"10"

"9"

"8"

We, that is the entire Anderson family and Michael and I were at the community park. The entire neighbourhood was at the park and counted the seconds left along with the giant clock they put up for New Year's Eve.

Jasper and I were holding hands as the countdown began.

"5"

"4"

"3"

I turned to Jasper, he was facing me already.

"2"

"1"

Our lips met at sharp midnight and we had our first kiss of the year. We planned to kiss when everyone would be part of the commotion of yelling Happy New Year.

Our kiss wasn't long and we parted and went to wish the rest of the family. Little James managed to get out of Peter's arms and came running to Jasper and me.

"Happy New Year!" He exclaims as Jasper picked him up. "Happy New Year, James!" Jasper kisses him on his cheeks.

"Happy New Year, Holly!" He leaned towards me, I took him from Jasper's arms and placed a kiss on his cheek, "Happy New Year!" I chuckle and wish him.

We walked to where the rest were standing. I wished each and everyone. Peter and Sarah served some of Sarah's special punch she prepared so that we could have something like champagne to start with.

We raised our glasses in the air and Peter decides to speak. "To a new year!"

"To a new year!" We cheer and take a sip of our punch.

We spent some more time at the park. Jasper, Juliet and the twins introduced me to a few of their friends. Around one in the morning, Peter gathered us all and got us into the cars and drove home.

The twins and James were fast asleep by the time we reached the house. Peter took James in his arms, James had his head rest on Peter's shoulder. Michael picked Jesse from the car, Jasper picked Jessica and the two of them walked into the house.

I say goodnight to Sarah and Juliet before I got into my room. I closed the door behind me and switched on the lights. I let out a sigh and walked to the bathroom to dress in something comfortable for the rest of the night.

I dressed in my pj's and left my hair in a loose braid causing my bangs to fall on my forehead.

I walked back to the room and picked up the clothes on my bed and placed in the suitcase I had on my bed.

I thought about what Jasper told me and I thought of giving it one last shot.

I walked to the cupboard to take some more of my clothes. I placed them as well in the box and I turned to my door since I heard a knock on the door. I walked to the door and opened the door to see Jasper standing there.

I open the door a little wider to let him into the room. Once he was in, I closed the door and turned to him.

"I thought you would be asleep." he walks close to me.

"I had to pack my stuff. I wouldn't get much time in the morning." I reply. He was only an inch away and in a matter of seconds, our lips met again. This time, the kiss was deep and passionate. He had me secured with his arms around my waist and my arms around his neck.

I could not remember a time when I had such an amazing kiss from a guy. Whenever I kissed Jasper, it felt different which made me want to continue kissing him.

After some while, we stopped kissing but we did not change the way position we were in. I was looking at his blue eyes while he looked at my hazel eyes.

"What was that special long kiss for?" I ask him.

"I couldn't give you a proper New Year's kiss." I begin to giggle as he answers, "So I came here to give our first proper New Year's kiss." he smiles and tells me.

"You're giving me reasons to stay back." I pout and say. "Holly, don't you dare think of changing your mind now. It took you a while to come to this decision and I'm already proud of you for your decision." he frowns a little and tells me.

"I won't. I am flying to Los Angeles tomorrow." I nod and say. I let go of my arms from his neck, he let go of my waist. I walk to my bed and fold some of my tops. "But to be honest, I don't know how it's going to be like Jasper." I sigh and say as I plopped one of the tops into the box.

"It's going to be fine. You're strong and you'll be fine there. If you don't feel good then just call me or even Emma." He stands behind me with his hands on my shoulders. "Calling Emma would be a bad idea." I shake my head and turn around to see him. "She sort of hate my parents because they kind of blamed her for me breaking up with Daniel. They told her that she changed my mind and all that." I try and explain.

"So if I call her in saying all of it then I'll never hear the end of it and probably have a very bad phone conversation," I say.

"Then you call me. Even if it's three in the morning." He tells me, I nod my head. "You should go to bed, Jasper." I pat his shoulder and turn to get some of my other things that had to go in my luggage.

"What about you?" I hear him ask as I picked up two of my shoes. "I'll sleep later." I held them in my hands. "Besides, I've got time to sleep while on board." I shrug and place the shoes in the separate compartment in the suitcase.

He stood there for a minute or two, after that he stopped me by kissing my temple, told me goodnight and then left my room and I decided to finish packing as fast as I could.

-----

Telling goodbye to the people who took me in to give the best memory ever was the hardest. I didn't want to leave but if I didn't leave, he would be upset.

James was crying but I promised him that I would come back here to visit.

Jasper drove me to the airport. We didn't speak much, the radio was on and that was that made some sound in the car.

He stopped along with all the other cars that had stopped to drop off those who were travelling.

I kiss him and then hug him. I wanted to be here longer but I stopped myself and pulled away after some time. I waved him goodbye as I wheeled my suitcase and walked into the airport.

After attending to all the formalities, I reached the gate and waited for the announcement. In a matter of thirty minutes, the passengers were told to board the plane.

The air hostess at the entrance of the plane greeted me and guided me to my seat. I thank her and took my seat. Once the passengers were on board, the pilot announced that we would be taking off soon.

