Cloud Walking
Page 17

We walked into the decorated gym, our arms around each other and it felt like this was a date. Rachel leaned her head into my shoulder and I rested my chin in her hair as we waited for Clay and Maggie to join us.
We were instantly greeted by Ray and Claire. Then Jake came up with his date, though I noticed he watched Maggie as she entered the gymnasium with Clay. Poor guy had it bad. I could empathize as my eyes wandered over to Rachel, who was laughing with a few other girls in our grade.
“So, are they together now?” Jake asked me, nodding his head in Clay and Maggie's direction where they still lingered by the door. They weren't touching, but it was very obvious that something was going on between them.
I looked at my buddy. Jake Fitzsimmons was a decent guy. One of my best friends outside of Rachel and Maggie. It had never been a secret that he had been crushing on Maggie since middle school. He had told me that they hooked up a few times at different parties, but I had asked him to spare me the details. He had wanted advice on how to get Maggie to go out with him. But I didn't do the whole Dear Abby thing. Plus, Maggie had never been particularly interested in a guy before.
But it was clear she was very interested in Clayton Reed and I knew that was like a kick to Jake's gut. I clasped his shoulder in sympathy. “I don't know what they are, but I know she likes him, dude,” I said quietly, so that no one else could hear.
Jake's smile was strained and I could tell he was lying when he said, “That's cool.” But I wasn't going to stand around and talk about Maggie's love life all night. Not when I wanted to jump start mine with a certain someone.
Maggie joined Rachel and me as we found a table with a few of our friends. I didn't know where Clay had gone, but I wanted to get Rachel's fine ass on the dance floor. So I finally pulled her with me, just as a slow song came on.
Eric Clapton's “Wonderful Tonight” played as we moved together. I couldn't help but press her up against my body and I felt the moment she relaxed and gave into me. Her arms twined up around my neck and I leaned my head against hers.
This was perfect. This was damn near magical. I had officially grown a freaking vagina.
My questionable chromosome aside, I really enjoyed being with Rachel like this. I felt like things were starting to all fall into place.
Rachel pulled back a bit and looked up at me. “I'm having a lot of fun, Danny. Thanks.” She smiled and then I smiled. And we were swaying there together...smiling.
“Me too, Rach,” I said softly, pushing the hair back from her face. She leaned into my touch for only a second. But it was enough to tell me all I needed to know. She wanted this as much as I did.
“I meant to ask how your dad was when you saw him,” she asked me suddenly. I blinked at the change in conversation.
“He's doing good, considering he was in town to sign all the paperwork for his and Mom's divorce. He let me know I could still come and live with him. Finish my senior year there if I wanted,” I mentioned off handily. Mostly because I wanted to see what Rachel would say. I was a manipulative son of a bitch when I wanted to be.
And she reacted just as I had wanted her to. She gasped. “You're not going, are you?” I chuckled.
“No way. I''m too close to graduating. I don't want the hassle when I'm almost out of here anyway,” I told her and she visibly relaxed. “Why, would you miss me?” I teased, winking at her.
Rachel rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I suppose your obnoxious presence would be missed,” she said shortly, though she was smiling. I hugged her to my chest, my arms going around her.
“Good, because I sure as hell would miss you,” I whispered as we continued to dance. Her hands came up to press against my back, her cheek right over my heart.
And then the song was over. We pulled apart, but our hands still clung to each other. Rachel's eyes were sparkling and I thought this might be our moment.
Then I saw her stiffen and step backwards. I frowned in confusion right before I felt a touch on my arm. I looked over my shoulder and could have growled in frustration.
“Kylie,” I bit out sharply. I turned back to Rachel but she was already heading back to the table. Great. Just freaking great.
I stormed off the dance floor and headed over to the punch table. Kylie was hot on my heels. I got myself something to drink and took it down in one gulp. I refused to look at my ex-girlfriend. She was screwing everything up, just like she always did.
“Daniel. Please. I need to talk to you.” There was something about her voice that made me look down. And I saw that her mascara was smeared as though she had been crying. Her eyes were puffy and she looked like hell.
“What's wrong?” I asked, feeling a twinge of worry at her appearance. It wasn't like Kylie to go into public without being one hundred percent perfect. Something was up.
“Can we step outside?” she pleaded. I looked over at Rachel, who was now sitting with Maggie. Clay was still a no show and I wondered briefly what was up with him. But at least Rachel had company for a few minutes.
“Sure,” I said, hoping I wouldn't come to regret this. Kylie looked relieved and we went out the side entrance. I followed her around to the front steps of the school and sat down. I looked over at Kylie and noticed that she was crying again. I felt bad for being annoyed that she had interrupted my moment with Rachel. Obviously something was really bothering her.
And despite my less than amorous feelings towards her now, I had still spent a year with this girl. I wasn't made of ice after all. I put my arm around her shoulders and she buried her face in my jacket. “Hey now. Calm down and tell me what's wrong,” I said soothingly, rubbing my hand up and down her back.