The Way To Cloud Nine

By Ronie P. Holden

Felix would have never thought that something could come between him and his two best friends Ema and Oliver. When the troubles find their way into their lives, they have to learn how to deal with difficulties they’ve never had to face before. Oliver is forced to give up on his idea of happily ever after with his high school sweetheart while Ema tries to accept that she can’t live her life the way her parents expect her to. Felix’s outgoing personality and careless life style cause more problems than necessary but he doesn’t really mind as long as he has Ema and Oliver to help him out. When the tragedy strikes, he has to reevaluate everything, this time on his own. Will they find their Cloud Nine or is it something non-existing?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ronie P. Holden
• Release date: Jun 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9788097178901

Ronie P. Holden

Ronie P. Holden is an aspiring indie author. She realized the importance of words early in her life and started putting them together in short stories. Later, she came to the conclusion that not only written words but also spoken words are her passion. She worked as a speaker in a local radio and gained the master degree in psychology. Now, she is doing her best to link her profession with writing novels.

Book preview

The Way To Cloud Nine

by Ronie P. Holden & Alfie Gordon

Copyright 2014 by Ronie P. Holden & Alfie Gordon. All rights reserved.

First Smashwords Edition: June 2014

Edited by Kelly Black

Cover Design by Mata

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are a work of fiction or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Acknowledgments

Ronie: Special thanks to my family – my mom, dad and sister – for their kind words of encouragement and their endless support, no matter how crazy my ideas can get. I'd like to thank Kelly for her help with editing, Mata for the cover art, Manu for being a great supporter of my work, Simi for being an amazing friend and last but not least Alfie, who made it through the whole writing process with me without (hopefully) any damage.

Alfie: I'd like to dedicate this book to S.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

About Ronie

About Alfie

Chapter One

No one could ever tell how old she was. She dressed like a twenty year old, her make-up would allow her to pass for an eighteen year old, and if it weren’t for the wrinkles around her eyes, people would actually think she wasn’t older than twenty-five. Due to the wrinkles, though, they guessed her being around thirty. Truth be told, she was turning thirty-seven today.

She owned a little restaurant where the students from the nearby college tended to hang out. She couldn’t ask for a better job. Being surrounded by young people made her feel young and it seemed like it was all she cared about. She forced everybody to call her Kit and whenever somebody asked what her real name was she just shrugged her shoulder and said: My age and my name remain a mystery.

You’re like a little child, stop pacing the floor! You know it’s supposed to be a surprise so try to act like you have no idea about it, okay? Mark was standing by the dining room door in an attempt to restrain her from looking into the room. He loved when Kit was uneasy. Even though she was turning thirty-seven today, she was like a six year old girl waiting for a present from her father.

Her face lit up, full of anticipation and she was eagerly marching between the refrigerator and a big kitchen counter. Mark was her only friend who was close to her age. Kit never grew up, not in the way she thought and behaved. She was permanently surrounded by young people and her relationships with men wasn’t the exception. None of her past boyfriends had been older than thirty. She always picked up twenty-five year old boy-toys, spent a few amazing weeks full of sex and passion with them; usually it was all fun and games and in the end she walked away from him. She hated commitment and she didn’t want to complicate her life. In fact, Mark wasn’t even her real friend. He was the owner of the hardware store across the street who came to the restaurant a lot. The truth was he was hopelessly in love with her. Since the first time he’d laid his eyes on her he’d admired her energy and the detachment she was living her life with.

***

Ema and Julia were putting the candles on the cake. They were the first guests at Kit’s surprise party. Since they were working for her they had the most responsible task of all of the invited guests – food and beverages.

What the hell are you doing there? Kit shouted from behind the door. I’m coming out right now!

Don’t you dare, Kit! Julia yelled back and watched the door for a while to make sure her boss wasn’t going to appear in the entrance. Then she turned back to Ema.

Ema was a quiet girl, kind of an outsider. She didn’t talk much, not lot of people tried to approach her and the closest friends she had were the ones she had made in high school. Having a new friend after two years of being with just Oliver and Felix was refreshing for her.

Julia was everything but a quiet girl. She was in the beginning of her first year of college. She was smart and the only way her family could afford to keep her in college was with her scholarship. She worked for Kit so she could earn some money for expenses that weren’t covered by it. The scholarship paid for her education, her job in the small restaurant paid for her bills. It wasn’t her dream job, of course, but she felt at home there and it was a place where she could run into a lot of interesting people. For example, Oliver. The day she had met him she had had only one thought on her mind: I’ve just met the man of my life. After she had been introduced to him, she had befriended Ema, his girlfriend, immediately. It wasn’t that she didn’t like her. Not at all. In fact, she really considered Ema a good friend. Getting closer to Oliver was just a little bonus.

They were talking and laughing, having a great time while preparing the food for the party when Oliver came through the restaurant door using the key Ema had given him earlier.

I thought you were supposed to bring Benjamin and Felix. Ema hissed at him.

I told Felix. He had a lesson with his tutor. His coach told him to find one if he wants to stay on the team. It’s not my fault he’s late. And Ben didn’t come to my apartment as we agreed. It’s not my fault either. Why do you pick on me lately? Have I done something to you?

I’m sorry. I’m frustrated with Ben’s situation I guess.

Felix just texted me that he is standing outside. I’m going to let him in. And he headed to the door before Ema had a chance to say something mean to him again.

Where the hell have you been? Oliver asked his best friend as soon as he spotted him. Ema almost threw a fit because of you being late.

