Author's Note: Sorry about the wait! I moved and was supposed to get internet the day after, but there was a mess up in their system and now - nine days later - I've finally got internet. It's been a long nine days, but now I'm back and hopefully here to stay.

The Best Way To Start The Year

Time was passing quickly. Too quickly, really, given the fact that in a few short months Carrie would be done with her schooling and shipped of back across the pond. Why did that idea bother her so much? Mere weeks ago she couldn't wait to be out of this boring place, and all she'd been able to think about were pretty boys and the excitement waiting for her back in New York City. Perhaps it wasn't the center of the world, but to Caroline it certainly felt like it was. And why shouldn't it? It had so much more going for it than anything she'd seen here that she didn't feel at all bad about deeming it more important. She couldn't forget that, couldn't let anything drag her mind away from the fact that soon enough she'd be back home.

Something does, of course – or rather, someone. She never thought that she'd actually come to like Grey Abbott, or even think about him as more than a pretty face attached to an attractive package. And yet, she'd been thinking about him more than she should. She hoped that when classes started again she'd have a reason to think about things other than Grey, but for now there was nothing to distract her or keep her mind occupied. Perhaps that was why she found herself winding her way to the library on New Years' Eve, conveniently before midnight.

She shouldn't have gone, and she knew it. She wasn't what he wanted, after all. He'd made that quite clear to her, time and time again. Still, she couldn't help showing up, wondering if he'd actually let her kiss him. It was the new year, after all – everybody got to kiss somebody at midnight, and she didn't see why Grey had to be any different. She couldn't think of anybody else that she wanted to kiss, she thought as she made her way through the library doors and beelined for his usual table. She was a little tipsy, but of course he'd be used to this by now. She was tipsy more often than not, and that worked just fine for her. She'd managed to stay on her feet and keep her wits about her thus far, and that was really all that mattered.

When she spotted him with his customary stack of books, a smile brightened her face. What was this? Had he cast some sort of spell on her? Slipped her a love potion, perhaps? No, that couldn't be. She didn't love him, she reminded herself, but she liked him enough to make her uncomfortable. She made her way around the table and settled into the seat next to him, giving him her best smile.

"So, how about it? Tonights as good a night as any." It was custom, now – she would ask him, he would refuse, and they would get on with things. He shook his head and brushed off the remark as though it was nothing, which still amazed Carrie just a little. He was the only boy who'd ever turned her down so easily. Most of them seemed to at least consider her offer, but Grey didn't even give her that much. She perched on her chair, ready for the moment her pocketwatch struck midnight as she watched him read. She pulled it out of the pocket of her robes, setting it on the table and watching it carefully. He glanced at her, one eyebrow raised.

"I need to know when it's midnight," was her only explanation. He just shrugged, not seeming to immediately put the clues together. That worked just fine for Carrie, in the end. She wanted an honest reaction when she kissed him, and she wouldn't get that if he had time to prepare. As the second hands ticked away, approaching midnight, she pulled her chair in closer and leaned in slightly. He shifted his head to look at her, confused, only to finally appear to realize what she was up to.

Her lips brushed his – it wasn't aggressive, just a light pressure of her lips on his. It was more than she thought she'd ever get. He even kissed her back, for a moment, though he pulls away looking suspiciously pink.

"Happy New Years'?"

"Happy New Year, Grey."

And maybe it actually will be, this year. For Carrie, it had started off better than she'd expected. In fact, it was probably the best way to start the year that she could think of. She settled back into her seat, closing the pocket watch and slipping it back into the pocket of her robes. He watched her for a moment before returning to his book. She selected one from the stack in front of him, too, but that was mostly so that she could hide behind it and pretend to read. In reality, she just liked to watch him read. She never thought that would be a thought that would ever cross his mind, but the look on his face when he was concentrating on something was so intense that sometimes she couldn't help but stare. That sort of thing was a foreign concept to her, and he'd actually caught her staring like some sort of idiot at one point.

After that, she'd started pretending to read. Better to have the cover of the book, so he wouldn't be so likely to notice. The last thing she needed was for him to think that this meant more than it did. She wasn't in this to become his best friend, and she certainly wasn't looking to fall in love with him. Which, in the end, was the reason the idea that she could was so scary. She thought she'd been completely closed off to that sort of thing, but apparently not.

They continued to read on in silence until Carrie fell asleep with her face buried in one of the books. Grey carefully extracted the book, replacing it with his folded-up robes. She woke the next morning alone in the library with Grey's folded robes, and a note saying that he'd gone for a morning run and that he'd be back soon. She stretched and tucked the note into her pocket, scribbling a quick note to him to meet her in the kitchens.

She was sure he'd be hungry when he got back, after all. She would have been, if she'd been the sort to go on early-morning runs. She retreated from the table, setting a path for the kitchens. She was going to have to get them to get something good. Maybe a few muffins, some eggs, whatever they could come up with at this hour. The house elves would know her by now - she'd come with Grey before, and they seemed to like him well enough. Sure enough, they came scurrying to her as soon as she walked in the door.

This was ... nice. She had to admit that she was starting to like this not-quite-relationship that she had with Grey. It felt oddly normal, given the fact that it wasn't something either of them did. That wasn't to say that she wanted to settle down, but so far this didn't really feel like settling down. She didn't feel as though she'd had to give much up yet.

"Breakfast, please. For Grey and I."