A/N: See, I told you I'd try to get the next few chapters up quickly. Alright, who's up for the next chapter? You guys ready? Things are about to go down! Let's go!
Tori had successfully put together another great party. Her annual New Year's Eve Bash was her biggest party ever. She was able to book a well-liked DJ, and the drinks were never ending. She sat proudly on her throne looking over her partiers, and even better her best friend had finally come back from visiting her family.
"Wow, you did all of this even without my help." Liz smiled brightly at her bestie. Tori giggled and raised her glass to her lips.
"Imagine how much better it would have been if you were here." She replied and Liz rolled her eyes.
"Please, this whole time I've probably been holding you back."
They shared a smile and clinked their glasses taking a sip before Tori held up her phone to take a selfie with her bestie. The picture turned out great, but Tori still used a filter to butter it up before sharing it on her Instagram. She looked more closely at the photo tapping her phone as if fighting an itch. She took another large gulp from her glass and sent the picture to Young Do, with a caption saying "Happy New Year! You're missing out ;p"
"Are you texting him, again?" Liz teased her, and Tori quickly exited out of her messages.
"No, just getting ready for another selfie." Tori quickly made up a lie and lifted her phone for another picture.
Chloe giggled as she watched the two girls take pictures of themselves as she leaned against the opposite wall.
"Find something interesting?" Derek asked walking up to her with drinks in hand.
"Yeah, your sister." She smiled, taking the drink he was offering out to her. Derek looked in his sister's direction as Chloe took a sip.
"Mmm, what is this?" she asked.
"A Strawberry Daiquiri, virgin." He added and she smiled up at him.
"Thank you." she said and he leaned down to receive her kiss.
"Hey guys." Simon came up from behind them. The two love birds pulled back both turning red in the face. "Oh, don't mind me, I'm just passing through." He smiled and walked around them.
"Hey, Simon." Chloe called out to him. "Derek and I were just about to go pick a spot to watch the fireworks, want to join us?" she asked.
Simon smiled at her kind offer but shook his head. "Nah, I'm good. Instead, I'm going to go find the lucky girl who gets to kiss me on New Year's." He winked making the two roll their eyes.
"Alright, our offer still stands if you can't find her." Derek said.
"I'll keep it in mind." Simon smirked walking off into the crowd. His smile fell as soon as he turned his back. He was hoping he'd be able to drink himself into a coma before the clock struck twelve.
Tori watched Simon as he made his way over to the bar. She was seriously starting to get worried about him. Normally, she would ignore her baby brother's desperate calls for attention, but this time was different. He hadn't been the same since June left, and he was worse than the first time. She figured he was better off seeing her live normally without him, than to send her off all together.
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when her phone buzzed in her lap. She picked it up to see she had gotten a reply from Young Do.
Happy New Year! Wow looks like you're having fun lol Wish I was there to celebrate with you…
"Why couldn't he come again?" Liz asked, slouching in her seat. She didn't have to see to know who Tori would be texting.
"Who?" Tori tried to fake a smile.
"Mr. Hot and Unattainable." Liz smirked at her and sat up. "Choi Yo-,"
"Shush!" Tori slapped her hand over Liz's mouth to stop her from saying his name. "God, you want everyone to hear you?" she snapped removing her hand.
"No one's even paying us attention." Liz sighed. "So why didn't he come?" she asked again.
Tori shrugged shutting her phone off after reading his text again. "I don't know, he said he already made plans."
"Boy, you two are really playing a hard game." Liz sighed. Tori frowned at her, her brows scrunching together in disagreement.
"What game?" she sounded a bit insulted.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, and don't look at me like that." Liz sat back in her seat gulping down the rest of her drink. "You have liked him for forever, and I can tell the feeling is mutual with him."
"How can you tell?" Tori asked, raising an eyebrow.
"With everything you've told me, all your encounters, it's so obvious." Liz sighed pouring herself another drink. Tori laughed not believing her and took another sip from her cup. Liz sat up once more, and faced her this time.
