Cloud Walking
Page 16

But I was trying to be nice to the guy, for Maggie's sake. I didn't foresee best buddy territory anytime soon, but I guess I could be civil.
Rachel and Maggie were talking to Clay about the Fall Formal. Fantastic. I guess he was gate crashing that one. Maggie was looking at him with those doe eyes of hers and I wanted to snort in disgust. But I was trying to be the bigger man and told him he should come. Someone give me a damn medal, because that was very Boy Scout of me.
Rachel gave me a smile, clearly pleased with my efforts at making peace. I smiled back. Yeah, I could be a decent guy when I wanted to be.
After lunch, Rachel looped her arm with mine and gave me a beautiful smile. My heart flip-flopped in my chest. “That was really cool to include Clay. I'm proud of you, Danny.” She leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed me on the cheek.
I blushed bright red. Yes, I seriously blushed. I don't think that had happened since I was six.
I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Eh, it was nothing. Just because I'm on the fence about Maggie's boy toy, doesn't mean I have to be a jerk about it, right?” I said and even I could hear how out of breath I sounded. Crazy what one little kiss could do to me. This girl had me on a chain and didn't even realize it.
“You really are a good guy. I just wish you'd let that nice side come out to play more often,”she teased, her arm still holding onto mine as we walked down the hallway. I shrugged again, though I couldn't help but feel happy at her compliment.
“So, this dance. Have you picked out your suit yet? I'm thinking baby blue this year,” Rachel said, her eyes glittering with excitement. The girls really got into this whole “let's dress as tacky as possible” thing for Fall Formal. I had to admit, it was pretty fun and I hated school dances with a passion.
“Baby blue, huh? Well, I'll have to see what I can do,” I told her as we came to a stop in front of her next class. We stood there outside her classroom with her grinning up at me. This lack of animosity and open hostility felt nice.
I brought my fingers up to pluck a piece of fuzz from her hair and let my hand linger a little bit longer than was necessary. I noticed Rachel freeze and watch my face as I slowly pulled my fingers away. Our eyes locked and we were standing toe to toe. Me looking down, her looking up. Our hands brushed against each other and her lips parted.
I started to lean in...
And then snapped out of it.
What was I doing?
Was I seriously going to kiss her in the middle of the hallway? Was I crazy?
I took a step back and gave her a lazy smile that revealed nothing of my earlier intentions. “I'd better get going. I'll catch up with you after school,” I said, already moving down the hallway.
I couldn't help but see the disappointment on her face, but she hid it quickly. She lifted her hand in a wave and wiggled her fingers in my direction. “Sure. Later Danny,” she called out as I got as far away as I could.
The night of the dance was going great. Rachel looked stunning. If she was trying to go for hideous and tacky, she failed miserably. Her red sequined dress, while a little gaudy, fit her killer body like a glove. And that slit up her left leg gave me enough of an eyeful to have to employ thoughts of Granny Lowe again.
She was gorgeous. And in a good mood. And the whole thing rocked.
Clay was even being normal for once. I still wasn't sold on him, but tonight I was trying to reserve judgment.
Dinner was awesome. Rachel took a ton of pictures of our group wearing those stupid plastic bibs to catch melted butter. We looked like idiots. Idiots having fun. But idiots nonetheless.
Dinner ended and we headed to the dance. Rachel sat pressed against my side as she, Maggie and Clay sat squished in the cab of my truck. I couldn't help but notice that Rachel's hand lay on my thigh, with her pinky finger rubbing my leg in slow, purposeful circles.
There was no way she was doing that by accident. I quickly looked down at her and she peeked up at me through her long lashes. Her mouth twitched into a smirk and I almost pulled the truck over to kiss her. Clay and Maggie be damned.
What was this? She was flirting with me! Teasing me! And she knew exactly what she was doing. God, I had never wanted something so badly in my life. But I had sworn to myself that I wouldn't ruin our friendship.
But with her finger tracing lazily up and down my fabric-covered skin, I forgot about that. Screw morals. They were overrated anyway. I was going to kiss that girl tonight. And I would do it so that there would never be any doubt about how I felt about her.
I was practically bursting with the anticipation of it all. I whipped into the school parking lot, eager to get to the dance and to get on with my night. Two more seconds of smelling her skin and feeling her finger dancing up my leg and I wouldn't be responsible for my actions.
Rachel, Clay and Maggie were tossed around a bit in my haste to get into the parking space. “Take it easy there, Danny Boy. We'd like to get there alive, you know,” Maggie quipped, jumping out of the truck as Clay slid his arm around her waist.
Not even their subtle PDA would ruin my good mood. I grabbed Rachel's hand and dragged her toward the school. “Dude! I'm wearing heels, slow down!” Rachel laughed. I stopped, turned around and lifted her up, carrying her as though over the threshhold or something.
“What are you doing?” she squealed as we walked up the stairs. I could hear Clay and Maggie laughing behind us. I pressed her into my chest and leaned down so that my lips were next to her ear.
“Can't have a high heel related catastrophe, now can we?” I joked, enjoying the way my breath on her neck made her shiver. I wanted to kiss the white, creamy skin less than an inch from my mouth, but restrained myself. Once inside the school, I put her back down on her feet. She was a little wobbly and grabbed my arm for support.