Since leaving for college five years ago, MJ, Claudia, and Sophie have always tried to schedule a sleepover whenever they are all back in town. For this winter holiday, MJ and Claudia are keeping that tradition, but Sophie has a New Year’s Eve party for work that, politically, she must attend.
# # #
Twenty minutes before the countdown, Claudia and MJ change into their pajamas and settle onto the sofa to watch the New York City celebration with Claudia’s parents. As Ryan Seacrest introduces the next performing artist, Claudia’s mom brings in four flutes and a jar of black eyed peas.
“Thank you,” MJ says, taking a glass. “And thanks for letting me come over.”
“Oh, no problem! We love seeing you,” Claudia’s mom says, patting her on the head. “You’re like another daughter to us.” She smiles at MJ. “Wait!”
MJ freezes, glass tilted toward her parted lips. “What’s wrong?”
“That’s the champagne,” Claudia’s mother says, taking the flute and handing MJ another one. “You girls are drinking the sparkling grape juice.”
Claudia simply shrugs as if to say, Roll with it. “They always treat me like a kid,” she whispers. “But think of it this way: better to lose five years than gain them.”
MJ can’t argue with that logic.
“Hey,” Claudia’s dad chimes in. Like all fathers, he apparently took a course on lame jokes. However, Claudia suspects that her father graduated at the top of the class. “Why did Baby New Year get mad at Father Time?”
MJ looks helplessly at her friend, who is already rolling her eyes. “Uh, I don’t know…”
“Because he dropped the ball!”
Silence.
“It’s okay to groan,” Claudia says to MJ.
“Oh come on. That was a good one!”
“Sure, Dad. Sure.”
The three women smile politely and turn their attention to the television.
# # #
For the annual End of Year party, Arden Advertising’s offices have been transformed into a winter wonderland. Blue and silver garland sparkle in the strobing lights, giant paper snowflakes adorn the cubicles and windows, and Top 40 hits stream through the overhead speaker system. Sophie makes the rounds, being sure to get face time with her boss Alexis Arden and a handful of other company big wigs. Then, when she can stand no more, Sophie retreats to the staff break room on the opposite end of the building for some quiet time.
Forgoing the light switch, she takes a seat in the darkness. The muffled music and talking soothes her now, as if she were in the thick of a forest and can hear a babbling brook in the distance. She wonders how long she can stay in here, or if she can slip out without being noticed. It isn’t too late to join MJ and Claudia…
Suddenly the door opens a crack. “Hola? Eh, hello?”
Sophie’s heart skips a beat as she recognizes Diego’s silhouette. Ever since she invited him to Christmas dinner with her friends, he seems to show up everywhere. He’s on all her projects, and one of the few people who is willing to stay late to perfect his work. She tells herself it’s because his family is in another country and he doesn’t want to spend the night alone in his apartment. But whatever the reason, she’s glad for the company.
“Sophie, is that you?”
“Yeah, you caught me. I’m hiding out.”
He turns on the light over the sink, which is small and not too bright, but she can see him when he laughs. “I can’t blame you,” he says. “It’s a lot of people. A lot of English.”
They chuckle. “Your English is good though,” she reassures him.
“Eh. Only when I am relaxed.”
“Well, I’ve never noticed a problem.”
“Because I am always relaxed around you.”
To her surprise, she begins to blush, and wonders if he can see. Clearing her throat, she stands and heads for the fridge. “I’m thirsty. You want anything?” She rummages around before settling on a Sprite.
When she turns around, he’s standing right next to her. She gasps and fumbles her soda can. He catches it and sets it on the counter, never once taking his eyes off hers.
From the party area, a voice intones, “20… 19… 18…”
“It’s almost the new year,” Diego says.
Sophie nods. She’s thinking so many things — we should be out there, what if someone comes in, well what would they really see, he is rather close, but I kind of like it… — and yet unable to say a word. She can feel his breath – mmm, smells like strawberry — and the racing of her own pulse. What she said before is true: he has caught her. She is completely absorbed in this moment.
“12… 11… 10…”
Just as he’s coming closer, Sophie’s cell phone vibrates with an incoming call. Diego pauses as her purse shakes on the table.
“Do you need to answer that?”
Sophie shakes her head. He smiles. In the background, their coworkers chant, “4… 3… 2…”
Diego leans in, and they kiss.
# # #
“Happy New Year!” MJ, Claudia, and her parents raise their glasses and toast.
# # #
As confetti falls on the streets of Times Square, Sophie’s cell phone finally stops buzzing. A few seconds later, it beeps twice. There is a new text message.
Happy New Year, darling Soph. *kiss* Love, X.
