Happy New Year to everyone! I really appreciate the support this book has gotten (thank you so much for over 200 reads by the way-I'm going to set a goal of 500 reads by the end of March 2023 if you guys are up for it) and I hope everyone has a safe and happy 2023!
- Ash :D
--••∞••--
As I sit in my room scrolling through TikTok for what seems to be the millionth time this morning, I hear a soft-almost tentative-knock at the door. So I get my ass off my bed and open it to see Edward standing there.
On Christmas Day, Edward and I had been under the mistletoe together twice and were thus forced to kiss-as you can probably tell, I didn't like it that much the first time. (Quick A/N: FourthWallRebuilder I'm so sorry!)
We mostly avoid talking about the Great Mistletoe Mishap-as I had dubbed it, sending Edward into a fit of laughter-but I remember how passionate the second kiss under the mistletoe was.
Sometimes I still taste some lingering rum and whiskey on my lips.
And I've had dreams about Edward too. Dreams that go far beyond an innocent kiss under the mistletoe.
"Yeah?" I ask, sort of paying attention.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" he asks me. I could have sworn I saw a minuscule tinge of light pink on his cheeks, but I'm always sleep deprived so sometimes I don't trust my eyes that much.
I smile a bit and reply with, "Sure, I need to get out of the house anyway. As Altaïr tells me."
So I grab a dark gray hoodie and put it on over a black T-shirt and forest green sweatpants.
After getting winter stuff on, Edward and I are out of the house.
"Watch the ice, we wouldn't want you fracturing your ankle for the second year in a row." he jokes.
"Bastard." I reply, jokingly flipping him off with a crooked smile on my face.
He shakes his head a bit and chuckles. "You never change."
After about two minutes, we were walking along a path that was on the coastline of the lake in silence.
"You know," Edward says, breaking the silence when we're both looking out at the mostly frozen water. "I've always felt comfortable around water. The way it ebbs and flows at the whims of nature kind of reminds me of you Ash-the way you're sometimes at the whims of your instincts."
I smile a bit and reply with, "I've always felt a sort of...connection to nature. I like it better than the concrete jungle of the city, but...I grew up here and they're both good in their respective ways."
"We have a lot in common you and I," he says. "I'm thinking-Never mind, you probably wouldn't like it that much."
"Say it, I won't judge."
"I'm thinking it would be easy for us to...fall in love with each other." Edward says. Again, there was that tinge of light pink on his cheeks, but it could just be the bitter cold outside.
As I contemplate while looking out onto the mostly frozen lake, I realize I've thought about it as well. How easy it would be for me to fall for him and vice versa.
"Actually, I have something to tell you. Something important."
"Hm?" I reply, looking out over the water again. "What is it?"
"I love you Ash. A lot." Edward says and it's now clear to me that he's blushing.
The realization of his words splashes over me like a bucket of ice water.
And I don't know if I feel the same way.
"Look Edward, I...I don't know if I feel the same way..." I say, my heart wrenching as I see his face fall. "I need to think about, okay? We can be friends in the meantime though."
"Alright..." he replies. "...Can I hug you though?"
I smile and reply, "Sure."
Timeskip-
As I hear the chaos in the kitchen of Altaïr and Shay making our New Year's dishes which included a pot roast, lobster, mashed potatoes and reverse seared steak, I'm sitting on the couch scrolling though TikTok yet again.
But as I mindlessly scroll through the endless supply of TikToks, my mind drifts to Edward and what he had confessed to me. That look in his eyes when he confessed to me...seemed genuine.
Though I was unsure on whether to trust him or not.
And I may feel the same way about him, I just needed time to think about if I actually felt the same way so I didn't hurt him later.
As I was thinking, Aveline walks in and gives me a small smile. "What's on your mind?" she asks as she takes a seat next to me.
"Well," I say. "To be completely honest...Edward and what he told me earlier."
Aveline's back straightened a bit and there was a small glint in her eyes. "What'd he tell you?" she asks.
"Apparently, he's in love with me," I reply as I check the time on my phone. "I don't know if I feel the same way though."