"Look, you're my best friend, and I love you, but you've got to stop being such a bitch about this." Liz let out.
"What?" Tori replied shocked.
"You complain about not being with him, you complain about what would happen if you were with him. Seriously, I never pegged you for the whiney type." Liz took another sip from her drink.
"Okay, you're drunk." Tori sighed, taking the cup away from her much to her disapproval.
"I am not drunk," Liz argued. "I'm just trying to help you." She added.
"And how exactly are you helping me?" Tori questioned her starting to get annoyed. Liz was never really good with her liquor.
"By reminding you of how great you are." Liz grabbed Tori's hand. "You're never scared to try anything, and are always up for a challenge. You laugh in the face of danger. You even go toe to toe with your own mother, and we both know how horrible she is."
That got Tori to laugh just a bit.
"So why are you scared to go after a guy you actually like?" Liz asked. Tori stared at her best friend, at a loss for words. How could she describe the fear she felt at being rejected by the only guy she had ever had any feelings for?
"It's about to be a new year, and you're about to literally run away to go to college. Don't spend the remainder of your time here thinking about the 'What ifs'." Since when did Liz become so wise?
"Let's put it this way," Liz shrugged. "If he does reject you, which he'd be a total idiot if he does, then you always have college to run away to."
"Liz," Tori sighed and smiled at her. "You're truly the best of best friends."
"I know." Liz smirked with a shrug. "So why not go to him? Confess to him on the New Year?"
"That's a great idea." Tori smiled and stood up drinking the rest of her cup. "I love you." She kissed Liz's cheek before running off to go see Young Do.
Liz sighed looking over the party scene. She watched as couple's danced and others were making out in the corners of the room. She took another swig from her cup before standing up and leaving her throne. Seeing all the couple's only made her wish she had that special someone. A bit depressed over this situation she decided she would go hide in one of the secluded areas until countdown.
She walked over to the stairs, knowing there was a hidden room under the stair case. She walked in closing the door behind her, the music muffled but still heard.
"Hey," she looked up startled at the sound of the voice. Simon sat on the side of the bed that vacated the room, along with a set of drawers and a night stand. He was facing a large, wide window that looked out to a night time view of the city.
"Hey," she smiled, making her way to sit next to him.
"What brings you in here? Where's Tori?" he asked watching as she sat down.
"Oh, uh, she's out on a romantic whim." She answered. Tori would never forgive her if she told her brother's about her feelings for Young Do, and knew to keep her whereabouts a secret. Simon arched an eyebrow questioningly at her, but she laughed and shrugged her shoulders. "You know Tori."
He sighed letting it drop, and continued to stare out the window. Liz joined him looking out to the view of the city lights. Each building sparkled against the night sky, everyone either working or partying tonight.
"So," Liz broke the silence, but continued to look at the view. "You didn't bring a date?"
Simon chuckled. "Nah," he answered taking another swig from his own cup, grimacing at the taste. He hadn't been too sure of exactly what he poured into his mix.
"What? Too many to choose from?" she teased him finally looking at him. He smiled and looked down at his cup.
"You caught me." He replied, but she knew that look. The dull glaze over his eyes, as if he was imagining himself somewhere else. The half assed smile he forced onto his lips. He was still hurting.
"You miss her." She stated. He sighed throwing back the rest of his drink, feeling the burn all the way down to his stomach. "It's okay to hurt, Simon."
"Yeah, well tell that to Davidoff." He growled, and hunched over rubbing his head. "I just wish I could get her off my mind." He groaned. "I'm always thinking about her."
"Well," Liz sighed. "You just need to keep your mind busy. Why not get back into sports?" she suggested, and Simon snorted sitting back up.
"Yeah right, with my schedule for the Triads?" he looked at her skeptically.
She smirked bringing her cup back up to her lips. "Well, you could always go back to sleeping around."
Simon laughed while shaking his head. "I don't think you should be condoning that type of behavior."
"Why not?" Liz giggled. "I'm not your sister; I'm not going to judge you for it. It's not like I have before." She reminded him and finished off her cup once again.
