Sam's arrival home yesterday was a relief for us both. Sam felt suffocated by his intense family whilst I felt lonely without him, so it's really a win-win situation.

He had opened the door, dropped his bag and run at me, flinging his arms around me in an almost desperate embrace. I had almost fallen over from the shock, but it had been a pleasant surprise to know that he had missed me, so I had hugged him back, naturally.

"Elias? A bunch of shit's just been delivered?" His voice calls from the door, questions evident in his tone but I ignore them.

I jog down the stairs and sweep them up, signing for them and avoiding Sam's curious gaze.

"What are they?" He asks, following me to my room.

"Surprise." I reply, letting them fall from my grasp and watching as they scatter my floor in disarray.

Sam pouts at me and I smile, pinching his cheek lightly as I pass by him and back into the living room. His footsteps follow me again and he settles himself beside me on the sofa, his pout still in place.

"I'm not telling you." I state, stretching out my legs as I set up a film.

"Why?" He demands and I sigh heavily, glancing over to see that he's crossed his arms too. He looks unreasonably adorable and I know for a fact that if I said so, he'd blush.

I take his chin in my hand gently, my thumb grazing against his jawline. His eyes widen, his pout falling off his face completely as he stares at me, dumbfounded.

"I'm trying to do something nice for you. So, stop being difficult." I murmur before finally pulling my hand away.

Sam nods absently, his eyes looking very far away and I shake my head, slotting the DVD into the player.

I pick up the remote and hit play, still satisfied with Sam's lack of argument. However, good things never last forever.

"Hey! It's my turn to choose what we watch!" He yells adamantly and I groan, letting my head hit the back of the sofa.

_

Organising a surprise New Year's Eve party is really difficult when you live with someone like Sam. I'll tell you why.

He is a curious little shit who needs to know everything.He has no fixed schedule whatsoever, so comes and goes whenever he pleases.He has very developed social skills and enjoys making plans with friends without telling me.

Now all of these things are perfectly fine, except when I'm trying to organise a surprise party. Then all of these things become the worst possible traits for someone to have.

Which is why, at 7:34 pm on December 31st when I was caught halfway up a ladder holding a net, several bags of balloons and a piece of string, I finally had to come clean.

"I'm throwing you a surprise New Year's Eve party." I state, my net balanced precariously between my legs. Sam's gaze is fixated on a balloon which has managed to escape and is slowly drifting towards the floor.

"Right." He says, the balloon hitting the floor beside his feet. He glances up at me again and I smile sheepishly.

"Surprise?" I say, although it sounds more like a question than an explanation and Sam laughs.

"You didn't have to do this." He says, moving a chair and climbing up to help me.

"I know, but I thought it would be nice. Like a house warming kind of thing." I explain, my voice strained as I attach the net to the ceiling.

"What's the point of this?" Sam asks and I point at the balloons.

"We pull the string at midnight and the balloons will shower people with balloon joy. Hopefully." I mutter, not sounding the least bit joyful.

Sam smiles and nods, helping me stuff the balloons into the net and attach the string.

Sam glances around properly, noting the alterations in our furniture placement, the drinks table I had set up and the iPod in the speakers.

"Jesus, where'd all this booze come from?" He asks, glancing at me with wide eyes and I shrug.

"You had some stuff lying around and I bought some beers and spirits and stuff." I say nonchalantly and Sam nods. He smiles then, a huge grin which seems to emit light into every corner of the room.

"Thanks for doing this." He states, tugging me into a hug which seems to be a frequent occurrence these days. I hug him back, glad that he likes the surprise.

"No problem, people should be here any minute so if you want to change..." I trail off, and Sam nods quickly, eyeing what I'm wearing before jogging off into his own room. I sigh and pull at my hair slightly.

I move to the iPod and choose a random playlist, setting the music on low for the meantime.

A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts and I open the door swiftly, relief washing over me for the first time ever at the sight of Alice and her friends. To my dismay, Miles seems to have tagged along but I ignore his presence, instead directing Alice towards the living room.

Her friends are unfamiliar to me and they watch me carefully. I attempt to ignore their curious stares but their eyes feel like lasers boring into the side of my head. I'm really not this much of an enigma, surely?

