Author's Note: Here's another one!


11 | New Year's Eve

When she was younger, Mary Margaret would wake up before the sun rose every Christmas morning to wait by the door for her annual gift from her father in Maine. Johanna's morning greeting would always include a phrase about her tiny feet waking her up then the wonderful smell of chocolate chip pancakes filled up their Boston apartment. Mary Margaret would wait impatiently by the door, pacing back and forth in her pajamas and biting her thumbnail, a habit she hasn't been able to shake despite constant reprimands from her nanny. When the doorbell finally rings, it would take her less than a second to open it with a happy Christmas greeting ready for the postman.

As she got older, Leo's Christmas presents became shinier and his greeting cards a bit colder. His gifts were the usual kind one would expect from a wealthy but distant parent: a glittering piece of jewelry, a gorgeous designer dress, elegant footwear, or the latest gadget. Something worth gushing over but generic enough to cover the fact that her father knew nothing about his daughter. Still, Mary Margaret loved anything that came from him. It was nice to know that she still had a parent who cared.

When she turned eighteen, the Christmas gift and card was accompanied by another envelope. The card would contain the usual holiday greeting and a few words from Leo, and the envelope, she had come to realize, contained something that erases the smile on her face each year. Every December since her legality, her father would send her to a New Year's Eve party, gatherings hosted by rich former colleagues. Mary Margaret originally thought that he was trying to avoid going himself, but he was actually sending her over in hopes of her falling in love with some snobbish rich kid whose family he approves of.

His plan has yet to be fruitful.

The parties were absolutely horrible. The venue was usually at a lavish penthouse or a spacious 30thfloor of some fancy building, filled with camera flashes, sparkling gowns, and too much champagne. Flashy enough to cover the reality that no one really knew each other that well. The part she hated the most was conversing with arrogant, self-centered pricks she barely knew in hopes of finding someone decent to pass the time. By the end of the night, she'd find herself drinking alone at the bar, watching the clock until it strikes midnight. Then she leaves without anyone noticing.

The preparations definitely made up for the event. To make sure she goes, Leo sends a team of professional beauty artists each year to help her prepare for the night. Her body would be tingling and supple from her bath, her nails perfectly manicured and polished, and her hair shined and styled to her desire. After she had slipped on her dress and heels, spritzing her wrist and neck with perfume, she will feel like a million bucks, thinking it would be a shame not to go.

And she would regret the decision by the end of the night.

Maybe this year will be different,she thought with a smile as she latched a diamond drop earring on her ear.

The night she and David went together (she had gone to so many that she had earned the right to a plus one), she was wearing a white, off-shoulder midi dress that ended just below her knees and Christian Louboutin heels. Her long hair was curled and gathered to the side, held in place by several bobby pins. Her diamond necklace, earrings, and bracelet came from the same set and sparkled in the light. She caught the attention of almost everyone in the lobby when she exited the elevator.

"You look breathtaking," Johanna had told her at the door, handing her a wrap and her clutch.

But when Mary Margaret found David outside her apartment building, she was the one who was breathless. Leaning against a sleek black Audi was her date looking handsome in a navy blue suit with the top two buttons of his Oxford shirt undone. His dark blonde hair was swept to the side, revealing how bright his blue eyes were. There was an unreadable expression on his face when she walked down the steps to meet him, her eyes never leaving his.

"If I were to be completely honest, I was afraid you were going to bring your bike."

Mary Margaret's stomach churned at the smile that bloomed on his face at her quip at the motorcycle he had proudly showed her before. David pushed himself away from his vehicle to open the passenger door for her before leaning in. His face was inches from hers when he murmured, "A beautiful woman deserves a beautiful car."

A blush graced her cheeks.

"And you look absolutely breathtaking."

She fought the urge to kiss him right there and then. A surge of confidence raced through her veins at the way he was looking at her. She leaned closer, teasing him with a seductive hum, "I've been told."

The party was in full swing by the time they arrived. Mary Margaret felt every woman's eye turn towards David the moment they stepped into the decorated hall and felt satisfied with her hand tucked in his arm. She placed her other hand on his arm to get his attention, making him lean closer to hear her. "Everyone's looking at you," she whispered in his ear.

His low chuckle awakened the butterflies in her stomach. "Believe me. They're all looking at you."

