make it out alive.

"I guess that's a fair request to make," Laurel considered the other's attempt to barter with her. "I am a little thirsty but I also don't want to be barred from tequila for the rest of the night."

"I don't think I have the power to do that anyway," Cynthia replied with a chuckle, "But future-you will thank me when you have a little less of a hangover."

"If that's really the case, I'll have to take your word on it," Piper shrugged lightly when the other spoke about the power of New Year's luck. "I don't know how much I believe in all of that stuff but, I'll try to hold out hope if people like you seem so sure of it."

"I think it's 50% belief for me," Cynthia replied, "I also believe you have to work for what you want and wish for. The wish part is a nice addition, though."

"I suppose counting on the fireworks is more reliable than the probability of a shooting star," Piper considered with a chuckle. "I guess I'm just trying to get my luck wherever I can. I want this to be a good year."

"True but a shooting star would be an added bonus and far better luck if you believe in that sort of thing," Cynthia replied, "Me too. Hopefully, everything going on can be put to an end. That would be the best New Year's luck."

"Yeah it was nice. I split it up between actually family and my chosen one. It made the holiday much more palatable that way. At least for me," Eva admitted with a shrug. "How about yourself?"

"I spent it with my brother and then my partner and her family so I guess similar to you," Thia replied, "I did get an invite from my parents but I didn't go," she added, not afraid to share that detail.

WANTED TO GET YOU AN OIL CHANGE AS A PEACE OFFERING

"Of course. It's my pleasure," Laurel insisted warmly when the other thanked her for getting her a drink. "I appreciate that because drinking alone is not really fun. At least not in a public place."

"You're right, it's not fun," Cynthia replied, "Hence my philosophy of not letting people do it alone, even if I'm not drinking myself. Are you having a nice time, Laurel?"

"Hey, you said it first, putting it in my head. Blame yourself for that one," Cynthia replied, "Sure. Let's get food in you. Then we'll know if it's because of a lack of energy or because you need medical assistance," she teased.

"I would say they count. And they're all so sweet too," Samantha observed after hearing the woman list out her little rituals. "Like each of them rather clearly seems to hold a sentimental value to you– it's really touching."

"Except maybe the locker one, I'm not sure what that one has to do with anyone," Cynthia admitted with a laugh, "But yeah, I guess the rest of them do."

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) dir. Blake Edwards

"I love you," Cyjnthia said with a laugh at how she supported her, even against inanimate objects, "Cheese and pepperoni sounds great."

"Perhaps we have more in common than I thought," Cynthia replied with a kind smile as he talked about his past with her brother, "Then I like you already and I can see why Cyrus says good things about you. Don't let me keep you from him though. You should enjoy the party."

"Not as much as you might think. It's shots that I've had a lot of," Laurel grinned back, seeming proud of her answer. "Water isn't very exciting though," she pouted. "Do you not want to do a round of tequila shots with me?"

"I'm not much of a tequila gal," Thia replied, "But you need to have water first. No more tequila until you've had some. Maybe after I'll consider it."

"Oh? I guess I should have known about your sooner then but I suppose you must know why Rus and I lost touch for a while," Cynthia replied, not wanting to get into it too much but if they had been friends, Orlando surely knew. She smiled, "He is the best so it goes without saying that if you ever hurt him, you'll be dealing with me. I may appear non-threatening but I will go to great lengths for my brother," she explained. Her smile remained but her tone was warning. She was very protective of Cyrus, even if she was the younger sibling.

"Admittedly I feel better not giving any of that too much thought. Their twisted morals will unfortunately always cast a shadow over all the good in my life. We just have to work every day to make sure that their words and mentality have no real impact on our lives anymore," he said, smiling softly. "Every day that I am happy just feels like the best way to show them that I'm better off, you know?"

"Yes we do," Cynthia agreed, "And that's what we're both doing which is what matters most," she smiled. It was in moments like this that she was grateful that she had Cyrus back in her life. What would she do without him? "Well, I look forward to meeting him properly anyway. We should have dinner sometime. You, me, Orlando and Alison?" she suggested.

"You do have the slight advantage of knowing about me before I knew about you," Cynthia pointed out, "But he talks about you plenty and I look forward to getting to know you better too. He seems really happy with you."

@cynthiaclearwater

"Super nice. We got really lucky with the weather for fireworks," Cynthia said with a smile, "Ooh, that would be cool. I don't think I've ever seen a shooting star before but we can definitely get priority for the fireworks."