Jake wrapped his arm around me, leading me back inside. He brought me over to where his mom was pouring out champagne, passing out the many glasses that filled up the entire counter top. He grabbed one, handing it over to me.

"This is a really big deal for you guys, huh?" I laughed. He shrugged.

"It's gotten bigger over the years, the harder it's gotten for us all to be home together. So.. for us, it's really something to celebrate. The way we see it is, you end and begin each year with the one's you'll always want with you along the way." I felt my cheeks burn, smiling back up at him. He smirked back, grabbing a glass for himself.

"Come on." He said softly, taking my hand, intertwining our fingers. I followed as he lead us into the back room where most of his family was already surrounding the tv. He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me in close, kissing the top of my head. I couldn't help but smile, leaning my head on his shoulder. By this point, the drinks had started to hit. I held on to his hand tighter as I peeked over at the clock.

11:58 PM.

Then, looking out the siding glass doors I could see that Sam was still outside with Kelly. The faint sound of their muffled yells were soon drowned out by the tv as Ronnie raised the volume, making her way over to Jake and me.

"I'm so happy you're here with us." She said, flashing me a smile. I felt my cheeks burn.

"So am I." I said softly, reaching out, pulling her into a tight hug. I felt her arms wrap around me, hugging me back. She then flashed Jake a subtle smile before backing away. I saw him smirk as I felt his hand move back around my waist, pulling me back up against him. I peeked up at him, feeling my heart beat faster as he held his stare on the tv, watching the clock go down, one by one.

Finally, he noticed, looking back down at me, scrunching up his face.

"What?" He giggled, leaning in close. I shook my head.

"Nothing." I sighed. He stared back into my eyes with that same dazed look, subtle smile spread across his lips. His cheeks were flushed from the alcohol, his eyes already bloodshot. He reached up, gently holding my face in his hands, pulling me in closer.

"I love you so much." He said softly, leaning his forehead against mine. I bit down on my lip, staring back at him. I always loved how no matter where we were, he always managed to make me feel like the only girl in the world.

As I held my stare on him, I could hear everyone around us begin to count down.

"10, 9, 8, 7..."

I turned to face him, wrapping one arm around his neck, pulling him in closer.

"I love you too." I said, my smile growing.

"6, 5, 4.."

He then bit down on his lip, holding his stare on me before leaning in close.

"I can't wait to spend forever with you." He said, whispering into my ear. My heart started beating faster as I stared back at him, wide-eyed.

"3, 2, 1!"

"Happy New Year." He said softly, pulling me in to a passionate kiss. The room instantly erupted into screams and cheers, blaring noise-makers and confetti poppers bursting around us in every which way. It all felt like it was happening in slow motion. But in that moment, everything was perfect. I pulled him in closer, kissing him back harder. I felt him smile, his hand slowly moving up into my hair. When he finally backed away, he flashed me a toothy smile, his thumb gently tracing my cheek.

"Happy New Year." I said, leaning in, kissing him again.

"Alright, you two.." I heard from behind us. Jake gently backed away, turning to see Ronnie. He smirked, rolling his eyes.

"Happy New Year, Ronnie." He said, leaning in to give her a hug. She then made her way over to me, hugging me tightly.

"Happy New Year, Sis." She said. I felt my heart jump, my cheeks burn as I stared back at her, a smile escaping my lips. She giggled to herself, smiling back.

"I'm just getting myself used to the idea." She said softly. "It's only a matter of time, right?" I bit down on my lip, peeking over at Jake who was now making his way around the room to the rest of his family.

"Ronnie, do you kn-"

"No." She laughed, looking over at Jake. "I just know him and.. he's ready. So.. I guess it all just comes down to.. whenever you are."

I took a sip of my champagne, turning back towards him again. I felt a smile escape my lips as he peeked back over at me, shrugging, continuing around the room, stopping at everyone who pulled him into a hug. I couldn't help but think about how just a few months ago, all of this would have never even been a thought. It was crazy how just one moment really could change your entire life.

Finally he made his way back over, wrapping his arm around me. I reached up, grabbing onto his jacket, pulling him in close.

"I'm so lucky." I said softly. He smile grew.

"So am I." He whispered, pulling me back into another kiss. In that moment I felt like I could just melt into his hands.

"Jake.." I said softly, staring up at him.

"Mhm?" He said, his eyelids getting heavier as he held his same dazed stare on me.

"I.. I can't wait for forever with you too." I sighed. I saw his eyes get wide and his smile grow as he pulled me back into another passionate kiss, his hand moving down to my neck, pulling me in closer. I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest.

