3 Matchmakers, 2 Bastards, and a New Year's Kiss

By 'You're My Cup of Tea

"You think too much."

"Is it my fault if I think of the consequences?" I snapped, slamming my drink onto the plastic table and causing Delia to choke on her low mien.

Really, it wasn't fair. Going to the mall with your best friend is supposed to be fun and carefree, albeit a little bit cautious because you wouldn't want to spend all your money on just one thing. The mall isn't a place for your friend to drill you about the stupid boy next door who you've known since you were four and acts like a protective older brother. And its food court is not a place for said friend to convince you that you and your neighbor would be a perfect couple and would easily win the goddamn "Newlywed Game" on television. Especially if you're 17 and the last thing on your mind is getting together with that boy, let alone marrying him.

"Consequences? Car… what are you smoking? All I said was that you should just admit you love him and then have your way with him. It's not like he'd refuse or anything." Delia said calmly, taking a sip from her water and getting up to throw away the rest of her food.

Sighing, I got up with her, taking our shopping bags and walking towards the exit of the mall.

"Delia, what don't you understand? One, I don't love him or like him or whatever. Two, he would most definitely refuse because he's a fucking Greek god and I'm no Aphrodite. And three, any sort of relationship we'd have would end up in flames after like a week because he's a complete man-whore. And if that actually happened, you could bet that our friendship would no longer be the same."

"So basically you agree he's good looking?" Delia asked again, smirking and turning around to look over my shoulder. I just loved that out of my whole rant about why I couldn't go out with him, she only picked up on the 'Greek god' moment.

"Well I mean, any sensible girl could see that Aiden's pretty damn attractive…" I said trailing off.

"Dreaming about me Hamilton?" A deep voice came up behind me causing me to jump and mentally slap my forehead.

"You wish. Just because I can admit you're hot, doesn't mean I spend all my time thinking about you." Or you gorgeous blue eyes. And those muscles… God damnit Carson, get a grip will you?

"Not like it matters to you anyways. You've got some slut in your bed almost every night. Speaking of which, I'm surprised no one accompanied you to the mall." I added.

"Ouch that hurts- oh wait; scratch that, I'll take that as a compliment." Aiden said with his signature smile and slung an arm around my shoulders.

"So Aiden, are you going to come to Gray's party on New Year's?" Delia said giving me a secretive smile and walking casually alongside me.

"You mean tomorrow night? Of course! I can never resist a good party. You girls coming?" He asked, looking at me and pulling me closer. Damn him and his cologne. If it weren't for the fact that he smelled good, I probably would've pulled away by now. Aiden Robinson was known for his extremely good looks (chiseled jaw, blue eyes, dark hair – always pluses) and his obvious charm all around our town and especially at our school. He was only a year older then me and out of most girls I probably knew him the most. As much as I hated him sometimes, I had learned to deal with him a long time ago. Our families were friends and I'd been over his house and in his bedroom countless of times. We weren't best friends, per say but we were pretty close. Arguing was our form of conversing.

"Hellooo? Earth to Carson? Thinking about me again?" Aiden said, waving a hand in front of my face.

"Wow, we're on a first name basis now huh? And no I was not." Lie. Blatant Lie.

"Car, you know I love you!" He said with a laugh. "So party or no party?"

"Oh don't you worry, she wouldn't miss it for the world." Delia said before I could say no. Glaring at her I replied back.

"Well apparently that decision is not up to me. Well Robinson, it's been fun, really. But Delia and I have to go do… some stuff." I left Aiden there while dragging Delia outside to her car.

"Delia, how many times do I have to tell you? I don't li-"

"You can tell me as many times as you want Car, but we both know you're lying straight through your teeth. And I hate how you think he doesn't like you! Isn't it obvious? I mean the guy hangs out with you more then any girl he sleeps with. And he's driven away almost any potential boyfriend of yours!"

