Work Text:
⋆˙⟡ 🧸 ⋆˙⟡
Underneath flickering lights, Hailey Dilmore leaned over the counter of the bathroom she shared. Zoey had left to get supplies for the New Year’s party they were throwing, Harmony was blasting music in her room as she got ready, and Hailey was busy doing her makeup. Zoning out, making the room go dark in her blurry vision, as she did her eyeliner. She mindlessly finished her eyeshadow, and then she had to go back down to earth to do her lipstick, (well not her lipstick, since Zoey let her borrow it.) She wore her favorite brown dress that matched her eyes, with a leather jacket overtop. She didn’t straighten her hair for once, letting it go natural and wavy; like the ocean.
The light flickered, making an awful buzzing noise. A sound that reminded her of a hive of bees.
She felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked over her shoulder to see who it was, and she saw a familiar freckled face. Harmony Jones—her girlfriend and roommate. She wore a beautiful green floral dress with lace at the top and frills at the skirt. A sunflower ring rested on her finger, her nails were painted with a cute shade of light green. “Hey, Hails.” She wrapped her arms around her. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks. You look so cute in that dress.” Hailey commented, leaning up slightly to kiss her cheek. Harmony was only an inch taller than her, but she still had to get practically on her tippy toes to kiss her. (Hailey thought it was embarrassing, but Harmony found it adorable.)
Harmony grinned, her hand sliding down to the small of her girlfriend’s back. “You’re sweet, Hailey bunny.” She wrapped both of her arms around Hailey’s waist, holding her tight, yet gently. Hailey went back to zoning out, basking the comfort of the warmth around her.
They both heard the front door slam open, the sound of shopping bags rattling, and the familiar twangy voice of their roommate and girlfriend. “Harmony! Hails! I’m back!” She said, not shouting cause she was on vocal rest. Harmony’s hand slid away from Hailey’s back as they both walked into the living room. The latter immediately rushing to grab bags and help Zoey put away the groceries.
“Thanks, Hails.” Zoey murmured, after everything was put up. Harmony had helped too, but Hailey was always the most devoted to her.
The shorter girl gave her a thumbs up, smiling. Her smile was always slightly awkward, as was she. Zoey hated to say that she found it endearing. Zoey hated to say how much she loved that jacket on her. Zoey didn’t like to think that the jacket was hers, and Hailey had stolen it. She didn’t like to think that looked better in it than Zoey did. “Of course, Zo.”
“What should we do now?” Harmony asked, washing her hands at the kitchen sink after she had put away a packaged case of raw meat.
Zoey nodded, trying in vain to hide her blush from being caught staring at Hailey. “Wait for the people to get here, duh,” she said, fidgeting with her earring. Hailey smiled at her knowingly.
“Guess we should set stuff up, huh?” Hailey suggested.
They did just that. Zoey set out the red solo cups, and the big bowls of wine and fruit punch, (people were obviously going to drink the wine instead) on a side table with a sparkly gold table cloth. She also put a bottle of vodka for herself, and three bottles of water on the counter incase someone wanted them. Zoey set up the karaoke machine. Harmony and Hailey did most of the decorating, putting gold banners and streamers and signs that said ‘Happy New Years!’ Harmony set the atmosphere, dimming the lights and lighting a fruity candle.
They also prepared the food. Chips and queso, pigs in the blanket, charcuterie boards, cookies, and other assorted snacks.
They waited around for a while. Hailey was munching on chips like a rabbit, Zoey was steaming her voice—knowing she was going to have to redo her makeup, and Harmony was sitting in the chair across from the couch, reading a book on the language of flowers.
The fruity scent of the candle wafted through the air; so did the smell of book pages.
Soon, seven fifty pm hit, and their first guest arrived. Zoey rushed to the bathroom to fix her makeup while Hailey answered the door. “Oh, hello, Nora! Come on in.” Nora Beanie was her cousin and Zoey’s boss at Beanie’s. Nora was nine years older than Hailey, but they were still quite close as children, and had grown apart in their teenage years.
