#Idek what was going on with the whole library thing 😭

[sarastellasari]

New Years Kiss (Part Two)

part one, part three!

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Lyra couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious as she approached the Hawthorne house. What if she messed something up? She knew all of these people, yes, but she hadn’t really hung out with them. As she passed by the gates, she couldn’t help but gawk at the enormous grounds. They were beautiful but also slightly terrifying. She couldn’t help but wonder if Grayson or any of his brothers had ever gotten lost on them.

To Lyras surprise, when she knocked on the door, instead of a doorman or security guard answering as she expected, it was Avery, her face filled with excitement, looking beautiful in a tight green strappy dress. 

“Hi, Lyra!” Avery said, reaching to pull her inside. Lyra smiled at her. “I’m so happy you came! You’re right on time! Everyone else is here, let’s go find them!” 

Avery led Lyra to a courtyard in the back. Lyra gawkedt at the decorations. The entire yard was covered in streamers and fairy lights and there were balloons floating high in the air. There were different arcade games scattered around the courtyard, including a few that looked homemade. The scent of champagne lingered in the air.

“Dang.” Avery shrugged modestly.

“Usually we’d do more, but this is just our friends.” Lyra let out a sigh of relief. She had been dreading being photographed, being crowded, being surrounded by people who deserved to be here far more than her. Avery smiled at her relief.

“I agree. I’m so glad I got Alisa to give in.” Avery’s eyes suddenly widened as she saw Nash leisurely strolling towards them, dressed in a shiny black tuxedo and matching cowboy hat.

“Hey Nash,” Avery said. Lyra waved awkwardly. “What’s up?”

“My brothers are… still getting ready. Avery, there was a delay.” Lyra snorted.

“How? They live here.” Nash grinned at her.

“Good question.” Then he strolled back to Libby, dressed in a deep sapphire gown and hat matching Nash’s. 

“It’s ok. Grayson will be here soon.” Avery said, glancing at Lyras face with a smirk. Lyra sputtered.

“I- I don’t care about-“

“Mhm. Let’s go talk with the others! Have you met Thea?” 

And so Avery pulled Lyra away from the house, and over to Thea, who was standing with Rebecca. Both girls were in gold, nearly the same shade as the streamers around the yard.

“Hey girls. Lyra right?” Lyra nodded. Thea smirked.

“Where are your dates?” Thea asked.

“Grayson and Jameson are getting ready with Xander,” Avery said, scowling at Thea, who gave her a knowing look.

“Anyways,” Avery said, clearly changing the subject.

“Thea and Rebecca, are you excited to kiss at midnight?” Rebecca flushed all the way from her red hair to her equally red dress. Thea laughed.

“As much as I’m sure you are, Avery. What about you Lyra? Are you planning to kiss anyone?” Lyra cringed, feeling her cheeks turn red. 

“Uh-“ 

“You know,” Thea continued, “I’m sure Grayson would be up for it. He’s single, you know. Oh, look! It’s Max. Come on, Rebecca, let’s go say hi.” And Rebecca and Thea left. Leaving Lyra bewildered with Avery.

“What did she mean?” She asked, turning to Avery, who cringed.

“Oh, you know. Just Thea being Thea.” Lyra rolled her eyes. This was going to be a long night. She should’ve just gone back home to her parents and brother.

Just then, Avery’s phone dinged. Her eyes lit up.

“Oh look! Jameson is inside. He needs help with something. Come with me?” Lyra raises an eyebrow. She was sure that Jameson needing “help” with something was probably code for… something she didn’t want to witness, but she didn’t want to leave the one person she knew, so she nodded in agreement. Avery cheerfully led her into the mansion. Lyra gawked at each room they passed, at every painting probably worth millions. No matter how many times she had been inside, it never got old. And she was pretty sure she had never been in this wing before.

“Avery, where are we going?” She asked, slightly worried that they were lost. Avery grinned. 

“A room.” 

“Thanks,” Lyra said sarcastically. Avery laughed. Lyra frowned. She felt a bit uneasy like she was being tricked into something.  The feeling escalated when Avery opened an elaborately designed door. Lyras eyes widened. Jameson was standing in the room. And next to him… 

Grayson was tied up in a chair. Lyra felt herself turning, asking what was going on. Suddenly, Avery pushed her into the room exactly as Jameson sprinted out. The door slammed behind them.

“Lovely.” Grayson sighed.

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Grayson silently cursed his brothers, Avery, and everyone else who had gotten him into this situation. He knew his brothers were planning something when he saw their smirks, but he never thought it would be this… extreme. He silently watched as Lyra hurried to the other side of the room and grabbed a pair of scissors clearly left on a table. At least they didn’t intend for him to stay trapped then.

“Thank you.” He said stiffly after Lyra cut him out of his bonds.

“Where are we?” She asked scowling, before hurrying over to the door and trying to turn the knob.  It was locked, of course.

“One of the libraries. The smallest one.” Grayson sighed.

“One of the- nevermind. How do we get out?” Grayson shrugged. “Knowing my brothers, probably a game or puzzle of some sort.” 

“Correct!” Came Xander's voice from a walkie-talkie subtly hidden on the bookshelf. Grayson cursed, jumping. Lyra burst into laughter.

“Figure out what we want you to do and do it, and you will be let out!”

“Xander I swear on all that is holy if you do not-“  Grayson trailed off. He knew what his brothers wanted them to do. 

“Oh my god. Xander, that is not happening. Xander? Xander!” But there was no response. Grayson swore under his breath, dragging a hand down his face. He probably looked like a mess- his blonde hair frizzy from fighting with Jameson on the rug, and his grey suit jacket rumpled from being tied up.

Of course, Lyra looked perfect though, in her red strapless dress and matching earrings, hair, and makeup perfect as usual. 

“Could we break a window?” Lyra suggested.  Grayson shook his head. 

“Probably not. We could try though. He grabbed a book and threw it at the window, shaking his head when it didn’t work.

“Ok, that didn’t work. Now what?” He shrieked as without warning,  Lyra smacked the window, full force, with her high heel. The window shattered. She tried again. It broke completely.

“I really hope that window wasn’t expensive.” She panted. Grayson simply climbed through, offering her a hand as she did as well. Somehow she still looked flawless.

“Let’s go back to the party. Grayson suggested. Lyra nodded.

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part one, part three!