Splinters: Part One

Part One | 40

I knew the tone of voice Melissa was using. It was her fake tone of voice, the one she used when she didn't believe you.

I watched Donna take a small step away from Greg, her eyes a little wider than before.

"Oh, no I just came to see if you guys would like me to take any kids to Misquamicut."

Melissa shook her head. "A few of them are car-pooling and driving down there themselves."

Donna nodded hesitantly. "Oh," she chirped, glancing at Greg. "I see you guys have it all figured out then."

"Net's really excited," Greg smirked, going to his wife and wrapping an arm around her waist.

Donna subtly raised an eyebrow. "Well, I guess I'll see y'all later when the party's over."

Melissa nodded, awkwardly letting Donna know she can leave. As she turned around to enter her car again, a girl screamed from behind us.

"Mommy! Mommy! Are you leaving?"

A dark haired girl near Net's age came running towards Donna, who was apparently her mother. Donna bent down to her.

"Yep. I'll come get you later tonight."

"Okay!" the girl chirped, hugging Donna and kissing her goodbye.

"I'll see you," Donna smiled at us again.

For the second time, Melissa only nodded with Greg.

When she was out of earshot, Greg whispered to his wife. "Don't be mad at me."

"I'm not mad. She's just all over you every chance she gets," Melissa replied.

Greg smirked. "As if I'd ever leave my perfect wife, daughters, and son," he said a little louder now, kissing Melissa on the lips.

Instead of watching them, I grasped Collie's hand and pulled her up the lawn and into the house again.

"Your parents are cute together," Collie grinned.

I shrugged. "Yeah. It's weird seeing how they are compared to my real parents."

Collie began to swing our hands. "They didn't love each other?"

"Not the way Melissa and Greg love each other."

"Alright, kids!" I heard Melissa shout. "Let's all get into the car! We're leavin' now!"

A plethora of 'okays' and 'comings' were thrown back from every area in the house before hundreds of footsteps were trotting through the hall and into the car outside.

"Are you positive you can drive?" Melissa asked me for the sixtieth time as we stood next to my car.

"I'm sure, Melissa," I nodded.

"Liss! The kid's got his license and he'll be following us the whole time. Let's go!"

The pained look on her face made me feel bad. "I'll be fine. I've got Collie as shotgun, too," I smiled.

Melissa looked at Collie. "Please make sure he watches the road."

Collie laughed. "I wouldn't be driving with him if I didn't trust him, Mrs. Pierson."

Melissa smiled half-heartedly. "We'll be right in front of you, Brayden."

I nodded. Melissa awkwardly turned around and walked towards the van, opening the passenger side door and getting in. From the garage, I could literally hear all the girls talking with every door of the car closed.

"They're going to make Greg crazy," I admitted to Collie as we both watched him start the car and glance back.

She giggled. "C'mon. Let's go."