"You know what's funny?"

"No?"

"I was always used to celebrating New Year with my family, I didn't know anything else. Then my older brother got his first girlfriend and preferred to spend the holidays with her instead with us. And I couldn't understand it and had always wondered how he could choose a girlfriend over family. And now look at me, years later, I finally get him."

"Yes, that is funny."

"Right?" Camille said smiling, sitting down on Logan's lap. She put her arms around him and looked at him curiously. "So, how did you plan to spend the evening?"

"Oh, we can do all sorts of things. Movies, TV, some card games..."

"Please tell me you're joking."

Logan chuckled and brought their faces closer together, whispering, "I never joke when it comes to card games..."

She laughed and Logan took that moment to kiss her. Camille enjoyed the kiss, but when they continued doing their thing, she could feel that something was...different. Logan seemed distracted. She sat up. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Why do you ask?"

" Because you still have your shirt on."

"Oh, you want me to take it off? Yeah, I can totally do that." And he started to do so, but Camille stopped him. "No, it's okay. You're not in the mood. Let's just do something else." She pulled away from him and Logan sat up. "I'm sorry," he said contritely. "It's just...do you know that the guys always make fun of me about it?"

"They're doing this because, once again, you're too insecure to stand up for yourself and your ambitions."

Logan grimaced. "Ouch...that hurt."

"Sorry." She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You know, I understand if you want to keep certain things private. But if you act like nothing is happening, deny these things, then it feels like you're not just embarrassed with the act, but also with me."

"Is that what you think is happening here?"

"I don't know, is it?"

"No, absolutely not. That is..." He sighed. "Hey...come here." He pulled her back onto his lap, resting his head on her shoulder. "I'm really sorry."

"You know, it's not like I'm asking you to go out there and brag about it...but instead you could...well, just think about it, okay?"

"I will do that," he promised.

Silence fell, and after a while, when Camille turned her head to look at her boyfriend, she noticed a slight smile on his face. "What's with that smile?"

"I was just thinking...you know, five years ago, I was convinced that I would never find a girlfriend, let alone ever have my first kiss. And now I'm here with you...who would have thought?"

"Who would have thought you would finally find love?"

"No, who would have thought that Carlos would be right."

"Carlos? What does he have to do with this?"

"Technically...everything."

"Wanna tell me about it?"

"Mmh...I don't know...actually it's not a very nice memory for me...that stupid party..."

Camille snuggled up to him. "Tell me what happened."

Logan looked at her thoughtfully, then nodded. "Okay..."

New Year's Eve, five years ago:

From the very first second, Logan Mitchell knew this was a bad idea. But no matter how many times he tried to change his friends' minds, they wouldn't listen to him. So he told them he wouldn't come along, they ignored him. And suddenly he was standing in an unfamiliar living room with his friends, surrounded by random classmates, loud music blaring from everywhere, screaming, laughter...pure hell. Logan turned to Kendall. "Okay, we were here. Can we please leave now?"

"Logan, don't be so afraid. After all, Zack invited all of us to his New Year's party."

'No, he invited the whole team,' Logan thought bitterly. And that was the only reason he was at this party, because he was part of the hockey team.

The hours passed, too slowly for Logan's liking. And just when he thought things couldn't get any worse - he was starting to get a headache from the loud music and shouting around him - the most terrible thing happened.

"Hey, who's in the mood for some truth or dare?"

Logan didn't know who said that sentence, but it didn't matter. His heart began to pound, his stomach cramped, his hands were shaking. He made one last attempt to save what could be saved. "Come on, guys, can't we just go home?"

James stared at him with wide eyes. "You want to go home now?"

Logan shrugged. "I don't feel so good" - which was true - "and I don't want to play this game." – also true. Kendall patted Logan on the shoulder. "If you're too uncomfortable with dare, just choose truth. And if truth is too embarrassing, just lie. No one will know."

"But I can't-"

"It'll be fine," Kendall said, pulling Logan along with the other party guests and making him sit on the floor between him and Carlos.

