Hailey

JC

Jenn

Rebecca

Jay

Nicholas

Derek

“Warner Collins.”

“No.”

 “What’s wrong with Warner Collins?” Jennifer asked.

“Everything!”

“Well Hailey, if you’re going to be this picky, then you’ll never find a man at this rate.” Jennifer replied.

“Who said I was Looking?” Hailey asked. She thought that Jennifer had asked her to go shopping, not hound her about her personal life. “So what do you think of this dress?” Hailey asked, switching subjects. The girls had decided to spend a day shopping at their favorite boutique in town, Plush, one of the few places in town that didn’t sale any ski wear.

“It’s terrible.” Jennifer said honestly.

“Jennifer!” Hailey exclaimed.

“What? It looks like a cross between a Bill Cosby sweater and something my Grandma Etta would wear. I mean I love the woman, but she can’t dress to save her life.”

“It’s Chanel.” Hailey stated.

“It’s ugly, and it should’ve been buried along with Coco!” Jennifer said.

“Oh come on! It is not that bad!” Hailey was now doubled over in laughter, tears spilling from her eyes.

“Sure, it’s not bad if you’re walking the runway at a nursing home.”

“You’re terrible, you know that?” Hailey said in between gasps for air.

“And you love me!”

Later, that same Saturday, Hailey came wobbling out of her room in toe separators, after giving herself a pedicure. She not so delicately stumbled over to the freezer, more like stomping, to retrieve her cookies and cream ice cream, and then a spoon. She heard a thudding noise, and felt a vibration beneath her. It was the Baker’s, the newlyweds below her, using the broom to tap the ceiling, letting her know that she was being too Loud. “Sorry!” She yelled, hoping it would reach the floor beneath her.

Once she got nice and settled on the couch, with feet propped up, she used the remote to turn on the television. 

“This is Jeopardy!” Hailey was just in time. Some people may think that Hailey led a pretty boring life, some might even say lonely. In fact, Hailey was perfectly fine spending her nights alone, cuddled up in her cozy apartment with Muffin, her Tabby Cat, solving puzzles on Wheel of Fortune, and answering questions on Jeopardy, all while eating her beloved cookies-and-cream ice cream and knitting.

As if hearing her thoughts, Hailey heard her front door slam, and in walked Jennifer. “What do you think you’re doing?” She demanded.

“Um, hello, this is my apartment.” Hailey reminded her.

“I cannot believe what I am seeing.” Jennifer stated.

“They’re called doors Jennifer. Knock on them.” Hailey was seriously irritated that Jennifer was cutting into her Jeopardy time, she was missing out on some serious make believe money! “Jenn, you may live down the hall, but you can’t just barge into my apartment whenever you just feel like it. This is an apartment building, not one big house!”

“You’re a writer.” Jennifer said, completely ignoring her.

“Duly noted.” Hailey said sarcastically.

“Shouldn’t that job entail that you, say, I don’t know, actual have a life to write about?” Jennifer asked.

“That’s what my imagination is for.” Hailey scoffed. Jenn may be her best friend, but that didn’t mean that she could just barge into her apartment, and offend her on top of it!

“No you don’t. You’re literally watching paint dry.” Jenn replied, pointing to Hailey’s feet.

“Exoteric, meaning “simple” or “commonplace”, is the opposite of this word, one letter different.” Alex Trebek said from the television.

“Esoteric” Hailey replied back.

“What is esoteric?” The contestant answered.

“That is correct!”

“Okay, now that’s just sad.” Jennifer said. “You have been stuck in this apartment so long that you have gotten freakishly good at Jeopardy!”

“I am not ‘Freakishly good at Jeopardy.’” Hailey said, using air quotes.

“The contestants on that show have more of a life than you do.” Jenn replied. She may have been an expert on Tough Love, but right now Hailey felt that she was short on the ‘Love’, and Long on the ‘Tough.’ “At least they’re on the show. You’re just sitting at home eating Ben and Jerry’s.”

“I am not eating Ben and Jerry’s; for your information, it’s Haagen Dazs, okay!”

Deep down, Hailey knew that Jenn was right. She didn’t have a life, and she wouldn’t know how to get one if she tried. She looked from the orange and purple tweed chair across the room that her grandmother had given to her when she first moved in, to the large bay window, where she sat on the seat beneath it spending most of her free time reading Shakespeare, and watching life go on without her. Since she was a writer she worked from home. She did some freelance pieces for a few Local magazines, and had one novel published. Aside the occasional outing with Jennifer, she never really left the confines of her apartment, and because of it, she had become socially inept. Awkward even. Her apartment was her safe haven, the only people who could get in were the people she let in, and that was it.

“Sweetie, you need to get out of this apartment, and go do something.” Jennifer said more gently. She was now sitting on the couch beside Hailey.

“We live in Aspen, there’s nothing to do but ski.” Hailey said, pointing out the window, and toward the snow covered mountain, filled with tourists trying to ski.

“Okay, you have a point.” Jenn said. “But I just can’t help but feel that this is all my fault.”

“How is it you’re fault?” Hailey asked. This had to be good; Jennifer always found a way to make something about her.

“Since you are my best friend, I should be more responsible. It’s my job to make sure that you don’t turn into some crazy cat lady that kids are afraid of!” Jennifer exclaimed.

“Don’t you think you’re overreacting?”

“I’m just afraid for you.” Jennifer said.

“Afraid of what?” Hailey asked. “You’re being so overdramatic!”

“I’m afraid that you’ll end up like Charlotte.” Jenn replied.

“Oh. My. God! You’ve got to be kidding me!” Hailey laughed. “I am not going to end up like Bette Davis in Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte.”

