Splinters: Part One

Part One | 46

Eventually, Greg and I stopped talking altogether, both of us thinking deeply of Edaline. But then I started thinking that if I could, I'd be deaf instead of her. And then I started thinking of what it would be like if I really were deaf. Would I have gone to St. Anne's still? Would Melissa and Greg still adopt me? Would I go to Constance? Or RISD? And I thought negative for every single one of them, causing me to selfishly take back what I thought in the first place.

By that time, Greg and I made it to the Rec Center. With our passes, we were in the courts in only a minute. Only a few others were present as well, giving Greg and I the option to have an entire court to ourselves.

We played a quick one-on-one to which I beat him by one point; although I hate to admit I'm pretty sure he let me win.

"So," he began breathlessly after we finished our second one-on-one. And here it begins. "Why don't you want Ursa dating Andrew?"

"Do you want them dating?" I fired back, placing my hands on my hips.

He pressed his lips together and crossed his arms. "Of course not. She's my first daughter."

"Same reason as you kind of. She's my sister."

He shook his head. "Come on, Braydo."

I sighed, waiting a bit before telling him the truth. "I feel betrayed."

"Why's that?"

"Because I listened to her when she insisted on me not even making eye contact with Collie and she won't do the same for me."

"But you still were friends with Collie."

"That's because Ursa finally agreed we could be friends."

"So why won't you do the same for her?"

"Because what he did to me is unforgivable."

"What Collie did to Ursa was unforgivable."

"I know, but-"

"There's no buts, Brayden. Ursa was willing to put aside her differences with her for your sake."

I shook my head. That's not true. "Ursa can't stand Collie."

"And how did they interact last night with each other."

I didn't reply, mostly because she was great with my girlfriend. Of all times, she was the best behaved she could have possibly been.

"Tell me again why you can't do that for Ursanne?"

I was angry now. "You don't get it, Greg. Andrew told Zech everything! Constance knows about me now! What if he did that to Ursa?"

He thought about that, and eventually he replied but not in accordance to the question. "Melissa also told me that you were afraid of losing her to Andrew."

Hearing those words ticked me off for two reasons. One, even though I knew Melissa told him everything, it ticked me off that much more at hearing him confess it. Two, I didn't tell Melissa that I was afraid of losing Ursanne because I know I won't so she basically lied to her husband's face. "If Melissa told you everything, why are we having this conversation?!"

"Don't have that tone with me, Brayden," he scolded sternly, pointing at me.

I glared at him for a long moment. Then I frowned. What am I doing? This isn't how I am. I don't get mad like this.

I sighed. "I'm sorry. The complete and utter truth is that I feel betrayed because I did what she wanted and she won't do what I want."

His irritated face changed to a concerned one. This conversation is going in circles. "What do you want more, Brayden? Ursanne's loyalty or her happiness?"