The Consequences of Cliff Diving

A Lesson on Relocation

Chapter 9: A Lesson On Relocation

Riley and I rush down the stairs as Jackson practically kicks the front door in, a groaning Shawn on his back.

"What the-" Riley starts as I help Jackson with the door. He kicks it closed and Riley runs to grab ice while I reach out to help. Shawn leans away from me, Jackson grunting at the added weight.

"I'm fine Porter." He grunts pathetically. Uh-huh. Right.

"Shut up Shawn." Eventually, we carry Shawn to the couch in the living room. His face was battered with bruises and his nose was bleeding profusely, a matching cut on his swollen lip. "What happened?" I logically ask him, genuinely worried about my friend. Shawn winces as he presses an ice pack against his left eye.

"It was really nothing Toni, I'm fine. Just let Riley handle it." Jeez, what was his problem? Riley gave Jackson a look that seemed to mean something because he pulls me out of the room.

"Jackson, what's wrong?" I ask, starting to get slightly annoyed. You see, when it comes down to it, the guys are loyal to me. And I don't mean to sound stuck up, but they don't even like the Rhode's boys in the first place. So what on Earth was Jackson doing here with a beat-up Shawn? He sighs and double checks that Riley isn't lurking behind us.

"He's fine, I just don't think he's ready to talk." He admits sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. I cross my arms over my chest.

"You're not making any sense." Instead of retorting back he avoids my eyes. "Wait, does this fight have something to do with me?" The lack of answer gives it away. I didn't know that I was such a problem starter. If what he's implying is true, this is the second fight I've supposedly caused this week. "Jackson..."

"Just give him some space Toni. It's nothing. Really." Since when was he not on my side? Whatever. I think grumpily. I'll figure it out soon enough.

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"Are you sure it's okay Alex?" I ask as he drives Kathrine and I to his house after picking Kat up from school. Alex shrugs.

"Yeah, don't worry about it." Thankfully, Alex was able to take us in tonight. Riley had advised me to stay out of the house for a day or two, and Ashlynn's dad returned home today. This game of musical chairs was starting to get a little old. So was this 'let's see how long our secret can last without Toni figuring it out' game. I take the opportunity laying out in front of me.

"Alex do you know what happened?"
"No." Call me paranoid, but I swear that his answer was a millisecond too fast. I come to the conclusion that he's not telling the whole truth but decide to drop it for now. At least until my sister's out of the car. I glance back at Kat, who has earbuds in and is staring out of the window. Honestly, I feel really bad for her. She shouldn't have to worry for a place to sleep at night.

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"Thank you for the meal Mrs Kelter." I say politely, standing up to help with the dishes. She smiles at the gesture and hands a small toddler to Alex. The Kelter's house was averaged sized, and filled with four kids in total. Alex, Sadie, Emma, and Ethan. Emma and Ethan were both twins and three years old. Sadie is eight, about one year younger than Kat. I still remember the day the twins were born. Alex and Sadie had stayed at my house that night, allowing their mother to recover and father to work. Mr Kelter was a firefighter, and pretty much lived at the station across town. Along with his wife, they had helped raise me in a way, and it was very kind of them to let Kat and I stay.