Head in the Clouds

•Prologue•

•••Chapter One•••

••• Why I Hate My Life•••

Pretending to listen to your friends is not exactly an easy task. Especially when they have way too freaking many problems for me to handle right now. No, I don't have to solve their problems. But they are whining about their lives while I try to eat and it's making me sick.

"And then, he said, 'Well, it's not my fault!' And I was like, right babe... Because of course it is but we hardly even know each other!"

Who knows what Cammy is saying... It sounds like any other conversation we've had this week. She comes to me for advice about some guy she hooked up with while I twirl my bracelet and zone out.

"Sure Cam, I'm sorry," I hear myself offer, halfheartedly consoling her.

Just then, my phone chimes and breaks me out of this daze. "Hold on," I hold a finger up to Cammy so she knows to stop for a minute as I tap unlock my phone and read the message.

*Hey Ash, come to the elevator with me ;)*

The message is from my boyfriend, and thank goodness I can get away from the whine fest.

"Hey Cam, I'm gonna go...." my voice trails off trying to find an excuse.

Jen, who has been zoning out in sync with me picks up her bag, "where to?"

I don't need her following me. I have a feeling Ryan won't like having my friends supervise us. So I lie. "My stomach hurts, I'm going to the nurse."

"Oh feel better," Jen manages, obviously annoyed. I feel her watching me as I turn around and saunter off a little too quickly to have a stomach ache.

As I glide toward the elevators, butterflies start to have a dance party in my chest. I glance at the text Ryan sent, and my eyes get stuck to the winky face... What does it mean... It doesn't seem so flirtatious anymore. We've kissed plenty of times but lately he's been awfully distracted.

I step out onto the balcony that leads to the elevator. I assume that I've beat Ryan here until I feel a finger trace down my neck. It gives me goosebumps and I turn around as the finger is pulled away.

"Hey," I breathe.

"Shhhhh," He puts a finger to his lips and pushes back his short dark hair.

I'm already melting as I see this. So obviously when he places his hand on my waist and drags me in for a lingering kiss, I forget everything else.

We put our foreheads together and I take a deep breath of aftershave when I feel a hand slip into my back pocket. "Boys are pigs," my mind screams, but I force myself to smile and pinch his ass.

"Oh babe," he cries in amusement, "are you coming to the party tonight?"

"Of course!" I say in the hottest voice possible.

"Everyone's gonna be there," he agrees. "I can't wait."

I turn up a corner of my pink lips.