"Ugh! You frustrate me!" She yelled, throwing her arms in the air and getting in the car, me following suit. The rest of the ride was silent. I just couldn't understand where Delia's silly ideas about me and Aiden were coming from. So what if we spent a lot of time together? So what if I liked the feeling of his arm around me? So what if I found his eyes hypnotizing? It didn't mean anything. It couldn't mean anything.

- - - - - - - -

"Well don't you look like a hottie!" Delia said as I heard Anabelle whistling in the background.

"Seriously guys? It's just jeans and a t-shirt…" I replied with my eyebrows raised, looking in the mirror.

"Exactly. It's called sarcasm dear; I'm surprised you didn't pick up on it. Come on, you're at my house and you're going to wear what I tell you to wear." Annabelle said as she threw a few articles of clothing at my head in hopes that I would catch them.

"And wear these heels. I knew an extra pair would come in handy." Delia said quickly, pulling out a pair of red pumps from her purse.

"Riiight, and what makes you guys think you can force me to wear them?" I said, hoping they'd give up really quickly. But then again, what was I thinking…

"Carson Hope Hamilton. Get your tiny little butt into the bathroom and change into what we give you or else." Annabelle threatened with a complete serious look on her face. Lounging on the bed, Delia giggled I glowered at them both.

"You're lucky I'm scared of you because otherwise I would not be doing this." I said huffing and stalking off into the bathroom closing the door behind me.

"Well what else am I here for besides scaring my cousin?" I heard her yelling out loud from her room. Annabelle was my older cousin (by two years) and lived next door to Gray's house, the location of the party so it was only fitting for us to get ready there. Not only was she my cousin, but being an only child, she was basically my sister.

"Guys… I don't know about this outfit. I totally look like a slut." I yelled out and could hear Delia snort.

"Your idea of a slut is the equivalent of society's idea of a nun." She retorted back.

Sighing I opened the door and walked out, only to be met by open mouths.

"You're right, you're totally right- it just doesn't fit right- I mean seriously, I'll just go pu-"

"Carson what are you talking about! You look amazing!" Delia yelled, rushing up to give me a hug as Annabelle started to clap excitedly.

"And we're not being sarcastic this time." She added smiling brightly. I smiled a little, shifting from the tightness of the outfit. I looked in the mirror and noticed how much the dress hugged my curves. It was simple, and black, and with the addition of the red pumps and a red belt I was kind of excited by how it looked. Maybe I could slut it up a bit, just for one night.

"So, now that you're finally ready, let's go break some hearts!" Annabelle said as we walked down the stairs and to the party.

- - - - - - - -

"Holy shi-"

"That bad huh?" I grimaced, and turned around to face Aiden's best friend Christian.

"You have got to be kidding me, where've you been all my life?" He said laughing and pulling me up from the couch to give me a hug. I smiled and patted him lightly on the shoulder.

"Hiding from you. So I guess it's not that bad?"

"Not at all babe, I wish you weren't taken though, otherwise you'd be up in my bed right about now." He said smiling at me and escorting me to the kitchen where a few drinks were being poured.

"Christian… I'm not taken by anyone." I said, absentmindedly thinking of a certain hot piece of ass grinding with Amy, the school slut.

"We'll see how long that lasts…" He said secretively, looking over at Aiden and then over at Delia and Annabelle before returning his eyes back to me... er, well mostly my body.

"I'll talk to you later Car, I'm going to go have some fun." He flashed me a toothy grin and went over to grab Delia's hand to dance with her. Annabelle was god knows where at I was all alone.

As soon as I felt a hand glide lightly against my ass, I flinched and turned around, meeting some strange guy's eyes.

"Hey c-cutie. Iff I could rearrange da alphhhabet, I'd put me and you together." He slurred, stumbling forwards and pushing me up against the wall.

"I think the correct line is you and I. Now please get lost, I'm not interested." I said strongly, attempting to shove him off of me. Surprisingly even though he was extremely drunk, he was pretty heavy.

