In the Clouds

Ch. 12

So many things were happening at once and my over-thinking ways were not helping at all. Everything with Jade being back in my life, my dad being in a fight with Tyler and going to and being released from the hospital, and Luke and I falling for each other more and more with every passing minute, is driving me crazy. Jade and Luke were talking yesterday when Jade and I were hanging out with them and that seems to have found a way to have settled in my mind forever. I feel like I have been thinking way to much about everything, especially my relationship with Jade and where we are now. As I was trying to actually just relax one summer afternoon for the first time this whole summer, I was forced to think about Jade again, which was something I was avoiding doing today. When my cell phone rang it's familiar ringtone, I had to put down my "The Fault in Our Stars" book, which I had tried to start reading today. This afternoon was supposed to be one of relaxation and reading of the romantic story of two who face so many struggles around them, but still love each other more than anything. I got up off the rocking chair on my porch and avoided spilling over my lemonade as I grabbed my phone to answer Jade.

"Hey, Lexi! What's up?" Jade enthusiastically greeted me.

"Hi Jade, nothing much really. I was just reading The Fault in Our Stars. It was the first book on my summer must-reads list." As I thought back to starting the writing of my list in late April, I realized that by now I should be about halfway done with my list. I guess when I created it I never accounted for all the things that happened afterwards that have kept me really busy. I never thought I'd meet Luke, fall out with Jade, experience my father getting into a fight with Tyler, be attacked and then loved by a whole fandom, or make three awesome new friends named Ashton, Calum, and Michael. I never imagined that my summer could ever go anything like this. Maybe instead of reading of other fictional character's love stories this summer, I'll finally get to make my own.

"Oh that's a great book! I'm not going to spoil anything but I will say to expect the unexpected!" Jade cooed. I wonder if my story with Luke will have any other unexpected turns.

"Yeah, it's really good so far. I saw the actor who played Augustus and he is so cute! I really wanna see the movie now!" I chatted.

"Maybe we can see it sometime! Or maybe you and Luke can." I can picture Jade raising her eyebrows at her own comment. I laughed back into the receiver.

"Remember when we saw 'Hannah Montana: The Movie' together?" I reminisced.

"How can I forget! We went out to buy wigs and matching outfits to try to look like her," Jade described.

"Yeah," I took a deep breath. "A lot has changed since then."

"You're right. It feels too long ago. I wish we still had those days," Jade admitted.

"Don't be upset," I urged. "We still have a long time to go."

"In what, our friendship or our lives," Jade questioned a little too giggly. I didn't know the answer to that question. Will Jade and I be friends for a lot longer? If something like Luke could come between us will our friendship really be strong enough to overcome bigger obstacles? Does everything good really have to come to an end?

"Whatever floats your boat," I chirped, avoiding her question as we exchanged goodbyes and closed our phones. As I shut my phone I couldn't help but keep thinking about Jade as she was still fresh in my mind. I wondered why her and Luke were talking so much the other day and started to feel upset. That was time that Luke could have used to talk to me. I had so many funny things to say, so many flirty moves to pull. And I end up talking to Michael about anime? You're making a big deal out of nothing, I told myself. What was still unknown was that this truly wasn't a big deal... yet.