BABY STEPS

CHAPTER SIX (Part 2)

We walked up his driveway, already being met by people in the lawn, and the music blaring through the door. As soon as I walked in I was handed a cup of booze. So was Oliveyah. "Let's find Taylor and Bonnie!" She shouts over the music, and I nod.

We make our way through the crowded living room, and then into the kitchen. I know this house like it's mine. For the summer, Adam through a party almost every other day. His Mom didn't care, and his Dad doesn't live here.

The kitchen was empty, more quiet. I was glad. "They might be in the back," I said.

"Right." So we go through his back door and sure enough there they both were.

"So nice of you to finally join us!" Taylor grinned. "Sorry I left I was in a hurry."

"You guys look hacking awesome!" Bonnie slurs, already drunk. "Joseph and I have been waiting for y'all for hours."

"My mama wouldn't go to sleep," Oliveyah explains, and she laughs at hers.

"Okay," Joseph says with a smile. "I think it's time, that you stopped." He took the red solo cup from her hand, and she complained the whole time.

"But I just, I wasn't even finish with that."

"I'll take it," Taylor says, drinking the rest in one simple swig. That made me look down at the drink in my own hand, I couldn't drink it because of the baby, but I never put it down.

"You can have mine," Oliveyah says, passing her cup to Taylor.

"Thank you! Someone's contributing." Oliveyah doesn't drink. She never has, not even when we dared her to. She has "morals" as she likes to say. "Oh hi, Adam!" She grins suddenly, and I notice that he's coming up from behind me.

"Hey gorgeous," he say smugly and I roll my eyes.

Adam and Taylor dated in eighth grade. But she broke up with him two months later, which believe it or not is her longest relationship ever. She just gets bored really easily, and then breaks up with them without another reason. He's been trying to get her back ever since.

I didn't even realize they were engaging in a conversation, until everyone laughed. "You think you can handle me, Adam, but the fact is I can't be tied down." She smirks, and he pulls her onto his lap.

"She really can't be," Bonnie says, looking like she was about to fall asleep with her head on Joseph's lap.

"Where's Ian?" Someone who wasn't me asked. "I thought he was going to be here." It was Oliveyah. She was asking because I said that once I talked to him we could leave.

"He's probably just late," Taylor says, waving her off. "Besides, who cares? That guys a loser. Total douche bag." Why does everyone keep calling him that? I thought, and then noticed him. Ian. Coming out of the house with Sam, and I became stunned into silence.

"I have to use the bathroom," I announced. But before I did, he saw me, and turning around to walk away was unnecessary.

"Aria," I heard him say, and I immediately froze. I turned back around slowly, painting a big smile on my face.

"Hi," I waved, at both him and Sam. "Hi guys!"

"Thank you god!" I heard Oliveyah say, and I gave her a look.

"Speak of the Devil," Taylor laughed, and they both looked at her in confusion.

"You talking about me?" Sam asked, smiling from ear to ear. What a lady killer.

"No, I'm talking about your friend," she emphasized the word friend, but he wasn't listening to her he was watching me.

He smiled at me, but like always, I couldn't smile back. My first reaction was just to look away. Why does every nerve in my body yearn for him, but won't let me smile at him?

"Aria!" Oliveyah whines, tugging at my skirt softly. "Come on!" She looked up at me from her seat on the log, and I sighed dramatically.

"Okay," I said. "I'm trying, okay?"

"Hurry up!" I let out an exaggerated breath, puffing my cheeks out and all.

Looking back vows at Ian, I noticed that he was still standing by the door, waiting for me it seemed, so I went. I followed him back through the crowd, up the stairs, and into an empty bedroom.

"What am I doing here?" I asked quietly, watching as he closed the door.