Soul Mates

Harvard

Sunday, January 2, 2000
*Carolina's POV*

This year is starting with a bang! Cindy and Logan broke up! She was pissed when she found out that he didn't go to Aspen because he couldn't imagine spending New year's Eve without me. She actually missed her flight waiting for him and ended up ringing in the new year at the airport. I almost feel sorry for her, almost.

My mom, my brother and I are in my living room watching TV and drinking hot cocoa when the doorbell rings. I run to the door, thinking it's Logan and am surprised to find Max standing there looking all kinds of handsome. He's holding a letter in his hands and gives it to me. "We just came back from our holidays and found this in our mail. It's for you, Leena, from Harvard." "What?!! Mom!" I run to my mom and leave the door wide open. Max takes it as an invitation and follows me, closing the door behind him.

"Que pasó?", she asks, switching into Boricua mode. "A letter from Harvard! I can't open it. Too nervous." She relaxes and takes the envelope from me. "We won't know until we open it." I stand in front of my mom, my future in her hands, with Diego holding my left hand and Max holding my right one. I close my eyes, this has been my lifelong dream. I hear my mom crying, is it happy tears? Then I'm pulled into a group hug. "Lo lograste, mi niña. You're going to Harvard!"

I hear the words but they don't sink in immediately. I fall to my knees, tears streaming down my face. "Gracias, Diosito!", I say thanking God from the bottom of my heart. Everything was worth it. All those late study sessions, all the sacrifices, all the effort. Diego and my mom are crying as well. "I'm so proud of you, sis."

After half an hour of celebrating, my mom has to leave for work and Diego goes on a date with Megan. Once, we're all alone, Max asks me, "Want to go grab a celebratory coffee?" I nod, "Sure, let me just get changed and we can head out." I run to my room and quickly throw on a t-shirt from Hot Topic that says 'Not the brightest crayon in the box, now are we?' over a pair of jeans and my Converse. Since Max is waiting downstairs, I just do a messy bun and put on some lip gloss.

The weather is not that bad today so we decide to walk to the nearest coffee house. A decision we regret as soon as it starts flurrying half way there. We end up covered in a light dusting of snow by the time we enter Starlight Cafe. It's not too busy so I sit at a table while Max goes to order our coffees. This is where Logan works and I'm hoping to see him to tell him the big news. I'm engrossed in reading the letter for the tenth time when Logan sits next to me. He's wearing his uniform and he looks adorably mad.

"Max, huh? Is this some sort of test?" He says just loud enough for me to hear it. "I'm trying, Mia. I'm trying really hard to keep my wo...to stay calm, but Max again?" I look from him to Max, who's watching us from the counter as he waits for our order. I smile, because I will not let Logan's mixed signals bring me down. Not today.

I decide to ignore his question. "I was actually hoping to run into my best friend to give him some good news." He realizes he's messed up by my tone. He calms down and asks, "What good news?" I show him the letter. He reads it and looks up at me, eyes wide full of unshed tears. "Mia, this is amazing!!! He pulls me into a hug which is interrupted by Max. "So Leena told you the good news? Isn't she incredible?"

"Yes," he says looking into my eyes, "she absolutely is."