"Right." Simon sighed and lied back onto the bed, resting his hands behinds his head. Liz placed her cup on the drawer next to the window and looked down at Simon.
"How come I've never seen you with a boyfriend, Lizzy?" he asked looking back up at her.
"Oh you didn't hear?" Liz asked, and lay down next to him. "I'm a prude." She shrugged.
"What?" Simon scrunched his eyebrows in disbelief. Liz laughed at his reaction. "Who said that?"
"You did, stupid." She giggled.
"I did? No I didn't." he argued, making her laugh again.
"Yes you did, at the begging of freshman year. You told all the boys that my father would shoot them in between the eyes if they even breathed the same air as me."
Simon sat back as the memories began to come back to him, and he laughed along with her.
"Oh shit, I did." He covered his mouth and turned his head to look at her. "I'm sorry." He laughed and she shook her head laughing again.
"It's fine. I never found any of the boys at school interesting anyways."
"Really? Why not?" he asked and she shrugged staring into his eyes.
"I don't know, I just didn't." she answered.
Simon stared back at her, never noticing the way her eyes turned up when she laughed. He didn't know if it was the whiskey or his emotions getting the best of him, but he drew himself closer to Liz. Her mind was fogged over from the drinks, and all she could think of was how close he was getting, and how close she wanted him to get.
Before either of the two realized what was happening, their lips met. A surge of heat ignited within the two of them as they shifted into a more comfortable position. Simon pulled back a bit hesitant to continue, and Liz stared up at him thinking for mere few seconds if this was such a good idea. But the booze and rage of hormones pushed them back together, wrapping their limps around each other to hold each other close.
While Simon and Liz carried on with their own celebration, Derek looked around for his own date. He had just returned from using the restroom, and was in search of Chloe. He told her to meet him in one of the rooms where they got a good view of the fireworks, but he wasn't sure which room she was in.
He continued to walk down the hall when he heard sniffling coming from one of the rooms. Frightened for a second that it was Chloe he listened more closely, opening the door a bit to look inside. The room was dark but he could still hear someone crying. He walked inside and looked around. He saw someone at the foot of the bed, their knees curled up against their chest, and a head of curly blonde hair.
"Alexa?" Derek called out.
The blonde girl looked up scared from the voice. Her make up smeared across her face and her eyes and nose puffy, and red from crying. Immediately Derek stooped down to check on her, as she continued to sob.
"What happened? Did someone hurt you?" he asked concerned. She shook her head and tried to control her crying.
"Colton dumped me." She sobbed her chest heaving quickly as she tried to breathe.
Derek didn't know what to say to her to make her feel better. He wasn't sure what to do. Alexa leaned her head against his shoulder, clinging onto him like a life line. He wrapped an arm around her realizing she only needed comfort. He sighed rubbing her back to try and get her to calm down. He wondered how he was going to explain to Chloe why he was late.
Luckily for him, Chloe was still choosing a room. She had turned around wondering if her husband had finished in the bathroom and decided to look for him while looking for a spot. She stopped short when she could hear crying in one of the rooms. Always the soft hearted girl, she followed the sound of crying until she walked into the room finding Alexa curled up to Derek.
She was stunned at the sight, not sure what to make of this. Derek looked up to see Chloe, a sad look on her face. His heart dropped hoping she wouldn't take it the wrong way, but Chloe's eyes drifted towards Alexa who was still sobbing. Forgetting about the scene, the better side of Chloe knelt down next to Alexa.
"What happened?" she asked.
"They broke up." Derek explained, and was relieved once he saw her expression change to one of understanding.
"I'm sorry, Alexa." She whispered, but it only made the girl cry harder. Chloe looked up at Derek hoping he had a plan.
"I think we should take her home." He suggested and Chloe nodded in agreement.
He shrugged off his coat to put it around Alexa, and Chloe helped her stand wrapping an arm around her to keep her upright. Derek led them out of the house and rushed out to get the car.