I had never wanted to be alone with him more than I did in that moment.

"It's her!" Kelly snapped, glaring up at me. My heart dropped.

"N-no it's not." I said, feeling my heart start to pound. She held her stare on me, gently shaking her head.

"I can't believe this." She sighed. "After all these years, after everything you and I have been through, and suddenly this girl, who you known for.. how long? She just shows up and.. what? I'm nothing?" I bit down on my lip, feeling my cheeks burn.

"You're not nothing, Kelly. It's just.. she-"

"She's your brother's girlfriend, Sam!" She yelled, her voice getting louder. I quickly looked over at everyone through the sliding doors. The family had started to gather around the tv, all with champagne in hand.

"I know." I said softly. "But.. I can't help how I feel. You.. you don't understand."

"No, I don't understand!" She snapped. "What's so special about her!"

I sighed, looking back over into the back room where I saw Jake wrapping his arm around Jess, pulling her in closer, kissing the top of her head. She smiled back up at him, leaning her head on his shoulder. I quickly turned away to face Kelly, who now had tears in her eyes, but held her angry glare.

"I have never felt this way about anyone before, Kelly. And.. I'm sorry if that hurts your feelings but.. no, I've never wanted anything serious.. because.. I've never met anyone like her before. I have never met anyone that.. I feel most like myself around. You.. you just don't understand. You have no idea what we've been through together. And.. when you go through something like that it.. it changes you. Everything becomes.. so much more clear and.. everything you were never really sure about before, suddenly.. you are. And.. that's her. I want her."

She was quiet for a moment, wiping her eyes.

"I have done nothing but love you for our whole lives." She said softly, her face finally relaxing.

"I know.." I said softly, looking down at my feet, shoving my hands into my pockets. "And.. I'm sorry I've never been able to give that back to you but-"

"But for her.. you can." I bit down on my lip, hesitating, before finally nodding, peeking back up at her. I saw the anger start to build up again, her cheeks burning as she glared back at me.

"She doesn't even see you, Sam." She said softly. "Look at her." I looked back to see everyone facing the tv, eyes glued to the screen where it seemed like Jess and Jake were together in their own little world. My heart dropped. He held her face in his hands, pulling her in closer, leaning his forehead against hers.

Then I heard everyone start to count down.

"10, 9, 8, 7..."

This was the last place I wanted to be right now.

"From the moment I saw them together, Sam, I know there's no way in hell she would ever choose you over him. And honestly, I don't blame her anymore. You use people-"

"I've never used you, Kelly. You always knew what this was. I've never for a second lead you to believe this was anything that it wasn't. You're the one who built it up in your head. You can't put that on me."

"6, 5, 4.."

"You always knew I had feelings for you, Sam, and you still had no problem hooking up with me every time you came home. I was good enough for that, but nothing more, huh?"

"3, 2, 1!"

I looked back inside as the clock stuck 12:00, and the loud muffled celebrating roared through the sliding doors. Confetti and streamers flying throughout the room, glasses being raised and clanked and spilled and splashed in every direction.

And then I saw Jake pulling Jess into a passionate kiss, her arm wrapped around his neck, pulling him in closer, kissing him back. The whole thing felt like it was happening in slow motion. I could hear Kelly continuing to yell, but everything just sounded like white noise as this point.

It felt like a hole had been ripped through my chest as I continued to watch them; Jake now making his way around the room, and Jess talking with Ronnie, but never once taking her eyes off Jake. It wasn't until he came back over to her, and she pulled him back into another kiss where I finally forced myself to look away.

Kelly was now glaring back up at me, tears filling her eyes again.

"I'm sorry, Kelly." I said softly, looking back down.

"You're sorry." She laughed to herself, looking back inside. "Whatever."

She then made her way over to the sliding glass doors, grabbing the handle, and violently pulling it open.

"I just can't believe after all these years of fucking around with me, now you're finally ready to be with someone, and you're in love with your brother's girlfriend!" She shouted, storming into the back room, pushing past everyone and quickly making her way down the hall.

The room instantly fell silent as they all turned to stare at me in the doorway. I felt like I was going to be sick. My legs refused to move. I was frozen in place as everyone slowly turned to Jess, but she stared back at me wide-eyed, her hands still tightly clutching Jake's jacket. I finally brought myself to look over at him, where I was met with such an intense glare that I had never experienced from him before. I could feel my heart beating in my throat. I didn't know what to say. I don't think there was anything I could say.

Finally.. I just couldn't take it anymore. I looked away, avoiding Jess' eyes, as I pushed my way through the crowd, quickly running off to my bedroom.