“Well then put yourself out there. Go on a date, do something adventurous. Sweetie, you’re twenty-five, live life a little!”

“Dating?” Hailey asked. “I wouldn’t even know where to begin.” She said sadly. She hadn’t been out with anyone in over a year, and dating now seemed like such a foreign concept.

“Hales,” Jennifer said sympathetically. “You’re not over him are you?” She asked. To be such a know-it-all, sometimes Jennifer sometimes didn’t pick up on the obvious. “I know it’s hard, but you have to get over this, I mean he has.”

“Trust me, I know.” Hailey replied. “He’s gone out with a different supermodel every day this week.” Not that she was keeping tabs or anything, but when you’re boyfriend was a member of one of the most popular groups in the world, and his private life was plastered onto the cover of almost every tabloid, it had become nearly impossible for her to ignore him, and thus, even harder for her to get over him.

“It’s obvious that JC has moved on, and you would only be doing yourself a major disservice if you didn’t move on from what was.” Jennifer advised.

“You’re right.” Hailey replied. “I do need to get over it, but I just can’t shake the feeling that he might have been the one.”

“Hailey, don’t focus on finding ‘The One’ okay? Just find the ‘Mr. Right Now’.”

“Okay, I’m telling you now, to stop with the movie quotes. My life is not some romantic comedy!” Hailey said.

“Yeah, if you keep going at this rate it’ll be a tragedy.” Jennifer snorted. Hailey threw a pillow at her.

“Shut up!”

“I’m serious. I don’t wanna see you throw your life away over JC freakin’ Chasez. He may be a pop star, but he’s not worth it.”

Hailey sighed. Again, Jenn was right. She can’t just stop living life over a guy. Sure, she’s been heartbroken before, but not to this degree. She was so in love with him, and dating him definitely had not been easy. Being the girlfriend of one of the lead singers of *Nsync, was no joke. Hailey had suddenly been thrust into the spotlight, something that she hated. She hated red carpets, constantly having her picture taken, the nasty and untrue rumors about her, and being noticed altogether. She was definitely a behind-the-scenes kind of girl. The tabloids and fans alike hated her. She constantly received hate mail from obsessed fans. How in the hell did they get her address anyway? On top of that, with his career, they hardly ever got to see each other, she’d be lucky to even get him on the phone. Hailey sure did put up with her fair share of shit over the course of three years, but she’d gladly face it all if it meant being with JC. She loved him, and would’ve given up her whole life just to be by his side.

Despite all of the things that she had to put up with, she had so many great memories of their relationship. He was the sweetest, most loving and caring person, and she felt so lucky just to be his. And then, just like that, everything changed. It had all started a year earlier, when the group had started facing issues. JC started to change. He constantly went out every night, he started to grow distant, and he cared more about himself than their relationship. He stopped putting in the effort to make it work. Then, came the final blow; Last November JC had showed up at her apartment. She was so excited to see him, and happy that he had finally started to pull his weight in the relationship. She had missed him so much. That is until he sat her down, and told Hailey that he needed “some space.” He no Longer wanted to be in a serious relationship. He was young and didn’t want to be tied down. He “needed to be free.” Since when in the hell had she ever kept him on a short leash?

Just thinking about all the events that had transpired over the past year made Hailey feel exhausted. She had given her everything to make things work with JC, and got nothing in return. She felt completely depleted. Loving him had taken all of her energy, and she wasn’t ready to go through all of that all over again with someone new.

“I have an ultimatum.” Jennifer announced.

“An ultimatum?” Hailey asked.

“Yes, an ultimatum.” She repeated. “No more cupcakes until you start dating again.” Jennifer owned a bakery, Cookie Cutter, in downtown Aspen, and had been supplying Hailey with free cupcakes over the past year.

“What?!” Hailey exclaimed. “Jenn, that’s ridiculous. You can’t put an ultimatum on my personal life.”

“No more M&M cupcakes, no more Red Velvet Cupcakes, nor more Oreo cupcakes, no more of those vanilla cupcakes that you really like with the pink frosting or-“

“Fine!” Hailey surrendered. “If I say yes, can I still have the cupcakes?” She asked.

“Wait, are you saying yes? Are you gonna get back out there?” Jennifer asked anxiously.

“Yes?” Hailey said hesitantly. She let out a deep breath that she hadn’t even realized she had been holding in. Wow, she never thought that such a monosyllabic word would be so hard to get out, and now that it was out, there was no taking it back, because she knew that Jennifer was going to make her stick to her word.

“Oh my gosh!” Jennifer exclaimed, clapping her hands together excitedly. “This is going to be so much fun!” She said, hugging her friend.

“Fun?” Hailey asked. “It’s my dating life, not yours!”

“We’re going shopping!” Jennifer declared.

“Um hello, we just went shopping.” Hailey reminded her.

“Yeah, but this is celebratory shopping.” Jennifer explained. “Who knows, we might even find a wedding dress!”

“Oh come on!”

“Who’s getting married?” Hailey and Jennifer turned their heads toward the door to see, their friend, Jay walk through.

“Okay, what is this, some sitcom? Why in the hell does everyone keep coming through my damn door?” Hailey asked.

“That’s what locks are for. Use them.” Jay said. “So who’s getting married?” He asked, sitting in the chair across from them.

“Hailey!” Jennifer said quickly. “Well, once we find her a groom.” Hailey elbowed Jennifer.

“Oh. So you’re over JC then?” Jay asked.

Well that was certainly a loaded question. Was she over JC? No. Was she ready to start dating again? Maybe. Was she going to move on anyway? Yes.  “I don’t know.” Hailey answered honestly. I still Love him, but I’m so tired of being depressed. And by the way, anything that’s said here does not get back to JC.  Am I clear?” Hailey asked.

