"Sure do." Grinning, he put an arm about her waist. "I like intimate parties, too. The more intimate, the better."

Steven winced as he watched his sister plant a kiss on Aaron's waiting cheek. Jessica probably didn't know the meaning of real love, he thought. She wouldn't understand the way he felt about Tricia, what it was like to love someone so much you couldn't imagine life without that person.

"Where are Liz and Todd?" Cara asked, beginning to show signs of nervousness.

Jessica shrugged. "They couldn't make it. Todd had some concert tickets." She didn't want to tell Cara the truth-that Elizabeth had simply refused to have any part in fixing her up with Steven.

"I didn't know there was a concert tonight," Lila put in. "What group is playing?"

"It's-nobody you ever heard of," Jessica hedged. She felt like kicking Lila.

Lila laughed, tossing her head so that her wavy, light brown hair rippled across her shoulders. "Believe me, Jessica, there isn't a group I haven't heard of."

The Fowlers were so rich that Lila had her own built-in stereo system in her bedroom, with a record collection that stretched wall to wall.

Jessica could feel herself growing warm. "Uh, it's a classical group," she finally said. "You know how crazy Liz is about all that highbrow stuff."

Lila wrinkled her nose in distaste. "Classical music just puts me to sleep."

Her date, a preppy type with short, rust-red hair and devilish blue eyes, said, "No sleep tonight, Lila. I've got other plans."

"Oh, Jim!" Lila giggled, pretending to be shocked, but she didn't pull away when he hooked an arm about her shoulder, drawing her in for a kiss.

"Speaking of big plans," Cara interrupted, "I just found out about a party you won't want to miss."

Jessica frowned. Usually she knew about every party of any importance long before invitations were made. "Who's giving it?"

"Regina Morrow. You know, the new girl who's moving into the Godfrey mansion. I haven't met her yet, but my mother met her mother. That's how I found out. It's going to be a kind of get-to-know-everyone party. She's inviting the whole junior class. She's going all out, too. It's supposed to be really fancy. I guess she wants to make a good impression."

"Wow!" Jessica's blue-green eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "I can't wait!"

"I thought you didn't like big parties," Aaron teased.

Jessica blushed, casting a guilty glance at Cara, who was glaring at her across the room. For once, Jessica was speechless.

Cara ducked into the kitchen and came out carrying a six-pack of beer. "My parents aren't home," she explained with a sheepish smile.

Steven shook his head when she offered him a beer. He didn't feel like drinking. He didn't feel much like talking to anyone either. All he wanted was to be with Tricia. Nibbling listlessly at a potato chip, he sank down on the couch.

"Don't be such a party pooper, Steve!" Jessica sang out as Cara put a record on the turntable.

The room thundered with a pulsing beat. Jessica and Aaron started to whirl across the carpet with their arms looped about each other's waists. Then they disappeared outside, and Steven could hear their laughter drifting in from the darkened patio. A few minutes later, Lila and her date joined them.

Cara curled up next to Steven on the couch. She kicked her sandals off, tucking her feet up underneath her. She wasted no time in getting directly to the point.

"I heard you and Tricia broke up," she said. "That's too bad. Tricia's a nice girl." She didn't sound very sincere.

Steven found himself asking, almost against his will, "How well do you know Tricia? Uh ... I was just wondering if you ever talked or anything."

He hated himself immediately. Why should he care one way or another if they were friends? It was over between Tricia and him. She had made that crystal clear. Why torture himself?

"I don't really know her that well," Cara admitted. "Tricia's-well, you could call her the shy type."

Steven recalled Elizabeth telling him once that Cara Walker was the biggest gossip in school. Maybe Tricia had been reluctant to get close to Cara for that reason. Tricia had enough to worry about as it was without a gossipmonger spreading even more stories about her family.

"Anyway," Cara went on, "you don't have to worry about hurting her feelings anymore. Jessica told me it was your idea to break up, but I guess Tricia must have gotten over it in a big hurry."

