Page 37 of Steps

“I need a drink,” he says, heading to where thealcohol is mostly. I glance at Daniel and my mom across the room to see ifthey’re watching Varen. He picks up a glass of wine, chugging half of it whilestaring at me.

I shiver at the intensity between us and lower mygaze.

“Hey, it’s Latoya, right?” someone asks at myback.

Turning, I squint up at the tan and tall guy withsandy-blonde hair. Daniel introduced him and his parents earlier, but I wasn’tinterested, so his name didn’t stick.

“Hey,” I say politely, playing it off.

He figures it out, anyway. “It’s August Caldwell.”

“August. Yes. I remember.” I giggle nervously.

“So, um, Dan says you’re starting to researchwhich colleges to apply to. Must be nerve-racking, yeah?”

I nod. “A little. Which college do you attend?”He’s nineteen. I remember that much.

“Sophomore at Johns Hopkins,” he replies casuallyand not at all pretentious. I glimpse Mom off to the side in the living room asshe picks up an appetizer from a passing tray. She eyes August and winks at me.Her sign of approval.

Gosh.

“Um…” I refocus on him. “What’s your major?”

“Biomedical Engineering.”

“Shit,” I blurt out. “Sorry, I mean, that’sawesome. It sounds difficult.”

August chortles, modest. “It is, but I like it. Guessyou could say I’m a super nerd.”

We chuckle together. “Well, good for you.”

“What do you want to study in college?” he asks,appearing interested.

Strangely, I feel small in his presence. “Oh,creative writing.” I swallow and wave it off. “I know, it’s nothing specialcompared to yours.”

He shakes his head. “Yes, it is. You’re astoryteller. Think about it, your novels will help me relax my brain, transportme. That’s special if you ask me.”

His compliment makes me smile. I catch sight ofVaren as he walks by. Our eyes lock briefly, sending chills all over my body.He’s telling me so much without using any words. Varen continues through thearchway and turns right, going upstairs perhaps.

“So,” August pulls back my attention, “do you playsports, or are you a member of any clubs?”

“Uh, no. I’m not into either, sadly. I’m more ofan academics type of girl.”

He straightens at this. “Me too. I’m terrible atsports.” August keeps talking, but I’m having a hard time staying focused.

Varen’s eyes and the yearning within them continueto flash through my mind. I feel an urge to go to him. An impulse I’m fightingto suppress.

“What kind of music are you into?” August askswhen I come back to reality.

A lie falls from my mouth with ease. “Excuse me, Ineed to use the bathroom.”

“Oh, okay.”

I leave the living room and hurry upstairs.Varen’s bedroom is dark. He isn’t inside. I pull up the door and wander downthe passage to the movie room.

Opening the door halfway, I stick my head insideand peer around the dim room. Varen is sitting in the back corner with his legsoutstretched, his phone lighting up his face.

I glance behind to make sure no one is coming,then enter and close the door. “What are you doing?”

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