Sorry. Got carried away over the math. I’m going to charm her, don’t worry.

Okay, charm her for me too because I’m the one getting the cold shoulder all the time.

Don’t worry, bro. I will. I have no idea why she’s so moody lately… Felix patted Oliver’s shoulder and stepped in the restaurant, totally forgetting he was bringing a guest.

And who are you? Oliver looked at the boy, probably not much older than the seventeen year old brother of his girlfriend, who was left by Felix standing outside.

S-Sebastian.

Are you tutoring him in math? How old are you?

Yes. I’m eighteen.

How can you tutor him when you are two years younger?

I was homeschooled and I know more than most of the freshmen. Actually, I’m taking advanced courses. He answered with a pride in his shaking voice.

So come in, Sebastian. Beware of the red haired lady, she likes fresh, young meat.

Okay…

And by the way, she is the birthday girl and no one knows how old she actually is, so don’t ask. It’s a waste of time. Sebastian only nodded dully.

Sebastian looked around. He knew the restaurant. He had been there before. He had been forced to visit places where students hung out because he apparently hadn’t started the first year of college as he should have. His parents still had the impression that he wasn’t socializing enough. And they were right. He wouldn’t fight them on that one. But he had never been used to having a lot of friends…or any friends, actually. Maybe if his father hadn’t insisted on him being homeschooled, he would have learnt how to make friends. He didn’t want to be at the party. He agreed on tutoring Felix just so he could tell his parents he had made a friend. They didn’t have to know he was seeing him only for math teaching…When the opportunity of going to the party had appeared, he had said yes because it would keep his parents off his case for two weeks. Two blissful weeks of library visiting and reading. That was a rule - one common college student activity in fourteen days. Sometimes he hated how his parents controlled his life.

***

Meanwhile in the kitchen Kit finally calmed down and leaned her back against the kitchen counter. She straightened her tight, really short and provocative dress. Despite being a little overweight, she showed everything god had given to her.

Oh my god! How long do they need to light a few candles on the cake?!

Well, you refused to tell them how old you are so there will be a lot of candles for you tonight. Mark teased her.

Kit threw an accusing look at him. She stepped to him in attempt to shove him away and peer into the party preparations. At the same moment the lights in the next room went out and there was a soft knock on the door. Mark exhaled, smiled and took one step forward. He grabbed Kit’s hand and in one motion he opened the yellow door to the dining part of her restaurant.

There were the drops shining on the big windows to the street, the remainder of the recent rain. The autumn is full of rainy days in the city and today was no exception. The room was illuminated just by the candlelight. The cake was placed on the bar and there was a subtle whisper and laughter audible in the silence.

Now! Suddenly someone turned the lights on, a few people jumped from behind the bar and they shouted unison at her.

Surprise, Kit! Happy birthday. Kit’s face lit up and she walked to the bar.

Wow! It’s a lot of candles…

One hundred exactly. Make a wish, Kit! Felix yelled at her. She took a deep breath with astonished expression and blew the candles out.

So, what did you wish for? Naked Justin Bieber? Kit started to laugh.

No! I can’t tell you. She jabbered out. Before she had a chance to continue, Ema came to her and hugged her.

Happy birthday, Kit! Here is something from us. Kit took the bag and started to rip off the paper eagerly. She found a little luxury box.

Oh my god! Jewelry. I hope it’s jewelry. She opened the box and squeaked. There was a pair of earrings and a necklace. Kit hid her big smile with her hand and with a grateful sigh she looked around the room.

Wait, you have to try it on. Mark took the necklace, came to her and put it around her neck.

It’s beautiful! It looks amazing. It was your choice, Felix, wasn’t it? Felix just nodded and pushed the button on the jukebox. As usual, he was dressed flawlessly in his polo shirt and skinny jeans. He was an athlete, he’d been doing football and swimming since he’d been a little boy. Sport was his life.

You couldn’t pick anything better for me, sweetie. Kit was in front of the mirror, watching herself shamelessly. Hope the shop assistant gave you a discount. By the way, are you still dating?

It’s more like sleeping together, isn’t it? Oliver laughed. When was the last time you were dating someone? You always bring them home and then throw them away after sex! No one was surprised by Oliver’s ironic remark.

So what? At least I can say I enjoyed my life when I was young. Right, Kit? Felix shared Kit’s life attitude and he avoided the commitment like the plague. He had always been a star at school, despite being openly gay, and everybody admired him. The girls even had a crush on him and they hoped, secretly, one day he would notice them.

Oliver lost interest in their conversation and observed Ema. She was standing by the bar. They were so close, yet he felt like he was all alone in the room. They’d been dating since high school. He, Ema and Felix were like siblings. Inseparable, always together. Ema caught his eyes, smiled at him shyly and whispered something to Julia.

He is so cute. I hate it when he looks at me like that. I have compunctions. Although Oliver was a tall, masculine guy, at moments like these he looked small and vulnerable. He had a bad feeling he was losing Ema lately. He came to her and touched her hand but she shifted away and took another beer. Julia sent him a sad smile and shrugged her shoulders. She didn’t like seeing him so broken but the more distant Ema was the closer to him Julia was getting.

***

Finally! Ema screamed. There was a blue eyed boy with the bouquet standing at the door. God, Benjamin, where have you been? You were supposed to come with Oliver! You know I don’t like you being alone. It wouldn’t be you if you weren’t up to something.

Yes, sis. Sorry. Your little brother is here. He bowed mockingly. But at least I have the flowers!

"You mean the flowers we wanted to give to Kit when she blew out the candles? I’d