"What do you mean?" Steven asked slowly. There was a roaring in his ears, and his mouth was so dry he could hardly swallow.

"I heard she's got a new boyfriend," Cara replied, dropping her voice to a confidential whisper.

Steve fought to keep his emotions under control. "Oh? Somebody from school?"

"I don't think so. Caroline didn't recognize him. That's who I heard it from-Caroline Pearce. She said she saw Tricia and this guy down at the drugstore a couple of days ago. According to Caroline, Tricia was draped all over him."

Steven felt himself stiffen. "Yeah, well, it's none of my business what she does. We're not going together anymore."

"That's what I told Caroline."

"Tricia can see whoever she wants."

"I couldn't agree with you more, Steve," Cara cooed.

"I mean, if she wants to hang all over some creep in public, what's it to me?"

"Absolutely nothing. Steve, what are you getting so excited about?"

"I'm not excited!" he practically roared. Abruptly he grabbed Cara's wrist, pulling her to her feet. "Let's dance. I feel like dancing." To hell with Tricia, he thought, but that didn't stop his eyes from stinging with unshed tears.

Cara smiled dreamily. "Sure, Steve, whatever you say."

The song now playing was soft and dreamy. Stiffly Steven placed his arms around Cara. With a sigh of contentment, she melted against him. Steven closed his eyes, imagining it was Tricia he was holding. Tricia's warm body pressed so closely to his, Tricia's fingertips dancing lightly over the back of his neck- Stop it! he commanded himself. He was thinking like an idiot. Some other guy was probably holding Tricia right now, kissing her, maybe even telling her he loved her.

Suddenly Steven jerked his head forward and kissed Cara hard on the lips. But he felt nothing. Just cold inside. Cold and dead.

Cara stirred eagerly in his arms. "Oh, Steve," she murmured. "I think this is going to be the nicest party I ever had."

Jessica smirked as she bounced down on Elizabeth's bed. It was past one, and she'd just returned from Cara's party. "I hate to say I told you so. Steve didn't need much encouraging. He was all over Cara!"

Elizabeth sat up and blinked. She'd just been dozing off when Jessica came barging in. "I don't believe it," she said.

"Ask Lila. She was there. She saw the way Steve was acting." Jessica smiled as she began peeling off her pantyhose. "I don't think we need to worry about Steve mourning over Tricia anymore. He's probably forgotten her name by now."

Elizabeth still couldn't quite believe it. What could have happened to make Steven change his mind about Cara so quickly? Knowing Jessica and her tricks, it could have been anything.

"Do you think it's serious?" she asked.

Jessica's smile broadened. "I hope so. Steve didn't even come home with me. He and Cara must be off in some cozy place right this minute."

"Come on, Jess, you can't mean it. Cara's all wrong for Steve."

"What do you have against Cara?" Jessica demanded. "She's cute, and she's popular-and she's even on the cheering squad."

"Well, if she's on the cheering squad than she must be the perfect girl," Elizabeth commented dryly.

"Who cares about perfect? Being fun is what counts with guys. Steve deserves to have some fun after being around Miss Goody-Goody Martin for so long."

Sighing, Elizabeth sank back on her pillow. "I just hope Steve knows what he's doing."

It was almost two o'clock in the morning by the time Steven arrived home. He and Cara had gone out for a pizza, and then she'd insisted they drive around for a while. He got the feeling she was more interested in being seen with him than actually being with him.

He was tired, but he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep. He headed for the kitchen. Maybe a cup of hot cocoa would make him feel better.

He'd really tried to have a good time, but it was no use, he thought as he got out the cocoa powder. The more he tried to stop thinking about Tricia, the worse it got. She was on his mind constantly. He couldn't forget her any more than he could forget there was a sun in the sky.

Mr. Wakefield came downstairs in his bathrobe as Steven was heating the cocoa.

