her lip, "You don't have to stay." She seemed reluctant to say that.

I walked up next to her and stared into the courtyard of Sakura's apartment complex. It was cloudy again and it looked like it might snow again. Sparing a fleeting glance at her, I noticed her staring at me again, so for once I stared back. It didn't take her long to turn her head and face the courtyard too. Shrugging, I answered, "It's not too bad. As long as I don't have to stay in their company too long, I'm fine."

The TV was blasted up again (fifteen minutes earlier one of the neighbours had come and screamed at us for having it too loud so Hinata profusely apologized and quickly turned it down before scolding Naruto about disrupting the neighbours. The bastard nodded and nodded until she was done and planted a slobbery kiss on her forehead, which is why he's now left with a black eye and I'm left with throbbing knuckles). I could hear Auld Lang Syne drift through the surprisingly quiet apartment and out towards the rest of the courtyard.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!

"Care to dance?" Hinata grinned at me shyly, her already pink cheeks turning darker.

I wrapped my arm around her and brought her probably closer than necessary, "I'd very much like to take you up on that offer."

She in turn wrapped an arm around my neck and we waltzed around the small balcony. Clearing my throat, I mumbled, "So…what's going on…" I pointed at her pointed at myself too. She gave me a confused look, so I continued my broken sentence, "Between…us?"

She looked down at our feet in embarrassment and a long silence ensued, only filled with the blaring of the festive music.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

She looked up again at me, her eyes filled with indecision, "Sasuke, I like you."

It wasn't as if I wasn't expecting that, but it surprised me nonetheless. I opened my mouth to say something, but was cut off by Naruto's ridiculously loud voice screaming at the top of his lungs.

"THREE…TWO…ONE!"

Noise makers went off, wine bottle corks went flying and all chaos ensued. I looked down at Hinata who was still dancing along with me, her face filled with worry. I gave the closest thing I could to a smile and lifted her head to give her a kiss.

I could feel her smiling against my lips as she wrapped the other arm around my neck too and backed up with me so she had her back pressed against the balcony ledge. I broke away and rested my head on her shoulder to whisper in her ear, "Happy New Year, Hinata."

"Mm, Happy New Year, Sasuke."


Ha. Two chapter within an hour or so of eachother. I'm on a role.

Happy Holidays,

MissLe