“Hi, Hailey.” The curly-haired woman greeted. She wore a white dress that Hailey never saw her wear, it’s new (she guessed.) The dress was paired with a green jacket she made, adorned with her shops logo. She wasn’t used to seeing Nora dress in anything but her work uniform nowadays. Which was a white button up shirt, black shorts, and a green Beanie’s apron.
Nora seated herself on the chair next to Harmony, and when her head perked up, the older woman decided to ask her about the book she was reading. “What are you reading?” She pursed her lips, leaning on the table between the chairs.
“Just a book about flowers.” Harmony replied, fidgeting with her hair. She placed a bookmark and closed the book.
Nora nodded. “That’s cool,” she took a pause, “what’s your name again?”
“Harmony. Harmony Jones.” She outstretched her hand for Nora to shake. “Most people around just call me Greenpeace Girl.”
Nora flashed that customer service grin. “Oh, you’re with Greenpeace? That’s a nice job to have,” she started. “I’m Eleanora Beanie, but I prefer Nora.” She let go of Harmony’s hand, her smile faltering as soon as she got comfortable enough.
“Do you own Beanie’s? I always come in for a hot cocoa when I get cold.” Harmony inquired, her eyes lighting up with familiarity.
Nora’s grin returned. “Yes, I do!” They giggled in unison.
Zoey emerged from the bathroom, her makeup fixed and lipstick reapplied. Hailey sprawled out on the couch, staring at her phone. Harmony and Nora continued to chat, until Zoey walked over to the chair her boss and best friend was sitting in. “Hey, Nora!” She beamed.
“Hey, Zoey.” She waved, gesturing for her to come join them. She does, sitting next to Hailey and throwing an arm around her.
At eight forty—almost nine pm, more guests arrived. A woman dressed in a button up shirt, a black tie, a sparkly gold suit jacket, and a dark brown or black skirt. Melissa Dove. Next to her was a person in a grey shirt, leather jacket, and black jeans. Doug Barker, who all of them were used to seeing in their police uniform. Harmony’s two best friends. “Hey, Mel!” Harmony exclaimed, rushing to give them both a hug.
At nine twenty pm, the party really got started. Everyone started drinking, and dancing to the music that Zoey had just put on the speakers. Nora and Hailey started to talk over their drinks, (punch and wine, respectively) catching up and laughing at their childhood stories. Zoey was silent next to her girlfriend, sipping her vodka. Harmony was hanging out with Doug and Melissa in the corner, occasionally drinking the fruit punch in her red solo cup. Doug had vodka, while the shorter girl next to them indulged in some wine.
At some point, Hailey and Zoey had a couple more drinks. This was fine for Zoey, as she has a good alcohol tolerance. However, this was not great for Hailey, as she cannot handle her alcohol very well. Though, it depended on what she had, she preferred wine and lighter drinks like that, as opposed to heavier drinks like whiskey. They were better for her stomach and her health.
After she had one too many, Hailey’s world did pirouettes like a drunk ballerina. Her vision going blurry and hazy. The Kesha song coming from the speakers was muffled and sounded like it was in a different room. She tried her best to sing along, but only managed to let out an awful, croaking, “w’re who w’ are!” Safe to say, she stopped immediately. Her face went light pink with embarrassment
Zoey continued drinking her fifth cup of vodka, just now getting a bit woozy. Her stomach grumbled, queasy. Her eyes went glassy, her face flushing bright red. Hailey was underwater and Zoey just giggled, staring at her.
“Hailey~ yer always s’cute.” Zoey slurred, stroking her hair, and smiling genuinely at her girlfriend’s embarrassed expression.
The other girl tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Thanks, Zo. S’are you.”
They sat in mind-numbing, yet somehow comfortable, silence for a little bit, which neither of them minded that much.
