Drag Me to the Grave

"Beth!" Her father called up the stairs to her. "Your friends are here!"

Beth hopped off the bed and trotted down the stairs to greet her friends and bandmates standing at the bottom of the staircase waiting for her. Emily held a bottle of champagne in one hand and Spencer stood shyly behind her. Marcus was already in the fridge making himself at home as usual.

"I'm so glad you guys are here." Beth wrapped her arms around her best friend. "How are you and Marcus?"

"Um, we're good!" Emily said but her eyes said something else.

"You sure, Em? Is something going on between you guys?" Beth started growing concerned.

"No, no." Emily reassured. "We've just gotten in a couple fights since moving in with each other but that's expected. It's hard to live with your boyfriend and you know Marcus. He can be a little rough around the edges at times."

"He's not hurting you, is he?" Beth took Emily's wrist in her hand and started examining her arms for bruises.

"Oh my god, Beth, no!" Emily exclaimed. "Like I said, just fights now and again but we're fine, honest." She put her hand to her heart and promised Beth that everything was fine.

Beth didn't fully believe her but let the topic go anyway. She followed Emily into the kitchen where Marcus was having a beer with Beth's dad. Beth thought back to the summer when her kitchen floor was covered in glass and sticky beer; her father and her friend fist fighting behind the island. The pop of the cork coming out of the champagne bottle drew her away from her memories and back to her kitchen as it was in the present: Marcus and her dad conversing quietly and civily in the corner, Emily pouring glasses of champagne, and Spencer quietly making his way over to the two girls standing by the sink.

"Want some Spence?" Emily asked as she finished pouring both glasses and noticed him standing there.

He shrugged. "Sure, why not."

Beth walked over to him and put a comforting hand on his arm. "Hey," She started. "How've you been?"

He shrugged again. "I've been alright. Been working on some guitar tracks for the new album."
Beth's eyes widened when she realized she had no lyrics for any of the songs on the new album they were supposed to be recording in about 2 months. "Really," She inquired. "How many songs have you got done?"

"Well," He pushed his glasses further up his nose and stared at the floor. "I mean, I don't have anything fully finished yet." Beth took a sigh of relief. "Because I was waiting for us all to get together so we could make sure everything fit. You know, the drums, the other guitar, the bass and the lyrics of course."

"Yeah," Beth's nervous laughter ensued. "About the lyrics, Spence... You gotta help me write something. Ever since Andy left I just-"

Spencer stopped her. "I get it. It's fine." He turned away from her and started back towards the living room.

Beth turned back to Emily and sighed, resting one elbow on the counter. "Spencer hates me." She rubbed her forehead.

Emily took a sip of her drink. "He doesn't hate you. He's just been going through a lot lately."
Beth sighed and stood up straight. "I need a drink." She admitted and took a gigantic gulp of champagne.

Three and a half bottles later, the four friends were huddled together on the couch, counting down the minutes until midnight arrived and the new year rolled in.

"It's almost here!" Emily squealed and Marcus chuckled, kissing her cheek gently.

Beth watched the two interact the way they did when they first started dating and she couldn't help but feel like she was missing out on something. She was lonely. Emily and Marcus had the perfect relationship and Beth was stuck wanting a guy who lived on the other side of the country and had very little interest in her compared to her large lust for him.

"A minute left!" Spencer stood up and the others joined him.

Everyone stood side by side and hand in hand, eagerly watching the TV and the clock counting down the now seconds until 2016 arrived.

"10, 9, 8,7...." Everyone started counting down in unison and Beth could feel Spencer's grip grow tighter on her hand.

3, 2, 1

Emily let go of Beth's hand to turn and kiss Marcus.

"Happy New Year!" Spencer exclaimed and drunkenly grabbed Beth's face and kissed her.
She pulled back and gawked at him. She, too, wasn't exactly in her right mind either but Spencer kissing her was something she never saw coming. They stared at each other for a few more seconds before Beth realized she had liked kissing Spencer. She grabbed his hands and thrusted her lips at his. He definitely didnt protest and let Beth kiss him. The kiss began to grow more and more passionate as his arms wrapped around her waist and her hands found their way to his hair.

Emily and Marcus watched the two kiss with blissful eyes. They'd both been waiting for the day Spencer made a move, and Beth finally realized that Andy wasn't the guy she was in love with; it was Spencer all along.

Notes

I'm kind of loving this story already. I can't wait to work on new updates and post them for you guys!

Shout outs:

-eclaire
-anathema