Divine Obsession (GodHood #2)

Chapter 11

17 years old

“WE LOOK SO PRETTY.”

“So cute,” I agreed.

Maria and I both giggled over the picture in my hand. We took it in a photo booth earlier tonight when we’d gone to get something to eat.

It was black and white. I was smiling wide, holding onto Maria’s neck. She was smiling cheeky too, her tongue out.

I carefully placed it in my wallet, before putting it away in the inside pocket of my pink jacket.

While I readjusted my white, fluffy ear-muffs and matching gloves, Maria tugged on her beanie, her hoodie over it along with a black puffer jacket. Glancing down, I snickered at our choices of footwear; me with my brown Uggs, her with her Chicago Jordans.

I smiled. Despite our diverse fashion styles, we always matched in jeans. Tonight’s pick had been tight, skinny, dark-washed Levi’s.

Maria breathed out a cloud of condensation, and as it floated up, it brought my attention back to Times Square. We’d sneaked out to watch the ball drop – the same way we did every year.

“Oh my God, it’s happening!” Maria squealed, tugging on my hand. She loved this; Christmas, New Year’s, the holidays, the traditions.

“ Ten! ” Everyone around us began counting.

“Promise we’ll always be there for each other.” Maria’s voice made me look away from the large screens, and back to her.

“ Nine! ”

The city lights glowed in her eyes, and I still couldn’t believe she was soon turning sixteen. She’d grown up so fast. “What?”

“ Eight! ”

“Promise,” Maria pressed, without further explanation.

“ Seven! ”

“Of course. I promise.” I smiled assuringly, resting my hand on her shoulder.

“ Six! ”

Maria brought up her hand. “Pinky-swear?”

“ Five! ”

I laughed.

“ Four! ”

I brought my hand up and interlocked my pinky finger with hers. “Always.”

“ Three! ”

“Twin flames?” Maria gave me a knowing smile.

“ Two! ”

I nodded. “Twin flames.”

“ One! ”

We both leaned in and kissed our knuckles, to lock in the promise.

“ Happy New Year! ” Chaos and cheers erupted all around us. Confetti fell from above and fireworks erupted in the sky.

“Happy New Year, Nat. Thank you for everything.”

I wrapped my hands around her as we both watched the show. “Happy New Year, my love.”