"Thank you Chloe." Alexa whispered, keeping her head down and wiping at her tears.
"S-sure." Chloe smiled rubbing her back. She still didn't like the girl, but even she couldn't leave her in the middle of a scene like that.
The two girls got into the car once Derek pulled up, and he headed towards Alexa's place.
Tori had finally gotten to Young Do's apartment. She had gotten enough courage to walk up to his door, but once she was in front of it the butterflies returned to her stomach. She took a deep breath remembering what Liz had told her earlier that night. It was now or never.
She raised her hand and quickly rang his door bell before she could chicken out. Her heart was gunning as she waited for him to answer, her mind telling her to turn back and run, but her heart urging her to stay. The door opened, and soft music could be heard in the back ground. Tori looked up, her eyes widening at the sight. Young Do stood at his door, completely shirtless, and only wearing a pair of dress pants and shoes.
"Uh," Tori shook herself out of her daze. "Hi." She smiled.
"Hi." He smiled, a small chuckle coming out. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I thought you would change your mind about the party." She said, congratulating herself on remembering on what she had rehearsed to say on the cab ride over.
"Uh," he paused, just as someone called his name from inside.
"Where did you say the cork screw was?" Tori saw Adeline come out to the hallway, dressed in one of Young Do's shirts and a pair of his sweat pants. "Oh, Hi Tori, Happy New Year." She smiled.
"Oh." Tori replied looking back at Young Do. "Sorry, when you said you had plans, I didn't realize they were with her." She tried for a smile but the tears welled up in her eyes.
He saw the tears forming and looked back at Adeline, realizing the conclusion she was drawing up. He turned back to face her to explain himself, but Tori acted quickly.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to bother you two." She smiled and bowed before quickly turning around and practically rushing down the hall.
"Wait, Tori it's not what you think!" Young Do shouted wanting to follow her, but he was very aware that he had no shirt on.
"What's going on?" Matt asked coming out to the hall with a wine bottle in his hand.
"What are you doing? Go after her!" Adeline scolded Young Do.
"But what am I supposed to say to her?" he asked.
"How about the truth?" she replied reaching into his closet for one of his track suit jackets.
"I can't do that." Young Do scoffed taking his jacket regardless.
"Don't be such a wuss and just go after her." Adeline growled at him, pushing him out the door.
Young Do sighed looking back at her. Never would he have thought that after what they had been through, he would consider Adeline a friend.
"Thanks." He said to her and she rolled her eyes and ushered him to go. He took off running as she shut the door behind him.
"So…did you find out where he keeps his cork screw?" Matt asked. Adeline couldn't help but laugh helplessly at him. They returned to the kitchen to share a bottle of wine.
It didn't take long for Young Do to catch up to Tori who was walking down the street, her arms wrapped around herself.
"Tori wait!" Young Do chased after her. She ignored him, not able to stand the image of him with Montrose.
"Tori wait a second, let me explain." Young Do grabbed onto her elbow and stepped in front of her out of breath.
"Explain what? That you obviously lied to me about you and Montrose just being partners?" she asked through tears.
"Yes, I lied about us being just partners, and I'm sorry, but I didn't want you thinking that,"
"That you two are together? Or just sleeping together?" she tried to move around him, but he stepped in front of her blocking her way.
"No, what happened in there was an accident." He continued.
"How do you accidently sleep with someone?" she shouted.
"God dammit woman! Will you just let me talk?" he shouted over her, causing her to stop moving, and stare at him in shock. "Adeline and I weren't the only ones up there, Matthew Lee was with us. We were opening up a bottle of champagne to get ready for the New Year when he accidently splashed it on both of us, but she got the worse of it. I gave her a few of my clothes to change into, and I had just taken off my shirt when you came by."
She stared at him for a good while, realizing that once again she had jumped to conclusions.
"Oh." She replied brilliantly, her face growing hot with embarrassment.
"Oh." He nodded, almost as if to say I told you so.
"So," Tori kept her eyes on the ground as she spoke. "There really isn't anything between you two?"
