Saturday 31 December (Part 2)
NEW YEARS EVE
5:54pm Cannot believe have let Leo talk me into going to ridiculous institute dinner after all. Can however believe that, as usual, have managed to leave everything till last minute and will now get slap on wrist from Leo for making us all late. Me, Janet and Leo that is. No Nikki. Great.
5:55pm Talk about third wheel.
6:06pm Find self wondering why agreed to go along at all now Nikki's bailed out.
6:11pm Find self also running like lunatic towards dry cleaners, hoping to make it before it closes. Do not have energy, funds or time to go and buy another suit now.
6:18pm Buggar. Am twenty minutes late. Crazy owner man will never give me my suit now.
7:12pm Ha. Am genius and v. charming individual. Dry cleaning man's wife was at shop, so knocked on door politely, smiled sweetly and got suit back. Tahdah! Brilliant.
7:13pm Although now means actually have to go to dinner. Not so brilliant.
7:15pm Could try and feign illness. 'Cough, Cough, Leo I'm sick'. He'd never buy it. Actually told me to stop moping earlier. Me? Moping? Asked what he thought I was moping about if in fact looked to be moping. He said 'obviously the fact that Nikki's not coming tonight'.
7:16pm Cannot believe that Leo believes am incapable of having good time without Nikki. Is as if he thinks whole world revolves around her and am happiest when with her. Ha.
7:17pm Hmm... On second thoughts, scares me how well Leo knows me.
8:46pm I knew I hated these things. Just forgot how much.
8:52pm Or perhaps I never really realised I hated these things before, as have always had Nikki for company and to ease the pain of hearing John from the tox lab recount his story of the missing test tube rack... for the millionth time.
Time for a drink I think.
9:08pm Is officially longest dinner ever. How are desserts only just being served now?
9:11pm Would have thought being sat next to Janet and across from Leo would have made evening more bearable but, as it happens, Janet keeps stroking arm and patting hand in reassuring manner and Leo keeps making a face like only he knows how – a face of pity, with eyes as if they're trying to squeeze tears from mine. These actions are magnified whenever another colleague brings Nikki into the conversation.
"So, where is Doctor Alexander?"... Hand squeeze. "How is Doctor Alexander getting on with those remains from the quarry?"... Stroking of arm. "Shame Doctor Alexander couldn't make it, she's always the life and soul of the party"... Pitiful look... the list goes on.
9:42pm After much sliding of cheesecake around plate in effort to look like was bothered about eating, have retreated once more to bar in corner of room. Realise that in about ten minutes all tables will be moved to edge of room to reveal large dance floor.
9:43pm Is without doubt worst part of evening.
9:44pm Has ability to make stomach drop in manner of sudden falling sensation or sense of impending doom.
9:45pm Am definitely sensing impending doom... Although... Is that? No...
9:46pm Is bloody miracle! Am saved from pain of next few hours by vision in white. Well, more of a caramel kind of brownish-cream. But a vision nonetheless.
9:47pm Welcome to the floor, best friend and hero (or perhaps heroine) of the hour, Nikki Alexander.
9:48pm Joy of seeing best friend enter room, looking even more stunning than usual in rather slinky, backless cream dress, caused stomach to leap twice as high as had dropped just a few minutes earlier.
9:49pm Pretty sure is giant, idiotic smile right across face at present.
"White wine please, Harry!"
"Good evening to you too, Doctor Alexander!"
"Seven, nearly eight years we've known each other Harry Cunningham. I'd like to think that, by this point in our relationship, you won't get too offended when I decide to skip the pleasantries and order a drink instead!"
9:54pm Ordered wine straight away. Denying Nikki a drink when stressed or upset is like denying her food when she's hungry; it isn't likely to end well.
"Party a bit of a waste of time was it then?"
"Party wasn't a waste of anyone's time. Simon on the other hand... You know, you do have the crappiest friends Harry."
Gave a mischievous grin in Nikki's direction.
"I don't know about that. You have your uses."
"I know. I'm wonderful, but your male friends... Corr! I mean that Francis guy was a waste of space, poor Niall. And now Simon. Men are all as bad as each other!"
"I hate to break it to you Niks, whilst off on one of your riveting feminist rants, but not all men are terrible to women. In fact, what is it exactly that Simon did?"
"Ha! That arrogant, pompous bastard! Well, where do I start?"
9:56pm Sensing this could take a while, and with Nikki halfway through glass of wine already, did the courteous thing and ordered her another.
11:04pm An hour of conversation later, revolving entirely around the ills of the male of the species, and we'd finally changed the subject.
"Anyway, how did u manage to get hold of your suit? There's no way you got to the dry cleaners in time!"
"Ah, I have my ways."
"Your ways? What did you do? That guy in the dry cleaners is an opening time Nazi, there's no way you sweet talked him into handing it over when you were twenty minutes late!"
"Sort of lucked out there. His wife was locking up, and you know how they say opposites attract? Well they sure did for this couple. She was as nice as anything! No sweet talking required!"
"Maybe she fancied you Harry?"
"Well, who wouldn't?"
"Good question. Maybe those women who prefer their men a little less arrogant?"
"Don't know any like that! Anyway, how on earth did you get in here? I've still got your ticket at home."
"You're not the only one who can flirt your way towards getting what you want, Harry!"
"Now that I can believe."
"So you bought me a ticket? But I thought we'd agreed not to come this year?"
"Well you're here aren't you?"
"Only because you are."
"Lucky me."
11:21pm Hope am not flushed as red as am imagining self. Am still ecstatic about Nikki turning up tonight. Even if have spent last hour discussing Simon's womanising ways and feeling guilty for ever having given him Nikki's number.
"Fancy a dance Doctor Cunningham? After all, be a bit of a waste of a new dress and shoes if I didn't get to be twirled around at least for a little while tonight."
"Well alright then. It's been a while since I 'twirled' anyone though. I might be a bit rusty!"
"I'll forgive you."
11:43pm Twenty minutes of crazy, energetic 'dancing' later, and the inevitable happened. Slow song.
11:44pm Tried not to show surprise when Nikki took both my hands and placed them on her hips, before looping her own arms round my neck.
Gulp.
11:45pm Find self staring straight into depths of most mesmerising brown eyes have ever encountered.
11:47pm Find self also lowering head slightly as Nikki leans to whisper in ear.
"It's nearly midnight Harry. Looks like you might get your turn this year after all."
"So everything worked out for the best then eh?"
"Looks that way."
11:54pm Six minutes to go. Is strange feeling, knowing am about to share kiss with Nikki. Is not as if hasn't happened before, but is usually more spontaneous than this.
11:55pm Don't remember being this nervous at New Year two years ago. Suspect had drunk considerably more that night.
Suspicious smile is spreading across Nikki's face...
"You know Harry, if all this hype about the world coming to an end in 2012 is true, this could well be the last New Year's kiss we both ever have."
"Better make it a good one then."
Without thinking, pulled her flush against me, felt her arms tighten round my neck, and pressed my lips against hers. Uncontrollably, felt my hands move over the silky material of her dress, till the contact with the bare skin of her back shocked me into breaking the embrace.
"Harry. Wow. But it's not even midnight yet."
"I know... Just felt like I needed a little practice."
Simultaneous to Nikki's radiant grin, could hear crowd around us shouting...
"Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven..."
2012, here I come.
Just a short plane ride to go till South Africa! Nearly made it! :) Hopefully peole are still reading and enjoying! :) x