“Clear!” Jay replied, throwing his hands up. Jay was model and aspiring actor (and quite good looking, Jenn liked to call him John Stamos Jr.), and spent most of his time in Los Angeles for his career, but always came home for the holidays; he lived in the upstairs apartment right above Jenn. With all of his time spent in LA, he and JC had become good friends. That was another reason why the break up was so hard on Hailey. She couldn’t seem to make a clean break. Not only was JC her ex, but he was also friends with her friends. While they were together, she loved that, but now that they were no longer together, it sucks. She constantly has to hear stories from Jay, and her friend Nicholas, about all of the clubs and parties they went to. Not exactly what she wanted to hear, while she’s trying to get over someone. 

“So, now that this is settled. What are we doing for New Years Eve?” Jennifer asked Jay. He always had the hottest hookups to the best parties.

“Mark Ronson is coming to Ice.” Jay replied, referring to the popular nightclub.

Jenn gasped loudly. “No. Freakin’. Way! What the hell is Mark Ronson coming to Aspen for?”

“Brad Pitt’s hosting a party here, and got Mark to spin for him.” Jay explained.

“And who is this Mark Ronson?” Hailey asked, taking a bite of ice cream.

“Oh yeah, you’ve been cooped up in here way to long.” Jay said.

“DJ mark Ronson is only the greatest DJ on the face of the planet!” Jennifer explained. “You’re coming.” She demanded.

“Guys, I don’t know…” Hailey said uneasily.

“Oh you’re going.” Jay replied. “I’ve got VIP, and I’m not going alone. We’re all going.”

“As a matter of fact the party could be the perfect place for you to get your groove back. C’mon, what’s more perfect than this party? I am making this your New Year’s Resolution. You will find a hot guy by the time the ball drops so that you can have your first kiss of 2003!”

Hailey looked up to see her friends staring back at her expectantly. “God, peer pressure much?” She finally said. “Alright, alright, I’ll go!”

“Thank God, because you’re life bores me Hales.” Jay replied.

Right as Hailey was about to respond, there was a knock at the door. “Finally, someone who knows how to knock.” Hailey said as she got up and walked towards the door. As she opened the door, she saw that it was Nicholas. He rounded out the pack, and lived downstairs. Hailey loved the fact that they all lived in the same complex. She remembered how JC used to jokingly call them Friends. They all met seven years ago during freshman year at the Metropolitan State University of Denver, and they had been inseparable ever since. “Hey Nick!” She greeted him. By the suit he was wearing, she could tell that he was just coming from work. He was an accountant, and the frugal one of the bunch. Sometimes, she liked Nick the most out of all of her friends, because he was just as straight laced as she was. Save me, she mouthed. She loved her friends, but they were really overstaying their welcome, especially with them prying themselves into her dating life.

“Hey guys, what’s going on?” Nick asked, stepping into the apartment. He sat on the edge of the couch next to Jenn.

“Tryna get ole’ girl over here some action.” Jenn replied, jerking her head in Hailey’s direction. Hailey threw a throw pillow at her.

“And I think we’re succeeding.” Jay chimed in.

“I’m not your pet project okay?” Hailey said to Jenn and Jay. “I have just merely agreed to test the waters.” She explained to Nick.

“Okay, enough about your personal life.” Nick said.

“Thank you!” Hailey replied gratefully.

“I’m starving, so who’s going to order Chinese?” Nick asked. The room grew silent as the friends eyed each other, no one wanted to volunteer. “C’mon guys, I paid last time.” Nick reminded them.

“Dude, do you always have to keep tabs of who spends what?” Jay asked.

“It’s my job.” Nick replied.

“You’re such a nerd!” Jay teased.

As the room burst into fits of giggles, and the friends chattered amongst themselves, Hailey sat back quietly, her insides shaken. If only she had kept her damn door locked, she wouldn’t have been forced to face the world.

One Week Later

“Knock, knock!!!” Jennifer sang, creeping through Hailey’s door.

“You know saying knock, knock is not the same thing as actually knocking on a person’s door.” Hailey said peeping form behind her laptop. Hailey was hard at work on Monday morning working on a manuscript.

“And you complaining about intruders is not the same as you actually locking your door.” Jenn replied.

“Touché,” Hailey said.

“Any who, I come bearing gifts.” Jennifer said, holding out a white box in front of her.

Hailey looked up from her computer. “Oooh gimme!” Hailey urged, her eyes growing wide, she held her arms out, fingers wiggling.

“Ah, ah, ah. Not so fast.” Jennifer said, waving a finger. “There are conditions.”

“Ugghh.” Hailey groaned. “No fair, I’m your best friend; you’re supposed to love me unconditionally.”

“Oh, was that the bullshit they fed you in grammar school?” Jennifer asked sarcastically.

“Fine,” Hailey huffed. What are the conditions?”

“You go on a date wi-“

“I already said I would Jenn, now give me my cupcakes.” Hailey demanded, cutting Jennifer off.

“You didn’t let me finish.” Jenn said. “What I was going to say was that you go out on a date with one of Jay friends.” She proposed.

“Wait, you guys set me up?” Hailey asked. “That wasn’t part of the plan.”

“Just hear me out, okay?”

“Fine.”

“One of Jay’s really hot model friends is in town for New Years, and he’s newly single. He’s looking for someone, and you’re looking for someone. And trust me; this guy is hot enough to get you out of your funk.” Jennifer explained.

“How hot?”Hailey asked, tempted.

“Greek God, you’ll never find another one like him, hot.”

“He’s that hot?” Hailey asked a bit unsure.

“If I’m lying, let me be struck by lightning.” Jennifer looked up. “See, nothing.” She then sat at the end of the couch, setting the box of cupcakes on the coffee table.

