Cloud Walking

would care about that particular piece of information?” I asked her, balling my trash up into a pile on the table.

Maggie flicked her straw paper in my direction. “Come on. Carl is kinda cute. And if he likes you, I say go for it!” She made a funny harrumph sound and picked up her lunch tray. I looked at her suspiciously. Since when did she voice any sort of preference when it came to my love life? That wasn’t Maggie at all. She could give a crap about anything resembling dating and relationships. I often worried that life was going to slip her by without her even knowing it.

So her suggestion put me immediately on edge. I tossed my trash in the garbage can and followed her into the hallway. “Okay, why the sudden interest in who I date? Spill!” I told her, as we reached her locker.

    Maggie groaned as she pulled her books out. “Why do I have to have some sort of ulterior motive? Is it wrong to want to see my bestie happy?” Okay, now I was really concerned. She never used the term “bestie.” She hated it and threatened to gouge my eyes out if I ever spoke it in her presence. I glared at her, putting steel into my eyes. Too bad I couldn't look threatening if I tried. Instead of being intimidated, Maggie laughed.

    “Ohh. Scary,”she teased.

    I rolled my eyes. “Okay, it's just that I heard Daniel say he was asking Kylie out this weekend.” She finally said. Ahh. Well, it all made sense. Daniel and I were supposed to go to Charlottesville to see the new Jason Statham (mmm yummy) movie at the IMAX theater. We had been planning it for a month. And now it seemed as though once again I was going to be ditched in favor of getting a piece.

    “Oh,” was all I could wrangle out, my throat suddenly feeling too tight and my cheeks burning hot. I should be used to this by now. It wasn't unusual for Danny to ditch us. I just wish it would stop hurting so much.

    Maggie's eyes were sympathetic but for once, I was glad she wasn't a consoling hug type of person. Because I think I might have punched her. I straightened my back, hefting my book bag up onto my shoulder and shook my hair out.

    “Well, that's fine. But that doesn't mean I'm asking Carl out. What's the point of dating someone when you can already see clear as day what their packing under their shorts? And let me say, from what I can tell, it's not impressive,” I deadpanned. Maggie chuckled.

    “Good point. Maybe I can get out of my dad's work thing. I could go see the movie with you,” Maggie suggested. I linked my arm with hers as we walked down the hall.

    “Yeah, maybe. But are you sure you wouldn't rather be hanging out with librarians on your Saturday? I mean that sounds like a barrel of fun,” I teased as we made our way to our biology class. I watched as Maggie's eyes zeroed in on a dark-haired boy at the end of the hallway. Her entire body froze up and she had stopped listening to me.

    At that same moment, I saw Daniel walking toward us, an obnoxious smile on his face. Both Maggie and I were stuck in some sort of lovesick paralysis. I was the first to snap out of it. I pulled on Maggie's arm and she startled, as though she forgot I was there. Hmm. I had never seen her so fixated on someone before. I wasn't entirely sure what to think about that.

    “Come on. Before I'm forced to talk to him,” I told her, motioning discreetly toward Daniel, who had been stopped by his friend, Jake Fitzpatrick before he could make it over to us. Maggie clicked her tongue in disapproval.

    “You can't hide from him. He's one of your best friends. You really should talk to him before things get even more awkward than they already are,” she advised. I grit my teeth. That was easier said than done. I was not a confrontational person, choosing instead to let things lie until I exploded.

    But I think I was almost at implosion point. “Yeah. Okay,” I said, hurrying her down the hallway, her head still craning over her shoulder, looking for that dark head again as I staunchly refused to allow my eyes to wander to the person they so desperately craved. The pair of us were a mess.

Chapter Two
    ~ Daniel~

    “Rachel! Maggie!” I called out, following them as they left the school at the end of the day. I had been trying to find them all afternoon. Rachel and I had plans to go see a movie tomorrow. It was the new action movie I had been wanting to see and she had offered to come with me. But now, Kylie wanted to go out. I was torn. I was always