Page 137 of Steps

“Hey.” I contrive a smile and invite him inside.

He hands me the flowers. “These are for your mom.”

“Thank you. I’m sure she’ll love them.”

“August?” Daniel calls out from the kitchen. Hecomes over to shake his hand.

“Sir, I’m so sorry about what happened.”

Daniel nods. “Thank you, and thanks for theflowers. That’s considerate of you.”

“August is taking me to a seminar at theuniversity,” I explain. “Is that okay?”

“That’s fine.” He avoids meeting my eyes. “Here,I’ll bring these up to Lisa.” He takes the flowers from me.

“Okay. Um, call if you need me to come home.”

“I’m sure we won’t,” he mutters. That stings.Dryly, he says to August, “Thanks again for the flowers.”

“Of course, give Lisa my best.”

Daniel meanders upstairs then. I gesture to Augustfor us to leave.

Treading to his car parked at the end of thewalkway, he asks, “Hey, uh, is everything okay with you and Dan?”

I turn my head slowly. “No. I’m sure he blamesVaren and me for stressing out my mom.”

A sympathetic shadow crosses his face. “I doubtthat. He’s just upset. You’ll get through it.”

“Hm. Hopefully.”

August opens the door for me when we reach hiscar. I smile with gratitude and recall how Varen would do the same. “Thankyou.”

We drive ten minutes to the university. Augustleads me into the brick building where the seminar is being held. He introducesme to his friend, who’s been waiting in the lobby for us.

“Latoya, this is Rose Kim. She’s a junior aswell.”

Rose has beautiful, long, velvety-looking darkhair, and dresses and smells expensive.

“Nice to meet you, Latoya.” She greets me with agenuine smile as we shake hands. “August tells me you’re interested in becominga fiction writer.”

“Yeah, that’s my dream.” I achieve a half-smile.“What kind of writer are you?”

“I’m more into journalism and nonfiction.”

“Oh, cool.” I nod, impressed.

Rose motions for us to go into the massiveconference room. We find seats in the middle and discuss the seminar and thespeaker, a woman with years of experience as an author and professor.

Once the event ensues, I acquire quite a bit thathas me interested in learning more under such an inspiring individual. ButCalifornia won’t leave my mind. It stays gnawing at me, especially now. If Ican’t be with Varen, might as well escape to Cali.

Rose is enjoyable to be around. Following theseminar, the three of us leave together and head to a café near campus. We sitat a circular table by the window, talking over coolattas and sandwiches.

“So, what do you think?” she asks me after sippingher drink. “Is JH higher up your list now?”

“Um, yeah.” I glance at August. “Think it is. Theseminar today was awesome. Doctor Moore seems like a fantastic professor.”

“She really is,” Rose agrees. “I’ve taken both ofher advanced writing classes, and they’ve helped improve my craft greatly. Ifyou do come here, I highly recommend her. She’s incredible.”

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