“I hate blind dates.” Hailey said. “You never know what you’re getting.”

“I’m telling you what you’re getting!” Jennifer replied. She then reached into her purse, and pulled out an issue of Glamour magazine. She flipped to a page, and held it up to Hailey’s face. It was a Calvin Klein underwear ad. “This is Derek. He’s a good friend of Jay’s and he’s already agreed to go out with you.”

Okay he is hot. Hailey admitted to herself. Really hot. “So I guess I know what I’m getting then huh?” Hailey asked.

“What do you say?” Jennifer asked impatiently.

“This is really happening then huh?”  Hailey felt like all of this dating stuff was coming at her way too fast. Like she was starting high school all over again.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be just fine.” Jenn reassured her. It was as if she could read her mind.

“I will be just as soon as I have a cupcake. Now hand them over.” She demanded. But Hailey knew that it would take a lot more than cupcakes to prepare for what she was about to dive into.

“I’m coming, I’m coming!” Hailey called, as if the person on the other end of the ringing phone could actually hear her. It was later that Monday, and Hailey had just gotten out of the shower. With a towel wrapped around her, and soaking wet, she raced to the phone. “Hello?” She answered.

“Hailey, Sweetie, it’s Mom.” Kristen, Hailey’s mother replied.

“Oh hey Mom, what’s going on?” Hailey asked. She was glad to hear from her Mom, she desperately needed some advice.

“I have some news. “ Kristen announced. “You’re father and I have saved up enough money to go on that second Honeymoon that we’ve been talking about.”

“Oh, Mom, that’s really great. Where are you guys going?” Hailey asked. Hailey’s parents have been married since forever, and now that all of their children were out of the house, they’ve been planning trips, and working on getting their sexy back as Hailey’s father Bill, not so gracefully put it. She shuddered at the thought of those words coming from her dad’s mouth.

“Cancun!” Kristen said excitedly. “I was calling to let you know that your father and I will be leaving on Thursday, and with this being our busiest season of the year, and the resort being almost booked up, I was wondering if you could help Rebecca out at the resort.” Hailey’s parents owned the biggest ski resort in all of Colorado, Misty Mountains Ski Resort. Hailey and her younger sister Rebecca had practically grown up there, and now Rebecca worked part time for her parents while attending community college.

“So when is this again Mom?” Hailey asked.

“Well, we leave this Thursday, and we’ll be back next Friday, so we’ll be spending New Years there. Do you think you can do it?”

Hailey contemplated for a moment. The New Years Eve party was this Friday. But then again, she couldn’t say no to her mom. Her parents really deserved this second honeymoon. And from a selfish standpoint, if she did work at the resort, then this would be an easy out of the party, and the date that she had been dreading. “Sure Mom, no problem, I can do it.”

“What do you mean you’re not coming?” Jennifer asked in disbelief, from behind the counter. Hailey had decided to take a trip to Cookie Cutter to deliver her ‘bad news’ (cough, cough), and also because she had a major Key Lime Pie craving. It really did benefit her to have a baker as a best friend.

“Sorry Jenn, my parents need my help.” Hailey replied in faux-remorse.

“Yeah, they need your help just so that they can go and get their freak on in Cancun. I mean they’re like what 50? What 50 year olds go to Cancun? Cancun is for college spring breakers. You’re parents are totally sabotaging you.” Jennifer said, as she was putting the finishing touches on a caramel cake.

“And I was really looking forward to this weekend too.” Hailey lied. She pouted to try and give the whole disappointed effect.

“This sucks ass!” Jennifer exclaimed.

“Yeah it really, really sucks.” Hailey replied, though she couldn’t help but to feel relieved inside. “So, can you wrap up a piece of Key Lime Pie for me?”

“So you really don’t mind staying here with me?” Rebecca asked, helping Hailey pack her things into the resort.

“Of course not. Trust me, there’s nothing more that I’d rather do than cuddle on the couch, sipping hot chocolate by the fire place, watching the snow from the window, while watching Cameron Diaz movies with my baby sis.” Hailey reassured her. It was now Thursday and Hailey was moving some things into the mini apartment where Rebecca and her parents usually stayed whenever they had to pull overnighters on the really busy nights at the resort. As much as she loved her friends, she was just as happy get away from them for a little while. Even if it was only a few miles away from her apartment, Hailey was thankful for the getaway. Working at the Resort was a piece of caking, she grew up doing this; it was her high school job, and it wasn’t like working at all. Plus, she got paid to basically hang out with her sister, and practically do nothing. It was like her own mini vacation. What could be better?

As she got settled into one of the guest rooms, Hailey inhaled the familiar smells of home. “I could get used to this.” She said aloud. For the first time in a little while she actually felt relaxed. She heard a soft tap on her bedroom door, and Rebecca walked in. “Hey Sis, just wanted to let you know that you’re shift starts in the morning at seven.” She said before turning to leave

“Thanks.” Hailey replied. “Hey Becca,” she called, stopping her sister

“Yeah?”

“Do you ever wish that you could just stay up here forever?” Hailey asked.

“Sometimes, but then again, I think being here forever would drive me ape shit”! She laughed. “But whatever’s bothering you Hales, you just gotta let it go. You can’t hide from the world forever.”

Those words seemed to ring in Hailey’s ears. If everyone said it, then it must be true. “So what’s for dinner?” She asked, changing the subject, something that she had gotten so very good at.

“Dominoes.” Rebecca replied, tossing Hailey the cordless phone. “You may be back home, but that doesn’t mean you’re getting a home cooked meal too!”

Friday, New Years Eve

“Morning,” Hailey greeted her sister down at the front desk.

“Wow, you’re awful chipper this morning.” Rebecca said, as she was checking a family of four into the resort.

