Disclaimer: I dont own South.

AN: WOOT! One left after this guys - like an epilogue type, just to wrap up the health class.

Reviews are much appreciated. :)

39

"Come on, get up," Carmen said jumping on my bed. I groaned and rolled over trying to ignore her. Stacey plopped down on the other side of me and poked me in my ribs causing me to jump up.

"I hate you guys sometimes," I mumbled rubbing sleep from my eyes. I glanced at my clock, 12:43. Hmm, I slept half the day away. I can't really force myself to care.

"Come on get up, we're gonna get food and then go to Madison's New Year's party," Carmen said and I groaned.

"Why would I do that?" I asked. I liked Madison but there was a line I felt shouldn't be crossed. She was ultimately Ashley's best friend, and Ashley was going to be there. I hadn't heard from her since her promise at the dance a week ago. Although I had texted with Kyla who said at the beginning of the week Ashley had been sulking. She didn't say much else.

"Madison wants you to come, come on Spence, let's go have fun" Carmen said literally dragging me out of bed and to my feet.

"Tonight you'll just have to forget whatever is going on with you and Ashley, if it's meant to work out it will," Stacey said throwing me some clothes as they left the room. I sighed, I didn't feel like placing myself in another situation with Ashley just to have to deal with her fear.

"Let's go," I said opening my bedroom door.

The music at Madison's house was pumping. People were wearing party hats and had noise makers for the countdown. Her flat screen television was set to the time square countdown. It was 11:55 and I was just waiting for midnight to come so I could grab Carmen and Stacey and go. I'll admit it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, I ended up hanging with Glen, Kyla, Carmen and Stacey. Even Madison and Brad came and said hello. The only person that seemed to have eluded me the entire night was Ashley. But I knew she was here because Madison had mentioned it briefly.

I felt my palms start to sweat as people coupled up for the last few minutes before the ball dropped. The air had shifted as people waited in anticipation to kiss their partners. I headed towards the door of the living room, trying to escape the mob of people coupling up in the center of the room.

"Ugh this is so boring," Ashley groaned as her and I escaped dishes at my mother's New Year's Eve dinner party. Glen had gone to Aiden's but Ashley and I had decided against partying tonight. A choice we were regretting as we listened to our parents talk politics at dinner.

"Shh – if we're quiet enough they'll forget about us," I said dragging her into my room. I turned on the television. New York City was a mob of people in party hats, dancing to the live entertainment as they waited for the new year to arrive.

"I don't understand it," I said, "even our parents downstairs are celebrating but it seems like such a pointless holiday. Like oh, it's a new year. And then they had to make it such a big deal about who you kiss on new year's."

"I don't know, I guess I can understand the emotion behind it. Wanting to share a clean slate with someone you love. I think it's just the idea of starting over and having the opportunity to do that every year," she said as we leaned back on my pillows watching the screen. Our hands were brushing lightly as I forced my attention on the screen. The countdown was starting. People were wrapping themselves together. The air in my room seemed too thick, like I couldn't breathe. I felt Ashley's eyes on me but I didn't want to look at her. I don't know why all of a sudden my emotions were bouncing all over the place.

"10...9...8," the crowd started yelling. I could hear our parents, lame as they are, downstairs counting along. Ashley's pinky intertwined with mine. My heart skipped a beat – like in the Ferris wheel. Ashley's hands were soft and comforting and like silk.

"5...4...3..." I looked to my right, just like I had suspected she was looking directly at me. I didn't speak – the moment didn't require words.

"2...1... Happy New Year!" I heard yells downstairs and riotous applause came from my television but Ashley and I didn't say a word.

"Happy New Year," she whispered her voice thick with emotion. We were inches apart and I could feel her body inch closer. Her eyes dropped to my lips before blinking rapidly. She leaned in, and for a moment I thought she would actually kiss me on the lips. Maybe I hoped. But at the last moment she seemed to hesitate and kissed my cheek instead. I let out a breath I hadn't been aware I was holding. She fell back onto the pillow and with the television humming in the background just stared at each other, not breaking the moment that had just transpired.

I blinked rapidly as I heard someone shout "one minute left" knocking me out of my trance and into reality. She was standing next to me in the doorway, her brown eyes searching mine. I wasn't surprised that she had found me.

"Spencer," she breathed.

"30 seconds!" came another voice. She quickly looked over her shoulder then back to me.

"Hey," I said looking at my feet.

"I miss you. And I can't take this Spence," she said her eyes pleading with mine. I sighed. Why this? Why now? We kept going in circles. She had to know this was killing me too.

"Ashley we've talked about this -" I started but a look in her eyes cut me off.

"10...9...8..." the room boomed as voices counted together. Ashley took a step closer to me trapping me against the door frame.

"I want a clean slate," she said her body brushing up against mine. Her lips were inches from my own and her eyes were burning holes into my own.

"7...6...5..."

"I love you," she whispered against my lips; lightly brushing them causing me to tremble at the sensation.

"Ash," I groaned.

"4...3...2..."

"I'm ready," she said as the countdown ended and the room erupted in cheers and sound. Her lips connected with mine in what felt like ages and the sound was muted because all I could focus on was her. Her soft lips molding to my own, like they were only meant to kiss me. Her hands on my shoulders, my own gripping her waist. There was no space between us as we came together again. A new slate, a new year. A new beginning.