Step Up Read Free Page B

the window; his garment bag sprawled across the twin bed and there was a pair of tan loafers on the floor beneath the bed. A laptop computer sat on top of the desk across the room, its battery being charged in one of the electrical outlets on the wall. I claimed the empty bed and dropped my bags next to it.
    I sat on the edge of the bed and flipped open my cell phone. Indigo had called twice and left three text messages since I’d left Atlanta early that morning. She’d tagged along to the airport with my father when he dropped me off at the curb. Tears had filled her eyes as we hugged and said our goodbyes. She acted as if seven weeks would be a lifetime, when it wasn’t the first time that we’d been apart for the summer. The summer before, Indigo had spent the entire time in Chicago with her Nana Summer and I had spent my vacation in Houston with my mom. We’d made a pact to break up and then get back together at the end of the summer, provided neither of us met someone new. That was a year ago, and we both agreed that it was a stupid pact and that we should never have agreed to it. But this was different. This wasn’t really a vacation; this was my future. And I had no intentions of meeting anyone new. Indigo was my girl for life.
    I checked my text messages.
    Safe travels. That was the first one.
    U there yet? That was the second text message.
    Miss u already…can u call me?
    I hadn’t had time to miss Indigo. From the moment I rushed through the automatic doors at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, I had made a mad dash for the ticket counter to get my boarding pass and then rushed through the security checkpoint. I had just enough time to grab a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit at Burger King before I reached my gate. Agents were already boarding my flight by the time I got there. Once on board, I reclined in my seat. Headphones on my ears, I flipped through a Sports Illustrated magazine. I’d already started to doze before thoughts of Indigo had time to enter my head.
    Once I’d reached Logan Airport in Boston, I hit the groundrunning. I purchased a CharlieTicket for two dollars at the train station and hopped on the “T” and headed for South Station where I would transfer to the Red Line subway that would take me to Harvard Square. I had enough on my mind just trying to get from the airport to campus. I had caught the MARTA train in Atlanta a million times, but this new subway system in a new city meant that getting around would be a challenge for me. Exiting the “T” at Harvard Yard, I’d been on a mission. No time for phone calls or text messages.
    Made it safely. I sent a text to Indigo and then dialed my father’s number. He didn’t pick up, so I left him a voice message that my flight had landed and I was already on campus. I slipped my shoes from my feet, leaned back onto my bed. Before long, I was fast asleep.
    The sound of laughter and voices shook me from my nap. I checked my face for drool and sat straight up.
    â€œYou Marcus?” An Asian-looking boy wearing khaki shorts, a white polo shirt and leather sandals stood in front of me. His shiny black hair was combed to the back of his head. He held his hand out to me.
    â€œYes, I am,” I said and grabbed his hand in a firm handshake.
    â€œI’m Jae-Hwa,” he said. “Just call me Jae.”
    Jae’s English was broken and he looked as if he struggled to get it right.
    â€œYou’re an international student?” I asked.
    â€œFrom Korea,” said Jae. “And you?”
    â€œI’m from Atlanta,” I told Jae.
    â€œAtlanta?” he asked. Puzzled, he frowned.
    â€œAtlanta, Georgia,” I said. “You heard of it?”
    â€œI heard of the state of Georgia. Yes. It’s here…in the United States.” He grinned, as if he’d made a sudden discovery.
    â€œI bet it took you forever to get here from Korea!” I exclaimed. “How