Love Is Like a River

Kat.

Chapter One: Intro

“Hey! I’m talking to you!”

That was my best best friend, Lindy. We’ve been best friends since forever. We’re going into our senior year of high school, and the reason why I’m ignoring her is because I told her I have a crush on someone; except that someone is her. . . . I don’t want to tell her because, if I do, what will she think of me? Will she think I’m weird for liking girls? Will she not feel the same about me? What if she makes fun of me!? I just wish I could figure out a way to know what would happen between the both of us if I told her.

Hi! I’m Ash, short for Ashley, and I’m one of the popular kids in my school. Half the boy population has a crush on me, but they tend to keep their distance when Lin is hanging out with me. Why? Once, one of the guys I was dating cheated on me, which resulted in me being heartbroken. When I told Lindy she drove all the way to his house and beat him to the ground. Lindy was pretty mad at him to the point where her anger took over her and he ended up in the hospital because of the beatings. He ended up moving schools, but his parents almost called the police on Lindy until they found out who her parents were: the Tomsims, one of the well-known rich families who have a lot of power over the city. There’s also the Smiths, which is the other rich family, but the Smiths have more power.

[Author’s Note: Basically, when I mean they have “power,” it just means that they are crazy rich. To be honest, I’m going off the idea of “My Story Animated” and their interesting stories.]

But that’s all you need to know right now, let’s just head back to the present.

Chapter Two: Lunch Break

“Hey Ash, pleeeease tell me who you like.”

“No, Lin, you’ll end up in prison this time—”

“Look, I only beat up your ex because he broke your heart, plus he was a jerk—”

“Lin, seriously—”

“Sorry, but it’s the truth.”

“Whatever.”

“Hey Lin, Sasha is heading this way. Go before she sees you.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Ashley Monroe, we need to talk A-S-A-P!!”

God, is this really happening right now? “Yeah, Sash, what do you need . . . ?”

“I found out Christopher likes you and, well, all the girls know I like him, so Imma need you to back off . . .”

“Jeez, all right—”

“By moving schools.”

“Uhm . . . yeah, no thanks—”

“I wasn’t asking.”

“Last time I checked, you had Christopher tell you to stay away from him. Or am I mistaken?” Lindy said as she came out of the bushes.

“Oh, h-hey Lindy, me and Ashley were just having a little chat . . . !”

“Weren’t you just threatening me just a minute ago?” I replied.

“I-I don’t recall doing that! You joke too much, Ashley . . . !”

“Oh . . . that’s all right, I can help you remember . . .”

Chapter Three: Getting In Trouble

“Lindy Tomsim, please report to the principal’s office. Lindy Tomsim, please report to the principal’s office.” God, why did this have to happen when I’m in history I’m already failing this class; now Lindy’s gonna end up firing somebody.

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“. . . So, long story short, Sasha told the principal, the principal called my parents, and since Sasha’s parents work for my dad’s company, you know where you have to call your parents and tell them what you did? I called my dad and told him what happened, and he fired Sasha’s parents and the principal,” Lindy told me.

“Seriously—how many principals have you fired since we got to this school?”

“I’m not sure—it’s probably three?”

“Seven. Seven principals and twelve teachers.”

“Oh, come on, it’s that many?”

“Yes, it’s been that many.”

“Meanie.”

“Sorry, but it’s the truth,” I said mockingly.

“Wow! You don’t love me anymore—” Lindy proceeded to say with sarcasm.

“Oh, quit it, I still love you—”

“I know you do; I was just playing.”

“Mhm OK, whatever—”

“Hey, want to head to the mall?”

“Sure, why not? I’ve been trying to buy some new roller skates.”

“OK, I’ll call up an Uber. I don’t feel like walking for 50 minutes—”

“OK, lazy bum.”

“Rude.” We both chuckled.

Chapter Four: Harson Mall

“Wow, that was fast! It usually takes eight to ten minutes,” Lindy exclaimed.

