AmericaXReader: Count Down

AmericaXReader
Count Down

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     You looked at the calendar in disbelieve. "December 31st?! Already?! Jeez where did the year go? It seems like just yesterday it was New Year's, and we're here again?" You muttered to yourself. It had been a crazy year, to say the least, and it had passed by so fast. It almost felt like you were looking back into a blur of color and motion when you looked back on the events of the previous year. You sighed and sat down on your couch. With nothing better to do, you flicked through the channels. Finding a re-run of your favorite show, you settled down on the couch.
     Just as you got comfortable, a familiar knock of 'Shave and a haircut' rang out. You knew who was at the door without having to open it. Only one person you know knocked like that. You jumped up off the couch and ran to the door of your apartment. Opening the door, you were greeted by the huge goofy grin and excited bright blue eyes of none other than Alfred F. Jones, your best friend, and longtime secret crush.
     "Happy New Year!" He shouted and tossed a handful of confetti up in the air. You rolled your eyes and grinned at him.
     "Al," You huffed playfully, "You're supposed to save that 'til midnight, ya big goof ball." He laughed his normal obnoxiously cute laugh.
     "You're such a party pooper (name)." He teased. You both laughed. "Hey, speaking of midnight, are you doing anything tonight?" He asked. You shrugged looking around your small New York apartment.
     "Not really. I was going to watch the ball drop on T.V. and maybe pop a few party poppers." You said sheepishly. You were a big party pooper. New year's eve in New York City, and you weren't doing anything special.
     "Ptff, watch the ball drop on T.V. … I'll do you one better." Alfred said excitedly. You raised an eyebrow at him. 'What is he planning this time?' You thought. "How about this: You and me, in Time Square at midnight? Why watch the ball drop on T.V. when you can see it in real life?" You thought over what he had said for a moment. Spending the new year with Alfred, could you really ask for more? Any time you got to spend with the American was special to you.
     "Y'know, that does sound like a lot of fun." You said smiling at him.
     "That settles it then (name)!" He said triumphantly. "Grab you coat!" You looked at the clock on the wall, then at him confused.
     "Alfred, it's like seven o'clock. Do we really need to go now?" You asked him.
     "You wanna get a good spot, don't 'cha? And besides, there's gonna be bands there and other cool stuff there. It'll be a lot of fun. C'mon (name), please." He gave you the pouty face and sealed the deal. You could never refuse him when he did that. 'Cheap trick…' you thought.
     "Okay, fine. We'll go now." You huffed.
     "Yay!" Alfred cheered. You rolled your eyes and went to grab you coat. Alfred was always overly excited about things like this. He reminded you of a child most time, but you found it rather cute. You also like the way he played hero. It pissed his brother Arthur off to no ends, but you didn't mind. He was always there for you when you needed him, always pulling you out of trouble and making sure you were safe. He was the best hero in your opinion. You grabbed you coat off the back of a chair and slipped it on. You turned back to Alfred and saw him jumping up and down in excitement.
     "You ready?" He chirped. You smiled and nodded.
     "Yes, let's go."

~~~

     A little while later, you and Alfred found yourselves in the middle of Time Square. People were everywhere already. Talking and laughter mingled with music. The noise, the people, everything just seemed perfect. Alfred laughed and grabbed you hand pulling you farther into the crowd. You blushed slightly. 'He's holding my hand!' You thought like a little girl. Alfred pulled you in the direction of a stage that had been constructed. There was some popular band on it playing.
     "See! Told you there was gonna be bands here!" Alfred shouted over the noise.
     "I never doubted you." You giggled. The music was good. The band was playing several top songs. After they were done, another group followed them. You and Alfred sand along to the songs, laughing as you did so. Alfred was dancing around like an idiot making you laugh even harder. Alfred stopped dancing and looked at you. your cheeks were pink from the cold December night, and you were shivering slightly.
     "Hey (name), you look cold. Do you want to go see if we can find some hot chocolate or something?" he asked you.
     "S-sure, that s-sounds great." You said, your teeth chattering slightly. Alfred nodded and made his way through the crowd looking for a place to get something to drink, you following close behind him. The crowd of people was still growing. People pressed in on you from all around you, and it was hard for you to keep close to Alfred.
     Someone grabbed your arm and pulled you back. "What the?! Hey Let go!" You shouted trying to wrench your arm out of the grip of person who had grabbed you. You felt hot breath on your neck.
     "Baby, what'd ya say 'bout celebrating the New Year with me?" A drunken man said in your ear.
     "No way! Let got!" You shouted trying to wrench your arm out of the man's grip. He just laughed and tightened his grip.
     " 'Scuse me buddy! She's with me." You hear Alfred's voice. Looking up, you saw him glaring at the man who had you. The other man looked at Alfred, sizing him up. Apparently he decided against doing anything, because he dropped your arm. Alfred pulled you close to him, taking your face in his hands.
     "Are you okay (name)?" He asked studying your face. You blushed seeing how close he was to you.
     "Y-yeah, I'm f-fine. T-thanks Al." You said in a shaky voice "Let's just get away from here." Alfred nodded. He slung an arm around your shoulders holding you close to him as the both of you made your way through the crowd this time. You thought you hear him mutter something about jerks trying to hurt his best friend. You smiled a little bit looking down at your feet. 'A hero to the end.' You thought as you and Alfred went looking for hot chocolate.