"It's like I've been telling you. We're friends, nothing more." He sighed stepping closer to her.
Tori looked up feeling his presence so close to her. He reached out and placed his hand on her arm.
"Let's go inside its cold out here." He tried to lead her back into the apartment building, but Tori stayed rooted and held her hand out to him.
"Wait, I," he stopped moving at the sound of her voice. Tori stared at his face, her heart hammering within her chest. She had to get it out, and she didn't want to say it in front of those two up there.
"I need to get something off my chest." She finally spat out. Young Do took a step back curious as to what she had to say. He stuffed his hands in his pockets bracing himself.
"The real reason I came here tonight," Tori began, her words getting stuck in her throat. Her hands were clammy and her nerves had her feeling weak. "Was because," again she couldn't find the words.
"Fuck! Why is this so hard!" she shouted at herself catching Young Do off guard.
"Are you sure you," he wanted to help but she lifted her hand.
"Wait, I can do this." She took in a deep breath and blew out slowly. "I wanted to tell you that I…I…that I,"
"Tori wait." Young Do lifted his hand, his heart beating rapidly at the hurt expression already forming on her face. "Before you say anything, think about it."
"I've thought about it a lot." She confessed, but he shook his head.
"No, I mean, think it through." He explained, getting a confused look from her. "You want out of the business, right?" he asked looking around and the people passing by them.
"Yes," she said not really getting what he was trying to say.
"Can you really escape if I'm holding you down?" he asked, giving her a second to let it sink in. "I don't get that choice. I can't run away with you, when I've already marked myself." He tried explaining.
"So you're saying," the tears were already coming back to her eyes.
"Even if I wanted to, I won't let myself hold you back." He shook his head reaching for her, but she stepped away from him.
"You won't even give us a chance?" she whispered.
"I don't want to see either of us getting hurt in the end."
Tori stood there for a moment thinking it over. He was right, no matter how much she wanted him to be wrong, she knew he was right. How could they start a relationship if she wanted to get away from the very thing he was tied to? If she wanted him, she would have to give up her freedom, the one thing she's worked so hard to obtain.
"I'm so stupid." Tori shut her eyes coming to face the facts.
"I'm sorry, I wish," he began but she interrupted him.
"No, please," she sniffled not able to look at him. "You're right, okay? But please, don't say anything else, it only makes it worse."
The two of them stood there for a good while in silence. Young Do wished he could hold her, comfort her in any way to tell her everything was going to be okay. Except he knew if he touched her now, she'd break his arm. He couldn't help but feel guilty as he watched her sad eyes search the streets as if looking for the answer. He would be lying if he hadn't tried to think of ways to be with her outside of being a Triad, but he had been marked a Triad since childhood. There was no escape for him.
"Do you want to go inside?" he offered breaking the silence. Tori sighed and folded her arms around herself.
"No, I uh, I'm actually supposed to be going back to Liz." She lied, and he knew she was too, but he let her use it an excuse to get out of an awkward situation.
"Can I hail you a cab then?" he asked. Tori only nodded in reply, and he went to work. She sniffled again and wiped at her face to clear the tears.
A cab pulled up to the side and Young Do opened the door for her. He smiled kindly towards her and she kept her head down as she climbed inside.
"Get home safely." He told her and she glanced up at him as he shut the door.
"Thanks." She cleared her throat. "Happy New Year, Choi."
The sound of his sir name coming from her jabbed at his heart, but he kept his smile on his face. "Happy New Year, Miss Bae." He bowed to her formally.
The cab took off down the street, leaving Young Do staring after it. He breathed out heavily, a puff of white forming in front of him only to evaporate in the air. He ran his fingers through his hair wondering if he was going to regret letting her go. He let his hand fall in defeat, and turned back to head inside just as fireworks lit up the distant sky.
A/N: How badly do you hate me right now? Are you still confused? Have even more questions? Well, don't be shy go ahead and leave your thoughts in the review section, and I promise to get back at you. Hope you at least found this chapter entertaining at least. Until next time!
