11:11 P.M., December 31st, 2000
Women in short dresses, waiters in black ties, and men in blazers passed before Selena's blurry eyes as she struggled to keep them open. Selena could definitely keep them open for just another- what was it, an hour?; she was seven, almost eight and almost ancient.
Demi was already snoozing on her shoulder, but Selena didn't mind. She liked being close to Demi; she was warm, comfortable, and smelled like watermelon.
Selena glanced at the clock for the third time in the past five minutes. It was just 11: 11? She sighed audibly and looked at the sleeping girl she was supporting. Do it for Demi, she urged herself.
Demi and Selena had promised each other that this year, they'd stay awake for New Years to see the Ball Drop in Times Square of the mythical New York City. The names sounded so exciting and grown-up and Selena was determined to be a part of them. But then Demi had fallen asleep and looked too peaceful to disturb
Dick Clark was saying something on the TV and the crowd below him screamed but Selena didn't have the energy to understand any of it.
Maybe if she closed her eyes to rest… just for a moment…
"Are you ready, folks?"
Selena lifted her head from Demi's blearily. What was going on? The people in the party and erupted into a loud countdown.
Selena looked at the TV and saw a sphere slowing descending a tower.
Oh! The ball drop!
"11... 10..."
Demi couldn't miss the ball drop.
"9... 8..."
"Demi, Demi!"
Selena shook her urgently.
"7...6.…"
"What's goin' on?"
"The ball drop! Look!"
"5... 4..."
Two more voices joined the others.
"3... 2..."
Selena squeezed Demi's hand; this was it!
"1!"
The room exploded with a loud 'Happy New Year!'.
"Selena?"
"Yeah?"
"Why's everybody kissing?"
"Daddy says it's cuz you kiss the person love."
"Oh," Demi replied, struck with this new information. "Hey… we love each other."
"Yeah. And all the grown-ups are doing it…"
"We're grown-ups!"
"Yeah!"
With that, the girls gave each other a big fat kiss.
Selena beamed.