“Well I had a good night’s sleep.” Hailey replied, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

“Maybe it’s because you avoid all problems, and act as if they don’t exist.” Rebecca said.

“Excuse me?” Hailey asked.

“Oh, Honey you can’t fool me.”  Rebecca replied “So, I need to go take stock of supplies, so I’m gonna need you to run the front desk. Then I have to run errands all day, call the plumbers to fix the downstairs toilet, and call a technician to fix the chair lifts, so you’ll pretty much be here all day. Now don’t forget to-“

“Becca, I got it, I got it!” Hailey assured her. “Have you forgotten that I worked here long before you ever did? I’ll be fine. Go!”

“Thanks for visiting; I hope you enjoyed your stay!” Hailey waved to the couple, as Javier, the bellhop gathered their luggage. As the day went on, Hailey began to fall back into the old familiar routine, of greeting customers, and checking them in and out of the resort. Much to Hailey’s delight, the day had been pretty uneventful, and as evening approached, she was planning on shutting down soon. Since it was dark out, people were either going out to a New Years Eve Party, or safely bundled up in their suites. Now all Hailey had to do was relax, and enjoy the beautiful scenery outside the glass double doors. Or maybe not.

“Hey!” Jennifer called as she approached the front desk.

Oh no. Hailey thought. Jenn wore her red hair pulled back in a chignon. She wore a trench coat, with fishnet stockings, and stiletto heels, and a man on her arm.

“Hey, Jenn! What brings you here?” Hailey asked surprised. She looked closer at the hottie on her friends arm, and realized that he wasn’t just any hottie. He was the hottie. Derek, from Calvin Klein!

“I just wanted to stop by before we headed to Ice, and introduce you to Derek.” Wow, Jennifer never ceased to amaze her. She always had something up her sleeve.

“Derek, hi, I’m Hailey.” Hailey introduced herself, and extended her hand over the desk to shake Derek’s. He had a nice firm grip. As she shook his hand, she couldn’t help but to get lost in his deep green eyes. Maybe agreeing to work tonight was a mistake. “I’m really sorry about tonight, I didn’t mean for our plans to fall through.” Hailey said apologetically, this time she meant it. But she was sure that as attractive as he was, he would have no problem at all finding his first kiss of 2003. Hell, Jenn might even snatch him up herself.

“Don’t worry about it Sweetheart. I think it’s great that you put family first. Maybe we can talk sometime when you’re not so busy?” Derek asked.

Hailey’s heart fluttered. His voice was as smooth as butter, and the way he called her Sweetheart? Swoon. She just about melted right there on the spot. “Yeah, I’d really like that.” Hailey and Jenn exchanged glances. See, I told you it wouldn’t be that bad, Jennifer seemed to say.

“Well, we gotta get going.” Jenn spoke up. “Are you sure you can’t come?” She pleaded.

“Sorry, I’ve got my hands tied.” Hailey said regretfully. Maybe she was missing out.

10:30 pm

By this time, Hailey’s and Rebecca’s shift was almost over, and the lobby was completely quiet, with the exception of the mini television that Rebecca had set up on the front desk.

“I wish I were there.” Rebecca said. She was watching Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve, Usher was performing.

“Hmm, New York doesn’t sound so bad.” Hailey stated. “I mean it’s cold here, it’s cold there. But there are a lot of people.”

“Yeah, I know and they’re not the nicest.” Rebecca replied.

As the night was winding down, and the girls were getting ready to shut down the front desk, they heard the sound of someone entering the resort. “Sorry, but were clos- Oh hey Jay, I didn’t realize it was you!” Rebecca said, as he approached the desk, with a friend trailing behind. “Hailey, look Jay’s here.”

Hailey turned around from what she was doing to meet face to face with her friend. “Hey, Jay!” And then she was suddenly looking at Jay’s friend. “Josh?” There stood Hailey face to face with her ex.

“J-josh?” Hailey stammered. “W-what are you doing here?” She asked. Panic, shock, confusion; these were all emotions that were coursing through her body simultaneously. This cannot be happening, this cannot be happening, this cannot be happening! Hailey looked from the employee’s office behind the front desk to the bathrooms across the foyer, trying to conjure up a quick way to plan her escape. Was out the window a viable option?

“Actually I had booked an appearance to perform at Brad Pitt’s party.” JC explained. “And hello to you to Hailey.”

Hailey tried to look anywhere but at JC, but she couldn’t resist. One look at him, and she saw that his icy blue eyes were piercing into her. She quickly turned away. Why was this happening to her?”But what are you doing here?” She asked, pointing to the ground, referring to the resort.

“We need a place to crash.” Jay replied.

“So why can’t you stay at your place?” Hailey snapped. JC was taken aback by her abruptness. Not the sweet Hailey that he used to know.

“My pipe burst in my apartment this morning, and all of the hotels in town are booked.” Jay explained. “Are you okay?” He asked.

No. Hailey wanted to say. How could you bring him here? “Yeah, I’m fine.” She replied icily. The tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

“Umm, you know what? I think we have a few rooms available.” Rebecca spoke up, typing into the computer.

Is everyone conspiring against me? Hailey thought.

“Oh well take a look at that! We have exactly two suites left!” Rebecca said, handing the guys their key cards. “Have a nice stay!”

“Thanks, Becca.” Jay said, before he and JC both headed towards the elevators.

Once the guys were out of sight, Hailey turned toward her sister. “Becca!” She whisper screamed. “What the hell are you doing?”

“What do you mean?” Rebecca asked. “You want me to just leave them freezing in the garage?”

“I cannot believe this is happening to me.” Hailey stated in complete disbelief.

“Ah, so this is what you were hiding from.” Rebecca said.

