Splinters: Part One

Part One | 36

"I'll miss you," Collie whined, her arms around my waist.

"It'll fly by, Col." Even though I knew it totally won't.

She put her head on my chest and hugged me. "I wish."

After a long silent moment, she sighed dramatically. I laughed in response, putting a hand beneath her chin and lightly kissing her lips. Even the smallest kisses made me feel weird. It was a nice weird, though.

"Go have fun in Hawaii."

"Will you call me?"

I gave her a flat look. "You'll be too busy to answer."

She stepped back. "No I won't! I'll just lay in the bed, wishing you were there instead of Massachusetts, hoping and praying you're being faithful."

I pressed my lips together, crossing my arms. "You don't have to worry about that."

She pinched my side, smiling. "I know. I'm just kidding."

"You on the other hand..." I joked, kicking the cement.

Collie rolled her eyes.

"C'mon, Brayden! We gotta go!" I heard Ursanne yell.

I looked over my shoulder. "I'm coming!" Staring at Collie, I took both of her hands into mine. "I love you, and please be safe. Don't drown or get eaten by any sharks."

She laughed. "You wouldn't care even if I did."

"Yeah. I'm not going to be worried sick about you at all this entire break," I said sarcastically, turning around and slowly walking to the bus.

She laughed again. "I love you, too, and I guess I'll be the one to call."

I smiled at her as she spun around to leave. "Good!"

She didn't look back as she sauntered into the parking lot, spinning her keys on her index finger. I watched her backside. When I hung out with Andrew, he'd sometimes look at really pretty girls and their butts. I never did it, but now I'm starting to understand why he did it. I'm not a perv, but Collie does have a good butt. And she's my girlfriend so I'm allowed to look at her. It made me feel gross whenever I did it though. It's not like she looks at my butt.

Shaking my head, I turned around and entered the bus, taking a seat next to my sister. It'd been a while since I sat next to her. I kinda missed it.

"She's leaving for a week, not three years."

I spoke too soon.

"Yeah, well I'll still miss her," I admitted, taking my phone out to play another level at Fixum.

"Where is she going again?"

"Hawaii."

She nodded. It was quiet for a moment until I glanced at her phone. Immediately, I thought of her little secret boyfriend.

"Did you talk to Brody?"

Ursa groaned and leaned her head back. "How many times do I have to tell you it's not Brody?!"

"Then who is it?"

She stiffened. "It's nobody."

I went to grab her phone, but her reflexes beat me. "Brayden!"

I held my hands up in surrender. "Fine, fine. Just... Why can't I know?"

She shrugged. "I don't want Mom and Dad to find out. They'd want him to come over and they'd have to meet him and I just feel like you guys won't approve."