The Consequences of Cliff Diving

A Hopeful Misunderstanding

Part One: Reunions, Decisions, and Countless Confessions

Chapter 1: A Hopeful Misunderstanding

Most love stories are predictable. The guy gets the girl, and endless tomorrows of happiness are promised. I don't believe that any kind of tomorrow can be truly promised. Not a tomorrow in love, not a tomorrow in glory, not a tomorrow in fame, not even a tomorrow in life. My little sister Kathrine says that love is just a chemical. She's ten and claims to hate feelings, though I know for a fact that's not true.

"Soooo, are you gonna actually dump Tommy tonight?" Ashlynn asks me. I can practically hear her smirk through the phone. I roll my eyes.

"It's late Ash." I hear her giggle.

"Cmon' Toni! There's no time like the present. Besides, haven't you grown out of excuses?" I lay my head against the pillow.

"What excuses?."

"Good. I'll talk to you later then, okay?" I sit up and pinch my eyebrows together.

"Wait, where are you going this late?" I ask her. Ashlynn sighs.

"Oh, you know. Clubbing with some work friends."

"Uh-huh. Friends."

"They are friends!"

"Don't forget to stay sober. We have school tomorrow."

"Good night Antoinette." She says, ignoring my comment. I open my mouth to reply but close it again because she'd already hung up. I sigh, smiling. I hope she has fun getting up in the morning. I look at the clock. 12:42.

I've known Ashlynn Graves since sixth grade when she moved here from LA. We were both eleven at the time. I had first approached her partially because of how confidently she held herself, and partially because she was new and I needed someone who wasn't aware of my reputation. Of course, there is also the fact that Ashlynn is undeniably gorgeous. She has long, dirty blonde hair that curls loosely like an old spring. I was attracted to her grunge-like style and quick remarks. Every day she coats her lips in a new color which always gets left behind on straws. Now that we are both 17 and nearly a quarter into our senior year, our conversations have obviously evolved beyond middle school drama and slumber parties.

"Kat, you should have gone to bed hours ago!" I say, over my shoulder. She stuffs a handful of popcorn in her mouth and snorts.

"Why are you up then?!" I sigh in response. My little sister is basically my whole world, as cliche as it is. I am grown enough to admit I love Kat but her intelligence levels are far beyond her years. My mother isn't exactly present in our lives but I try my best to make sure my sister has a good life.

"You'll understand when you're older." I tell her, aimlessly scrolling through my phone. She sits up straighter. "Hey, what did I hear Ashlynn saying about Tom?" A classic Kathrine Porter maneuver. Lucky for her, I'm way too tired to bring up her habit of switching topics.

"It was really nothing," I say, keeping my eyes on my phone. My ten year old sister doesn't have to know about my rather pathetic relationship issues. A piece of popcorn hits me in the back of the head.

The next night 9:37 pm

A person can never be too careful. You could get hit by a car even though you're walking on the far side of your own front walk, your personal vehicle could turn against you and drive off a cliff, or a lightning storm could set your very room on fire. Heck you could even find a neon pink thong underneath your newly crowned ex-boyfriend's bed. "You're sure these aren't yours?" He asks, face pleading. I roll my eyes.