After dinner, Eliza sat alone by the window, her legs tucked under a fuzzy blanket and a half-empty mug of cocoa resting beside her. The night outside was glowing — fairy lights strung along rooftops, snow twinkling under porch lamps, and the faint echo of laughter in the distance.
She sighed quietly, her breath fogging up the glass. Everyone else in the house was buzzing with energy — music playing from the living room, plates clinking in the kitchen, holiday cheer bouncing off the walls.
But all she wanted right now… was him.
Just as she leaned her forehead against the cool glass, her phone buzzed.
Incoming call: Lucifer
Her heart jumped. A soft smile broke across her face as she tapped to answer.
"Hey, you," she said, voice already lighter.
"Hey, pretty girl," came his voice, warm and low and full of affection.
Just hearing him made her whole mood shift — like a tiny sun bloomed in her chest.
"Guess what I'm doing?" he asked.
Eliza chuckled. "Hmm… letting a squirrel win another fight?"
Lucifer laughed. "Not tonight. But close. We're making barbecue in the backyard. Grandpa's bossing everyone around like it's a battlefield."
She could hear it faintly in the background — voices, sizzling meat, someone yelling about overcooked skewers.
"And what about you?" he asked. "Still sitting at the window being all dramatic and romantic?"
"Maybe," she teased. "I had to keep my 'missing-my-boyfriend' aesthetic alive."
They both laughed softly. Then a silence settled between them — the kind that didn't need to be filled. It was soft. Comfortable.
"I miss you," Lucifer finally said, voice low and raw.
Eliza's throat tightened.
"I miss you too," she whispered.
Lucifer let out a breath. "I really thought we'd get to celebrate the New Year together this time. Especially now that we're… you know, officially us."
"Yeah…" Eliza murmured. "Our first New Year as a couple and we're not even in the same place."
He sighed. "I wish—no… I hope that next year, and every year after that, will be beautiful for us. And we get to celebrate every single one together."
Eliza smiled, heart soft.
"I hope your wish comes true," she said.
They were quiet again, but this time it was heavier.
"Lucifer…"
"Yeah?"
"Next year's coming. Our final year's ending soon. Then graduation…" she paused. "Do you think this will… change us?"
Lucifer stayed silent for a beat.
"I mean… we don't even know where we'll get into university. What if it's different places?" Her voice faltered. "I don't want anything between us to change."
There was a soft rustle on his end.
"Shhh… hey, listen to me."
Her eyes fluttered shut as he spoke.
"No matter what happens, or where we end up, or how much life shifts — one thing won't change. I love you. I'll always love you. Once I gave my heart to you, that's it. You're stuck with me, Eliza."
A soft laugh slipped past her lips, tears glimmering in her eyes.
"You better love me always," she whispered. "And keep in mind — I'm not letting you go either."
Lucifer chuckled. "Yes, madam. As you wish."
They both laughed, warmth blooming again.
A moment later, he checked his watch.
"Wait — it's almost midnight," he said, excitement in his voice. "Let's switch to video. I want to see your face when the year changes."
Eliza smiled and tapped to switch the call.
Her heart fluttered as his face appeared — firelight flickering against his skin, cheeks pink from the cold, eyes shining just for her.
"You look so beautiful," he murmured.
"Stop," she said, blushing.
"No, seriously. You look like someone I want to kiss right now."
She laughed, covering her face with one hand.
They kept talking, teasing, smiling through the screen as the seconds ticked down.
Then, Lucifer held up his phone, grinning.
"Okay — 20 seconds!"
Eliza propped her camera up, eyes bright.
"10… 9… 8…"
She heard voices behind him join in. Her mom's TV was blaring the countdown too.
"3… 2… 1…"
"Happy New Year!!"
Cheers echoed from both sides. Fireworks burst across the sky outside Eliza's window, painting the night with color and light.
Eliza gasped as they bloomed in the sky, reflecting in the glass like stars exploding just for them.
Lucifer's voice came through again — quieter this time.
"I'm missing you."
"I want to hold you."
Eliza looked at the screen, her smile soft, eyes a little glossy.
"I'm missing you too," she whispered. "So much."
They didn't speak for a while after that. Just stared at each other through the screen like the distance wasn't real. Like this moment belonged only to them.
And even with miles between them… it truly felt like they'd stepped into the new year together.
---
Just as Eliza tucked her phone under the blanket again, it buzzed with a new message.
Ryan : Yo, I survived another year without being arrested. That's worth celebrating, right?
Ryan : Also, this hat is making my head look like a festive potato.
A picture followed — Ryan wearing a glitter-covered party hat that said "Happy New Year" in huge sparkly letters, holding a soda can up like it was champagne. His eyes were half-crossed, his grin absolutely chaotic. Confetti stuck in his hair. Total disaster.
Eliza burst out laughing.
Eliza : Wow. Iconic. I'm sending this to the Smithsonian.
She immediately forwarded the pic to Ava.
Seconds later, Ava replied.
Ava : Did he seriously send that to you too? I swear he's one selfie away from losing all rights to my attention.
Right on cue, another message from Ryan appeared.
Ryan : Happy New Year, Grumpy Queen
Don't roll your eyes — I know you're smiling.
Ryan : Bet you wish you were here with me and my shiny hat.
Ava did roll her eyes… exactly like he predicted.
And then… smiled. Exactly like he knew she would.
Ava : Happy New Year, Chaos Potato. Don't let the fireworks turn you into mashed potatoes.
Ryan : Too late. I'm already soft.
Ryan : ...But not as soft as you when you pretend not to care about me.
There was a pause. Then—
Ryan : And hey... glad I got to spend a little bit of the year with you already. Even if it's just through this tiny screen.
Ava stared at her phone for a long second, her thumbs hovering.
Then finally—
Ava : Goodnight, idiot. Try not to blow anything up.
Ryan : Sweet dreams, Firecracker.
Hope next year gives me a little more of your attention. Just sayin'.
Ava turned off her screen, heart a little jumpy, cheeks a little warm, and laid back against her pillows as the fairy lights above her flickered gently.
Somehow… the year already felt a little better.
To be continued....
💬Author's Note:
And that's a wrap on Volume 1!
Some of you might be wondering, "Why haven't Eliza and Lucifer already, you know… taken it to the next level?"👀
Well… love isn't always about rushing. Sometimes it's better to let things simmer and build slow, sweet, and real.
So hold tight. Their story is just getting started.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments and thank you for sticking with them (and me!) this far!
See you in next chapter
(And yes, Ryan and Ava… we're definitely watching you. 👀)