I leaned against the window and watched the land below me as we took off for LA. When I saw only clouds, I leaned back on my seat and closed my eyes.

This was it, I'm flying south to meet my parents and give them another.

----

"Ma'am?" I felt someone's hand on my shoulder. I slowly open my eyes and I see the air hostess who was attending to me standing with a smile on her face.

"We've arrived in Los Angeles." She informs me. "Oh," I respond and unlock my seatbelt. "I'm really sorry." I apologise for being a weird passenger who was still asleep even after landing. "It's alright ma'am." She smiles.

I took my handbag and followed her to the exit. I thank her and walked out on to the air bridge. It's been almost two years since I was here. I followed the directions and collected my luggage at the baggage claim.

The airport was decorated for the holidays and there were banners a wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

I made my way out of the airport and looked for a sign that had my name. Since I came here as a surprise, I wouldn't have anybody at the exit to welcome me. I asked for a car and a driver that would drive me to my house.

I finally spotted a man in a black suit holding a card with my name printed on it. I walk up to him and he welcomes me to LA, a land that I already know a lot about.

The driver, Fred, took my suitcase and told me to follow him to where the car was. I took a seat at the back of the car while Fred put my suitcase in the trunk.

Fred had the address with him, he started to drive out of the airport and on to the highway.

The weather wasn't cold like Philadelphia but it was pleasant which was great. I looked out the window of the scenes I haven't seen for a while. There were more skyscrapers among the already existing ones, the roads were still full of many cars.

The beaches were full, everybody was having a good first day of the year from what I could see.

I messaged Jasper, telling him that I had safely landed and that I was heading to my house.

Fred took a turn on to a lane which I was familiar with. I wasn't anywhere close to my house but this was where my school was and one of my friends used to live nearby.

Driving further, we were in the posh area of the sector. Magnificent villas, one after another and one among them belongs to my family.

I told Fred to stop somewhere before my house. I thanked him and got out of the car. I took my suitcase from the trunk, Fred helped me with that.

I thank him once again and I stood on the sidewalk till I saw Fred drive away. I pulled my suitcase along with me and walked for almost five minutes and there it was the house.

Somehow after living for a month outside the city, it felt different here. Yes, it was far from the city but there was something different when staying near some woods and completely away from the city or town.

I walked up to the main door, somehow dragging the suitcase along the small stairway. I rang the doorbell and waited for somebody to answer the door. I noticed two other cars apart from the ones that my parents drive, probably there might be guests home.

My attention went back to the door when I heard it open. An elderly man opens it but he it wasn't my usual butler who answered the door.

"Yes?" He asks.

"I'm here to see Mr and Mrs Winters," I tell him. "They're currently busy with some guests, may I know who you are?" He looks at me as if I were some crazy person.

"Holly Winters." I say my name. He didn't respond for a moment but soon his eyes widened. "Ms Winters! Come in!" He opens the door a little wider so that I could walk in.

"I'll call Mrs Winters, could you wait here?" I did not say anything except nod. Yes, this is my house and I do not need a butler to tell to not go in but I didn't want to go ahead until I saw my parents and they allow me to stay.

A minute later, I heard footsteps. They got louder which meant they were coming this way. I took in a few deep breaths before I saw two familiar stand ten steps away from me.

My mother had the biggest smile ever and my dad just seemed to be surprised by my arrival. My mom ran up to me and pulled me into a tight hug.

"Oh, Holly! I'm so happy!" She says as she continued to hug me. We pull away and I smile. I haven't seen her smile like this before. "Thank you for coming, Holly." I nod.

My mom told Matt, the butler, to take my suitcase up to my room. I walked up to my father and he just kept looking at me.

"Hey, dad." I say.

"Holly." Was all he says before he hugs me and whispers sorry in my ears.

I was surprised by their reaction. I'm not sure if this was a little show they had on. Removing those thoughts away and walked with my parents to the dining hall. Mom informed me that there were some guests invited for a New Year's Day lunch. It was only once I walked into the room when I saw who the guests were.

My mother told me to sit down on one of the seats, that unfortunately happened to be opposite to Daniel. I made no eye contact at first but I had no choice later when he wanted me to pass some gravy which was near my plate.

I felt nothing though. It's as if I indirectly forgave him.

Later at night, I was tired. There were more guests, mainly the people my parents work with. I was happy that they had invited them over to the house instead of them going to their house.

I told my parents' goodnight and went up to my room. The room was exactly how I had left it only that a few hours ago, my mom got some cleaners to clean it up. I dressed in something comfortable for the night.

I unlocked the door to my balcony and stepped out. I rested my elbow on the railing and I looked up at the sky.

It's only been a few hours since I landed here but I missed Philadelphia already.

The stars were twinkling, reminded me of Jasper's eyes.

I couldn't believe that I was in my house when I told myself I wouldn't step in here again. I had simple conversations after a very long time with my parents.

I kept wondering after I confessed my feeling to Jasper if my miracle were to just find someone who would like me for who I was.

Today I realised that he was the miracle that brought me back to my parents and an angel up there in heaven changed my parents mind.

I smile and turn to go back inside. I lock the door and got onto my bed. I lay under the blanket and closed my eyes wondering how the next two weeks were going to be like and after another two weeks, I would get to see him again.