Aveline gives me a small smile and says, "I could see it in his eyes since...since we all came here. It was like you were the only person in the room to him at some point."
"I never noticed," I say. "I guess since I hide my emotions so much, I can be bad at reading other people's emotions."
"I think you might like him a bit too," she continues. "He's one of the people in this house you spend a lot of time with."
I look down at my hands. "Maybe," I say. "I don't really know though."
Aveline gives me a pat on the shoulder and says, "Take your time, Ash. In the meantime, I'm going to grab us both coffees and we can watch Wednesday together, okay?"
I smile at her and reply with, "Okay." After Aveline leaves to get our coffees, I grab the remote and open Netflix, opening Wednesday but not starting it until Aveline comes back with our coffees. Altaïr-most likely finished with his portion of the New Year's dinner-walks in, sits down on the other side of the couch and looks at the TV. "Mind if I join you?" he asks with a smile.
"Sure," I reply. "I'm waiting for Aveline to get our coffees though. She'll be a minute or two."
As if on cue, Aveline returns two minutes later with our coffees-black with half a spoon of honey for me and one spoon of sugar for her. She sits down next to me and hands me my coffee, so I start the show.
As I watch it, I contemplate my feelings for Edward. It was a bit complicated for me to sort everything out, but I eventually get my answer.
And then Edward himself walks in, looks at the TV and sits down next to Altaïr.
As she sips her coffee, Aveline gives me a 'What are you thinking?' look. So in response, I give her an 'I don't know' look even though I damn well knew what I was thinking.
Timeskip again-
Shay and Ezio are debating about the best way to get a girlfriend as everyone's eating the New Year's dinner Shay and Altaïr made.
Except that I'm not eating.
I-yet again-had a nonexistent appetite so I touched nothing.
Edward gives me a concerned look from across the table.
I ignore him. When I was hanging out with Aveline earlier, I had come to the realization that I did reciprocate his romantic feelings towards me. Aveline shakes my shoulder and asks me, Are you alright Ash?"
"..."
"You can tell me what's going on, chérie (dear)."
"I-I don't really know what's going on," I reply. "Can I talk to you...in private?"
"Of course."
So Aveline and I head to the area of the house near the stairs. "What is it, Ash?" she asks me.
"So...I feel the same way about Edward." I say.
She gives me a smile and gently squeezes my hand. "I guess you should tell him then."
I nod in understanding. "I should, but...I don't know how to."
"Follow your heart, chérie. I know it sounds cliché as fuck, but you really should."
I nod. "Now, let's get back to the table before Jacob makes up some bullshit story about what we were doing." Aveline says with a smile, trying to get me to lighten up, I guess.
So I nod and walk back with her.
Timeskip yet again because sleep deprivation-
As everyone laughs and yells at the TV waiting for the New Year's countdown, I see Edward drinking a glass of champagne-which is odd even though he's a bit of an alcoholic, I've always seen him drink rum and hard liquors instead of champagne but it's New Year's Eve so anything's possible.
"3...2...1...HAPPY NEW YEAR!" everyone, including me and Edward shout.
I see Connor going to grab the fireworks, so I take my chance and drag Edward out into the garden inside the cedar grove Connor and I had planted a year ago. "So, I've been thinking about what you told me earlier," I say. "And I've realized, I feel the same way."
His face lights up and his eyes look like sentient fireworks as he pulls me in for a soft and tender kiss. I lean into it, wanting more, but after a little while we-unfortunately-have to break apart for air.
"I love you." Edward says as he takes my hand.
I smile and squeeze his hand. "I love you too."
--••∞••--
Happy New Year (in advance if I accidentally publish this before midnight in my area or if this is on a different timezone where 2023 hasn't started yet-)! This was definitely kind of rushed like the Christmas special, but I think it really turned out well in the end.
Again, thank you so much for the support (I never actually I would get this much when I started writing on here about 2 years ago) and if you want to request anything go to the request page (which is the part before the Edward x Modern Reader oneshot).
-Ash :D