first friend, taking me under his wing when even Haven and the other girls had been wary. The Varun who took time out of my schedule to help my mother when times got busy at the hotel.
“Well, you're a hero, then,” I said, patting Varun on the shoulder. “Only problem is – you're also sopping wet. I've been looking for a towel – I thought the linen closet might have a few of those.”
“There's a closet at the end of this hall,” said Varun, leading me down to an empty room lined with closets. “There's a spare of at least one of everything in here.” He removed two towels from the cabinet, handing me one as he used the other to dry himself. He looked up at me, and the teddy bear look of sadness in his eyes was more than I could take. Haven was right, I realized. Varun really was like a big bear – prone to sudden fits of love and sadness, eager to please, eager to love. I could see in his eyes that he was slightly awkward around me now, afraid to approach me.
After all, I had pushed him away quite violently. But as I looked in his eyes, I saw my old friend once again. The friend I trusted – the friend I missed. I had been so busy worrying about Varun as a romantic rival for Chance that I had forgotten what mattered most: that before Varun and I were a couple, we were friends. And that was worth holding on to.
“I'm afraid one towel won't help much,” I said, taking a few more out of the linen closet, trying in vain to dry him. “Here's a few more. We'll have to try, at least.” I rubbed his hair with the towel, wary of getting too close.
Varun blushed a little as he stripped off his shirt, wrapping his torso with the towel. “Sorry,” he said, looking down. “The shirt'll never dry unless I get it onto a radiator.”
“No problem,” I said, trying not to look at his shirtless chest. He really was a Greek god – everything about his muscular, toned body gave off an aura of power, of perfection. I swallowed hard. Was this the attraction that Varun was talking about? The desire I was supposed to feel for him – that Vesta had once felt for Neptune. A desire that was strong enough to make her leave even the passionate God of Fire for his lair of water and shadows? I colored slightly, willing myself to ignore the sparks of longing I felt as his bare chest appeared before me. He dried his hair, running his fingers through his long, blonde locks. I felt my fingers itching to touch him.
“Mac...” he sighed, catching my glance. He could see what was in my eyes. “I'm not trying to pressure you – I'm not. I'm just...confused. One second you liked me – the next you were with Chance. It's like we never even got a chance to break up. I thought everything was great with us and...I just want to talk about it, that's all.”
I sighed. Varun was right. I'd fallen for Chance so quickly that I'd never even gotten a chance to talk it out with Varun.
“I didn't mean for it to happen like that,” I said. “I really liked you. I did. But all this stuff about Vesta and my destiny – it got me over my head. I didn't have time to think. I just...if I am Vesta, I mean...”
“But you liked me, right?” Varun's face was gentle, even hopeful. “I mean, I didn't do anything wrong? When we were together?”
“No, Varun, of course not!” I put out a hand on his shoulder.
“Then what happened? What changed – to make you stop liking me?”
“Nothing!” I tried to explain. “Only Chance...Mars...I don't even know what to call him. If it's my destiny...”
“Even if you are Vesta,” Varun said hotly. “Then that doesn't mean he's your destiny, no matter what he's telling you. Vesta left Mars once before she was with me – she was even willing to give up the power of Fire for those of Water in order to stay with me in the sea.”
“But that doesn't mean I have to!” I cried. “Whatever Vesta did...I'm not responsible for that.”
“And you're not responsible for what Mars is or does, either, then,” said Varun. “You can't have it both ways. Either you're dictated by destiny, or you're a free agent. And