“Technically I wasn’t hiding from the situation; it’s not like I knew he would be in town tonight.” Hailey replied.

“But the point is that you’re afraid to move on, and that’s why you’re working here tonight, instead of at Ice, with Jenn and that Abercrombie model.”

“He’s a Calvin Klein model.” Hailey corrected her. “And besides, you’re working here tonight too.” She pointed out.

“That’s because I’m saving up for a trip to Japan, and I need all the extra hours I can get.” Rebecca replied. “But you my friend are using this as an excuse to hide from the world.”

True. Hailey thought. But so what if she was? It’s not like Rebecca had any right to call her on it. No, actually that’s exactly what sisters were for; calling you on your bullshit. Fuck.

“Look, maybe you guys can talk.” Rebecca suggested.

“Talk?” Hailey repeated. “About what.”

“You need closure Hailey, that’s the only way that you’ll be able to move on.” Rebecca replied.

Just the thought of talking to that man again made her cringe. What was to be said? There was nothing between them anymore. “Wait, did you plan this?” Hailey asked her sister suspiciously, the thought suddenly occurring to her.

“Wait, what?” Rebecca asked, surprised. “That’s ridiculous! Now you’re just being paranoid.”

“I’m totally freaking out here Becca, you’ve gotta help me!”

“How?” Rebecca asked.

“Cover for me in the morning. Please!” Hailey pleaded. “At least until he leaves.”

Rebecca contemplated this for a moment. If she took on Hailey’s shift, she would have to wake up three hours earlier, and she wasn’t exactly looking forward to that, considering that she hadn’t even finished closing up for the night. “Okay.” She said finally. “But, only if you finish closing up for me tonight.”

“Deal!” Hailey agreed. Knowing JC, he was probably asleep by now anyway. “Becca thanks so much. I owe you big time for this.”

“No shit Sherlock!” Rebecca replied. “Well, since my shift is officially over, I’m retiring to my room.” She said, going up the back steps that led to the overhead apartments.

Once Hailey was alone, she continued to close up. She locked the doors, put the money in the safe, locked up the cash register, and powered down the computers. Tired and exhausted, instead of going back up to her room, Hailey had decided to stay up the foyer for a little while, at least until she got a little of her energy back. She grabbed an electric blanket from the supply closet and, and a bottle of wine that she had found in the refrigerator in the employees’ kitchen (thank you Mom and Dad!), she kicked off her shoes, took off her green uniform vest, and curled up on the couch.

Glass in hand, sipping on the chilled red wine, Hailey had done something that she hadn’t done in what felt like forever; Just relax, and enjoy the scenery. From where she was sitting on the couch, she had the perfect view of the perfect snow topped covered mountains. The sky was black, and despite all of the New Years Eve parties being thrown all over town, the stars in the sky outshone every streetlight. Hailey could never imagine living in a big city, like JC had asked her to. You could never get a view like this from Los Angeles or New York City. Everyone was always so busy, and in a hurry. Hailey was much more accustomed to a slower paced life.

Hailey smiled lightly to herself as childhood memories slowly crept back into her mind; Memories of hiking up to the top of the mountains with her dad and Rebecca in the summertime, looking down on Aspen from the mountain tops. “People pay good money to vacation here, and you girls have it in your own backyard.” He used to say. Something that Hailey could never appreciate until much later in life. Hailey checked the time on her watch. It was only 11:15, but it felt much later. She didn’t need to be at Ice, and she didn’t need to be on a date right now. This was the perfect way to ring in the New Year. She wasn’t a party girl, and she wasn’t someone who dated either. She was just a girl who loved nature, and the simple things. This: the scenery, the peaceful and quietness, the simplicity was all she needed.

Hailey sank deeper into the couch, and hugged her knees to her chest. She took a deep breath, and enjoyed the feeling of being alone.

Ding.

Or maybe not. Upon hearing the ding of the elevator door, Hailey looked up to see the very man that she was trying to avoid. Okay, maybe I should have just taken my ass upstairs. She thought regretfully.

“Sorry, am I interrupting something?” JC asked.

“No.” Hailey lied. He was interrupting everything.

“Sorry, I just figured no one would be around.” JC replied before turning back around.

“Wait.” Hailey called after him. “You don’t have to leave.” She said without thinking. It’s not like she exactly wanted company, but part of her did feel bad for being so rude to him earlier.

“You’re sure?” JC asked hesitantly. This was the same girl who almost bit his head off less than an hour ago.

“Yes, Josh, I’m sure.” She said, reassuring him.

She still called him Josh. Just like she used to when they were together. Okay, maybe she hadn’t changed that much after all. JC thought, before walking toward the couch, and sitting down at the end of her feet. The exes sat in awkward silence for what felt like an eternity.

Hailey could feel his gaze on her, and it made her heart flutter. “So, you’re not at some party right now?” She spoke up, attempting to break the ice.

“I got on stage, did my thing, and left.” He replied. “It seems like I’ve been partying nonstop lately, and I think I’m getting a little burnt out.” The truth was he was tired of drunken hookups and meaningless sex, and trying to fill the void in his heart that Hailey had once occupied. He fucked up, he knew that, and him being in Colorado tonight was a little more than just a coincidence. “So in a way, this is kind of what I need right now.”

Hailey stared down into her glass of wine, not really sure of what to say. Why couldn’t he be more like this when they were together? “It is pretty peaceful, huh?”

“Yeah, now I can see why you love it so much.” JC replied.

11:30 pm

“Okay, now that was totally your fault.” Hailey recalled. JC was now on his second glass of wine, and the two had warmed up towards each other.

“Yeah, sure blame it on me!”