David deftly caught two flutes of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter, making her hand fall back to her side sadly. He handed her one with a charming grin. "I haven't thanked you yet for inviting me here," he told her after they have both taken a sip.

She smiled. "There's no one else I'd rather be with." The smile he returned was so brilliant that it made her heart flutter. She looked down at her drink before coming up with another teasing remark, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're trying to get me drunk. We haven't even eaten yet."

He had a serious expression on his face as he shook his head. "Never. A gentleman never compromises his woman like that."

His woman. Mary Margaret tried to hide her smile behind her glass, loving the meaning of his words. Then from the corner of her eye, she spied the buffet table unusually empty. "Come with me. Let's do what we came here to do," she said, catching his hand in hers.

David laughed when he realized where they were heading. They ate, really ate, and Mary Margaret didn't hear a word against it from him, making her quietly pleased. Time passed by in a blur, something that rarely happened for her in these parties, and she found herself laughing at almost everything he was saying. It seemed to her that he had made it his mission to make her forget everyone else around them but him. She found herself completely captivated, seeing how utterly charming the man can be. He was a gentleman and was attentive to her every need without being overbearing. Armed with quick wit and intelligent humor, David had the power to make her fall in love without even trying.

And dear God was she falling.

She had her chin resting on the palm of her hand, watching him as he animatedly talked about his misadventures with his best friend, when a couple entering the ballroom caught her eye. Elizabeth Hart, her former best friend, has arrived in the arm of Mary Margaret's cheating ex, Alex Montgomery. Then it clicked in her mind that Liz was part of Boston's high society and had been chattering excitedly about the invitation she had finally received that year. She has been talking about the party nonstop, asking Mary Margaret questions and making plans, and Mary Margaret felt dumb for forgetting she will be there.

David's warm hand on hers startled her out of her thoughts. "Are you all right?"

Mary Margaret gave him a smile and hoped it masked her panic. "Yes. Yes, of course."

His expression turned into worry. "Are you sure? Can I get you anything?"

"No, no. There's no need," her voice turned airy as real panic began to run through her veins. Alex had caught her eye and was whispering something to Liz, making her curse under her breath. She caught the surprised look on David's face before she pulled him down under the table.

With both their heads under the table mantle, David began to chuckle, "What on earth are we doing?"

"My ex is here," Mary Margaret cringed at how she sounded.

David looked surprised again. "Oh. The one who cheated on you and who you threw soup at?"

"That's the one," she confirmed. "He's here with my best friend, and it's not supposed to affect me this much but it does." He was quiet at that, making her cringe again. "I'm sorry for pulling you into this mess."

"No, no, I'm not mad. I'm just thinking," he told her before fully smiling at her. "Tell you what. How about we pretend that everything's fine and we come out of the table?"

Mary Margaret slowly nodded. "That seems like a good idea."

When they did, Mary Margaret surreptitiously looked around before letting out a sigh of relief, "They're gone."

David placed an arm over the backrest of her chair with a chuckle. "I didn't think you can be more adorable to me than you already were, but here you are surprising me."

Mary Margaret blushed, feeling shy. "I'm really sorry for that. I just… I saw him with her and I panicked…"

David only grinned, brushing a few stray hairs away from her face. "You know you could've just asked me to kiss you, and that would've solved everything."

Mary Margaret was thoughtful for a moment. "You're right. Why didn't I think of that?"

He didn't reply, making her glance up at him. His eyes had turned into a darker shade of blue. "I've been wanting to kiss you since the moment I saw you walk out of your building," he told her, leaning closer. "And I think you've just given me your permission to do so."

She found herself enthralled with his words until she turned her head away. "Or I could've just asked you to do something else."

"Like what?" he asked.

She shrugged, trying to act nonchalant despite the racing of her heart. "Ask you to pretend that you're in love with me since you've been doing an impeccable job so far."

David shifted closer and lifted her chin up with his finger. "I don't have to pretend, you know," he murmured, his eyes darting from her lips up to her eyes. Mary Margaret felt all of her air trapped in her lungs. "Besides, what did you think I've been doing all evening?"

"What?" she asked in a hushed tone, afraid of ruining the moment.

David's eyes were the bluest she had ever seen. "Making sure you fall in love with me, too."

"Oh, Mary Margaret, darling! I'm so glad you made it!"

