perfecting the cloud nine

six

anna

"kayla, shut up and just deal with it. you're being so dramatic." i snapped at her, already at my wit's end today. she had been venting to me all day long about how nick had dumped her and how embarrassing it was to be working in this kennel.

she scoffed at me and glanced at will for backup but he just continued sweeping the dog hair off the floor.
"you always get like this, anna. you never liked nick and now, you think you know better so you get to look down on me and bash me for my choices."

i slammed the dog brush down on the table in front of me, causing all of the dogs to look at me along with will.
"i criticize your choices because you constantly make bad ones! nick swift is a lowlife jerk who deserves to spend the rest of his life with a blonde snow bunny. that didn't use to be you kayla, what changed?" she gasped at me and threw the shampoo bottle she had been holding into the bathtub.
"you know, you're right. since you're so good at relationship advice, i'll come to you next time. what with how everything with jake turned out." my gaze hardened and i watched as she smirked at me before walking right out of the door of the dog kennel.

will had been watching the two of us fight and he glanced at me.
"wow. you okay?" i nodded my head at him, barely registering how his voice had softened considerably. he looked at me with tired eyes and i instantly regretted my dad's decision of sending us to work for will and his mother. kayla simply wasn't cut out of honest work and preferred everything to be handed to her.

i let out a long sigh and met will's eyes.
"i'm sorry you had to suffer through that. was i wrong about nick swift?" will chuckled to himself and shook his head.
"no...no i don't think you were. she'll come around. don't stress too much about it, yeah?" will stepped closer to me. he lightly pushed my shoulder, causing me to lose my balance. i fell forward and into the bathtub full of steaming water.

as i surfaced, i felt will's strong arms pulling me out of the bathtub. after setting me down on the floor, he wrapped a thick towel around my shoulders and sat next to me. a look of horror sunk into his features and he gingerly brushed a strand of wet hair out of my face.
"anna-" i cut him off by laughing. i looked down at myself and then back up to his face. i couldn't help but laugh at the worry etched into his strong features. i laid back on the floor and kept laughing, causing will to start laughing too.

eventually, we both stopped to catch our breath.
"i can't believe you just did that." i finally spoke, looking over at him.
"i can't believe you thought it was funny." he answered right back, causing me to giggle again.
"you have to make this up to me, you know." i said as will stood up. he extended his hand down to me and helped me to my feet.

he threw a strong arm around my shoulders and started to lead me to the door.
"i'll buy you a hot chocolate, does that sound good?" i scoffed at him.
"if by 'buy me a hot chocolate' you mean teach me the cloud nine. then yes, absolutely. that sounds wonderful." i sent him a pretty smile, causing him to stop in his tracks. his eyes met mine and he opened his mouth to say something before closing it again.

just then, kayla walked through the door of the kennel. she looked calmer, though that could be faked. will tossed her the keys and leashes from the counter.
"we'll be back later, i'm taking anna to dry off." a look of horror flashed across kayla's face before she looked around the kennel and back to will. he smiled and winked at her and then threw his arm back over my shoulders. he led me out of the kennel and down the snow-covered sidewalk with me tucked snugly into his side.