Cloud Walking

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.

    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