“Yeah . . .” I agreed.

“Oh, I just happen to be around here is all! Uhh, where to, miss?” questioned the driver.

“The Harson Mall, mister.”

“OK, we’ll be there in about 20 minutes, if there’s no traffic.”

“All right. Thank you,” Lindy replied.

“Mhm, yeah, no problem.”

“. . .”

I raised my eyebrows at Lindy.

“What?”

“. . .”

“What is it? Tell me! Is there something on my face!? Get it off, get it off!”

“Oh my god, calm down, there’s nothing on your face. I’m just surprised you still use your manners—”

“Oh, come on, I’m not that bad.”

“OK, if you say so.”

“Woah! Everything is so pretty!” I exclaimed.

“Sure is, but save that for later, I’m starving!” Lindy held her stomach jokingly.

“All right—”

“What do you want? It’s on me.”

“Hmm . . . I kinda want something sweet.”

“Ooh! I know the perfect place. Follow me!” Lin sure is energetic. Also, for some reason, I feel like someone has been following me since Lin and I got to the mall. I might just be overthinking it; there’s hundreds of people in a mall, anyway.

“Here it is! All the sweets and treats you could possibly want.”

“Whoa! Ooh! There’s boba and cake pops.”

“LOL, I’m guessing you want me to get you that?”

“Yes, please.”

“All right, I’ll get some boba as well, and brownies, and I may have some cake to take home.”

“OK.”

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“Hey, Lin?”

“Yeah?”

“What do you think of my outfit?”

“Whoa. . . you look nice.” Oh God, Ash looks so hot . . . “I-I can get you that if you want.”

“Sure! Also . . .”

“Hmm?”

“I found this, look at it!”

“Are those matching Sanrio bracelets? I love them!”

“Yes, but I’m buying them.”

“OK, it’s getting pretty late though, want to spend the night at mine?”

“Yes!”

“LOL, all right.”

Chapter Five: Lovesick

When we got to Lindy’s, her little brother Erik came running toward me.

“Ashley! It’s so good to see you again!” yelled Erik.

“He’s right, it’s been a while since we last saw you,” a voice said, coming out of the shadows and revealing Lindy’s older brother Andrew. I also had a crush on him. However, I’d had a crush on him since middle school.

“Oh, hey Andrew! How ha—” I was interrupted by him hugging me with his hands on my waist. I put my arms around his neck to return the hug.

“Hey Lindy, can all of us hang out, please?” Erik pleaded.

“I’m fine with it, but you should ask Ashley and Andrew if they’re fine with it.”

“I’m fine with it, how about you Andrew?”

“Sure, why not?”

We played board games, ate the cake Lindy brought, and watched movies, but after the first movie Erik was fast asleep and Lindy left to go sleep in her room because she was tired, so it was Andrew and me who were still awake.

“Hey, want to go to my room and hang out there?” he asked me as I tucked in Erik.

“Sure.”

On the way to his room, he told me something. “You would be a great mom, if you had kids. It gets me thinking because the way you are with kids is magnificent. Like, if one of them is crying non-stop, you can just cheer them up by doing literally anything.”

“Huh, never thought of myself that way.”

He opened the door so that I could enter first and, as soon as he closed the door behind him, he pinned me to the wall and started to make out with me. We made out for a good three minutes until he stopped to catch his breath. While I was catching mine, I saw Lindy come out of the corner of the room, and they both stood in front of me. I stood up to face them. I was so nervous, nothing could come out of my mouth, and then Lindy spoke.

“Hey, I know you may be confused, but basically, me and Andrew like you, and we want to know which one of us you will date.”

“I—”

“. . .”

There was a moment of silence until I spoke again. “I . . . don’t know! I like both of you and I don’t want to choose!”

Both of them stared at each other, then looked at me again, and then Andrew spoke. “We could be a polyamorous couple?”

“Uhm, sure?”

“What do you think, Lindy?”

“I won’t have you to myself, but it works.”