Time blurred together. Soon, the speakers were silent, and the TV was on. Harmony was up there, singing Howl by Florence + The Machine. She sang beautifully, her resonance was perfect and her mix was strong. Zoey often forget how well she could sing, since she didn’t do it often. The next to sing was Melissa, who sang Hopelessly Devoted to You from Grease. Her singing voice was a bit higher than her speaking voice, and some notes were a little airy, but she still sounded wonderful.
Hailey decided to go up there and sing. She chose Come Down Soon by Lizzy Mcalpine, and Daylight Robbery by Imogen Heap. They were some of her favorite artists. Zoey, a few more drinks in, decided to join her. They sang What is This Feeling from Wicked (Zoey sang Elphaba and Hailey sang Glinda) Wish I Were Here from Next to Normal (Zoey sang Diana and obviously Hailey sang Natalie.)
Harmony sang again after their turn, singing Somewhere That’s Green from Little Shop of Horrors and Rabbit Heart by Florence + The Machine. Then she joined her girlfriends on the couch, watching in awe as her new friend, Nora, belted out What Baking Can Do from Waitress the Musical. Zoey decided to get up and sing again. “You wanna do this one with me?” She asked Harmony, who nodded frantically.
“Absolutely, Zo.” She obliged. Zoey gratefully took (snatched) the mic from Nora.
Her hands were shaking and her steps were unbalanced. “Actually, I’m supposed to be on vocal rest.” Zoey said, speaking in a lower tone as she raised her hand to her neck, right at her throat. “I’m gonna go make a tea with honey, you guys go ahead.”
“Okay.” Hailey and Harmony said in unison.
After they recovered from their fit of giggles, Harmony asked, “you wanna sing this one with me instead, Hails?” She was referring to For The First Time in Forever (Reprise) from Frozen. Hailey nodded happily, before blinking and trying to make her vision normal again.
“Of course!” Hailey jumped up from her seat, taking Harmony’s hand. They each grabbed a microphone and sat up straight, beginning to sing the song. Hailey closed her eyes, feeling the characters frustration and love. Harmony grasped for the other girls hand, Hailey’s rings cold against her skin, as she felt the characters anger and fear.
Zoey returned from the kitchen, stirring a mug full of steaming hot tea. She sipped it periodically as everyone else sang and danced (and she was pretty sure Melissa and Doug were kissing in the corner, but she was too tired and too drunk to fully realize.)
Her girlfriends once again joined her on the couch, Hailey on her left and Harmony on her right.
She’s so tired, and Hailey is looking at her like she hung the stars. And before she even knew it, her lips were on Hailey’s, somehow the other girl’s lips were so soft despite her lipstick, and she tasted like wine and sugar cookies. Hailey is her girlfriend and yet she felt like she hadn’t kissed her in forever. Hailey slowly pulled away after a bit.
Zoey tasted like honey with the smallest hint of vodka.
Zoey’s eyes darted over to Harmony, who looked like a deer in headlights, but also like a sad puppy without food. Zoey leaned in to kiss her too—she didn’t want her to be jealous, but she also wanted to show how much she loved and appreciated her. Which she didn’t tend to show to her girlfriends very much. Harmony tasted like the vegan chicken she ate as well as the earthy, natural chapstick she wore.
After those kisses, Hailey turned her head to kiss Harmony too.
Zoey couldn’t be more in love. Leaning in, she breathed, “I think I’m in love with you two.”
“We love you too, Zo.” Harmony hummed, rubbing Zoey’s knuckles. They both always knew she was, but she had never actually said it. Zoey had a problem expressing her feelings, especially the positive ones. She always had, ever since she was a kid, she would bottle everything up; every emotion, every feeling, every single thought, she wouldn’t let it go until she had an outburst.
Music started to blare from the speakers again, adding more life to the boring atmosphere. They heard a tiny boom in the sky, pink and gold fire works bursted in the sky, outside the window. The three girlfriends watched in awe from the safety of their home.
Zoey leaned in to kiss the two again as the clock struck midnight. “Happy New Years, babes.” She whispered.
⋆˙⟡ 🧸 ⋆˙⟡