Narrator's POV

Luis and y/n were getting ready at their respective places for the charity ball they were attending together for the hospital y/n works at as a activities director for the children's ward. So were a lot of Luis's co-workers. Luis had actually arranged a prize package for the silent auction at the ball a trip for two to WrestleMania 41 with tickets for both nights of Mania, the Smackdown before Mania, Hall of Fame tickets and the Raw following Mania. Although Luis and y/n are just friends and have been since childhood. Their moms were pen pals growing up and were the best of friends until y/n's mom passed away in 2019. But everyone around them could tell their feelings went deeper than friendship.

Luis arrived at y/n's apartment. He shut off his car and stepped out. He looked sharp in a tuxedo. He bent down looking in his side mirror. He pushed his glasses up his nose as they slid down.

"Welp this is the best I can do," he said as he stood to his full six foot five height. He walked to the apartment building that houses y/n's apartment. He buzzed her apartment.

"Come on up Luis," she said as she buzzed him in. He took a deep breath and walked into the building before taking the elevator to her floor. He knocked on her door and it was a matter of seconds before she opened the door. He felt his heart skip a beat when his eyes fell to her. She wore her chocolate brown hair swept up in a french twist with whisps of hair framing her face. She was dolled up to the nines as they say. She wore a black spaghetti strap evening gown with rhinestones at the sweetheart neckline. Her makeup was natural. She wore diamond stud earrings and a diamond bracelet.

"Wepa," breathed Luis making y/n blush lightly.

"Come in," she said opening her door and stepping aside.

Damian's POV

I walked in and y/n shut the door.

"You look stunning," I said.

"Thank you Luis," she said "You look amazing too. You certainly look sharp in a tux," she adjusted the lapel before smoothing the jacket.

I swallowed hard as her touch sent shivers down my spine. Okay so a majority of my friends with the exception of y/n have pretty much hit the nail on the head about my massive crush on her. But she's my best friend and I can't lose that especially since she doesn't feel that way about me.

Y/N's POV

I smiled up at Luis. His gorgeous chocolate brown eyes looking deep into mine. I felt the breath hitch in my throat as he reaches up and brushes a strand of hair behind my ear. He caresses my cheek before his hand cups the back of my neck before he pressed a kiss on my forehead. I smiled softly as I felt my heart thud against my breast bone. I swallow thickly.

"Ready?" he asked as he rested his forehead against mine. He smiles as our eyes met. I bit my lip and nod "Good then let's go." He stepped back grabbing my pea coat from the arm of my sofa. He held it "Y/N."

"Thank you Luis," I said softly as I put my arms into the coat before grabbing my clutch and he offered his arm "I wanna thank you for accompanying me to this ball and getting a lot of your co-workers to come too," Luis opens my front door and we head out the apartment.

"De nada princesa. You're my best friend and it's a good cause. I am happy to help and well be your date for the night," he said as I lock the door and I was happy that my back was to him as I felt my cheeks flush. I didn't think he would consider this a date.

"You-you consider this a date?" I asked as I put my keys into my clutch not turning around as I can feel my face is hot.

Luis chuckled "Of course. I mean it's not a romantic date obviously but it's still a date," he placed a hand on my shoulder and he turned me. I kept my head down. He hooked my chin raising my face and our eyes met "Don't you think?"

Damian's POV

Y/N blushes deeply as her eyes left mine "I mean I guess," she said as I cup her cheek in my hand. Her eyes raising to meet mine. She smiles "It's a date then."

"Good," I said chuckling "But we better get going obviously you are one of the chairs."

She nods as I offered her my arm again "Then let's get going," she said as she laced her arm with mine.

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Breckenridge Country Club......

Y/N and I walked into the biggest ballroom. The room was decorated with black, gold and silver balloons.

"Well isn't this place beautiful," said Demi as she and her husband Matt walked in arm in arm "Y/N did you have a hand in the decorations?"

Y/N nods "Guilty I guess," she laughed lightly "I know the colors are cliche but I well we as a committee figured why fix something that's not broken."

