Chapter I

The moment Will stepped through the door, he was enveloped by a blast of heat – heat generated by the mass of people fervently dancing away in the seemingly tiny apartment. The year was almost over and the general atmosphere was that of joy, as if to say ‘good riddance’, or ‘thank god it’s almost over’. But then again, everyone seemed strangely happy, and the smell of pot lingered in the air. Predictable. It’s never a party, till the booze and drugs are present, they say!

His eyes darted around the room, searching. Where was she? The grandfather clock groaned in the corner, but its chime was drowned by the music that was blasting through the small speakers. 11 o’clock. He had an hour, and hour to make everything right. He took a deep breath and made his way through the crowd.

24. That was how old he was, a senior at college, and well-liked he might add. Tall, brunette, blue eyes, a great smile. His killer smile never fails to get the girls. But he wasn’t interested in flings. His eyes were just on one girl. He kind of got her really, for the lack of a better phrase, but yet, something was wrong. He could sense it in the very core of his bones. That’s why he was here. He had to find her, and make things right, before the year was over, before the new year was ushered in.

But he could not see her in the crowd. The countdown began and ended. Amongst the joyful celebrations and greetings, Will slumped into a corner, oblivion to anything else. All, had been lost …

“Happy New Year dude!”

Looking up, he saw Andrew with a big grin on his face. Andrew, one of his best buddies since High School. He was like a giant punching bag, the kind with the heavy base, that could never be knocked down. Add a picture of a clown painted onto the bag – that was Andrew. Usually, Andrew never failed to put a smile on his face. This time would be an exception.

“Happy New Year”, he mutters.

“Man, you look horrible. You want a drink or something?” Andrew gestures at Ethan, another one of their friends, for a bottle of beer. He could barely hear Will, but his lips were clearly moving.

“Li-en! Have you seen Li-en?”

Andrew tried to evade the question by offering him more choices of alcohol. Will knew he was hiding something. Andrew was a lousy liar. He always lost heavily whenever they played poker. His eyes and his giant grin always gave him away. Will gripped him by the shoulders and shook him.

“Have you seen Li-en!” He repeated himself clearly and concisely this time. There was no way Andrew could evade his question this time.

Andrew sighed, defeated. “Alright, alright! I saw her go out the front door awhile back.”

“Alone?”

Andrew hesitated, and then he decided that there was really no point lying anymore. “Jonathan was with her.” He held his breath has he waited for Will to react. Will was strangely calm.

“Give me your keys.”

“What?” Of all the scenarios he had played in his head of how Will would react to the news, this was certainly not one of them. Just then, Ethan arrives with two bottles of beer, handing one to Andrew, and offering the other to Will. Will declines. Hearing of Jonathan heightened his suspicions concerning the fate between Li-en and him. He just had to find out. He had to know for sure. The new year had just begun, and it had certainly not taken off on a good note. Not like he was believed in the superstition that the how the new year started determined how the rest of the year would be, but still who enjoyed welcoming uncertainly?

“Can you drive?”

“You’re the one who’s drunk. Give me the keys damn it!” He knew Andrew was concerned, but he couldn’t help biting at him. Reaching into Andrew’s pocket, he swiped the keys and left. By the time Andrew got past the crowd to the door, Will was already long gone.