Alice interrupts my thoughts and pulls me to the side quickly, a sly smile on her face.

"How're things? I was so excited when I heard you guys where having a party, your place is so nice too! It beats going out to a club." She says quickly, words rushing out of her mouth and I nod, feeling characteristically uneasy at this conversation.

"It's nothing really, just an excuse to see some old friends of ours." I say shrugging and Alice nods exaggeratedly.

"Your old friends are coming?" She asks excitedly and I nod.

"Hopefully, Sam and I's best friend from high school and his girlfriend." I murmur, checking my phone for any message from Ash.

Alice is frowning when I glance back at her and I frown in return.

"What?" I ask, knowing she won't ask what's on her mind otherwise.

"You and Sam had a best friend? So, you were like, a trio?" She asks, seemingly perplexed by this very complex idea.

"Yeah, why's that so hard to imagine?" I ask and she shrugs.

"I can't imagine Sam sharing you." She says honestly and I laugh.

"It was never like that, you'll see when he gets here." I insist but she looks dubious. I roll my eyes as I turn away, glad to see that Sam is dressed and socialising. His face is split into a huge grin, laughing at something someone's said and I smile at the sight.

The music is changed and the volume increased but I don't mind. Everyone has a glass of something in their hand and I feel as though my hosting duties have been fulfilled.

I mill around, occasionally talking to people brave enough to speak to me, but otherwise I just watch Sam. It sounds creepy, but watching him have fun is fun in itself. The doorbell chimes again and I push myself off the wall and answer it, my face morphing into a wide smile as my gaze falls upon old friends.

"Eli! It's so good to see you, mate!" Ash says, barrelling into me and I laugh, hugging him back.

"Good to see you too, Ash." I reply, pulling away just as I am engulfed in a second, gentler hug from Robin.

"Hey B, I missed you too." I assure her, smiling as she nods into my chest. I hug her back and shut the door.

"Wait here, guys." I insist, walking into the living room to get Sam's attention.

"Hey Sam!" I call, his head turning immediately.

"Yeah?"

"Someone's here to see you." I say with a smile as I open the door.

Sam freezes as he recognises the faces behind the door, but Ash wastes no time in walking over. Sam's face is an ocean of different emotions, but joy seems to win out and all at once he is leaping into Ash, hugging him and laughing, no doubt asking why on Earth he's here.

I shrug an arm around Robin and lead her to the drinks table, pouring her signature drink and handing it to her.

"Still a gentleman I see, Eli." She remarks, her arm around my waist as she leans in for another side hug.

"Of course, what did you expect?" I ask and she laughs.

"I'm not sure if I expected uni to change you, but clearly it hasn't." She states and I look down at her.

"Is that a good thing?" I ask and she shrugs.

"Yes and no." She murmurs and I nod, not pushing the subject.

"How's Ash treating you? 'Like a princess' is the only acceptable answer, just so you know." I add and she snorts, shaking her head at me.

"Like a princess, Eli. I swear, for someone who outwardly looks like they care about nothing, you actually care the most." She says, thinking out loud and I sigh melodramatically.

"It is undeniably my one, and only, flaw." I remark, placing a hand against my chest. She chortles and smacks my hand away.

"You're such an idiot. Speaking of idiots, how is Sam?" She asks and I choke on a laugh.

"What a smooth transition. He's good, why don't you ask him yourself?" I enquire and she gives me a sly glance.

"Oh, I will, but I'll wait until he's a little less sober." She states. I raise my eyebrows but don't question her.

"Go and say hi at least, or he'll start to think that I'm your favourite." I whisper into her ear and she laughs heartily.

"As if!" She exclaims and I sigh.

"You're right, he probably already knows." I say smugly and she laughs even harder.

"Go on, go and socialise." I say, pecking her on the cheek and retrieving my arm from her shoulders. She blows me a kiss and I humour her, catching it and placing it against my heart. She rolls her eyes but makes her way over to Sam, who is still animatedly chatting with Ash.

I fetch a soft drink but decide quickly that I want to socialise with my old friends. Shocking, I know.

