Page 105 of Steps

Gasps of dismay echo in the air. We refocus onthem.

“You’re both out of your damn minds,” Alisonscolds, crossing her arms tightly at the waist.

Mom throws up her hands. “I can’t believe this.Just when I think everything is perfect, that all my dreams are finally comingthrough, you go and do this to me. To us.”

“We didn’t deliberately start this, Mom,” Iexplain. “We just fell for each other.”

She narrows her eyes on me, thinking.

“Pfft.” Daniel shuffles from one leg to the other.“Do you seriously think you can continue living under this roof in such aninappropriate way?”

“Wait,” Mom grunts, twisting her features indistaste. She glares at me as she asks, “Have you had sex?”

I flick to Alison. She didn’t tell them that part.

“Yes,” I answer, boldly.

“Christ!” Daniel hisses and squeezes his forehead.“Varen, what is wrong with you?”

“Dad, it’s not like that,” Varen tries to explain.“I love—”

“Shut up!” Mom yells at him while firing invisiblelasers. “How could you take advantage of my daughter like that? Toya’s naïveand has no idea when someone is using her.”

“That’s not true, Mom,” I plead, tears escaping.“Look at me, I’m not stupid. I know he’s not taking advantage of me.”

“I’m not, Lisa,” Varen insists. “I love yourdaughter very much.”

“Just stop!” Mom shrieks. “You saw how desperateshe was for attention, and you used that to take what you want.”

“No,” I interject. “Varen isn’t like that.We genuinely love each other.”

Daniel scoffs. “No, you don’t. You’re infatuatedteenagers, and I won’t allow you to continue this way in my house.”

“Dad, I’m eighteen. I don’t have to listen to youor live with you. Toya and I can still see each other even if I move out.”

Mom huffs. “Like hell she will. She’s seventeen,and by law, she’s still my responsibility. I can prevent you from going nearher. I’ll get a restraining order if need be.”

Varen tightens his grip on my hand. “You can’t dothat.”

“The age of consent in Maryland is sixteen. Youcan’t keep us apart,” I say firmly. “You just can’t.”

“Listen to me, both of you.” Daniel touches mymom’s arm as he speaks. “End it now, or you’ll damage our family to the pointwhere you won’t be a part of your sibling’s life.”

“For heaven’s sake, it’s just a stupid crush,”Alison chimes in. “You won’t feel this way after a few weeks. Why not stop itnow?”

“No,” Varen and I say at the same time.

Mom steps forward. “Toya, we’ll put it behind usandforget it ever happened if you just end things with Varen.” Tearsstream down her face, making me cry as well.

“This isn’t a crush,” I tell them. “It’s real.I’ve never felt anything this real, and my heart can’t let him go.”

“You don’t need to, Toya,” Varen says. “I’m notletting you go either.”

Daniel curses. He grabs my mom’s hand as he gruntsat us, “If you insist on this inappropriate thing, you cannot live with us. Getyour things and get out of my house.” He’s glaring at his son.

“That’s fine,” Varen sputters. “We’ll be okay aslong as we have each other.”

The veins in my mom’s neck bulge. “You seem tothink my daughter is going anywhere with you.”

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