A/N Again the disclaimer. I do not know personally anyone mentioned. This is purely a fiction exercise. Also because English is not my native language you may have to excuse some mistakes I may write. That being said I hope you enjoy it. :)

After talking to Joan and telling her about you and Grant being together, you two join the guys.

Joan wraps an arm around Doug and kisses his cheek. "If you thought you were going to be away from me all night you're very wrong, my dear." She teases him.

Doug teases her back. "Well, I didn't want to interrupt what seemed to be an important talk between you girls."

"Yeah, important all right, you sneaky secretive guy." Joan slaps softly his arm.

Doug looks quickly at you and you nod. "Don't panic, I told her."

Grant's face turns serious and Joan speaks, "Don't worry, Grant, it's ok, you can trust me. I'd never do anything to harm you two. In fact, I'm really happy. It's just a shame you can't just fully assume it..."

You sigh. "Yeah, it is, but let's not talk about it, ok? Someone might hear it and..."

Sophie appears right behind you. "Booo! Why are you all with those grief faces? Has someone died? Jeez... Go dance! Go and have fun! I don't want boring people in my house. And you probably don't want too," she looks at you, "after all it's your birthday party!"

Joan giggles. "Right, take it easy on the drinks, will you?"

Sophie shrugs. "Humpf, it's New Year's Eve, for God's sake. We always have lots of fun this day... Or we used to, when it was just us girls..." She casts a spiteful look at Grant.

"It's fine, we'll go dance and have fun and all, but the night is still young, ok?" You try to soothe her before she starts snapping at Grant.

Joan adds, "That's right, the party has just started."

Sophie smiles. "All right. Then start to get ready. Truth or Dare is about to come, there's also Beer pong and, rumour has it, strip poker is also about to come. And everyone is going to participate in everything." She laughs and walks away.

Doug laughs. "Seriously? All of that? And all of the people?"

Joan chuckles. "Just if you want."

Grant leans his head towards you and whispers in your ear, "the only strip you'll be doing tonight will be the one just for me when we're back home later on..."

"Not arguing with that." You grin naughtily at him.

"Oh stop you two." Joan says opening her eyes. "It's showing..."

"She's right." you say to Grant. "We need to be careful... And Sophie is really pissed because you rejected all her moves on you so..."

"So, I should have just accepted?" Grant teases.

"Moron!" You slap his arm and you tease him back. "The only girl you'll be accepting tonight and every other night is me, thank you."

"Oh god, I would kiss you so hard right now if I could." Grant says almost desperately.

"Guys, stop, too much!" Joan giggles.

Doug smiles amused and speaks in a teasing way. "It's love. So beautiful. You know what, my dear Joan? Maybe we should do the same, keep our relationship secret. It looks way more exciting."

Grant shakes his head. "Don't even joke about that. It looks way more exciting but it really isn't. It's painful. It sucks."

You nod. "Yeah, I agree."

"You'll see you two will work it out soon." Joan pouts sympathetically.

Doug pats Grant's back. "Yeah, in no time you'll be able to shout to the world your love."

You roll your eyes giggling. "Right."

Grant smirks. "It's all I want. And I'm serious, hear me?" He looks at you with a serious face.

You giggle. "I hear you."

"Good." Grant keeps pretending the serious look.

Doug and Joan laugh and then she says, "well I don't know about you guys, but I feel like dancing now. Please?" She pouts looking at Doug.

Doug grins, "anything to make you happy, my dear."

They walk away happily holding hands towards the designated dance floor where some people were already dancing.

You look at Grant sighing deeply. You're alone with him in your own birthday party, New Year's Eve as well, and you can't do anything.

Grant chuckles sadly. "I feel you. I need a strong drink to endure this. Shall we?"

"Yeah, sure, I need one as well."

You two go the bar area to get some drinks. After you do that you end up in a secluded corner.

"Jeez. I never thought this was this hard. I should be used to this already but instead it just gets harder..." Grant tries to reach for your hand but you back away.

"People can still see us, Grant."

"I know. Sorry."

"It's ok. I understand and I feel the same, you know it. Sometimes I just think we should just stop caring and be together like we want to but then..."

"Yeah, we can't risk it."

"We can't. I promise I won't do anything stupid like the drink episode earlier."

Grant laughs. "Haha! Yeah, that was weird."

"Couldn't help it. Honestly I can't wait for this to be over, get to 2013 already so I can take you home and have you all for myself like I want to..."

"Oh, don't even put those images on my mind. This is torture, my dear."

"Yeah... Oh...Chill, Grant. Your friend Kyle is coming our way..."

Grant's friend Kyle walks over you two. "Hey, guys, what are you doing here, so hidden? Plotting something?" He winks at you two.

You make a stupid smile. "Nah, just talking."

Grant nods. "Yeah."

Kyle has this amused and suspicious look on his face and you decide it's time to leave Grant. "Tell you what Kyle, you guys keep each other company, I'm gonna join the girls."

"Sure."

As you walk away Kyle turns to Grant. "So, you and your publicist... Just friends or something else?" He teases Grant.

"Oh, please. We're just friends."

"Ok... So are you checking anyone tonight?"

"No, you know I'm not interested in that right now."

"Hum... Ok... But don't mind if I do..." Kyle winks at Grant and walks away.

Grant shakes his head and goes looking for Nate to see if he's getting along with his gay friend Richard.

Not too far away Sophie had been listening to the conversation since you and Grant were left alone by Joan and Doug. "So... they are together. As in dating. And they are hiding it from everyone else. Interesting..."