I make my way over and sit down, quickly falling into conversation as if no time had passed at all. I catch Alice's eye, raising my eyebrows as if to say 'I told you so' but she still looks vaguely shocked at our dynamic.

I decide I don't care, making the most of the time I have with my friends.

"I found a picture of us the other day, didn't I, Elias? Hang on, I'll go get it." Sam states, quickly getting up and moving out the room.

"It was taken the week before you met Robin." I elaborate as Sam quickly returns, holding the image out to them.

Robin looks at it in a strange mix of amusement and adoration, whilst Ash looks at it fondly.

"I'd forgotten this was even taken, jeez, look at Sam's hair!" He exclaims and Sam pouts.

"It's not that bad!" He insists, looking over to me for assurance and I bite my lip.

"It was pretty bad." I admit and Sam rolls his eyes, snatching the photo back.

"Good for nothing best friend." He grumbles under his breath and I laugh, dragging him back to me and throwing an arm around him.

"We can recreate it, ok?" I ask and he nods enthusiastically, tugging Ash forwards as Robin extracts her phone. She takes the picture and I incline my head for her to switch places with me, but she shakes her head in decline and instead asks Alice, who agrees instantaneously.

We smile and I feel as though I've been transported back to a far simpler time. A happier time.

"Thanks Alice." I say, handing the phone back to Robin.

The party continues in much the same fashion, Sam consuming far more alcohol than necessary and cracking out the twister mat. I watch for a time, drunk twister being an incredible source of amusement; particularly when Sam is playing. He attempts to get me to play but I politely decline, instead choosing to speak with Ash and Robin.

"When do you have to leave?" I ask, genuinely upset at the thought of them having to go. Robin glances at Ash, who has a pinched expression.

"You guys could stay, if you wanted? You two could take Sam's bed, he'll likely end up in mine anyway." I remark, rolling my eyes and Robin smiles. They both know of Sam's antics.

"Eli, are you sure? We can take the sofas, it's no problem." Robin asks and I shake my head.

"I'm happy to have you guys stay, I'll take the couch and this way you can be together." I insist and she nods, winking at Ash as her words slur very slightly.

"We'll have to go out for breakfast tomorrow!" She says and I nod, although lunch will probably be far more realistic than breakfast. I leave the two of them, my gaze searching the groups of people and attempting to identify a familiar face.

The countdown to midnight is fast approaching but I can't find Sam for the life of me. I wander around and eventually locate him in my room on my window seat.

"Hey, what're you doing up here?" I ask gently and Sam's head turns towards me, smiling although his eyes are sad.

"Jus' thinking." He murmurs and I nod, sitting beside him.

"Thank so much for Ash and B, 'Lias." He adds and I chuckle.

"No problem, it's great to see them again." I say truthfully and Sam hums in agreement.

"You're suppose to kiss at midnight." He mumbles, frowning at the concept and I nod.

"You don't have to, it's a stupid social norm that's based on English and German folk law. It was suggested that a midnight kiss would strengthen a romantic bond and not kissing someone would ensure a lonely and loveless year." I ramble, glancing up at Sam who is looking at me, perplexed.

"Lovely and loneless?" He whines, still attempting to unscramble the words I just said. I roll my eyes but try to reassure him anyway.

"You won't be lonely and loveless, you have me." I state and Sam groans again, louder this time and I cross my arms, huffing.

"So rude." I mumble, watching as his body slumps further away from the window. I wait, watching as he tests his precariously perched position, taunting gravity. He's about to slip when I grab him, pulling him upright.

"Woah! You almost fell!" He exclaims, his eyes wide and I sigh heavily.

"You're going to miss the countdown up here." I say, attempting to persuade him to come downstairs but he shrugs and collapses against the wall.

"Don't care." He grumbles and I nod.

"Why not?"

"Person I wanna kiss isn't down there." He insists and I chuckle.

"Zac Efron isn't up here either." I tease and Sam smiles lazily, shaking his head.

"Not him, silly!" He says, bopping his finger against my nose.

"Although..." He says, trailing off, no doubt imagining kissing Zac Efron.

