Ch 1.5 New Years Eve

"You missed me, can't hit me!" Nickolas was singing.
"Oh, be that way, very mature", Greta replied coolly but couldn't help grinning - at least when his brother wasn't watching, "just watch me, I can definitely hit you. Just stand still."
Nickolas bent double laughing, "are you asking me to stand still so you can hit me with a snow ball, .
in a snow ball fight? Really? Only my sister can ask something like that." And then Greta's snow ball hit him right on his ear.
"Told you, I can hit you if you stay still", she had gotten what she wished for, just not maybe the way she had planned.

"Hey, who left the door open, the cats are running away!" Nickolas yelled then.
"What, where? They won't..." but she was cut in mid sentence as a snow ball hit her right behind her knee and she fell on the ground.
"You son of a b..."
"Watch it, mum is listening", Nickolas reminded her. He liked his sister, really, but she just didn't have the slightest sense of humour, quite unlike him. It made him half quite exasperated, half amused.
"How does it feel now, you best-in-everything-Greta?", he asked grinning.
"Oh, shut up", was the simple reply.

"So how it is with you and August?", Nickolas asked her when they had changed to build a snowpal.
"Where are your gloves?", she replied back.
"Don't try to change the topic... I know you have been together a lot lately", he continued without answering to Greta's question.
There was a moment's silence.
"As if I would tell you anyway", Greta muttered.
"I knew it, Greta loooooooves August... August loooooooves Greta."
"You are real pain in the a..."
Nickolas cut her short with a laughter, "what's it with you and that kind of language, not like my sister at all", then he grinned, "I apparently touched a nerve here. So you two changed rings yet? The New Year Eve is coming, maybe good place to kiss him for the first time."
Greta blushed severely.
"I knew it, you haven't had the nerve yet to kiss him. Didn't you try one of the mistletoes on Winterfest? Of course, new year, new start, new boyfriend, good for Greta!", Nickolas continued.
"Oh shut up."
"Now you are just repeating yourself", he laughed until Greta stuffed his mouth with a handful of wet snow.
"You were saying...?"

Yes, the house now had two teenagers. Two different, strong personalities - who had to share a room. It certainly didn't improve things when they wouldn't have own space to go to. At least the kids' room was renovated to be more suitable for teenagers. The house was still the same size, two bed rooms, living room-kitchen area and bathroom. Annika and Hugh had thought it over, the kids would soon go to the university so they wouldn't be living here for a long time and they were saving the money for university fees. After all there was nothing more important than their children having proper education as they both had missed it. They wanted the kids to have better, easier life.

The room was now divided with light divider to give some privacy, had couple night stands and then the great joy of the whole family - blickblock. Annika had received it for Winterfest but it had soon become everyone's favourite.

The family was indeed aging, Hugh was the first to become elder. He was still pursuing his career in entertainment, the progress was slow though as he didn't have that many working days at this point. Annika had suggested that he could also retire but he didn't see the point in it. He liked his job and like said, it was just few days in a week. He wished he could make it right to the top but as a Rising Comedien he still had many steps to climb, too many maybe.

He wasn't going to feel sorry for himself though and just to prove that age is just numbers, he went to make couple snow angels. He was glad that he had the chance to experience the snow, it was great!

Annika's job was still as interesting as ever and every day was filled with as many new things than the first day. She made some new serums but after testing one on herself she decided to test the rest on her colleagues. She should have known when the serum was bright red and smoking that it wasn't to any good, after tasting it she was angrier than she had never been. In fact she had never been angry in her whole life. Luckily she found something to take her anger at - the rocket ship! She hadn't realized that there was a rocket ship that she could help building up at the science lab. Then the days were filled with fast meals whenever she could spare time for it and testing her new inventions.

"Mum, you are wearing those silly clothes again", Greta sighed.
"What's wrong with it? Can't person wear whatever they want? I think it's cool", Nickolas replied to her.
Greta looked at him, "says the guy who is making his homework in pajamas."
Nickolas laughed heartily, "you are complaining about other people's clothes when you are studying in your outdoor clothes. Cold are you?"
"Never mind that you both", Annika cut in, "if you want this homework to be done before tomorrow you will focus to it, and only to it."
That silenced Greta who turned her focus to her book and as Nickolas didn't have anyone to react to his comments, he too continued with his homework.

It was midwinter but there seemed to be a touch of spring in the air, the sun was getting brighter and days longer. The landscape was simply beautiful.

Nickolas enjoyed the scenery too while jogging. He had always been active and as a kid he was clearly underweight. After his teen birthday he had gotten a bit round on the waist. How that was possible with a kid who had spent half of his childhood in monkey bars, no one knew. In any case, he enjoyed the jogging, especially on days like this.

