Splinters: Part One

Part One | 51

I bit my lip. "Yeah."

"It's your guys' Junior Year. Excited?"

I shrugged. "Yeah."

"Have you thought about colleges yet?"

I froze. If Collie's pregnant, will she and I go to college? I won't. She most definitely won't go to Julliard. That is, if she keeps it.

"Um, n-no, not really."

"What do you want to do?"

"I-I don't know."

"You're probably going to have a talk with your counselor pretty soon. You might want to think about it," Melissa said, taking her and Greg's plate and placing it into the sink.

"I will," I mumbled as I finished my last bite.

"Oh, Brayden," Melissa called just before she and her husband left the kitchen. "We need you to watch Beau and Net tomorrow. We have to go check out RISD with Edaline, and Odera wants to go with."

"What about Ursa?"

"She's hanging out with Bella."

"Okay." Suddenly, I thought of something and stood up. "Melissa?"

"Hm?" She turned, her eyebrows raised, waiting for my question.

"Um, can I visit my friend Josephine? I haven't seen her since I left St. Anne's and I'd really like to see her before school starts."

"When?"

I shrugged uncomfortably. "Maybe this weekend?"

"By yourself? We have to work."

"I mean, if I can."

"I'd rather someone go with you."

I nodded. "I can see if Grady can."

She smiled and nodded in agreement. "Alright."

Then they both left and I let out a huge sigh of relief. It pained me to think about what Jo would think towards me, but I missed her. I needed her right now. I really needed her.

...

I called St. Anne's orphanage that night, hoping I could let Mrs. Armstrong know that I'd be coming soon. She didn't answer until I called the third time.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. Armstrong?"

"Who is this?"

"It's Brayden."

"Pierson?"

"Yeah." I ran a hand through my hair nervously, pacing around my room. "I'm planning on going to St. Anne's this weekend. Will Josephine be there?"

"Oh, Brayden, Josephine doesn't live here anymore."

What? How can Jo not live there? I sighed, extremely frustrated. "Where is she?"

"She agreed to be taken into a foster home."

My throat went dry instantly. "What?!"

"She agreed, Brayden."

"Where is it?!"

"Brayden-"

"Please, Mrs. Armstrong. I just want to see her."

She sighed and recited the address to me after five minutes of looking. I quickly scribbled the numbers down and was surprised when I knew exactly what city she was in. It was closer to Barrington than St. Anne's.