Free Cloud Walking by A. Meredith Walters

sniffle. Kylie's vulnerability was a rare sight. I felt bad for her, understanding completely what she was going through. And even though she wasn't my girlfriend anymore, I could be here for her as a friend.

    I put my hand in my pocket, looking for my phone so I could send a text to Rachel, letting her know what was going on. Then I realized I had left my phone in the truck. Kylie had started crying again. “I just can't go back in there! Will you stay with me? Please,” Kylie begged, clutching at my hand.

    Well damn. I couldn't very well leave her. I'd just explain to Rachel when I got back inside. She would understand. At least I hoped so.

    So I stayed with Kylie outside, talking to her, trying to get her to calm down. After awhile, when she had finally stopped crying, I asked Kylie what time it was. “Eleven,” she said, pulling her phone out of her purse.

    I jumped to my feet. “Shit, I've got to get back inside.” Christ! Who knew what Rachel was thinking. I was such a dick!

    Before I could leave, Kylie grabbed my arm. “Thank you so much, Danny. You've made me feel a lot better,” she told me sincerely. I gave her a genuine smile.

    “Good, I'm glad. And if you need anything, just let me know.” Then before I realized what was happening, Kylie had latched herself around me, her lips pressing against mine. I could feel her tongue begging for entrance and I felt a momentary weakening. This was familiar. This was habit.

    This was not what I wanted anymore.

    I peeled her arms away from my neck and held her away from me. “I'll be there as a friend if you want, Kylie. But nothing else. That part of our relationship is over,” I told her, trying to be gentle but firm.

    Kylie's eyes started to well up with tears again, but I was unswayed. All I could think about was getting back to Rachel. I needed to be with her again. It was nuts how much I missed her when we weren't together.

    And looking at this girl who I had thought I had loved for so long, I realized that my feelings for Kylie were nowhere close to what I felt for Rachel.

    “I've got to go,” I said. Kylie didn't try to stop me.

    Not that there was a point to run back inside.

    Rachel had left.

Chapter Nine
    ~Rachel~

    God, it sucked to be right all the time. I knew Danny would crush my heart. And darned if I wasn't right. He had ripped it right out of my chest and smashed it on the floor. Fall Formal had been a complete and utter disaster. What an idiot I had been in thinking it was the chance for Daniel and me to really be together.

    I should have known he'd always yo-yo back to Kylie. He did each and every time. Why had I been surprised? We seemed to have been playing this song and dance for so long already and my part was firmly laid out.

    My aside would read, The love struck best friend stands on the sidelines, watching the happy couple go off together. Her face crumbles as she realizes she never had a chance.

    Daniel had been blowing up my phone since I had left the dance. I had gotten a ride with Ray and Claire. I hadn't even bothered to tell Danny I was leaving. Especially considering the last time I had seen him, he and Kylie were having quite the reconciliation. I had known instantly where that was heading and I didn't want to be left there, ditched and humiliated.

    Particularly after Maggie had taken off after Clay.

    And there was the other side to this big ol' mess.

    Maggie and Clay were a time bomb waiting to go off. I knew the guy had issues. I had seen first-hand how all over the place he was. But when he had gone off at the dance because Maggie was dancing with Luke Tyler, it had seriously freaked me out.

    And the way she had taken off after him, without a thought to anything else, scared the crap out of me. I had followed her outside with every intention of using bodily restraint to stop her from making, what I was sure was a horrible mistake.

    But then I had seen Kylie and Daniel kissing out by the parking lot and that