“Of course I’m blaming it on you!” Hailey exclaimed. “I spent forty minutes trying to wake your ass up JC! Had it not been for your oversleeping, we wouldn’t have missed our flight.” She giggled, remembering the time that she and JC had showed up at a venue a day later than the rest of the guys, because JC had refused to wake up.

“Okay, fine.” JC surrendered. “I’ll take the blame for that.”

11:45 pm

“Hey Jace, do you remember Christmas of 2000?” Hailey asked.

“How could I forget?” JC smiled to himself. That year, JC had invited Hailey to Orlando so that he wouldn’t have to spend the holiday alone. She had flown down to be with him, and it had been Hailey’s first Christmas away from home. He felt so touched that she had just picked up and left Aspen at a moment’s notice just to be with him. “You decorated the inside of my entire house.”

“Angels, wreaths, garland…” Hailey said, listing off the decorations. “…Lights, Christmas music, poinsettias, a Nativity scene.”

“And you were constantly baking.” He replied. Hailey had done everything she could to make him feel like he wasn’t missing out. The only thing that had been missing was snow. “You even did a snow dance.” He laughed.

“And it worked.” She reminded him.

“Hales, what are you doing?” JC asked Hailey. They were standing in his kitchen, in front of the sliding glass doors. The sky was bright, and the sun was shining.

“It’s gonna snow, I can feel it!” She replied, while taking off her shoes. She was now barefoot.

“I hate to break it to you Honey, but it’s 82 degrees outside, it’s not gonna snow.”

“Tell that to someone who doesn’t believe in miracles.” Hailey said, before sliding back the glass door, and walking barefoot out onto the patio, and into the backyard. JC followed her.

“Hailey, come back here!” He called after her. “You’re barefoot.”

She turned to him, and gave him a simple look. “Hush Chasez, and let me work my magic.” Was all she said, and with that she began dancing.

“Hailey Elizabeth Bowden what are you doing?” JC asked astounded. His twenty-three year old girlfriend was barefoot in the middle of his backyard, pirouetting, shimmying, and doing turns in leaps in his backyard, dancing as if no one was watching.”

“I’m doing a snow dance.” She replied, prancing around him.

“A snow dance?” He repeated, fighting the urge to laugh. Hailey continued to dance some more. She was acting so, so childish.

“Ugh! It’s not working.” Hailey sighed.

“Because we’re in Orlando Hailey.” JC replied.

“I need more power. C’mon JC.” She demanded, pulling him by the hand.

“No! I am not doing this out here!” JC said, standing his ground.

“Haven’t you ever heard of the Law of Attraction?” She asked him.

“What?” JC asked confused.

“Like attracts like.” Hailey said. When JC still had that confused look on his face, she elaborated. “The Law of Attraction is the belief that whatever we give a lot of attention to, will become part of our lives. AKA, if the both of us together focus all of our energy on snow at the same time, it will start to snow.”

“You have got to be kidding me!” JC chuckled. He had no idea where Hailey was going with this.

“Do not mock the Law of Attraction, Josh.” Hailey said seriously. “Remember how you told me, that when you were little that every night you prayed to God to be able to perform in front of thousands and to create music that will live on forever?”

“Yeah.” JC replied.

“And then your mom stumbled across that ad in the newspaper for the Mickey Mouse Club. And there you met Justin, and became part of one of the biggest music acts in the world.” Hailey said. “And now you perform in front of thousands, and sing songs that will absolutely leave your mark on the world. That didn’t just happen by chance Josh. You helped make that happen. You focused all of your energy on making your dreams come true, and you attracted it, and now you’re living it.”

JC stared at her stunned.

“If you can attract that, then you can attract snow. C’mon Chasez, move your buns!” Hailey demanded before slapping him on the ass.

He couldn’t believe what he was about to do. But he danced. He and Hailey danced all around the yard for an hour straight, before they were exhausted and collapsed on the grass. Breathlessly they lay on the grass. Snow or not, this was the happiest that he had been in a while. Carefree, blissful, and childlike, he felt light and free. “I cannot believe I just did that.” He panted, before feeling a cold plop on his face. “Hey did you feel that?” He asked.

“Feel what?” Hailey asked breathlessly.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t feel that.” JC replied, feeling it again.

“What? Did a bird poop on you?” Hailey asked, rolling over so it wouldn’t hit her too.

“No.” JC said. “It’s snowing.” JC was in utter disbelief. It was actually snowing in Orlando. Impossible.

“Ahhh!” Hailey screeched, jumping up. “It worked! It actually worked! See, I told you our snow dance would work!” Hailey stood, taking in the first few snowflakes. She stuck her tongue out and tasted a few. It was almost like being back in Aspen.

JC looked at his girlfriend astounded. He never knew if he believed in miracles before then, but he knew that he definitely believed in them now.

“That was definitely one of the best Christmases ever.” JC confessed. Hailey looked at him with those piercing brown eyes that always had the power to make him feel vulnerable. No, tonight was definitely not a mistake; he knew that much for sure.

11:59 pm

Hailey checked her watch. “So, it’s almost midnight.” She said.

“Yeah.” JC replied back. He couldn’t think of a better way to ring in the New Year. “Ten.” He started the countdown, his voice raspy.

“Nine.” Hailey replied.

“Eight.” JC grew closer to her.

“Seven.” Hailey inched in a little closer as well

“Six.” They were now face to face, merely inches apart.

“Five.” Hailey breathed.

“Four.” He panted.

“Three.” Their lips just inches apart.

“Two.” They said in unison.

