There was really no reason at all for him to be at this party, except to torture himself thinking about what a new year actually meant; how he wouldn't get to kiss Kori at midnight or even talk to her really. Maybe look at her from afar awkwardly and wonder what she'd thought of his note -- that was it. She hadn't said anything to him about what he'd written at all. To be fair, though, he hadn't really given her time; he'd done exactly as she asked and taken off again after putting it in her hand.
It was funny. The last few New Year's had been just like this one: a handful of people trying to make the best of it, drinking too much, etc. But he had never felt this way any of those times. He didn't even feel like trying to make the best of it. And drinking too much? Well. It was an option.
This tiny, clearly mean lady looked just about the way Mike felt.