“Sweetie, are you sure you can’t stay for New Years?” Pete’s mom asked.

“I wish I could but duty calls.” I smiled, stepping back from her hug.

“Well don’t wait so long to come around next time.” She smiled.

“Never, I’m glad I got to come and spend Christmas with you guys, I really have missed you.”

“Take care Spencer, I’ll be looking for you on TV come New Year’s Eve.” His dad chuckled.

“I’m sure she won’t be hard to spot. She’s only a host.” Pete rolled his eyes.

“Peter, be nice. We’re very proud of you dear.” His mom brought me in for one last hug. “Now, let us know when you’re back in New York safely.”

“Of course, I’ll see you guys soon.”

I headed out the door towards the car when Pete started.

“I don’t see why you have to do this.”

“Because hosting New Year’s Rockin Eve is huge, it’s not really something I’m going to say no too.” I rolled my eyes, chucking my bag into his trunk. “Just come with me.”

“I’m not going to miss a chance to spend New Year’s with my family. I never get to see them around the holidays.” Pete sighed.

“You can come see your family whenever, but of course your girlfriend gets yet another huge opportunity and you can’t make it.”

“You, you, you!” Pete raised his voice, turning onto the highway.

“YES ME! I’m sorry that I’m in a position to host one of the most watched programs on television. I’m sorry.”

“I’m sure.” he scoffed.

“You know what Pete, we both know what you want to do. So just go ahead and do it so I can land in New York with a clear head. I’m so over this bullshit.”

“You’re right, maybe we haven’t had a great past few months, but that doesn’t change how I feel about you. I still love you endlessly, nothing will change that. So no, I’m going to end our relationship, if that’s what you want, then you do it.” He looked over at me, waiting for my reaction.

“Pete, I don’t want our relationship to end either. I just want it to be less stressful, I want to find our peace of mind, I want to feel like we did at the beginning.” I grabbed his hand sitting on the center consol.

“Then let’s get our happiness back.” He smiled, kissing the back of my hand.

“Let’s go on a trip with our friends, go somewhere warm, relax and just be with each other.” I smiled.

“I would love that, honestly.”

“Good, I’ll start planning.” I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

“So who’s performing in New York this year?” he asked about the show for the first time since I told him I would have to leave Washington early.

“Demi Lovato, Carrie Underwood, and um, well, One Direction is making a surprise ‘comeback’ performance I guess.”

“Oh, so you’ll be around them when the ball drops?” he quirked an eyebrow at me.

“Yes, but you have nothing to worry about.” I squeezed his hand, not wanting to fight after getting him to agree to a vacation.

“I know I don’t babe, I trust you.” he smiled the most sincere smile I’ve seen in a while.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He kept the smile on his face.

The rest of our ride to the airport was silent. I knew it didn’t mean everything was back to perfect, but I knew it was a start. Pete didn’t put up a fight about actually planning a trip when normally he would. Maybe he knew how to close we were to being unfixable. He also played it cool when I brought up the guys. If he was willing to try and fix our problems, I was willing to not overreact. I loved Pete, and only Pete. Spending time with Pete’s family only made me realize that more.



-----------------------

(NEW YORK)

“Okay, so you’re saying he was cool when you dropped the 1D bomb?”

Josh had demanded I have lunch with him the day after I got back from Pete’s. Apparently, being away for over a week is a crime in his eyes. I was telling him about everything that had happened while I was gone.

“He was completely cool. I don’t know if he was faking it, or was really not concerned.” I shrugged.

“You know he’s not cool with it.” Josh chuckled.

“I know he’s not, but it won’t even matter. I’m going to be down by the crowd and they’ll be up on the main stage. If anything I’ll interview them and then that will be it.” I rolled my eyes.

“So who’s gonna be your midnight kiss?” He wiggled his eyebrows at me.

“I don’t think anyone will be, maybe a stranger in the crowd. I just can’t afford to have any negative press right now. Not with having actual problems with Pete.”

“You always have problems with Pete. So enough about the snore of a boyfriend, how’s Styles?”

“Josh, nothing is happening with him.” I sighed.

“Whatever you say, sweetheart.” Josh smirked.

“I’m serious!”

“So you didn’t talk to him at all while you were in Washington?”

I avoided eye contact, sipping my wine before attempting to change the subject. “So what happened while I was gone? Meet any cute boys?”

“Nope, not getting out of this one, answer my question.”

“Fine!” I sighed. “Yes, I talked to him. He wished me a happy holidays and told me he’s see me on New Year’s.”

“That’s it?” Josh eyed me closely.

“No. He wants to grab dinner soon.”

“And you said no, right? Because you’re working on your relationship with Pete, right?”

“I said we could, just because that’s what friends do, right?”