~~~

     The clock ticked closer and closer to midnight. You could feel the excitement growing in the crowd. Alfred was bouncing again, and you couldn't help but bounce a bit yourself. His excitement was so infectious.
     Some where the countdown started.
     10!...
     9!...
     8!... You glance at Alfred. His usual goofy grin was in place, and you could see the excitement in his bright blue eyes as he looked at the ball that was about to drop. He looked so cute when he was like this.
     7!...
     6!...
     5!... Alfred slipped his hand in yours and gave it a little squeeze causing you to blush a bit. Your heart pounded madly just feeling his hand in yours.
     4!...
     3!!...
     2!!!...
     1!!!! "Happy New Year!!!!" The shout was echoed all around you. As soon as the ball hit the bottom, confetti started to rain down on everyone in Time Square. You laughed and looked up into the sky feeling the confetti fall in your face. Alfred laughed as well and you turned your attention to him. Without really thing about what you were doing, you stood up on your tip toes and kissed him on the cheek. Alfred looked at you completely shocked.
     "W-what was that for (name)?" He asked. The realization of what you had just did caught up to you, and you felt your face burning. You stomach flip-flopped as you tried to come up with a reason why you kissed him.
     "Umm, h-happy N-new Year A-Alfred." You said shyly looking down at the ground. 'Dammit! Why did I just do that?! He probably thinks I'm a total weirdo now…What was I thinking?!' You were pulled out of your thoughts by someone gently caressing your cheek and pulling your face back up. You looked up and saw Alfred's blue eyes glinting a bit mischievously from behind his glasses.
"Hey now, don't get all shy on me. I still gotta wish you a happy New Year." He said. Before you had a moment to think, he pressed his lips against yours. Your eyes widened in shock at first, but then slowly fluttered closed as you kissed him back. If there was ever a perfect moment, you were living in it right now. Alfred tilted your head to deepen the kiss while you wrapped your arms around his neck. The moment seemed to last forever, but not long enough at the same time. All too soon, the annoying need for air butted in forcing you two to break apart. You looked him and saw that he was blushing ever so slightly, which made him look even cuter.
     "You just had to go and one up me, didn't you." You teased smiling at him.
     "Ptff, you have to go and complain don't 'cha?" He joked. You buried your face in his chest.
     "I'm not complaining. That was amazing." You said. He hugged you close to him, nuzzling his face into the said of your face. You loved how it felt to be in his strong, warm arms. Sure you had hugged him before, but never like this.
     "I love you (name)." He said in your ear. Your heart melted at hearing these words, and you were really glad he was holding you, because you had a feeling that your legs wouldn't be able to support you.
     "I love you too Alfred." You said, clinging a little tighter to him, never wanting to let go. You had a feeling that this was going to be a very good year.