Thanks so much for the sweet reviews! I really appreciate them, and if you have any requests (friendship or dating, I love to write both) feel free to leave them!

This one can be read as a standalone or a continuation of the last chapter. They just started dating in this. Enjoy!

Happy New Year

"Stop..." Lindsay pushed Daniel's hand away as it wandered under her sweater.

"Sorry, I'll slow down..."

"No, don't. It's just that your hands are ice cold."

"I'm sorry, but I thought gloves would make this a little weird," he caught her own – glove clad – hands between his.

"Hey, it's not my fault that your car heater sucks." They were crammed into the backseat of Daniel's Trans-Am. She was draped over him in a somewhat awkward position, trying her best to ignore the biting cold, but not even the most intense of make-out sessions could beat the Michigan winter.

"I've heard the whole sharing body heat thing works better if we take our clothes off…"

"I might reconsider the gloves if you trade places with me," being on top meant that her back was exposed to the cold air, while Daniel had her to shield him from the elements...

"Let's try…" They shifted around, until they remembered why they hadn't done this to begin with.

"Ok, this is not comfortable…" Daniel sat up straight, and let his head fall back in frustration.

"Isn't there somewhere we could go?" Lindsay sat up, too. "Someplace warm?" She wrapped her arms around herself. "Oh, what about the theater?"

"And continue this surrounded by a bunch of 13 year olds throwing popcorn at us?"

"Oh… What are you doing tomorrow?"

"On New Year's Eve?"

"Yeah," Lindsay shrugged. "My parents are going to this party, so we'd have the house to ourselves."

"It's a date," Daniel leaned in and kissed her. "Come on let's get something to eat. I know this pizza place, they have a table right by the oven," he climbed back into the front seat, and started the engine, while Lindsay followed a little hesitantly.

xoxo

"Are you sure you and Daniel don't want to join us, sweetie?" Mrs. Weir asked, as her husband helped her into her coat.

"Yes, mom. We'll be fine. You guys go have fun."

"Don't do anything you wouldn't do if we were here. Understood?" Mr. Weir reminded her.

"Yes dad, we're just gonna watch TV. Besides wouldn't you rather know that we're here than out at some party where kids get drunk?"

Mr. Weir couldn't argue with that. "We'll be back by one."

An hour later Daniel and Lindsay were making out on the family couch – a New Year's special on TV and an untouched bowl of popcorn on the ground.

"This definitely beats the car," Lindsay was on her back, one hand playing with his hair, the other resting on his hip.

"Your parents need to go out more often," deciding that he wasn't taking nearly enough advantage of the warmth and comfort the Weirs' living room provided, he quickly got rid of his flannel, leaving him in a thin white T-shirt that was a much less annoying barrier between them.

"That's better," he brought his lips back to hers, slipping a hand under Lindsay's shirt. He lingered on her waist for a while, and Lindsay felt his thumb brushing over her lower ribs before he tentatively moved upwards…

"Daniel…" Lindsay stopped him.

"What, are my hands cold again?" He laughed.

"No…"

"Then what is it?"

"I just…" Lindsay looked up. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"There's a car outside…"

"It's probably the neigh…" Daniel was cut off by the shrill sound of the doorbell.

"Ignore it," he pleaded, but still gave Lindsay room to get up.

"Sorry," she gave him an apologetic look, and headed to the door – gasping in surprise as she saw who was on the other side.

"Hi, Lindsay."

xoxo

"Barry?" As far as unexpected visitors went, this one took the cake. "What are you doing here?" She self consciously tucked her hair back behind her ear.

"Sam is sleeping over, and he forgot his sleeping bag. And when I heard that you're home I volunteered to pick it up. Aren't you gonna ask me in?"

"Of course, sorry. I'm just surprised to see you. How's school?"

"Great…" Barry gave her a suspicious look as he stepped into the house. "Do you have company?"

"What?"

"I'm guessing that car in the driveway isn't yours."

"Oh yeah, I have a friend over."

"Boyfriend?"

"Sorry…"

"Don't worry," he smiled. "Yes, I was hoping you'd safe me from spending New Years Eve playing video games with our little brothers, but I should have known."

"Hey what's going on?" Since this was taking entirely too long for his liking, Daniel had decided to check out the visitor himself.

"Daniel, this is Barry, Neal's brother. Barry this is Daniel," Lindsay introduced them.

"Hey man," Barry greeted the other boy.

"Hey," Daniel replied, putting his arm around Lindsay.

"Barry is just here to pick up Sam's sleeping bag," Lindsay explained.

"I'm sorry I'll be out of your hair in a minute," Barry could sense that he wasn't welcome.

"Actually…" Lindsay started. "Why don't you stay?" This took both boys by surprise. "We're just watching TV, and I made way too much popcorn." Lindsay had no idea what had come over her. She had been looking forward to being alone with Daniel all day, but now that she was her nerves had gotten the better of her…

Barry pondered for a moment, but then he decided that staying – even if that meant sharing Lindsay with someone who looked like he wanted him dead, still beat going home. "How could I say no to that?"

xoxo

To describe what followed as awkward would have been the understatement of the year. After having exhausted pretty much every small talk topic Lindsay could think of, and a very uninspired round of Monopoly, the three of them were stuck staring at the TV, waiting for the ball to drop…

"It's five minutes to midnight," Daniel noted, hoping that Lindsay would get the hint, as watching TV with Neal's older brother really wasn't how he had imagined the night to end – and a few hours ago he had been certain that Lindsay would have agreed.

