Cloud Walking

manipulation for what it was. And for once, I wasn't having it. So I ignored the text and stuffed my phone in my pocket. If she wanted to play that game, she could have at it. I was going to purposefully sideline myself from the game.

    Getting into my truck, I watched Rachel climb into her Volkswagen Bug. The skirt hiked up her thigh and I couldn't stop myself from watching the way her leg muscle flexed as she swung inside the car. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and I was finding it strangely hard to breathe.

    Rubbing my hands over my face, I tried to stop the buzzing in my head. Pulling out of the car lot and following my friends, I wondered what the hell I was doing with Kylie at all.

Chapter Three
    ~Rachel~

    Daniel was trying to steal M&Ms from the bowl I was holding and I was making a show of holding them away from him. He growled and lunged for them again as I slowly dropped a few in my mouth. “You are a serious tease, Rachel Bradfield.” He sighed, choosing to steal one of Maggie's chips instead.

    I rolled my eyes and gave him a handful of chocolate, which he took with a big smile on his face. I always gave into Daniel Lowe. He knew it. I knew it. One day it would be my undoing.

    Maggie was downloading a bunch of new music onto her computer, while I was painting my toenails. Daniel was lying on Maggie's bed, flipping through a magazine. It was the perfect Friday afternoon. There was nowhere in the world I'd rather be than with the two people in this room. If I could freeze time in this exact moment, I would. Because sooner or later, things would change. Daniel would go back to being the pretentious, self-serving butt that he'd become as of late and Maggie would start obsessing over the new kid again. And I would be good ol' Rachel. The girl no one looked at twice but everyone felt they could walk over. It was my role in life. Whether I wanted it to be or not.

    I could taste the momentum shift in our tiny group. And I hated it. But for now, it was like it always had been. The three of us, comfortable together.

    “So, Rach,” Daniel said suddenly, sitting up on the bed. Maggie looked up at him from the computer screen, her brows knitted together. I didn't like the expression on either of their faces. So I knew I was about to be blown off.

    I arched my eyebrow in Danny's direction, but otherwise didn't say anything. Daniel cleared his throat and I could tell he was struggling with something he needed to say. So much for the lack of discomfort. I watched our easy good time float right out the window.

    “About the movie tomorrow. Can we rain check?” he asked, not meeting my eyes. Normally, I would let him off the hook without a second thought. Of course, he could rain check. I had never been able to say no to him. It was like a disease where my mouth and mind were unable to formulate any thoughts but those that would make his life easier.

    But what about me and my feelings? Lately, I had started to feel bitter and annoyed that that didn't seem to matter. So instead of me shrugging it off, I looked at Daniel, my eyes burning holes through the top of his head.

    “Oh really? Why is that?” I asked coldly, even though I already knew why. I wanted him to say it, damn him.

    Daniel's eyes flicked to mine then away again. I felt the guilt rolling off him and I knew he hated to upset me. That realization softened me a bit but then I thought about who he was letting me down for and then I got mad.

    “Uh, well, Kylie and I were thinking of going to see that new wedding movie. You know, the one with that dude from Twilight,” Daniel muttered. I barked out a disingenuous laugh. Really? He was letting Kylie drag him to a rom-com with a guy from the Twilight movies? That seemed like a fate worse than death for him. But then, he deserved it for being such a wimp.

    Daniel frowned. “What? It sounds kind of good,” he said defensively and I started laughing even harder. Maggie was looking at me as though I had gone certifiably crazy. I tried to calm myself down, snorting through my nose.

    “You're seriously ditching me and Jason Statham for a chick flick with one of the douches from the Twilight movies? Wow, I hope you have fun, Danny,” I told him, aware that my voice had become frosty. Even though I knew the blow off was coming, it still hurt. When would it stop hurting?

    Daniel swung his legs around and stood up. “I'm not ditching you, Rach. I mean, if you want to come, you're more than