• Now, now, cloud nine comes with a price. Ali was dancing around her room to Lady Gaga when her phone rang. Travis. She giggled and picked up.

    "Well, I'm going to have to say something to Leah." He said.
    Now since the two creepers decided to become serious, Travis decided he needed to put an end to the flirting with Leah; even Ali's friend, Erin, had agreed. Erin had told Ali some of the things Leah had been saying. Like "requesting for a bed" from Travis, or that Ali had done this on purpose.
    "Why do you say that, boo? I don't want to hurt her. I mean I know she went on a date right after she and her boyfriend broke up. I know she talks to other guys." Ali whimpered.
    "She sent a sexual text."
    "Oh. What did it say?"
    "Do you WANT to know?"
    "...yes?"
    "'I want you in me.'" he read.
    "When did she send it?"
    "Just now..."
    "You do what you think is right."

    The two hung up, and Ali felt cloud nine going down. This wasn't going to go well. She knew Leah. But she also knew Leah would tell her nothing; just go behind her back and tell everyone. That's what she's always done. Travis sent Leah a text message that was simple and to the point but still kind. He told her he felt more of a connection with Ali and wanted to be serious with her now and be friends with Leah. Leah snapped and blamed Ali. She sent nasty text messages saying that Ali never gave her a chance, and did this on purpose. Ali grew upset because she knew that wasn't true. Leah had has much of a chance as she did. Leah talked to him first on the phone. Leah talked to him first at all. Leah took it then upon herself to go talk to Ali's ex and seek comfort from him.

    He chewed out Ali; "I know what you should do but I won't tell you because you won't listen and I don't feel like putting up with you."

    And he had just messaged Travis telling him to treat Ali the way she deserved.
    But Leah knew what she was doing from the beginning.

    "This isn't your fault. it's mine." Travis said on the phone with a sigh.
    "This is awful. She would go to Chris. Of course she would." Ali sighed. Ali hated bringing up Chris to Travis but it was like word vomit. She couldn't help it. Chris destroyed her and she wanted Travis to know that so he wouldn't do the same.

    They finally went to sleep after another 3 hour conversation about anything and everything. The next morning, Leah apologized to Ali saying that she had strong feelings for Travis too. Ali pointed out that she had no idea and had told Leah she liked him. But she never responded.

    But Travis got a two page message from Leah and a heartfelt apology.

    Ali wouldn't see it till the end, but why would Leah send him a long message and be sweet to him? She only had known him for two weeks. She'd known Ali since elementary. Put two and two together, kiddies.

    Cloud nine quickly shot back up, and things seemed normal. Except now Leah didn't talk to Ali but talked to Travis all day long. Ali and Leah had only become friends again when Ali set her up with Chris's best friend. Then all four of them went on double dates with Ali always driving an hour out to see the boys. She thought they were the best of friends again for they had a huge fight in middle school, and Ali was sick of being left out and hurt and talked about. She thought Leah changed.

    Ali simply ignored it since Leah had hurt her with comments like "you won. now show off your prize" or "i get it. he chose you." Ali had never wanted to be chosen in the first place, but she was happy that she getting serious with Travis. The two of them always talked about her birthday and how he would do anything to make her happy. For her birthday was in a month, and he had told Bre, Ali's best friend, that he wanted to pursue a relationship after her birthday.

    The week went on though. Ali and Travis spent every day together after he had classes. You could always hear screams of laughter and see the happiness in them. Everything seemed too perfect to be true.

    "Hey, do you and Travis want to go to dinner tonight?" her friend Katie called Ali.
    "I'll ask him." Ali squeaked.
    "Okay cool! I already asked Leah, but she needs a ride."
    "Oh okay. Well, I can give her a ride."
    "Great! 7:30 okay?"
    "Kay."

    Ali sat on Travis's couch waiting for him to get ready. She walked in in a sequin dress and gold wedges.

    "Look at you looking all gorgeous." Travis smiled as he slid his hands over her curves. She batted her hazel eyes at him and kissed his lips.
    "You're gorgeous." She whispered.

    His roommates were also in the living room when she walked in. Most of them already saw Ali as hot, and it made her smile because she wanted Travis to be proud to have her. The two creepers finally waltz out to the car to pick up Leah. They had agreed to tone things done and try to make it not awkward. But Ali knew it would be. She knew Leah still liked Travis.

    "Well, here we are." Ali said as they pulled into the driveway. She pushed her wrap around sunglasses higher up on the bridge of her nose as Travis got out of the car to hug Leah and get in the back seat. Leah slipped in the front seat and the car ride to the restaurant was fine in all honesty. They had a great time. But something changed on Leah's face as the exited the car. Something changed in the air. Something changed in the way she looked at Ali.

    The three of them met up with Erin and her boyfriend. Ali look desperately at Katie as if pleading with her eyes to know where all the other people were. Then she realized, this was all the people. Travis sat next to Ali and across from Leah. Katie tried talking to everyone, yet Leah wouldn't talk. She stared at the menu with blank eyes. After only a few moments, she went to the bathroom.

    "Dude, does Leah hate me?" Katie whispered.
    "No, no. It's the Travis thing..she liked him too." Ali whispered back.
    "Yeah, I could tell on facebook."
    Ali quickly turned to Travis and smiled as he held her hand.
    "I don't know what's up with Leah." Ali said. "You should try talking to her."
    "Okay, I will, babe." he said.

    Leah came back and looked worse than she had before. Ali quickly scooted over to Katie to gossip about meaningless things to see if this would work. It did. Leah brightened up and would only talk to Travis as if the rest of the table wasn't even there. A pain shot through Ali, and her hazel eyes slowly turned green. She understood what was happening. After dinner, the three of them went to the apartment. Travis had hopes of setting Leah up with one of roommates; no one was in the apartment. Ali felt ignored the whole car ride home. Ali felt ignored sitting on the couch. Ali felt jealous.

    After 20 long minutes, they had to go. When Travis kissed her though, the problems melted away, but she could feel Leah's eyes on her. The car ride home was filled with tension and even more when Leah would barely stay in Ali's house. Back in the day, they would have ran upstairs and hung out in Ali's room instead of waiting in the kitchen and outside for Leah's mom.

    But that was then, this was now.

    The next two nights were filled with concerts. Travis and Ali danced and hung all over each other and had a great time. Leah had been there with all their other friends as well. Erin had told Ali that Leah was over the Travis thing. She believe it.

    The second night, Travis and Ali sat at a table and listened to the band and held each other. This was what she wanted. This was perfection. This was heaven. That night, he walked her to her mom's car and kissed her good bye since she was going to camp and hugged her tightly.

    If time machines were available, Ali would have sold her soul for one by now.