The game began and with each round that passed, Logan became more hopeful and anxious at the same time. More anxious because the odds increased with each round that he would be next, and more hopeful because there was a chance it would be midnight before his turn came.

And then it happened.

The bottle spun and then stopped, right between Kendall and Carlos, Logan's spot. And because it was Zack's turn before - the host of the party - he was the one who asked the question. He studied Logan for a moment and Logan found the sudden silence more than uncomfortable.

"Well...that should be interesting..." Zack muttered. Then he said a little louder, "Alright, Logan...truth or dare?"

At first Logan feared he was no longer able to speak at all, then he remembered Kendall's words. "Tr-truth..."

"Okay, not so interesting," Zack said, a few people laughed. Zack thought for a moment. "Okay, I like you, Logan, so I'll make this easy for you. How old were you when you had your first kiss?"

Logan felt an uncomfortable heat rise within him and a ringing began in his ears. His mouth and throat were dry, the color drained from his face. Kendall's words in his head, "And if truth is too embarrassing, just lie. No one will know."

Oh yes, they would know. Because Logan Mitchell couldn't lie, he was a terrible liar.

"Well? What's taking so long?" Zack asked with raised eyebrows. "Just say the age and everything's fine."

"I...I can't..."

"Why not?"

"I...I've never had my first kiss."

Zack's mouth dropped open for a moment. "Huh, okay...um, well, then-"

"Did you hear that?" another boy suddenly shouted. "Logan never had a first kiss. Who would have thought?"

And the laughter began. And Logan felt like he was about to burst into tears. Somehow he managed to get up, turn around, and run away. He thought he could hear Kendall, James and Carlo trying to defend him, but by then he was already out of the house, standing on the sidewalk, the cold night air cooling his heated temper and drying some single tears on his face. Not knowing what to do now, he sat down on a bench, rested his head on his hands and stared down at the ground.

"Logan?"

Logan slowly looked up, Carlos was standing in front of him.

"I have your jacket."

Logan took the jacket and put it on, then stared at the ground again. Without bothering to ask first, Carlos sat down on the bench next to his friend. "Are you all right?"

"Yep, never felt better," Logan said, not hiding his sarcasm.

"Don't listen to them, they're just stupid."

"No, they're right. I'm a hopeless case."

"Don't say that."

"But it's true. I'm not as cool as Kendall, as popular as James, or as funny as you. Girls see me and think...no, girls don't see me at all...except when they want to copy my homework."

"It hurts to hear you talk like that."

"Telling the truth?"

"No, you give up faith."

"Carlos, I don't believe, I stick to facts. And fact is that I will certainly end up alone."

"I strongly disagree."

"So you really think there is a girl somewhere in this world that would be seriously interested in me?"

"Absolutely."

"That's nonsense."

"No, it's not. You can't give up hope. Trust me, one day you'll meet a girl, and she will fall madly in love with you."

Logan shook his head. "I...I have trouble to believe that."

"You know what, that's okay, I'll believe for the both of us."

Logan looked into Carlos's smiling face. He didn't know what to say, but Carlos didn't seem to expect an answer from him. He patted Logan on the shoulder. "So, how about it? Do you want to go back to the party, or do you want to go home?"

Before Logan could answer, Kendall and James came running towards them.

"Are you okay?" Kendall asked. Logan shrugged. "I guess."

"Hey, we're sorry we dragged you out to that party," James said. "You told us you didn't want to go, but we didn't listen."

"Yes, we are pretty bad friends from time to time," Kendall added. Logan looked at him indignantly. "Bad friends? You guys are the worst."

They stared at him. A slight smile crossed Logan's face. "And I hope you will never change."

Kendall and James grinned.

"Awww, our little Logie, isn't he sweet?" Carlos said, ruffling Logan's hair.

"Carlos!" Logan complained, but Carlos just laughed. They heard cheers coming from the houses all around them. James checked his phone. "Midnight."

"Finally," Kendall and Carlos sighed. Logan looked at his friends. They drove him crazy, they constantly got him into trouble, they really were the worst...and yet...

"Happy New Year, guys," he said, smiling.

"Happy New Year, Logan."