"Who wants more popcorn?" Ignoring Daniel, Lindsay picked up the untouched bowl.

"No one…" Daniel protested but Lindsay was already halfway to the kitchen.

"She invited me," Barry defended himself as Daniel threw him another death glare – a gesture that had lost its meaning over the course of the night.

"You could have declined," Daniel muttered, before he followed Lindsay.

"Need help?" Daniel asked as he stepped into the kitchen.

"No, I got it…" Lindsay held up the container with the popcorn kernels.

"Lindz…" Daniel took the container out of her hands, and put it down on the table.

"I'm really confused here, you invite me over on the one night you have the house to yourself and then you ask this guy who obviously has a thing for you to join us?"

"You don't have to worry about him."

"That's not the point. You clearly did not want to be alone with me tonight."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, just be honest with me," he pleaded, unable to hide the irritation in his voice.

Barry, who had been standing by the door, cleared his throat. "It's midnight."

"Figures…" Daniel threw his hands up in defeat and left the room as the first notes of Auld Lang Syne came out of the TV.

"I'll better get that sleeping bag," Lindsay said, wishing she could turn the clock back.

"I didn't want to ruin your night," Barry apologized once Lindsay came back, and handed him Sam's sleeping bag.

"It's not your fault."

"I know, I just wanted to be nice," he laughed. "Are you going to be ok?"

"Yes," she nodded. "And I'm sorry for dragging you into this."

"You know, I really don't like him. But he seems like a good guy. A guy you can talk to."

"He is," Lindsay replied, the hint of a smile on her lips.

"And if I'm wrong, you know where to find me."

"A right at the cow." Lindsay remembered.

"Exactly, Happy New Year Lindz."

"Happy New Year," a friendly hug and Barry was out of the door.

Meanwhile Daniel had retreated to Lindsay's bedroom, and that's where she found him, on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

"Can I come in?"

"It's your room."

Lindsay ignored the hostile tone in his voice and sat down on the foot end of the bed. "Happy New Year."

"Did the college boy have go home?" Daniel rolled his eyes.

"Yes. Listen, I know that tonight wasn't what you expected…"

"No…" he sat up.

"It's not that I don't want to, I really do…" she blushed. "But…"

"I'm nervous, too!" He interrupted her..

"This…" he took a deep breath. "I've never done this before."

"What do you mean?" Lindsay was lost.

"Not that, obviously," he flashed her a sly grin before he got serious again. "It's different with you, I…" he looked down, trying to find the right words. "I want to do this right, you're too good for the backseat of my car… at least until I get that heater fixed. That's why I wanted to take advantage of tonight…"

"I'm such an idiot…"

"Yes," he deadpanned.

"But you're not mad?"

"I can wait," he put his hand over hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "But you do owe me a New Year's kiss."

Feeling at ease for the first time that night, Lindsay leaned in and kissed him, They didn't break apart until they found themselves back in a horizontal position.

"Happy New Year," Lindsay whispered settling into a comfortable position next to him.

"Happy New Year," Daniel replied. "So, You and Barry…"

"He's cute!" She laughed, gently smacking him.

"He's literally a tall version of Neal!"

"I bet his car heater is amazing," Lindsay teased him, before their lips met again, continuing where they had left of earlier, but this time they were simply enjoying themselves…no pressure, no nerves…

At least until they heard the sound of the front door falling into its lock. Followed by laughter and the voices of Lindsay's apparently slightly tipsy parents.

"Did Lindsay already go to bed?" Mr. Weir asked, surprised about the silence that greeted him.

"I should check on her," Mrs. Weir responded.

Lindsay and Daniel froze, this wasn't good.

"No, you're just gonna wake her up. Come on… "

Lindsay let out a breath she didn't know she was holding as she heard her parents make their way to their own bedroom at the other end of the hall.

"You need to get out of here…" She whispered, but didn't loosen her grip on him.

"It's safer to wait until they are asleep," he kissed her again, slowly, not commandingly…

Lindsay couldn't argue with that and responded by arching into him, bringing them even closer together.

"You can just leave through the window…" There was not a hint of urgency in her suggestion.

"I would…" Daniel replied absentmindedly." But my jacket's by the door…" This gave Lindsay a horrifying realization.

"And your car is in the driveway…" She pushed him off of her a split second before the door opened without any knock or warning.

Mr. Weir tossed Daniel's jacked onto the bed. "Happy New Year, Romeo. Now get out!"

"Dad, we were just saying good night," Lindsay got up, while Daniel hurried to get into his boots and jacket.

"Save it," Mr. Weir glared at his daughter.

"How was your party, Sir?" Daniel asked in an attempt to get back on Mr. Weir's good side. Or well, at least neutral territory.

"Go home!"

"Dad, can I show Daniel out?" Lindsay cut in before Daniel could say or do anything else.

Mr. Weir frowned.

"Please?" Lindsay pleaded, and Mr. Weir turned towards Daniel.

"If I don't hear that car of yours in 1 minute, I'll drive you home myself."

Lindsay walked Daniel to the door and kissed him good night. A chaste peck on the cheek.

"He's not watching us," Daniel whispered.

"It's not worth it."

"Liar…" Daniel joked, and Lindsay lightly punched him in the shoulder.

"I'll call you." She laughed.

"20 Seconds!" They heard Mr. Weir shout from the hallway, and Daniel used at least 10 of them for a real goodnight kiss before Lindsay closed the door behind him.

Thanks for reading!

Love, Laura