Splinters: Part One

Part One | 46

"Well do you blame us?" Collie asked.

I couldn't help thinking she was a little fake. She was one of the very few people who actually want him to be with Ursa.

But I didn't pay attention. Shaking my head, I questioned him, "What do you mean 'none of us' would accept it?" He opened his mouth, but didn't speak. We waited. "Andrew?" I urged on angrily.

He licked his lips and pleaded to my girlfriend. "Collie? Can I talk to him for a sec?"

I shook my head. "No. What you have to say can be in front of us both."

Collie placed a hand on my wrist and smiled at me tightly. "I'll be inside."

I rolled my eyes as she entered Andrew's house, stepping past his left side.

Andrew took a deep breath. "I can explain everything."

"Well do it!"

I was getting impatient with him, irritated. Words couldn't describe the type of angry feelings I had towards him. I'm beginning to hate him.

"I was hanging out with Zech this one day before Sweethearts," he began, not looking at me directly. "I don't know why," he touched his forehead, "but I freakin' told him that I was into Ursa. A lot. I mean, a lot, Brayden. I obviously couldn't tell you because what guy wants to know his friend likes his sister? And Zech's kind of my best friend so I guess I thought I could trust him, but then he kept saying how he'll expose me and that my crush will piss you off and get you out of our group and all this other shit. And I obviously didn't want that going out because your sister is kind of known for some things around Constance and I didn't want people to think I was into her because of that."

"I don't see how this makes sense to the situation at all."

"Just listen, Brayden!" I closed my mouth. "I told Zech I didn't want him to tell people. He obviously wouldn't listen and pestered me on something else to figure out about you. This stupid game went on for days, Brayden. Zech tried and tried endlessly to find out about you: why you never existed before this year, why you're so different and timid, why you like Collie, and why you can't answer questions clearly about your past to people who don't know the truth."

I swallowed, looking away.

"I'm sorry, Brayden, but I was selfish and wanted to save myself, so I told him. I told him what really happened to you, and there isn't a day that goes by where I don't regret it. I do regret it. I think you're an awesome guy, Bray. I thought we were pretty good friends, honestly," he nodded. "It was stupid. I couldn't handle the embarrassment so I tried to save my ass by exposing you and it wasn't fair. But I didn't think he'd do it at Sweethearts, Brayden. I didn't know he'd do that."

"You still told him, Andrew."

"I know. I know I did. It was a mistake. I can't stand Zech anymore. I really can't. Ever since Ursa and I made it official, I promised her I wouldn't let him in on anything."

I waited for a long moment, switching my weight on the other foot. "When did that happen?"

He looked away. "Ursa didn't want anything to do with me after she found out I was the one who told Zech."

"Yeah, but you guys are together now, so when did that happen?" My words and tone were harsh, but that was because I still don't trust him.

"Around early April she and I began talking again, but then I made sure it was official before school ended."

I thought through about Good Lookin'. I had found out about him just a little before Easter. Then something clicked. It all made sense. Ursa would tell me that she didn't want our parents knowing about him because she wasn't sure it was official with him and that we'd think lower of him. I did know who he was and she told me we didn't. Of course I'd think lower of Andrew. How couldn't I?