The days after Christmas passed slower than Eli expected. The sparkle of the party at Mina's house faded into quieter rhythms—lazy mornings by the heater, evenings filled with his mother's cooking, the muffled laughter of his little sister trailing through the halls. The excitement of the season had dimmed, replaced by the soft, steady hum of family life.
His phone buzzed often, though rarely from the one person he found himself waiting for. Mina spammed the group chat with photos of her lopsided gingerbread houses, each one captioned like a tragic drama. Jace declared himself a "winter bear," boasting about waking up at noon and napping before dinner. Caleb filled the chat with selfies from her trip to the mountains, cheeks flushed from cold, her grin wide and wild. Eli responded with small replies—smiling emojis, short comments—but mostly kept to himself.
Every so often, he would glance at his phone, wondering if maybe Kai had messaged too. But there was only silence. A silence that pressed into him, thin and invisible, like an echo he couldn't shake.
By the time New Year's Eve arrived, the whole town seemed restless with anticipation. Outside, houses glowed with bright strings of lights, windows fogged with warmth while neighbors prepared sparklers and firecrackers. The streets buzzed faintly with laughter and voices, the kind of festive chaos that hinted at midnight drawing near.
Eli stayed curled on the couch under a blanket, scrolling idly through his phone. His mom and sister busied themselves at the dining table, setting dishes and humming along to the carols on TV. The scent of roasted pork and ginger tea lingered in the air, grounding him in the comfort of home.
Then his phone rang.
The name on the screen made his heart lurch.
**Kai.**
His blanket slipped from his shoulders as he scrambled upright, fumbling to answer. "H-Hello?"
"Hey." Kai's voice came through steady, though softer than usual, carrying a quiet that made Eli's chest tighten. There was no background noise, no clamor of family or celebration—just silence, as if Kai had stepped outside, away from everything. "What are you doing right now?"
Eli glanced toward his family at the table. His mom was arranging plates, his sister humming, oblivious. "Not much," he admitted. "Just… waiting for midnight, I guess."
A pause followed. For a second Eli thought that might be it, that maybe Kai had called for no reason at all. But then the boy spoke again, his voice lower this time.
"Do you want to watch the fireworks together?"
Eli froze, his breath catching. "Together?" His voice came out thinner than he meant, uncertain. "As in… just us?"
"Yeah." No hesitation, no wavering. "There's a spot near the park. A hill that overlooks the town—it's quiet, not too crowded. I thought…" Kai trailed off, and Eli could hear the faintest chuckle, self-conscious yet warm. "I thought it'd be nice to start the new year with you."
The words sank into Eli slowly, like warmth seeping through cold fingers. His chest tightened, his mind a swirl of panic and something dangerously close to joy. He wanted to say yes. Of course he did. But part of him trembled with the knowledge that agreeing meant something would change between them, something he couldn't take back.
And yet, his voice betrayed him. "…Okay. Where should we meet?"
Kai's relief was almost tangible, like the sound of a smile carried through the phone. "I'll pick you up in thirty minutes. Wear something warm—it's freezing out."
"Alright." Eli tried to sound calm, but the hitch in his voice gave him away.
When the call ended, he sat frozen, staring at his own reflection in the dark screen. His heart thudded far too fast, his cheeks hot. Why does it feel like he just asked me on a date?
He shook the thought off, but the warmth refused to leave. Rising, he grabbed his coat from the chair, looped his scarf twice around his neck, and stepped into his boots. When he told his mom he'd be heading out to watch the fireworks with a friend, she only gave him a small smile, one eyebrow lifting knowingly as though she already understood.
Eli sighed at her look, pulling the door closed behind him. The winter night air rushed in, sharp and biting, stinging his cheeks. But inside, beneath his coat and scarf, he was burning—burning at the thought of meeting Kai, and spending the very first moments of the new year beside him.