On one, their lips crashed passionately into each other’s. JC brought his hands up to the base of Hailey’s neck to bring her closer to him. Their lips moved feverishly moved against each others. His tongue pushed passed her lips, and their tongues furiously collided. As they were going at it back and forth, kissing each other harder and harder- nothing or no one there to stop them- Hailey could feel those butterfly wings fluttering  in the pit of her stomach, a feeling that she hadn’t felt in well over a year. She didn’t know if it was because of JC or the fireplace that she had began to grow warm and started to feel hazy. She was lost in the moment, wanting so badly to completely surrender to him. As JC’s hands began to move up and down her body, she could feel goosebumps arising on her skin. The touch of his hand on her lower back, the familiar smell of his skin, the taste of his lips had all of her senses on overload. She had become quickly intoxicated by his touch, his feel, and it was all beginning to be a bit too much to handle all at once.

“Wait, Josh! Stop!” Hailey panted, breaking the kiss. He had left her breathless.

“What’s wrong?” JC asked, reluctantly pulling away. He hadn’t wanted to stop.

“We can’t do this.” Hailey said regretfully.

“Why?” JC asked confused. Could she really just stop like that?

“I’m sorry.” Hailey apologized. “I just can’t.” She said, pushing him away. She tried to push back all of the feelings and emotions that had suddenly arisen back to the surface. Everything that she had been trying to forget over the past year, had now all of sudden been shoved right in her face, and she just couldn’t handle it.

“Why are you fighting this?” JC asked. He wanted answers. “You can’t tell me that you didn’t feel anything just now.” He said angrily.

“Jace…” Was all that she could say. What could she say?

“Look at me.” JC demanded, cupping her face, so that they were now eye to eye. “Tell me that you felt nothing.” He said.

Hailey looked back at him, she said nothing. She couldn’t tell him that she felt nothing. She’d be lying if she did. “Why are you doing this to me?” She asked, getting up from her place on the couch. JC got up too. She tried to walk away, but she was stopped, when JC gently grabbed her by the arm, and turned her towards him.

“Me doing this to you?” JC asked. “You were kissing me back Hailey, and for a while there you showed no signs of stopping.” He reminded her.

“What do you think you can just come back here and make everything okay?” Hailey asked, now growing angry.  How dare he? How dare he just come waltzing back into her life after a year, and try to pick up where they left off? When JC didn’t answer her, and looked everywhere but at her, she definitely knew that something was up. “Oh my God!” She exclaimed. “You planned this!”

“So I want my girlfriend back, sue me!” He replied.

“You can’t just come here, and declare that you want me back.” Hailey yelled.

“Hailey, you’re gonna wake people up.” He warned.

“I’m not your property.” She said angrily. “How do you know that I haven’t moved on?” She challenged.

“You haven’t.” He said. “I know you. I can see it in your eyes; I felt it in your kiss.” He breathed. They were now standing closer to each other, face to face.

This time it was Hailey who refused to look at JC. He had read her like a book. She wasn’t over him, and she didn’t want to be over him either. She wanted him more than anything, but at the same time she didn’t want to just let him back in so easily. What if he decided to just leave her again? It would kill her.

“You’re still in love with me Hailey, don’t lie to yourself.” JC said just above a whisper.

His words cut deep into her. “I can’t go there with you again Josh.”

“Why? Was I that horrible to you?” JC asked.

“You left me!” Hailey could barely get the words out. She tried hard to force the lump in her throat back down. “After I gave my everything trying to make us work, you just left me.” She cried.

“That’s not fair Hailey.” JC said angrily through gritted teeth. “I asked you, no, practically begged you to move to LA with me.”

“You expected me to just pick up and leave everything for you!” Hailey sobbed. “You were barely even there for me in the first place.”

“How could I be there for you, when you never let me in?” JC asked, his words ringing through the lobby of the resort. “Every time I tried to get closer to you, you just shut me out.”

“Oh, so now it’s my fault? Like you could really settle down with the career you have?”

“Look,” JC said. “I know that it must have been hard for you to be with me, I know that you had to deal with a lot, and I know that I wasn’t the perfect boyfriend. But if you just give me one more chance, Baby, I promise to make things right between us.” JC said, taking Hailey by the hand.

“Josh, I’m sorry.” Hailey said her voice hoarse. She just couldn’t do it. She couldn’t take herself back down that road again.

“You’re afraid.” JC accused.

“Excuse me?” She asked.

“You’re afraid to be with me. You’re afraid of me. You’re afraid to take a chance.” JC said. “That’s not the Hailey that I used to know.”

“The Hailey that you used to know left when you did.” She said coldly.

“Then let me make things right. Let me be the one to heal you Baby.” JC whispered, holding her close.

“But-“

“You can’t fight the Law of Attraction.” He said, cutting her off.

“What?”

“When you give a lot of attention to something until it becomes part of your life,” JC explained. He held her close to him, and gently placed a kiss on top of her head. “I’ve been thinking about you nonstop for a year now. I’m not over you, and I made a major mistake by just leaving. I’m not myself with you Hailey, you complete me, and I can’t be without you.”

Hailey, her head against JC’s chest, took in his words. This was all too much to take on at once. “I can’t be without you either Josh.” Hailey confessed. There. It was finally out there. He was right; there was no point in fighting The Law of Attraction. She wasn’t over him, and she didn’t want to be. He loved her, and she loved him. Whatever is meant to be will be, and it took too much energy to fight against that. Why should she submit herself to a life of misery without love, when love was right in front of her with arms wide open? “I love you Josh.” She said, looking up into his eyes.

“I love you too Hailey.” JC said, before gently placing a kiss on her lips.

“Jace.” Hailey said.

“Yeah, Babe?”

“Happy New Year!”

And so you have it; like attracts like, or in this case, love attracts love. When you’re heart feels a gravitational pull, it’s best not to fight against it, because chances are you’re heart’s right, you’re heads wrong, and in that sort of situation you probably won’t win anyway!