• It was about five minutes from the New Year. The party my partner, Patrick, was hosting seemed like a great party to everyone else. I was spending the evening looking down at the religious protesters. They were still protesting the change to one currency in The Core. A new proposition passed this year called the "One World One Money Bill". It would be implemented over the next six months.

    I've never cared for politics or anything else for that matter. I am passive on everything. People through out my life have always said I should care about what happens in the world, but I have never listened. It isn't that I don't care, it's that I do not have the will to do more than I already am.

    I glanced inside and noticed a girl walking over to where I was perched on the balcony ledge. I thought she probably just needed some fresh air. She stopped next to me and leaned against the ledge of the balcony. I looked her over curiously. She had straight light-brown hair that went about half way down her back. She had emerald green eyes and seemed rather slim. Her face had freckles below her eyes and across her nose. I didn't expect her to say anything no one ever did

    "So how do you know Patrick?" she asked with a sort of flirty-wondering look on her face.

    I sat startled for a moment before I could respond, " I used to live with him." My voice came out calm enough that it might have seemed that I didn't want the company and frankly I didn't.

    "Sorry, to have bothered you," she said as she got an angry look on her face and started to walk away.

    "Wait," I blurted out in a calm voice. I was wondering what had come over me. "I'm sorry I am just not used to people noticing me out here. Let alone coming out and talking to me."

    "Oh, I'm Sorry," she apologized.

    "I really don't need your pity," I said with a calm but stern voice that seemed to get my point across.

    "Sorry, again," she said now starting to become upset.

    "Sorry, Sometimes I come across a little rude. I don't mean to I just don't get much conversation," I said to her trying to think of away to move on to a different topic. "So what is your name?" I asked as I slid off the balcony ledge trying not to damage the designer suit Patrick had bought me for my last birthday.

    "I am Olivia," she said nervously. "Your name is?"

    I stood for a second and then leaned back against the ledge. I was wondering why I hadn't thought of an excuse to leave yet? "It's Darien. Most of the people I know call me D," I said now wondering why I was sharing things about myself, even if it was something trivial.

    "Oh I remember Patrick mentioning a D," Olivia said seeming a little more comfortable.

    My usually attitude to get down to business kicked in then. "So was there a reason you came over here?" I questioned thinking there must be some reason she would come talk to a guy like me.

    "Well you see the thing is…," she paused and looked at the time. Then she continued. "Well at midnight everyone is going to kiss someone and no offense intended, but you and I are the last ones left."

    I looked at the time there was still a minute or so till midnight so I took a moment to think. "I should probably be insulted, huh? Well if everyone else is I guess I co…" Before I could say anything else she grabbed my arm and yanked on it pulling me inside. She pulled me to about the middle of the room and then pulled herself close to me. I looked at the TV and watched as they prepared to count down. I looked at her when I heard them counting down from three. She leaned towards my lips and kissed me just as I heard some people yell happy new year. I expected a peck on the lips but she kissed me deep. Her lips were so soft, warm, and inviting that I didn't pull back.

    After a few seconds she pulled away and whispered to me," Happy New Year."

    I looked around the room and felt a little used when I noticed that other than a few couples no one had kissed and to top that off Patrick, despite his making-out with Quin, noticed us. "Why Did you want to kiss me?" I asked her curiously.