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new year’s eve. a day of the year where you cuddle up with jschlatt and watch the clock tick past twelve. the way how you spent the night had changed a lot throughout the years being with him. at first, when jschlatt was still in lunch club, you spent the evening with your boyfriend and his friends at some random house party, getting shit faced drunk. it was actually during one of the new year eve parties where you had your first kiss with jschlatt and started dating him. but as lunch club disbanded and you moved to austin with jschlatt, the evening became slower. you two tried to be social and hung out with otk on the 31st but since you didn’t really like the streamers (and nor did jschlatt) you chose to stay at home and so did jschlatt. that’s where the tradition started of staying indoors, having a lovely, handmade charcuterie board and watching the countdown on television, in complete silence as you watched the muffled fireworks outside.
but now, since jschlatt and you moved back to nyc, the tradition HAD to be changed. especially because of the grand ball drop you had begged jschlatt to go and see. the custom was unfamiliar to you as an european and after relocating to nyc, the first thing on your bucket list. so there you were, in jschlatt’s sexy black mercedes benz, breaking through the maze of nyc traffic. you wanted to walk to the times square since the distance between your apartment and times square wasn’t even that long but because jschlatt didn’t want to bother with fans during the walk and usa (🇺🇸🦅🛢️) is a car-centric country, you obliged. it’s not like you had anything against taking the car, you were lazy as fuck and you also did not have to drive because jschlatt kept you as his passenger princess on every occasion. as you watched out of the window, you also realised you most likely were not in the best condition to operate a vehicle nor walk two kilometres.
the iffy feeling had started right after christmas. you woke up on the 26th and felt weird. not sick or anything related to any cold or flu, just a feeling of impending doom. you shrugged it off, thinking it was from eating too much food or just anxiety over nothing. but as days passed and the feeling worsened, you started to worry. the plan to go to the ball drop had been made long before december and cancelling it on the day of, would’ve made you mad pissed at yourself. you sucked it up and went on with the last day of the year as usual, calling your relatives in europe and finishing the last work tasks. right after your workday ended, you were chauffeured to the grocery store by jschlatt where he was of course, your personal cart-pusher. the board didn’t consist of a lot since the stores hadn’t survived the christmas period or just didn’t have your specialty items. in the end you usually just put brie or camembert cheese, jamon serrano, fuetec and chorizo, accompanied with grapes on the side.
the clock was ticking closer to eight. the time of the evening when you finished the charcuterie and cuddled up with jschlatt on the couch. you two didn’t bother to dress up for a few good years and you didn’t bother this year as well. so there you were, you held tightly in his arms while you watched some random show on netflix, enjoying the snacks while jambo warmed your lap like a radiator. at one point you excused yourself to go to the bathroom. the iffy feeling had worsened, with every bite you took, it felt like the food would resurface immediately or not go down at all and you also felt extremely warm. searching for the thermometer, you were cursing yourself for managing to get a virus for a day so important. you sat on the toilet and waited for the old-fashioned thermometer to do its work, leg bouncing. a minute later, you removed it from your armpit and would you look at that, you had a raging fever of 38 degrees celsius. fucking great. you sighed and washed your hands, shoving the thermometer in the drawer with annoyed loudness. “you alright there, toots (i can’t believe i am using this nickname”? jschlatt questioned from the other side of the door. “yup, all good.”
times square was packed with people. you knew how the spectators at the front were wearing diapers and had been camping for a while to get their spot. you didn’t understand the appeal of doing so and you were very content with standing at the more back side away from the craziness. it was rather cold and your long puffer jacket was doing far from keeping you warm. thankfully, your second heater aside from jambo, was standing right behind you, hands wrapped around your waist and head placed on yours. the iffy feeling had developed into nausea by now. but it was less than five minutes until new year and you were not giving up anymore. “i can sense that something is wrong. you sure everything’s alright?” jschlatt spoke to your ear since the atmosphere around you was uncomfortably loud. you shook your head. “i have been feeling a lil’ weird ever since christmas.” you turned to him in the meantime. “but i ignored it, thinking i was just worrying too much.” you smiled a little, trying to lessen his growing worry. “do you want to go home?” jschlatt asked almost immediately. “no!” you almost yelled. “i have wanted to see this ball drop for years, no way i am quitting last minute.” you turned around, in the direction of the ball as it was less than half a minute now. “we are the first ones leaving anyway.” jschlatt joked as the ball slowly moved down. people cheered and as the countdown ended, you were met with a big kiss on your lips. “happy new year, toots.” his arms tightened around you as your hands were placed on his.
“you could’ve told me you had a fever, jesus.” jschlatt was focused on the road but his brows were furrowed in worry over your condition. “i’m sure it’s nothing, i just ate something spoiled and it’s just a stomach virus.” you replied. “or my appendix bursted and now i am dying.” “don’t…” jschlatt gripped the steering wheel slightly. when did he get so worried about you? “even start with jokes like that.” a hand was placed on your thigh (thank fuck for automatic cars) as jschlatt sped over the limit to get back home as soon as possible. “i survived a fever before. and also,” you turned to him from the front window. “i could not miss the start of our anniversary.” jschlatt’s face displayed a small smile finally but he sighed too. “yes. but still, don’t ever keep something like that. please.” your heart throbbed and the nauseating feeling in your stomach was replaced with butterflies for a second. oh, how you loved that guy. “yes, yes, father.” you joked as you kissed him (you were stopped behind a red light).
getting tucked in for bed and then being held felt like heaven to your sick body. “we are visiting a doctor during the day.” jschlatt mumbled to you as you lay there, eyes closed and tired from the whole ordeal that the ball drop was. “jschlatt, i’m sure it’s nothing.” you knew it was useless to even try changing his mind. you had tried to argue with him before and it ended with him getting what he wanted. “nope.” you sighed in faux-annoyance and cuddled closer towards him. it was silence for a bit and you hoped that by now, jschlatt was asleep. “thank you for worrying about me. i love you, baby.” he chuckled in response. “love you too, toots. happy anniversary.” he replied with a squeeze and then you fell asleep.