“Spencer, honey, how many times do I have to tell you, exes cannot be just friends.” He sipped his drink.

“A million because I think it’s possible. I really think Harry and I can be friends.”

“So when are you getting dinner then and better yet, where?”

“His apartment, next week.”

“His apartment?”

“Yes, it’ll be the most low key place we can go. No one can take pictures of us, no one will know we’re even there.”

“Unless they see you entering or leaving the building.” Josh suggested.

“They won’t even know I’m going there! Unless someone tips them off and I’ve only told one person.” I eyed him, daring him to try me.

“I’m not saying anything, I’m just warning you.” He shrugged as my phone rang.

“It’s Lily.” I smiled before answering. “Hey girl, what’s up?”

“So I heard you’re finally back in New York!” she squealed into the phone.

“YES! I am! I’m having some lunch with Josh right now, what’s up?”

“Well it so happens that I’m in New York right now too.”

“And what brought you here? I thought you were going back to Minnesota for the holidays?”

“I did, I spent Christmas with my family, but then a certain cute little blonde Irish boy offered me passes to Rockin Eve.”

“Oh really now?” I chuckled, “His name wouldn’t happen to be Niall, would it?”

“Something like that.” I could tell she was smiling bright.

“Of course, so I’ll see you there then?” I asked.

“Well we’re all going out tonight actually, you and Josh should join us.” She offered.

“I mean I’m down, I have nothing else to do.”

“Sweet, we’re going to Diablo around midnight.”

“Look at you getting into clubs at the ripe age of 18.” I laughed.

“It pays to know the people we know I guess.” She giggled into the phone. “So I’ll see you tonight?”

“Yes, you will.”

“YAY!” she practically yelled. “See you then, bye!”

I hung up with a laugh peaking Josh’s attention. “We’re going to Diablo tonight.”

“Love it.” he downed his drink with a wink.


--------------


(AT DIABLO)

“SPENCER! LOVE!” Louis wrapped me in a hug as soon we reached the VIP table they had.

“Hi Lou, I missed you!” squeezing him back.

“Harry’s not here yet.” he slurred, already obviously intoxicated.

“I’m not here to see Harry! You know that.” I rolled my eyes.

“You soberly come to hang out and then you drunkenly look at Harry all night.” He giggled.

“I do not.” I huffed.

“You do too.” Josh chimed in.

“Shut up! I do no such thing!” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“What don’t you do?” Niall said coming up behind me.

“Nothing.” I tried to save myself from further embarrassment because I know deep down I do tend to stare at Harry once the alcohol starts flowing.

“She stares at Harry when she’s drunk.” Louis smiled like he had given Niall the biggest secret of the century.

“Yeah, we all know that.” Niall shrugged, tipping back the rest of his drink. “Now that we’ve gotten the obvious out of the way, my very drunk, very giggly girlfriend requests your presence.”

“Your girlfriend, huh?” I smiled over at him.

“Soon enough.” He winked, leading us over to the empty couches surrounding the table.

“SPENCER!” Lily jumped up, wrapping me in a hug that rivaled Louis’.

“Hey babe, never met someone who missed their boss so much.” I laughed with Josh.

“Oh god, you are my boss, I’m sorry.” Her face paled, only causing me to laugh more.

“Sweetie, you’re fine! You know I don’t care!”

She sighed as we fell back onto the couch. I caught the waiter, ordering a few rounds for Josh and myself. If they were drunk already, I knew I needed to catch up. And quick.

“Okay, so Voldemort has not apparated into the castle yet but rumor has it he’s coming.” Lily leaned in super close, whispering.

“That’s okay, I can handle him.” I smiled, taking the shot and drink the bartender had come back with.

“No, he like looks different now. Like his hair got so long.” Lily slurred.

“I saw him a couple months ago, remember?” I chuckled.

“I’m just saying, he’s hella fine lately.” Lily shrugged sipping her drink.

Rolling my eyes, I clinked my shot glass against Josh’s before slamming it down. As I set the glass back on the table, my eyes fell to the man of the hour himself. And she was right, something about him was different, sexier even, if that was possible. I flagged down the waiter.

“Two more shots please. Tequila, double.” I smiled at him. “And make it fast.”

Notes

So hi guys!

I know it's been so long since i've updated but i was in a really bad car crash and i was a mess and i'm finally feeling better and decided to get into the swing of things again!

this is a very poorly written chapter but i needed to set up for things and i'm still trying to get my mojo back. so bare with me. regardless, i'm back and should be updating more frequently now!

Thank you for all of your patience and sticking with me!!!!

so much love xx

sidenote: i changed who portrays lily just because i wasn't feeling it. sorry if you gotten used to visualizing her as she was, but i needed a revamp.