"Thought I heard someone rattling around down here," he said. "Hey, is there enough for two?"

Steven looked up. "Sure, Dad."

"I remember when you were little your mother always made you hot cocoa when you were upset about something."

Steven forced a weak smile. "The problems I had then seem so small compared to now."

Mr. Wakefield placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "Want to tell me about it?"

Steven felt a rush of warmth toward his father. There was a kinship between them that went much deeper than physical likeness. But Steven was certain this was one time when even his father couldn't help.

Steven shrugged as he poured the cocoa into cups. "There isn't much to tell. Tricia wants out. It's as simple as that."

"I know how tough this is for you, Steve."

Steven swallowed, unable to speak. There was a huge lump in his throat. Finally he said, "I'll be OK, Dad. I just need time, I guess."

Mr. Wakefield took the cup Steven held out to him and sat down to drink his cocoa. "How did it go at the party tonight?"

Steven smiled ruefully. "It wasn't exactly what I expected, let's put it that way."

Cara's words played over and over inside his mind-Tricia's got a new boyfriend. Each time it was like a knife digging into his heart.

His father nodded sympathetically. "I think I get the picture. Just one word of advice: I know your sister means well, but don't let her push you into anything you're not ready for, OK?"

"OK, Dad."

There was no sense trying to explain how he was feeling. He hardly understood it himself. What difference did it make if he went on dating Cara? No matter what he did, he'd never get over Tricia.

Seven.

On Monday Elizabeth was on her way to the cafeteria to meet Todd for lunch when she passed Tricia, sitting alone on the lawn. She was staring off into space, the sandwich in her hand untouched. She looked so miserable that Elizabeth couldn't help feeling sorry for her, despite the way she'd treated Steven.

On impulse, Elizabeth went over and sat down beside her. "Tricia," she blurted out, "what's going on? Why did you run away from me at the hospital?"

Tricia's cheeks flooded with color, and she dropped her gaze. "I'm sorry, Liz. It was rude of me, I know. I-I just didn't feel like talking to anyone right then. I was ... visiting someone. A friend of mine. I was pretty upset."

"Is your friend really sick?"

The corners of Tricia's mouth twisted upward in a brief, sad smile. "I guess you could say that."

"Maybe I've met her," Elizabeth said. "I just started working as a candy striper, but I know a lot of the patients. What room is she in?"

"You wouldn't know her. S-she checked out," Tricia stammered.

"She must be feeling better then," Elizabeth said. "That's great."

Tricia shrugged. "It's one of those in-and-out things. You know, in for a couple of days of treatment, then out again."

Elizabeth nodded sympathetically. "What's wrong with her?"

"She told me, but I can't remember. One of those unpronounceable things no one's ever heard of."

"Well, I hope it's not too serious."

Abruptly Tricia changed the subject. "Do you want my sandwich, Liz? I'm not hungry."

Elizabeth shook her head. "I'm meeting Todd for lunch. Want to join us?"

"Thanks," Tricia said, "but I-I have some studying to catch up on."

Elizabeth was close to saying something about Steven, but she decided against it. Tricia had been friendly, but it was obvious she preferred to be alone. Whatever was bothering her, it was something too deep and private to share. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked thin, too, as if she hadn't been getting enough to eat. At that moment Tricia reminded Elizabeth of a very fragile china figurine.

Wishing there was something more she could do, but not knowing what, Elizabeth stood up and brushed loose bits of grass from her jeans. "Well, I guess I'd better get going. Todd will wonder what happened to me."

Just as Elizabeth was saying goodbye, Cara and Jessica walked up. They saw Tricia and exchanged knowing looks.

"Hi, Liz," Cara greeted cheerily, ignoring Tricia. "Gee, it was too bad you couldn't make it to my party. It was a real blast."

"Todd and I had something else to do," Elizabeth said stiffly. "You should have let us know sooner."