Page 18 of Steps

“You too.” Looking at Mom, I say nicely, “Seeyou.”

She flashes the kindest smile. It’s been a whilesince I’ve seen that. “Bye, sweetie.”

Sweetie?

I ignore it and hurry into the garage. Varendrives off immediately. He still seems upset about the pills.

A few minutes go by without us saying anything.I’m happy that he’s not speeding at least. But when the awkward air starts togrow, I decide to break the silence.

“So, um, how’d you sleep?”

Varen rests his head back against the seat as wecome to a stop at the traffic lights.

“Like shit,” he says dryly. “You, princess?”

“I know now why I should stay away from alcohol.Even a little bit makes me feel horrible.”

Looking over, he smirks. “Lightweight.”

I shrug.

He refocuses on the road and takes off when thelights turn green. The things he said last night flows through my mind. “Um,when my grandmother passed away, I went through a hard time, too. I didn’t feellike I could talk to anyone, not even my best friend, Kenya.”

“We’re not doing this,” he warns, voice harsh andbiting.

“Sorry.” I clamp my mouth shut and stare out thewindow. “Geez.”

Silence engulfs us yet again. Varen starts todrive faster. We reach my high school in no time because of his speeding.

“Thanks,” I tell him and open the door.

“I’ll pick you up later,” he says as I’m about toget out.

“You don’t have to,” I argue. “I can take thebus.”

He snorts. “Think I want to, princess? My dadinsists.”

For some reason, hearing that he’s not doing it onhis own upsets me. “Fine,” I sputter, hurry out of the car, and slam the doorharder than intended.

Varen throws up his hand. “What the fuck!” Hebarely waits for me to move from the car before driving off.

“Hey, girl!” Kenya yells from the concretewalkway.

Still annoyed by Varen, I storm up to her andhiss, “He’s a jerk.”

She chuckles. “What’s up with you? Yourstepbrother’s actually pretty hot.”

“Ken, he’s not my stepbrother. He’s a rich brat.”I roll my eyes. “And he’s definitely not that hot.” It sounds like a lie evento me. “He walks around with a dark cloud over his head and acts as if he’s theonly one in the world with issues.”

A questioning expression masks her radiantchocolate face as she squints at me.

I wrinkle my brows. “What?”

She shakes her head. “It’s been three days, girl.Give him a chance.”

“Varen’s the one making it difficult.”

Looping her arm around mine, we walk together intothe building.

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