"Okay...enough of that. Come on, I'll help you get downstairs." I mumble, hooking an arm around his waist and hauling him up. He winds an arm around me, finding his balance and walks very well considering how inebriated he is.

He stumbles once on the stairs but I pull him closer, my other hand clamped around the hand rail as we make it to the bottom.

Sam's eyes light up at the sight of everyone, as if he'd forgotten they were there and he starts giggling to himself. Ash's eyes meet mine and he looks worried, although the emotion is fleeting as I wave off his concern and smile easily.

Sam is a deadweight on my shoulder but I've had plenty of practise keeping him upright. Robin flits to my side, attempting to help me but I shake my head.

"B, could you possibly pull that bit of string when the countdown gets to zero? My hands are a little preoccupied." I say, gesturing towards Sam who is smiling lopsidedly.

"Sure, Eli. You're too good to him, you know that right?" She asks, not expecting an answer as she takes her place beside the string. The countdown begins and people's voices melt together, counting down the seconds till midnight.

"She's right, 'Lias, you are too good for me." Sam says sadly and I laugh.

"She said 'too good to him' not for him, you fool." I remark, as people around us begin to get more excitable.

"Oh." He says unintelligently.

The countdown gets lower and lower until they inevitably say zero. Robin dutifully tugs on the string, successfully releasing the balloons to everyone's delight and I smile as I watch her peck Ash on the lips.

"Elias, you gotta kiss someone quick! Otherwise you'll be sad and lonesome like me!" Sam says, strangely chirpily and I roll my eyes.

"Shut up." I reply and Sam tuts, falling against the wall behind us, no longer needing me for stability.

"That's a very unloving attitude you got there." He sasses and I scoff.

"Thanks man, yours is no better." I quip but Sam's face falls.

"I know." He says miserably and I sigh.

"Come here." I murmur defeatedly, tugging his hand. He looks at me strangely as I wrap a hand behind his head and pull his face closer.

I gently but quickly kiss his forehead, before drawing back to see his expression. His cheeks are a vibrant pink, his eyes wide as he searches my face.

"There, you've been kissed. Happy now?" I ask, watching as his blush deepens even further. Despite this however, he nods his head and slumps against my side, smiling to himself.

I shake my head at how delirious he is in this state and decide to help him to bed before he collapses. I guide him through the hall and he attempts to place a foot on the stairs, giggling when it slips.

"How you managed to get up here on your own, I'll never know." I mutter to myself, glancing down the hall. It's empty, so I take the executive decision to make this process faster and safer. I haul him over my shoulder, so that my hands are free to clutch the hand rail and swiftly scale the stairs.

Sam's giggles are audible, even with his hand over his mouth. I walk into my room and gently place him down on the bed. He struggles with his button up, managing to do up more buttons than undo, so I help him and pull it off over his head.

I turn around as I hear him fumble with his belt and eventually turn around to find one leg free of his jeans, but the other still encased in material. I sigh to myself and pull them off, tucking his leg beneath my covers with the rest of him.

"Thank you 'Lias." He mumbles and I smile, moving his hair out of his face.

"Happy New Year, Sam." I say softly, flicking the light off as I close the door. I heave a sigh of relief and go back down stairs.

The party continues rather uneventfully, I speak to Ash and Robin and avoid the awkward stare of Miles. Around 3am people start to leave and I move around sluggishly, picking up cups and discarded bottles which lay in peculiar places.

Robin and Ash had gone up to Sam's room after I insisted that I wouldn't be long. In truth I was just craving some alone time.

When I'm finished it's nearing 4am but our flat is looking relatively clean which is a vast improvement than when I had started. I grab the blanket off the back of the sofa and kick off my shoes and socks, changing into a spare pair of sweatpants and tuck myself up onto the sofa, which is considerably bigger than the sofa in my old dorm. I remove my contacts, thankful that I've remembered as there is no greater pain than sleeping with them in.

My eyes close easily now but my mind wanders, leaping from thought to thought without my consent. I start to wonder how much Sam will remember tomorrow morning, whether I had stepped over the line by kissing him, even if it was only on the forehead. I sincerely hope not, but I suppose I'll know in the morning.

With that thought in my mind, I succumb to the fleeting darkness in hope of finding rest.