Joshua Fatu walked in, his wife couldn't attend as one of their sons was sick "Uce!" he greets me as we shake hands "Y/N you look beautiful."

"Thank you Joshua," said Y/N softly "Thank you so much for attending."

"You're welcome," he said as y/n turned to Demi.

"You too as well Demi. Matt," she said smiling as Joshua's twin brother Jonathan and his wife Trinity walked in.

"No worries," said Demi patting y/n's arm "Luis told us how important this was to you and well to him too."

Y/N blushed as she looked at me making me blush.

"Look at you," said Trinity smiling at y/n "How have you not been snatched up is amazing. Don't you think Luis?"

I chuckled nervously "Yeah. It's amazing. Y/N is great," I said rubbing the back of my neck as I smiled at y/n.

She laughed lightly "I-I-I just haven't found the right guy yet I guess," she said.

"Y/N!!!" called a male "The DJ needs to see you."

"Be right there Berkeley," she said "Excuse me."

Y/N left as my friends looked at me "So when are you going to show her you are the right guy for her?" asked Trinity.

"It's not that simple Trin because she doesn't like me in that way," I said as we moved to our table.

"Uh huh sure," said Trinity.

A huge floral centerpiece sat in the middle of the table as a sparkling black table cloth covers the circular table. Silver charger plates sat at each place setting. Matt and Jon held the chairs for Demi and Trinity. After they sat we all sat.

"What does that mean?" I said.

"Because you're reasoning behind not showing her is not only dumb but you're obviously blind too. She sees you in that way," said Trinity "As much as you don't think so is just as much as she sees you in that way."

I rolled my eyes "Oh please. She only sees me as a friend. I had to basically convince her this was a date of sorts."

Trinity arched an eyebrow "Boy I should smack you upside the head," she said "Of all the people she could have asked to be her date. She asked you," she gave me a look.

"Honestly," I scoffed "She asked me because I helped get the Mania package."

"And I was Cleopatra in a previous life," said Trinity "Come on. We," she gestures to Demi, Matt, Jon and Josh "have eyes and have seen how she looks at you when she has visited you backstage."

"And how does y/n look at me? Huh?" I asked.

"Like you're the only person there. It can be a crowd of people around you two and she only has eyes for you," said Demi.

"Don't make me laugh. Ha ha," I said adding the ha ha's sarcastically.

Demi shot me a look.

"Come on. There is plenty of single guys backstage that have asked her out. But she flat out refused to go out with them. She would always tell em she's not not interested," said Jonathan "I have seen it for myself all the while she's looking at you Uce."

I shook my head "You are all nuts," I said as y/n walks over and I immediately rose to my feet as did the other guys. I held her chair and she sat.

"Everything okay with the DJ?" asked Josh.

"Yeah. Just needed to know if he was doing the count down to New Years or if my co chair and I were. My co chair is here with her wife so she asked if I would do it but I get nervous in front of people so the DJ said he can do it." Y/N placed her purse on the table "So it looks like I will be with you when the ball drops," said y/n looking at me.

I smiled "I like that. Maybe this year we can actually stay awake," I chuckled "Unlike some years. We would fall asleep on your sofa or mine."

"To be fair we were also kids back then and staying up until midnight was hard," she laughed as she put her hand on mine. I stare at her hand and she blushes lightly "Sorry." as she quickly removed her hand.

"No. No. Um don't be. Yeah of course we crashed as kids but I am talking about when we got older. Hell just a couple years ago when I wasn't working and came to watch the ball drop with you. We both fell asleep like we had been hit with a sledgehammer."

She covered her mouth covering her laughter "We were also completely wasted," she reminded me "We didn't so much fall asleep as we passed out."

Demi arched an eyebrow at me "Anyway. Um," I said.

"Y/N!!" calls Berkeley again "Catering wants you!"

Y/N's mouth went into a thin line "Excuse me. I guess Emily can't talk to them for some reason," she said pushing away from the table. Before getting up and walking away from the table.

Demi looks at me after y/n departed "Kiss her at midnight!" she said a smirk painting her face "I double dog dare you!"

"If you haven't noticed this isn't A Christmas Story and my name isn't Ralphie," I said.

