Word Prompt: Countdown
Scenario: The time is counting down to the New Year. Confetti twirls around you. Your champagne glass is full, your best friend is making out with some guy you don't know, and you're alone tonight. As the countdown reaches ten seconds, someone catches your eye. He or she makes his or her way through the crowded room. Nine... Eight...
I sip at the bubbly tart drink in my cup and crinkle my nose. The paper hat Rosalie tried to get me wear now litters the floor. I scan the room for her.
I see her blond hair bouncing to the music as she tears that dance floor up. I watch her and it makes me grin.
At least she's having fun.
The large guy she's dancing with pulls her flush to him. Her arms tighten around his neck and I see her long fingernails disappear into his curly hair. I look away.
In envy, I guess.
Reminders, reminders, reminders.
My damn conscience is like a pestering bratty sister, one that's constantly throwing it up in my face that I'm not living up to my end of the deal. I haven't done one single thing for myself. No dates, no fun trips, no shopping sprees.
Nothing.
My wishes and dreams are still just that.
Dreams and wishes.
I reason with myself that at least I'm here. At this party. Granted, it's New Year's Eve and Rosalie said it was sacrilegious to NOT party on New Years Eve.
So here I am. Waiting for the ball to drop in about fifteen minutes. I'm drinking champagne. I'm swaying to the music that's too loud and vibrating through my bones. I'm sitting at the bar by myself.
And I've never felt more alone.
I can only think that the new year brings forth resolutions, promises.
I can always try again. Next year. I laugh to myself. I'm not going back to school 'til next year. I'm not calling my Mom 'til next year. I bet I won't even have sex until next year. I won't …
The roar of the countdown breaks me from my internal monologue.
Ten...
I check out my surroundings. It's just my luck that some nasty creeper will slide up next to me as we get closer to one and wanna kiss me.
Nine...
I almost fall off the bar stool when out of the corner of my eye, I see a very young girl make her way through the crowd.
Eight...
Her long brown hair looks familiar. I reach up and touch my own. Strange. I want to find her. She doesn't belong here. What if she's lost?
Seven...
She rounds the corner towards the hall where the bathrooms are. I follow. I turn back quickly and see Rosalie still all up on that guy's junk. She won't even notice I'm gone.
Six...
"Hey!" I call out for her - the girl. She practically running and doesn't even slow down. I think she's in her nightgown? I feel ...nervous. Scared even. And I still think this shit is weird.
Five...
Four...
For some reason, I find that I'm fighting back tears, the salty taste lingers on the back of throat. "Wait." It's all I can choke out.
Three...
She opens a door that leads outside. I'm anxious because I'm not going to get to her before she runs out into the night. I suddenly feel more lost than I ever have. Her hands are on the long bar that releases the door. She stops and looks at me. Her eyes. The sadness. It's like...
Two...
It's like looking into a mirror. All the air leaves my lungs in a whoosh and she runs through the now open door. I want to tell her to stop and wait for me. I want to hug her and tell her it will be all right. I run through the open door and it leads to a small balcony.
One. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I hear the noise of the celebration muted behind me as the door closes. I look around the confined space. She's gone. Impossible.
My steps are slow as I reach the bars that encircle the ledge. There's nowhere for her to go?
"You okay?"
I jump. I didn't even notice there was anyone else out here. Only that she... wasn't.
I nod my head and wipe the tears off my face. "Yeah."
"You sure?"
No, I'm not sure. But I don't know what to think. She. That girl. She just vanished. And now, now I'm alone on this balcony with this ... this stranger.
What a way to start the new year.
I slink down to the cool concrete, my back resting against the banisters.
He kneels down in front of me. "You don't look okay." He reaches out and touches my knee. He's so close, I smell the cigarette smoke on his breath. And his cologne.
I look right at him, our eyes now on the same level.
He's beautiful.
The moon reflects in his green eyes.
Breathtaking.
I don't know what to say.
But I like the warmth from his hand on my knee and I like the warmth from his eyes looking at me and I just... like.
"I'm Bella." I try to smile.
"I'm Edward." He sits down beside me, removing his hand.
I stare at my knee, it feels cold. But he's still close enough.
For now.
A/N: Like I said, I'm not sure what I'm doing. No outline. Just following the prompts. Think of the girl as her conscious...sorta.