"Well ifff you're not interested in me, what about me and Scotty ova here?" He said snidely, trying to keep himself standing relatively straight as his friend (presumably Scotty) came out of the shadows, snickering to himself. My dress had ridden up a bit higher and they both were getting closer. Closing me eyes I hoped they would just pass out or something and before I knew it, I heard two loud "smacks" and two "thunks" fall against the floor.

"You can open your eyes babe, and no need to thank me, a kiss would be just enough."

I knew that voice anywhere, and opening my eyes, sure enough there was Aiden.

"I can fend for myself Robinson."

"Sure you can Hamilton, just not when it's two against one and the one is as fragile as you." He said offering me a hand and pulling me away from the wall, causing me to bump into his chest.

"Fine, thank you Aiden. What would I ever do without you?" I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes and starting to walk away.

"There you two are! We've been looking all over for you! We ran out of alcohol, can you guys go downstairs and get some more? Gray said it was fine." Delia said, coming out of nowhere with Annabelle and Christian in tow.

"Sure…" I said hesitantly, and turning around, dragging Aiden with me. Once we got down there and turned on the lights we heard the lock of the door click and some giggling as the three walked away.

"Damn. That would happen." Aiden said groaning and stretching out across the steps. A television had been left on in the basement and you could hear the people getting ready for the ball to drop. That's just grand, I was hoping I'd get a new year's kiss for once, and I end up being stuck with Aiden.

"You know they're trying to match us up right?" Aiden grinned, playing with a strand of my hair as I sat down next to him.

"I figured as much." I sighed and rested my elbow on one of the steps, causing a momentary period of silence.

"Why do you hate me so much?" Aiden interrupted the silence and looking straight at me.

"I don't hate you Aiden. I just don't like how you live your life."

"How I live my life? Car, just because I sleep with women sometimes, and it's not as often as you think Car, they're called rumors, doesn't make me a horrible person." He said quietly, his fingers now stroking my arm lightly. What the hell was happening?

"I didn't say you were. Sometimes I just wish… Maybe…" Sighing I continued, "Maybe you should look at what's in front of you instead of always what's around you." I said in disbelief with myself. Had I just confessed I liked him?

"Maybe I should," He replied, playing with the fabric of my dress around me waist.

"Shit Carson, you look hot tonight. You drive me crazy you know that?" He said, seeming a little more nervous then usual.

"You drive me crazy too."

At this point our faces were inches apart and I could feel his breath lightly, a slight smell of alcohol mixed with peppermint.

"Carson…. Do you like me? At all?" He said quickly, brushing his fingers lightly against my cheek and tucking a hair that had fallen out of place behind my air. In the background I could hear the countdown to 2010.

10

"No." I said quietly, looking at Aiden's face and the disappointment he failed to hide.

9

8

"I think… no I know, that I love you." I said even quieter as a smile appeared on his face.

7

"What was that?" He of course, just had the nerve to ask me to repeat.

6

"I said I love you Aiden, and I swear to god if you make me repeat one mo-" And with that I stopped, as his lips found the way to mine, pressing a light feathery kiss, and then another. I could feel his smile against my lips and the burning sensation in the pit of my stomach as my whole body felt like it was floating.

5

4

"You kissed me too early."

3

"I couldn't help it. You were just too adorable rambling on and on." He said with his one hand cupping my face and the other pulling me flush against his body.

2

"Oh and by the way…"

"Hmm?" I replied sleepily, his closeness made me feel a little faint what with the craziness in my stomach and the crazy beating patterns my heart was creating.

1

"I love you too."

Happy Early New Years! Hopefully this was enjoyable. Can't wait till 2010!
Please leave comments or anything, criticism is always welcome (:

~ You're My Cup of Tea.

Disclaimer: "The Newlywed Game", the Times Square New Years Eve Ball, as well as Greek Gods are not owned by me.