With a heavy sigh, Elodie pushed up out of her seat, the fabric of her dress clinging to her skin in a way that she knew made her look especially fuckable. As much as she loved New Year’s Eve, she found her interest had waned a lot this year. The big move to New York City was supposed to have been a fresh start for the Moreau’s, and Elodie’s chance to party as hard as she could, fuck a lot of hot people, and meet the love of her life. Instead, she’d met Noah, who was about as fuckboy as any fuckboy could get, and Charlie. Not that there was anything wrong with Charlie, but she could rarely tell if he wanted to fuck her brains out or put her in his pocket and carry her around.
As it was, it seemed she’d be spending her night lonely and unkissed while all her friends were occupied with people far more beautiful than her. Even Théo appeared to be spoilt for choice, bless his heart. It was bittersweet, watching her brother. He was shy and reserved, always hiding the best parts of himself, tucked away only for Elodie to enjoy. Across the room from her now, mocktail in hand, he was smiling easily at a chatty Keeley, genuinely enraptured in every word the pretty redhead was saying. A pang of guilt settled in Elodie’s chest as she watched the two of them, clear as it was that Keeley was harbouring a lethal crush on her twin. Théo had missed all the signs, mistaking their connection as nothing more than a friendship, all the while stealing glances at the boy he wrongly believed he could never have. Biting back a grimace, Elodie’s gaze wandered to Lando, who appeared to be trading lingering stares between her brother and Cora, seemingly unsure as to where he wanted to pour all of his attention for the night.
In truth, it would be easy for Elodie to cross the room and climb into Lando's lap, feeling the comfortable weight of him growing between her legs as she coaxed his tongue into her mouth. She wasn’t afraid of her sexuality, the two of them were similar that way – easy with affection, unashamed of letting the world know that they had wants and desires – but she knew her brother better than he knew himself. Something as simple and unmeaning as a midnight snog with their live-wire skateboarding friend would crack his heart in two.
With one, last forlorn glance in Charlie’s direction, she slipped away and disappeared to the back of the bookstore. Her DJ friend was tucked away in one of Billy’s cosy booths, arm tucked around the shoulders of a girl named Ripley – naturally gorgeous as she was, the other woman seemed to genuinely make Charlie laugh and smiles in ways the young blonde could only dream of. Though just friends, Elodie had been certain she and Charlie might fool around once or twice, genuinely convinced on several occasions that his flirty banter was leading them in that very direction, only to find herself horny, disappointed, and in desperate search of her vibrator by the time she got home. Either way, tonight he was happily distracted, his perfectly crooked smile working overtime for the lovely girl at his side, teeth on show as he tipped his head back in raucous laughter at whatever she was showing him.
She was resigned to a solitary night, and midnight was drawing near, so she threw herself down on a lone beanbag in the poetry section, no longer concerned with the way her dress was riding up around her thighs, cleavage spilling out without even the tiniest hopes of an audience. She tapped lazily at her phone, scrolling past photos of happy couples and instagram stories of her tipsy friends back home. Teddy had sent her a sweet text, accompanied by a picture of him and his gorgeous new boyfriend, and Elodie found herself relieved that at least somebody out there was thinking of her tonight.
Time seemed to pass in a vacuum, and before she knew it the few people in her proximity were making their way to the front of the store, no doubt eager to catch the fireworks displays that would soon light up the city. With an upward glance, she noticed one other person who seemed to have stuck around.
The lighting was dim so it was hard to get a proper look at him, but there was no doubting he was staring right back at her – though he appeared to turn his gaze away the minute she’d caught him, seemingly embarrassed as he ducked his head and worried at the cuffs of his sweater. Oh, how sweet, Elodie thought. Maybe he was just shy?
Clumsily, she pushed up out of the beanbag – there truly was no graceful way to do it – and narrowed her eyes at him, wondering absently why he looked so familiar. He remained a few feet away, hovering awkwardly beside a shelf full of Keats and Whitman and all the boring shit that Louis and his friends seemed to enjoy. Feeling a little brave, and a whole lot bored, Elodie decided there was no better time than now to shoot her shot and turn on the charm.
“You gonna stand there all night, handsome? Or are you planning on sweeping me off my feet sometime soon?” she teased, tapping her imaginary watch as she took a few steps towards the stranger, a flirty smile on her lips.