Splinters: Part One

Part One | 40

Either she noticed us or she didn't, but Bella pulled back some of her hair behind her back and began laughing really loud.

"Seriously," Collie groaned, probably at Bella.

"It's fine, Col-"

"No it's not," she mumbled, pulling me forward.

Bella made a double-take at the two of us, her smile slightly fading. Ursa looked our way, too, froze for a moment before nudging her best friend and saying something that made her look away.

"Alright, girls, Mr. Pierson and I will be making everyone sandwiches while you guys go out and swim. If anyone gets hurt, come to me or Ursanne or Mr. Pierson, okay?" I tried not to be offended at Melissa not including me because I had a feeling all three of them had some sort of CPR training. That's something the Piersons would actually know.

"Wanna go swim?" Collie asked, pulling off her shirt and shorts. This time, I appreciated the way she was sort of showing off to me. She wanted me to keep my eyes on her and far away from Bella's as possible. The funny thing was was that she didn't even need to do it. Collie is the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, and seeing her in a bikini is that much better.

I nodded, taking off my shirt. I tried hard not to look at her too much, but sneaked a few peeks when her head was looking the other direction.

We jogged toward the water and screamed when we realized how cold it was.

"Geez!" I laughed.

"It's cold!"

We inched our way in the water until we were waist deep. We basically isolated ourselves from the rest of the group, and it didn't bother us one bit. It didn't feel like I asked her to come to my little sister's party. It felt like I asked her on a date, and that was much less embarrassing.

At some point, she and I just stood next to each other as the waves came crashing at us. I slung my arm around her shoulder now that I was, like, one whole foot taller than her. Her arms were wrapped around my waist under the water. I felt so different, so boyish and alive. Stuff like this only happens on TV. This isn't my life. It can't be my life. It's too good. Collie is everything I've ever wanted and I didn't even know it.

How did everything so bad turn so perfect?

"Brayden," Collie said.

"What?"

"Look." She pointed a little behind us at my other sister. "Is that Edaline?"

Edaline sat alone in the sand, staring at her hands a good ways away from the party.

"Yeah," I said slowly.

"C'mon."

Even though I really kind of just wanted to stand with my girlfriend in the water, I knew Edaline was more important and so Collie and I both ran up to her. It was almost funny trying to watch Collie run in the water, but when my eyes caught my sister again, I no longer thought it was humorous.

"Edaline!" Collie called once we were both on the sand.

Eda didn't show any expression, probably because she couldn't hear us, however, she still didn't even look up when we were right by her side. Collie sat down next to her.

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing," she sighed.

"Eda," I said, trying to make eye contact with her. "You can come play with us if you want."

"No thanks," she said.

Collie looked up at me. I shrugged.

"Hey, Brayden, Collie, Eda," Odera's voice sounded from behind me.