With her mind still reeling at the latest development, her body had gone into autopilot and made her turn to face Regina Mills, a former colleague of her father's. She was the managing partner of a successful law firm in the city and has been eyeing her since she had entered Harvard. Mary Margaret was quick to introduce David, who was able to charm the woman almost immediately. Regina caught her eye and gave her a knowing smile when he had turned his eyes elsewhere.

"Well," Regina said after a long conversation with the pair. "I do have to go find my husband before midnight. I wish you two a great new year ahead of you. You make a beautiful couple."

Mary Margaret could only blush in response as David spoke for the both of them, "Thank you, Miss Mills."

"Oh, call me Regina, darling," she told him, patting his cheek. "You take good care of her now."

David's gaze was on her when he replied. "I'm planning on it."

A few minutes after the managing partner left them, the lights in the room dimmed into a bluish hue. The music changed into something slower, more intimate. The people on the dance floor had turned into pairs, swaying in tune with the song. Mary Margaret felt David's hand on her back and turned to face him. He held his hand palm up towards her, a silent invitation. She felt no hesitation in taking it but wondered how much stress her heart can take in one night.

Everyone's eyes were on them as he led her to the dance floor, but she quickly forgot about them when her senses were overwhelmed by David. His faint cologne reached her nose at his proximity and lured Mary Margaret to step closer. His thumb was slowly caressing her back and his chin leaned against the side of her head as they swayed. He hummed along to the song being played and made her smile in content.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?"

She grinned. "You may have told me once or twice."

"You look beautiful," he repeated, turning his head slightly. "And you smell amazing."

She threw her head back with a laugh. "Thank you. You smell quite amazing yourself."

David was grinning when he twirled her out and then pulled her back into his arms, pressing her closer to him than before. The atmosphere between them changed in that instance, charged with an emotion she cannot name. She wanted nothing more than to pull him down for a kiss but told herself to be patient. Then he leaned his forehead against hers and made her forget what she was telling herself.

"I don't think I can wait until midnight," he murmured.

Her breathing became uneven. "Then don't."

He was coming closer and her eyes had started to flutter to a close.

50, 49, 48

"Miss Blanchard!"

A curse fell from her lips for the second time that night, and she fought the urge to groan at the fact that she felthis lips turning up into a smile. She gave him an apologetic squeeze on his shoulder before turning to face the little boy running towards her with a huge, toothy grin. Christian was the young son of a billionaire who was once one of her father's closest friends. They drifted apart when her father moved back to Maine. She and Greg Richards rarely spoke to one another after their initial introduction, but she certainly hit it off with his ten-year-old son. Mary Margaret had given up trying to make him call her by her first name.

"Christian! It's so good to see you."

"I just came by to greet you a happy new year," he told her when she pulled away from their hug. "Will I see you again before school starts?"

"We can go to that ice cream parlor you like," she winked, tapping on his nose with her finger.

"Awesome! You're the best, Miss Blanchard!" he hugged her waist before running off.

40, 39, 38

When Mary Margaret turned to face David again, she was surprised to find him as pale as a sheet. "David?" she placed a hand on his cheek, frowning. "David, are you all right?"

It took a good minute before David came out of his thoughts. His dazed eyes darted down to meet hers. He placed his hands on her waist, gripping it tightly that it was starting to hurt her. "What did that kid call you?" his voice was barely above a whisper.

"Oh," she blinked, not expecting his question. "Christian calls me Miss Blanchard. He says calling me Mary Margaret felt off. He's very respectful that way."

20, 19, 18

"David," she reached up to hold his face with her hands. "David, you're scaring me. I think you need to sit down."

His hands released their tight grip on her waist and traveled up to her hands. David had a pained expression on his face as he regarded her for a moment before taking her hands off of his face. He held them as he turned his attention towards the screen on the stage. They were nearing the ten second countdown to the new year, and Mary Margaret had a sinking feeling something bad was about to happen. He turned to look at her again. His watery eyes wandered over her every feature before he pressed a hard kiss on the back of her hand. Confusion began to cloud her mind when he released them and began to step away from her.

"David?" she whispered. Despite numerous eyes on them, her focus stayed on him. "David, what's wrong?"

10, 9, 8

Tears began to sting her eyes as he stepped further away, shaking his head. "Mary Margaret, I…"

5, 4, 3

"I'm sorry."

2, 1

And he was gone.


Author's Note: Continuation of the throwback in the next chapter! Stay tuned! Leave your reviews by clicking the button below. x