𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 ✾ (𝐣𝐞𝐧𝐳𝐢𝐞)

TWENTY-ONE !

DIFFERENT !

mackenzie .

"YOU GUYS ARE JUST KIDDING... RIGHT?" i looked from one friend to the next, all of them perfectly happy with the idea of cliff-jumping in fifty degree weather at eight o'clock in the night.

"it's fun, k-z!" noah tried convincing me, but it didn't work the slightest bit.

"i bet it would be. in the day time. when it's eighty degrees out and we're all sweaty," i wrapped my arms around my torso, already cold as it is.

"please?" johnny raised his eyebrows, cocking his head to the side. "for me?"

i shook my head, and looked at my sisters and annie. "are you guys doing it?"

"yes!" nadia squealed, "it's so fun, you have to."

"i mean, yolo," maddie held up a shaka sign with her hand, letting her inner 'L.A. surfer girl' jump out.

"annie?" i knew for sure she would say no; she was a good girl.

"we do it every summer. what's the difference of it being dark and cold?" she shrugged. then, unexpectedly, she pulled her denim skirt and hoodie, leaving her in her undergarments, and she jumped off into the water.

the six of us on the cliff leaned over the edge, waiting in a tense silence for her to come up from underwater.

"annie?" nadia worried, screaming loudly. "annie! oh, fuck this," she ripped her shirt and leggings off, about to jump in, as the small girl popped up from the lake.

she wiped the lake water from her eyes, mascara running. "it's so warm! come down!" she yelled. nadia flicked her friend off, before cannon balling in.

being the bandwagon i was, i knew i couldn't be the only one not jumping in tonight. before i knew it, i was left in my underwear and the sports bra i'd worn today.

"come on," johnny grabbed onto my wrist, walking closer to the edge.

"oh, hell no," i tried pushing him away. not because i didn't want to be with him; but because i didn't want to jump.

"oh, hell yes," he wrapped his arms tightly around my waist, making goosebumps fill the skin he touched. his grip was loose enough so i could move if i wanted to- and if it was anyone else, i would've. but, in all honesty, the feeling was too good to let go of.

"ready?" he shifted us closer to the edge, "three... two... one." i held my breath, and braced myself for the collision of my body with the water.

it stung for a good second, but the warm sensation of the water quickly took over, and i came up from underneath it. "are you good?" johnny asked, cupping my face with his hands and leaning his forehead on mine.

"i'm good," i responded, out of breath. and then- the most cliche moment of my entire life; we didn't kiss, but instead, he just stared into my eyes. it was like he locked mine into place, they couldn't move. they could only look into his.

"look out!" nadia yelled, seconds before noah and mandla plunged into the water, splashing johnny and i.

and... the movie scene was over. at least it was fun while it lasted. "oh, fuck you," johnny splashed noah back.