two nights

What better way to escape reality for a couple of days? Their lives were full of problems, and all they wanted was to be alone to enjoy each other's company. Annie was happy when Armin said "yes" to the proposal to go out of town, to a tourist base, and celebrate the new year there. In each other's arms and company. And Arlert didn't dare say no. He didn't want to. He was ready to fall to his knees when the girl blurted out this proposal. They were so tired. The domestic problems with his parents were constantly overpowering and debilitating, driving Arlert to tantrums when Arlert told Leonhart about everything. And getting as far away as possible was his salvation. Especially with Annie. And the blonde only wanted to get away from herself. Every day was a struggle with herself and her thoughts. Years of depression, mental hospitalization and constant medication had left their mark. Staying at least a couple nights with Arlert was the best solution for her, if only to not give herself over to her thoughts. Thoughts of the past, present, and future. The decision was made, and December thirty-first was on the calendar. The boys hailed a cab and headed out for the long ride. The boy held the girl close to him, groping her jacket with his fingers as she rested her chin on his black winter coat. Concrete and gray houses were replaced by bare trees and snow-covered fields. The car wrapped its winter rubber around the asphalt, never straying from the path the navigator had laid out. They didn't listen to music, because Armin had lost one earphone not so long ago, and the girl didn't take her own. The radio was playing quietly in the cabin, playing New Year's songs over and over again. From time to time the guys sang along, blissfully covering their eyes and snuggling closer to each other. It was still cold, even though the car's heater was melting the cabin. It didn't take long to get there. Armin helped him take the bags, and together they started down the slope. The prickling cold ran down their bodies, getting under their warm clothes, and the frosty wind developed their hair. There wasn't much snow. The whole farm was still filled with slush and mud, and the slopes were overgrown with trees whose branches intertwined with each other, resembling a punishment cell for all the new arrivals. But it's definitely better here in the summer. And it would be better. Taking the room key from the nice girl, the boys walked up the hill. The bags made this obstacle more difficult and as if insurmountable, but still they climbed up to the lodge. A plastic canopy, lots of rooms on one level and a single fence for all the balconies. It looked cheap, but so comfortable. The couple stepped into the elevator: a robotic voice announced from the speakers what floor they were now on. A mirror almost completely occupied one of the walls, and Armin and Annie stared at themselves, then at each other. Once on the third floor, the boys reached the right door and not without effort inserted the key into the keyhole. The door swung open so that it banged against the wall with a clatter. And, thank God, it didn't leave a mark on the thin wall. A small room greeted them with a cool parquet floor, a wide bed covered with a green pillowcase to keep out the dust, and two glass glasses and bottles of water on a white wood table. The couple was relieved to throw off all their bags and fell onto the bed together, enjoying the comfort and softness because their lower backs had gotten stiff in the car. “Well... I suggest we hand out presents to get the New Year mood started" Annie suggested with a slight smile. “All right! Who's first?” “ Let it be me.” “No... let's do rock-paper-scissors. Whoever wins, whoever goes first.” “Come on" Leonhart said with a sly smile and accepted the challenge. The boys started the game, and the girl won. Armin noticed again how her hands were overcome by tremors. It was a constant companion, but it was the reason she almost lost. True, Arlert had given in a bit. Anyway, Leonhart pulled out her box. Arlert opened it with a little hesitation, being excited. And when he flung the lid back on the bed, he froze, examining the first thing he came across. His puppy eyes reflected an acrylic figurine of his favorite characters. He adored them. He literally collected them on his computer desk and looked at them regularly. And this one was beautiful. Lots of subtle details, but most importantly, a couple of characters he spiked. “How did you get..." Armin said with a very satisfied smile as he continued to examine the contents. There were also some warm wool socks with a picture of a kitty, the details of which were a bit blurred due to the material. “Considering the floors here, I could use them," Armin joked, causing the girl to laugh, and afterwards, sharply and firmly, " Thank you... Thank you so much. Love you. “Love you.” “ Okay, now me!” Annie smiled brightly and waited for her present. Armin was digging out his backpack, adjusting the contents to make everything look presentable and neat. After a minute he came up with a black box, the lid of which was transparent. The top showed translating tattoos and some Korean earrings. “Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh" Annie said sweetly, trying to figure out what else might be in the box because it was quite weighty. After opening the lid and setting the little things aside on the nightstand, the girl realized there was a book in there. Picking up the pink foil, Leonhart leaned back with a dazed face as she continued to hold the box. There lay a book that Annie had wanted for a long time. Spontaneously entering the bookstore, she wandered among the shelves, looking at the many works, and Leonhart was hooked by one of the books. Nearly a thousand pages, wrapped in a hardcover to contain the bound sheets in a single roll. It was expensive, and spending a book at a time the girl wasn't ready to spend, even though her shelf was already stocked with all sorts of novels and stories. So she put the idea aside for later. But Armin remembered the childish interest with which she told about it. And buying himself a Nabokov paperback, he decided what he would give for this New Year's Eve. He'd been waiting for this moment to see her reaction. He wasn't disappointed. And she wasn't disappointed. The girl was lying on the bed with happiness and at one point quickly pressed herself against the guy. Wrapping both hands around his face, she began to kiss him quickly, saying: “Thank you. Thank you, thank you.” Armin smiled more and more each time. While they were on their way here, they managed to buy a bottle as well. Arlert took the glasses, and Annie took out her favorite champagne. The boy held up the utensils, watching his hands tear off the label, grip and twist the sharp muselet, and then try to pull the cork. “ We shook it up on the way over, so there's a good chance it'll go straight to the ceiling... And then into your fucking face" Annie said bluntly, but with a small smile. “ I hope so.” The clap resounded across the room, but the cork remained in the girl's hands. Arlert set the glasses down and let Annie pour the alcohol into them. A graceful hand encircled the glass device, and the girl looked into the eyes of Armin, who was obviously going to say something. “ To us beautiful ones!” “But unfaithful!” Leonhart joked, and laughing, the pair clinked glasses, beginning their celebration.