"Welcome to our New Years Eve fest!", Greta raised a toast with August.
"Ok... what's in this?", he replied with a tired tone.
"Dad's secret mixture I think. What's wrong with you?" Greta asked as she noticed that August wasn't on the mood for celebration.
"Oh, nothing, just stressed after school and everything... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to spoil your evening. I can leave if you want me to."
"You won't go anywhere, just come inside and enjoy yourself, if possible." Greta hid her disappointment, she had some plans for the evening but if August was on bad mood, it wouldn't work out.She decided to try and calm him down and relax a bit.

"Ever played poker before?" Nickolas asked August as he joined them on the card table and as he shook his head Nickolas continued eagerly, "doesn't matter, I will start by dealing the cards and there are certain combinations you want to look for. It's easy enough, here are some basic combinations..."
Nickolas was off explaining the poker rules.
"How have you been?" Hobart Meek asked Annika, he too had joined their New Years Eve Fest.
"I'm great thanks. I'm glad you could come. So have you played poker before?"
Hobart nodded, "I have, not very good at it but it's great game to spend time together.

After the poker game August was clearly less stressed and Greta asked him to come to her shared bedroom to talk.
"How is the evening this far?" she asked, suddenly shy with him.
"It's been ok", August replied and looked at his drink, "seriously what's in this? I don't know if I should be drinking that many... I'm not off age after all..."
Greta laughed, "not to worry, the only risk is sugar rush, dad wouldn't let us drink anything stronger, not yet anyway."
"Oh good, it is tasty by the way."
Then they fell both silent. They had had long conversations before but now they were just staring the floor in quiet. Or their toes, the wall, the glass, anywhere except into each other's eyes.

"August", Greta started carefully, "we have been spending some time together as friends, but... have you ever thought..."
August looked at her, "ever thought what?"
Greta took a deep breath, "ever thought of being a bit more than friends?"
"Oh... I... wouldn't... mind..." August replied nervously.

That was all Greta needed, she decided to take the risk, leaned closer and took August by surprise.

"Well hello there", August said suddenly as he felt something soft brush against his legs.
"He is cute, isn't he?" Greta smiled.
August looked up at her eyes and smiled, "very cute".
It was one of those awkward moments after you have kissed someone. When the kiss wasn't rejected but you weren't entirely sure what the other one was thinking.

August got up and looked at Greta, "like you" he whispered.
"What did you say...?"
August glanced at her side ways, "you... cute.. too... and I would...really like if... I you could be... something like... well girlfriend."
Greta's heart skipped, "really? You mean, we could make it official?"
"I think so, I would like to at least."
"Me too!" Greta jumped to hug him and when she felt his arms around her, she knew it was the right decision.

"Hey you have changed into party costume, how come only now?" Nickolas asked Greta who just smiled back.
"I was sort of busy..."
Nickolas stared at her, "you and August disappeared just a while ago... wonder if that's what kept you busy...?" And while Greta was still just looking back, waiting, he continued, "you aren't serious? You didn't? You really did?"
"Did what?", she asked innocently.
Nickolas laughed, "don't be that innocent, can't anymore, right?"
Greta was so happy that she actually admitted all of this, "yes, we kissed and yes, he is my boyfriend, is that what you wanted to know?"
"Oh yes...". he grinned.
Greta laughed, "just for your information, you can't tease me right now. But how it is with your love life? Found anyone yet?"
Without saying a word Nickolas turned around to help his dad with cooking.

"These two are really cute", August commented to Hobart.
"They are - if you like cats", Hobart admitted.
"So August, you apparently like cats?" Annika asked.
Nickolas grinned," oh, he likes cats alright - and Greta."
"Nickolas, everyone guessed that much already, we aren't blind really", Hugh commented.
August had blushed badly.
"No need to be embarrassed, Nickolas is just like that, can't skip an opportunity to tease someone. I'm glad Greta has found you, you seem like a real good boy", Annika told him.
This made August to stare at his shoes with even redder face.

"Meal is ready, everyone come to the table!", Nickolas was eager to host the party.

The grand meal was just as good as it was supposed to be and the company was great.
"So what's everyone's New Years resolution?" Hobart asked, "have you made any?"
Greta glanced at August, her resolution had been to find significant other but she had managed that already before the year changed.
"I'm going to improve my skills, I know it's a bit lame", she started, "I'm always improving my skills anyway but I decided on it so that I would keep my focus."
"I will try to get rid of this", Nickolas said and pointed at his belly. Couple people laughed.
"You are cute just the way you are", Annika smiled at him.
"Mum, you can't say cute to me anymore..."
"Ok, I will try to remember that. My resolution is to gain a promotion at work, they seem like a lot of work", Annika told everyone.
"And I will make a resolution to improve skills too", Hugh continued.
"Let's raise a toast for the resolutions!", Nickolas said.

After some more toast raising and finishing the meal it was time for the New Years count down.
"Mum, you and dad are in your pajamas", Greta whispered at her mum, "quite embarrassing", she hissed.
Annika snorted, "it's not what you think, me and your dad were going to sleep already, leaving you to celebrate but Nickolas called us back."

All in all, it was perfect New Years Eve party and everyone was ready for the coming new year.