Splinters: Part One

Part One | 45

"I probably cried one hundred times thinking about you when I couldn't see you," Collie admitted, peering up at me.

"You're lying."

"I'm not," she grinned.

I kissed her, long and hard right in the driveway. That time, I didn't even care if Melissa and Greg saw us.

"We've got all the time in the world now." I nudged my head towards the front door. "C'mon."

I turned and pulled her with me, but she was frozen on the cement. "Wait, Brayden."

"What's the matter?"

"Does your mom hate me?" she inquired, her face no longer happy and playful, but scared and nervous.

"No. Why?"

She gave me a depressed, flat look. "Brayden, we made out on your bed with the door closed and you fell asleep in mine at my house with the door closed. If I were her, I wouldn't like me."

"You're not Melissa. Melissa's Melissa and she doesn't hate you. Or dislike you."

"Promise?"

I moved closer to her and placed both hands on her cheeks. "Promise. Now c'mon. There's something I've been wanting you to see."

This time, she complied, and we both entered my house. Melissa and Greg were still in the kitchen when I pulled Collie in.

"Hi, Collie," Greg smiled.

"Hi." She waved to them. We all stood quietly, staring at one another. For five painful seconds, it was silent until Collie spoke. "Again, I'm sorry for all the... mistakes. " I shut my eyes. She's got too big of a conscience. "They're completely my fault."

I shook my head. "No," I said, looking directly in her eyes. "They're not, and we didn't come in here to talk about it. We're going to the white room."

"Leave the door open," Melissa warned.

I didn't reply, pulling Collie with me.

"What's the white room?"

"Why'd you gotta bring up me sleeping in your bed?"

"I felt bad."

I couldn't help but smile, walking down the hall and turning left, opening the first door. It was my favorite room, the white piano room. Whenever I thought about my girlfriend, I remembered that she could play piano and if she played it in this room, I could die happy.

"I've never been in here," she said. "Since when do you guys have a Grand Piano?"

I shrugged. "Before they had me, I guess. But I want you to play it."

"You want me to play piano?" she repeated, staring at me, confused.

I gave her a quirky grin. "Will you?"

"Don't laugh if I mess up."

She let go of my hand and sat down on the black bench. I watched as the curtains in front of the window swayed due to the wind, casting a beautiful yellow glow around my girlfriend. Or maybe Collie makes the room glow. Or maybe I'm just really strange.

She placed her thin fingers above the white and black keys and tapped them lightly twice before beginning a song. She made a mistake not even four seconds into it and blushed.

"Act like I didn't do that."

I laughed.

She tried again, and made the same mistake.