"What are you a chicken?" asked Matt.

"No," I said.

"Then kiss her," said Demi.

"No. I am not going to force myself on her," I said.

"Whatever. I think you're wasting an opportunity to show her you're the right guy," said Demi with a shrug.

"Then I am wasting my opportunity. I'm not losing my best friend because you five think she's in love with me. Because trust me she's not!" I said.

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The ball was in full swing and y/n hadn't been called in a while to put out any fires. We were on the dance floor. Other couples dancing around us.

"Again Luis. Thank you for coming with me. You honestly make me feel safe and some of the doctors that have made me feel uncomfortable have seen me with you," she murmured as we danced.

I raised an eyebrow "Okay who do I need to put six feet under?" I asked scanning the room.

"No one. Honestly," she pats my chest "They're creeps and well I can steer clear of them most of the time. Besides I can easily report them to HR. But I mean here. At least they won't try anything," she smiled up at me.

I looked into her beautiful green eyes and reached up cupping her cheek caressing it with the side of my thumb "Honestly I can put the fear of God into em. Just point them out," I smirk.

She laughed "Luis. No. Just stick by me. I do kinda still have to show my face at the hospital after this. Can't exactly have my best friend go Hulk smash on my colleagues."

I laughed as I pressed a kiss to her forehead as I glanced at the tv screen of Times Square in New York. It was jammed packed per usual but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else then where I was right now.

"Fair," I said "Look at Times Square," she turned her attention to the screen.

"Remember how we both always said we wanted to be there when we were kids but our parents always said no. And then when we were seventeen we snuck out and went there?! I wound up having a severe panic attack. And you had to carry me out of there," she said.

I nodded "And someone stole my car and I had to call my pops to come get us. Boy was he angry."

"My parents too. I was lucky to have been able to go to my graduation. I was grounded for so long," she laughs.

I checked my watch "Do you want to go out into the garden?" I asked "It's kinda stuffy in here. Besides it's almost midnight and they should be shooting off fireworks at the park. Maybe we will be able to see them."

"Okay," she said as I took her hand lacing our fingers together and we headed to the garden.

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In the Garden.....

Y/N rubs her arms as the cool air nips at her skin. I quickly removed my tux jacket "Y/N," I said holding the jacket for her. She slips her arms in, pulling it closed around her body.

"Thank you Luis. That was sweet of you," she said as we walked the pathway lined with flowers.

"Y/N."
"Luis"

We said at the same time.

"You go ahead," I said.

"No you," said y/n "I insist."

"No please ladies first," I said.

She bit her lip as she tucked some loose strands of hair behind her ear.

"Back at my place when you called this a date." I nod "But you said it wasn't romantic. Um. Well."

TEN

NINE

EIGHT...

The DJ was beginning the countdown to a new year.

"Yeah I remember," I said as we stopped and y/n turned to me. She swallowed hard as she looked at me "What about it?"

SEVEN

SIX...

"What. What if it had been? You know romantic. Like would that have been something. I don't know. You might have been interested in?" she asked.

FIVE

FOUR

"I guess. Maybe. Why would you?" I asked.

That question hung in the air. I swallowed hard.

THREE

TWO

ONE!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Y/N didn't answer instead she cups my face and kissed me on the lips. I was momentarily dumbfounded before quickly wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her close to me deepening the kiss. It wasn't until the fireworks went off that we broke the kiss.

"Does that answer your question?" she asked her eyes meeting mine.

I nodded "That-that it does," I whispered as I rest my forehead against hers "Then I um. Y/N would you. Would you. Uh," I am at a loss for words not because I didn't want to ask her out but I was at a loss because I had dreamed of this moment since we were literally seventeen and I had to carry her out of the crowd at Times Square.

She placed a hand on my cheek and rubs her thumb against it "I would love to," she said "Happy New Year Luis."

"Happy New Year y/n," I said pressing my lips to hers sealing it with another kiss one I certainly didn't want ending anytime soon.

Yes a year was over but a new one was beginning and it was definitely beginning with y/n's and my new found love. Yes this year was going to be great.