Alex stretched himself out on the living room couch, his fingers tired from being wrapped around a book for the past three hours. He had nothing to do since Jack was out with his friends for the afternoon and he had no papers to grade. He would put more details into his teaching plan for the rest of the year but he wanted May to be a free reading unit so aside from reading himself he didn't have much to do.

Although he could always set up a little surprise for Jack. After all it was New Years and their first one as a couple so he might as well make it special. So Alex got up from where he lay on the couch and headed into the hallway to search for some spare blankets in the closet.

Two hours later and Alex was walking back into his apartment holding a dozen red roses. He planned on keeping a single one and scattering the petals of the others along the snow covered roof top. He'd shoveled out a small pathway over to the small couch on the roof. He was fairly certain they'd be able to see the fireworks since he had a view of the lake from the rooftop. To top it off he'd also gotten things to make dinner with, he just hoped that the food was appealing to Jack and that they didn't end up ordering pizza.
-
"Lex, I'm back." Alex heard Jack call from the doorway of his apartment.

"In here." He called back from where he stood over the stove, pouring alfredo sauce over the pasta he'd finished cooking.

"Hm, something smells good." Jack stated as he walked into the kitchen.

"I made us some dinner, and I was hoping I could surprise you."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, I mean we've gotta occupy ourselves with something if we're gonna stay up till next year."

Jack rolled his eyes at the older boy's wording but smiled anyway. "I guess so, can I have a hint?"

Alex scrunched his face up before shaking his head. "Nah, you'll just have to wait."

"You're no fun."

"But you love me anyway." The elder of the two said teasingly, now stirring the pasta around.

"Yeah I do." Jack smiled and walked around to stand behind his boyfriend, kissing his cheek. "I'm gonna go change, I think I'll wear the sweater you gave me."

"Its not even Christmas though."

"Yeah but I like that sweater, it's comfy and it still smells like you."

"You're gonna be with me all night though."

"Yeah but not when I'm changing or going into your room or leaving your room."

"Alright do what you want." Alex replied with a roll of his eyes as he turned around to peck Jack on the lips. Jack hummed and pranced out of the kitchen leaving Alex to look behind him.

A couple hours passed by and the pair were now in Alex's bedroom, Jack begging the elder to put on the sweater that matched his. But to no avail Alex insisted that he just wear his favorite hoodie instead.

"Come on, you'd look so cute in it. Besides I could take a picture of you in it and use it as your contact picture in my phone." Jack whined, his tone that of a spoiled and upset four year old.

"That's too risky."

"How?"
"Say I call you while you're out or with your parents and my picture pops up on your screen. It's too risky. Lets just settle on my hoodie, kay?"

"You suck you know. But I guess I don't mind...but,uhm, speaking of things I do mind." Jack paused and bit at his lower lip. "Has your ex, like, talked to you again?"

"Yeah, he won't be here for another two weeks. I promise I'll talk to you about everything. I'll even let you spy on us if you want to." Alex reached out brushing his hand against Jack's.

"Its not like that. I guess I'm just scared of you lying to me and stuff and then by the time either of is realize anything is that wrong or want to fix things it'll be too late."

"Well that won't happen. I think we both know well enough not to lie to each other, especially not over things that bother us. And I don't think it'll ever be too late for us. We make each other happy and nothing is worth losing this."

Jack downcasted his gaze and smiled at his boyfriend, still avoiding eye contact. "You really think so?"

"I know so. Come on, I think we've both learned a lot about each other by now and it's just common sense not to do something stupid and even if we did the other knows better than to just let it get between us."

"I guess so...hey Lex?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for being here for me...and I know I've said it before but thanks for giving me a chance."

"You don't have to thank me for a thing. I haven't done anything I didn't want to do."

"Well thanks for wanting me the way I want you..."

Alex laughed at that as he wrapped an arm around the younger boy's waist and kissed his cheek. "That's something I couldn't have helped at all. Did you know the first day of school I knew as soon as I saw you, I knew that there was something special about you."

"Really? Cause I just thought you were hot."

"You asshole." The elder laughed once more. "You didn't think anything else about me?"

"Well yeah I did...I just did my best to push those thoughts and stuff away, I didn't think I would end up dating you, so..."

"I guess that's understandable. But I'd hope you don't think I'm just hot still."

"Yeah, I know you're not just looks anymore, they happen to be an added bonus."

"Good, cause yours aren't the only thing keeping me around either."

Jack smiled, tipping his head forward to press his lips against the elder's.
-
Jack pressed himself into Alex's side, wishing he could stay like this forever with him. Despite the cool wind pushing it's way across their skin, only making the low temperature even more apparent. But none of that mattered as long as he had Alex pressed into him, waiting for the fireworks to start.

"It really is pretty up here." Jack smiled nuzzling himself further into his boyfriend's side.

"I'm glad you like it." The elder of the two returned the smile before planting a kiss onto Jack's forehead. "Hey it's almost midnight." He pointed out, looking to the alarm clock that he'd set to go off at midnight.

"Already?" Jack paused. "Did you even think you'd have someone to kiss at midnight this year?"

"Honestly, no. I thought I'd get a cat from the shelter by now and be in bed with it blogging."

"Is that why you started calling me kitten?"

"Little bit, you saved me from being lonely...I honestly thought a cat would do that but I swear absolutely nothing compares to you."

Jack rolled his eyes but smiled despite that, just as he was about to speak again the small alarm clock went off - the fireworks from the beach now illuminating the sky. Then Alex was pressing his lips against the younger boy's. Jack gave into Alex's touch, beginning to kiss back. It wasn't rushed at all as far as Jack was concerned, they just moved with the time only doing what felt right.

Alex was the one to break the kiss, now pressing his nose against Jack's. "Happy new year." He breathed, taking a hold of one of the younger boy's hands.

"Happy new year to you too." Jack giggled, smiling wide at his boyfriend. "Love you." He whispered, pecking Alex's lips lightly.

"Love you too." Alex smiled back, squeezing the younger's hand lightly. "Oh, I almost forgot." He mumbled before getting up from where he sat and walking around the couch. He came back around now holding a single red rose in his hand now handing it to the teen. "This may be a little cheesy but my mom once told me its good luck to give the person you love most a single rose to bring into the new year. It's supposed to make our love last longer...she used to give my dad a rose every year and he'd do the same for her." He grinned lightly. "I was thinking we could maybe start doing that too."

Jack nodded, not wanting to ruin the moment with his own words. Quite frankly he didn't even know how to respond, Alex was clearly expecting them to go onto the net year, which Jack really hoped for too, and he was just being so...obvious with his emotions. Really there was no 'correct' way Jack saw fit to respond, but he tried his best anyway. "I'd love that... Does it count if only one of us gets a rose?"

"Of course it counts. As long as its accepted and the feelings are mutual one rose is enough, my dad just said it never hurt to have a little extra love or luck."

Jack just smiled in response again and leaned forward to press his lips against Alex's. As far as he was concerned tonight was fucking perfect and he was more than ready to start a more than perfect year out with Alex.

Notes

Oh gosh. I'm not very proud of this chapter but I felt the need to post because a.) I left you guys hanging with no excuse - my vacation got canceled so I literally could've written all week. And b.) I just needed to get this out of the way cause I'm very eager to start the next chapter.

Anyways please excuse how rushed this was and give me love!! (Also I bought a penny board and I've been neglecting writing just to ride it, I fell for the first time and screwed up my wrist so now I type funny lol)